US2741191A - Operating mechanisms for spreading machines - Google Patents

Description

F. FAHRNI April 1o, 1956 OPERATING MECHANISMS FOR SPREADING MACHINES Filed Jan. 9, 19

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April 10, 1956 F. FAHRNI 2,741,19

OPERATING MECHANIsMs FOR SPREADING MACHINES Filed Jan. 9, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 www ATTURNEY April 1956 F, FAI-{RN} 2,741,191

OPERATING MECHNISMS FOR SPREADING MACHINES Filed Jan. 9, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. FRED MHRNI BY WMM/v ATTORNEY F. FAHRNI April 10, 1956 OPERATING MECHANISMS FOR SPREADING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 9, 1951 April 10, 1956 F. FAHRNI 2,741,191

OPERATING MECHANISMS FOR SPREADING MACHINES Filed Jan. 9, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY United States Patent O OPERATING MECHANISMS FR SPREADING MACHINES Fred Fahrni, Zurich, Switzerland Application January 9, 1951, Serial No. 205,108

9 Claims. (Cl. M14- 178) This invention relates to scattering, spreading and distributing methods and machines, and particularly to chip and shaving scattering, spreading and distributing machines for spreading and distributing layers of shavings, chips and fragments of wood and other materials on a tray or other receiving surface.

The main object of my present invention is to provide means for spreading, distributing and depositing single cated which has a supply hopper for initially receiving the material to be spread and deposited, together with movable means for positively ensuring the spreading of a uniform deposit of the material on a shiftable receiving tray adapted to be displaced from the receiving position to an appropriate position for compressing the deposited material by suitable means.

A further object of my invention is to provide a ma` chine as indicated which is capable of taking at least two forms generally operating in similar manner, but in which one form is particularly adapted for depositing chips and fragments of wood to form a core body or intermediate layer of a panel or slab, while the other form is especially suited for depositing shavings and thin pieces of wood to form surface layers of the panels or slabs intended to be formed.

In other words the invention involves a core or surface material spreading machine for depositing chips, fragments or shavings of wood and the like in layer form preparatory to compressing the deposited material into a coherent panel, board or surface layer for the latter, the machine including substantially horizontal elongated guide means, a removable elongated materialreceiving member forming a tray disposed substantially parallel to said elongated guide means, a travelling material-depositing unit movably supported and guided along a longitudinal path upon said elongated guide means, driven distributing means upon the travelling material-depositing unit for depositing the material introduced into the same upon the tray during travel of the travelling material-depositing unit, and reversible drive means elective to propel the travelling material-depositin g unit along the elongated guide means back and forth through the extent of the longitudinal path.

The invention also involves more specifically a core or surface material spreading machine for depositing chips, fragments or shavings of wood and the like in layer form preparatory to compressing the deposited material into a coherent panel, board or surface layer for the latter, the machine including a pair of substantially horizontal supporting rails, a removable material-receiving member forming an elongated tray disposed substantially parallel to the supporting rails, a travelling materialfi 1C@ depositing unit movably supported and guided along a longitudinal path upon the supporting rails; driven distributing means upon the travelling material-depositing unit for depositing the material introduced into the same upon the tray during travel of the travelling materialdepositing unit, a pair of chain sprockets rotatably mounted adjacent to the opposite ends of the supporting rails, a further chain sprocket rigid with one of the chain sprockets, a prime mover having driving sprockets, a sprocket chain connecting the latter sprocket and the further chain sprocket, an endless sprocket chain also running upon and interconnecting the pair of chain sprockets and extending longitudinally of the supporting rails in parallelism thereto, and alternately operating clutch means upon the travelling material-depositing unit effective to engage with one or the other of the two lengths of the endless sprocket chain and thereby positively move the travelling material depositing unit continuously back and forth from end to end along the supporting rail.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a core material spreading machine made according to the invention and embodying certain salient features thereof in a practical form;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same machine as seen from the right in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of a travelling ma terial depositing unit of the machine of Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a similar enlarged side elevation of the same travelling unit with certain operating members removed to display relations of parts;

Fig. 5 is a similar enlarged view in vertical section as taken on line 5 5 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a partial horizontal section and partial top plan view taken on line 6-6 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation similar to Fig. l, illustrating a modification of the travelling unit thereof while the remaining portions of the machine are identical with those shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is an end elevation of the machine of Fig. 7 as seen from the right;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged side elevation of the modified form of travelling material spreading unit of the machine appearing in Figs. 7 and 8, with certain near parts removed for greater clarity in showing operating details;

Fig. 10 is a similar enlarged view in vertical section as taken on line 10-10 in Fig. 8;

Fig. 1l is a section of the initial form of panel made according to the invention; and

Fig. 12 is a section of the panel in a nal stage of manufacture.

Throughout the views, the same reference numerals indicate the same or like parts.

When making boards, slabs, panels and sheets of composite compressed material, and especially when compressing wood chips, fragments and shavings to make compressed wooden panels and the like, it is very important to provide a uniform distribution of the chips, shavings or other material upon the entire extent of the surface upon which the material is to be pressed and formed. The reason is, of course, obvious, namely, that the nished panel or the like should be uniform in density, strength and thickness throughout, which result would not be achieved without initially effecting a substantially even spreading of the starting material in one or more layers-over the mentioned surface,- `according to theultimate thickness desired for the panel involved.

