CA2314718C - Canter chipper head and canter unit - Google Patents

Abstract

A canter chipper head having a front and a rear face with a truncated conical portion projecting outwardly from the front face and with a plurality of chip discharge passages each extending from the front to the rear face. The conical portion terminates in an outer end face and a shaving cutter is mounted in a recess in that end face and has a cutting edge projecting into the chip passage associated therewith. A main cutter blade is located in a recess in the outer conical surface and has a cutting edge projecting into the chip passage associated therewith. The cutter edge of each cutter is a straight line. The cutters are detachably secured to the chipper head.

Description

This is a division of applicants application No.2,177,745 filed May 30, 1996 TITLE
CANTER CHIPPER HEAD And Canter Unit FIELD OF INVENTION
This application is directed to the canter chipper head disclosed and originally claimed in applicant's above identified application.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
Applicant's above application is directed to a saw mill unit for producing lumber from small diameter logs and includes a multiplicity of units mounted on a common frame. There is a log feed section comprising power driven feed rolls for propelling a log end wise along a preselected feed path, a canting section comprising first and second pair of chipper canter units off-set 90 degrees from one another about the axis of the feed path, an edging section in which there is an upper edger unit and a lower edger unit for rabbetting the four corners of the squared timber, a sawing section for producing pieces of lumber from the squared timber and a lumber off-feed conveyor. The operational components perform their respective functions as the log is propelled endwise along the defined feed path. The present divisional application is directed to the canter section and more particularly to the canter head.
It is known to produce chips when reducing a log from a squared piece of timber and by way of example reference may be had to United States Patent 3,780,778 issued December 25, 1973 to F. Chapman.
Squaring a log using a first pair of chipper heads and a second pair of chipper heads downstream from one another is known as for example from the teachings of Canadian patent 1,218,581 issued March 3, 1987 to K.
Rautio.
The chips that are produced have many uses and consistency and quality is becoming a must. There are a number of factors involved in the production of quality chips one of which is the canter head design and the cutting knife design and mounting thereof on the head.
Canter chippers are known and by way of example reference may be had to PCT/SE92/00063 Published August 20, 1992 under international publication number W092/13685. Disclosed in this PCT application is a chipper head in the form of a truncated cone with replaceable cutters mounted thereon.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a novel cutting head for a chipper canter.
In keeping with this object there is provided in accordance with the present invention a canter chipper head comprising a rigid base member having an annular rim portion and a truncated conical portion projecting outwardly from said rim, the axis of said conical portion being co-incident with the axis of rotation of the chipper head, said chipper head terminating in an outer end face portion; at least one chip discharge opening through said truncated conical portion and which extends into said outer end face portion; a main cutter blade detachably secured to said truncated conical portion and having a leading cutting edge projecting to overlap an edge defining a portion of said opening; and a shaving cutter blade detachably secured to said outer end face portion and having a leading cutting edge, said cutting edge and the cutting edge of said main blade being contiguous with one another and disposed at selected angles to one another, each said cutting edge being a straight line.
The forging canter head preferably has the conical portion sloping at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the axis of rotation of the head. The main blade slopes upwardly from the rim in a direction rearwardly at a selected angle to a radius from the axis of rotation.
There is also provided in accordance with the present invention a log chipper canter unit comprising a base support means; a shaft; bearing means supporting said shaft on said support means; power means drivingly connected to said shaft and carried by said base support means; a chipper head mounted on the free outer end of said shaft, said chipper head comprising:a rigid base member having an annular rim portion and a truncated conical portion projecting outwardly from said rim, the axis of said conical portion being co-incident with the axis of rotation of the chipper head, said chipper head terminating in an outer end face portion; at least one chip discharge opening through said truncated conical portion and which extends into said outer end face portion; a main cutter blade detachably secured to said truncated conical portion and having a leading cutting edge projecting to overlap an edge defining a portion of said opening; and a shaving cutter blade detachably secured to said outer end face portion and having a leading cutting edge, said cutting edge and the cutting edge of said main blade being contiguous with one another and disposed at selected angles to one another, each said cutting edge being a straight line.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing wherein:
Figure 1 is an oblique, diagrammatic, diagrammatic view illustrating the operative processing system and components of a saw mill of the present invention which is capable of converting small diameter logs into pieces of lumber as well as short lengths of logs into pieces of lumber;
Figure lA is a skematic, more general than figure 1, illustrating the spacing of the components to provide a compact sawmill;
Figure 2 is an exploded view showing the same components as in figure 1 and a frame associated therewith and on which the components are mounted to provide a compact sawmill;
Figure 3 is an oblique view of the stationary portion of the frame shown in figure 2 for some of the components of the sawmill and the hydraulic units for moving such components and pneumatic cylinders for releasably locking the movable frame in a raised position;
Figure 4 is an oblique view of a secondary portion of the frame on which some of the components are mounted and wherein such portion of the frame is pivotally attached to the stationary frame portion permitting easier access for service and maintenance of components mounted on the stationary frame thereon;
Figure 5 is an oblique view of the secondary frame portion of Figure 4 with some of the components mounted thereon;
Figure 6 is an oblique view of a first set of infeed rolls for propelling a log endwise along a preselected feed path in which such log is processed by the different components as it passes through the sawmill;
Figure 7 is an oblique view of a second set of infeed rolls downstream from the first set and a log guide;
Figure 8 is an oblique view of a first pair of milling head type canter units for producing a first vertical pair of parallel flat faces on the log;
Figure 9 is an oblique view of a second pair of milling head type canter units, offset 90° from the first set, for producing two horizontal parallel faces whereby the log is reduced to a squared timber piece;
Figure 10 is an oblique view showing the front face of one canter cutter head;
Figure 11 is an oblique view showing the rear face of the cutter head of Figure 10;

