EP0543693A1 - Method and device for cleaving a wooden block into quarters - Google Patents

Abstract

Method for splitting a log of wood, in which the log of wood (B) is held clamped at its ends, but so that it can pivot, by sets of two jaws having as their axis, its core, constituting its longitudinal axis of gravity, in the horizontal position, and is split, following the grain of the wood in the direction of its medullary rays into four, eight or twelve sections under the action of two opposite pairs of splitting tools designed to be able to pivot on themselves (10, 13) subjected to the thrust of respective thrust cylinders (12, 15), one pair of tools (10) for the initial operation of splitting into four being located substantially in a vertical plane and acting on one of the ends of the log of wood and the other pair (13) being located substantially in a horizontal plane and acting on the other end of this log, the splitting into eight or into twelve sections being produced with a chosen inclination of the plane of these pairs of tools, which are always set perpendicular with respect to one another. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a method of splitting a log in the direction of its medullary rays for obtaining quarters of wood suitable for being cut by splitting into staves or boards split along the grain of the wood and spokes spinal cord. More particularly, it relates to such a splitting process in which the log is held by jaws which can pivot at its two ends having the axis of its heart, constituting its longitudinal axis of gravity, in a horizontal position, and is split in four, eight or twelve quarters under the action of two opposite pairs of splitting tools which can pivot subjected to the thrust of jacks, a pair of tools for the initial splitting operation in four being arranged substantially in a vertical plane and acting on one end of the log and the other pair being arranged substantially in a horizontal plane and acting on the other end of this log, the splitting into eight or twelve quarters being carried out with a chosen inclination from the plane of these pairs of tools, which are always adjusted perpendicular to each other.

In addition, the present invention relates to a machine for splitting wooden logs, in the direction of the medullary radii of each log, for obtaining quarters suitable for being cut into staves respecting the grain of the wood and without breaking or cutting the fibers of the latter.

It should be noted that, more particularly, this method and this splitting machine, in accordance with the invention, are designed to obtain quarters of wood which will be able to be cut into staves according to the grain of the wood by applying the process of splitting quarters of wood and the machine using it which was the subject of French patent application No. 90.06.101.

In the current technique used for obtaining quarters from a wooden log, it is split into four, six, eight or twelve quarters by means of a splitting tool acting vertically on the upper end d '' a wooden ball placed upright, so that to obtain, for example four, quarters, it is necessary to split the ball in half first, then to take each half-ball again to split them in two, which brings the number of operations or tool passes to three and, consequently, this inconsiderately increases the working time attributable to each quarter of wood obtained. In addition, it should be noted that in this splitting operation, known to have a good yield and to obtain suitable quarters of wood, it is necessary to use logs of wood whose wire is substantially straight and / or whose core is located approximately in the central part of each of the two ends of each ball. Furthermore, in most cases, the splitting tool, pushed vertically by a jack and striking the upper end of the log like an ax, does not act as a spacer between the layers of wood but rather causes the wood to burst without taking into account its grain.

Also known, from US Pat. No. 3,974,867, a machine for splitting wooden logs into four quarters which uses, to act on each end of a log to be split, a tool with four fixed blades, arranged quadrangularly, and which is fixed on a movable support plate controlled by a double-acting cylinder. In this machine, the wooden ball is first supported by means of rest flaps controlled by jacks before being clamped by its ends between central corners that the tools include and then split into four quarters by the fixed blades of these two tools which are directed towards each other as a result of the displacement of their support plate under the action of their respective jack. Thus, in this known machine, the blades act rather like wedges penetrating the fibers longitudinally and breaking or cutting them because, given their radially fixed position, they cannot follow the grain of the wood or the medullary rays of the latter. , and the quarters obtained are, therefore, unsuitable for being cut into staves by splitting.

Also known from US Pat. No. 4,805,676 is a machine for cutting logs into logs but which, too, is suitable for splitting these logs into two, three or six quarters, these logs being pushed by their ends. rear so that the splitting blades of an upstream device penetrate through their front end and split them longitudinally.

Again, this latter splitting device is not suitable for splitting by following the grain of the wood but its blades work, as in the machine which is the subject of the patent US Pat. No. 3,974,867 mentioned previously, in the manner of wedges which can break or cut the fibers of the wood and which are not suitable, due to their fixed position radially, to follow the grain of the wood, or to respect the medullary rays of the latter.

