Background of the invention

The invention relates to a shaping plant for shaping the ends of elongated wood elements, wherein the shaping plant comprises a first shaper arranged to shape a first end of the elongated wood elements and a second shaper arranged to shape a second end of the elongated wood elements. The invention also relates to a method for shaping ends of elongated wood elements.

Description of the Related Art

In sawmills and similar wood processing plants it is known to shape the ends of elongated wood elements to prepare the elements for being connected end-to-end to form strong joints - e.g., by interlocking geometry and/or adhesives.

However, wood is a natural resource and the elongated wood elements therefore comes in different lengths, and elongated wood elements of different length and shapes are requested by the end customers.

Thus, from the Austrian patent AT 505211 Bl it is known to shape a first end of elongated wood elements by means of a first shaper located at one side of a first conveyer and then transport the elements to a roller conveyer having the roller arranged parallel with the transport direction of the first conveyer. The roller conveyer aligns the second end of the elements before they are delivered to a second conveyer which will lead the elements to a second shaper located on the opposite side of the first and second conveyer in which the second end of the elements is shaped. However, the switch between longitudinal and transversal movement of the elongated wood elements is inefficient and slow.

From the European patent application EP 1 026 108 A2 it is known to convey elongated wood elements on a first conveyer from which the elements are delivered to a roller conveyer having the roller arranged in an angle in relation the transport direction of the first conveyer. The roller conveyer displaces the elements transversal to the transport direction of the first conveyer before delivering the displaced elements to a second conveyer. However, the system is particularly designed for bringing the elements out of alignment and the system makes it difficult to control the precise position of all the elements.

An object of the invention is therefore to provide for a technique for shaping ends of elongated wood elements alleviating the above mentioned problems.

The invention

The invention provides for a shaping plant for shaping the ends of elongated wood elements. The shaping plant comprises a first shaper arranged to shape a first end of the elongated wood elements and a second shaper arranged to shape a second end of the elongated wood elements, wherein the first end is opposite the second end. The shaping plant further comprises a conveyer arranged to convey the elongated wood elements from the first shaper to the second shaper in a conveying direction, and one or more driven cross-over rollers arranged next to the conveyer between the first shaper and the second shaper, wherein the one or more driven cross-over rollers are arranged in a roller angle of between 4° and 70° in relation to the conveying direction.

Providing the shaping plant with a conveyer conveying the elongated wood elements all the way from the first shaper to the second shaper is advantageous in that the position of the elements hereby is better and simpler controlled and because the plant hereby becomes simpler in design and more inexpensive, in that a single conveyer can do the entire transport in the conveying direction.

And arranging driven cross-over rollers next to the conveyer is advantageous, in that the driven cross-over rollers hereby can be formed as a separate unite that may only be included if needed. Furthermore, locating the driven cross-over rollers next to the conveyer is advantageous in that it enables a continuous conveyer all the way from the first to the second shaper, hereby simplifying design and control.

Arranging the one or more driven cross-over rollers in a roller angle of between 4° and 70° in relation to the conveying direction is advantageous in that the elongated wood elements hereby can be displaced towards the opposite side of the conveyer in a rolling motion in which the wear and tear on the roller and the elements are very little, because the elements are rolled on and of the rollers instead of being pulled or pushed across. If the rollers were parallel with the conveying direction the elements would scrape against the roller at least at some point but by angling the rollers in the specified angle range, the elements can be transported both forward and sidewards at the same time hereby ensuring a fast, efficient and precise traversal displacement of the elements which can take place while the elements are conveyed forward continuously by the conveyer.

It should be emphasised that the term “shaper” is to be understood as any kind of saw arrangement, milling arrangement, chopping arrangement or similar or any combination thereof arranged to shape the ends of the elongated wood elements to provide the ends with grooves, dovetail tracks, serration, fingers, teeth and/or other profiles e.g. providing the ends of the elongated wood elements with a shape enabling that a better or stronger connection between ends of elongated wood elements can be subsequently formed - such as e.g., glued finger joints.

