Saw mill apparatus and method
AssigneeRayonier Inc.
InventorsBarry Wilson, John Sanders
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Saw mill apparatus and method are disclosed which provide improved cutting of logs. The saw mill apparatus supports and advances a log towards the saw mill's saw assembly and cuts the log longitudinally by a pair of parallel band saws. Blade guides are mounted to the blades of each of the band saws and are movable along the blades toward and away from the log being cut. The diameter of the log is sensed at plural longitudinal positions thereof and the blade guides are displaced along the band saw blades in response to each of the sensed diameters so that the blade guides are continuously positioned in close proximity to the log while it is being cut.
Claims21
A saw mill apparatus comprising:
- an endless log carrier for supporting and advancing a log along a given path longitudinally through a saw assembly;
- a band saw including a parallel endless band saw blade positioned in the path of said log and for cutting longitudinally said log moving through said apparatus;
- a blade guide for guiding said band saw blade, said blade guide being mounted to said band saw;
- sensing means for sensing a diameter of said log at a plurality of longitudinal positions;
- and
- blade guide displacement means for displacing said blade guide along said band saw blade in response to the sensed diameters and for positioning said blade guide in close proximity to said log for minimizing blade wobble throughout cutting of the log.
A saw mill apparatus, comprising:
- an endless log carrier for supporting and advancing a log along a given path longitudinally through a saw assembly;
- a band saw including first and second parallel endless band saw blades both positioned in the path of said log and for cutting longitudinally said log moving through said apparatus;
- a first blade guide for guiding said first band saw blade, said first blade guide being mounted to said band saw, and said first blade guide being movable along said first band saw blade toward and away from said log being cut;
- a second blade guide for guiding said second band saw blade, said second blade guide being mounted to said band saw, and said second blade guide being movable along said second band saw blade toward and away from said log being cut;
- sensing means for sensing a diameter of said log at a plurality of longitudinal positions of the log;
- and
- blade guide displacement means for displacing said first and second blade guides along said first and second band saw blades, respectively, in response to the sensed diameters for positioning said first and second blade guides at a predetermined distance from the log for minimizing wobble of said first and second band saw blades throughout cutting of the log.
Method of cutting logs in a saw mill, comprising the steps of:
- advancing a log longitudinally towards a band saw apparatus;
- cutting said log longitudinally by a band saw blade of said band saw apparatus while said log is advanced through the band saw apparatus;
- guiding said band saw blade during cutting of said log using a blade guide engaged to said band saw blade;
- and
- displacing said blade guide along said band saw blade a predetermined distance above said log for minimizing blade wobble during cutting of the log.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.