Another problem in this connection is to make a composite panel and: the like" hai-ing the' main'- core thereof formed of wood' chips and( fragments tot constitute bulk material,'as it were, with-the upperjand lower sides faced with long liber shaving's to" present substantially smooth outer surfaces of satisfactory tirlisliv and character whichwill be suitable to reinforce 'andlo'ck the core' r'naterial within the panell intoa'composite whole;

After duly considering th'ese probl'eln's, and bearing' the foregoing objects in'mind, I have succeeded in prodtlfcin'g an eective material-spreadiri'gt machine 4andassocifa't'e'd method for the present purpose as'will now be' s'et fortllih detail.

Hence, in the practi'ceof'4 invention and referring again to' theV drawings,'a pluralityv of uprightA frame posts 11, 12 are arranged p a second lower pair of rails 18; 19supported'otia plurlity of relatively shorter posts 20, 21j/ete., land" extending to an'appropriatel` panel pre'ssin onedii'ectio'ri (not shown), as it formsno actual' part of this xiientiii. Upon the lower' inside rails- 18,119 is shlf't'ably'` slipported a receiving'panel'tray generallyeindicated at'22`,th'rils extending in the directionoppo'ste' that previously 'nientioned to a storage' space or'chtberprvidedfwith 'additional trays for replacing tray 2 2wh'en the sme'hs been run offv to the eompre's'sionzone'for'compressingithe material deposited thereon. j

The mentioned 'tray'122` consists of' a 't'bottm' 23 provided with' upwardly/"extending" fr nt, rear" 'and' side walls 24, 2526and 27 securedtliereto'by'an angleiron frame 28, while beneath tliebttoinfa'plurality of do'wnwardly extending lugs 29, 30,' etc., serve to pivotallzyspport flanged wheels 31, 32' on `pins' 'or' shafts"33 in'si 1ch spaced apart relations that these wh'eels can roll in' guided manner upon rails' 18 and' 19, The' panel' tray` is," thus capable'of rolling from a" normal loading position a's shown' in Figs. l' and'2, alotgthe'lower'rils-to th`e`pr'essure apparatus or zone as already intimated, andwhen freed from'the'pressed'pan'el, this'tia'yl'n'ay ,be" directly or ultimately returned or rerouted to theorginalpos'itin shown for receivinga fresh loadfofllaiv'v material. Ordinarily, no great' elort Ais'r'e'cpirei'to roll' thisre'ceiving tray from one po'sition'to` the other and'the'reforeit'rh'ay even be shifted' by' hand`if desiredl f Adjacent one of thecor'n'er'posts lzfisxed a driving motor 34 with its pulley' 35V connected'by belt-36to a relatively larger pulley 37 liked on a shaft 38, which in turn is rotatably supported on-a Hearing support 3'9, this shaft also having a relatively smaller pulley 40'mounted thereon for rotation therewith and with pulley 37.. .Pulley 40 is connected'by a second beltl41 to a furtherlargcr pulley 42 fixed on transverse shaft'4`3 supported in'l'aearing members 44, 4S'secureduponr'ear pQSt's 142; 12`a short distance above rails 15, 16. At the correspondingly opposite end of the frame structure, asimilarpair of 'bearing members46 are secured on posts, 11, 11 for rotatablysupporting anothertransverse shaft 47.A A0n atleast one-end of each of shafts 43'and 47 are xed'chain sprockets 48, 49 interconnected-by an vendless chain l50 withl the result that operation-ofrnotor- 34 'will=provide a-continuous forward travel fromright to left'of thevup'per length or section of the chan'and acorrespondingreai'wardtravel toward the right of the 'lowerE length-of the-samechaine4 As primarily shown in Figs. 1 and 2, upon side rails 15 and 16-are movably supported the anged wheels 51',- 52 of a travelling or reciprocating material-spreading unit generally indicated at 53. This unit has an outer frame 54 open at the top and provided along the two opposite side walls 55, 56 thereof with rigidly attached longitudinal side bars 57, 58 preferably secured at the ends by means of a pair of cross-bars 59', 60' (Figs. 3 and 5) Ythat provide bearings for shafts 61, 62 on which wheels 51 and 52 are mounted. Thus the spreading or distributing unit is capable of travelling along rails 15 Yand `16 between the end cross-bars 63 and 64' supported on the corner posts 11 and' 12.- Upon-'the ends Yof the-unit are provided resiliently mounted bumpers 65, 66 adapted to abut the end cross-bars 63, 64' and cushion stoppage of the unit during operation and also condition it for reversal of its travel on the rails; Before entering into the matter of the details of construction of this unit, specifically, the means formoving it and' imparting a reciprocating movement thereto will rst be outlined.

A s best seen in Figs. 3 to 6, 'upon side bar 57 is nioutit'ed a clutch apparatus' generally indicated at 67, primarily comprising' a vertical bearing plate 68' forming bearing means for two sprocket shafts 69, 70'at one'end of each, the other side bar SSbeing provided with' a corresponding bearing plate 71" secured thereto and serving as'bearing means' for the `otherends of these shafts. The latter are proyided'at the extremities` thereof with upper and lower sprockets' 72' a'nd 73' meshing with the upper and lower sections 7 and 8 of the one or twochains 50 running between end sprockets 48 and 49. 4In order to ensure propermeshingpf sprockets' 72`anc'l '731with the chain, the' sidef bars 57.'and 5 8: having" chain' abutments 74" and 75 lxed thereto'by riveting, bra'zing or' welding to support the' chantv while in mesh with' the teeth on the sprockets and prevent escape'of' vthe `links' of said chains from engagement withtheteeth of thementionedsprocket's.