Consequently, the process of splitting a log into quarters according to the present invention aims to eliminate the major part of the drawbacks presented by the known splitting techniques defined above and to allow an appreciable saving of time and the obtaining quarters of wood suitable for being cut into staves with the least loss of wood possible so that manufacturing is less expensive than at present while obtaining quarters of reliable wood, even when using logs of wood whose heart is relatively offset from the central part, from one extrem ity to the other of certain balls.

On the other hand, this process of splitting a log of wood into quarters and the machine for its implementation are designed to ensure that the wooden quarters will be shaped according to the grain of the wood while minimizing to the lowest degree the breaks in fibers and / or the bursting of certain layers of these fibers located between the heart and the sapwood.

According to the present invention, this method of splitting a log into quarters consists first of all in piercing to a shallow depth the center of the core of the wood at each end of the log to split in order to allow the partial introduction of 'a stud (23), then to lift this ball so that its two studs are aligned in the same horizontal plane and that the projecting part of each stud rests on a respective end support, this method being remarkable in that the lifting force exerted on the log is stopped as soon as the latter is supported by its studs so that, first of all, it takes, by pivoting by gravity on the latter, a position of equilibrium then, when this ball is stabilized in this position, it is trapped between two opposite jaws acting respectively on each of its ends, mounted to be able to pivot on themselves in the clamping position and arranged, at rest, for one in a substantially horizontal plane; then the splitting operation is started by attacking each of the two ends of the ball by means of a pair of tools disposed at rest perpendicular to the rest plane of the jaw resting on the corresponding end, adapted to be able to cross , in the middle part of the ball, with the opposite pair during each splitting stroke, and in which each of the two paired tools is controlled in movement by a respective jack and can pivot on itself, independently of the other , during splitting and depending on the direction of the wood grain; after that, the splitting operation is continued until each pair of tools reaches the end of the ball opposite the leading end, at which point the two pairs of tools are brought back to their initial position. rest; and finally to order the loosening of the jaws to free the wooden quarters which will rest in a cradle from which they will be extracted by transverse tilting on a transport device to the next machine of the installation.

This method of splitting a log into four quarters in a single splitting operation is further remarkable by the fact that, during the splitting operation, when the two pairs of tools arrive near their crossing point in their splitting stroke, we assist the two lower quarters by controlling the lifting of the cradle until it is flush with their bark, but however does not lift them so as not to thwart their clamping by the jaws.

It should be noted that this method of splitting a log can be continued, after the splitting operation in four, by one or more secondary splitting operations carried out on the same machine to obtain, in accordance with the invention, from a log, eight or twelve quarters, these twelfths being recognized as being the most suitable for obtaining staves by minimizing wood losses.

Thus, according to the invention, for obtaining eight quarters, the basic method is first applied until the moment when, after the operation of splitting into four quarters and when the tools are moved back to their rest position , at instead of controlling the loosening of the jaws, each pair of tools is diametrically tilted with its two control cylinders so that each of the cutting edges relative to the plane of the jaws, located at the same end of the quarters, makes a radial angle of 45 ° ; then a second splitting operation is then ordered, by which each of the four quarters obtained in the first place is split into two quarters; finally, when the tools have returned to their initial rest position, the jaws are released to release the eighths of ball obtained in the cradle.

Furthermore, according to the invention, in order to obtain twelve quarters, the basic method is first applied, as before, by which four quarters are obtained, but, instead of controlling the loosening of the jaws, one diametrically inclined clockwise each pair of tools with its two control cylinders so that each of the cutting edges makes a radial angle of 60 ° relative to the plane of the corresponding jaws; then a second splitting operation is ordered and, when the tools have returned to their initial rest position, the jaws are kept in the tight position and the diametrical tilt is adjusted again, but in the opposite direction (anti-clockwise) of each pair of tools with its two control cylinders so that each of the cutting edges makes an angle of 60 ° relative to the plane of the corresponding jaws; then a third splitting operation is ordered and, when the tools have returned to their initial rest position, the jaws are released to release the twelfths of ball obtained in the cradle.

It is easy to understand that, to operate the splitting of a next log in twelfths, it is not necessary to return the pairs of tools to their initial splitting position in four, that is to say to adjust in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the corresponding jaws, but to control the first splitting operation when these pairs of tools are tilted in one direction, as previously, at an angle of 60 ° relative to the plane of the jaws, the adjustment perpendicular to it before the second splitting operation and the adjustment to 60 ° in tilt in the opposite direction taking place before the third splitting operation.