- 7 _ Figure 12 is an exploded oblique view of the cutter head of Figure 10 with the base plate and cutters removed;
Figure 13 is a sectional view taken along a portion of line 13-13 of figure 10;
Figure 14 is an oblique view of a pair of modified cutters;
Figure 15 is a view similar to Figure l0 showing a modified cutter head with modified cutters;
Figure 16 is a top plan view of the cutter head shown in Figure 15;
Figure 17 is a side elevational view of figure 16;
Figure 18 is a sectional view along a portion of line 18-18 of Figure 15;
Figure 19 is a sectional view along a portion of line 19-19 of Figure 15-15;
Figures 2o and 21 are respectively front and side elevational views illustrating a desired relative positioning of the canter cutter head and to the squared timber and feed path axis;
Figures 22 and 23 are similar to Figures 20 and 21 and illustrate the relative positioning for a smaller piece of timber permitted by an embodiment in which the canter units are selectively adjustably positionable;
Figure 24 is an oblique view of a pair of edger units for selectively rabbetting the four corners of the squared log;

Figure 25 is an oblique, partial diagrammatic, view of the head portion of one edger unit shown in Figure 24;
Figures 26 to 33 are views of cutter heads for the edgers illustrated in Figure 24 and in which Figures 27 to 29 illustrate one embodiment of cutter head and Figures 30 to 33 illustrate a second embodiment;
Figure 26 is an oblique view of the outer cutter head of the upper edger unit shown in Figure 24;
Figure 27 is an oblique for the outer cutter head of the lower edger unit shown in Figure 24;
Figure 28 is an oblique view showing the rear face of the cutter head in Figure 26;
Figure 29 is an oblique view illustrating the hub portion of the inner cutter head for the upper unit shown in Figure 24;
Figures 30 and 31 are oblique views, taken from the rear face, of alternative outer cutter heads for the respective upper and lower edger units shown in Figure 24;
Figure 32 is an oblique view from the front face of an inner cutter head for an upper edger unit;
Figure 33 is an exploded view of the cutter head shown in Figure 31;
Figure 34 is an oblique view illustrating the small diameter timber propelling powered rollers;
Figure 35 is an oblique view of a pair of driven saws for severing a squared timber into pieces of lumber;

_ 9 _ Figure 36 is an oblique view of the pair of saws of Figure 35 mounted on a support frame that pivotally attaches to the frame portion A shown in Figure 3;
Figure 37 is a hydraulic schematic for controllable movement of the secondary frame;
Figure 38 is an oblique exploded view of the lumber outfeed conveyor;
Figures 39 and 40 are schematics for the hydraulic control system for the sawmill diagrammatically and schematically illustrated in Figures 1 and 2; and Figure 41 is a schematic of a mill system using to advantage the foregoing sawmill and is an example only of one of many different arrangements.
Description of Preferred Embodiment The compact sawmill of the present invention comprises the following processing and handling components:
(a) an infeed section 100 in which there is a first and a second pair of large diameter power driven feed rolls for propelling a log endwise along a preselected feed path and a log guide 200;
(b) a canting section 300 in which there is a first and a second pair of chipper canter units offset 90°
from one another about the axis of the feed path;
(c) an edging section 400 in which there is an upper edger unit and a lower edger unit for rabbetting the four corners of the squared timber;
(d) a timber sub-dividing or sawing section 500;

(e) a plurality of small diameter power driven feed rolls variously located between the processing units for engaging the flat faces of the squared timber piece to guide and propel it along the preselected feed path; and (f) a lumber outfeed conveyor section 600.
The operational components for these various sections to perform the various processing functions, described in more detail hereinafter, are mounted on a structure of members providing a framework which is a rigid support for all of the units. The components are closely spaced and thus provided is a compact integrated self sustaining sawmill unit.
The framework (a weldment and/or bolted together members) includes a stationary primary frame portion 10 and a secondary frame portion 20. The frame portion 20 is movably mounted on the frame portion 10 such movement being provided by a pivotal interconnection of frame portions 10 and 20. The pivotally mounted frame portion 20 allows for easier access to components downstream from the infeed section for service and maintenance purposes which otherwise without the pivotal movement of the frame portion would be difficult to access. Access to the components is quite restricted because of the compactness of the sawmill and while it is not essential to the system that frame portion 20 be pivotally connected to frame portion 10 it certainly is desirable.
The frame portion 20 has two pairs of apertured lugs designated respectively 21 and 22 that receive respective sleeves 11 and 12 secured to rigid frame portion 10. A pair of pins designated 13 pivotally interconnects the frame portions and a pair of hydraulic cylinders HR1 and HR2 are secured at one end by pins (not shown) to frame portion 10 and at the other end to frame portion 20. By actuating these hydraulic cylinder units frame portion 20 can be pivotally moved to a raised position and locked in that position by a pair of hooked members designated 14 and controlled by respective pneumatic cylinders HR3 and 10 HR4. Raising of the frame portion 20 (which has the infeed pairs of rollers thereon) provides access to a first pair of chipper canter units immediately downstream from the infeed rolls for maintenance and repair purposes.
The infeed section 100 is mounted, as mentioned, 15 on secondary frame portion 20 and includes first and second feed roll units 100A and 1008, each of which has a pair of power driven rolls for tractively engaging and propelling a log endwise for processing by the components of the sawmill. The feed rolls are moved toward and away from a predetermined fixed in position feed path axis. As viewed in Figure 1 a log L is propelled endwise in a direction from left to right during the processing functions which are performed at positions spaced from one another longitudinally along the log.
By way of example and to give an indication of the compactness an actual constructed experimental prototype machine has an overall length of approximately 17 feet. The center-to- center spacing between adjacent components used in the processing is less than the shortest length of log to be processed. For example the spacing of components may be in the range of 24 to 36 inches (center-to-center) in a sawmill capable of processing logs approximately 42 inches in length. The spacings, however, can obviously vary depending upon the size of components and/or length of logs to be processed. In the experimental prototype lumber pieces were successfully produced from logs as short as 30" in length and as small as 2" in diameter.
The first feed roll unit 100A (see Figure 6) comprises feed rolls 101 and 102 driven by respective hydraulic motors 103 and 104. Feed rolls 101 and 102 are mounted on respective arms 105 and 106 which are pivotally mounted on the secondary frame 20 by respective shafts 107 and 108. The feed rolls are moved towards and away from one another (see Figures 5 and 6) by a pneumatic cylinder unit HR5 and a synchronizing link SLl the latter of which interconnects the arms 105 and 106. The feed rolls have a suitable surface to tractively engage the log L such surface of the feed rolls being generally cylindrical. The feed rolls move in arcs designated AR1 and AR2 in Figure 1 and these arcs are in a horizontal plane. The feed rolls as mentioned are cylindrical and rotate about respective vertical axes with the arms 105 and 106 interconnected by the link SL1 to synchronize their movement toward and away from the log disposed therebetween.

