System for orienting logs for lumber processing
AssigneeU.S. Natural Resources, Inc.
InventorsWilliam E. Bolton, John C. Holbert, Jeffrey D. Ballance, Robert A. Records
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system that rotatively orients and skew positions a log for lumber processing. A log is placed in centering V's and rough centered. Rotatable scan spindles rotate the log while scanners obtain measurements at spaced locations along the log length and at selected rotative positions. Each angular position is analyzed for an optimum cutting pattern and the spindles are rotated to rotate the log into the most desirable angular position. The log is skew adjusted by the scan spindles and/or knee clamps in a carriage and conveyed to a saw array. A computer controls the cutting action to achieve the selected cutting pattern.
Claims9
A method for lumber processing comprising;
- rotating a log about its approximate geometric axis,
- scanning the log at spaced positions along its length to obtain orthogonal X-Y dimensional data at selected angular orientations of the rotating log,
- analyzing the various X-Y dimensional data and determining the angular orientation for a desired cutting pattern to be derived from the log, and
- repositioning the angular orientation of the log for feeding the log through lumber processing saws aligned to cut the lumber pieces out of the log according to the desired cutting pattern.
A system for processing logs into lumber comprising;
- (a) first conveyor apparatus for conveying logs laterally,
- (b) a rough centering apparatus sequentially receiving the logs conveyed by the first conveyor apparatus and establishing a geometric center at each end of a log and positioning the established log end centers at a predetermined location,
- (c) a scanning apparatus including opposed retractable spindles for end pinning a centered log at the established log end center locations, drive means for rotating the spindles and the log thereby, and scanning means obtaining scan data of log dimensions at spaced positions along the log length and at determined rotative angular positions of the log,
- (d) a saw means, and conveyor clamping means receiving and clamping the log in a computer selected rotative position established for the log following scanning thereof, said conveyor clamping means conveying the log to the saw means, and adjustable means adjusting the relative position of the saw and log held by the conveyor clamping means for cutting multiple slabs from the log in accordance with a computer selected predetermined cutting pattern, and
- (e) computer means for collecting the scan data and from the scan data, determining the desired rotative orientation of the log and the desired cutting pattern at that rotative orientation, instructing the drive means for rotating the spindles to obtain the desired rotative orientation, and instructing the adjustable means for adjusting the position of the log relative to the saw for achieving the desired cutting pattern.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.