CA1108512A - Machine for reducing logs - Google Patents
Machine for reducing logsInfo
- Publication number
- CA1108512A CA1108512A CA326,580A CA326580A CA1108512A CA 1108512 A CA1108512 A CA 1108512A CA 326580 A CA326580 A CA 326580A CA 1108512 A CA1108512 A CA 1108512A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- log
- machine
- tool
- milling tools
- cutting tools
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Landscapes
- Debarking, Splitting, And Disintegration Of Timber (AREA)
Abstract
MACHINE FOR REDUCING LOGS
ABSTRACT
A decortication or debasting machine receives raw uncut logs from a conveyor and reduces each raw log to a uniform reference cross-section along the length of the log and delivers the log to a conveyor which automatically feeds it onto a sawmill. Cutting tools are swingable in planes which contain the rotational axis of the tool and the longitudinal axis of a log.
the cutting tools and their driving motors are sup-ported by parallel guide rods each of which is pivoted about an axis that is perpendicular to the cutting tool's swing plane. Hydraulic actuators, connected to the distal ends of the guide rods, cause them to pivot upon receipt of a signal from an electronic controller. Sensing rollers acting through the electronic control maintain the speed of advance of the log through the machine relative to the depth of cut of the cutting tools. Runners in contact with the finished surface of the log guide the cutting tools to maintain the uniformity of the finished log's cross-section. Adjustable guides or springs limit the swinging motion of the cutting tools which in turn limit the depth of cut.
ABSTRACT
A decortication or debasting machine receives raw uncut logs from a conveyor and reduces each raw log to a uniform reference cross-section along the length of the log and delivers the log to a conveyor which automatically feeds it onto a sawmill. Cutting tools are swingable in planes which contain the rotational axis of the tool and the longitudinal axis of a log.
the cutting tools and their driving motors are sup-ported by parallel guide rods each of which is pivoted about an axis that is perpendicular to the cutting tool's swing plane. Hydraulic actuators, connected to the distal ends of the guide rods, cause them to pivot upon receipt of a signal from an electronic controller. Sensing rollers acting through the electronic control maintain the speed of advance of the log through the machine relative to the depth of cut of the cutting tools. Runners in contact with the finished surface of the log guide the cutting tools to maintain the uniformity of the finished log's cross-section. Adjustable guides or springs limit the swinging motion of the cutting tools which in turn limit the depth of cut.
Description
116~851Z
MACHINE FOR REDUCING LOGS
BACKGROUND
This invention concerns a decortication or debasting machine for reducing raw logs to a reference cross-section along the length of the log.
Current machines for debarking, decorti-cating, or debasting logs have circular-shaped rotary carriers which rotate around the logs as the logs pass longitudinally through the machine. Swingably mounted frames which are pivotably mounted on the rotary carrier support cutter tools on one end. The other ends of the swingably mounted frames are connected to pneumatic cylinders which swing the frames and moVe the cutter tools into contact with a log's surface. The rotary carrier, through a series of ring gears, pulley wheels, and V belts, turns the drive shafts of the cutter tools.
Each cutter tool on such current machines has a flanged, hollow axle junction through which the drive shaft passes and is coupled to the drive shaft through a universal joint. The cutter tools are separately pivoted on guiding arms under spring tension and are movable within certain bounds in a direction , ,.. . - :
~1~8512 opposite to the guiding arms. This allows the cutter tools to "give way" to unusual obstructions in their paths such as large knots or root structures.
A machine of this type has been disclosed in U.S. Patent 2,591,751 and German Patent 23 20 450.
An improved method for adjusting the cutting tool to the raw surface of the log provides each cut-ting tool holder with a special pivoting axis per-pendicular to the swinging axis of the cutter tool.
This special pivoting axis allows the cutting tool to be pressed against and maintained in contact with the surface of the log over the entire length of the log.
Current machines which employ this latter method have several swingable cutting tools which are pivotably mounted on parallel axes and are held against the log over its entire length. Such machines, how-ever, cannot reduce or debark differing cross-sections of a log having root bulges or larger protuberances and produce a properly finished cross-section that is consistent throughout the length of the log. The cross-sectional shape of the decorticated or debarked log at any point differs only insignificantly from the cross-sectional shape of the raw log.
