NZ553223A - Cross cutting apparatus with enhanced timber support and compound bevel facility - Google Patents

Abstract

A timber cross cutting apparatus includes a pair of opposed saws reciprocating along a main axis to cross cut timber feed into the corridor orthogonal to the main axis via opposed drive units. The drive units which can be raised and lowered and moved along the main frame to keep the timber centred through the corridor are provided with arms extending as close as practical into the region that might be occupied by the saw blades without extending into that region, the arms being provided with drive chains or belts and opposed pressure rollers to drive the timber through the corridor and rollers to support the timber. The saws can be pivoted on the main axis to provide for angled cuts, and the drive units can also be pivoted on the axis of the corridor, which in combination with pivoting of the saws, allows compound bevel cuts to be made.

Description

1 552><aa3 NEW ZEALAND Patent form No. 5 intellectual property office of n.z. 3 0 JUL 2007 RECEfVED Patents Act 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (a) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO CUTTING APPARATUS & CUTTING SYSTEMS: (b) Applicant Clyde Maxwell Robertson Address C/O Jackson Reeves, 14 Willow Street, Tauranga NEW ZEALAND Nationality Australian HEREBY declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: 2 This invention relates to cutting apparatus and cutting systems.

[0001] The term "cutting" wherever used within this specification shall refer to the techniques of altering the dimensions or profile of a workpiece thru physical interaction. Typically this may involve the use of circular saw blades appropriate to the material of the workpiece involved. It is envisaged that the materials used with the present invention will be timber but does not exclude metal, plastic and the like, and that the method of cutting will be circular saw blades.

[0002] Most known cutting apparatus for timber profiles target maximum output, in the shortest time, with minimum effort, in the safest manner, but go to extremes with area, machine footprint, blade diameter, size and length of timber, waste management, accurate control, and human input.

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to address the foregoing problems and provide the media with a more efficient system.

[0004] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cutting apparatus and system of operating same wherein the apparatus working in conjunction with computer programming can eliminate the general necessities of an operator.

[0005] Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only.

[0006] According to the present invention there is provided a cutting apparatus comprising a circular saw blade supported by it's motor, which is slidably mounted on a horizontal track and propels endwise to effectively make each cut, this assembly of components hereinafter termed saw unit, such track supportively pivoting at it's outer end from a pin and bush type arrangement, hereinafter termed main bearing on the mainframe, such pivot centreline hereinafter termed main axis, the plane of every cut being radially aligned with the main axis, and essentially the saw blade and motor being offset from said main axis, utilizing solenoid signals to the most suitable energy sources for rotation, thrust, and angular control of such saw blade via interface with computerized programming or programmable logic control hereinafter termed PLC.

[0007] According to the present invention there is provided a cutting apparatus comprising two saw units, one saw unit opposing the other centrewise as an inverted image, thus reciprocating alternatively in opposite semi-cylinders, above and below the main axis, with a set distance adjacent to the inward extent of travel of each saw unit for controlled timber conveyance and effective cutting of same, hereinafter termed corridor, this opposing set of saw units hereinafter termed cutting unit. 3

[0008] According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a cutting apparatus including a pair of driving mechanism's, each located on either side of the cutting unit and both central to the corridor, to grip and convey the timber laterally as programmed, hereinafter termed drive unit. In a preferred embodiment each drive unit's grip mechanism comprising two horizontal arms extending as far as is practicable toward the main axis, yet contained within that segment between the extent of angular rotation of each saw blade, one arm being fixed and the other telescopically motivated to firmly sandwich the timber, such grip mechanism arms housing multiple sprockets and drive chain &/or belt centrally aligned to the level of the main axis, driven by servo stepping motors fully controlled via PLC to offer ultimate precision and speed.

[0009] In conjunction, each drive unit vitally containing a vertical carriage and track assembly for height adjustment of the timber support rollers, such assembly being controlled to constantly retain timber levels central to the main axis, and including a further pressured roller centrally above the supporting rollers opposing at a distance to acquire maximal timber width, such drive unit's mechanism ideally motivated via cylindrical force such as hydraulic or pneumatic.

[0010] According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a cutting apparatus whereby each drive unit is encaged by a horizontal cylindrical frame surrounded at each end by a polar array of "V" bearings, in turn supported by the main frame; allowing such drive units to be electronically motivated to rotate to a maximum of 90 degrees during the cutting process; radially aligned and at 90 degrees to the level of the main axis, and the centre of such timber end section, [single workpiece only] thus tilting such timber member to the desired degree for the additional requirement of compound angle cutting.

[0011] According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided substantial framework to accommodate effective positioning of the cutting units and drive units including accessories plus suitable cladding of same.

[0012] Aspects of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings of one possible embodiment thereof in which:

[0013] FIG.1 is a perspective view displaying abstract movements of the various elements involved in the present invention.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a ground plan of one possible embodiment of the cutting apparatus. [Various mirrored objects omitted for clarity]

[0015] FIG. 3 is front elevation, relating to FIG. 2.

[0016] FIG.4 is an end view, relative to FIG. 2. [Drive unit excluded for clarity] 4

[0017] FIG. 5 is an end view, relative to FIG. 2. [Cutting unit excluded for clarity]

[0018] FIG. 6 is an isolated front view of one saw unit with drive units.

