US 11,135,735 B2Granted

Precut processing of logs by cutting through a workpiece with independent saws

AssigneeUsnr, LLC

InventorChristopher W. Blomquist

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A precut module with one or more profiling heads and/or circular saws may be provided upstream of a saw module. The precut module may be used to implement a portion of a cut that would otherwise be made by the saw module, thereby reducing the depth of cut required at the saw module. In some embodiments, profiling heads may be used to profile a block that is wider than a desired side board. The block may be cut from the workpiece and sent to the edger. This may provide the same or better wood volume recovery and/or throughput speed than profiling the side board or cutting the side board from a flitch. In some embodiments, cut patterns for the precut module and other machine centers may be calculated and/or selected based on a desired depth of cut at the saw module, desired throughput speed, wood volume recovery, and/or other parameters.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A system for cutting a desired cut product from a workpiece as the workpiece is conveyed lineally in a first direction along a flow axis, wherein the workpiece is a log or a cant and the desired cut product is a side board that has a first face, an opposite second face, and longitudinal edges that are perpendicular to the faces, the system comprising:

a presaw module disposed along the flow axis, wherein the presaw module includes a pair of first saw arbors oriented transverse to the flow axis and configured to accommodate one or more first circular saw blades;
a first saw module positioned along the flow axis downstream of the presaw module, wherein the first saw module includes one or more saws;
and
a profiler module with a plurality of profiling heads positioned along the flow axis downstream of the presaw module,
wherein the profiler module is selectively operable to form the longitudinal edges of the desired cut product as the workpiece is transported lineally in the first direction along the flow axis,
wherein the presaw module and the first saw module are selectively operable to cut the workpiece longitudinally, within a first plane, along a first portion and a second portion, respectively, of a desired through-cut through the workpiece to form the first face of the desired cut product as the workpiece is transported lineally in the first direction along the flow axis, wherein the first portion and the second portion of the through-cut lie within the first plane, and wherein the presaw module and the first saw module are selectively operable, independently of each other, to cut the workpiece longitudinally along the respective first and second portions of the through-cut.

3 more elements

a presaw module disposed along the flow axis, wherein the presaw module includes a pair of first saw arbors oriented transverse to the flow axis and configured to accommodate one or more first circular saw blades;
a first saw module positioned along the flow axis downstream of the presaw module, wherein the first saw module includes one or more saws;
and
an additional module with two or more cutting members positioned along the flow axis downstream of the presaw module,
wherein the cutting members are selectively operable to form the longitudinal edges of the desired cut product as the workpiece is transported lineally in the first direction along the flow axis,
wherein the presaw module and the first saw module are selectively operable to cut the workpiece longitudinally, within a first plane, along a first portion and a second portion, respectively, of a desired through-cut through the workpiece to form the first face of the desired cut product as the workpiece is transported lineally in the first direction along the flow axis, and wherein the first portion and the second portion of the through-cut lie within the first plane, and wherein the presaw module and the first saw module are selectively operable, independently of each other, to cut the workpiece longitudinally along the respective first and second portions of the through-cut.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/003,977Filed 8 Jun 2018 · continuation
Priority: 31 Mar 2015
Published: US 2018/0290326 A111 Oct 2018
Granted: 5 Oct 2021
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification13 codes

B26D 5/005
Arrangements for operating and controlling machines or devices for cutting, cutting-out, stamping-out, punching, perforating, or severing by…
B26D 5/007
Arrangements for operating and controlling machines or devices for cutting, cutting-out, stamping-out, punching, perforating, or severing by…
B26D 11/00
Combinations of several similar cutting apparatus
B27B 1/00
Methods for subdividing trunks or logs essentially involving sawing

Family

Application62/141,062Us provisional application · filed 31 Mar 2015
Application15/087,056Parent of this continuation · filed 31 Mar 2016
US 2018/0290326 A1Pre-grant publication · published 11 Oct 2018
US 9,993,933 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2016/0288354 A1Published application
US 11,135,735 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.