Bi-directional cutting band mill

Apparatus for cutting horizontal sections from a log by successive back and forth passes across the log, comprising:

• a pair of guide rails for supporting the log and between which the log is positioned for cutting;
• a framework supported on the guide rails and capable of reciprocable movement thereon in order to facilitate log cutting by making successive passes across the length of the log;
• a pair of spaced-apart saw blades mounted on the framework with the teeth of each saw blade facing away from each other so that as the framework passes across the log during one pass a horizontal section is cut from the log by one saw blade and when the framework reverses direction for the next pass another horizontal section is cut from the log by the other saw blade;
• means for raising and lowering both saw blades as a single unit so that both saw blades can be lifted above the log and lowered adjacent to the log in preparation for cutting the log;
• and
• means for selective incremental adjustment of each saw blade for positioning each respective saw blade at the desired depth prior to that saw blade cutting off a horizontal section from the log.

Apparatus for cutting consecutive horizontal sections from a log by reciprocable passes across the log, comprising:

• a lower frame for placement on the ground surface and including a pair of elongated spaced-apart carriage support members on which the log to be cut is positioned;
• a carriage mounted on the carriage support members for linear reciprocable movement thereon across and over the log;
• a pair of endless saw blades mounted in spaced relation on the carriage with the teeth of each saw blade facing inwardly toward each other so that the movement of the carriage across the log in one pass causes one saw blade to cut off a horizontal section from the log and as the carriage reciprocates on the lower frame for a return pass the other saw blade cuts off another horizontal section from the log;
• means for raising and lowering both saw blades together so that both saw blades can be lifted above the log and then lowered adjacent to the log in preparation for cutting off horizontal sections from the log;
• and
• means for selective incremental adjustment of each saw blade in order to position in turn each saw blade at the appropriate depth for making a horizontal cut on the log.

Apparatus for cutting horizontal sections from a log by successive reciprocable passes across the length of the log, comprising:

• a trailer having a pair of spaced-apart side rails and on which the log is positioned for cutting;
• a carriage mounted on the side rails of the trailer and capable of reciprocable movement thereupon for making successive bi-directional passes across the log;
• a pair of saw blades mounted in spaced relationship on the carriage and independently operable with the teeth of each saw blade facing inwardly toward each other so that movement across the log by the carriage during one pass causes one saw blade to cut off a horizontal section from the log and as the carriage reverses direction for a return pass the other saw blade cuts off a succeeding horizontal section from the log;
• means for raising and lowering both saw blades as a single unit so that both saw blades can be lifted above the log and then lowered adjacent to the log for positioning at the desired depth for cutting a horizontal section from the log by that respective saw blade;
• and
• means for selective incremental adjustment of the saw blades so that each saw blade can be positioned adjacent to and at either end of the log for making a horizontal sectional cut on the log for that respective pass.