Patent ID: 11958207
Assignee: SALEM EQUIPMENT, INC.
Field: Machine tools (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 0:
1. An edger feeder system for feeding a flitch having a thickness into an edger, comprising:
(a) a flitch feedline arranged to move a plurality of elongate flitches serially and in a transverse, lateral, direction relative to a length of each of the flitches, toward a transfer ready position at a delivery end of the flitch feedline;
(b) a scanner system located adjacent the flitch feedline and arranged to measure each of the plurality of flitches at a plurality of locations on each of the plurality of flitches;
(c) a control computer arranged to receive data from the scanner system and to provide control signals to the flitch feedline;
(d) an edger infeed mechanism arranged to engage and carry a respective one of the plurality of flitches into the edger, in a longitudinal direction with respect to the respective one of the plurality of flitches;
(e) a charger assembly arranged to transfer each of the plurality of flitches in turn from the transfer ready position on the flitch feedline to the edger infeed mechanism, the charger assembly including;
(i) a lower charger mechanism located adjacent the delivery end of the flitch feedline, arranged to carry each of the flitches in turn in a lateral direction as directed by the control computer, from the transfer ready position to an edger ready position spaced upwardly apart from the edger infeed mechanism; and
(ii) a flitch-lowering mechanism arranged to support a respective one of the plurality of flitches in the edger ready position for a length of time established by the control computer and thereafter to lower the respective one of the plurality of flitches from the edger ready position onto the edger infeed mechanism,

wherein the lower charger mechanism and the flitch-lowering mechanism are distinct and separate from each other, wherein, when the flitch is in the transfer ready position or the edger ready position, the flitch is in a first horizontal plane, and wherein the edger infeed mechanism is arranged such that, when the flitch is on the edger infeed mechanism, the flitch is in a second horizontal plane that is below the first horizontal plane by more than the thickness of the flitch.