US1017655A

US1017655A - Bark-removing machine.

Info

Publication number: US1017655A
Application number: US60865411A
Authority: US
Inventors: Herbert L Drake
Original assignee: GEORGE E FOSTER
Current assignee: GEORGE E FOSTER
Priority date: 1911-02-15
Filing date: 1911-02-15
Publication date: 1912-02-20
Anticipated expiration: 1929-02-20

Description

H. L. DRAKE.

BARK REMOVING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 1113.15, 1911.

Patented Feb. 20, 1912.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

H.L.DRAKE.

BARK REMOVING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 15, 1911.

Patented Feb. 20, 1912.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H. L. DRAKE.

BARK REMOVING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 15, 1911.

1,017,655. Patented Feb. 20, 1912 5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

H. L. DRAKE.

BARK REMOVING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED PEB.15, 1911.

Patented Feb. 20, 1912.

5 SHEETB-SHEET 4.

H. L. DRAKE.

I BARK REMOVING MACHINE.

APPLIGATIONVFILED FEB.15, 1911. I 1,017,655 Patented Feb. 20, 1912.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. HERBERT L. DRAKE, E m'EDEoan, WISCONSIN, Essmnon or roan-Elva. onEe HUNDREDTHS 'ro GEO GE E. FOSTER, or MELLEN, WI SCONSIN.

BARK-REMOVING MACHINE.

' vention are to provide a machine capable of accommodating logs of various sizes; to provide a machine in which the logs are given simultaneous bodily longitudinal movement and axial rotary motion, so that any point on the log describes a helix during such movements of the log; to provide one or more bark'removing units, each comprising a knife blade adapted to be set at an angle with reference to the log axis, which is greater than the angle of pitch of the helical path of a point on the periphery of the log, whereby the bark is out along a helical line and at the same time forced loose from the log; to provide mechanism for removing the outer rough part of the bark before the inner part of the bark is subjected to the diagonal knives; to provide for additional mechanism for finally cleaning the log of any particles of bark which might cling thereto after the cutting operation; to provide a plurality of bark removing units operable simultaneously on a log to remove the bark from a log of a great many feet in length during the time that the log travels longitudinally only a few feet; and in general to provide a very simple and durable machine which will more effectively remove the bark from logs and in much less time than has been possible heretofore.

T he nature of the invention will be understood by referring to the accompanying drawings.

In these drawings: Fig. 1 is a front elevational View, Fig. 2 is a plan view looking from plane 22, Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the driving end of the machine, Fig. at is an elevational view of the opposite end ,of the machine, Fig. .5 is a plan view of a scraping chain link, Fig. 6

is a side elevation of a section of the chain, one of the llnks being in cross-section, look- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 2011912.

Application filed February 15, 1911. Serial No. 608,654.

ing from plane- 66, Fig. 5, and Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a log, showing the position of a cutting knife with reference thereto. 7

Referring to the drawings, the machine comprises a carriage'or truck 10 mounted on wheels 11 engaging the rails 12 of a track, the truck being adapted to reciprocate back and forth on said track. At one side this truck mounts bearing standards 13 which journal a shaft 14 carrying supporting wheels 15, a wheel being at each end of the truck. Atits opposite side the truck supports sets of

bearing standards

16 and 16 which journal a shaft 17 which between the

standards

16 and 16 of each set carries a spur wheel 18. The spur wheels have key and slot connection with the shaft, so that the wheels are confined to rotate with the shaft but may have longitudinal movement with reference thereto. One of the spur wheels 18 is opposite each of the .supporting wheels 15, and these supporting wheels and spur wheels form between them a trough for receiving a log to be treated, as best illustrated in Figs; 3 and fi- The-shaft 17 being rotated, the teeth or spurs 18 on spur wheels 18 engage with the log and cause rotation thereof. Adjacent one end of the'track a stationary frame 19 is provided, whose rear section 19 extends up wardly and terminates in a bearing box 20 for journaling one end of the main drive shaft 21, the'opposite end of this shaft being journaled at the top of the bearing standard 22 arranged adjacent the opposi'te end of the track. The shaft 17 before mentioned is below and in front of the shaft 21, and its left end journals on the frame 19, while its rightend journals in the standard 23 at the right end of the track. Adjacent the inside of the frame 19