Before logs debarked by current machines can be processed further in a sawmill it is necessary to remove the root bulges and larger protuberances. This requires a special working step of using a chisel or chipping tool which reduces that section of the log to a cylindrical form This, however, results in a waste of both time and wood.
It is an object of this invention to provide :
~13851Z
a structure for producing finished logs with cross-sections that correspond to a reference cross-section over substantially the entire length of the log and, at the same time, maintain a high production rate with a minimum loss of wood. In this respect, in one embodiment about to be described, the "reference cross-section" includes even generally non-circular cross-sections to which a raw log may be reduced during the decortication or de-basting process.
In accordance with the invention there is provided a machine for reducing the cross-section of a log to a reference - cross-section throughout at least part of the length of the log, comprising a rotor frame work rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the log, a plurality of tool holders fastened to the rotor frame work, rotating milling tools each having a spin axis orientated with an angle to the log axis and each being movably connected to a corresponding tool holder, a pair of parallel guide lever means connecting each milling tool to a correspond-ing tool holder, the guide lever means each having pivot axes perpendicular to a plane defined by the longitudinal axis of the log and the rotation axis of the respective milling tool, actua-tor means for swingingly moving each spinning milling tool towards the log and runner means firmly coupled to each milling tool and riding on a finished surface portion of the log for limiting the cutting depth of the milling tools.
Adjustable guides or springs can be provided for limit-ing the swinging motion of the decortication or debasting tools, which in turn limits the depth of the cut, a continuous contact with the dinished surface of that portion of the log just de-': :
:
~8S~;2 barked or debasted establishes the desired cutting depth.
The changes in the cross-section of the raw log can be measured automatically by sensors and the information is fed electronically to a control unit which regulates the ad-vancing speed of the log and the cutting depth of the decorti-cation or debasting tool.
- 3a -SlZ
This invention provides a debarked or de-basted log that can be automatically fed onto a sawmill without further processing and with only a small waste of wood.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the more particular description of preferred embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
The drawing is not intended to be to scale, but rather is presented so as to illustrate principles of the invention in a clear form.
In the drawing: FIG. l is a schematic cross-section of a reducing machine embodying the invention.
Much of the peripheral structure has been removed to better illustrate the machine's more significant aspects.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
One of a plurality of reducing mechanisms of a reducing machine i6 illustrated in ~ig. 1. A frame-work 1 is rotatably mounted about the longitudinal axis of a log L. Multiple tool holders 2 are bolted to the framework 1. Parallel guide rods or levers 3 are pivotably mounted to the tool holders 2 and are in-dependently attached to a milling tool 4 and its drivemotor 6 as shown. The other ends of the guide rod~
are attached to separate hydraulic actuators 7. The hydraulic actuator~ 7 are mounted to the framework 1;
and, a skid-~haped headpiece or runner 5 i~ affixed to the lead end of each milling tool 4.
~1~t351Z
Adjustable guides 8 limit the swing of the parallel guide rods 3 and are also mounted to portions of the frame 1 as shown.
Sensing rollers 9 and 9' are suspended in-dependently from the framework 1 by a means not shownand set at a distance from each other. The sensing rollers 9 and ~' are positioned against the outer raw surfaces of the log L and are connected electrically to an electronic controller 10 which has transducers for sensing the movements of the sensing rollers 9 and 9'.
The electronic controller 10 is electrically connected to a conveying means, not shown, the rotating means for the framework 1, the driving motors 6 and the hydraulic actuators 7 for each of the reducing mach-ine's reducing mechanisms.
The reducing machine has a conventionalfixed base, not shown, which rotatably supports the framework 1 of the reducing mechanism. Conventional conveyors (not shown) are positioned to feed raw logs to the reducing machine and to receive the decorticated or debasted logs from the reducing machine and trans-port them to a sawmill (not shown).
In operation, a log L is fed to the reducing machine at a uniform high rate of speed by the con-ventional conveyor in the direction of the longitudinalaxis of the log.
As the log enters the reducing machine, the sensing rollers 9 and 9' detect the exterior surface of the rolled log and the electronic controller 10 signals the hydraulic actuators to exert pressure on the par-allel drive rods 3 to swing the milling tools 4 into -:
.
,: .
