APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PLACING SPACER STICKS ON A BOARD STACK

Abstract: An apparatus for placing out spacer sticks on a board stack (1) comprises a feeder device (5) for the individual discharge of spacer sticks (3). The feeder device (5) is placed in association with one short end of the stack (1). Further, the apparatus has a conveyor device which is located above the stack (1) for conveying spacer sticks (3) from the feeder device (5) to positions over the stack (1). At least those parts of the conveyor device which are located under the spacer sticks (3) are disposed to be movable in the lateral direction between advancement positions over the stack (1) and release positions outside the stack. As a result, the spacer sticks (3) are movable from position over the stack (1) to positions where they rest on the stack (1). A method for placing spacer sticks on a board stack is also disclosed.

Description: Apparatus and method for placing spacer sticks on a board stack. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an apparatus for placing spacer sticks (also known as dunnage) on a board stack, and comprising a feeder device for the individual feeding of spacer sticks, the feeder device being placed in association with one short end of the stack, and a conveyor device located over the stack for conveying spacer sticks from the feeder device to positions over the stack. The present invention also relates to a method for placing spacer sticks on a board stack, comprising the steps that the spacer sticks are discharged individually from a feeder device to a conveyor device, that the spacer sticks are carried by at least one carrier device located beneath the spacer sticks along a path over the stack and that the spacer sticks, when they are brought to positions substantially straight above their intended positions on the stack, are transferred to them. BACKGROUND ART In the stacking of boards, a whole layer of boards is laid on the top of a board stack which is under construction by means of an off-loader which moves transversely of the longitudinal direction of the boards to a position in over the board stack. There, the layer of boards is off-loaded on subjacent spacer sticks whose longitudinal directions are transversely directed in relation to the longitudinal direction of the boards. Thus, the off-loader is placed along one longitudinal side of the board stack which is being constructed. The board stack which is being built up is placed on a vertically adjustable substrate which is gradually lowered as the height of the board stack increases so that the level of the uppermost layer in the board stack is thereby throughout substantially unchanged. For placing spacer sticks on the upper side of a recently off-loaded layer of boards, use is normally made of two chains which run in over the stack and in its longitudinal direction, and in parallel with one another, and at such a height over the stack that the off-loader can pass under them for off-loading a layer of boards. The chains have hooks which, on the lower parts of the chains, are rearwardly open in the direction of travel. The chains are employed for conveying spacer sticks from a feeder device to positions over the stack. By the employment of vertically movable abutments, the spacer sticks are caused to release from the hooks and fall down on the upper side of the stack. A spacer stick layer device of this type comprises a considerable quantity of complex mechanical machinery. The distances between adjacent spacer sticks cannot readily be changed, and nor can spacer sticks of varying dimensions be handled. Finally, the work rate is too low. For laying out spacer sticks, an apparatus is further known in the art by means of which the spacer sticks are placed out on a substrate on the opposite side of the board stack in relation to the off-loader and from thence are lifted and displaced by means of suitable gripping members in over the board stack where the spacer sticks are lowered and deposited on the board stack. An apparatus of this type operates slowly because of the long transport distances which are required on laying out the spacer sticks. Further, it is difficult to get at the finished stack, since it is surrounded by machinery. PROBLEM STRUCTURE The present invention has for its object to design the apparatus and the method intimated by way of introduction such that at least the one longitudinal side of a board stack can be kept wholly free of machinery so that the board stack is thereby readily accessible. Further, the present invention has for its object to design the apparatus such that this may work at a very high work rate and with good operational reliability, and also permit convenient modification of the number, mutual spacing and dimensions of the spacer sticks. SOLUTION The objects forming the basis of the present invention will be attained regarding the apparatus if this is characterised in that at least parts of the conveyor device located beneath the spacer sticks are disposed to be movable in the lateral direction from advancement positions over the stack to release positions outside the stack, whereby the spacer sticks may readily be transferred from their positions located over the stack to positions where they rest on the stack. Furthermore, the objects forming the basis of the present invention will be attained regarding the method if this is characterised in that the spacer sticks are moved along and in the longitudinal direction of the carrier device and, when they have reached their positions above the intended positions on the stack, are stopped and the carrier device is released from the spacer sticks which are transferred to their intended positions. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS The present invention will now be described in greater detail hereinbelow, with particular reference to the accompanying Drawings. In the accompanying Drawings: Fig. 1 is a schematic, greatly simplified vertical side elevation of the apparatus according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a simplified end elevation of the apparatus according to the present invention in a first working step during the laying-out of the spacer sticks; Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to that of Fig. 2 in a later working step in the laying-out of the spacer sticks; Fig. 4 is a view corresponding to that of Fig. 2, a further working step having been completed in the laying-out of the spacer sticks; Fig. 5 is a view corresponding to that of Fig. 2, yet a further working step having been completed in the laying-out of the spacer sticks; and Fig. 6 is a view corresponding to that of Fig. 2 showing the apparatus when the spacer sticks have been placed on the upper side of the stack. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The accompanying Drawings show only those components which directly carry out the laying-out of the spacer sticks on the upper side of the board stack. Thus, the Drawings have omitted the beam frame which supports the above-mentioned components, as well as the guides and drive means required for their movements. In Fig. 1, reference numeral 1 relates to a board stack which is in the process of being built up from boards 2 which are arranged in layers and a number of spacer sticks 3 are located between the layers. The board stack 1 rests on a substrate 4 which is movable in the vertical direction and which is gradually lowered as the board stack 1 is built up so that the uppermost layer of boards 2 is kept at a substantially constant level. The boards 2 are displaced by layers in over the board stack by means of an off-loader (not shown) and are off-loaded on spacer sticks placed there. In Fig. 2, this takes place from the right. In connection with the one short end of the board stack 1, there is disposed a feeder device 5 whose feeding direction is intimated by the arrow 6, the spacer sticks being fed out individually and with their longitudinal direction horizontal and transversely directed in relation to the feeding direction 6. In its most generic form, the present invention entails that there are disposed, in over the stack 1 and substantially parallel with its longitudinal direction, elongate carrier devices which are included in a conveyor device and which, with their one end, extend to the feeder device 5 and which, with their opposite end, extend at least so far along the stack 1 where spacer sticks 3 are to be placed. The carrier devices have no fixed positions for the spacer sticks 3, but these can be transported carried by and along the carrier devices in basically any optional number and with any optional spacing. The transport speed along the carrier devices for the spacer sticks 3 is the same for all of the spacer sticks which are to lie in the same layer on the stack 1 , but may otherwise be varied within broad limits. Alternatives are also conceivable where only one carrier device is employed along either of the longitudinal sides of the stack 1. In order to prevent the end portions of the spacer sticks 3 not carried by the carrier device from falling down on the stack, there is provided, over the stack, an elongate hold-down device, for example a belt or chain conveyor or slide rail so that the spacer sticks are fixedly clamped between the carrier device and the hold-down device when they are moved along the carrier device with their longitudinal direction transversely directed, preferably approximately at right angles, to the longitudinal direction of the carrier device. When the number of spacer sticks 3 which are to be located on the uppermost board layer of the stack 1 has been transported along the carrier device/devices to positions straight above the positions they are to assume on the stack 1, the movement of all of the spacer sticks is arrested simultaneously, whereafter the spacer sticks are transferred downwards, preferably by force of gravity, to their final positions on the stack. In one alternative, the vertical transfer of the spacer sticks 3 to their final positions on the stack 1 is made possible in that the two carrier devices are displaced horizontally sideways from the feeding/transport positions in over the stack 1 to release positions outside the stack, whereby the spacer sticks 3 can pass down between the carrier devices. On the lateral movement