Method and apparatus for manufacturing wood products from tree trunks

Apparatus for the manufacture of wood products from a tree trunk, comprising feeding means for carrying the tree trunk, the feeding means being moveable together with the tree trunk along a feeding track running substantially in the longitudinal direction of the tree trunk, at least a portion of the said feeding track including a working zone having an arrayed series of a plurality of tools disposed adjacent to the working zone of the feeding track, a selected one or more of the plurality of tools being moveable into and out of woodworking contact with the tree trunk, characterized in that the feeding means are moveable both in backward and forward directions along the generally linear feeding track, each one of the plurality of tools being carried by corresponding modular drive units provided along the working zone at least on one side of the tree trunk for engagement with the tree trunk, each one of the drive units being moveable in a direction transverse to the feeding track for selected application of the corresponding tools between an operative position wherein the tools are adapted to contact the tree trunk and an idle position wherein the tools are adapted to be out of contact with the tree trunk.