Chipping, profiling, and sawing systems for lumber production
OwnerAnthony J. La Salata, Petri Jalmari Saastamo +1inventors
InventorsAnthony J. La Salata, Petri Jalmari Saastamo, Matthew L. Ballantyne
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure provides embodiments of systems and apparatuses for cutting workpieces (e.g., logs or cants) into lumber. In some embodiments, a saw module includes a saw box that is suspended from a beam, movable laterally and vertically relative to the beam, and pivotable about a vertical pivot axis. Embodiments of a chipper profiler module, an infeed module, a mid-feed module, and an outfeed module are also disclosed. A system for cutting workpiece into lumber may include any of the modules in various combinations.
Claims20
An apparatus for sawing a cant longitudinally as the cant is moved lineally along a feed axis in a first direction, the apparatus comprising:
- a frame having a pair of horizontal beams that are disposed above, and transverse to, the feed axis and spaced apart along the first direction;
- a first support assembly having a first platform, the first platform being supported on, and slideably mounted to, the horizontal beams;
- and
- a saw box movably coupled with the first support assembly such that the saw box is supported by the beams and disposed below the beams,
- wherein the first support assembly is movable, relative to the beams, in opposite directions along a horizontal path that is above and transverse to the feed axis to thereby move the saw box laterally relative to the feed axis,
- wherein the saw box is pivotable, relative to the first support assembly, about a vertical axis;
- and
- wherein the saw box is vertically movable relative to the first support assembly.
An apparatus for chipping and profiling a workpiece longitudinally as the workpiece is moved lineally along a feed axis in a first direction, wherein the workpiece is a log or a cant, the apparatus comprising:
- a frame having a first beam and a second beam that are disposed above, and transverse to, the feed axis, parallel to one another, and spaced apart along the first direction,
- a first chipper assembly slideably mounted to the first beam, and
- a first profiler assembly slideably mounted to the second beam, wherein the first chipper assembly and the first profiler assembly are movable independently of one another, along respective horizontal paths, in a first direction toward the feed axis and in a second direction away from the feed axis.
A feed module for feeding a workpiece axially in a first direction along a feed axis, the feed module comprising:
- a base;
- a feed assembly having a frame and a plurality of opposing feed members rotatably coupled to the frame to form a feed opening;
- and
- a platform assembly mounted to a first side of the frame, wherein the platform assembly includes a first platform that extends from the first side of the frame,
- wherein the feed assembly is slideably mounted to the base such that the feed assembly is laterally movable, relative to the base, from an operational position in which the feed axis extends through the feed opening to a maintenance position in which the feed axis extends over the fixed platform.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.