of the carrier devices, the spacer sticks are held so that they cannot be displaced in their longitudinal direction (accompany either or both of the carrier devices). As an alternative to the substantially horizontal lateral displacement of the carrier devices away from one another, it is also possible to turn the spacer sticks 3 a certain angle in a substantially horizontal plane so that the opposite ends of the spacer sticks are free from the mutually facing edges of the carrier devices, whereafter the spacer sticks are lowered to a level below the carrier devices, they then being turned back through approximately the same angle before they are released down on the stack. In the alternative with only one carrier device, the carrier device and the hold-down device are separated from one another in the vertical direction so that the ungripped ends of the spacer sticks rock down on the stack 1. In this position, the spacer sticks are fixed in their longitudinal direction, whereafter the carrier device is laterally displaced to the release position so that the spacer sticks can fall completely down on the stack. Concrete embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying Drawings. Above the board stack 1, there is disposed a conveyor device with two conveyors 7 and 8 which extend approximately parallel with the longitudinal sides of the stack 1 in over the stack 1. The conveyors serve the function of carrier devices and are suitably designed as belt conveyors where the conveyor belts have layers facing towards the spacer sticks 3 which, on the one hand, afford high friction against the spacer sticks and which, on the other hand, are somewhat resiliently yieldable so that the spacer sticks can be pressed slightly therein if the spacer sticks are pressed against the conveyors 7 and 8. The conveyor 7 has a belt 11 running over two rollers 9 and 10. The conveyor 8 has a corresponding construction. The two conveyors 7 and 8 run with synchronous speed and can, therefore, receive spacer sticks discharged from the feeder device 5, the spacer sticks being transported with retained orientation in the direction of the arrow 6 along the two conveyors. The end surfaces of spacer sticks placed on the conveyors are shown in Fig. 1. The distance between the spacer sticks resting on the conveyors may readily be modified by a modification of the relationship between the linear speed of advancement of the conveyors and the discharge rate of the individual spacer sticks out of the feeder device 5. The two conveyors 7 and 8 are movably secured in a frame (not shown on the Drawings) for the apparatus according to the invention and are at least movable laterally in a substantially horizontal direction between the advancement positions illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 and the release positions illustrated in Fig. 6. In the advancement positions, the conveyors are, as is apparent from Figs. 2 and 3, disposed in over the upper side of the stack and approximately along and slightly inside opposing edges of the stack. In the release positions, the conveyors 7 and 8 are located completely outside the stack seen in the lateral direction. The transfer of the conveyors 7 and 8 between the advancement positions and the release positions and back may be realised by employing linear guides and piston and cylinder units, but may also be realised in that the conveyors are pendulum-suspended and are laterally moved in a pendulum motion. In the embodiment shown on the Drawings, the hold-down devices are designed as a third conveyor 12 which is placed parallel with and a slight distance above one of the conveyors 7 and 8 when these are located in the advancement position. The third conveyor 12 is movable in the vertical direction and, as is apparent from Figs. 2 and 3, displaceable into abutment against the spacer sticks 3 resting on the conveyors 7 and 8. When the different conveyors 7, 8 and 12 are in the positions illustrated in Fig. 3, the conveyor 8 is laterally displaced to the position according to Fig. 4, the spacer sticks being fixedly clamped between the conveyors 7 and 12 so that they freely hang out from these two conveyors. When the third conveyor 12 is lifted back to the starting position, the spacer stick 3 will rock and pivot so that its right-hand end in the Figures falls down on the uppermost layer of boards 2 in the board stack 1 and rests on it. In the last step of the deposition of the spacer sticks, the conveyor 7 is laterally displaced to the position illustrated in Fig. 6 so that the opposite ends of the spacer sticks 3 also fall down on the upper side of the stack 1. In order to ensure that the spacer sticks 3 do not accompany the lateral displacement when the conveyor 7 is moved, it is possible to provide, in the region at reference numeral 13, a longitudinal rail which has a smooth upper side and which extends along the entire length of the upper part of the conveyor 7 and is placed, in the vertical direction, in such a manner that, with the spacer sticks 3 horizontal, it has a shorter distance to the undersides of the spacer sticks while it abuts against and slightly lifts the spacer sticks 3 from the