End-dogging log carriage
OwnerRalph Wijesingheinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An end-dogging log carriage including a first dog assembly with a first dog member rotatably mounted thereon and a second dog assembly with a second dog member rotatably mounted thereon. A log is supported solely by the first and second dog members engaging opposite ends of the log. At least one of the dog members is movable horizontally and vertically to orient the log to a desired position for sawing the log. There may be an indexing device operatively connected to one of the dog members through a clutch. The log may be rotated for scanning when the clutch is disengaged. The indexing device and the clutch are engaged after the log is oriented in a rotational position for a first sawing operation. The clutch is left engaged and the indexing device is employed to rotate the log through the required angle for the next sawing operation.
Claims19
An end-dogging log carriage, comprising:
- a carriage frame;
- a first dog assembly mounted on the carriage frame and having a first dog support and a first log end engaging dog member rotatably mounted on the first dog support;
- a second dog assembly mounted on the carriage frame, the second dog assembly having a second dog support and a second log end engaging dog member rotatably mounted on the second dog support, the second dog member generally facing the first dog member and being spaced-apart therefrom;
- a motor operatively connected to one of the dog members for rotating said dog members and logs held between the dog members;
- an indexing device including a rotatable member and a latching device which is releasably engagable with the rotatable member at one of a plurality of preset positions;
- and
- a clutch which releasably and operatively engages the indexing device to one of the dog members, whereby the dog members and logs held between the dog members are non-rotatable when the clutch and the latching device are engaged, the dog members and logs held between the dog members being rotatable when the clutch is released, and the dog members and logs held between the dog members being selectively rotatable to a plurality of fixed angular positions when the clutch is engaged and the latching device engages the rotatable member at different said preset positions.
In combination:
- a log;
- a saw having a blade;
- a guide track near the saw running parallel to the saw blade;
- and
- an end-dogging log carriage movably mounted on the guide track for movement therealong, the carriage including a carriage frame, a first dog assembly mounted on the frame having a first dog support and a first log end engaging dog member rotatably mounted on the first dog support, and a second dog assembly mounted on the frame having a second dog support and a second log end engaging dog member rotatably mounted on the second dog support, the log being between the dog members and being solely supported by the first and second dog members engaging opposite ends of the log, the carriage including means for moving at least one said dog member with respect to the carriage frame to orient the log to a desired position for sawing the log when the carriage moves along the guide track.
An end-dogging log carriage for supporting a log by the ends of the log only and moving the log generally along the longitudinal axis of the log past a saw blade to saw the log, the carriage comprising;
- a carriage frame having guide members thereon for guiding movement of the carriage parallel to said axis;
- a first dog assembly mounted on the frame and having a first dog support with a first dog member rotatably mounted thereon, a motor operatively connected to the first dog member for rotating the first dog member, a first guide and a first actuator operatively connected to the first dog member support and capable of moving the first dog member horizontally and perpendicular to said axis, and a second guide and a second actuator operatively connected to the first dog support and capable of moving the first dog member vertically;
- a second dog assembly mounted on the frame and having a second dog support with a second dog member rotatably mounted thereon and facing the first dog member, an indexing device selectively engagable in any of a plurality of rotational positions, a clutch operatively connecting the indexing device to the second dog member when engaged, a third actuator and a third guide operatively connected to the second dog support and capable of moving the second dog member horizontally and perpendicular to said axis, and a fourth actuator and a fourth guide operatively connected to the second dog support and capable of moving the second dog member vertically;
- and
- a fifth actuator and a fifth guide operatively connected to one of the dog assemblies and capable of moving the dog members closer together or further apart.
A method of handling a log for scanning and sawing thereof, comprising:
- dogging the ends of the log with opposing end-dog members;
- removing any intermediate supports between the ends of the log;
- aligning the dog members with the longitudinal axis of the log;
- rotating the log;
- moving at least one of the dog members perpendicular to the axis to orient the log in a desired cutting orientation;
- connecting one of the dog members to an indexing device;
- engaging the indexing device in a first position so the log is held non-rotatably between the dog members at a first angular position about its axis;
- sawing the log;
- engaging the indexing device in a second position so the log is held non-rotatably between the dog members at a second angular position about its axis;
- and
- sawing the log again.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.