shafts

21 and 17

carry gears

24 and 25 respectively which mesh with each other. Adjacent the outside of the frame 19 the main shaft 21 carries the driving pulle'y 26 which may be con-' 32 extending in a plane substantially mid- 11o box 33 supported on frame 19 a short shaft 34 is 'ournaled. This shaft at its inner end and its right end is connected with the screw shaft 32 by universal coupling 35 of any suitable construction. The left end of the shaft 34 terminates in a bevel friction pinion 36 which is adapted for engagement with either one of the friction beveled guide gears 37 and 38 journaled on the sleeve 39 mounted on shaft 29.

Secured to the ou'tside of the frame 19 is the bracket 40 whose vertical end 41 has the horizontal lugs 42 between which is pivoted at its elbow the bell crank adjusting lever 43. The inner end of this lever forks over the sleeve 39, while the outer end of the-lever is pivoted to a screw 44 which threads in a sleeve 45 journaled in the bearing extension 46 on bracket 40, the sleeve having a hand wheel 47. Upon turning of the hand wheel the bell crank lever will be swung correspondingly to cause shifting of the sleeve '39 and driving connection with the pinion 36 of either driving gear 37 or driving gear 38. the direction of rotation of the screw shaft 32being thus adjustable. The screw shaft 32 threading through a lug or a nut 48 secured to the carriage 1.0 the carriage with the log supported thereon maybe moved in either direction on the track. As the carriage is moved over its track by the rotation .of the screw shaft 32 the spur wheels 18 rotating with shaft 17 will cause rotation of a log L supported on the spur wheels and the wheels 15.

In order to accommodate the supporting wheels for logs of different diameters the bearing standards of shaft.14 are adjustable. As shown in Figs. 1 and 4, each standard frame 13 has rack teeth 49 along its base, the rack teeth engaging with pinions 50 mounted on a shaft 51 controlledby a hand wheel 52. Upon rotation. of the hand wheel and shaft 51 the bearing frames 13 may be shifted toward or away from the bearing standards of the shaft 17 so as. to decrease or increase the size of the trough between the

wheels

15 and 18 for accommodating the logs.

On both the carriage and the log supported thereon is mounted the mechanism for removing the bark from the log. This mechanism consists of one or more sets, each comprising transverse scraping and helical cutting mechanism. The cutting mechanism of each set comprises a blade 53 carried at the front end of a frame 54 which is pivoted at its rear end to the shaft 21. Each frame comprises blocks 55 pivoted to the shaft 21, and from which extend the bars 56 which terminate at their front endin a head 57. As best shown in Fig. 7, each whose rear end extends a threaded stud s, and which at its front end has the hole k. A bolt 58 straddles over the front endof the blade, and the pin59 passes therethrough and through the hole 72., the bolt passing upwardly through the head and secured by a nut 60, the blade being thus pivoted to the head 57.

Extending between the side-bars 57 and secured thereto at an intermediate point is the cross piece 61 having a slot 62 through which extends the stud s of the blade to be engaged by the nut 63. The angularity of the knife with reference to the axis of the log can thus be regulated by" swinging the blade about its front pivot and securing it in pivot position by tightening of the nut 63. During cutting operation the blade rests on the log, as indicated in Fig. 7, the sharp edge of the blade cutting and penetrating the bark along a helical line.

plained, has combined bodilygmovement and axial rotary movement, and any point on the log will therefore describe a helix. The