The second set of feed rolls 100B similarly comprises a pair of cylindrical feed rolls designated 120 and 121 driven by respective hydraulic motors 122 and 123.
Feed rolls 120 and 121 and their respective drive motors are mounted on respective arms 124 and 125 which are pivotally attached to the secondary frame B by respective ones of a pair of shafts not shown. The shafts 124 and 125 are interconnected by a synchronizing link SL2. The feed rolls 120 and 121 move in arcs designated AR3 and AR4 which are disposed in a vertical plane. The first and second set of feed rolls 100A and 100B accordingly are~located offset from one another 90° around the axis of the path along which a log travels while being processed. The log is gripped and held tightly between the feed rolls with such feed rolls engaging the top and bottom and two opposite side surfaces of the log. The feed rolls of the first and second sets 100A and 100B are controllably moved toward and away from a fixed in position feed path axis by the respective pneumatic cylinder unit HR5 and hydraulic cylinder unit HR2, movement of the feed rolls in the respective sets being synchronized by the links SL1 and SL2.
The log guide unit 200 is mounted on the movable frame portion 20 closely adjacent and downstream from the second feed roll unit 100B. The log guide unit comprises respective upper and lower guide shoes 201 and 202 disposed in close proximity to the outfeed side of second feed roll unit 100B. The guide shoes are movably mounted on the frame 20 by links in a parallelogram arrangement for reciprocal movement up and down in a vertical plane as indicated by respective double headed arrows AR5 and AR6 (see Figure 1).
Referring to Figure 7 guide shoe 201 is mounted on a blade 204 pivotally connected as at 205 and 206 respectively to arm 207 and link member 208. Members 207 and 208 pivotally connect to the frame 20 by respective pivot pins 209 and 210. The pins 205, 206, 209 and 210 provide a parallelogram linkage connection of the shoe 201 to the frame. Guide shoe 202 is similarly mounted and the shoes are controllably moved toward and away from one another by pneumatic cylinder HR7.
The canting section 300 has a first canting section 300A and downstream therefrom a second canting section 3008. The first canting section produces a pair of parallel vertically disposed flat faces on the log as the log is propelled endwise by the power driven rollers and the second canting section 3008 produces a pair of horizontally disposed flat faces. The squared piece of timber is represented in Figure 1 by the broken line designated SQ1. The timber piece, if desired, could be rectangular in cross-section instead of square.
The two canting sections are the same except for their orientation relative to the log about the longitudinal axis of the feed path. The first canting section 300A is shown in more detail in Figure 8 and the second canting section in Figure 9. Since both sections have the same components and for purposes of simplification the same reference numerals are used herein in designating the components of the two canter sections 300A and 300B.
Each canter section comprises a pair of chipper canter units 301 which are located respectively on opposite sides of the log being processed. Each chipper canter unit 301 has a chipper head 302. The pair of chipper heads located on opposite sides of the log rotate in the same direction and thus one chipper head of the pair is a mirror image of the other. The construction of each unit 301 is otherwise the same and again for simplification of description only one chipper canter unit is described in detail herein.
The location of the four chipper canter units in Figures 1, 8 and 9 are designated A1 and A2 for the canter section 300A and B1 and B2 for the canter section 300B.
The position designations A1, A2, B1 and B2 in Figures 8 and 9 of the drawings are encircled.
Referring to Figures 8 and 9 each chipper canter unit has a chipper head 302 removably secured to a shaft that is journalled for rotation in a housing 303. The housing is rigidly secured to a base plate 304 which is slidably mounted on a pair of parallel spaced apart rigid shaft 305. The shafts 305 are interconnected at opposite ends by respective ones of a pair of end bars 306. The shafts and the bars (305 and 306) provide a rigid structure 306A that is mounted on the frame 10 and provides a mounting base on which the base plate 304 slides. The positioning is such that the chipper heads are slidably movable along shafts 305 so as to move in a direction toward and away from the feed path whose axis is fixed in position and designated x-x in Figures 20 to 23.
The rigid structure 306A may be fixedly mounted on frame 10 or alternatively movably mounted so as to be selectively movable for adjusting the chipper head position relative to a timber piece to provide the relative positioning illustrated in Figures 21 and 23. With reference to Figures 20 to 23 the flat face on the chipper head is shown positioned so that the peripheral cutting edge thereof maintains a preselected position relative to the edge of the timber piece. This relative positioning for differently dimensioned square timber pieces can be provided for by pivotally mounting structures 306A on the frame 10 and providing for example a turn buckle type adjusting mechanism to adjustably change the position of chipper unit. Hydraulic cylinder units e.g. Temposonic*
units may be used in place of turn buckles for precise adjustment. Referring to Figure 24 the frame 306A can be provided with a pivot mounting shaft 411 for one of the two chipper units in Figure 8 and Figure 9 and the other chipper units in the respective pairs with a pivot mounting shaft 410. Shafts 410 and 411 pivotally attach to frame 10 and adjusting mechanisms such as unit 475 interconnects the frame 306A associated therewith and frame 10.
*Trade-Mark As previously mentioned the base plate 304 slides on shafts 305 and to accomplish this there are collars 307 (two of them) on each of two bars 308. The two such bars 308, with the collars thereon, are secured to the base plate 304 at spaced apart positions thereon by threaded studs 309.
The cutter head 302 is driven by an electric (or hydraulic if desired) motor 310 which is mounted on the base plate 304 and by way of a plurality of V-belts 311 (or direct drive if desired) drives the shaft on which the cutter head is mounted. Tensioning of the V-belts can be adjusted by means of a belt tensioner 312 that adjustably moves the motor 310 relative to the base plate 304.
The positioning of the four cutter heads designated A1, A2, B1 and B2 are selectively adjustable by respective hydraulic piston cylinder units THR1, THR2, THR3 and THR4. Movement of the cutter heads is in a direction toward and away from a log disposed therebetween and this movement is represented in Figure 1 by double headed arrows AR7, AR8, AR9 and AR10. Referring to Figure 8 the piston end 315 of the hydraulic unit THR1 by way of a pin (not shown) is connected to lugs 316 on the plate 304 and the cylinder portion is anchored to the frame 10. These hydraulic cylinders are accurately controllable and the ones preferred are known under the trade name Temposonic*.
Temposonic hydraulic cylinders have a feedback loop and positioning accuracy is about ~ 1/1000 of an inch.
*Trade-Mark The cutter head 302 is of novel construction made by the present applicants and has proven most effective from trial tests conducted with their prototype sawmill.
Details of the cutter head are shown in Figures 10 to 17 inclusive and there are two embodiments illustrated. These are the preferred embodiments arrived at after extensive experimentation, modification and testing. Figures 10 to 13 represent one embodiment and Figures 14 to 19 represent a second embodiment which differs from the first mainly with respect to the symmetrical shape of the cutters so as to be reversible for left and right mountings and in details of the mounting of the main cutter blades.
Referring to Figure 10 the chipper head 302 comprises a rigid base member 320 which has a truncated conical portion 321 projecting outwardly from an annular rigidifying rim portion 322. The outer end of the truncated portion 321 has a rectangular recess 323 with a central aperture 324. The cutter head is fastened to the outer end of a shaft (not shown) journalled in the bearing 303 by a threaded stud. An end rectangular face plate 325 fits into the recess and is attached to the face 320 by a plurality of studs 326 threaded into apertures 327. Figure 11 shows the inner face of the base member 320 in which there is a recess 328 for receiving an end portion of the power driven shaft. A collar is secured to the shaft and a plurality of threaded studs passing through the collar are threaded into apertures 329 thereby providing a secure mounting of the chipper head 302 on the shaft.

