Patent GB-231705-A (GB)
Title: Machines for measuring lumber
IPC: G01B5/04
Filed: 1924-06-11
Abstract: 231,705. Godley, E. A., and Grubman, L. J. June 11, 1924. Counters for articles; associated counters; transmitting actuation to counters. - In a lumber mill the input and output of a machine for boards of different grades is ascertained in terms of surface area and cubic contents by means of an apparatus comprising a pair of tapered rotatable members adapted to be rotated by the passage of the board between the members and at a speed proportional to the width of the board, and a series of registering devices operatively connected to the members for registering the surface area of the boards, the cubic contents of each grade, and the total cubic contents of all grades. As shown, a table 12, Figs. 2, 3 and 5, carries bearing plates 93 connected by tie-rods 95, 96 and supporting a shaft 97 to which arms 98, 99 are secured that support the lower tapered measuring roller 101, a coil spring 103 maintaining the roller in a raised position limited by an arm 105 and stop 106. The upper roller 113 is mounted in similar supporting arms 110, 111, fixed to a shaft 109 rotatably mounted in the plates 93. The shaft 109 forms extensions of a guard member 107 having a number of depending flanges disposed adjacent the periphery of the roller and with their ends in the plane of its lower surface. A coil spring 115 secured to the shaft 109 and to the tie-rod 96 holds the member 107 in an elevated position and serves to prevent the measuring roller being rotated until the edge of said board is in vertical alignment with the axis of the roller. The board in its movement between the rollers rotates them at relatively different speeds which vary with the width of the board, the movement being conveyed from the spindles 102, 114 of the rollers, Fig. 10, through bevel gearing arranged in the supporting arms 99, 111 to the pinions of a differential gear 129 the planet pinions of which are mounted in a frame 140 and transmit the differential movement through spiral gearing 126, 124, 123, and bevel gearing 121, 119, Figs. 10 and 11, to a counting device 118 which registers the surface area of the boards. To register the cubic contents of each grade of board and the total cubic contents of all grades, a series of counters 142 and a totals counter 143 are provided, the former being adapted to be operatively connected singly in accordance with the appropriate grade of board being measured. The totals counter 143 is actuated by a bevel pinion 148 keyed on a shaft 145; the " grade " counters 142 are actuated by corresponding pinions 147 slidably keyed on said shaft 145 and normally disengaged from the pinions on the shafts of the counters and adapted to be moved into engagement therewith by pivoted yoke members 187 each of which has a pin engaging a cam groove 186 of a series of cam collars 185 fixed to a shaft 184, the cams being arranged in staggered relation for effecting the engagement of only one counter at a time. The shaft 184 is rotated by spiral gearing 192, 193, and aligned shafts 194, 196, Fig. 14. The shaft 196 has a bearing in the shaft 194 and can be set bv anv known means in accordance with the appropriate grade, lugs 199 being provided to limit the following movement of the shaft 194 under the control of a spring 198. The shaft 184 is held in set position by a notched locking disc 202 co-operating with an arm 204 integral with the supporting arm 111 of the measuring roller 113. Rotation of the shaft 145 is effected through bevel gearing 173, 174 from a pinion 157 having pyramidal teeth engaging the milled surface 151 of a disc 150 secured to the shaft 125 of the spiral-gear wheel 124. The pinion 157 is slidably keyed on a shaft 156 and is carried by a slide 155 guided in a frame 152 and having a slot 159 at its end in which works a roller 160 on an arm 161 adjustable, to vary the relative position of the pinion 157 and milled surface, in accordance with the thickness of the passing board. The arm 161, as shown in Fig. 8, is secured to a shaft 162 integral with a sleeve 163 having a circumferential slot in which engages a spring- controlled pin on a shaft 164 adapted to receive movement from a shaft 169 rotatably supported in bearings fixed to the tie-rod 96. Rotation of the shaft 169, in accordance with the thickness, is regulated by a number of pivoted forked members 1717 carrying between the forked arms a lever or knuckle 179 for co-operation with a corresponding number of stop fingers 178 fixed to the shaft 169. The lower end of each of the levers 179 carries a pair of rollers 182 for engaging the board being measured. A spring 183 normally tends to hold the members 177 and levers 179 in the dotted position shown in Fig. 5. The measuring rollers 101, 113 are provided with collars 205, Fig. 3, which come into contact after a board has been measured so as to rotate the rollers at the same speed to prevent alteration of the counter readings.