[0019] FIG.7 is an end view, relative to FIG. 5. Showing the cylindrical frame and bearing arrangement for the quadrant rotation of each drive unit to achieve compound cutting.

[0020] With reference to the accompanying drawings, a preferred embodiment of the cutting apparatus generally indicated by arrow 1 comprising one cutting unit generally indicated by arrow 7 and two drive units, generally indicated by arrow 3 all housed in a main frame [outline only] generally indicated by arrow 4 with saw unit boundaries indicated by arrow 30.

[0021] Each saw unit 2 being swiveled at the main axis generally indicated by arrow 10 from it's main bearing 9 position on the main frame 4 by a circular baseplate as indicated by arrow 12 to the required degree via servo motor 13 and belt linkage as indicated by arrow 14.

[0022] Opposing saw units 2 crucially operate in different semi-cylinders, above and below the main axis 10, the plane of each cut rotating from said main axis 10 thus the cutting face of each opposing saw blade 18 operating on the same side.

[0023] The saw motor 17 mounted on a carriage 20 and track 15 assembly attached to the baseplate 12, which in turn anchors the propulsion cylinders 16 and combined mechanism 11 laterally motivating such motor 17 and blade 18 to and from the tunnel, generally indicated by arrow 19 centre wise of the corridor 26 with equal recurring strokes for successive shunting.

[0024] Each drive unit 3 in a preferred embodiment of the present invention utilizes a series of drive sprockets and chain/belt as indicated by arrow 21 driven by a stepping motor generally indicated by arrow 22 to grip and convey the timber indicated by arrow 23 in a manner whereby acceleration can be achieved for speedier output of timber components. Such sprockets 21 driving chain or toothed belt, indicated by arrow 25 create maximum contact and grip with the timber faces when sandwiched by the pressure control cylinder indicated by arrow 24, thus specifically controlling lineal movement.

[0025] In conjunction height adjustment of the timber support rollers 27 mounted on a vertical carriage and track assembly 6 & 5 respectively, constantly retain timber levels central to the main axis 10 via PLC controlled cylinders 8 with a further pressured roller 28 , centrally above such rollers 27 to ensure the timber 23 stays on track for perfect results.

[0026] According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a cutting apparatus 1. housing such drive units 3 within cylindrical rotational frames 31 supported by a polar array of "V" bearings 32 and each radially aligned and at 90 degrees to the level of the main axis 10 thus the centre of such timber end section 33 [single workpiece only] tilting such timber member to the desired degree by electronic means, controlled via PLC for the additional requirement of compound angle cutting.

[0027] Many forms of computer interface exist suited to the present invention, including Local area network, Disc, Card and the like, whatever type, the cutting details are programmed to control height for each particular cut, dependant on timber width, radial movement of each circular baseplate thus saw, if and when required, plus precise distances of travel or lineal movement between each cut.

[0028] Sensors may signal solenoid switches, pneumatic spool valves, or blue tooth interaction may occur, whatever derives the simplest result to activate each component as necessary to complete each cycle.

[0029] Standard bench and roller systems are readily available for various timber onload/offload situations, also offcuts and waste are easily controlled utilizing multi service belt conveyors in the designated area 29 beneath the corridor of the cutting apparatus.

[0030] Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that additions and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit or scope thereof as defined in the appending claims.

Claims (6)

1. 6 What I Claim is: 1 A cutting apparatus comprising one cutting unit, with each individual saw unit supportively pivoting at the main axis from it's fixed position on the mainframe, to include a pair of driving mechanism's, each located on either side of such cutting unit and both central to the corridor to grip and convey the timber laterally as programmed, hereinafter termed drive unit; each drive unit's grip mechanism comprising two horizontal arms extending as far as is practicable toward the main axis, yet contained within that segment between the extent of angular rotation of each saw blade, one arm being fixed and the other telescopically motivated to firmly sandwich the timber; such grip mechanism arms housing multiple sprockets and drive chain &/or belt centrally aligned to the level of the main axis, driven by servo stepping motors fully controlled via PLC.
2. 2 A cutting apparatus as claimed and in conjunction with claim 1, with each drive unit vitally containing a vertical carriage and track assembly for height adjustment of the timber support rollers, such assembly being controlled to constantly retain timber levels central to the main axis, and including a further pressured roller centrally above the supporting rollers opposing at a distance to acquire maximal timber width.
3. 3 A cutting apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims 1 or 2, whereby each drive unit is encaged by a horizontal cylindrical frame surrounded at each end by a polar array of "V" bearings, in turn supported by the main frame; allowing such drive units to be electronically motivated to rotate to a maximum of 90 degrees during the cutting process; radially aligned and at 90 degrees to the level of the main axis, and the centre of such timber end section, [single workpiece only] thus tilting such timber member to the desired degree for the additional requirement of compound angle cutting.
4. 4 A cutting apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim comprising framework to accommodate effective positioning of the cutting unit, drive units, PLC elements and accessories.
5. 5 A cutting apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
6. 6 A cutting system substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. Clyde Maxwell Robertson INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z. 21 AUG 2007 RECEIVED