Feature Benefits of the VPGTM System
The VPGTM Stacker System Delivers World-Class Features
Gillingham-Best, Inc. specializes in automatic "VPG" sticklaying stackers. Over 90% of our business is in this one product. The top manager and engineer have over 50 years combined experience in the design, production, and installation of these stackers.
When all factors are considered, the Gillingham-Best "VPG" stacker system will provide the sawmill owner a higher ROI than any other stacker investment. The simple rugged design features:
- Single man operation with high efficiency.
- Excess stacking capacity for future production expansion.
- Minimal maintenance, no scheduled PM.
- Perfect sticker alignment even with bowed boards maximizes recovery.
- Maximum turns per sticker. Mill sets discard standards, rather than the machinery.
- No costly annual service contract required.
- Quote includes all start up and training expense. No hidden "end of the job" costs.
- Simplified electrical installation with remote I/O panels.
A more detailed discussion of these items follows.
Lumber Stacker Overview
| Competitor |
|
Gillingham-Best |
| Full hydraulic system pressure to raise sticker arms. |
|
Reduced hydraulic pressure to raise sticker pans. Prevents damage in a jam. |
| Extent of monitoring unknown. |
|
PLC monitors pan pick up cycle. Alerts operator to failure. Reverses command. |
| Sticker cycle starts when forks are out over the load. |
|
Sticker cycle starts when forks start. |
| Sticker is raised up while stacker forks are out over the load. |
|
Sticker is raised when forks are at the home position. |
| Sticker holding pan travels back to home under the raised sticker. See lifter diagram. |
|
Stick travels directly into the pan. |
| Pinch and feed feeder provides (1) sticker/rev. |
|
Tong style feeder gives (4) stickers/rev. |
| Separate motor/gearbox and mechanical brake for feeder. |
|
Tong feeder powered from stick distribution drive using VFD with dynamic brake. |
| Sticker end evening, crowd on lug chains. |
|
End evening door at entrance to unscrambler, cylinder driven. |
| No kick-off in unscrambler. |
|
Kick-off for doubled sticker in the unscrambler. (Singulator) |
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Sticker System
| Competitor |
|
Gillingham-Best |
| Same sticker chain advance for every length of lumber. |
|
Advance varies with length of lumber. |
| Sticker distribution chain has set pattern of different lug spaces. |
|
Sticker distribution chain lug spaces are all the same. |
| Specific lug must be set to the timing marks |
|
Any lug can be set to the timing marks |
| Sticker travels behind the lug pushed by a crowder chain |
|
Sticker travels in front of the lug |
| Width of pick up arm equals width of stickers |
|
Width of pick up pan is 3 times the width of the sticker |
| Pick up arms raise sticker 7" |
|
Pick up pan raises sticker 2" |
|
|
|
Lumber Stacker Carriage (Forks)
| Competitor |
|
Gillingham-Best |
| Overstroke to reach package area 18" min |
|
Overstroke to reach package area 4" min |
| Motor powered thru starter in MCC |
|
Mechanical brake to stop. |
| Fork tip lift at beginning of stroke 9". Cam with single section cylinder. |
|
Fork tip lift at beginning of stroke 3". Direct double section cylinder. |
| Forks welded to cross tube, cut or shrink to align, cut to replace. |
|
Fork tip rollers, plastic on steel pin, greaseable |
| Motor powered by VFD, Allen-Bradley |
|
Electronic brake to stop, dual modules. |
| Forks bolted to cross tube, shim to align, unbolt to replace. |
|
Fork tip rollers, plastic with ball bearings, greaseable, double flange for guidance. |
|
|
|
Overhead Lumber/Sticker Rake-Off
| Competitor |
|
Gillingham-Best |
| Single cross tube w/Z-chain equalizer, or rack and pinion. |
|
Double cross tube w/overhead 8" pipe equalizer. |
| Roller chain connection to lift cylinder. |
|
Leaf chain connection to lift cylinder. |
| Monitoring unknown |
|
PLC monitors position before cycle |
|
|
|
Front Lumber Stops
| Competitor |
|
Gillingham-Best |
| Fixed in vertical direction |
|
Moves down at beginning of each cycle |
| Manually adjusted for course width with wheel and pin |
|
Adjusted for course width using 3 position switch on console |
| Incremental Positioning |
|
Continuous positioning |
|
|
|
Overhead Lumber Pinch
| Competitor |
|
Gillingham-Best |
| Fixed in vertical direction |
|
Hydraulically moves down at beginning of each cycle |
| Manually adjusted for lumber thickness or bow with a lever and pin |
|
Incremental positioning |
| Adjusted for lumber thickness or bow using 3 position switch on console |
|
Continuous positioning |
|
|
|
Controls
| Competitor |
|
Gillingham-Best |
| Hard wiring to all locations for control |
|
"Blue Hose" from PLC to 4 pre wired centers |
| Console uses push buttons and switches |
|
Console uses combination of PB, switches and MMI screen |
| Monitoring unknown |
|
All cycle conditions monitored and displayed |
| No MMI Screen |
|
Stacker set-up and timing adjustments through MMI screen |
|
|
|
Cold Weather Provisions
| Competitor |
|
Gillingham-Best |
| No cold weather provisions |
|
Three (3) hydraulic bleed valves provided for critical timing circuits. Thermostatically controlled. |
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