~851Z
contact with the head end of the log L. The millingtools 4 are swung in a plane containing the rotational axis of the milling tools 4 and the longitudinal axis of the log L. In moving the milling tools 4, the guide rods 3 pivot about an axis perpendicular to the swing plane of the milling tools 4.
The framework 1 is rotated about the log causing the milling tools 4 to take a selected uni-form depth of cut from the head end of the log. As the log proceeds through the reducing machine, the runners 5 of the milling tools 4 are applied to the finished log's outer surface which has been finished to the selected depth. The cross-section defined by the application-points of the runners 5 is designated as the "reference cross-section" to which the remainder of the raw log is then reduced.
When a predetermined amount of additional pressure is required to be applied to the milling tool 4, the movement of the log is slowed by the controller to compensate for the deeper cut, but ordinarily the log proceeds through the machine at a constant speed.
In this respect, when changes in the cross-section of the raw log are measured by the sensing rollers 9 and 9', they cause the electronic controller 10 to adjust the feeding speed of the log as required. For example, when higher gradients in the raw log's surface due to large protuberances or root bulges are detected by the sensing rollers 9 and 9', the feed speed is reduced by the electronic controller 10.
During the debarking or debasting process, the runners 5 of the milling tools 4 are constantly positioned against the finished surface of the already "reduced" log section, so that the entire length of the , ,..
3SlZ
log is milled to a uniform cross-sectional shape and an excess loss of wood is avoided.
In addition, the electronic controller 10 adjusts the cutting depth of the milling tool 4 in response to the instan-taneous gradients detected by sensing rollers 9 and 9'. The cutting depth of the milling tool 4 is adjusted by the hydrau-lic actuators 7 working together through the parallel guide arms 3 in the same forementioned swing plane in response to signals from the electronic controller 10. Adjusting the cutting depth of the tool 4 allows maintenance of a high feed-speed during the debarking operation. The cutting depth of the milling tool 4, however, can be limited by setting the adjustable guides 8 which contact the guide arms 3 at the thusly adjusted limits of the guide arm motion.
In another preferred embodiment, the swinging motion of the milling tool 4 and the changes of its cutting depth may be limited by means of positionable guides or by spring means.
Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, the milling tool drive motors may be electric, hydrau-lic or pneumatic. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.
MACHINE FOR REDUCING LOGS
BACKGROUND
This invention concerns a decortication or debasting machine for reducing raw logs to a reference cross-section along the length of the log.
Current machines for debarking, decorti-cating, or debasting logs have circular-shaped rotary carriers which rotate around the logs as the logs pass longitudinally through the machine. Swingably mounted frames which are pivotably mounted on the rotary carrier support cutter tools on one end. The other ends of the swingably mounted frames are connected to pneumatic cylinders which swing the frames and moVe the cutter tools into contact with a log's surface. The rotary carrier, through a series of ring gears, pulley wheels, and V belts, turns the drive shafts of the cutter tools.
Each cutter tool on such current machines has a flanged, hollow axle junction through which the drive shaft passes and is coupled to the drive shaft through a universal joint. The cutter tools are separately pivoted on guiding arms under spring tension and are movable within certain bounds in a direction , ,.. . - :
~1~8512 opposite to the guiding arms. This allows the cutter tools to "give way" to unusual obstructions in their paths such as large knots or root structures.
A machine of this type has been disclosed in U.S. Patent 2,591,751 and German Patent 23 20 450.
An improved method for adjusting the cutting tool to the raw surface of the log provides each cut-ting tool holder with a special pivoting axis per-pendicular to the swinging axis of the cutter tool.
This special pivoting axis allows the cutting tool to be pressed against and maintained in contact with the surface of the log over the entire length of the log.
Current machines which employ this latter method have several swingable cutting tools which are pivotably mounted on parallel axes and are held against the log over its entire length. Such machines, how-ever, cannot reduce or debark differing cross-sections of a log having root bulges or larger protuberances and produce a properly finished cross-section that is consistent throughout the length of the log. The cross-sectional shape of the decorticated or debarked log at any point differs only insignificantly from the cross-sectional shape of the raw log.
Before logs debarked by current machines can be processed further in a sawmill it is necessary to remove the root bulges and larger protuberances. This requires a special working step of using a chisel or chipping tool which reduces that section of the log to a cylindrical form This, however, results in a waste of both time and wood.