There are four equally spaced openings 330 through the base member for discharge of the chips removed by cutters detachably secured to the base member 320. Each opening 330 extends into the annular rim 322, as is evident from Figure 11, and is defined by a wall 331 (generally U-shaped) on the truncated conical portion 321.
Each cutter head 302 has four main cutter blades 335 there being one for each of the openings 330. Each cutter blade 335 projects into a recess 336 in the head truncated conical portion 321 and each blade at its lower end projects into a slot 337 provided by the wall of the recess 336 on one side and an inner face portion of the annular rim 322. Each blade 335 is detachably secured to the base member 320 by a threaded stud 340.
Associated with each main cutter blade 336 is a secondary shaving type cutter 345. The cutter 345 fits into a recess 346 in the end face of the truncated conical portion 321 and each cutter is detachably secured to the base member 320 by a threaded stud 347.
The cutters 335 and 345 have respective straight line cutting edges 348 and 349 which facilitates sharpening and re-sharpening of the blades. The cutting blades are so positioned that the cutting edges 348 and 349 are contiguous even though they are in different planes and angularly disposed relative to one another. The two blades abut one another, blade 345 having an edge angular planar face 350 which abuts against an angular edge planar face 351 on the cutting blade 335. In Figure 12 the four blades 345 at their four different positions are designated 345A, 345B, 345C and 345D. The main cutting blades 335 at these same respective positions are designated 335A, 335B, 335C
and 335D. Figure 12 being an oblique view shows the blades, because of their different positions, from different angles.
Modifications to the foregoing described cutting head are illustrated in Figures 14 to 18 inclusive and referring to these the modifications only will be described. In Figure 14 there is illustrated a modified main cutting blade 335A designed so as to be reversible permitting mounting the same on either one of the left and right, i.e. mirror image chipper cutting heads. The blade 335A has a cutting edge 348 and two apertures for mounting the latter being appropriately positioned to accommodate mounting reversibly using only one of the holes for the mounting. Each blade 335A has two angular disposed planar end faces 351A and 351B for abutting a planar edge face 350 on a shaving cutter blade 345A.
The cutter blade 335A as seen from Figure 19 has a tongue 335B that projects into a groove in the frusto conical portion 321 of the base member 320 to securely anchor the blade to the member 320.
A further minor change is illustrated in Figure 18 wherein a bolt and nut unit 341 is used to securely and detachably fasten the cutting blade 335A to the base member.

A further modification is illustrated in Figure 16 wherein the outer peripheral edge of the member 322 is provided with four notches 360 and a removably mounted cutting blade or tooth 361.
The face plate 325, as seen from Figure 17, has an outer surface that projects further outwardly from the head at its center than at its outer peripheral edge. The face effectively may be described as a relatively flat conical face, the amount of taper being illustrated in Figure 17 as 0.5°.
By way of example a cutting head having dimensions and angulations illustrated in Figures 16, 17 and 18 has been found to provide excellent results during operat-ion of the prototype sawmill.
A further and minor modification is the square end 359 on the end of the cutter 345A and a corresponding shape for the recess in the cutter head base member to receive the same.
Figures 20 to 23 illustrate the preferred positioning of the cutting blades relative to the edge of the squared timber piece produced from the log L by the chipping canter heads. Referring to these drawings the squared timber piece is propelled endwise in the direction designated by arrow 370 (left to right in Figure 1) and the cutter head rotates in the direction designated by arrow 371. The knife cutting edges 348 and 349 meet at a point which during rotation of the head trace out a circle illustrated in Figures 20 and 22 by the broken line 372.

