US3215176A

US3215176A - Log debarking apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3215176A
Application number: US324749A
Authority: US
Inventors: Francis G Ferrabee
Original assignee: Canadian Ingersoll Rand Co Ltd
Current assignee: Canadian Ingersoll Rand Co Ltd
Priority date: 1963-11-19
Filing date: 1963-11-19
Publication date: 1965-11-02
Anticipated expiration: 1982-11-02

Description

Nov. 2, 1965 F. cs. FERRABEE LOG DEBARKING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 19, 1963 INVENTOR. FRANCIS 6'. FERRABE E ATTORNEY Nov. 2, 1965 F. G. FERRABEE 3,215,176

LOG DEBARKING' APPARATUS Filed Nov. 19, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

' FRANCIS a. FERRABEE 4 )l p r ATTORNEY Nov. 2, 1965 F. G. FERRABEE 3,215,176

LOG DEBARKING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 19, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 :zmm

BEEIIZEEHZ rmmxmm 20 I00 20 I00 20 I00 20 I2 INVENTOR. FRANCIS 6'. FERRABEE ATTORNEY Nov. 2, 1965 F. G. FERRABEE LOG DEBARKING APPARATUS Filed NOV. 19, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FRANCIS 6. FERRABE E ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,215,176 LOG DEBARKING APPARATUS Francis G. Ferrabee, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, assignor to Canadian Ingersoll-Rand Co., Ltd., Quebec, Quebec, Canada, a corporation of Canada Filed Nov. 19, 1963, Ser. No. 324,749 15 Claims. (Cl. 144-208) This invention relates to apparatus for abrading fibrous objects and more particularly to an improved automated log debarking apparatus.

Heretofore, bulk debarking of logs has been performed by log debarking apparatus of the conventional drum type.

The objections to and defects of conventional log debarking apparatus of the drum type are:

(1) Due to the heavy load of logs and the impact of the logs as they are carried upwards and dumped one log upon another log, such drums are heavy, are subject to vibration fatigue, strain, wear and breakage; are difficult to journal; and are expensive to build, install and to maintain;

(2) Only about two thirds of the drum can be filled with logs and utilized as effective work volume; and

(3) Since the logs which are adjacent the wall of the drum are at rest with respect to the wall during rotation of the drum, the debarking of the logs adjacent such wall is almost negligible.

Other conventional log debarking apparatus are of the type in which a cutter is utilized to physically cut and peel the bark from the log.

The objections to and defects of these other types of conventional log debarking apparatus are that:

(1) Such machines are complex in structure; are not durable and require down time to sharpen or replace cutters;

(2) Such machines do not completely remove the bark and often waste valuable wood in the logs; and

(3) Such machines do not efiiciently remove the bark when it is frozen on the logs and often damage the peeled log.

It is the general object of the present invention to avoid and overcome the foregoing and other difficulties of and objections to prior art practices by the provision of an improved automated log debarking apparatus which:

(1) Maintains the logs in continuous rolling abrading contact to efficiently debark the logs;

(2) Is economical in labor and in power consumption;

(3) Removes bark from logs of any length, shape or diameter;

(4) Is simple, rugged and durable;

(5) Is low in initial cost, in installation cost and in maintenance cost;

(6) Substantially eliminates frequent shut down to sharpen or replace cutters;

(7) Completely removes the bark from the logs and does not remove or damage valuable wood in the de barked logs;

(8) Is completely automated and capable of high debarked log production;

(9) Easily and quickly feeds logs to and discharges logs from the apparatus;

(10) Reduces materially the log load and log impact on the drum, thereby reducing the weight, vibration strain, wear and breakage in the apparatus, and simplifies the journalling problem; and

(11) Efiiciently removes frozen bark from the logs.

The aforesaid objects of the present invention, and other objects which will become apparent as the description proceeds, are achieved by providing log debarking apparatus for automatically debarking logs. The apparatus comprises a drum rotatable about its longitudinal axis and having an outside surface. Debarking means are disposed on the outside surface of the drum for debarking logs. Feed means adjacent the drum, feed rows of logs to the debarking means. The debarking means is operable to rotate alternate rows of the logs in opposite directions in frictional contact with each other to aid the debarking means to debark the logs.

For a better understanding of the present invention reference should be had to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the improved log debarking apparatus of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 looking in from the motor end; with the bed plate, motor and bearing removed for clarity;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the feed means showing the guide means thereon;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing an alternative embodiment of the debarking means;

FIGURES 6 and 7 are views similar to FIG. 2 of alternative embodiments of the feed means and drum with the bed plate and discharge conveyor removed for clarity;

FIGURE 6A is a fragmentary plan view of an alternative embodiment of another debarking means on the feed means;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary plan view of the log conveyor utilized with the apparatus of FIG. 7; and

FIGURE 9 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the drum.

Although the principles of the present invention are broadly applicable to apparatus for abrading fibrous objects the present invention is particularly adapted for use in conjunction with the debarking of logs and hence it has been so illustrated and will be so described.