It is an object of this invention to provide :
~13851Z
a structure for producing finished logs with cross-sections that correspond to a reference cross-section over substantially the entire length of the log and, at the same time, maintain a high production rate with a minimum loss of wood. In this respect, in one embodiment about to be described, the "reference cross-section" includes even generally non-circular cross-sections to which a raw log may be reduced during the decortication or de-basting process.
In accordance with the invention there is provided a machine for reducing the cross-section of a log to a reference - cross-section throughout at least part of the length of the log, comprising a rotor frame work rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the log, a plurality of tool holders fastened to the rotor frame work, rotating milling tools each having a spin axis orientated with an angle to the log axis and each being movably connected to a corresponding tool holder, a pair of parallel guide lever means connecting each milling tool to a correspond-ing tool holder, the guide lever means each having pivot axes perpendicular to a plane defined by the longitudinal axis of the log and the rotation axis of the respective milling tool, actua-tor means for swingingly moving each spinning milling tool towards the log and runner means firmly coupled to each milling tool and riding on a finished surface portion of the log for limiting the cutting depth of the milling tools.
Adjustable guides or springs can be provided for limit-ing the swinging motion of the decortication or debasting tools, which in turn limits the depth of the cut, a continuous contact with the dinished surface of that portion of the log just de-': :
:
~8S~;2 barked or debasted establishes the desired cutting depth.
The changes in the cross-section of the raw log can be measured automatically by sensors and the information is fed electronically to a control unit which regulates the ad-vancing speed of the log and the cutting depth of the decorti-cation or debasting tool.
- 3a -SlZ
This invention provides a debarked or de-basted log that can be automatically fed onto a sawmill without further processing and with only a small waste of wood.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the more particular description of preferred embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
The drawing is not intended to be to scale, but rather is presented so as to illustrate principles of the invention in a clear form.
In the drawing: FIG. l is a schematic cross-section of a reducing machine embodying the invention.
Much of the peripheral structure has been removed to better illustrate the machine's more significant aspects.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
One of a plurality of reducing mechanisms of a reducing machine i6 illustrated in ~ig. 1. A frame-work 1 is rotatably mounted about the longitudinal axis of a log L. Multiple tool holders 2 are bolted to the framework 1. Parallel guide rods or levers 3 are pivotably mounted to the tool holders 2 and are in-dependently attached to a milling tool 4 and its drivemotor 6 as shown. The other ends of the guide rod~
are attached to separate hydraulic actuators 7. The hydraulic actuator~ 7 are mounted to the framework 1;
and, a skid-~haped headpiece or runner 5 i~ affixed to the lead end of each milling tool 4.
~1~t351Z
Adjustable guides 8 limit the swing of the parallel guide rods 3 and are also mounted to portions of the frame 1 as shown.
Sensing rollers 9 and 9' are suspended in-dependently from the framework 1 by a means not shownand set at a distance from each other. The sensing rollers 9 and ~' are positioned against the outer raw surfaces of the log L and are connected electrically to an electronic controller 10 which has transducers for sensing the movements of the sensing rollers 9 and 9'.
The electronic controller 10 is electrically connected to a conveying means, not shown, the rotating means for the framework 1, the driving motors 6 and the hydraulic actuators 7 for each of the reducing mach-ine's reducing mechanisms.
The reducing machine has a conventionalfixed base, not shown, which rotatably supports the framework 1 of the reducing mechanism. Conventional conveyors (not shown) are positioned to feed raw logs to the reducing machine and to receive the decorticated or debasted logs from the reducing machine and trans-port them to a sawmill (not shown).
In operation, a log L is fed to the reducing machine at a uniform high rate of speed by the con-ventional conveyor in the direction of the longitudinalaxis of the log.
As the log enters the reducing machine, the sensing rollers 9 and 9' detect the exterior surface of the rolled log and the electronic controller 10 signals the hydraulic actuators to exert pressure on the par-allel drive rods 3 to swing the milling tools 4 into -:
.
,: .
~851Z
contact with the head end of the log L. The millingtools 4 are swung in a plane containing the rotational axis of the milling tools 4 and the longitudinal axis of the log L. In moving the milling tools 4, the guide rods 3 pivot about an axis perpendicular to the swing plane of the milling tools 4.
