Log merchandiser
AssigneeFlare International Sawmill Systems Ltd.
InventorsRonald Whitworth, Gian Pietro Infanti
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automatic log-cutting apparatus, or log merchandiser, which is designed to analyze and rapidly process tree-length stems, or logs, into shorter segments for further processing in pole mills, sawmills, plywood plants and the like. The logs are loaded via a conveyor onto the support arms of a number of cutting stations, all of which are movable and pre-positioned according to the determined optimum cut locations. The logs are then cut by pivoting saw blades, and the cut segments are released by the support arms onto a conveyor for removal.
Claims6
A log-cutting apparatus for cutting a log into segments of optimal length, comprising:
- (a) a scanning assembly operative to determine the characteristics of said log;
- (b) a central processor operative to receive information regarding said characteristics of said log and generate cut position information and cut position signals;
- (c) a transverse conveyor operative to transport said log in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of said log;
- (d) a guide track assembly;
- and
- (e) a plurality of log-cutting assemblies, each of said log-cutting assemblies independently moveably mounted onto said guide track assembly and comprising:
- (i) a saw box;
- (ii) a saw assembly pivotally mounted to said saw box to saw said log;
- (iii) a cradle assembly pivotally mounted to said saw box adjacent said saw assembly and operative to receive said log from said transverse conveyor and to support said log for cutting;
- and
- (iv) a drive means coupled to said saw box responsive to cut position signals from said central processor, said drive means operative to reversibly move together said saw box, said saw assembly and said cradle assembly along said guide track assembly in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of said log to a position determined by said cut position information;
- wherein each of said log-cutting assemblies is independently and reversibly positionable.
A method of cutting a log into segments of optimal length, comprising:
- (a) scanning a log to determine characteristics of said log;
- (b) generating cut position information based on said characteristics of said log;
- (c) positioning a plurality of log-cutting assemblies and respective cradle assemblies such that each log-cutting assembly and associated cradle assembly move together in response to the cut position information;
- (d) providing a transverse conveyor;
- (e) moving said log transversely along said transverse conveyor onto said cradle assemblies;
- (f) cutting said log into segments with said log-cutting assemblies;
- and
- (g) releasing said segments from said cradle assemblies causing said segments to fall in a direction down and away from said log-cutting assemblies.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.