. l l v V 7 by knife comprises a blade 6 from the top of The log on the carrier, as has been ex-- angle of pitch of this imaginary helixis preferably less than the angle at which the blade is set. With this arrangement not only will the bark be cut by the blade along a helical line, but the blade will act like a plow to exert lateral pressure against the helical band out from the bark, so that this helical band is loosened from and deflected away from the log body. This operation is plainly indicated in Fig. 7. If the angle of the knife were the same as the angle of pitch of the helical path of a point on the periphery of the log the knife edge would merely score and cut through the bark along a helical line, but the bark will still cling to the log. However, by having the blade angle greater than the pitch angle the effect will be the same as though the log were given longitudinal movement simultaneously with the helical cutting of the bark thereof, and the bark will be forced and directed away from the log. The depth of the cut is of course gaged by the weight on each knife supporting frame, and if the frame is not heavy enough it can be sulficiently weighted.

It is desirable to separate the rough scaly outer ross part of the bark and the inner or rind part thereof, the outer part belng useful particularly for tanning purposes, and the inner part being useful particularly for the manufacture of paper. The bark can also be cut more readily by the blades if the outer harder part thereof is first removed. Accordingly I provide scraper mechanism in advance of the blade of each bark removing set. As indicated best in- Figs. 2 and 4, this scraping mechanism comprises side plates 65 pivoted attheir front ends to the shaft 21, rods 66 extending forwardly from these side plates and connected together at their front ends by a head 67. On the front ends of the side bars 66 are the blocks 68 which support and pivot between them a sprocket w chain 70.

Extendin through and journaled in the rear ends 0 the side plate 65' is the shaft 71 extending parallel to shaft 21, and on this shaft between the side plates is secured the sprocket wheel 72 over which the scraper chain 70 passes. At the left end of the shaft eel 69 for mounting the scraper 71 is secured a gear 73 which meshes with the gear 74 secured to shaft 21, so that upon driving of shaft 21 shaft 71 is rotated and the scraper chain 70 driven. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, links of the chain 70 are provided with scraping points or blades, and a preferable construction of the .chain links is shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Each link m is substantially in the form of a rectangular frame having the opening 75, the front end 76 being bent to form a hook and the rear end 77 being cylindrical to receive the hook of the next link. At a central point the frame has a transverse groove 78 for receiving a scraping device 79. As shown, this scraping device is in the form of a triangular block with sharp edges, the central section of each block being reduced or cut away,

so that the travel of the chain links over the teeth of the sprocket wheels is not interfered .with. However, the outer sections 0 and 0' present cutting edges, and as the chain travels over thelog in advance of the knife blade therough outer part of the bark is removed and the inner bark left of more or less uniform thickness to be then more readily cut and removed by the angularlydisposed blade. If one cutting end of a block 79 is dulled or chipped the block can be adjusted in its slot 78 to present a sharp edge, a set screw 80 serving to lock the block rigidly in position to thelink. It may happen that even after preliminary-scrap ing of the bark and then helical cutting thereof by the blade some of the bark will still remain on'the log, and it may be desirable to have second scraping apparatus. In the drawings this additional scraping apparatus is designated as a whole 81 and is of substantially the same construction as the scraping apparatus already described, except that it is at the opposite side of the blade, and any bark which may still remain on the log will be cleaned therefrom. The driving sprocket wheel 72 of this additional scraping mechanism is secured to the shaft 71 which extends along the length of the bark and supports the driving sprocket wheels of all the other bark removing sets if more than one set is used. As shown in the drawings, two bark removing sets are used, although any number-could be provided, the purpose being to shorten thetiine of cutting on a log, and in practice a bark removing set might be placed every four or five feet, so that instead of moving the log a great distance to one bark removing set it would be necessary. only to remove the log a very short distance] The surface of a log is usuall more or less uneven, but the various kni e supporting frames and scraping chain supporting frames being pivoted at the rear ends and free to swing up and down the knives and scraping chains are free to follow the various irregularities of the log to thus thor' oughly and cleanly remove the bark.

