Log feeding apparatus, log processing apparatus having the same, and method of controlling the same
AssigneeMeinan Machinery Works, Inc.
InventorsKeita Konishi, Naruhito Kanahara, Kiyoshi Morimoto
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A log feeding apparatus for feeding a log to first and second cutting spindles is provided, in which a log is fed to a second receiving position when centering spindles have reached a second delivery position that is away from the second receiving position downstream in the direction of log transport by a distance equal to or greater than an assumed maximum diameter of the log. That is, a new log is transported to the second receiving position by placing sections when the log held between the centering spindles reaches a position that will avoid contact with the new log. As a result, the time can be reduced for transporting the log to the cutting spindles.
Claims14
A log feeding apparatus for feeding a log to first and second cutting spindles that are capable of holding the log therebetween at first and second end surfaces of the log in a longitudinal direction of the log, the log feeding apparatus comprising:
- a centering unit located upstream of the first and second cutting spindles in a transport direction of the log, the centering unit including first and second centering spindles that are capable of holding the log therebetween at the first and second end surfaces;
- a log feeding unit located upstream of the centering unit in the transport direction of the log, the log feeding unit being reciprocally movable between a first receiving position to receive the log and a first delivery position located downstream of said first receiving position in the transport direction to deliver the log to the first and second centering spindles;
- a transport unit including first and second clamping arms configured to clamp the log, the transport unit being disposed between the first and second centering spindles and the first and second cutting spindles such that the log is transported from the first and second centering spindles to the first and second cutting spindles;
- a drive unit that is connected to the centering unit and causes the centering unit to move reciprocally between a second receiving position where the centering unit receives the log from the log feeding unit and a second delivery position where the first and second centering spindles delivers the log to the first and second clamping arms, the second delivery position being away from the second receiving position by a distance equal to or greater than a maximum diameter of the log in the transport direction;
- and
- a controller configured to, when the first and second centering spindles are holding no log, drive control the log feeding unit toward the first delivery position to feed a new log to the first and second centering spindles regardless of the position of the centering unit,
- the controller further configured to, when the first and second centering spindles are holding the log, drive control the log feeding unit toward the first delivery position to feed a new log to the first and second centering spindles after the centering unit has moved a distance equal to or greater than the maximum diameter of the log from the second receiving position downstream in the transport direction of the log.
A log feeding apparatus for feeding a log to first and second cutting spindles that are capable of holding the log therebetween at first and second end surfaces of the log in a longitudinal direction of the log, the log feeding apparatus comprising:
- a centering unit located upstream of the first and second cutting spindles in a transport direction of the log, the centering unit including first and second centering spindles that are capable of holding the log therebetween at the first and second end surfaces;
- a log feeding unit located upstream of the centering unit in the transport direction of the log, the log feeding unit being reciprocally movable between a first receiving position to receive the log and a first delivery position located downstream of said first receiving position in the transport direction to deliver the log to the first and second centering spindles;
- a transport unit including first and second clamping arms configured to clamp the log, the transport unit being disposed between the first and second centering spindles and the first and second cutting spindles such that the log is transported from the first and second centering spindles to the first and second cutting spindles;
- a drive unit that is connected to the centering unit and causes the centering unit to move reciprocally between a second receiving position where said centering unit receives the log from the log feeding unit and a second delivery position where the first and second centering spindles delivers the log to the first and second clamping arms, the second delivery position being away from the second receiving position by a distance equal to or greater than a maximum diameter of the log in the transport direction;
- and
- a measuring unit disposed upstream of the first receiving position in the transport direction of the log and configured to measure a temporary diameter of the log;
- and
- a controller including a storage unit for storing the measured temporary diameter of the log and a calculation unit for calculating a safety distance that is equal to or greater than a value that is obtained by dividing by two the sum of a first temporary diameter of the log currently held between the first and second centering spindles and a second temporary diameter of a new log to be fed to the first receiving position among the temporary diameters stored in said storage unit,
- the controller configured to, when the first and second centering spindles are holding no log, drive control the log feeding unit toward the first delivery position to feed a new log to the first and second centering spindles regardless of the position of the centering unit, the controller further configured to, when the first and second centering spindles are holding the log, drive control the log feeding unit toward the first delivery position based on the distance the centering unit has moved from the second receiving position toward the second delivery position and also based on the safety distance.
A method for controlling a log feeding apparatus, the apparatus including a centering unit having first and second centering spindles that are capable of holding a log therebetween at the first and second end faces of the log in a longitudinal direction of the log, a transport unit including first and second clamping arm that are capable of holding the log therebetween, and first and second cutting spindles that are capable of holding the log therebetween, wherein the log fed to the centering unit is fed to the first and second cutting spindles by the log transport unit, the method comprising:
- (a) feeding the log to the centering unit located at a receiving position;
- (b) holding the fed log between the first and second centering spindles;
- (c) calculating a cutting axis center line of the log by rotating the first and second centering spindles, and positioning the log at a rotational angle corresponding to the calculated cutting axis center line;
- (d) moving the centering unit from the receiving position to a delivery position where the log is delivered from the first and second centering spindles to the first and second clamping arms, the delivery position being away from the receiving position downstream in a transport direction of the log by a distance equal to or greater than a maximum diameter of the log;
- (e) feeding a new log to the receiving position after the centering unit has moved from the receiving position by the distance that is equal to or greater than the maximum diameter of the log;
- (f) when the centering unit has reached the delivery position, delivering the log from the first and second centering spindles to the first and second clamping arms;
- and
- (g) feeding the log from the first and second clamping arms to the first and second cutting spindles.
A method for controlling a log feeding apparatus, the apparatus including a centering unit having first and second centering spindles that are capable of holding a log therebetween at the first and second end faces of the log in a longitudinal direction of the log, a transport unit having first and second clamping arms to hold the log therebetween, and first and second cutting spindles that are capable of holding the log therebetween, wherein the log fed to the centering unit is fed to first and second cutting spindles by the transport unit, the method comprising:
- measuring a temporary diameter of the log and storing the measured temporary diameter;
- feeding the log to the centering unit located at a receiving position;
- holding the fed log between first and second centering spindles;
- calculating a cutting axis center line of the log by rotating the first and second centering spindles, and positioning the log at a rotational angle corresponding to the calculated cutting axis center line;
- moving the centering unit from the receiving position to a delivery position where the log is delivered from the first and second centering spindles to the first and second clamping arms, the delivery position being away from the receiving position by a distance equal to or greater than a maximum diameter of the log downstream in the direction of log transport;
- calculating a safe distance that is equal to or greater than a value obtained by dividing by two the sum of the temporary diameter of the log currently held between the first and second centering spindles among the stored temporary diameters and a temporary diameter of a new log to be fed to the receiving position;
- feeding the new log to receiving position based on the movement distance by which the centering unit has moved from the receiving position to the delivery position and also based on the safe distance;
- when the centering unit has reached the delivery position, delivering the log from the first and second centering spindles to the first and second clamping arms;
- and
- feeding the log from the first and second clamping arms to first and second cutting spindles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.