Patent ID: 8616363
Filing Date: 2013-12-31
Classification: B65B,B65G

Abstract:
1. Apparatus for accepting an input of randomly-oriented sticks of split-firewood which are fairly uniform in nominal diameter and outputting neat stacks thereof, said apparatus comprising: a drum mounted to rotate about a generally horizontal axis, and extending axially between spaced ends, one which comprises an output end; a drive system to rotate the drum; said drum comprising a sidewall provided with a procession of flights on an inner periphery thereof and partitioning said sidewall's inner course with a procession of shelves and pockets; each shelf extending axially between the spaced ends of the drum and radially between, the drum sidewall and an inner edge thereof; a ramp which does not rotate with the drum being mounted inside the drum and comprising an axially extending upper edge disposed to be spaced by a diminutive radial gap from the inner edge of the shelves at about the 9 o'clock position relative clockwise rotation of the drum to form a landing zone for sticks sliding off shelves rotating above 9 o'clock; said ramp sloping from the upper edge to a lower edge radially deeper inside the drum; and a chute which does not rotate with the drum extending and sloping from an upper end to a lower discharge end, said chute being mounted with the upper end inside the drum and underneath lower edge of the ramp to form a catch zone for sticks sliding off the ramp inside the drum, said chute furthermore extending out of the output end of the drum and adapted to discharge sticks of split firewood in neat stacks outside the drum; wherein said shelves have a radial width designed to be wide enough to steadily carry just one stick of split firewood thereon, and not two; wherein the radial gap from the inner edge of the shelves to the upper edge of the ramp is sized to promote the ramp's upper edge to scrape off any second stick on a shelf, if any; and wherein the ramp is pivotally attached about a pivot axis generally parallel with the drum's rotational axis, and biased by a spring to hold the upper edge in down position, whereby and passing second sticks on a shelf lift the upper edge against the spring.