To implement this method of splitting according to the invention, the inventor has designed a machine comprising movable jaws adapted to trap a log with its longitudinal ends, as well as splitting tools also located near each of these ends and adapted to divide, by splitting under the thrust of jacks, the ball into several quarters, the number of which can be chosen between four, eight or twelve, this machine being remarkable in that it is constituted by a base frame rigid, on each of the longitudinal ends of which a chassis is slidably mounted and controlled in reciprocating movement for tightening or loosening the jaws by means of a double-acting cylinder, each chassis supporting a set of two jaws spaced apart on the other on either side of their central support located in the axis of the chassis and, thus, in the longitudinal axis of the frame, the u n sets of jaws being mounted so as to be able to pivot in a vertical plane on one of the frames, while the opposite set of jaws is mounted so as to be able to pivot in a horizontal plane on the other frame, each of these chassis also supporting a pair or a set of two splitting tools located in the same plane, as well as their respective double-acting control jacks, each tool being mounted on the rod of its jack so as to be able to pivot individually during the operation splitting, and the two tools of each set, on each chassis, being spaced from each other on either side of the central support of the set of two corresponding jaws and being arranged, as well as their respective jacks, in a plane perpendicular to the mounting plane of the set of jaws on this chassis, each of the tools of the two sets being, in addition, in the rest position, adjusted in the same vertical plane or the same horizontal plane al in which it is mounted, by means of a guide cam which ceases its action when the tool in question begins its splitting attack in the corresponding end of the log.

Furthermore, the central support of each set of jaws is provided with two levers mounted on it by means of a pivot located in their central part and supporting, pivotally at each of their ends, an elongated bar constituting, with these levers , a parallelogram mounting and supporting, at its free end located at the level of the corresponding splitting tools, one of the jaws of the jaw set mounted so pivoting but kept at rest in an elastic manner in a position substantially perpendicular to the axis of its support bar.

On the other hand, each central support of a set of jaws is provided, projecting from its end situated on the side of the jaws, with a piece in the form of a gutter subjected to the stress of a spring and adapted to receive, during the loading a log of wood to be split, the corresponding support stud planted in the heart of it.

In addition, since the heart of the log may not be located at the same location in each of the end faces of this log, it may occur, when the latter is balanced in a plane horizontal, along its axis of gravity provided by the studs supported by the gutters located at the same height, a biasing of the end faces, possibly totaling with the initial cutting bias, on which the corresponding jaws cannot be applied suitably if the inclination of the levers providing the sides of the parallelogram mounting is not limited. Consequently, to limit this inclination of the levers in one direction or the other, a stop device on which the stopper device is provided on the central support near the rear lever, that is to say the one furthest from the jaws. the ends of this rear lever can take secure support.

As mentioned above, this machine according to the invention is designed at the base to split logs in four quarters, but it can also be used, with a certain adjustment between the splitting operations, to split wooden logs in eight or twelve quarters.

To do this, it is provided that each pair of actuating cylinders of each pair of splitting tools can be rotated in planes inclined relative to their initial plane which is vertical for one of the pairs and horizontal for the 'other pair. This is obtained by means of a respective front and rear mounting of each pair of jacks which is adapted to be able to pivot a maximum of one eighth of a turn, i.e. 45 °, in the direction clockwise and reverse in this sense, around the central support of each set of jaws, and relative to the respective initial position of each of the pairs of jacks which is in a vertical plane for one of the pairs and in a horizontal plane for the 'other pair.

Thus, each support assembly is adapted to be able to pivot 30 ° in one direction and in the opposite direction and to be immobilized in each of these positions at an angle of 60 ° relative to the plane of the set of corresponding jaws to allow the splitting in three quarters of each of the four quarters obtained after the first splitting operation. Of course, after the splitting operation in four quarters as said above, a pivoting of 45 ° of each support assembly and the immobilization of the latter in this position allows obtaining, after a second splitting operation, of eight wards.

It should be noted that, in another embodiment of such a splitting machine into four, eight or twelve quarters of a log, instead of providing front and rear mountings for the respective support of each pair of jacks arranged pivotally around the central support of each set of corresponding jaws, it is possible, without departing from the scope of the present invention, to make the support mounting in parallelogram of these sets of jaws pivoting around their central support according to the same angles of inclination as those provided for pairs of jacks but, in this case, keeping them in the initial vertical fixed position for one and horizontal for the other.

