Log-planing machine

A log-planing machine comprising a plurality of longitudinally-spaced supports for supporting a log for movement along a substantially horizontal path, means positioned above said supports for engagement with the upper side of a log resting on the supports, said means being operable to move the log along the supports, cutting instrumentalities located at longitudinally-spaced intervals along the path of movement of the log, said cutting instrumentalities being supported at different circumferential positions such as to collectively and successively remove material from the arcuate side surfaces of the log, said cutting instrumentalities being so distributed that a first set removes material from opposite sides of the log substantially at the center, and the succeeding instrumentalities remove material from the side surfaces above the center and below the center, guide means associated with the first cutting instrumentalities which, by engagement with the side surfaces of the log, cause the cutters to follow the natural contour of the log and to limit the depth of the cut, and means associated with the succeeding cutting instrumentalities adapted by engagement with the center cuts to cause the succeeding cutting instrumentalities to follow the contour of the first cuts and remove material to a corresponding depth.

A log-planing machine comprising a supporting frame, means on the supporting frame for supporting a log for movement along a predetermined horizontal path, means supported above the supporting means at longitudinally-spaced intervals operable by engagement with a log resting on the supporting means to move the log along said path, cutting instrumentalities supported along the sides of the supporting means at longitudinally-spaced intervals operable to remove material from the sides at different peripheral positions and different longitudinal positions, guide means associated with the first of the cutting instrumentalities for causing the first of the instrumentalities to follow the curvature of the side surfaces of the log and limiting the cut to a predetermined depth, guide means associated with each of the succeeding cutting instrumentalities to cause it to follow the cuts made by the preceding cutting instrumentalities, and means yieldably holding the cutting instrumentalities in cutting engagement with the sides of the log as the log is moved relative thereto.

A log planing machine comprising a supporting frame, a plurality of longitudinally-spaced supports for supporting the log for movement along a substantially horizontal path, means positioned above the supports for engagement with the upper side of the log resting on the support, said means being operable to move the log along the support, cutting instrumentalities, means supporting the cutting instrumentalities along the path of movement of the log at different peripheral positions and in succession at longitudinally-spaced intervals along the path of movement for arcuate movement relative to the path of travel, means for moving the cutting instrumentalities into engagement with the surface of the log, means movable transversely with respect to the path of movement of the log according to a selected pattern to cause the first of the cutting instrumentalities in the succession of cutting instrumentalities to follow said selected pattern and means movable transversely with respect to the path of movement of the log according to the pattern generated by the first of the cutting instrumentalities in the succession of cutting instrumentalities to cause the successive cutting instrumentalities to reproduce the cut produced by the first of the cutting instrumentalities at different peripheral positions on the log.

A log planing machine comprising means for supporting, guiding and moving a log along a predetermined rectilinear path in a substantially horizontal plane, circular cutters in succession, supporting arms supporting the cutters at longitudinally-spaced positions along said path and at different circumferential positions about the axis of the log traveling along the path, said cutter supporting arms supporting the cutters for rotation about their centers and for arcuate movement toward and from the path of movement of the logs, means for moving and supporting the cutters yieldably engaged with the log, means mounted on the supporting arm of the first cutter extending radially from the center of rotation of the cutter in the succession beyond the peripheral cutting edge thereof for engagement with the surface of the log for causing the first of the cutters to follow the longitudinal contour of the log and means mounted on the supporting arms of the succeeding cutters and extending radially from the center of rotation thereof, so positioned as to have engagement with the surface generated by the first of the cutters to cause the succeeding cutters to reproduce the surface contour generated by the first cutter.