Normally, these sprockets' would rotate idly when"chain Sil is in motion, due tol the operation o'f niotor 34, but by alternate braking or locking operation of the -upper sprockets and thenofI thelower sprockets, thel entire unit 53'will irs'tl follow the upper' chain lengths 7 toward one end of the machine and then the lower lengths in the opposite direction; To elect this result in a controlled trianner, clutch apparatus 67 includes a pair of clutch assemblies '76, 77 mounted'on sprocket shafts 69 and 70 within a special clutch casing 78 forming partof bearing plate 68, with each clutch assembly adapted to be individually operated in alternation-with the otherby means ofa pair of swiveling Shifters 79, S9 pivotally mounted at 81 to swivel on vertical pivot pin 82.

The mentionedshifters consist of upper and lower clutch operating arms 83, 8.4,-85 and'86 provided with forks 87, 88, 89 and 90 engagingstuds 91,- 92, 9 3 and A94 and clutch collarsl and 96. Upon Shifters 79 and 80 are lxed rearwardly extending cam followers 97, 98 provided with cam following lingers 99, 100cngaging in cani slots 101, 102 in a pair of horizontal cam plates 103, 104 located s'lidably between' cam followers 97 and 98 and prevented from-being dissociated therefrom by engagement of fingers 99 and 10U-in the camslots. Cam slot'll in upper cam plate 103 is inclined inwardly toward one end of them'achine while cam slot'102 in lower cam plate 104 is inclinedin the opposite direction, both cam slots being symmetrically disposed with respect to eachother'. Both cam plates are' secured together and rigidly connected to a pendent'cam shifter-105, the plates 'as a'unit sliding forwardly and rearwardly between a pair of- guides 106, 107 fixed on the 'side bar 57.

, When thematerial-spreading unit53 travels rearwardly toward the right, the lower end of cam shifter encountersa-.block stop-1li8` adjustably xe'd in position by a screw or bolt '109 extending` througha-longitudinal slot llllin rail 151.' The immediate effectis that'cam plates 103,"104'are arrested by stoppage'of member' 105 while the unit still travels onward a short distance, forcing finger 99 of upper cam follower 97 to swing outwardly away from side bar 57 about pivot pin 82. Naturally, the upper clutch operating arms 83, 84 with their forks 87, 88 are correspondingly swung inwardly and as these forks straddle studs 91, 92 of upper outer clutch collar 95, the upper clutch plates 76 are brought together into frictionally locked engagement. This suddenly stops rotation of upper sprocket shaft 69 with its sprocket 72, while meshing with upper chain sections 7 which are constantly travelling forward to the left and thereby reverse the travel of the distributing unit 53 upon rails 15, 16 so as to return this unit toward the left.

At the same time as upper clutch 76 becomes locked by outward shifting of upper cam follower 97, the lower cam slot 102 in cam plate 104 causes follower finger 100 and thereby lower cam follower 98 to swing inwardly about pivot pin 82 toward side bar 57. This, of course correspondingly swings lower clutch operating arms 85, 86 outward with their forks 89, 90 straddling studs 93, 94 of lower clutch collar 96. As a result, the latter clutch collar is shifted outwardly, releasing the lower clutch and freeing lower sprockets 73 to mesh idly with the lower chain section 8. Unit 53 then travels toward the left with upper chain section 7 until cam shifter 105 encounters a second block stop 111 adjustably fixed in position by another screw or bolt 112 extending through a second longitudinal slot 113 in rail 15.

As the cam shifter meets stop 111, the cam plates irnmediately stop travelling while the unit continues a short distance, causing cam followers 97, 98 to operate and release the upper clutch and sprockets while frictionally locking the lower clutch and sprockets so that leftward travel of unit 53 with the upper chain section 7 terminates and rghtward travel of the same unit immediately takes place. 'When the shifting member 105 thus encounters stops S, 111, alternately, it immediately causes reversal of the travel of the distributing unit so that the latter continues to travel back and forth from one end of the rails 15, 16 to the other end as long as motor 34 continues to operate the one or more chains 50.

Thus far, the machine of Figs. l to 6 and the modication thereof, shown in Figs. 7 to l0 are substantially identical in all respects, including operation, the differences hereafter to be detailed arising from the nature of the material to be distributed or deposited in shiftable tray 22 and consequentlyof the construction of the spreading or distributing unit including proper facilities for handling the material involved in each case. For this reason only the numbers referring to unit 53 of Figs. 1 to 6 differ from those referring to the other unit of Figs. 7 to l0 in order to distinguish the units concerned.

Hence, continuing with the description of the machine illustrated in the first six figures for depositing wood chips and fragments to form a core or main body portion of a panel on tray 22, the frame 54 of unit 53 is furnished with a pair of interior transverse walls 114, 115 extending part way down from the top and secured between side walls 55, 56 to form the upper open end of a hopper. At the lower ends of walls 114, 115 are adjustably attached downwardly converging hopper walls 116, 117 connected to the upper walls by hinged members or rods 118, 119 in such manner that the lower ends 120, 121 of the hopper walls may be shifted toward or away from each other. Near the lower end 120 of hopper wall 116, the latter is connected at 122 with a rotatable end of an adjustable feed shaft or screw 123 extending in threaded engagement through a cross-bar 124 fixed within frame 54. The feed screw 123 is provided with a manually operable external knob 125 by which to rotate this screw in order to cause wall 116 to approach toward or recede from wall 117.