On the other hand and in accordance with the invention, when it is only desired to split a ball into four quarters, the two jaws of each of the sets are designed in the form of elongated and straight blocks, each provided with a gripping jaw. adapted to be able to slide outwards when the quarters being split are separated by the tools, these jaws being returned to their initial position under the stress of a spring when these tools are moved back.

In the same vein, the invention provides that for the operations of splitting in eighths or twelfths, so that the jaws interest a larger gripping and gripping surface, they are provided, as before, in the form of elongated and straight blocks whose gripping jaw, adapted to be able to slide towards the exterior and recalled by a spring, is provided with a transverse support forming a cross with it, this support being provided, at each of its ends, with a pad furnished with studs which can be provided sliding outwards and recalled by spring towards the central jaw, this support being provided so that its pads at rest are located in a maximum angle of 80 ° whose bisector is located in the axis of the jaw.

Furthermore, to assist the log in the process of splitting and to receive the split quarters, so to speak without dropping significantly, the machine according to the invention is provided with a cradle with two rest branches which are controlled in upward and downward movement independently of each other by means of two separate jacks, but which can be tilted laterally simultaneously using a third jack.

It is easy to understand that this cradle is planned with such a constitution to meet the need for assistance of a log in the process of splitting when the latter, having taken its equilibrium with respect to its longitudinal axis of gravity provided by the core , has a fairly substantial slope from its lower part and that, therefore, it is necessary that one of the branches comes to touch without supporting the lower facing part and that the other branch does the same with the part opposite the highest, this in order to avoid a large untimely shift towards the bottom of the quarters during splitting if there is an unexpected sliding of their ends relative to the jaws when the first splitting operation has been carried out and that the support studs are no longer used for anything.

Note that, to perfect this setting, with a slight play of the wooden ball in balance, by means of the cradle, the two branches of it are provided to be able to be lined with an elastic mattress which will best fit the outline corresponding lower of the bark of the log without however supporting it to the point of lifting it.

• La figure 1 est une vue schématique en élévation de la machine de fendage conforme à l'invention;
• La figure 2 est une vue en coupe prise suivant la ligne 2-2 de la figure 1 dans le sens des flèches;
• La figure 3 est une vue en coupe prise suivant la ligne 3-3 de la figure 1 dans le sens des flèches;
• La figure 4 est une vue similaire à celle de la figure 2 mais montrant d'autres positions de fendage à 45°;
• La figure 5 est une vue similaire à celle de la figure 2 sur laquelle sont figurées des positions de fendage à 30° de part et d'autre de la verticale;
• La figure 6 est une vue similaire à celle de la figure 3 sur laquelle sont figurées des positions de fendage à 30° de part et d'autre de l'horizontale.

Other characteristics of the present invention will appear from the following description of an embodiment of a machine for splitting wooden logs into quarters, shown, by way of example and very schematically, in the attached drawings. wherein:

• Figure 1 is a schematic elevational view of the splitting machine according to the invention;
• Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1 in the direction of the arrows;
• Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 1 in the direction of the arrows;
• Figure 4 is a view similar to that of Figure 2 but showing other 45 ° splitting positions;
• Figure 5 is a view similar to that of Figure 2 on which are shown splitting positions at 30 ° on either side of the vertical;
• Figure 6 is a view similar to that of Figure 3 on which are shown splitting positions at 30 ° on either side of the horizontal.

As shown in Figure 1, the splitting machine, shown very schematically and according to an embodiment given by way of example, is constituted by a rigid base frame (1), slidingly supporting at its ends chassis (2, 3) controlled respectively in reciprocating movement by jacks (4, 5) shown in dotted lines. Each frame supports a set of two jaws, a set (6) in a horizontal position on the frame (2) and a set (7) in a vertical position on the frame (3). The two jaws of each of the sets are spaced from each other on either side of their central support, indicated by (8) for the chassis (2) and by (9) for the chassis (3), located in the longitudinal axis of the chassis respective and in that of the frame. The set of jaws (6), supported by the frame (2), is mounted so that it can pivot in a horizontal plane, while the other opposite set (7), supported by the frame (3), is mounted so that you can rotate in a vertical plane. The frame (2) also supports a set (10) of two splitting tools adapted to be able to pivot individually during their splitting stroke and whose cutting edges (10a, 10b) at rest are maintained in the same vertical plane by means of '' a guide cam (11), as well as the two respective control cylinders (12) of this set (10) of tools which are adjusted in the same vertical plane for the operation of splitting a log ( B) in four quarters (see Figure 2). The chassis (3) also supports a set (13) of two splitting tools adapted to be able to pivot individually during their splitting stroke and whose cutting edges (13a, 13b) at rest are held in the same horizontal plane by means of '' a guide cam (14), as well as the two respective control cylinders (15) of this set (13) of tools which are adjusted in the same horizontal plane for the operation of splitting the log (B ) in four quarters.

