US3451450A

US3451450A - Method and apparatus for debarking and peeling logs or the like

Info

Publication number: US3451450A
Application number: US557656A
Authority: US
Inventors: Norval K Morey; Harry D Morey
Original assignee: Morbark Debarker Co
Current assignee: Morbark Debarker Co
Priority date: 1966-06-15
Filing date: 1966-06-15
Publication date: 1969-06-24
Anticipated expiration: 1986-06-24
Also published as: FR1501460A; SE318702B

Description

June 24, 1969 MOREY TA 3,451,450

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DEBARKING AND FEELING LOGS OR THE LIKE Filed June 15, 1966 Sheet of 2 A TTOR/VEYS June 24, 196 9 N. K. MOREY ETAL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DEBARKING AND FEELING LOGS OR THE LIKE Sheet Filed June 15, 1966 F IG. 4

'Flcas F' l G .6

ATTORNEYS United States Patent f 3,451,450 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DEBARKING AND PEELING LOGS OR THE LIKE Norval K. Morey and Harry D. Morey, Winn, Mich.,

assignors to Moi-bark Debarker Company, Winn, Mich.,

a corporation of Michigan Filed June 15, 1966, Ser. No. 557,656 Int. Cl. B271 1/00 US. Cl. 144-311 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A method and apparatus for debarking and peeling a log wherein the log is fed spirally along a path leading to and beyond a work station and bark is chipped from the log at the station after which the log is shaved or peeled to leave its surface relatively smooth.

This invention relates to log debarking and peeling and more particularly to methods and apparatus for debarking and smoothly peeling a log in a single operation so as quickly and efficiently to transform bark bearing logs into smooth surface posts or poles.

An object of this invention is to provide apparatus which is capable of feeding a log of any length to and beyond a debarking and peeling station at which the bark is first removed, following which the debarkcd log is peeled or shaved so as to provide a smooth surface post or pole.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the character referred to wherein the debarking of the log is a progressive operation which results in the surface of the logs being so conditioned at the time of its arrival at the shaving Zone as to enable the surface to be smoothed with a minimum of wood removal.

Another object of the invention is to provide a debarking and cutting assembly for use in apparatus of the kind described and which is capable of performing the func tions hereinbefore mentioned.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved method of forming smooth-surfaced posts or poles from logs.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out specifically or will become apparent from the following description when it is considered in conjunction with the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary, partly perspective and partly sectional view of apparatus constructed in accordance :with the invention and illustrating a log in the process of being debarked and peeled;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of a debarking and peeling assembly constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged diagrammatic view of the debarking and peeling assembly and illustrating the relationship between the chipping teeth of the debarking means and the peeling means, the teeth being shown for convenience in illustrating this relationship as displaced to a position in which they lie in an axial row with their cutting edges axially aligned with the cutting edge of a peeling knife;

FIGURE 5 is an elevational view of one end of the debarking and peeling assembly; and

FIGURE 6 is an elevational view of the other end of the assembly.

Apparatus constructed in accordance with the inven- 3,45 1,45 0' Patented June 24, 1969 tion incorporates many structural characteristics similar to the apparatus shown in the present assignees US. Patents Nos. 2,912,023 and 3,016,074, to which reference may be had for certain structural and operational details not specifically referred to herein.

The apparatus herein disclosed comprises a main frame 1 on which is rotatably supported a plurality of substantially horizontal rollers, one of which is shown at 2 in FIGURE 1, so as to enable a log L to be fed along a generally horizontal path from right to left, as viewed in FIGURE 1, toward and beyond a debarking and peeling station 3. A plurality of similar rollers 4' are supported by the frame to the left of the station 3 so as to enable the log to be supported as it is moved beyond the station.

Means designated generally by the reference character 5 is provided for feeding the log L to and beyond the debarking and peeling station and comprises a plurality of log engaging wheels or rolls so arranged as to provide a nip between which the log L is gripped. The feeding means is located substantially at the deharking and peeling station and comprises a pair of upper rolls 6 and 7 which are journaled for rotation on supporting arms 8 and 9, respectively, which may be pivoted to the main frame in substantially the manner disclosed in Patent No. 3,016,074. The roll 6 is an infeed roll and its peripheral surface preferably is provided with spikes or studs 10 so as to enable it to grip securely the bark on the log L. A roll 6a (FIGURE 3) similar in all respects to the roll 6 is disposed adjacent the infeed side of the station 3 and below the log L so as to cooperate with the roll 6 in feeding and rotating the log. The roll 7 is located adjacent the outfeed side of the station 3 and has a substantially smooth peripheral surface such as would be provided by a rubber tire. A roll -11 similar in all respects to the roll 7 is located adjacent the outfeed side of the station 3, but below the log L so as to assist in feeding and rotating the latter.

