Patent US3913643A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3913643A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for producing wafers from wood
Assignee: MULTIPLY DEV CORP Ltd
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Filing: 1974-02-19
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Granted: 1975-10-21
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Expires: 1994-02-19
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for producing uniform wafers from irregular pieces of wood is disclosed. The device utilizes a rotating drum having blades thereon for cutting thin crosscut wafers from wood supplied to a container within the drum. Various means are disclosed for continually loading the apparatus for high volume production. A set of fracture bars fixed outside the circumference of the drum restricts the length of the wafers.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert D Lambert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 10:29
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23Q; B23Q7/00; B23Q7/06; B27; B27L; B27L11/00; B27L11/002; B27L11/02; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T83/00; Y10T83/485; Y10T83/494; Y10T83/501
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
An apparatus for cutting wafers from a wood supply comprising: rotary means for cutting wafers from across the grain of said supply including a rotating drum open at one end and perforated with rows of slots substantially parallel to the grain of the wood; knives mounted on the inner periphery of said drum and projecting inwardly from the leading edges of said slots; a platform radially movable within said drum receiving said wood supply; and means for radiAlly extending said platform toward the periphery of said rotating drum to bring the wood supply into contact therewith and for radially retracting said platform from the periphery of said drum to receive additional wood, whereby said knives cut said wafers from said supply, said wafers passing through said slots to the outer periphery of said drum.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
134 words
An apparatus for cutting wafers from a wood supply comprising: rotary means for cutting wafers from across the grain of said supply including a rotating drum open at one end and perforated with rows of slots substantially parallel to the grain of the wood; knives mounted on the inner periphery of said drum and projecting inwardly from the leading edges of said slots; a platform radially movable within said drum receiving said wood supply; and means for radiAlly extending said platform toward the periphery of said rotating drum to bring the wood supply into contact therewith and for radially retracting said platform from the periphery of said drum to receive additional wood, whereby said knives cut said wafers from said supply, said wafers passing through said slots to the outer periphery of said drum.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further including means for supplying wood to said platform when said platform is retracted.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further including means for collecting the wafers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 further including spaced bars positioned adjacent the outer periphery of said drum adapted to fracture wafers of excessive length issuing from said drum into shorter length wafers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the size of the fractured wafers is determined by the spacing of said bars and the velocity at which said drum rotates.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said platform is arcuately contoured to the curvature of the drum.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for extending and retracting said platform includes a piston and cylinder attached to said platform; and relay means for controlling the operation of said piston and cylinder according to the location of the platform.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the means for collecting the wafers includes a hood mounted about a portion of the outer periphery of said drum and a conveyor means positioned beneath said hood for conveying said wafers away from said apparatus.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means for supplying includes: at least one portable container adapted to be loaded at a location remote from said rotary means and then transported adjacent said rotary means; means for transferring the wood to the platform when said container is adjacent said rotary means and said platform is retracted.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said rotary means is a rotating drum mounted for rotation about a vertical axis and open at the top end thereof; said means for supplying including a retractable plate disposed above said opening, said plate in its extended position supporting a supply of wood thereon; said plate retracting to permit said wood supply to drop into said open ended drum.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said means for supplying wood includes: a stationary container adjacent said rotary means adapted to receive wood from a conveyor; a retractable U-shaped plate adapted to retain wood in said container during loading thereof; and means for transferring the wood in said container onto said platform when said platform is retracted.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein there are lateral connections between the bars formed by the slots in the periphery of said drum to stiffen the drum.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein each of said knives has an edge as wide as that of the wafer to be produced and projects from said periphery by a distance substantially equal to the desired thickness of the wafer.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
123 words
