WO1993009923A1

WO1993009923A1 - Horizontal band resaw

Info

Publication number: WO1993009923A1
Application number: PCT/US1992/006596
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gary D. Morgan
Original assignee: Morgan Gary D
Priority date: 1991-11-12
Filing date: 1992-08-07
Publication date: 1993-05-27
Also published as: AU2447192A

Abstract

A horizontal band resaw which includes a support frame (2) that receives a bandsaw in horizontal orientation such that the top segment (66) of the endless bandsaw blade (64) is parallel to the bottom segment (67) and is located above and transverse with respect to workstock placed on a conveyor (13), also mounted in the support frame (2). The workstock engages the top segment (66) of the blade (64) and is cut to specified thickness according to adjustment in the conveyor height by operation of a crank-operated adjusting apparatus (25). An adjustable blade guide mechanism (100) insures that the top segment (66) of the endless bandsaw blade (64) is maintained in the proper orientation with respect to the conveyor (13) for precise cutting of the workstock. A spring-biased tire (44) is also mounted on the support frame (2) above the conveyor (13) for engaging and retaining the workstock on the conveyor (13) during the cutting operation and the continuous bandsaw blade (64) can be tightened or loosened in the bandsaw by means of a band tensioning and adjusting mechanism (69, 71).

Description

HORIZONTAL BAND RESAW

Technical Field

This invention relates to band resaws and more particularly, to a band resaw which includes a support frame supporting a horizontally mounted bandsaw and a conveyor positioned between and in transverse relationship with respect to the parallel top and bottom blade segments of the endless bandsaw blade. A conveyor adjusting mechanism is provided beneath the conveyor to adjust the height of the conveyor belt and facilitate precise cutting of wooden workstock fed by the conveyor belt into the top blade segment of the bandsaw blade. The bandsaw blade and conveyor are powered by separate motors and a rubber tire is mounted in biased relationship above the conveyor for contacting the workstock and securing the workstock on the conveyor belt as the workstock is cut longitudinally by the top blade segment. An adjustable blade guide mechanism is also provided for engaging and guiding the top segment of the bandsaw blade and ensuring precise cutting of the wooden workstock placed on the conveyor belt.

Background Art

Band resaws of various design are well known in the art. Typical of these band resaws is the Baker Band Resaw manufactured by Ellington Manufacturing, Inc., of Ellington, Missouri, U.S.A., and the "Wood Mizer" (trademark) ultihead horizontal band resaw manufactured by Wood Mizer Industrial Products Division, of Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.A. The Baker Band Resaw includes a frame fitted with a horizontally-mounted bandsaw, wherein the bottom blade segment of the horizontally oriented, continuous bandsaw blade is located in transverse relationship with respect to the conveyor and the bandsaw frame is positioned above the conveyor. The "Wood Mizer" machine utilizes multiple bandsaws, each having the bottom blade segment similarly positioned and various band resaws of similar design are well known in the art. One of the problems associated with mounting the bandsaw element of a band resaw on top of the resaw frame to facilitate cutting with the bottom segment of the continuous band blade, is that of handling the workstock both before and after the cutting operation by a single operator. The elevated position of the bandsaw housing interferes with both feeding and receiving lumber by a single operator and more than one operator is therefore normally required to operate conventional band resaws.