Note that the two tools to split each of the sets (10, 13) are spaced from each other on either side of the respective central support (8, 9), as can be seen in the Figures 2 and 3, so that they can cross with the two opposite splitting tools during a splitting operation, both during the splitting stroke itself and during their stroke back to the rest position, even if each of these four tools pivots independently of the others relative to its initial cutting plane to follow the medullary rays along the grain of the wood.

Furthermore, it should be noted that each set of two jaws is mounted on the corresponding central support (8, 9) by means of a parallelogram mounting, identical for each chassis but positioned horizontally on the chassis (2) and vertically on the chassis (3), and consisting of two levers (16, 17) mounted in an oscillating manner in their central part on the central support and pivotally supporting at each of their ends, a bar (18, 19) on the free end of which, on the wooden log side (B), is pivotally mounted one of the two jaws of the corresponding set (6, 7), each jaw however being kept at rest perpendicularly to its bar in an elastic manner by means of springs (20). This parallelogram mounting is however maintained against an excessive inclination of its sides constituted by the two levers (16, 17) as a result of too substantial bias support on the corresponding sectioned face of the ball (B), by means of 'a triangular stop device (21) secured to the corresponding central support and on which the ends of the rear lever (16) can bear.

On the other hand, the free end of each respective central support (8, 9), on the side of the jaws, is provided with a projecting part (22) in the form of a gutter adapted to receive, when the position of splitting of a ball (B), the corresponding support stud (23) partially engaged previously in the core thereof to define its equilibrium position in the machine before the jaws are tightened, this part being forced to the thrust of a spring and retracting in its support when advancing the jaws in the clamping position.

As can be noted, so far, the splitting machine has been described as it is designed for obtaining, from a ball, four quarters of wood, as shown in Figures 2 and 3 , but this machine can also, from such a splitting in four, make it possible to obtain eight quarters (as indicated in FIG. 4) by two consecutive operations of splitting in four, the second being made with a diametrical inclination of each of the two sets of 45 ° tools, in one direction or the other, relative to their position in the first splitting operation, each of the two sets of jaws remaining in their initial clamping position.

In addition, this machine can also allow the splitting of a log into twelve quarters (as shown in Figures 5, 6) by three consecutive splitting operations, a first splitting operation in four, followed by a second operation with each of the two sets of tools having a diametrical inclination of 30 ° in one direction relative to their position in the first operation, then a third operation with each of the two sets of tools having a diametrical inclination of 30 ° in the other direction relative to their position in the first operation, each of the two sets of jaws, as previously, remaining in their initial clamping position.

To do this, the front (24) and rear (25) support assemblies of each set of two control cylinders for the splitting tools are arranged so that they can be rotated together, around the corresponding central support, and immobilized at positions where the tool sets will have a diametrical inclination as indicated above.

On the other hand, for a splitting operation in four quarters, the jaws of each of the sets are designed in the form of straight and elongated blocks provided with a gripping jaw adapted to be able to slide outwards but be recalled in position of rest during loosening by means of a spring (not shown). However, when splitting operations in eight or in twelve quarters are planned, each jaw jaw can be provided with a transverse support (6a, 7a) forming a cross with it and having each of its ends provided with a shoe, lined with crampons, able to slide outwards and returned by spring towards the jaw, this support being provided so that at rest its pads are located in a maximum angle of 80 ° whose bisector is in the axis of the jaw .

Furthermore, this splitting machine also includes a cradle (30) adapted to assist the log (B) during splitting, collect the quarters of wood without excessive fall thereof and tilt laterally outward to deliver these districts to a transport device. This cradle consists of a seat plate (31), pivotally supporting two rest legs (32, 33), and controlled in upward and downward movement by means of two separate jacks (34, 35). These two jacks make it possible to provide a chosen longitudinal inclination to the seat plate (31) so that the branches which it supports come to touch the corresponding lower contour of the wooden log without lifting the latter after it has taken its balance position and the jaws are tight.