The rolls 6 and 7 are rotated in the directions shown by the arrows in FIGURE 1 by means of chain and sprocket drive assemblies 12 which may be driven from a suitable motor (not shown). The lower feed rolls are driven by similar means, only the chain and sprocket assembly 12a for the outfeed roll 11 being shown in the drawings.

As indicated in FIGURES 1 and 2, the axes of rotation of the fed rolls are inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the log 7 so as simultaneously to cause the log to move axially and to rotate about its longitudinal axis, as is explained more fully in the aforementioned patents. Consequently, a point on the periphery of the log L will move along a spiral path as the log is advanced to and beyond the station 3.

Rotatably mounted at the debarking and peeling station 3 is a combined chipping and peeling or shaving assembly 13. The assembly 13 (see FIGURES 3 and 4) comprises a chipper unit 14 and a peeling unit 15 having generally cylindrical bodies arranged in end-to-end abutting relation with the peeling unit located downstream of the chipper unit. The assembly 13 is keyed or otherwise fixed to a shaft 16 that is journaled in brackets 17 and 18 supported on the main frame at the station 3. One end of the shaft 16 is fixed to a drive unit 19 of conventional construction and which may be chain driven from the same motor that drives the feed rolls.

The body of the chipper unit 14 is provided with a plurality of substantially radially projecting, circumferentially spaced carbide tipped chipper teeth generally designated 20. In a typical embodiment of the machine there preferably are six axially spaced rows of teeth with two diametrially opposed teeth in each row, the teeth in each row being circumferentially staggered relatively to the teeth in the other rows in such manner that, when the chipper unit is viewed from one end, the teeth 20 appear to be generally uniformly spaced about the periphery of the body, (See FIGURE 5). Generally speaking, the teeth comprise cylindrical members which are shouldered to receive the carbide chipping inserts C which are fixed thereto.

The chipper teeth which may be added to the body 14 are not all of uniform height. That is, not all of the teeth 20 extend the same radial distance from the axis of rotation of the unit 14. Preferably, the teeth at the free or outboard end of the body are the shortest in height and the height of the other teeth increases progressively in a direction toward the peeler unit 15. This characteristic of the apparatus is diagrammatically illustrated in FIG- URE 4, wherein the teeth of the six rows are shown as being axially aligned. The teeth are numbered consecutively 20a20f, beginning with the shortest or outboard tooth.

As is illustrated in FIGURE 4, the cutting edge of each tooth is inclined to the axis of rotation of the unit 14 and upwardly in a direction toward the unit 15. Thus, the tooth 20a has an upwardly inclined cutting edge 21a, the tooth 2012 has an upwardly inclined cutting edge 21b, and so on. The relationship of the cutting edges of the teeth is such that the height of the highest part of the cutting edge of any outboard tooth corresponds to the lowest cutting edge of the next adjacent inboard tooth. The inclination of the cutting edges of the teeth 20a-20d is substantially uniform, but the inclination of the cutting edges of the teeth 20c and 20 is more steep. Thus, each of the teeth of the chipper unit will be enabled to engage the periphery of a log as it moves axially along the chipper unit, even though the more outboard teeth will have removed part of the bark and thereby decreased the diameter of the log.

The peeler unit 15 is provided with a body having four axially extending recesses 22 in each of which is seated a knife blade 23 having a sharpened edge 24 which projects substantially tangentially beyond the periphery of the body. Each blade is secured to the body by bolts 25 which pass through openings formed in clamp plates 26 and through slots 27 formed in the blades 23. The slots 27 enable adjustment of the blades 23 generally tangentially of the unit 15.

As is shown in FIGURE 4, the cutting edge 24 of each blade 23 is located at a greater radial distance than are the teeth 20 from the axis of rotation of the shaft 16. However, the inboard end of the cutting edge 24 terminates in a downwardly inclined portion 2401 which extends to the level of the upper edge of the tooth surface 21 so as to prevent deep and sudden gouging of the logs surface. The outboard end of the cutting edge 24 also ter-minates in a downwardly inclined edge 24b so as to prevent the pressure of the outfeed roll 7 which slightly compresses the radially outermost portion of the logs peeled surface from causing gouging and ringing of the surface of the log by the blade as the log leaves the station 3.

