Method and apparatus for bucksawing logs
OwnerRobert J. Murrayinventor
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Abstract
Previous methods of bucksawing logs slow the throughput of a sawmill in that the conveyor line is stopped while a given log is bucksawed to length. The present invention provides a method for bucksawing a log which improves the throughput speed, comprising the steps of a) advancing the log endwise along an infeed conveyor; b) raising the log above the level of said infeed conveyor while advancing the log; c) measuring the advance of the log while raised; d) stopping the log at the desired length; e) sawing the log to produce a forward log segment; and f) lowering the forward log segment onto an outfeed conveyor while advancing the remaining log segments. An apparatus for carrying out the method is also disclosed.
Claims12
Apparatus for sawing a log into segments of a pre-determined length comprising:
- a) a first log-feeding means for feeding a log in an end-wise line of travel;
- b) first and second vertically oriented log-feeding means for engaging and advancing a log, said first vertically oriented log-feeding means mounted for pivotal movement from a first non-log-engaging position to a second log-engaging position;
- c) power means for pivoting said first vertically oriented log-feeding means from said first non-log-engaging position to said second log-engaging position and back to said first non-log-engaging position;
- d) a saw movable across the line of travel of said log downstream from said vertical log-feeding means;
- e) means for measuring the distance said log is advanced while engaged by said vertical log-feeding means and communicating said measurement to a control means;
- f) power means for moving said saw in response to a control signal from said control means;
- g) a second horizontally oriented log-feeding output means adapted to receive said log downstream from said saw;
- and
- h) control means for receiving said measurement signal and communicating control signals to said power means for moving said saw and controlling said first and second vertically oriented log-feeding means;
- wherein said first and second vertically oriented log-feeding means are adapted to advance and stop said log in response to said control signal.
Apparatus for controllably feeding a log in a generally horizontal end-wise line of travel during processing thereof, comprising:
- a) first and second vertically oriented log-feeding means, said first vertically oriented log-feeding means mounted for pivotal movement from a first non-log-engaging position to a second log-engaging position, and said first and second vertically oriented log-feeding means each comprising a power-driven rotating log-advancing cylinder rotatable about a generally vertical axis and comprising a log-engaging outer surface;
- b) first power means for controllably rotating or stopping one of said log-advancing cylinders;
- c) second power means for pivoting said first vertically oriented log-feeding means from said first non-log-engaging position to said second log-engaging position and back to said first non-log-engaging position;
- d) means for measuring the distance said log is advanced and communicating said measurement to a control means;
- e) control means for receiving said measurement signal and communicating control signals to said power means for moving said saw and controlling said first and second vertically oriented log-feeding means;
- wherein said first and second vertically oriented log-feeding means are adapted to advance and stop said log in response to said control signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.