The location of this circular path of travel is so positioned as to be offset slightly outward from the upper face 373 of the squared timber piece and this relative positioning applies irrespective of the cross-sectional size of the squared piece of timber.
With the feed path being fixed in position the cutting heads 302 are mounted on the frame so as to be moved toward and away one another and also the positioning of the whole unit can be raised and lowered to maintain this relative positioning or in the case of a second chipper canter unit shown in Figure 1 moved laterally in a horizontal position relative to the log. As previously discussed one canter unit of one pair can be pivotally mounted on frame 10 by shaft 410 and the other of such pair pivotally mounted by shaft 411 described with reference to Figure 24. Position adjustment may be selectively done using adjusting mechanism 475.
The reaction from the cutting forces during chipping is in a direction tending to propel the squared timber piece along its path in the direction designated 370.
The edger section 400 is shown in greater detail in Figures 24 to 33.
The edger section 400 comprises a pair of edger units 400A and 40oB each unit being the same except for the direction of rotation of the cutter head with a consequence of the shape of one cutting head being the mirror image of the other. Each of the units 400A and 4008 are mounted on a base having the same structure as described previously with reference to Figures 8 and 9 illustrating the canter chipper units. Further description of the same accordingly will not be repeated herein for the sake of brevity and the same reference numerals for the base structures in Figure 24 apply as in Figures 8 and 9.
Before referring to the details illustrated in Figure 24 attention is directed to Figure 25 which diagrammatically illustrates the cutter head portion of the edger unit 4008. The unit 400A is the same except rotation is in the opposite direction. Referring to~Figure 25 the edger unit 400B has two concentric, telescopically disposed, shafts designated 401 and 402 having respective cutting heads 403 and 404 attached thereto for rotation therewith. The shafts are journalled in a housing 303 secured to a mounting plate 304 and driven by a motor via belt means 311 or direct drive. The shafts rotate in unison by way of suitable coupling means, for example a key, that allows telescopic relative movement of the shafts. A shaft moving mechanism 425, described hereinafter, telescopically moves shaft 401 relative to shaft 402 selectively to vary the distance between the cutting heads 403 and 404.
The cutting heads 403 and 404 each have suitable cutting knives for rabbetting the squared timber piece.
The upper edger unit 400A rabbets the two upper edges of the squared timber piece and the lower edger unit 4008 rabbets the two lower edges of the squared timber piece.