The framework 1 is rotated about the log causing the milling tools 4 to take a selected uni-form depth of cut from the head end of the log. As the log proceeds through the reducing machine, the runners 5 of the milling tools 4 are applied to the finished log's outer surface which has been finished to the selected depth. The cross-section defined by the application-points of the runners 5 is designated as the "reference cross-section" to which the remainder of the raw log is then reduced.
When a predetermined amount of additional pressure is required to be applied to the milling tool 4, the movement of the log is slowed by the controller to compensate for the deeper cut, but ordinarily the log proceeds through the machine at a constant speed.
In this respect, when changes in the cross-section of the raw log are measured by the sensing rollers 9 and 9', they cause the electronic controller 10 to adjust the feeding speed of the log as required. For example, when higher gradients in the raw log's surface due to large protuberances or root bulges are detected by the sensing rollers 9 and 9', the feed speed is reduced by the electronic controller 10.
During the debarking or debasting process, the runners 5 of the milling tools 4 are constantly positioned against the finished surface of the already "reduced" log section, so that the entire length of the , ,..
3SlZ
log is milled to a uniform cross-sectional shape and an excess loss of wood is avoided.
In addition, the electronic controller 10 adjusts the cutting depth of the milling tool 4 in response to the instan-taneous gradients detected by sensing rollers 9 and 9'. The cutting depth of the milling tool 4 is adjusted by the hydrau-lic actuators 7 working together through the parallel guide arms 3 in the same forementioned swing plane in response to signals from the electronic controller 10. Adjusting the cutting depth of the tool 4 allows maintenance of a high feed-speed during the debarking operation. The cutting depth of the milling tool 4, however, can be limited by setting the adjustable guides 8 which contact the guide arms 3 at the thusly adjusted limits of the guide arm motion.
In another preferred embodiment, the swinging motion of the milling tool 4 and the changes of its cutting depth may be limited by means of positionable guides or by spring means.
Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, the milling tool drive motors may be electric, hydrau-lic or pneumatic. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.
Claims (6)
1. A machine for reducing the cross-section of a log to a reference cross-section throughout at least part of the length of said log, comprising a rotor frame work rotatable about the longitudinal axis of said log, a plurality of tool holders fas-tened to said rotor frame work, rotating milling tools each having a spin axis orientated with an angle to the log axis and each being movably connected to a corresponding one of said tool holders, a pair of parallel guide lever means connecting each of said milling tools to a corresponding one of said tool hol-ders, said guide lever means each having pivot axes perpendi-cular to a plane defined by the longitudinal axis of the log and the rotation axis of the respective milling tool, actuator means for swingingly moving each spinning milling tool towards said log and runner means firmly coupled to each of said milling tools and riding on a finished surface portion of the log for limiting the cutting depth of said milling tools.
2. The machine of claim 1, including adjustable stop means for limiting the swinging movement of said milling tools.
3. The machine of claim 1, including sensing means for measuring changes in diameter of uncut surface portions of said log.
4. The machine of claim 3, including control means opera-tive in response to signals from said sensing means to initiate the operation of said actuators and thereby to adjust the depth of cut of said milling tools.
5. The machine of claim 4 including feed means for feeding said log through said rotor frame work and wherein said con-trol means is further operative to adjust the feed speed of said log in accordance with said depth of cut.
6. The machine of claims 3, 4 or 5, including adjustable stop means for limiting the swinging movement of said milling tools.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA326,580A CA1108512A (en) | 1979-04-27 | 1979-04-27 | Machine for reducing logs |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA326,580A CA1108512A (en) | 1979-04-27 | 1979-04-27 | Machine for reducing logs |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1108512A true CA1108512A (en) | 1981-09-08 |
Family
ID=4114093
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA326,580A Expired CA1108512A (en) | 1979-04-27 | 1979-04-27 | Machine for reducing logs |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1108512A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN110014013A (en) * | 2018-01-09 | 2019-07-16 | 深圳市龙澄高科技环保（集团）有限公司 | A kind of automation fruits and vegetables waste reduction processing equipment |
-
1979
- 1979-04-27 CA CA326,580A patent/CA1108512A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN110014013A (en) * | 2018-01-09 | 2019-07-16 | 深圳市龙澄高科技环保（集团）有限公司 | A kind of automation fruits and vegetables waste reduction processing equipment |
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| MKEX | Expiry |