In order that the knife and chain support ing frames may be swung upwardly at any time, particularly when a finished log is to be removed and a fresh log inserted, suitable hoisting mechanism is provided. As best shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a line shaft 83 is journaled at its ends in bearing hangers 84, and this shaft carries a sleeve 85 mounting drums 86, one drum for each bark removing set. From the front ends of the knlfe supporting frame, and the scraper chain supporting frames cords 87 extend up wardly and wind about the corresponding drum, as indicated, so that upon turning of the sleeve and the drums thereon the various pivoted frames of the bark removing mechanisms will be raised. Shaft 83 at its left end carries a sprocket wheel 88, and the main driving shaft 21 carries a sprocket wheel 89, a chain 90 ,passing over these wheels so that the shaft 83 is rotated when the main shaft21 is driven. At the left end of the sleeve 85 is secured a clutch member 91 and adjacent thereto and slidable on shaft 83 by means of a lever 92 is the companion clutch member 93. If the bark removing mechanisms are down and it is desired to raise them lever 92 is actuated to connect together the clutch members, and sleeve 85 and the drums thereon will be rotated and the-bark removing sets raised. If they have been raised a sufficient distance the sleeve 85 may be locked by means of friction brake mechanism comprising a brake member 94 secured to the sleeve and a companion friction block 95 slidable on the sleeve by means of a lever 96. After the bark removing mechanism sets have been a finished log can be removed and the carriage returned empty to the front of the machine. However, if desired a log'can also be treated on the machine during its return movement,

the finished log being removed after the forward trip of the carriage, a fresh log then applied, and the blades 53 adjustedto the proper an le with reference to the log, the screw sha t 32 bein then set for reverse movement. By turning of the hand wheel .47 the carrier will bereturned to the other Furthermore, the rough exterior part of the bark is first separated and removed from the inner part of the bark before this inner part is cut, and any bark remaining on the log after the cutting operation is cleaned therefrom. This is a decided advantage over the prior machines and methods, in which the entire bark was removed, and it was necessary to then separate the inner and outer parts thereof. Furthermore, there was no regularity in size of the removed bark pieces, whereas in my machine the bark when engaged by the angular knives will be broken up into pieces of substantially uniform size. In my machine also there are no dead periods, as logs can be treated during both forward and reverse movements of the carrier, and furthermore a great many feet in length need be carried only a few feet to have its entire bark removed, and the outside and inside parts of the bark at the same time removed and separated.

I do not of course desire to be limited to the precise construction, arrangement and operation described, as changes and modifications are of course possible which would stilil come within the scope of my invention, an

I therefore claim the following:

1. In a de-barking machine, the combination of means for causing-a log to move bodily longitudinally and to rotate simultaneously about its longitudinal axis whereby any ,point on the perlphery of the log will generate a helix, and a knife held against the bark of the log to cut said bark along a helical line upon such movement of the log, the cutting edge of said knife being at an angle with reference to the log axis which is greater than the pitch angle of the helical movement of points on said log whereby the bark, after being cut, is moved laterally with reference to the log and thereby loosened from the log.

2. In a de-barking machine, the combination of'means for giving a log simultaneous bodily longitudinal movement and rotary movement about its longitudinal axis, and a knife having its cutting edge extending transversely across the log in engagement with the bark thereon and at an angle with the. logaxis whereby the bark is cut and removed in the form of a. helical band.

3. In a de-barkingmachine; the combination of means for giving a log simultaneous bodily longitudinal movement and rotary movement about .its longitudinal axis, and a knife having its cutting edge ext-ending transversely across the log in engagement with the'bark thereon and at an angle varyingwith the pitch of the movement of the log whereby the bark is out and removed in theform of a helical band, and means for operating in advance of said knife to remove the rough outer part of the bark.