Below the lower ends of both walls 116 and 117 is mounted a ribbed distributing drum 126 on a drum shaft 127 rotatably mounted in the lower portions of side walls 55 and 56. VImmediately beneath lower adjustable endl of hopper wall 116 is an outwardly arching depending wall 128 forming a divergent passage between the same and one side of drum 126 for passing material descending by gravity to the latter from the hopper above. The other side of the drum is partly encased within an arcuate shielding wall 129 secured between side walls 55, 56 which is, of course, likewise true of depending wall 128. Shielding wall 129 extends from the vicinity of lower end 121 of rear hopper wall 117 to a point beneath drum 126 where it joins the depending wall 130 Fixed between walls 55 and 56 and spaced a short distance from the lower portion of wall 128 to form a downwardly directed passage 131 for the material dropping from the drum when the latter is rotated counterclockwise.

Both depending passage walls 128 and 130 terminate at the lower bottom wall 132 and are connected thereto so as to form a lower discharge opening 133 in this bottom wall. To the underside of the latter bottom wall is secured a discharge spout 134 in which the lower discharge port 135 is relatively narrow from front to back but from side to side is substantially as wide as the space between side walls 26 and 27 of shiftable tray 22.

As the material to be deposited in the tray is of socalled bridge building character, this tendency must, of course be counteracted in order to promote an absolutely uniform and continuousl downward feeding of the material through bottom opening 133 and distributing port 135. The ribbed form of drum 126 with its spaced ribs 136 fixed thereon, serves well to feed material which actually reaches the drum down into the passage 131, but for ensuring the continuous descent of the material in the hopper to this drum, the lower end 121 of hopper wall 117 is caused to swing or reciprocate constantly toward and away from the lower end 120 of the opposite hopper wall. In order to effect this result, wall 117 upon its lower external side is provided with a pivot connection 137 to which an eccentric link 138 is connected by pivot pin 139, the link being operably mounted on an eccentric 140 fixed on the eccentric shaft 141, which in turn is rotatably mounted in side walls 55 and 56. Rotation of this eccentric shaft will obviously cause the lower end of hopper wall 117 to swing back and forth on its hinge suspension 119 due to rotation of the eccentric 140, the contents of the hopper being thereby constantly disturbed and prevented from bridging across from wall 116 to wall`-117. The immediate effect is that the material freely drops down upon drum 126, and during rotation of the latter is fed downwardly thereby in a uniform stream or supply determined in amount by the space between the drum and the upper end of fixed arcuate wall 128.

Upon the right end 142 of unit frame 54 is mounted an electric motor 143 having a drop cable 144 connected thereto from above and communicating with an appropriate current source. The motor has a driving pulley 145 connected by a belt 146 to a relatively larger pulley 147 fixed on drum shaft 127 for directly rotating the drum from the motor. On the drum shaft, but within pulley 147 is fixed a chain sprocket 148 connected by means of chain 149 to a relatively larger chain sprocket 150 fixed on eccentric shaft 141 already referred to. Thus, upon rotation of the drum 126 by motor pulley 145, the eccentric 140 is simultaneously rotated at a somewhat lower speed than that of the drum, thereby providing the mentioned constant swinging movement of hopper wall 117.

From the foregoing, it is evident that when electric current is supplied simultaneously to both motors 34 and 143, the material distributing unit 53 will travel back and forth from one end of the apparatus to the other, and is reversed at the end of each movement along the rails-15 and 16, while material such as wood chips and fragments fed into the hopper formed by walls 55, 56, 114, 115, 116 and 117 will be fed downwardly by drum 7 126 through spout 134 at 151 into shiftable anel tray 22 in such fashion that, during itsIeciprQcatmg travel, the unit will deposit first in yone direction and thenin the opposite direction successive layers o f material 152 until the desired quantity of this material has been deposited in the tray. When this result has been attained, the tray is promptly runl along the lower rails 18 and 19 toward a pressure device (not shown) or to another machine, as will be explained, and another tray promptly rolled in position beneathA unit 53 to be filled-in similar manner t6 thatalready described;

It is, of course, obvious that, panels of different widths may be madebydepositing layers f broken wood material supplied bythe hopper, ifdesireda Forthis purpose, the side wall 56 is provi ded interiorly with a pair; of opposite lugs 153 secured t o e1id -walls` 1 14 and 115 by means of screws or bolts 1 54 extending through horizontal slots 155 in wal ls11 4- and 115 in suchfashion that upon release of bolts 154 side wall 5 6 -may be adjusted toward or away from opposite side wall 55. Of course, the construction may also include similar adjustment for sidewall 55, if so desired. When the unit 53 reciprocates along rails and 16 from one end of the apparatus to the other, it encounters the bumpers 65, 66 which, due to their resilient constructiontend' tocushion the unit to a stop at each end and-resiliently start the unitpn its way back again from the individual bumper involved.

The coarse wood material152 deposited inA the -manner described serves to form the inner or intermediate body portion of a composite panel board or sheet 157 (Eig. 1 1) and actually constitutes the b t 1 lk or mairrrnass o f the panel. ln order to providethispanelwith a smooth presentable surface adapted to `1 'e ceiv e a surface coating or finish applied thereto as would bedonevupon thesur; face of a piece of line wood, for examplela different form of long ber wood material such as wopd s havings` is preferably applied to one or bothsides, ofthepanel and is, of course, intended to form part and parcel :thereof-.