The rabbetted squared timber is shown in cross-section in Figure 1 by the dotted line designated 450. By rabbetting the corners of the squared timber the actual squared timber before rabbetting can have exposed corners that are rounded, i.e. the original diameter of the log. This maximizes the recovery of lumber pieces from a log illustrated in Figure 1 by sawing so as to have a piece of lumber in the centre which is of greater width than the outer two pieces of lumber. This will be more fully described hereinafter with reference to the outfeed conveyor section 600.
The edger unit 400A pivotally attaches to the stationary frame 10 by a pivot shaft 410 and the unit 400B
pivotally attaches to the same frame by a mounting pivot shaft 411. A pair of adjusting mechanisms 475 for example turn buckles or hydraulic cylinder units are used to pivot the respective units for raising and lowering the edger cutting heads.
Referring further to Figure 24 the outer shaft 402 is fixed in position by suitable radial and end thrust bearings in housing 303 and the shaft 401 projects beyond the drive and connects to a rotory coupling unit 415. This rotary coupling connects the shaft to a link of the cutter head spacing adjustment mechanism 425.
The mechanism 425 comprises a pair of link members 426 and 427 pivotally connected at one end thereof to a bar 428 which in turn by way of pivotal mounting 429 is connected to the rigid frame mechanism 306A. The pivot 429 is midway between the pivotal connection of the links 426 and 427 to the bar 428. The link 426 at the other end is pivotally connected as at 430 to a structure 431 rigidly secured to and projecting upwardly from the plate 304. The link 427 is pivotally connected by way of pivot pin 432 to the rotary coupling 415. A Temposonic* or the like hydraulic cylinder THR6 has the piston end thereof 433 connected by way of a pin (not shown) to lugs 434 on the plate 304. The cylinder portion by way of a pin 435 is connected to the rigid frame structure 306A by way of a bracket 436. The hydraulic cylinder THR6 is associated with the canter unit 400B and similarly a Temposonic type hydraulic cylinder THR5 is associated with the unit 400A.
The hydraulic cylinders by way of the mechanism 425 move the cutting heads 403 and 404 simultaneously and by equal amounts either in a direction toward one another or in a direction away from one another depending upon actuation of the Temposonic cylinder.. The cutting heads accordingly move equally and by the same amount toward and away from a vertical plane passing through the feed path axis. Raising and lowering the heads relative to the square timber piece, is provided by adjusting mechanisms 475 that connect the rigid frame structure 306A on respective units 400A and 400B to the frame structure 10. This vertical movement of the cutting heads, relative to the timber piece, permits selectively varying the depth of cut to be made while the adjusting mechanism 425 increases or decreases the width of *Trade-Mark cut inwardly from the vertical flat faces of the timber piece.
One embodiment of the outer cutter head 403 for the upper unit 400A is shown in Figure 26 and the one for unit 400B is shown in Figure 27. Figure 28 is a rear view of the cutter head shown in Figure 26. The two outer heads differ from one another only in that they rotate in opposite directions and therefore one is a mirror image of the other. In each instance the outer cutter head 403 comprises a rigid base piece or hub 450 having in the rear face thereof a first recess 451 for receiving an end portion of the shaft 401 and a second larger diameter shallower recess 452. There is a central aperture 453 surrounded by four stud receiving apertures 454. A collar (not shown) is rigidly secured to the shaft 401 and four studs 455 thread into the collar securely mounting the cutting head on the shaft.
The cutting head has four cutting blades 460 secured to the base member 450 by stud means 461. Each cutting blade has two straight line cutting edges designated 462 and 463 disposed at right angles to one another. The cutting edge 462 cuts the timber piece leaving a vertical face in the rabbet while the cutting edge 463 produces the horizonal face in the rabbet.
The inner cutting heads 402 are the same as the outer cutting heads except for the central portion which has a through central aperture portion 470 for sliding onto the end portion of shaft 402 and in that the inner and outer cutting heads on the same unit are left and right.
Again the base member with the through aperture 470 has four spaced apart through holes 454 through which studs pass and are threaded into a collar (not shown) securely fixed to the shaft 402.
In Figures 30 to 33 there is illustrated a second embodiment of cutting heads for the rabbetting units 400A
and 4008.
Referring to Figure 30 illustrated from the rear face is a cutter head 403A for the upper rabbet unit 400A.
The rear face of the hub 450A has respective concentric recesses 451 and 452 and stud receiving through hobs 454 described with reference to Figure 28. These provide means for mounting the cutter head on the shaft 401. As seen from the exploded view in Figure 33 the hub has four equi-circumferentially spaced peripheral flat faces 480 with threaded bores 481 and 482 for receiving respective ones of a pair of threaded studs 483. A cutting blade 484 with a slotted hole 485 is secured to a mounting block 486 by way of a threaded stud 487 and a plate like nut 488. The block 486 is recessed as at 489 to receive the cutting blade 484 and plate nut 488 and clampingly press the same captive between the block 486 and flat 481 on the hub. A knife adjusting screw 490 threads into a threaded aperture 491 in the block and it is aligned to engage the edge 492 of the blade remote from its cutting edge 493. The four blocks 486 abut against respective ones of four stops 495 on the hub. The blades are thus accurately positioned and are adjustable for precision repositioning after each sharpening.
Figure 31 is the same as Figure 30 but illustrates a cutter head 403B for the lower rabbet unit 400B shown in Figure 24.
Figure 32 shows the front face of an inner cutter head 404A for the upper rabbet unit 400A. The construction is the same as illustrated in Figure 33 but the cutter blades are oriented in an opposite direction. The inner cutter head for the lower unit 400B is not shown but would have the same cutter orientation as that shown in Figure 30 with the hub modified to have a through hold 470 for mounting onto a collar secured to the shaft 402.
The sawing section 500 is illustrated in Figures 35 and 36. There is an upper saw unit 500A and a lower saw unit 500B and these are mounted on a common rigid frame 501A. The frame 501A pivotally attaches to the frame structure 10 for pivotal movement about a vertical axis designated 502A for movement in an arcuate path designated 503. Pivotal movement of the frame structure 501A is controlled by hydraulic cylinders HR10 and HR11. It should be mentioned here that should there be a malfunction at any place along the processing path the hydraulic cylinders are immediately actuated moving the saw units 500A and 500B
away from the squared timber piece thereby preventing damage to the circular saw blades.
Each saw unit 500A and 500B is mounted on a base structure which is the same as or identical to that described with reference to Figures 8 and 9 and accordingly further description of the same is not repeated for purposes of brevity. The same reference numerals are used in Figures 35 and 36 for the base structure as in Figures 8 and 9 and also as in Figure 24 where the edgers also use the same base mounting structure.
The saw units 500A and 5008 have respective circular saw blades 501 and 502 driven by respective motors 505 and 510. The rigid base structures 306A are secured to the frame structure 501A and the movable plates 304 permit raising and lowering the saw blades. Raising and lowering of the saw blades 501 and 502 is effected by actuation of respective Temposonic* hydraulic cylinders THR7 and THR8.
These units have a piston end 515 thereof connected to lugs on the plate 304 and the cylinder portion is anchored as at 516 to the frame structure 501A.
Positioning of the saw blades is relatively precise with each Temposonic* cylinder unit having an accuracy of ~ 1/1000 of an inch. With the squared timber rabbetted a horizontal cut is made by the saw blades 501 and 502 respectively above and below the horizontal face of the rabbet. Each saw blade accordingly cuts through the narrower dimensioned outer pieces of lumber designated 701 and 702 separating the same from the center piece 703 which is of greater width. This of course applies only when the corners of the timber piece has been rabbeted. In some instances rabbetting will not be done and this will depend *Trade-Mark upon the selected cut program based on the logs geometry.
The saw blades are of appropriate size for example 20 inches in diameter and saw dust wastage may be minimized by using a thin kerf blade.
The outfeed conveyor 600 is shown in exploded oblique view in Figure 38. Referring now to Figure 38 the conveyor has a first frame 601 and a second frame 602 that provide mountings for respectively a first group of power driven rollers 603 and a second group of power driven rollers 604. There are four rollers in group 603 driven by respective motors 605, 606, 607 and 608, three of the four rollers being designated 603A, 6038 and 603C with the fourth one not being in view.
The pair of rollers 6038 and 603C are mounted on arms pivotally attached to the frame 601 by respective pivot pins 610 and 611 and similarly roller 603A and the one not in view are mounted on arms pivotally attached to the frame 601 by respective pivot pins 610A and 611A. The arms are controllably pivoted by pneumatic cylinder units 620 and 621. Each unit has two piston rods 622 and 623 in a common cylinder divided to provide separate pneumatic power units 620A, 6208 and 621A, 6218.
The cylinders 620 and 621 can move power driven rolls 603A and 6038, 603C and the one not shown are moved toward and away from one another in the respective pairs.
The piston rod 622 of unit 620B connects via pin 622A to a lug secured to the arm on which roller 6038 is mounted and the piston rod 623 via pin 623A is anchored to the frame 601.
The group of power driven feed rolls 604 comprises four tandem spaced apart wheel like units 604A, 6048, 604C and 604D.
These tandem wheel units are driven by respective ones of four different hydraulic motors 630 via either direct drive or belts and if desired electric motors may be used instead of hydraulic. The tandem wheel units are mounted on respective ones of four arms 631 pivotally attached to the frame 602 as at 632A, 6328, 632C and 632D.
The arms 631 on which the respective tandem wheel units 604A and 6048 are mounted are connected to piston rod 643 of respective pneumatic cylinder units 641 and 642. Piston rods 644 of the respective units 641 and 642 are anchored to the frame 602 via respective ones of a pair of pins 645.
The units 641 and 642 have two pistons in a common cylinder separated into two independent chambers. The wheel units 604A and 6048 and similarly wheel units 604C and 604D are controllably moved by pneumatic cylinder units toward and away from one another.
As previously mentioned Figure 38 is an exploded view and as seen from Figure 1 in the assembled state rollers 603A and 6038 are upstream of respective power driven rolls 604A and 6048. The power driven roll 603C is located between tandem wheel units 6048 and 604C while the other roll not shown and driven by hydraulic motor 608 is located between tandem wheel units 604A and 604D.

