Log sawing assembly

An assembly for sawing logs to a predetermined length comprising:

• a log support frame including a front end and a rear end and opposite sides;
• a log lead-in support member positioned at the rear end of said log support frame to support said log as said log passes through the log support frame to be cut to said predetermined length;
• a conveyor having an upper surface supported on said support frame for moving said log lengthwise from the rear end to the front end of said support frame to a cutting station, said conveyor being upwardly inclined from said rear end to said front end of said support frame;
• said cutting station being positioned at the front end of said support frame and comprising a stop gate and a sawing section, said stop gate being located between said sawing section and said rear end of said support frame, said sawing section comprising a housing mounted to said support frame and a chain saw having a cutting bar pivotally mounted at a drive end of the cutting bar, and a rotator mechanism operable to rotate said bar through a 360.degree. rotation about said drive end during and after completion of a log-sawing operation, such that after said chain saw is rotated through a portion of said 360.degree. rotation to saw through said log, said rotator mechanism continues to rotate said cutting bar through the remainder of said 360.degree. rotation simultaneously with said conveyor moving a remaining portion of said log into said cutting station for a subsequent sawing operation, said housing surrounding at least a portion of said cutting bar and said housing having an opening to accommodate said log.

An assembly for sawing logs to a predetermined length comprising:

• a log support frame including a front end and a rear end and opposite sides, said support frame further comprising a conveyor and a feed roll positioned above said conveyor to engage a top surface of a log as the log is moved by the conveyor, said feed roll being spring biased against the log;
• a log lead-in support member positioned at the rear end of said support frame to support said log as said log passes through the support frame to be cut to said predetermined lengths, said log lead-in support member is mounted to said rear end of said support frame about hinges whereby said log lead-in support member is rotatable upwardly to rest on top of said support frame;
• said conveyor supported on said support frame for moving said log lengthwise from the rear end to the front end of said support frame to a cutting station, said conveyor being upwardly inclined from said rear end to said front end of said support frame, said conveyor being a chain belt conveyor having projections on its outer surface;
• said cutting station being positioned at the front end of said support frame and comprising a stop gate and a sawing section, said stop gate being located between said sawing section and said rear end of said support frame, said sawing section comprising a housing mounted to said support frame and a chain saw having a cutting bar pivotally mounted at a drive end, of the cutting bar and a rotator mechanism operable to rotate said bar through a 360.degree. rotation about said drive end during and after completion of a log-sawing operation, such that after said chain saw is rotated through a portion of said 360.degree. rotation to saw through said log, said rotator mechanism continues to rotate said cutting bar through the remainder of said 360.degree. rotation simultaneously with said conveyor moving a remaining portion of said log into said cutting station for a subsequent sawing operation, said housing surrounding at least a portion of said cutting bar and said housing having an opening to accommodate said log;
• a debris discharge conveyor positioned between and below the conveyor belt and said stop gate to catch dirt, bark and other debris that is dislodged from said log as said log moves along said conveyor;
• and
• a log collector which includes a frame having a deck which catches said log after said log is cut to said predetermined length and allows said log to pass down a collection rack.