With specific reference to the form of the present invention illustrated in the drawings, and referring particularly to FIGS. 1-3, a drum rotatable on its longitudinal axis is indicated generally by the reference numeral 10.

In order to permit such rotation of the drum 10, a shaft 12 (FIGS. 1-3, 5) projecting from ribs 14 (FIGS. 1 and 2) of the drum 10 is journalled in bearings 16 and 18 (FIG. 3) mounted on a bed plate 20 (FIGS. 1, 3). The drum 10 is rotated in a desired direction, either clockwise (as shown in FIG. 1) or counter clockwise (not shown) by siutable drive means, such as a motor 22 (FIG. 3). Debarking means, such as a plurality of straight or longitudinal staves 24 (FIGS. 1-3), are disposed on the outside surface of the drum 10 for debarking logs 26 (FIGS. 1-3).

Feed means, such as the chute 28 (FIGS. 1-3), are disposed adjacent the drum 10 for feeding a plurality of rows of logs 26 to the staves 24. The structure utilized for supporting the chute 28 is a frame 30 (FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 5

The staves 24 rotate alternate rows of logs 26 in opposite directions (FIGS. 1-3) in frictional contact with each other to aid the staves 24 in debarking the logs 26.

For the purpose of feeding the logs 26 to the chute 28, conveyor means, such as the conveyor 32 (FIGS. 1-5), is mounted on the frame 30 and is provided with gate means, such as the pivotable gate 34 (FIGS. 1, 3).

So that the debarking operation may be speeded up, the chute 28 is provided with another debarking means, such as the corrugated surface 36 (FIG. 2) thereon to aid the staves 24. Discharge means, such as the discharge con- 3 veyor 38 (FIGS. 1, 3, 4) are utilized for discharging debarked logs 26a (FIG. 1) from the apparatus.

In order to collect the bark 40 (FIG. 2) discharged between the drum 10 and the chute 28, bark discharge means, such as the bark conveyor 42, is disposed adjacent the drum 10 and the chute 28.

Referring now to FIG. 4 it will be noted that the chute 28 is provided with a leading inclined tapered edge 44, which edge 44 serves as guide means for guiding the logs 26 being debarked by the staves 24 from right to left as viewed in FIG. 4 along the length of the drum 10.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the combination of the chute 28 provided with the corrugated surface 36 disposed at a suitable angle, of the proper effective rotational speed of the drum 10 and of the slope of the tapered edge 44 on the chute 28 will deliver barked logs 2611 (FIG. 1) in a steady stream at the same rate that such logs 26 are fed to the chute 28 by the log conveyor 3:2.

Alternative embodiments It will be understood by those skilled in the art that alternatively as shown in FIG. 5, the debarking means may comprise spiral or helical staves 24 utilized to further urge the logs 26 being debarked thereby along the drum from right to left as viewed in FIGURE 5.

In FIG. 6 the apparatus is provided with another feed means, such as the chute 28*, disposed on the opposite side of the drum 10 from the chute 28 for also feeding logs 26 to the staves 24 thereby doubling the capacity of the apparatus. Log retaining means, such as plates 46 and 46a, mounted on frame 30 are employed.

In FIG. 6 the other debarking surface on the left hand chute 28 is alternatively a serrated surface 36 The plates 46 are provided with debarking means, such as the

corrugated surface

47, 47 respectively. As shown in FIG. 6A the other debarking means may also comprise a plurality of protuberances 45.

As shown in FIG. 7 two chutes 28a and 28b from opposite sides of the frame 30 and feed the logs 26 to individual drums 10a and 1012 The log conveyor 32 (FIGS. 7, 8) utilized in FIG. 7 comprises two pivotably mounted gates 34a and 341: for alternately deflecting the logs 26 being supplied along the conveyor 32 into chutes 28a and 2812 as desired.

When chute 28b has been filled and the logs 26 are in the process of being debarked, gate 3411 may be closed (FIG. 8) and gate 34a opened thereby allowing logs 26 to be deflected by gate 34a into chute 28a When chute 28a has been filled, gate 34a may be closed and 34b opened as shown in dotted line position of FIG. 8 to permit filling of chute 28b".

In order to provide for additional bearings 16 and 18 (FIG. 9) to better assimilate the log pressures and to prevent bending of the drum 10 such drum 10 may be made in sections 10:1 It will be noted that alternatively the drum 10 may have protuberances 48 as the log debarking surface (FIG. 9) as shown in right section 10a It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that the objects of the present invention have been achieved by providing an improved automated log debarking apparatus which:

(1) Maintains the logs in continuous rolling abrading contact to efliciently debark the logs;

(2) Is economical in labor and in power consumption;

(3) Removes bark from logs of any length, shape or diameter;

(4) Is simple, rugged and durable;

(5) Is low in initial cost, in installation cost and in maintenance cost;

(6) Substantially eliminates frequent shut down to sharpen or replace cutters;

(7) Completely removes the bark from the logs and does not remove or damage valuable wood in the debarked logs;

(8) Is completely automated and capable of high debarked log production;

(9) Easily and quickly feeds logs to and discharges logs from the apparatus;

(11) Efiiciently removes frozen bark from the logs.

While in accordance with the patent statutes preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described in detail, it is to be particularly understood that the invention is not limited thereto or thereby.

I claim:

1. Log debarking apparatus for debarking logs and comprising:

(a) a drum rotatable about its longitudinal axis and having an outside surface,

(b) debarking means disposed on said outside surface of said drum for debarking logs, and

(c) feed means including a gravity feed chute having a discharge end portion adjacent the drum of approximately the same width as the drum and an inlet end positioned vertically above said discharge end, the inclination of the chute being sufiicient to cause gravity feeding of the logs to the drum in rows such that the rotation of a log in contact with the drum is imparted to and rotates at least the adjacent log remaining on the chute.

2. The log debarking apparatus recited in claim 1 and having another debarking means on said feed means for aiding debarking of said logs.

3. The log debarking apparatus recited in claim l and having conveyor means adjacent said feed means for feeding said logs to said feed means.

4. The log debarking apparatus recited in claim 1 and having discharge means adjacent said feed means for discharging debarked logs from said apparatus.

5. The log debarking apparatus recited in claim 1 and having bark discharge means disposed adjacent said drum and said feed means for discharging bark from said apparatus.

6. The log debarking apparatus recited in claim 1 and having guide means on said feed means for guiding said logs longitudinally along said debarking means.

7. The log debarking apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said debarking means comprises a plurality of longitudinal staves.

8. The log debarking apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said debarking means comprises a plurality of helical staves.

9. The log debarking apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said debarking means comprises a plurality of protuberances.

10. Log debarking apparatus for automatically debarking logs and comprising:

(a) a drum rotatable about its longitudinal axis and having an outside surface,

(b) debarking means disposed on said outside surface of said drum for debarking said logs,

(c) feed means adjacent said drum for feeding rows of logs to said debarking means,

(d) said debarking means being operative to rotate alternate rows of said logs in opposite directions in frictional contact with each other to aid said debarking means to debark said logs, and

(e) feed means on the opposite side of said drum for feeding rows of logs to said debarking means.

11. Log debarking apparatus for automatically debarking logs and comprising:

(a) a drum rotatable about its longitudinal axis and having an outside surface,

(b) debarking means disposed on said outside surface,

of said drum for debarking said logs,

(0) feed means adjacent said drum for feeding rows of logs to said debarking means,

(e) debarking means on said feed means for aiding debarking of said logs, said other debarking means being a corrugated surface.

12. Log debarking apparatus for automatically debarking logs and comprising:

(a) a drum rotatable about its longitudinal axis and having an outside surface,

(e) debarking means on said feed means for aiding debarking of said logs, said other debarking means being a serrated surface.

13. Log debarking apparatus for automatically debarking logs and comprising:

(a) a drum rotatable about its longitudinal axis and having an outside surface,

((1) said debarking means being operative to rotate alternate rows of said logs in opposite directions in frictional contact with each other to aid said debarking means to debark said logs, and

(e) debarking means on said feed means for aiding debarking of said logs, said other debarking means comprising a series of protuberances.

14. Log debarking apparatus for automatically debarking logs and comprising:

(a) a drum rotatable about its longitudinal axis and having an outside surface,

(e) retaining means on said feed means for retaining said logs on said feed means.

15. Log debarking apparatus for automatically debarking logs and comprising:

(a) a drum rotatable about its longitudinal axis and having an outside surface,

(e) retaining means on said feed means for retaining said logs on said feed means, other debarking means on said retaining means for aiding debarking of said logs.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 109,199 11/70 Gilpin 144208 201,938 4/78 Nickerson. 732,916 7/03 Bartlett 144-208 1,281,155 10/18 Guettler.

FOREIGN PATENTS 181,464 11/ 62 Sweden.

WILLIAM W. DYER, IR., Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. LOG DEBARKING APPARATUS FOR DEBARKING LOGS AND COMPRISING: (A) A DRUM ROTATABLE ABOUT ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS AND HAVING AN OUTSIDE SURFACE, (B) DEBARKING MEANS DISPOSED ON SAID OUTSIDE SURFACE OF SAID DRUM FOR DEBARKING LOGS, AND (C) FEED MEANS INCLUDING A GRAVITY FEED CHUTE HAVING A DISCHARGE END PORTION ADJACENT THE DRUM OF APPROXIMATELY THE SAME WIDTH AS THE DRUM AND AN INLET END POSITIONED VERTICALLY ABOVE SAID DISCHARGE END, THE INCLINATION OF THE CHUTE BEING SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE GRAVITY FEEDING OF THE LOGS TO THE DRUM IN ROWS SUCH THAT THE ROTATION OF A LOG IN CONTACT WITH THE DRUM IS IMPOSED TO AND ROTATES AT LEAST THE ADJACENT LOG REMAINING ON THE CHUTE.