~ - 32 -The frames 601 and 602 are rigidly secured to the frame 10 and frame 601 and 602 may be securely joined one to the other if desired.
As previously mentioned there are three pieces of lumber produced in the illustrative example comprising outer lumber pieces 701 and 702 which are narrower in width than the center lumber piece 703. The center lumber piece 703 is gripped between power driven rolls 603A and 6038 and between the pair of rolls 603C and the one driven by motor 608. The spacing of the wheels on the tandem wheel units 604A and 6048, 604C and 604D is such that the lumber piece 703 passes between the pairs of wheels. Each of the .lumber pieces 701 and 702 are gripped between the pairs of tandem wheels 604A and 6048 and between each of the pair of tandem wheels 604C and 604D.
From the foregoing it is readily apparent that each produced lumber piece is securely gripped between two pairs of power driven rolls for controllable outfeed and guidance of each lumber piece.
The timber piece is guided and propelled by a series of power driven rolls that are relatively small in diameter compared with the infeed rolls. The guide small power driven feed and guide rolls comprise a first pair 800A located between the two canter sections 300A and 3008, a second and a third pair designated respectively 8008 and 800C located between the second canter chipper section 3008 and the edgers 400 and two further pairs designated 800D
and 800E located between the edger 400 and the saw section 500. The rolls in each pair are driven by respective hydraulic motors 801 and 802 shown in Figure 1 with respect to feed roll unit 800A. For sake of clarity the hydraulic motors are not shown with respect to the pairs of feed roll units 800B, 800C, 800D and 800E. As will be seen from Figure 1 the power driven roll unit 800D and 800E
tractively engage the vertical side faces of the square timber piece while the pairs of rolls 800C and 800E engage respectively the upper and lower faces.
As previously mentioned the reactionary forces from the chipper canters is such on the log~as to tend to propel the log endwise in a path of travel from left to right as viewed in Figure 1 as is also the case with the edging units 400A and 40oB. The saw at the other hand is driven to rotate in a direction against the direction of travel of the timber piece.
The foregoing described sawmill is most effective when the logs being processed are previously sorted so that they are similar in geometry. In Figure 41 there is a diagrammatic illustration of a system environment in which the foregoing described sawmill is utilized. Referring now to Figure 41 there is illustrated two piles of logs designated 1000 and 1001 which are of an 8 or 9 foot length as received from field logging operations. Logs from this are loaded onto a conveyor 1100 which spaces one log 1101 from the next and discharges a log one at a time onto an endless belt conveyor 1200. Arrows indicate the direction of travel. The logs one by one pass under a scanner 1300 and downstream from the scanner one of four (or five or more) different kickers 1400 transfer the logs according to log geometry or size into respective ones of four different holding bins 1500. The logs for example in bin 1500A are essentially of the same diameter for example 5 inches. The logs in another bin may be 4" in diameter and 6" in another bin.
The foregoing sawmill of Figure 1 designated SM
in Figure 41 has the infeed rolls thereof aligned with a belt type conveyor 1600 that for example is feeding logs one at a time from the bin 1500A to the sawmill. The logs are essentially the same geometry that are being processed as they are propelled through the sawmill and as indicated there is at the infeed end infeed rolls 100A and 1008 along with the previously described log guide 200 followed by in succession, canter unit 300A, guide and propelling roll unit 800A, canter unit 3008, propelling and guide roll units 800B and 800C, edger unit 400, feed and guide roll units 800D and 800E, saw unit 500 and the outfeed conveyor 600 from which there is discharged pieces of lumber 700.
Processing is controlled by a computer processor unit 1700. The programmed processor unit controls the sawmill units for maximized lumber value or volume recovery relative to the geometry of logs being processed.
The propelling speed of the logs can be selectively varied within a range of about 300 to 500 feed per minute and the speed of the chipper heads may be controllably varied so as to run at different fixed speeds.

This adjustable speed is important for the purpose of minimizing variation of chips and providing chips of different sizes. High quality and different chip size can be produced consistently providing a valued added product from the sawmill system. The length of chip varies directly with feed speed a 3/4" chip length being produced at a log feed speed of 300 ft./min., a 1" chip length at 400 ft./min. and a 1 1/8th" chip length at a feed speed of 450 ft./min.
As an alternative to the system illustrated in Figure 41 and in place of presorting each log can be scanned as it is fed to the sawmill and the information therefrom fed to the processor 1700 which determines from the log geometry the best cutting pattern. Signals from the processor are used then to control movement of the different processing units to accomplish the desired result. Rabbetting may or may not occur depending upon the predetermined cutting pattern. The log instead of being cut into a square may be rectangular in cross-section. The log geometry may dictate a cut pattern of for example 3 -2 x 6 's, or a single 2 x 2 or one 2 x 6 and two 2 x 4 's or any other pattern for maximum value and/or volume of recovery.
The edger rabbetting is done selectively i.e.
only when required as dictated by the cut pattern which in turn is dependent upon information received from log scanning. The log scanning provides information to the processor as to log diameter and geometry.