Furthermore, it should be noted that any reference to orientation throughout this document - such as up, down, side, vertical, horizontal etc. - refers to the orientation during normal operation of the shaping plant - i.e., when the shaping plant is fully assembled and operational in a sawmill or a similar wood processing plant. In an aspect of the invention, one or more support rollers are located vertically opposite and parallel to the one or more driven cross-over rollers.

Arranging support rollers above or under, and parallel to the driven cross-over rollers is advantageous in that the this enables better contact with the driven cross-over rollers and thereby better and more efficient traversal displacement of the elongated wood elements.

In an aspect of the invention, the one or more driven cross-over rollers or the one or more support rollers are mounted at a fixed vertical upper hight in relation to a support surface of the conveyer and wherein the other of the one or more driven cross-over rollers and the one or more support rollers comprises adjusting means arranged so that a gap between the one or more driven cross-over rollers and the one or more support rollers may be adjusted, and wherein the one or more adjustable rollers are arranged above the one or more fixed rollers.

Mounting the driven cross-over rollers or the support rollers in a fixed vertical upper hight in relation to the support surface of the conveyer - such as the upper point of the roller being flush with the support surface or one, two, three or four millimetres or even more vertically above the support surface - is advantageous in that this ensures that the bottom roller of the driven cross-over rollers or the support rollers always makes contact with the passing elongated wood elements and by making the vertical position of the other adjustable it is ensured that initial gap between the rollers better fit the actual vertical hight of the elongated wood elements to reduce wear and tear and ensure a more smooth operation.

It should be emphasised that the term “support surface" is to be understood as the surface on which the elongated wood elements rests on the conveyer while being conveyed by the conveyer. And it should be emphasised that the term “vertical upper hight” refers to the upper vertical point of the given roller. Furthermore, it should be emphasised that the term "adjusting means” is to be understood as any kind of adjuster enabling that the vertical position of the upper adjustable roller may be adjusted. I.e. the term includes any type of bolt connection through elongated vertical tracks, any kind of guide suspension, any type of telescopic suspension, any type of scissor or other multi -jointed suspension or other or any combination thereof.

In an aspect of the invention, the one or more fixed rollers of the one or more driven cross-over rollers or the one or more support rollers are mounted at a fixed vertical upper hight of between 0.1 - 8 mm, preferably between 0.3 - 5 above the support surface of the conveyer.

Arranging the fixed bottom roller so that the upper point of this roller always protrudes slightly vertically above the support surface of the conveyer is advantageous in that this ensures that the bottom roller always engages the elongated wood elements, and it ensures that when the elongated wood elements engage the upper roller and thereby are forced against the bottom roller the other end of the elongated wood elements (i.e. the first end of the elongated wood elements) is not lifted of the support surface of the conveyer which could cause displacement and inaccurate positioning of the first end on the conveyer.

In an aspect of the invention, the one or more support rollers are also driven and wherein a conveying speed of the one or more support rollers is substantially equal to a conveying speed of the one or more driven cross-over rollers.

Making also the support rollers driven and making the conveying speed of the support rollers substantially equal to the conveying speed of the driven cross-over rollers is advantageous in that this ensures a more precise and efficient displacement of the elongated wood elements when engaged by the rollers. In this context the term “ conveying speed" is to be understood as the speed by which the roller moves at the outer contact surface of the roller - i.e. the speed at which the roller may convey an elongated wood element if the elements do not slip. The conveying speed of the roller is found by the formula:

Conveying speed = Roller diameter x it x Roller rotation speed.

In an aspect of the invention, the one or more driven cross-over rollers or the one or more support rollers are suspended by guide means enabling vertical displacement of the one or more driven cross-over rollers or the one or more support rollers and wherein spring means are arranged on the guide means to push the one or more driven cross-over rollers or the one or more support rollers towards the other of the one or more driven cross-over rollers or the one or more support rollers.

Providing preferably the upper rollers of the driven cross-over rollers or the support rollers with guide means and spring means ensuring that these rollers will force the elongated wood elements towards the other rollers - in this case underlying rollers - is advantageous in that this ensures better contact between the elongated wood elements and the rollers and thereby better and more efficient transversal displacement.

In this context the term “guide means’" is to be understood as any kind of guide capable of guiding the roller during vertical displacement. I.e., the term includes any kind of linear guide, rotational guide, multi jointed arrangement, carriage and track arrangement or other or any combination thereof.

