Rob Will
09-23-2006, 6:57 PM
I have a large jointer and would like to fabricate a wide belt overhead conveyor-style power feed for this machine. Now before we get into the things like Joint-mate and multi-wheel power feeders, let me tell you the rest of the story. The jointer is 24" wide and I have several trees cut into 2.5" slabs. Some of the slabs are 9' long and 24" +/- wide. What I want to do is face joint these "tree sections" and a big wide power feeder sure would be cool and add a lot of safety and accuracy. I question whether or not typical power feeders will drag these trees across the machine witout slipping, applying too much pressure in one spot etc.
Here's what I want to do:
Position the jointer atop a steel tubing frame. This would raise the big jointer about 2". This frame would go toward the left rear and have a vertical post on which to mount the power feed. I do not want to mount anything on the jointer itself.
Using a small gear motor, a chain driven head pulley and a short take up unit for the tail idler pulley, construct an overhead conveyor feeder. Coming from the vertical post, this assembly would mount on a set of parallel arms from a Kinze planter (about 12" long). The parallel arms would allow easy height / downpressure adjustment. The conveyor itself would be about 18" wide and 24" - 30" long. (The jointer's outfeed table is about 36" long). The traction belt would be "rough top" similar to a wide belt sander's conveyor.
So finally, here is my question: If I want the conveyor to conform to the shape of the rough sawn (cupped, twisted etc.) slabs, and I don't want to apply too much pressure in one spot, what sort of bed slides/ idlers etc. can I use to press down on the traction belt? Are there such things as spring loaded individual idler wheels for conveyors?
An alternative method would be to use a section of roller (skate wheel)conveyor to support the belt but this would not have much in the way of suspension travel. Perhaps indivual spring-loaded UHMW slides instead of rollers?
Any ideas about how to make this feed conveyor flex?
We build conveyors all the time. Somebody help me figure out how to add the suspension(?)
Thanks!
Rob
Here's what I want to do:
Position the jointer atop a steel tubing frame. This would raise the big jointer about 2". This frame would go toward the left rear and have a vertical post on which to mount the power feed. I do not want to mount anything on the jointer itself.
Using a small gear motor, a chain driven head pulley and a short take up unit for the tail idler pulley, construct an overhead conveyor feeder. Coming from the vertical post, this assembly would mount on a set of parallel arms from a Kinze planter (about 12" long). The parallel arms would allow easy height / downpressure adjustment. The conveyor itself would be about 18" wide and 24" - 30" long. (The jointer's outfeed table is about 36" long). The traction belt would be "rough top" similar to a wide belt sander's conveyor.
So finally, here is my question: If I want the conveyor to conform to the shape of the rough sawn (cupped, twisted etc.) slabs, and I don't want to apply too much pressure in one spot, what sort of bed slides/ idlers etc. can I use to press down on the traction belt? Are there such things as spring loaded individual idler wheels for conveyors?
An alternative method would be to use a section of roller (skate wheel)conveyor to support the belt but this would not have much in the way of suspension travel. Perhaps indivual spring-loaded UHMW slides instead of rollers?
Any ideas about how to make this feed conveyor flex?
We build conveyors all the time. Somebody help me figure out how to add the suspension(?)
Thanks!
Rob