The pattern of cut may for example be 2 - 2" x 4"
's and 1 - 2" x 6" from a log or 2 - 1" x 4" ~ s and 1 - 2"
x 6" and this would require rabbetting the squared timber piece. Rabbetting is not required when the lumber pieces are to be the same size which by way of example might be 1 - 2" X 2" Or 2 - 2" X 4" Or 3 - 2" X 4" Or 3 - 2" X 6"
pieces of lumber from one log.
The components are precision adjustably positioned and this is done through hydraulic and/or pneumatic units.

Claims (14)

WE CLAIM

1. A canter chipper head comprising:
(A) a rigid base member having an annular rim portion and a truncated conical portion projecting outwardly from said rim, the axis of said conical portion being co-incident with the axis of rotation of the chipper head, said chipper head terminating in an outer end face portion;
(B) at least one chip discharge opening through said truncated conical portion and which extends into said outer end face portion;
(C) a main cutter blade detachably secured of said truncated conical portion and having a leading cutting edge projecting to overlap an edge defining a portion of said opening; and (D) a shaving cutter blade detachably secured to said outer end face portion and having a leading cutting edge, said cutting edge and the cutting edge of said main cutting blade being contiguous with one another and disposed at selected angles to one another, each of said cutting edges being a straight line.

2. A canter chipper head as defined in claim 1 wherein the outer surface of said conical portion slopes at an angle of approximately 45 degrees relative to the axis of rotation of the chipper head.

3. A canter chipper head as defined in claim 1 wherein said main blade slopes upwardly from said rim in a direction rearwardly at a selected angle relative to a radius from the axis of rotation.

4. A canter chipper head as defined in claim 1 wherein each of the two cutting blades have flat edge faces that abut one another from adjacent their cutting edge in a direction rearwardly relative to the direction of rotation of the cutting head during use of the same.

5. A canter head as defined in claim 1 wherein said main cutter blade is located in a recess in the outer surface of said conical portion and said shaving cutter blade is located in a recess in said outer end face portion.

6. A log chipper canter unit comprising a base support means; a shaft; bearing means supporting said shaft on said support means; power means drivingly connected to said shaft and carried by said base support means; a chipper head mounted on the free outer end of said shaft, said chipper head comprising: a rigid base member having an annular rim portion and a truncated conical portion projecting outwardly from said rim, the axis of said conical portion being co-incident with the axis of rotation of the chipper head, said chipper head terminating in an outer end face portion; at least one chip discharge opening through said truncated conical portion and which extends into said outer end face portion; a main cutter blade detachably secured to said truncated conical portion and having a leading cutting edge projecting to overlap an edge defining a portion of said opening; and a shaving cutter blade detachably secured to said outer end face portion and having a leading cutting edge, said cutting edge and the cutting edge of said main blade being contiguous with one another and disposed at selected angles to one another, each said cutting edge being a straight line.

7. A canter chipper head comprising:
(A) a rigid base member having a front face with a truncated conical portion projecting outwardly therefrom and a rear face, the axis of said conical portion being co-incident with the axis of rotation of the chipper head, said conical portion terminating in an outer front end face portion;
(B) at least one chip discharge passage, through said base member that commences in a portion of said outer end face and an outer peripheral surface of said conical portion and terminates in said rear face;
(C) a main cutter blade located in a recess in the front outer surface of said truncated conical portion and having a leading cutting edge projecting into said passage;
(D) a shaving cutter blade located in a recess in said outer end face portion and having a leading cutting edge projecting into said passage, said cutting edges being disposed at a selected angle to one another and each being a straight line; and (E) means detachably securing each of said blades to said base member.

8. A canter chipper head as defined in claim 7 wherein there are four of said chip discharge passages through said base member and wherein the openings thereto are eqi-spaced from one another in said front face about said axis of rotation.

9.A canter chipper head as defined in claims 7 or 8 wherein said recesses correspond in outline shape to the none cutting edges of the cutter blade associated therewith.

10.A canter chipper head as defined in claims 7 or 8 wherein said cutter blade securing means is accessible from the front face of the cutter head facilitating removal of the blades for sharpening while the canter head is located in situ.

11 A canter chipper head as defined in claims 7 or 8 including a recess in said front outer end face and a plate removably mounted in said recess.

12.A canter chipper head as defined in claims 7 or 8 wherein said front outer end face tapers outwardly in a direction towards said axis of rotation.

13. A log chipper unit comprising a base support means, a shaft, bearing means supporting said shaft on said base support means, power means carried by said base support means and drivingly connected to said shaft, said shaft having a free outer end and means detachably securing a canter chipper head to said shaft at the free outer end thereof, said chipper head comprising a rigid base member having a front face with a truncated conical portion projecting outwardly therefrom and a rear face, said conical portion terminating in an outer front end face, a plurality of chip discharge passages through said base member and each extending from said front face to said rear face of said rigid base member, each said passage having a portion of the opening thereto in said outer front end face and the remaining portion thereof in the outer surface of said conical portion, a main cutter blade located in a recess in an outer surface of the conical surface for each of the respective chip discharge passages and having a cutting edge projecting into the passage associated therewith, a shaving cutter blade located in a recess in said outer end face and having a cutting edge projecting into the chip discharge passage associated therewith and means detachably securing the respective cutter blades to said rigid base member.

14. A canter chipper unit as defined in claim 13 including means mounting said base support means for reciprocal movement along a path parallel the axis of rotation of the shaft.