Narrow Chain Conveyor for Wood Block Scanning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wood block trimming systems lack efficiency in determining end profiles and cutting wood blocks to specified lengths, and they do not effectively handle blocks with unacceptable profiles or lengths for finger jointing.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a conveyor with narrow chains, a scanner unit with sensors and processors to calculate cutting solutions, and a trimming unit with movable paddles and trimsaws to trim wood blocks, allowing for precise positioning and cutting of wood blocks based on calculated solutions, and includes features like kickers for ejecting unsuitable blocks and reservoirs for managing block flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If conventional conveyors with wide chains are used, then structural stability is improved, but scanning precision deteriorates due to insufficient scanning information
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor chain is segmented into narrow individual chains (e.g., 0.5 inch wide bicycle chains) spaced apart, replacing a single wide chain. This segmentation allows the scanner to capture sufficient information across the gaps while maintaining overall conveyor stability through the distributed chain structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution moves from a two-dimensional wide chain surface to a three-dimensional arrangement of narrow chains spaced in space. The gaps between chains create additional spatial dimensions for scanner placement and information capture, enabling precise scanning while maintaining structural integrity.
2Measurement precision
If multiple passes through the scanner are required, then scanning accuracy is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The scanner is positioned and configured to capture all necessary block profile information during a single pass through the conveyor. The narrow chain configuration ensures sufficient scanning information is obtained in one traversal, eliminating the need for multiple passes and reducing processing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The scanning process operates continuously during the single conveyor pass, with sensors capturing block information throughout the entire traversal. This continuous scanning approach maintains high accuracy while minimizing the time required compared to discrete multiple-pass scanning.
3Loss of information
If narrow conveyor chains are used, then scanning information sufficiency is improved, but conveyor load capacity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple narrow chains are used in parallel instead of a single wide chain. Each narrow chain (e.g., 0.5 inch wide) provides sufficient scanning clearance, while the collective arrangement of multiple chains distributes the wood block weight, maintaining adequate load capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyor chains are designed with locally optimized properties: narrow width (0.5 inch) at the contact points for scanning clarity, but sufficient spacing and structural support between chains to handle the load. The bicycle chain design provides appropriate local strength and durability.
Data Source
AI summary
There is disclosed a system, apparatus and method for preparing wood blocks. The embodiments disclosed may comprise paddle designs, trimming unit designs and methods, scanner unit designs and methods, for use in the trimming of wood blocks. The blocks may be used for finger jointing.