Note that, to conform elastically to these lower contours of the wooden ball perpendicular to each resting branch of the cradle, the latter can be fitted with an elastic mattress (36).

Claims (14)

1.- A method of splitting a log in the direction of its medullary rays to obtain quarters of wood suitable for being cut, later by splitting, into staves or boards following the grain of the wood and medullary rays , a method which consists first of all in piercing the center of the wood at a shallow depth at each end of the log to be split in order to allow the partial insertion of a stud (23), then in lifting this ball so that its two studs are aligned in the same horizontal plane and the projecting part of each stud rests on a respective end support, this process being characterized by the fact that the lifting force exerted on the log is stopped as soon as the latter is supported by its studs so that, first of all, it takes, by pivoting by gravity on the latter, an equilibrium position then, when this ball is stabilized in s this position, it is trapped between two opposite jaws (6, 7) acting respectively on each of its ends, mounted to be able to pivot on themselves in the clamping position and arranged, at rest, for one (7) in a substantially horizontal plane; then the splitting operation is started by attacking each of the two ends of the ball by means of a pair of tools (10, 13) arranged at rest perpendicular to the rest plane of the jaw (6, 7) resting on the corresponding end, adapted to be able to cross, in the middle part of the ball, with the opposite pair during each splitting stroke, and in which each of the two paired tools is controlled in displacement by a respective jack and can pivot on itself, independently of the other, during splitting and depending on the direction of the wood grain; after that, the splitting operation is continued until each pair of tools (10, 13) reaches the end of the ball opposite the leading end, when the two pairs of tools are brought back to their initial rest position; and finally to control the loosening of the jaws to release the wooden quarters which will rest in a cradle (30) from which they will be extracted by transverse tilting on a transport device to the next machine of the installation. 2. A method of splitting according to claim 1, allowing the splitting of a wooden log in four quarters in a single splitting operation, characterized in that, during the splitting operation, when the two pairs of tools arrive near their crossing point in their splitting stroke, the two lower quarters by controlling the lifting of the cradle (30) until the latter is flush with their bark, but however does not lift them so as not to thwart their clamping by the jaws. 3.- A method of splitting according to either of claims 1 or 2, for obtaining eight quarters from a log, characterized in that the method of application is first applied base until, after the splitting operation in four quarters and when the tools (10, 13) are moved back to their rest position, instead of commanding the loosening of the jaws (6, 7), we tilt diametrically each pair of tools with its two control jacks so that each of the cutting edges (10a, 10b, 13a, 13b) relative to the plane of the jaws, located at the same end of the quarters, make a radial angle of 45 °; then a second splitting operation is then ordered, by which each of the four quarters obtained in the first place is split into two quarters; finally, when the tools have returned to their initial rest position, the jaws are released to release the eighths of ball obtained in the cradle. 4.- A method of splitting according to either of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that one first applies the basic method by which one obtains four quarters but, instead of controlling the loosening of jaws (6, 7), each pair of tools (10, 13) is tilted diametrically clockwise with its two control cylinders so that each of the cutting edges makes a radial angle of 60 ° relative to the plane of the corresponding jaws ; then a second splitting operation is ordered and, when the tools have returned to their initial rest position, the jaws are kept in the tight position and the diametrical tilt is adjusted again, but in the opposite direction (anti-clockwise) each pair of tools with its two control cylinders so that each of the cutting edges makes an angle of 60 ° relative to the plane of the corresponding jaws; then we order a third splitting operation and, when the tools are back to their initial rest position, the jaws are released to release the twelfths of ball obtained in the cradle. 5.