4. In a de-barking machine, the combination of means for giving a log combined bodily longitudinal movement and rotary movement about its longitudinal axis, means operating to remove the rough outer layers of the bark, and cutting mechanism applied to the inner layers of the bark to cut a dividing line through saidinner layers and helically around'the log during movement of the log. i

5. In a de-barking machine, the combination of means for giving a log combined bodily longitudinal and rotary movement about its. longitudinal axis whereby any point on the periphery of the log will generate a helix during movements of the log,

means operating to remove the rough outer layers of the bark, a knife blade applied to the inner layers of the bark and having its cutting edge at an angle with the longitudinal axis of the log, which angle is greater than the pitch angle of the helix generated by a point on the log periphery whereby said inner layers of the bark are out along a helical line and the severed sections moved with reference to the log to become loosened and peeled therefrom in the form of a helical band.

6. In a de-barking machine, the combina tion of a carriage adapted to be moved back and forth over a fixed path, means on said carriage for receiving a log and for causing rotary movement thereof about its longitudinal axis during bodily travel of said leg with said carriage whereby any point on the log periphery generates a helix, porting frame mounted adjacent the path of said log, and a knife blade on said frame adapted to engage with the bark on said log to cut a dividing line around said log alllld lthrough said bark during movements of t e 0g.

7. In a de-barking machine, the combination of a carriage adapted to be moved back and forth over a' fixed path, means on said carriage for receiving a log and for causing rotary movement thereof about its longitudinal axis during bodily travel of said leg with said carriage whereby any point a knife sup- 8 In a de-barking machine, the combina-s tion of a carriage adapted to be moved back and forth over a fixed path, means on said carriage for receiving a log and for caus ing rotary movement thereof about its longitudinal axis during bodily travel of said log with said carriage. whereby any oint on the log periphery generates a helix, a knife supporting frame mounted adjacent the path of said log, a 'knife blade on said frame adapted to engage with the bark on said log to cut a dividing line around said log and through said bark during movements of the log, and scraping mechanism mounted adjacent the path of the log and in advance of the blade for scraping off the rough outer-layers of the bark whereby said blade will act only on the inner layers.

9. In a de-barking machine, the combination of a carriage adapted to be reciprocated over a fixed path, means on said carriage for sup orting a log and for causing rotation of t e log about its longitudinal axisdurin bodily travel thereof with said carriage w ereby any point on the log periphery will generate a helix, a frame pivoted at one end adjacent the path of said log, a knife bar supported at the free end of sa d frame, and means for swinging said frame to carry the knife away from and into engagement with the periphery of said log, said knife when in engagement with the log cutting adividing line helically around said 10 and through the bark-thereof during the elical movement of said log.

10. In a de-barking machine, the combination of a carriage adapted to be reciprocated over a fixed path, means on said carriage for sup orting a log and for causing rotation of t e log about its longitudinal axis durin bodily travel thereof with said carriage'w ereby any point on the log periphery will generate a helix, a frame pivoted at one end adjacent the path of said log, a knife bar supported at the free end of said frame, means for swinging said frame to carry the knife away from and into engagement with the periphery of said log, said knife when in engagement with the log cutting a dividing line helically around said log and through the bark thereof during the helical movement of said log, a second frame pivoted at its rear end adjacent the'path of the log, a chain mounted on said second frame, means for driving said chain, and means for raising and lowering said second frame to carry the chain away from the log or in engagement with the bark thereon, links of said chain having scraping points for scraping off the rough outer portions of the bark and engagement of the chain therewith, said chain acting in advance of the cutting blade.

11. In a de-barking machine, the combination of means for giving a log combined longitudinal bodily movement and rotary movement about itslongitudinal axis, and

stationary bark removing sets mounted adjacent the path of said log, each set comprising scraping mechanism for removing the rough outer portions oft-he bark and a cutting blade for cutting helically around the log and through the inner portions of the bar.

12. In a de-barking machine, the combination of means for giving a log combined longitudinal bodily movement and rotary knife supporting structure pivoted at one end, and-a knife blade supported at the free end of said structure transversely of the log with its cutting edge in engagement therewith to follow the irregularities of the log, said knife edge having an angle with reference to the log axis which is difi'erent HERBERT L. DRAKE. Witnesses H. A. Maomzn, VINCENT A. Hmscn.

movement about its longitudinal axis, a I