Preferably, there are log supporting members or

shoes

28 and 29 at opposite ends of the station 3 to provide support and vertical stability for the log as it enters and leaves the debarking and peeling station. These shoes may be of the type disclosed in Patent No. 3,016,074.

In the operation of the apparatus, a log L containing bark B is supported on the infeed rollers 2 and advanced endWise toward the station 3. As the leading end of the log is engaged by the upper and lower infeed rolls 6, the log will be simultaneously rotated and moved axially so as to enable the chipper teeth 20 to engage and chip oif the bark B, along with dirt, ice, knots, and the like. As the log continues to be rotated and moved axially, the blades 23 peel or shave the debarked surface so as to provide a smooth surface S. The upper and lower outfeed rolls 7 and 11 will engage the thus smoothed surface and continue the rotation and axial feeding of the log. As successive portions of the log move beyond the station 3, the log will be supported on the outfeed rollers 4 and the

shoes

28 and 29, until such time as the entire log has been debarked and peeled.

The apparatus and method are such that a log of any length may be debarked and shaved or peeled in a single pass through the station 3.

The disclosed method and apparatus are representative of presently preferred forms thereof, but are intended to be illustrative rather than definitive of the invention. The invention is defined in the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In debarking apparatus: means for moving a barkbearing log spirally along a path past a debarking station; combined chipping and shaving means mounted at said debarking station in the path of movement of said log for engagement with the periphery of said log; and means for rotating said chipping and shaving means; said combined chipping and shaving means comprising a toothed chipper unit having axially spaced cutting teeth and a contiguous cutting blade unit having at least one blade extending generally radially outwardly beyond any tooth, said blade unit being downstream of said path from said chipper unit.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said edge portion of said blade terminates in end portions which are closer to said axis than is the intermediate portion.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein successive downstream teeth project progressively farther radially from said axis.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the axially downstream teeth project further radially than do the axially upstream teeth.

5. Debarking apparatus comprising: means for moving a log with bark thereon in a spiral path; a rotatable means adjacent said path; a plurality of radially projecting, circumferentially and axially spaced teeth on said rotatable means adjacent one end thereof; and a plurality of substantially tangentially projecting, circumferentially spaced blades on said rotatable means adjacent its other end, each of said blades having a cutting edge thereon extending axially of said rotatable means from the axially innermost of said teeth toward the other end of said rotatable means.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein the terminal end of each of said blades adjacent said other end of said rotatable means is inclined radially inwardly of said rotatable means.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein the opposite terminal ends of each of said blades are inclined radially inwardly of said rotatable means.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said means for moving the log comprises a pair of nip forming rolls having projecting spikes and a pair of smooth surfaced nip forming rolls downstream of said rolls with spikes.

9. Debarking apparatus comprising: means for moving a log with bark thereon in a spiral path; rotatable means adjacent said path rotatable about an axis and having a charge end and a discharge end; a plurality of radially projecting circumferentially and axially spaced teeth on said rotatable means for engaging the log, as it is moved spirally past, and removing the bark therefrom; axially successive teeth in a direction from the charge end to the discharge end projecting progressively farther from the axis to compensate for bark already removed by preceding teeth on said rotatable means and having generally inclined cutting edges arranged such that the height of the highest part of the cutting edge of a tooth substantially corresponds to the lowest part of the cutting edge of an axially next tooth in a direction toward the discharge end.

10. A method of debarking and peeling a log or the like comprising: spirally feeding said log along a path leading to and beyond a debarking and peeling station; chipping bark in progressively deeper increments from said log at the upstream end of the station; and there- 5 6 after shaving said leg at the downstream end of the 3,016,074 1/1962 Baker et a1. 144-208 station. 2,950,743 8/1960 Napier et a1. 144208 References Cited N A P U ITED STAT S AT S FRA CIS S HUS R, rzmary Exammer 2,305,281 12/1942 Taylor et a1. 144-208 5 US. Cl. X.R. 2,705,033 3/1955 Leonard 144 20s -2 2,8 19,744 1/ 1958 Chuet et a1 144247 XR