Thus when panel 157 in its-initialvformis produced by pressing the mass of wood chips and the like in tray 22, the latter may be rolled along 15,. 1 6 to a machine illustrated in Figs. 7 to 10. second 4machine is substantially the same as that ofA Figs. 1 to 6 as already indicated, except for the travellingmaterial distributing unit 53, which in the second machine is replaced by a wood shaving distributing unit generally indicated at 1 58. As all the remaining parts andalso the general operation of the machine have already been suiciently described, the construction and operation of this unit as such will now be specifically noted.

As previously brought out in connection with travelling unit 53, the unit 158 has a pair of parallel side bars, 57', 58 provided with ilangedwheels 51',l 52 and transverse shafts as indicated at 61' mounted in cross-bars as indicated at 59'` interconnecting side bars 57', 58' into a rigid unit capable of running on rails 15, 16. Within the side bars, the two opposite hopper sides 159, 160 are mounted vand connected to the front and rear outer frame parts 161, 162 of unit 158. Within the latter are mounted a xed rear hopper wall 163 secured at the lower end thereof to a cross-bar 164 attached to the sides 159, 160, while opposite this rear hopper wall is pivotally mounted a pendently adjustable f ron't hopper wall 165, being pivotally or h ingedly suspended by means of a hinge structure or rod 166.

For adjustment of the mentioned front wall1165, the latter is connected to the inner operating end 167 of an adjusting feed screw 168 by means of a bracket 169 secured to wall 165, the feed screw extending threadedly through an nteriorly threaded cross-bar 170 and out through front hopper part 161. Externally of the member 161', the feed or adjusting screw is provided with a knurled operating knob 171 by which to' turn` the feed screw and thereby adjust the lower end'of suspended inner hopper wall 165 as desired. It is to be noted that this adjustable hopper wall is shorter than the opposite stationaryhopper wall 163` in order to cooperate with a tn otlled feeding drum 1 72 fixed on a driven drum shaft 173 rotatably mountedin side walls 159, 160 and provided with a series of peripheral one way teeth 174 that clearthe lower end of adjustable wall 165 in any adjusted position of the latter.

Between the intermediate portions of both hopper walls 163 and 1 65 i s mounted a second' shaft 175 above and parallel to drum shaft 173 and rotatably supported between side wall's 1 59, 165).l Upon this second shaft are secured a plurality of beater arms 176 located Within thehpper s'tructurefor apurp'o'se about to be explained. A; pair of bearings 177, are secured to the lower ext'e'rior poftionlqf rear wall 162 for supporting an eccentric shaft 179'upon which is fixed alarge pulley 180. To pulley is connected al belt 181 extending from drive pulley I182 of an el'ectricmotor 183 securedv tothe upper' exteriifprtdn' f rear wall 162.

Eccentric shaft- 179 is provided with a chain sprocket llii'connected'by a chain 185 to a second chain sprocket 186 rotatably mountedv on a stud shaft 187 xed on hopper sid'e'i wall`159. The last mentioned sprocket 186 is" rigid'vith'a'pinin 188 meshing with a relatively large gear 18'9'ftxed'' the end of drum shaft 173, which in ttn" is' also" proyided with a chain sprocket 190. A second sprockefchin 191 interconnects sprocket 190 on the diuiii shaft with a' further chain sprocket 192 fixed o'l batef -shaft 175 for rotating beaters 176 simultarteously Witlitli' drum whenthe latter is driven through chain 185jfrbr`rfsprocket134, through pinion 183, gear rieshingtlierewith, by way of pulley 136 through belt l8`1"'frorii` ru0tor pulley`182 of motor 183.

' Before-detailing the progress of material through the t`w'o other features require mention, the 'first nvlviiig' a's'e'rie'sof' feeding shafts 193, 194, 195, 196 ffL simultaneous rotation in side walls 159, within the hpper structure provided with sub'- sttilly square'l distributing rollers 197, 198; 199, 200. Upon the inner endsl of these shafts are fixed pinions 291`5-202`2031ad204 meshing in pairs with two gears 2`05latiidl 206 rotatably mounted on studv shafts 207 and Zlvltix'ed on side w'all159.' These two gears 295 and 206 bothmesh with a gear rotatable on a further stud shaft- 209 and meshing in turn with the previously mentionedg'ai' 189 and drum shaft 173.

Thus'rot'ationofthe drum when driven by motor 183 willy be accompanied by rotation, not only of beaters 176;fb'ut' also' by rotation of' all of the square rollers 197, 1.98; 199Vahd 200. If a quantity of wood shavings 209 is introduced into the hopper between walls 159, 160, 163 and 165 and the" last mentioned wall adjusted by means of screw 168' to desired position, starting of driving motor 183 will cause beaters 176 to agitate the shaving's constantly and urge them down towards drum 172, which rotates counterclockwise and feeds a constant supply of-shavings down to the square distributing rollers that' also'. rotate by operation of the motor and pass the shavings downtherebetween to drop on a sifting screen 21o-immediately below the lower end 211 of the hopper structure proper.

