Method and apparatus for sawing logs into lengths

Apparatus for cutting logs into random lengths in accordance with the respective profiles of the logs to obtain advantageous use of the wood therein, said apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of chop saws each mounted on a carriage adapted to travel longitudinally of a log, said chop saws each having a circular saw blade and being operable to swing said blade through cutting and return strokes across the log,
• drive means for shifting the carriages laterally towards and away from one another,
• a plurality of log holders spaced apart to support the log at intervals along the length thereof, said log holders each having a log ramp and a log stop movable to provide said log holder with a log-cradling position and a collapsed position clear of the log,
• operating means for shifting the log holders between the log-cradling and collapsed positions,
• a detecting device for actuating each operating means to shift the associated log holder to the collapsed position when said holder is an obstruction to the circular saw blade of an adjacent chop saw,
• a locating device for locating an end of the log on the plurality of log holders and determining the position of said log end relative to a reference datum line extending transversely of the log,
• scanning means for scanning the log delivered to the plurality of log holders whereby to obtain profile data of the log, and
• a computer having a memory with desirable cutting data thereon, said computer being operatively connected to the locating device, the drive means and the scanning means whereby the plurality of chop saws are positioned relative to the reference datum line to cut the log into optimum random lengths.

A method for cutting logs into random lengths in accordance with the respective profiles of the logs to obtain advantageous use of the wood therein, said method comprising the steps of:

• scanning each log to obtain profile data thereof,
• feeding said profile data into a computer having a memory with desirable cutting length data therein, said computer comparing said profile data with said desirable cutting data,
• supporting the log at longitudinal intervals and in a position to be sawn,
• locating an end of the supported log to determine the position of said log end relative to a reference datum line, and
• shifting a plurality of saws in the direction longitudinally of the log in accordance with the compared profile data and located log end to position said saws to cut the log into optimum random lengths relative to said profile data.