Veneer lathe apparatus and method using independently adjustable powered back-up roll

Abstract

A veneer lathe log peeling apparatus and method of producing wood veneer are disclosed employing a powered back-up roll for adding torque to and preventing deflection of log cores of small diameter. The powered roll and an idler roll are positioned in contact with the side of the log in spaced relationship so that the resultant force vector of the cutting forces produced by the lathe knife and the nose bar is directed between the idler roll and the powered roll. The angular and radial positions of the idler roll and the power roll relative to each other and with respect to the axis of rotation of the log are independently adjusted by an automatic control means, in response to decreases in the diameter of the log being peeled. The automatic control means preferably includes separate servo means for adjusting the positions of the powered roll and the idler roll and the speed of the powered roll in response to output control signals of a microprocessor computer having input signals corresponding to the diameter of the log, the speed of rotation of the log and the veneer thickness. Preferably the idler roll is positioned on the opposite side of the log from the knife means and the powered roll is positioned above such knife means. Therefore, the additional torque applied to the log by the power roll automatically increases when the log core tends to deflect thereby self-compensating to prevent such deflection.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.