Band resaws are used in the lumber industry as general purpose saws for producing pallet lumber, stacking strips, staves and slab reclaiming purposes, in non-exclusive particular. These saws are versatile, easily operated and economical for the intended purpose. The horizontal band resaw of this invention is a thin-kerf bandsaw capable of processing oak lumber at 90 to 100 lineal feet per minute. The device utilizes a single head unit designed to resaw multiple width cants, boards and edged slabs. The horizontal band resaw can also be used for reclaiming boards from edged slabs and sizing stringers.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of this invention to provide a horizontal band resaw for processing lumber, wherein the bandsaw assembly is mounted on the frame in horizontal orientation and transversed to the conveyor, such that the top blade segment of the endless saw blade cuts the workstock. Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved horizontal band resaw which includes a frame, a conveyor horizontally and adjustably mounted on the frame and a pair of blade housings, blade wheels and a continuous blade mounted on the blade wheels and horizontally oriented on the frame transverse to the conveyor, such that the top portion of the continuous blade is located above the conveyor for cutting workstock placed on the conveyor belt.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a horizontal band resaw which includes a support frame, a conveyor horizontally seated on the support frame and having a conveyor belt driven by a conveyor motor, a conveyor height-adjusting mechanism mounted beneath the conveyor and a horizontal bandsaw mounted in the frame transverse to the conveyor, with the endless bandsaw blade horizontally positioned such that the top horizontal portion of the blade is located above the conveyor belt for cutting workstock placed on the conveyor belt at various thicknesses responsive to adjustment of the conveyor height-adjusting mechanism.

Another object of this invention is to provide a horizontal band resaw which includes a horizontal, height-adjustable conveyor mounted on a frame, a bandsaw assembly including a pair of blade housings mounted on the frame in transverse relationship with respect to the conveyor and blade wheels carrying an endless blade, with the top segment of the blade positioned above the conveyor belt such that workstock placed on the conveyor belt is cut by the top segment of the bandsaw blade and further including a blade tensioning mechanism mounted in the bandsaw assembly for adjusting and changing the endless blade. These and other objects of the invention are provided in a horizontal band resaw which is characterized in a preferred embodiment by a support frame carrying a horizontally-mounted conveyor, a band saw assembly characterized by a pair of hinged blade housings enclosing a pair of spaced blade wheels carrying an endless bandsaw blade disposed in horizontal orientation, which blade housings, blade wheels and endless blade are located transverse to the conveyor, such that the top horizontal blade segment of the endless blade is mounted above the conveyor belt for cutting workstock placed on the conveyor belt and further including a conveyor height-adjusting mechanism mounted on the support frame beneath the conveyor for adjusting the height of the conveyor with respect to the top segment of the bandsaw endless blade and cutting workstock to a selected thickness, as well as an adjustable blade guide mechanism for "trueing" the top blade segment over the conveyor belt.

Brief Description of Drawings

The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a left side view of a preferred embodiment of the horizontal band resaw of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged left side view of a preferred conveyor height-adjusting mechanism element of the horizontal band resaw illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a rear view of the conveyor adjusting mechanism illustrated in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a rear view of the horizontal band resaw illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a front view of the horizontal band resaw illustrated in FIGURE 1; FIGURE 6 is a top view of the horizontal band resaw illustrated in FIGURE 1 with the retaining tire assembly, workstock plate, blade guide mechanism and drive motor cover removed for brevity;

FIGURE 7 is a left side view of a preferred band tensioning mechanism provided in the horizontal band resaw of this invention;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken along 8-8 of the band tensioning mechanism illustrated in FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged left side view of a preferred retaining tire assembly;

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged right side view of the retaining tire assembly illustrated in FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is a front view, partially in section, of the tire support and mount bar elements of the retaining tire assembly illustrated in FIGURES 9 and 10;

FIGURE 12 is a perspective view, partially in section, of a preferred blade guide mechanism element of the horizontal band resaw; and

FIGURE 13 is a left side view of the blade guide mechanism illustrated in FIGURE 12.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