Sifting screen 210 is provided with a frame 212 having a lug 213-at its rear end piVotally connected by an eccentric link 214 operatively to an eccentric 215 xed on rotatable eccentric shaft 179 also driven by motor 183, as already outlined.l Rotation of the eccentric shaft produces a constant horizontal reciprocationv of the sifting screen, and. in order to support this screen movably a group of pendent links 216, 217, 218 and 219 are pivotally mounted at the upper ends thereof to the unit side walls 159, 160, as for example, links 216 and 217 by means of pivot pins 22) and 221. At` the lower ends,

all four linksv are pivotally connected by pivot pins 222, 223, 224 and 225 to screen frame 212. The latter with its screen proper is thus swingably suspended and readily rocked back and forth beneath rollers 197, 198, 199 and 296 by operation of eccentric 215 to sift and drop the shavings down through a distributing spout 226 and its lower constricted opening 227 in the form of a constant stream 228 of material on the initially formed body panel 157 in tray 22 to form a surface layer 229 on this panel. The spout 226 may be secured by its upper flange 239 to screen frame 212 in order to swing or oscillate horizontally with the frame and its screen as illustrated, or it may be rigid with the upper hopper structure as in the case of the spout in Figs. l to 6, and the screen and frame then oscillating in a narrow horizontal space between the hopper structure and the spout, if desired.

Hence, when the lower motor 34 is started and the upper motor likewise, and assuming that tray 22 is in proper receiving position, the entire unit 158 will begin to travel back and forth along rails 15 and 16 while the feeding drum 172 feeds the shavings from the hopper supply 2tl9 agitated by beaters 176 past the lower end of inner hopper wall 165 to the distributing rollers 197, 198, 199, 206, whence the material is dropped and scattered on screen 210, which during oscillation sifts the shavings down through spout 226 and its bottom opening on tray 22. As the initially pressed bottom panel is already in position in this tray, the shaving layer 229 deposits thereon until of the proper thickness, when the tray is rolled away to press this layer on the panel and cause it to adhere thereto.

When the panel has thus been provided with one surface layer 229, the panel may be turned over so that the deposited surface layer faces downward with the tray again disposed beneath the travelling unit 158, and the latter caused to deposit a further surface layer on the upper exposed side of the panel until of the proper thickness. When the tray is then rolled off to the compression apparatus, the newly deposited shaving layer 231 is pressed upon the panel and caused to adhere thereto to form the composite panel 157 provided with the two surface layers 229 and 231.

Of course, if desired, the originally formed panel need not be pressed into initial form before receiving the first shaving layer 229, but the tray simply provided with the bulk layer as lirst described in connection with Figs'. l to 6, and the tray then rolled to the second apparatus and the iirst shaving layer applied, after which the tray may be rolled to the compression apparatus to press both deposited layers together to form the panel unit. The result is then that the panel merely has the body portion 157 and integral therewith, the one surface layer 229, which may suce for many purposes as a satisfactory panel. However, if the panel thus far made is turned over and the second shaving layer 231 applied and pressed thereon as already mentioned, a complete panel having both sides finished will result.

It is obvious that the wood chips and pieces deposited upon tray 22 in the iirst machine may be sprinkled or soaked with glue or some cementitious uid or solution or even by plastic material, either of thermo setting or thermo plastic character, and the same is true of the shavings deposited on the tray in the second machine, such cementing adjuncts forming no part of the present invention and therefore being an optional feature in conjunction with the operation of the machines described.

From the foregoing, it is evident that a composite panel of Wood or other material may be built up of one or more layers of compacted fragments, chips and shavings and the like, with no practical limit to the thickness of the panel or its layers except as limited by the capacity of the receiving tray and the dimensions of the apparatus involved.

The invention claimed below is also disclosed in applications Serial Nos. 205,109 now Patent No. 2,696,330 dated Dec. 7, 1954 and 205,110 now Patent No. 2,696,331

10 dated Dec. 7, 1954, both of which were tiled on january 9, 1951. v i

Manifestly, variations may be resorted to and parts and features may be modified or used without others within the scope of the appended claims.

Having now fully described my invention, I claim:

l. Distributing apparatus, comprising in combination, an elongated frame; a hopper mounted on said frame for movement therealong; moving means operatively connected to said frame and hopper for moving the latter along said frame, said moving means comprising an endless elongated member having portions respectively located on opposite sides of a plane extending in substantially the direction of the major axis of said elongated member, said endless member being mounted on said frame on one side thereof, and drive means operatively connected to said endless member for non-reversibly driving the same so that on one side of said plane said endless member moves in one direction and on the other of said plane said endless member moves in a direction opposite to said one direction; and automatic reversing means mounted on said hopper for movement therewith and being operatively engageable with said moving means and frame for automatically reversing the direction in which said moving means moves said hopper, said reversing means comprising a pair of clutch means operatively engageable with said endless member on opposite sides of said plane, respectively, and actuating means operatively connected to said pair of clutch means for alternately engaging the same so as to connect said hopper with said endless' member alternately on opposite sides of said plane to reverse the direction of movement of said hopper, said actuating means comprising a pair of clutch moving members, respectively associated with said pair of clutch means, cam means mounted on said hopper for movement with respect thereto and being operatively connected to said clutch moving members, and a pair of abutments spaced from each other and iixedly mounted on said frame adjacent points at which the direction of movement of said hopper is to be reversed, said abutments being located in the path of movement of said cam means so as to engage the latter and move the same with respect to said hopper to thereby actuate said clutch moving members.