- splitting machine, for the implementation of the method according to claims 1 and 2, and the secondary processes according to claims 3 and 4, of the type comprising movable jaws adapted to trap a log (B) by its longitudinal ends, as well as splitting tools also located near each of these ends and suitable for dividing, by splitting under the thrust of jacks, the ball into several quarters, the number of which can be chosen between four, eight or twelve, this machine characterized by the fact that it is constituted by a rigid base frame (1), on each of the longitudinal ends of which a chassis (2, 3) is slidably mounted and controlled in alternating movement for tightening or loosening jaws by means of a double-acting cylinder (4, 5), each frame supporting a set of two jaws (6, 7) spaced from each other on either side of their surface central port (8, 9) located in the axis of the chassis and, thus, in the longitudinal axis of the frame, one (7) of the sets of jaws being mounted so as to be able to pivot in a vertical plane on the one (3) of the frames, while the opposite set of jaws (6) is mounted so as to be able to pivot in a horizontal plane on the other frame (2), each of these frames also supporting a pair or a set (10 , 13) of two splitting tools located in the same plane, as well as their respective double-acting control jacks (12, 18), each tool being mounted on the rod of its jack so as to be able to pivot individually during the operation splitting, and the two tools of each set, on each chassis, being spaced from each other on either side of the central support (8, 9) of the set of two corresponding jaws and being arranged, as well as their respective cylinders, in a plane perpendicular to the assembly plane of the set of jaws on this ch ssis, each of the tools of the two sets (10, 13) being, in addition, in the rest position, adjusted in the same vertical plane or the same horizontal plane in which it is mounted, by means of a guide cam (11 , 14) which ceases to act when the tool in question begins its splitting attack in the corresponding end of the log. 6.- splitting machine according to claim 5, characterized in that the central support (8, 9) of each set (6, 7) of jaws is provided with two levers (16, 17) mounted on it by means of a pivot located in their central part and pivotally supporting each from their ends, an elongated bar (18, 19) constituting, with these levers, a parallelogram mounting and supporting, at its free end situated at the level of the corresponding splitting tools (10, 13), one of the jaws of the set of jaws pivotally mounted but kept resiliently resilient in a position substantially perpendicular to the axis of its support bar. 7.- splitting machine according to either of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that each central support (8, 9) of a set of jaws is provided, projecting from its end located on the side of jaws, of a part (22) in the form of a gutter subjected to the stress of a spring and adapted to receive, when loading a log of wood to be split, the stud (23) of corresponding support planted in the heart of it. 8.- Splitting machine according to either of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that a front mounting (24) and rear (25) of respective support of each pair of jacks (12, 15) is adapted to be able to pivot a maximum of one eighth of a turn, i.e. 45 °, clockwise and reverse to this direction, around the central support (8, 9) of each set of jaws (6, 7), and by relative to the respective initial position of each of the pairs of jacks (12, 15) which is in a vertical plane for one (12) of the pairs and in a horizontal plane for the other pair (15). 9.- splitting machine according to claim 8, characterized in that each mounting (24, 25) for supporting each pair of jacks is adapted to be able to pivot 30 ° in one direction and in the opposite direction and be immobilized in each of these positions at an angle of 60 ° relative to the plane of the set of jaws (6, 7) corresponding to allow the splitting into three quarters of each of the four quarters obtained after the first splitting operation. 10.- splitting machine according to claim 5, characterized in that the two jaws of each of the sets are designed in the form of elongated and straight blocks, each provided with a gripping jaw adapted to be able to slide outwards when the quarters being split are separated by the tools (10, 13 ), these jaws being returned to their initial position under the stress of a spring when these tools are moved back. 11. A splitting machine according to claim 10, characterized in that each sliding jaw of each jaw (6, 7) is provided with a transverse support (6a, 7a) forming a cross with it, this support being provided, at each of its ends, a pad furnished with studs which can be provided sliding outwards and returned by spring towards the central jaw, this support (6a, 7a) being provided so that its pads at rest are located in a maximum angle of 80 ° whose bisector is located in the axis of the jaw. 12.- splitting machine according to claim 5, characterized in that it is provided with a cradle (30) with two rest branches (32, 33) which are controlled in upward and downward movement independently of one the other by means of two cylinders (34, 35) distinct, but which can be tilted laterally conserves simultaneously by means of a third cylinder. 13.- splitting machine according to claim 12, characterized in that the two branches (32, 33) of the cradle (30) are provided with an elastic mattress (36). 14.- splitting machine according to either of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that the parallelogram support of each of the sets of jaws (6, 7) can be provided pivotally mounted around its respective central support (8, 9) in order to be able to be inclined diametrically in one direction or the other with respect to its initial position, horizontal for one, vertical for the other, with a maximum angle of 45 ° and following intermediate angles, the set of tools (10, 13), in this case of diametrical inclination of the sets of jaws, remaining fixed in a vertical position for one (10) and horizontal for the other (13).

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