Furthermore, in this context the term “ spring means"" is to be understood as any kind of spring capable of pushing the one or more driven cross-over rollers or the one or more support rollers towards the other of the one or more driven cross-over rollers or the one or more support rollers. I.e., the term includes any kind of coil spring, pneumatic spring, torsion spring, or other or any combination thereof.

In an aspect of the invention, the shaping plant comprises two or more driven crossover rollers and two or more support rollers, wherein the two or more driven crossover rollers are overlapping in the conveying direction and wherein the two or more support rollers are also overlapping in the conveying direction.

If the shaping plant are shaping relatively long elongated wood elements, the element will typically have to be transversely displaced relatively far and thereby be in engagement with the driven cross-over rollers and support rollers over a relatively long distance in the conveying direction. This means that if the driven cross-over roller and the support roller each were formed as one single roller they would have to be relatively long in the conveying direction and thereby they would have to engage more than one elongated wood element at a time to make the plant efficient. However, the elongated wood elements will vary at least slightly in vertical height due to production tolerances, variations in wood quality or other. Thus, if two elongated wood elements having different vertical height are located between the same driven cross-over roller and support roller, the thinner element of the two will not engage both rollers as much and as well as the thicker elements, which could lead to more unprecise and/or more inefficient transversal displacement of the thinner elongated wood element. Thus, it is advantageous to make the two or more driven cross-over rollers and two or more support rollers overlap in the conveying direction so that at least most of the time one set of one driven cross-over roller and one support roller is only engaging one elongated wood element.

In an aspect of the invention, a conveying speed of the one or more driven cross-over rollers is synchronized with a conveying speed of the conveyer. Synchronizing the conveying speed of the driven cross-over rollers with the conveying speed of the conveyer is advantageous in that a more precise and predictable position of the elongated wood elements on the conveyer is ensured and in that e.g., differences in conveying speed in the conveying direction between the driven cross-over rollers and the conveyer would lead to increased wear of the driven cross-over roller and the conveyer.

In an aspect of the invention, the conveyer is arranged to convey the elongated wood elements continuously from the first shaper to the second shaper in the conveying direction.

Forming the conveyer so that it will convey the elongated wood elements in a continuous forward motion from the first shaper to the second shaper in the conveying direction is advantageous in that this ensures an efficient plant that is easier to control and operate.

In an aspect of the invention, the roller angle is between 5° and 50°, preferably between 6° and 40°, and most preferred between 7° and 30° in relation to the conveying direction.

If the roller angle becomes too little in relation to the conveying direction the risk of the elongated wood elements sliding on the rollers increases and if the roller angle becomes too big in relation to the conveying direction the rollers become less efficient in displacing the roller angle becomes too little in relation to the conveying direction transversely to the conveying direction. Furthermore, if the roller angle becomes too big, more and/or longer rollers are needed to achieve the same transverse displacement which will take up more space and increase cost. Thus, the present angle ranges present an advantageous relationship in relation to efficiency and cost. In an aspect of the invention, the conveyer comprises lug means arranged for separating the elongated wood elements in the conveying direction and for maintaining the elongated wood elements parallel to each other with the elongated direction of the elongated wood elements arranged perpendicular to the conveying direction.

Providing the conveyer with lug means arranged to draw the elongated wood elements along in the conveying direction is advantageous in that this ensures the elongated wood elements are maintained parallel to each other, perpendicular to the conveying direction with a fixed spacing between the elements while at the same time ensuring that the elongated wood elements may be displaced in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction by the driven cross-over rollers.

In this context the term ‘7z/ means’" is to be understood as any kind of lug capable of separating the elongated wood elements in the conveying direction and for maintaining the elongated wood elements parallel to each other with the elongated direction of the elongated wood elements arranged perpendicular to the conveying direction. I.e., the term includes any kind of pusher dog, carrier, guide, rod, vertical roller or other or any combination thereof.

The invention further provides for a method for shaping ends of elongated wood elements, the method comprising the steps of:

• shaping a first end of the elongated wood elements in a first shaper while conveying the elongated wood elements forward in a conveying direction,

• conveying the elongated wood elements forward in the conveying direction from the first shaper towards a second shaper,

• displacing the elongated wood elements in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction while conveying the elongated wood elements forward in the conveying direction, wherein the elongated wood elements are perpendicularly displaced by means of one or more driven cross-over rollers engaging the elongated wood elements at a second end of the elongated wood elements, wherein the one or more driven cross-over rollers are arranged in a roller angle of between 4° and 70° in relation to the conveying direction, and wherein the first end is opposite the second end, and

• shaping the second end of the elongated wood elements in a second shaper while conveying the elongated wood elements forward in the conveying direction.

Displacing the elongated wood elements by means of driven cross-over rollers arranged in a roller angle of between 4° and 70° in relation to the conveying direction while conveying the elongated wood elements forward by means of the conveyer is advantageous in that this ensures a simple, precise, and efficient transversal displacement of the elongated wood elements that apply less wear and tear to the elongated wood elements and the driven cross-over rollers.

In an aspect of the invention, the method is for shaping ends of elongated wood elements by way of a shaping plant according to any of the previously discussed shaping plants.

Hereby is achieved an advantageous embodiment of the invention.

Figures

The invention will be described in the following with reference to the figures in which fig. 1 illustrates a shaping plant, as seen from the top, fig. 2 illustrates a shaping plant, as seen in isometric view, fig. 3 illustrates a cut out of the shaping plant at the driven cross-over rollers, as seen from the top, fig. 4 illustrates a cut out showing driven cross-over rollers and undriven support rollers, as seen from in a direction parallel with the longitudinal direction of the rollers, and fig. 5 illustrates a cut out showing driven cross-over rollers and driven support rollers, as seen from the side in a direction against the conveying direction.

Detailed description of related art

Fig. 1 illustrates a illustrates a shaping plant 1, as seen from the top and fig. 2 illustrates a shaping plant 1, as seen in isometric view.

In this embodiment elongated wood elements 2 are fed into the shaping plant 1 on a conveyor 7 at a first shaper 3 located along a first side of the conveyer 7. The elongated wood elements 2 are fed into the shaping plant 1 with a first end 4 of the elongated wood elements 2 aligned so that the first end 4 is machined in the first shaper 3 to provide the first end 4 with a specific shape.

In this embodiment the conveyer 7 travels continuously and it extends all the way from the first shaper 3 to a second shaper 5 arranged at the opposite side of the conveyer 7 (in relation to the first shaper 3) at the other end of the conveyer 7. However, in another embodiment the conveyer 7 could be formed by several subconveyer parts e.g., arranged end to end and traveling synchronously, so that the elongated wood elements 2 are moving substantially constantly and continuously through the entire length of the conveyer 7. In this embodiment the conveyer 7 is provided with a support surface 10 on which the elongated wood elements 2 rests when being conveyed by the conveyer 7 and the conveyer 7 is in this embodiment formed as a chain conveyer provided with lugs means 15 - in this case in the form of transversal bars 16 having upwards protruding blocks 17 pushing the elongated wood elements 2 forward in the conveying direction from the first shaper 3 towards the second shaper 5. However, a conveyer 7 comprising lug means 15 can be formed in numerous other ways known by the skilled person as long as the lugs means 15 ensures that the elongated wood elements 2 are - when needed - maintained separated from each other, are maintained substantially parallel to each other and in this case are maintained with the elongated direction of the elongated wood elements 2 arranged substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction. Furthermore, lug means 15 ensures that the elongated wood elements 2 may relatively freely be displaced in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction - i.e., only friction towards the support surface 10 and the lug means 15 have to be overcome.

In this embodiment the shaping plant 1 further comprises a first assisting conveyer 18 arranged along one side of the conveyer 7 opposite the first shaper 3 and the shaping plant 1 further comprises a second assisting conveyer 19 arranged along the other side of the conveyer 7 opposite the second shaper 5. In this embodiment the operation of the first assisting conveyer 18 and the second assisting conveyer 19 is fully synchronized with the operation of the conveyer 7 so that the first assisting conveyer 18 and the second assisting conveyer 19 will assist in conveying the elongated wood elements 2 forward at least over a part of the extent of the conveyer 7. In this embodiment the conveyer 7 is relatively narrow and to ensure that a wider length range of the elongated wood elements 2 can be shaped in the shaping plant 1 without tipping of the conveyer 7, the first assisting conveyer 18 and the second assisting conveyer 19 are in this case provided. However, in another embodiment the plant 1 could be designed to only shape a narrower length range of the elongated wood elements 2 and/or the conveyer 7 could be designed differently - e.g. with a different width or a variable width - to allow shaping of another length range of elongated wood elements 2 without the use of the first assisting conveyer 18 and the second assisting conveyer 19.

After the elongated wood elements 2 have left the first shaper 3, the conveyer 7 moves the elongated wood elements 2 forward towards the second shaper 5. In this embodiment four driven cross-over rollers 8 are arranged next to the conveyer 7 between the first shaper 3 and the second shaper 5 on the same side of the conveyer 7 as the second shaper 5. The second end 6 of the elongated wood elements 2 are extending over the side of the conveyer 7 opposite the first shaper 3 because the elongated wood elements 2 are aligned with the first shaper 3 and the driven crossover rollers 8 will therefore engage the elongated wood elements 2 at the second end 6 of the elongated wood elements 2 as they pass and force the elongated wood elements 2 in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the conveyer 7 towards the opposite side of the conveyer 7 so that the second end 6 of the elongated wood elements 2 are better aligned with the second shaper 5.

In this embodiment further equipment is provided to ensure sufficient positioning and aligning of the elongated wood elements 2 before they enter the second shaper 5. I.e., in this embodiment the plant 1 further comprises a side conveyer 20 and an aligning roller 21 but in another embodiment further or other additional equipment could be provided to ensure sufficient positioning and aligning of the elongated wood elements 2 before they enter the second shaper 5. Or some or all of the additional equipment could be omitted and the driven cross-over rollers 8 would ensure sufficient transverse displacement and alignment.

Once displaced transversally the elongated wood elements 2 continues forward to the second shaper 5 in which the second end 6 of the elongated wood elements 2 are shaped before the elongated wood elements 2 leaves the shaping plant 1 at the far end of the conveyer 7. In this embodiment the first shaper 3 and the second shaper 5 are substantially identical - except the obvious difference in feed direction - and in this embodiment both shapers are provided with a scoring, a hogging and a shaping unit adapted for forming finger-joints in the ends of the elongated wood elements 2. However, in another embodiment the first shaper 3 and the second shaper 5 could be different and/or one or both could be provided with other shaping tools - e.g., to form grooves, holes, furrow or other shapes in the ends 4, 6 of the elongated wood elements 2.

In this embodiment the elongated wood elements 2 are boards but, in another embodiment, the elongated wood elements 2 could be planks, plates, bars or other kind of wood elements having an elongated shape in one direction.

Fig. 3 illustrates a cut out of the shaping plant 1 at the driven cross-over rollers 8, as seen from the top.

In this embodiment the driven cross-over rollers 8 are arranged in a roller angle RA of 14° in relation to the conveying direction of the conveyer 7. However, in another embodiment the driven cross-over rollers 8 could be arranged in a roller angle RA of 12°, 10°, 8° or even smaller or 16°, 18°, 20°, 30°, 50° or even bigger depending on the specific task, the space available, the specific size or length of the elongated wood elements 2, the required speed of the conveyor 7 or other.

In this embodiment the distance between the lug means 15 on the conveyer 7 in the conveying direction is 457.2 mm and the conveyer 7 is in this case set at 80 elements per minute resulting in a conveying speed of the conveyer 7 of 36.576 meters per minute. At a roller angle RA of 14° of and a conveying speed of the conveyer 7 at 36.576 m/min the effective conveying speed of the driven cross-over rollers 8 is set at 155.2 m/min to ensure that the driven cross-over rollers 8 will convey the elongated wood elements 2 forward in the conveying direction substantially at the same speed as the conveyer 7 while at the same time displacing the elongated wood elements 2 transversely.

In the embodiment disclosed in fig. 3 the conveying speed of the driven cross-over rollers 8 in the conveying direction of the conveyer 7 is actually set slightly higher than the conveying speed of the conveyer 7 so that when the driven cross-over rollers 8 engage the elongated wood elements 2, a little lug gap 22 is formed between the lug means 15 and the elongated wood element 2 near the driven cross-over rollers 8. This is advantageous in that any knots, gnarls, flaps, or other irregularities in the elongated wood elements 2 are guided past the first edge of the lug means 15 to reduce the risk of these irregularities in the elongated wood elements 2 catching the or hitting the lug means 15 during the transversal displacement of the elongated wood elements 2.

In this embodiment the conveying speed of the driven cross-over rollers 8 is synchronized with the conveying speed of the conveyer 7 by the speed of the crossroller drive means 26 (see fig. 4 and 5) being electronically linked to the speed of the conveyer drive means 27 (see fig. 1 and 2) so that if the conveying speed of the conveyer 7 is changed, the conveying speed of the driven cross-over rollers 8 is changed accordingly to ensure that the driven cross-over rollers 8 will still convey the elongated wood elements 2 forward in the conveying direction substantially at the same speed as the conveyer 7. However, in another embodiment the conveying speed of the driven cross-over rollers 8 could be changed manually in accordance with changes in the conveying speed of the conveyer 7 and or the driven cross-over rollers 8 and the conveyer 7 could be driven by the same drive means.

In this embodiment the length of each of the driven cross-over rollers 8 is formed so that the extent in the conveying direction of the conveyer 7 corresponds with the distance between the lug means 15 of the conveyer 7 with a little added length so that the driven cross-over rollers 8 overlaps a little in the conveying direction. By overlapping the driven cross-over rollers 8 it is ensured that the elongated wood elements 2 are continuously engaged by a driven cross-over roller 8 until it has been sufficiently transversely displaced and by forming the driven cross-over rollers 8 as - in this case - four consecutive rollers 8, it is ensured that most of the time the driven cross-over rollers 8 only engage one elongated wood element 2 and that the driven cross-over rollers 8 can be formed more compact and less space consuming. Furthermore, making the driven cross-over rollers 8 only engage one elongated wood element 2 most of the time is also advantageous when supports rollers 9 and guide means 13 are provided - as will be discussed in relation to fig. 4 - in that the driven cross-over rollers 8 and/or the supports rollers 9 can be individually suspended to thereby compensate for any variation in vertical extent of the elongated wood elements 2 and thereby ensure better and more efficient transversal displacement of the elongated wood elements 2. However, in another embodiment the plant 1 could comprise another number of driven cross-over rollers 8 - such as tree, two, one or six, eight or even more - and/or the driven cross-over rollers 8 could be arranged differently e.g., with the first roller 8 furthest away from the conveyer and then arranged gradually closer to the conveyer 7.

In this embodiment the cross-roller drive means 26 (see fig. 4 and 5) and the conveyer drive means 27 (see fig. 1 and 2) are electrical motors but in another embodiment one or both could be hydraulic motors, pneumatic motors, internal combustion engines or other.

Fig. 4 illustrates a cut out showing driven cross-over rollers 8 and undriven support rollers 9, as seen from in a direction parallel with the longitudinal direction of the rollers 8, 9.

In this embodiment the driven cross-over rollers 8 are arranged to engage to upper side of the elongated wood elements 2 and in this case a support roller 9 is located vertically opposite and parallel to each of the driven cross-over rollers 8. I.e., in this embodiment each of the driven cross-over rollers 8 are matched by an undriven but otherwise substantially identical support roller 9 arranged to act as backing or vertically fixed support to the driven cross-over rollers 8 so that the support rollers 9 engage the underside of the elongated wood elements 2. However, in another embodiment the driven cross-over rollers 8 could be arranged to engage to underside of the elongated wood elements 2 and the undriven support rollers 9 would be arranged to engage the upper side of the elongated wood elements 2.

In this embodiment the support rollers 9 are mounted at a fixed vertical upper hight in relation to a support surface 10 (see fig. 1 and 2) of the conveyer 7 and the vertical position of the driven cross-over rollers 8 comprises adjusting means 11 so that the gap 12 between the driven cross-over rollers 8 and fixed support rollers 9 may be adjusted, typically to be a little less than the vertical hight of the elongated wood elements 2 lying on the support surface 10 (see fig. 1 and 2) of the conveyer 7 to ensure firm contact between the rollers 8, 9 and the elongated wood elements 2. However, in another embodiment the support rollers 9 or both the support rollers 9 and the driven cross-over rollers 8 would comprise adjusting means 11 and/or in another embodiment the vertical position of the upper rollers 8, 9 could be fixed and the bottom rollers 8, 9 could comprise the adjusting means 11 e.g. if the vertical position of the conveyer 7 was also adjusted in response to size changes of the elongated wood elements 2.

In this embodiment the adjusting means 11 comprises an electrical motor, guides, tracks and other arranged to displace the entire driven cross-over roller arrangement up and down linearly and vertically in response to input regarding the dimensions of the elongated wood elements 2 in a control unit. However, in another embodiment adjusting means 11 could be embodied through a tilting arrangement as discussed in the following in relation to the guide means 13, the adjusting means 11 could comprise means for manually adjusting the vertical position of one or both of the rollers 8, 9 or the adjusting means 11 could be enabled in numerous other ways known to the skilled person.

In this embodiment the driven cross-over rollers 8 are suspended by guide means 13 enabling vertical displacement of the driven cross-over rollers 8 and spring means 14 are arranged on the guide means 13 to push driven cross-over rollers 8 towards the vertically fixed support rollers 9. However, in another embodiment the support rollers 9 or both the support rollers 9 and the driven cross-over rollers 8 would comprise guide means 13 and spring means 14.

In this embodiment the guide means 13 comprise a tilt arm 23 suspended in a tilt bearing 24 at one end and holding a driven cross-over roller 8 at the other end while the spring means 14 in the form of an adjustable pneumatic spring is connected to the tilt arm 23 to force the tilt arm 23 downwards. In this embodiment the guide means also comprises a stop arm 25 acting as a stop regarding the downwards motion of the tilt arm 23. However, in another embodiment the stop arm 25 could be formed in another way and/or be formed integrally with the spring means 14 or the guide means 13, e.g., by the extreme expanded position of the pneumatic spring, by the guide means being unable to move below a certain vertical level or beyond a certain angle or other. In another embodiment the guide means 13 could also or instead comprise a linear guide, a telescopic arrangement or it could be formed in numerous other ways known to the skilled person. Also, in another embodiment the spring means 14 could be a coil spring, a torsion spring or another arrangement arranged to force the driven cross-over roller 8 against the elongated wood elements 2.

In this embodiment each driven cross-over roller 8 comprises its own guide means 13 and spring means 14 while the adjusting means 11 are arranged to move all the driven cross-over rollers 8 at the same time. Fig. 5 illustrates a cut out showing driven cross-over rollers 8 and driven support rollers 9, as seen from the side in a direction against the conveying direction. I.e., in this embodiment all the support rollers 9 are driven by the same support roller drive means 28 and all the driven cross-over rollers 8 are driven by the same cross-roller drive means 26 and the conveying speed of the support rollers 9 is set to be equal to the conveying speed of the driven cross-over rollers 8, in this case through an electronic link, since both the support roller drive means 28 and the cross-roller drive means 26 in this case are electric motors. However, in another embodiment the driven cross-over rollers 8 and the support rollers 9 could be driven by the same drive means or each driven cross-over roller 8 and/or each driven support roller 9 could comprise its own drive means.

The invention has been exemplified above with reference to specific examples of shapers 3, 5, conveyers 7, rollers 8, 9 and other. However, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular examples described above but may be designed and altered in a multitude of varieties within the scope of the invention as specified in the claims.

List

1. Shaping plant

2. Elongated wood elements

3. First shaper

4. First end of elongated wood elements

5. Second shaper

6. Second end of elongated wood elements

7. Conveyer

8. Driven cross-over roller

9. Support rollers

10. Support surface of conveyer

11. Adjusting means

12. Gap

13. Guide means

14. Spring means

15. Lug means

16. Transversal bar

17. Block

18. First assisting conveyer

19. Second assisting conveyer

20. Side conveyer

21. Aligning roller

22. Lug gap

23. Tilt arm

24. Tilt bearing

25. Stop arm

26. Cross-roller drive means

27. Conveyer drive means

28. Support roller drive means

RA. Roller angle