New Friendly Auto Feeders for Fingerjointers

(October 2006) Redmond’s #3 fingerjoint machine was the first to get a new auto feeder at the #2 station in July. All three Redmond machines should have the new systems by late October and then the team will shift their attention to six machines in Madras.

“The new auto feeders are a darn good idea,” Orville Wray, Redmond Fingerjoint manager, said. “From a company standpoint, you are doing the same level of production with one less person per machine. We have three machines in Redmond so you are reducing crew size by six people per day when you count both shifts. Obviously, that is a lot of money saved and we are expecting a six-month return on investment per machine.”

The Bend Maintenance group – including Mark Ingram, Stan Ipock, John Lowas, and Bob Wilson – designed the new auto feeders to be both operator and maintenance friendly. “It is an entirely new concept in corner feeders on fingerjoint machines,” Bob Wilson, chief designer, said. “The length of transfer has not been done before and the variation in thickness and speed is also a new area.”

The new belt-drive systems are a simpler design than their brush-drive counterparts, making for easier set ups and less maintenance. Operators can control belt speed and quickly make adjustments for product height during changeovers.

“One of the things that makes repairs on these machines unique is the top and bottom belts slip off,” John Lowas said. “A lot of other belts have to be vulcanized in place. In other words, they have to cut the belt off, put a new belt on, and cook it all on the machine. This one slips on and off so it can be replaced in just five minutes.” The operator also has the option of using the opposite side of the belt before replacement becomes necessary.

“This is a major maintenance friendly modification over the old style,” Al Campbell, Madras Fingerjoint Continuous Improvement Projects manager, said. “The Bend team did a good job of understanding the needs of the operators with the design.”

Another improvement includes using electric motors instead of hydraulic. “The electrical is just so much smoother and more consistent than the hydraulic,” Stan Ipock, Bend Maintenance manager, said. “It helps tremendously.”

“We also made several other upgrades to the lug chain, crossover and assembly drives, and the PLC controls in order to ensure proper transfer of the wood to and from the auto feeders,” Mark Ingram, former Bend Maintenance manager and currently Support Service Maintenance manager, said.

Bend’s millwrights are building the new auto feeders in their shop. Each one is a little different due to the make of the fingerjoint machine and the products run on that line. Installation typically takes one week, with a great deal of prep work and help from electricians and other millwrights.

All four members of the Bend design team thanked Redmond electricians Mike Chilcott and Al Beasley, the Madras Electrical Construction Department, and Redmond millwrights for their help installing the first auto feeders.

Thanks also to the Redmond fingerjointers who followed up after the new equipment was in place. They helped with testing and determining the best electrical and mechanical settings on the machines’ auto feeders.

Other Newsletter Articles:

Fever Signals Trouble for Equipment Too (October 2006)

Madras Machinist Heads to Iraq with Navy Seabees (October 2006)

705 Rebuild Team Outpaces Schedule (June 2006)

Madras Door Frame Plant Nails All Box Score Targets in March (June 2006)

Take the Steering Wheel with Diabetes (June 2006)

2P + 2 Products + 2 Crew Members =
2 Percentage Points to Run Time Goal (March 2006)

Consolidation Idea Rejuvenates Skid Row (March 2006)

In-Plant Mill Supplies Keep Drivers Home (March 2006)

Bright People Donate $11,742 to Central Oregon Charities in December (March 2006)

Bright Wood to Close Bend Facility (Company announcement released February 17, 2006)

Nine Bright Wood fingerjoint machines in Redmond and Madras are slated for new auto feeders at the #2 station. The new systems – designed by a Bend Maintenance team – are already winning praise from fingerjointers for cost savings and ease of use. Pictured: Bend millwrights John Lowas and Bob Wilson during the July installation of the first auto feeder on Redmond’s #3 machine.

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