conveyor 7 when the opposite ends of the spacer sticks have fallen or been pivoted down on the upper side of the stack 1 and both the conveyor 7 and the rail 13 are laterally displaced to the release position. In that the rail 13 has slight friction against the spacer sticks 3 (which, on the other hand, is not the case for the belt of the conveyor 7), the risk is reduced that the spacer sticks might possibly be entrained in the lateral movement. In another alternative, the conveyor 8 is also movable in the vertical direction so that, in the position according to Fig. 5, it may be shifted in to its starting position and there be lowered so that it is applied against the lower ends of the spacer sticks 3 so that these are clamped between the conveyor 8 and the upper side of the board stack 1. On the infeed of the spacer sticks on the conveyors 7 and 8, it has been shown in the Figures that the third conveyor 12 is to be located in its raised position. However, this is not necessary, but the conveyor 12 may be driven synchronously with the two other conveyors so that the spacer sticks 3 are thereby fixedly clamped between the conveyor belts in the conveyors 7 and 12. Hereby, the work rate will be substantially increased and, further, the risk will be avoided that the spacer sticks lose their positioning when the conveyors are stopped when the spacer sticks carried on the conveyors are located straight above their intended positions on the upper side of the stack 1. According to the present invention, it is also possible to employ a fourth conveyor which corresponds to the third conveyor 12 and which is placed over the conveyor 8. This fourth conveyor also improves the positioning of the spacer sticks by clamping the spacer sticks between itself and the subjacent conveyor 8 in connection with acceleration or retardation movements of the conveyors. If a fourth conveyor is employed, its movement space in the vertical direction may be so great that it can be applied against the lower end of inclined spacer sticks according to Fig. 5 when the conveyor 8 is laterally displaced to its release position. The hold-down device need not be designed as the third conveyor 12 or possibly the fourth conveyor, but may, in an alternative version, be in the form of an elongate rail which is movable in the vertical direction and placed analogous with the conveyor 12 so that it may be applied against the upper sides of the spacer sticks 3 carried on the conveyors 7 and 8 when these are located in positions according to Figs. 3 and 4. Correspondingly, a vertically displaceable rail can replace the clamping function which may be allocated to the conveyor 8 in the position according to Fig. 5. In a further alternative, the hold-down device may be designed as elongate stop bars which are placed in connection with the end surfaces of the spacer sticks 3 in such vertical positions that the carrier devices can pass under them on the displacement from the advancement position to the release position, but be sufficiently low for them to be struck by the spacer sticks 3 if these were to be displaced in the longitudinal direction. It is also possible to form the hold-down device so that it can impart a limited longitudinal movement to the spacer sticks 3. As a result, in such embodiments where the spacer sticks 3 rest on two carrier devices, e.g. the two conveyors 7 and 8, one of these may be made fixed in the lateral direction since the spacer sticks instead are longitudinally displaced so far that their ends are free of this fixed carrier device. In the foregoing, it has been described how the carrier devices are designed as conveyors on which the spacer sticks 3 rest. An alternative carrier device is an elongate slide rail which, on its side facing towards the spacer sticks, has a coating consisting of a material of low friction in relation to the spacer sticks. For driving the spacer sticks along the slide rails, use is made of one or two conveyors (e.g. the conveyor 12 above) placed over the spacer sticks 3 and clamping the spacer sticks between itself and the subjacent slide rail. Both the slide rail and the co-operating conveyor may be movable in the vertical direction for releasing the spacer sticks 3. A construction in which the conveyors are placed undermost and thus function as carrier devices and in which the slide rails are placed uppermost is also possible. In the foregoing, it has been described how the spacer sticks 3 are carried by carrier devices in the form of slide rails or conveyors 7 and 8 at opposite end portions. However, it is also possible to employ a single carrier device which may be placed at one end of the spacer sticks or in the central region of the spacer sticks. When the carrier device (conveyor or slide rail) is placed at end portions of the spacer sticks, it must be combined with a hold-down device (slide rail or conveyor, respectively) so that the operational conditions will be as shown in Fig. 4 and the laying-out of the spacer sticks as shown in Fig. 5. When the carrier device is placed under the central region of the spacer sticks, the carrier device may be made so wide that a hold-down device may possibly be dispensed with.