An apparatus for cutting wafers from wood comprising: a. a movable platform for receiving a wood supply; b. rotary means for cutting wafers from across the grain of said supply; c. means for extending said platform toward said rotary means to bring the wood supply into contact therewith for cutting and for retracting said platform to receive additional wood; d. means for supplying wood to said platform when said platform is retracted including a container adjacent said rotary means and movable between a tilted position and an upright position; means for filling said container with wood when in said tilted position; and means for transferring said wood when said container is in said upright position onto said platform when said platform is retracted.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
123 words
An apparatus for cutting wafers from wood comprising: a. a movable platform for receiving a wood supply; b. rotary means for cutting wafers from across the grain of said supply; c. means for extending said platform toward said rotary means to bring the wood supply into contact therewith for cutting and for retracting said platform to receive additional wood; d. means for supplying wood to said platform when said platform is retracted including a container adjacent said rotary means and movable between a tilted position and an upright position; means for filling said container with wood when in said tilted position; and means for transferring said wood when said container is in said upright position onto said platform when said platform is retracted.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
72 words
An apparatus for cutting wafers from wood comprising: a rotary disk For cutting wafers from across the grain of a wood supply; at least one supply box positioned adjacent said disk; at least one container receiving wood from a conveyor and disposed adjacent said box; means for transferring wood from said container into said box; and means for bringing the wood supply in the box into contact with said disk for waferizing.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
72 words
An apparatus for cutting wafers from wood comprising: a rotary disk For cutting wafers from across the grain of a wood supply; at least one supply box positioned adjacent said disk; at least one container receiving wood from a conveyor and disposed adjacent said box; means for transferring wood from said container into said box; and means for bringing the wood supply in the box into contact with said disk for waferizing.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus according to claim 15 further including spaced bars positioned adjacent the disk and adapted to fracture wafers of excessive length issuing from said disk into shorter length wafers.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
129 words
An apparatus for cutting wafers from wood comprising: a rotating drum open at one end for cutting wafers from across the grain of a wood supply; a supply box positioned within said drum; a container receiving wood from a conveyor; means for transferring wood from said container to said box when said box is empty; means for bringing the wood in said box into contact with said drum for waferizing; spaced bars positioned adjacent to the outer periphery of said drum adapted to fracture wafers of excessive length issuing from said drum into shorter length wafers; a hood mounted about a portion of the outer periphery of said drum for collecting said wafers; and a conveyor means positioned beneath said hood for conveying said wafers away from said apparatus.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
129 words
An apparatus for cutting wafers from wood comprising: a rotating drum open at one end for cutting wafers from across the grain of a wood supply; a supply box positioned within said drum; a container receiving wood from a conveyor; means for transferring wood from said container to said box when said box is empty; means for bringing the wood in said box into contact with said drum for waferizing; spaced bars positioned adjacent to the outer periphery of said drum adapted to fracture wafers of excessive length issuing from said drum into shorter length wafers; a hood mounted about a portion of the outer periphery of said drum for collecting said wafers; and a conveyor means positioned beneath said hood for conveying said wafers away from said apparatus.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
125 words
In the production of wafers from the side of horizontally disposed pieces of wood, an apparatus comprising: a drum open at one end rotating on a horizontal axis and having multiple slots with knife edges projecting inwardly therefrom adapted to cut and discharge said wafers; a box for holding said wood pieces disposed inside said drum; a movable platform forming the bottom of said box adapted to support wood thereon; means for inserting a quota of wood pieces onto the platform substantially parallel to the axis of the cylinder when said platform is lowered; means for raising said platform to press the sides of the wood pieces against said knives and for lowering the platform to receive a new supply of wood after completing waferization.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
125 words
In the production of wafers from the side of horizontally disposed pieces of wood, an apparatus comprising: a drum open at one end rotating on a horizontal axis and having multiple slots with knife edges projecting inwardly therefrom adapted to cut and discharge said wafers; a box for holding said wood pieces disposed inside said drum; a movable platform forming the bottom of said box adapted to support wood thereon; means for inserting a quota of wood pieces onto the platform substantially parallel to the axis of the cylinder when said platform is lowered; means for raising said platform to press the sides of the wood pieces against said knives and for lowering the platform to receive a new supply of wood after completing waferization.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-10-20 | 1979-04-21 | 1979-10-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-20 | 1983-04-21 | 1983-10-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-20 | 1987-04-21 | 1987-10-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |