Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to carrier and at the same time piece size-based screener tracks for conveying woodchips and wood pieces to next operation in MDF, particleboard and chip manufacturing plants in the woodworking industry.

More specifically, the invention relates to a protection element used for protecting and extending the useful life of screener track shafts.

Prior Art

The present invention relates to a carrier and screener line that conveys woodchips and wood pieces to next operation and at the same time performs size-based piece screening in MDF, particleboard and chip manufacturing plants in the woodworking industry. These lines are built by lining up multiple shaft sets. Shaft sets comprise threaded discs positioned on the shaft to move wood pieces placed on the line along the line.

Shaft sets used in prior art applications are exposed to wear and corrosion due to the acidity of the working environment and the friction between wood pieces and the shaft. Shafts become unusable due to the deformation and corrosion caused by friction. This results in a necessity to stop and maintain the system.

In prior art applications, manufacturing is disrupted in lines stopped for maintenance, which has a negative impact on the manufacturing cost.

In prior art applications, deformation of shafts leads to off-maintenance disruption which further results in financial loss.

In prior art, wear in shafts reduce the useful life of shafts, causing cross-sectional differences on surfaces. In the previous design, these cross-functional differences cause displacement of discs fastened with a setscrew. Displaced discs decrease the system efficiency, while dislocated discs lock the system when they face each other.

In prior art, grooves are formed on the shaft to fasten threaded discs to the shaft, which decrease the resistance and useful life of the shaft. Literature review has uncovered various configurations related to said wood carrier lines. One of them is the utility model titled “Wood slicing machine for cutting at desired dimensions” with application no. TR2009/00742. The invention in B27C 5/00 Class provides for moving wood pieces to be sliced along the line to give them the desired form. However, no protection element is employed in shafts used for carrying wood pieces. Therefore, said application constitutes an example of the abovementioned drawbacks.

In conclusion, improvements are being made in wood piece carrier and screener lines in parallel with the advancing technology, therefore new configurations are needed to eliminate the drawbacks explained above and offer solutions to the existing systems.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention relates to a wood carrier and screener line that, unlike the existing configurations in the prior art, eliminates all disadvantages described above while bringing additional benefits to the technical field.

The object of the invention is to block contact between carrier wood pieces and the shaft by way of protective bushings positioned on the shaft. Consequently, wood pieces do not damage the shaft and the line is prevent from staying shut for a long time for replacement of the shaft.

Another object of the invention is to reduce the shaft diameter by placing the protective bushing around the shaft as a protective cover. This allows for reducing the labour and investment cost of the shaft.

Another object of the invention is to improve efficiency and useful life while reducing cost by selecting 400 series stainless steel PA66 protective bushing material manufactured by Elit Metalurji for the protective bushing. Since the protective bushing completely surrounds the shaft, the shaft is cut off from the acidic environment, which extends the useful life of the shaft. PA66+GF30 material is used for said PA66, while AISI 420 (1.4021 I DIN X20Cr13), AISI 420B (1.4028 I DIN X30Cr13), AISI 420C (1.4034 I DIN X46Cr13), AISI 420D (1 .4037 I DIN X65Cr13), AISI 431 (1 .4057 I DIN X17CrNi 16-2), AISI 440B (1 .4112 / DIN X90CrMoV18), AISI 440C (1.4125 I DIN X105CrMo17) material is used for stainless steel.

Another object of the invention is to minimize disruptions caused by shaft wear by way of covering the shaft with a more durable protective bushing. Another object of the invention is to provide for replacement of bushings worn due to the environment or wood pieces independent of the shaft to prevent replacement of the shaft and reduce disruption times and costs.

Another object of the invention is to protecting location of the threaded discs via protective bushing. Since the top and bottom surfaces of protective bushings are not exposed to wear by any means, the location of threaded discs is protected in a guaranteed way. This precludes displacement of discs and prevents the system from locking. Moreover, the need for occasional fixing of discs by welding is eliminated to extend the useful life of the shaft.

The below drawings and the detailed description set out with reference to the accompanying drawings provide for a clearer understanding of the structural and characteristic properties and all benefits of the present invention; therefore, the evaluation needs to take these drawings and the detailed description into account.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is an overall perspective view of the wood carrier and screener line.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the protection element according to the invention.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the relationships between the protection element according to the invention, shaft and threaded disc in an embodiment of the shaft of the wood carrier track.

List of Reference Numerals

1. Wood carrier and screener line

10. Carrier shaft

20. Protection element

21. Keyway

22. Gear tooth

30. Threaded discs

A. Direction of shaft rotation

B. Wood feeding direction

100. Bushing height Detailed Description of an Embodiment of the Invention

In this detailed description, the preferred embodiments of the wood carrier and screener line (1 ) according to the invention are explained for better understanding of the subject matter in a non-limiting manner.

The working principle of the embodiment

Said wood carrier and screener line (1 ) comprises carrier shafts (10), a protection element (20) and threaded discs (30). Figure 1 is a perspective view of the wood carrier and screener line (1 ).

The wood carrier and screener line (1 ) are built by lining up multiple carrier shafts (10). Carrier shafts (10) enable the wood pieces placed on them to move in the wood feeding direction by rotating around their own axes.

The protection elements (20) subject of the invention and threaded discs (30) are mounted on the carrier shaft (10). Protection elements (20) and threaded discs (30) are lined one after another along the carrier shaft (10). Bushings are used as protection elements.

A keyway (21 ) is formed inside each protection element (20) to fix the protection element (20) to the shaft (10) and rotate the protection (20) together with the shaft (10). Alternatively, multiple keyways can be formed. A key runs through the groove opened on the carrier shaft (10) and the keyway (21 ) of the protection element (20). The external surface of the protection element (20) has an indented design with gear teeth(22) formed on the surface. Guides (22) enable the wood pieces running through the wood carrier and screener line (1 ) to be conveyed to the next carrier shaft (10) and hence, the end of the line. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the protection element (20).

The bushing height (100) of said protection element (20) shown in Figure 2 prevents the threaded discs (30) from displacement.

Threaded discs (30) and protection elements (20) are successively mounted on the shaft. Threaded discs (30) rotate with the rotation of the carrier shaft (10) and facilitate the movement of wood pieces.

The assembly principle

Keys are inserted in the keyway (21 ) formed on the carrier shaft (10). A sufficient number of protection elements (20), preferably 41 and a sufficient number of threaded discs (30), preferably 21 are mounted on the carrier shaft (10), while keyway (21 ) is fastened in a way corresponding to keys. By this way, the carrier shaft (10) is fastened to the protection element (20) and the threaded disc (30). Protection elements (20) and threaded discs (30) move and rotate with the rotation of the carrier shaft (10). Figure 3 clearly shows the embodiment of protection elements (20) and threaded discs (30).

When the wood carrier and screener line (1 ), which is assembled as described, is operated, carrier shafts (10) start to rotate in the direction of shaft rotation (A). Wood pieces are fed along the line in the wood feeding direction (B). Gear teeth (22) of the protection elements (20) on the carrier shafts (10) and threaded discs (30) facilitate the movement of wood pieces along the line in the wood feeding direction (B). In the meantime, wood pieces are screened based on the distance between carrier shafts (10).

By the protection element (20), the carrier shaft (10) operates without coming into contact with external factors and hence the useful life of the carrier shaft (10) is extended.