2. Distributing apparatus, comprising in combination, an elongated frame; a hopper mounted on said frame for movement therealong; moving means operatively connected to said frame and hopper for moving the latter along said frame, said moving means comprising an endless elongated member having portions respectively located on opposite sides of a plane extending in substantially the direction of the major axis of said elongated member, said endless member being mounted on said frame on one side thereof, and drive means' operatively connected to said endless member for non-reversibly driving the same so that on one side of said plane said endless member moves in one direction and on the other of said plane said endless member moves in a direction opposite to said one direction; and automatic reversing means mounted on said hopper for movement therewith and being operatively engageable with said moving means and frame for automatically reversing the direction in which said moving means moves said hopper, said reversing means comprising a pair of clutch means operatively engageable with said endless member on opposite sides of said plane, respectively, and actuating means operatively connected to said pair of clutch means for alternately engaging the same so as to connect s'aid hopper with said endless member alternately on opposite sides of said plane to reverse the direction of movement of said hopper, said actuating means comprising a pair of clutch moving members, respectively operatively engageable with said pair of clutch means, cam means mounted on said hopper for movement with respect thereto and being operatively connected to said clutch moving members, and a pair of abut' ments spaced from each other and fixedly mounted on 11 said frame adjacent points at which the direction of movement of said hopper is to be reversed, said abutments' being located in the path of movement oi said cam means so as to engage the latter and move the same with respect to said hopper to thereby actuate said clutch moving members, said cam means comprising a plate' means having opposite sides each of which is formed with a groove, said grooves being operatively connected to saidclutch moving members, respectively, and one of said grooves having a configuration which is the reverse the other rf said grooves',and an elongated bar member xedly connected to said plate means and having a portion located at the level of said'abutments so as to contact the latter and thereby move the said'plate means with respect to said hopper.

3L Distributing apparatus, comprising in combination, an elongated frame; a hopper mounted on said frame for movement therealong; an endless elongated member having portions located on opposite sides of a plane extending in substantially the direction of the major axis of said elongatedmember and being mounted on the said frame along one side thereof; drive means operatively connected to said endless member for non-reversibly driving the same so that ou one side of said plane said endless member moves in one direction and on an opposite side of said plane said endless' member moves in a direction opposite to said one direction; a pair of elements mounted on said hopper for free rotation with respect thereto and being respectively connected to said endless member on opposite sides of said plane, respectively, to be rotated by said endless member; a pair of clutch plates mounted on said hopper only for movement in translation toward and away from a position where said clutch plates respectively abut against said elements to prevent rotation thereof; a pair Y of clutch moving members mounted on said hopper and being operatively connected to said-clutch plates for moving the same into and out of said position; plate means mounted on said hopper for movement with respect thereto and having opposite sides each of which is formed with a groove, said grooves being operatively connected to said clutch moving members, respectively, and one of said grooves having a configuration which is the reverse of the other of said grooves; a pair of abutments spaced from each other Vand being iixedly mounted on said frame at one side thereof adjacent points at which the direction of movement of said hopper is to be reversed; andan elongated bar member xedly connected at one portion thereof to said plate means and having another portion thereof located at the level of said abutments, whereby said plate means actuates said clutch moving members to alternately move said clutch plates into said position when said bar member contacts said abutments so as to alternately preveut' rotation of one of said elements and thereby alternately connect said hopper to said endless member on opposite sides of said plane so as to reverse the movement of said hopper.

4. Distributing apparatus, comprising in combination, an elongated frame; a hopper mounted on said frame for movement therealong; an endless' chain having portions located on opposite sides of a plane extending in substantially the direction of the major axis of said endless chainV and being mounted on the said frame along one side thereof; drive means operatively connected to said chain for non-reversibly dr'ving the same so that on one side of said plane said chain moves in one direction and on an opposite side of said plane said chain moves in a direction opposite to said one direction; a pair of sprocket wheels Vmounted on said hopper for free rotation with respect being operatively connected to said clutch plates for moving-the same into and out of said position; plate means mounted on said hopper for movement with respect there- Y to and having opposite sides'each of which is formed with a groove, said grooves being operatively connected to said clutch moving members, respectively, and one oi said grooves having a configuration which is the reverse yof the other of said grooves; a pair of abutments spaced thereof located at the'level of said abutments, whereby said plate means actuates said clutch moving members to alternately move said clutch plates into saidV position when said bar member contacts said abutments so as' to alternately prevent rotation of one of said sprocket Wheels and thereby alternately connect said hopper to said chain on opposite sides of said plane so as to reverse the movement of said hopper.

5. Distributing apparatus, comprising in combination, an elongated frame; a hopper mounted on said frame for movement therealong; an endless chain having portions located on opposite sidesof a plane extending in substantially the direction of the major axis'of said endless chain and being mounted on the said frame along one side thereof; drive means operatively connected to said chain for non-reversibly driving the same so that on one side of said plane said chain moves in one direction and on an opposite side of said plane said chain moves in a direction opposite to said one direction; a pair of sprocket Wheels mounted on said hopper for` free rotation with respectk thereto and being respectively connected to said chainron .opposite sides of said plane, respectively, to be rotated by said chain; a pair of clutch plates' mounted on said hopper only for movement in translation toward and away from a position'where said clutch plates respectively abut against said sprocket wheels toV prevent rotation thereof; a pair of clutch moving members pivotally mounted on said hopper and being operatively connected to said clutch plates for moving the same into and out of said position; plate means slidably mounted on said hopper for movement with respect thereto and having opposite sides each of which is formed with a groove, said grooves being operatively connected to said clutch moving members, respectively, and one of said grooves having a configuration which is the reverse of the other of said grooves; a pair abutments spacedfrom each other and being-mounted for adjustable movement on Vsaid frame at one side thereofV so as to be located adjacent points at which the direction of movement of said hopper is to be reversed; andv an elongated bar member lixedly connected at one portion thereof to said plate means and having another portion thereof located at the level of said abutments, whereby said plate means actuates said clutch moving members to alter- Anately move said clutch plates into said position when said bar member contacts said abutments so as to alternately prevent rotation of one of said sprocket wheels and thereby alternately connect said hopper to said chain on opposite sides of said plane so as to reverse the movement of said hopper.