Claims: WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. An apparatus for placing spacer sticks on a board stack, comprising a feeder device (5) for the individual feeding of spacer sticks (3), the feeder device being placed in association with one short end of the stack (1), and a conveyor device located over the stack for conveying spacer sticks from the feeder device to positions over the stack (1), characterised in that at least parts of the conveyor device located beneath the spacer sticks (3) are disposed to be movable in the lateral direction from advancement positions over the stack (1) to release positions outside the stack, whereby the spacer sticks (3) may readily be transferred from their positions located over the stack (1) to positions where they rest on the stack (1). 2. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the conveyor device includes two conveyors (7, 8) which are disposed with their longitudinal directions approximately parallel with one another and the longitudinal direction of the stack (1), said conveyors (7, 8) having upper parts for carrying the spacer sticks (3); and that the conveyors (7, 8) are movable in a substantially horizontal direction transversely of their longitudinal direction between the advancement positions, where they are located in over the stack, and release positions where they are located outside the stack (1). 3. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, characterised in that a hold-down device is provided to prevent longitudinal displacement of the spacer sticks (3) when the conveyor (7, 8) has been displaced in the lateral direction to the release positions. 4. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, characterised in that the hold-down device is movable in the vertical direction and located over and along a first (7) of the two conveyors (7, 8) in the advancement position thereof, the hold-down device being movable into abutment against the spacer sticks (3) resting on the conveyor when the second (8) of the two conveyors (7, 8) is displaced in the lateral direction so that the ends of the spacer sticks located there fall down on the stack (1). 5. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 4, characterised in that the second (8) conveyor is movable in the vertical direction and into abutment against lower end portions of the spacer sticks (3) which, with the lower end portions, rest on the stack (1) and which, with the upper end portions, rest on the first conveyor (7). 6. The apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 3 to 5, characterised in that the hold-down device is a belt conveyor (12). 7. The apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 3 to 6, characterised in that hold- down devices in the form of belt conveyors (12) are provided at both the first (7) and at the second (8) conveyors (7, 8). 8. The apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 3 to 5, characterised in that the hold-down device is in the form of an elongate rail. 9. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, characterised in that the hold-down device comprises two elongate stop bars which are provided in connection with opposite end surfaces of the spacer sticks (3) when these rest on the conveyors (7, 8) and which, in the vertical direction, are located so as to permit passage beneath them of the conveyors (7, 8) when these are displaced from the advancement positions to the release positions, but to be struck by the spacer sticks (3) if any one or more of them were to accompany such a movement. 10. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the conveyor device includes two conveyors (7, 12) which are disposed with their longitudinal direction substantially parallel with one another and with the longitudinal direction of the stack (1), the conveyors being disposed over one another in order between them to fixedly retain the spacer sticks; and that the lower (7) conveyor is movable in substantially a horizontal direction transversely of its longitudinal direction between an advancement position in over the stack (1) and straight beneath the upper conveyor (12), and a release position where it is located outside the stack (1). 11. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 10, characterised in that the upper conveyor (12) is movable in the vertical direction. 12. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 10 or 11, characterised in that the lower conveyor is movable in the vertical direction. 13. The apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 10 to 12, characterised in that a hold-down device is disposed to prevent longitudinal displacement of the spacer sticks (3), when the lower conveyor (7) is displaced laterally to the release position. 14. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 13, characterised in that the hold-down device is in the form of an elongate stop bar which is disposed in association with the end surfaces of the spacer sticks (3) accommodated between the conveyors (7, 12) and which, in the vertical direction, is located so as to permit passage beneath it of the lower conveyor (7) when this is displaced from the advancement position to the release position, but to be struck by the spacer sticks if they were to move in the same direction. 15. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 13, characterised in that the hold-down device is in the form of an elongate rail which is substantially parallel with the conveyors (7, 12) and which is movable in the vertical direction and into abutment from above against end portions of the spacer sticks (3) facing away from the conveyors (7, 12). 16. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the conveyor device includes at least a pair of a conveyor and an elongate slide rail which are disposed to grip between them and advance the spacer sticks (3), the conveyor and the slide rail having longitudinal directions which are substantially parallel with one another and with the longitudinal direction of the stack (1), and being disposed over the stack (1) and along one longitudinal edge thereof. 17. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 16, characterised in that the slide rail is disposed under the conveyor and movable in a substantially horizontal direction transversely of its longitudinal direction between an advancement position where it is located in over the stack (1) and a release position where it is located outside the stack (1). 18. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 16, characterised in that the conveyor is disposed under the slide rail and movable in a substantially horizontal direction between an advancement position where it is located in over the stack (1) and a release position where it is located outside the stack (1). 19. The apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 16 to 18, characterised in that the slide rail and the conveyor are movable in relation to one another in the vertical direction. 20. The apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 16 to 19, characterised in that the conveyor is a belt conveyor whose conveyor belt has a material layer facing towards the spacer sticks which is resiliently yieldable and relatively soft in order to permit the spacer sticks, during advancement, to be at least partly impressed therein. 21. The apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 16 to 20, characterised in that the slide rail has a surface facing towards the spacer sticks (3) which is of low friction vis-a-vis the spacer sticks. 22. The apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 16 to 21, characterised in that a hold-down device which, when the lowermost part in the pair of conveyor/slide rail is displaced from the advancement position to the release position, is disposed to prevent longitudinal movement of the spacer sticks (3) in the same direction. 23. The apparatus as claimed in any of Claim 16 to 22, characterised in that a pair comprising a slide rail and a conveyor is disposed along both opposing longitudinal edges of the stack (1). 24. A method for the placing of spacer sticks on a board stack, comprising the steps that the spacer sticks are discharged individually from a feeder device to a conveyor device; that the spacer sticks are carried by at least one carrier device located beneath the spacer sticks along a path over the stack (1); and that the spacer sticks, when they have been moved to positions substantially straight over their intended positions on the stack, are transferred to them, characterised in that the spacer sticks are moved along and in a longitudinal direction of the carrier device and they, when they have reached their positions over the intended positions on the stack, are stopped and the carrier device is released from the spacer sticks which are transferred to their intended positions. 25. The method as claimed in Claim 24, characterised in that the carrier device is released from the spacer sticks (3) by being displaced in a substantially horizontal direction transversely of their longitudinal direction and in the longitudinal direction of the spacer sticks, at the same time as the spacer sticks are prevented from moving in the same direction. 26. The method as claimed in any of Claims 24 and 25, characterised in that the spacer sticks (3) are carried by two carrier devices, one under each of the opposite end portions of the spacer sticks. 27. The method as claimed in Claim 24, characterised in that the spacer sticks are carried by two carrier devices, one under each of the opposite end portions of the spacer sticks; that the spacer sticks (3), when they have reached their positions over the intended positions on the stack (1), are turned an angle about substantially vertical axes until their opposite ends have been released from the carrier devices and the spacer sticks can be lowered down between them; and that the spacer sticks, before they are deposited on the stack (1), are turned back the same angle.

Inventors: GUNNARSSON JONAS, GUNNARSSON, JONAS
Applicants: GUNNARSSON JONAS, GUNNARSSONS VERKST S AB C, C. GUNNARSSONS VERKSTADS AB, GUNNARSSON, JONAS
Application year: 2000
Main classification: B65G57
IPC codes: B65G57