6. Distributing apparatus, comprising in combination, an elongated frame, abutment means mounted at each ofY two opposite ends of said frame, a hopper movably mounted on said frame and4 having a discharge mouth at the bottom thereof, ydriving means for positively moving said hopper in two opposite directions between said abutment means, reversing means for said driving means, means for actuating said reversing means, said means being responsive to the position of said hopper relative to that one of said abutmentv means to which said hopper is being driven by said driving means, and resilient cushioning means between each of said abutment means and that side of said hopper facing one of said abutment est" means for decelerating and then stopping the approach of said hopper towards said one of Said abutment means and accelerating said reciprocatory movement towards the other of said abutment means.

7. Distributing apparatus, comprising in combination, an elongated frame; a hopper mounted on said frame for movement therealong; moving means operatively connected to said frame and hopper for moving the latter along said frame, said moving means comprising an endless elongated member having portions respectively 1ocated on opposite sides of a plane extending in substantially the direction of the major axis of said elongated member, said endless member being mounted on said frame on one side thereof, and drive means operatively connected to said endless member for non-reversibly driving the same so that on one side of said plane said endless member moves in one direction and on the other of said plane said endless member moves in a direction opposite to said one direction; two separate engaging elements mounted on said frame in spaced relationship along the length thereof; and automatic reversing means mounted on said hopper for movement therewith and having one part thereof operatively engageable with said moving means and another part thereof alternately engageable with each of said engaging elements mounted on said frame during the moving of said hopper thereupon for automatically reversing the direction in which said moving means moves said hopper, said one of said reversing means comprising a pair of clutch means operatively engageable with said endless member on opposite sides of said plane, respectively, and actuating means controlled by said another part and operatively connected to said pair of clutch means for alternately engaging the same so as to connect said hopper with said endless member alternately on opposite sides of said plane to reverse the direction of movement of said hopper, each of said clutch means comprising an element mounted for free rotation on said hopper and operatively connected to said endless member to be rotated thereby and a clutch plate mounted on said hopper only for movement in translation toward and away from a position where said clutch plate abuts against said element to prevent rotation thereof, so that when said clutch plate is in said position said hopper is connected to said endless member for movement therewith.

8. Distributing apparatus, comprising in combination, an elongated frame; a hopper mounted on said frame for movement therealong; moving means operatively connected to said frame and hopper for moving the latter along said frame, said moving means comprising an endless elongated member having portions respectively 1ocated on opposite sides of a plane extending in substantially the direction of the major axis of said elongated member, said endless member being mounted on said frame on one side thereof, and drive means operatively connected to said endless member for non-reversibly driving the same so that on one side of said plane said endless member moves in one direction and on the other of said plane said endless member moves in a direction opposite to said one direction; two separate engaging elements mounted on said frame in spaced relationship along the length thereof; and automatic reversing means mounted on said hopper for movement therewith and having one part thereof operatively engageable with said moving means and another part thereof alternately engageable with each of said engaging elements mounted on said frame during the moving of said hopper thereupon for automatically reversing the direction in which said moving means moves said hopper, said one part of said reversing means comprising a pair of clutch means operatively engageable with said endless member on opposite sides of said plane, respectively, and actuating means controlled by said another part and operatively connected to said pair of clutch means for alternately engaging the same so as to connect said hopper with said endless member alternately on opposite sides of said plane to reverse the direction of movement of said hopper.

9. Distributing apparatus, comprising in combination, an elongated frame; a hopper mounted on said frame for movement therealong; moving means operatively connected to said frame and hopper for moving the latter along said frame; two separate engaging elements mounted on said frame in spaced relation along the length thereof; and automatic reversing means comprising levers and cams mounted on said hopper for movement therewith and having one part thereof operatively engageable with said moving means and another part thereof alternately engageable with each of said engaging elements mounted on said frame during the moving of said hopper for automatically reversing the direction in which said moving means moves said hopper.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 562,093 Palms June 16, 1896 963,715 Kingsbury et al July 5, 1910 1,101,060 Clark June 23, 1914 1,550,929 Strauss Aug. 25, 1925 1,726,511 Henry et al Aug. 27, 1929 1,728,928 Crowell Sept. 24, 1929 1,731,691 Webb Oct. 15, 1929 1,859,878 Lockwood May 24, 1932 1,891,764 Henderson Dec. 20, 1932 1,905,975 Thomas Apr. 25, 1933 1,990,634 Brown et al Feb. 12, 1935 2,004,936 Dorn et al June 18, 1935 2,179,913 Bess Nov. 14, 1939 2,230,880 Brown Feb. 4, 1941 2,320,728 Hume June 1, 1943 2,343,938 Strong Mar. 14, 1944 2,344,829 McAvoy Mar. 21, 1944 2,381,269 Elmendorf et al. Aug. 7, 1945 2,491,158 Brennan Dec. 13, 1949 2,542,025 Goss Feb. 20, 1951

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