Referring initially to FIGURES 1-7 of the drawings, the horizontal band resaw of this invention is generally illustrated by reference numeral 1 and includes a support frame 2, fitted with frame legs 3 which rest on a foundation 126. The support frame 2 is further characterized by horizontal and vertical frame members 4, as well as a gearbox support 5, illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 4, and a tensioning frame 8 and cross-frame support 6, illustrated in FIGURE 6. Additional motor frame members 7, also illustrated in FIGURE 6, serve to support a blade drive motor 85 and the tensioning frame 8 further supports a band tensioning mechanism 69, as illustrated in FIGURES 6-8. A workstock plate 9 is mounted on the tensioning frame 8 and a frame member 4 adjacent to the horizontally-oriented conveyor 13, as illustrated in FIGURES 1, 4 and 5. The conveyor 13 is further characterized by an elongated conveyor frame 14, which is cradled in the support frame 2 by means of a conveyor adjusting mechanism 25, secured to the tensioning frame 8 and various frame members 4, as illustrated. The conveyor frame 14 is fitted with an endless conveyor belt 15, provided with spaced belt ribs 17, and a top belt segment 18 of the conveyor belt 15 extends along the entire top portion of the conveyor frame 14, as illustrated in FIGURES 1, 2 and 6. The bottom belt segment 19 of the conveyor belt 15 projects around a belt idler roller 16, located at the front end of the conveyor 13 and extends to a belt drive roller 23, located at the opposite end of the conveyor 13, as illustrated in FIGURE 6. A pair of belt tensioners 20 are provided on the front end of the conveyor 13 and each include a pair of tensioning bolts

21, threadably fitted in corresponding tensioning blocks

22, attached to the conveyor frame 14 and also threaded in a pair of nuts 14σ, welded to the frame plates 14a, which are located on both sides of the conveyor frame 14 and carry a pair of roller bearings 24, each of which receive opposite ends of the belt idler roller 16, as further illustrated in FIGURE 6. Bolts 14b threadably receive corresponding nuts 14c to attach the roller bearings 24 to the respective frame plates 14a. As further illustrated in FIGURE 6, another set of frame plates 14a mount additional roller bearings 24 to receive the belt drive roller 23 at the opposite end of the conveyor 13. The belt drive roller 23 is connected to a conveyor drive shaft 97, which extends to a shaft coupling 97b that couples the conveyor drive shaft 97 to the gearbox drive shaft 94a of a conveyor motor gearbox 94. The conveyor motor gearbox 94 is mounted on one of the motor frame members 7 and receives a gearbox input shaft 95, which is attached to a gearbox input pulley 96. The gearbox input pulley 96 is, in turn, secured to a conveyor motor pulley 92, fitted on the motor shaft 91a of a conveyor motor 91, by means of a conveyor motor belt 93. Accordingly, it will be appreciated from a consideration of FIGURE 6 that operation of the conveyor motor 91 transmits rotational motion through the 90 degree conveyor motor gear box 94 to the conveyor drive shaft 97 and the belt drive roller 23 to facilitate rotation of the conveyor 13 in the direction indicated by the arrow.

As further illustrated in FIGURES 1-3 of the drawings, the conveyor adjusting mechanism 25 includes an adjusting frame 26, which is welded or otherwise secured to the frame members 4 and includes an adjusting rod plate 28 in the extending end thereof for receiving a threaded adjusting rod 27, as illustrated in FIGURE 2. A rod base 27a is provided on one end of the adjusting rod 27 and the rod base 27a is welded or otherwise secured to one end of a pair of spaced, inverted L-shaped pivot plates 36, which are pivotally attached to corresponding spaced plate mounts 37, welded or otherwise secured to the adjusting frame 26, by means of bolts 14b and corresponding nuts 14c, as further illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3. The threaded adjusting rod 27 projects through an opening (not illustrated) provided in the adjusting rod plate 28 and receives an internally-threaded connecting bar collar 34 element of an adjusting handle 31. The adjusting handle 31 further includes a connecting bar 33, extending from the connecting bar collar 34 and a handle grip 32, projecting in the extending end of the connecting bar 33, as further illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2. An adjusting rod nut 29 is threaded on the adjusting rod 27 and is located between the connecting bar collar 34 and a washer 30, which seats against the adjusting rod plate 28, as illustrated in FIGURE 2. A support pipe 39 is welded between the top edges of the pivot plates 36, as illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3 and the support pipe 39 engages the bottom of the conveyor frame 14, as further illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2. A pair of rod brackets 42 are welded or otherwise attached to a spacer 40, which also projects between the parallel pivot plates 36 and one end of a connecting rod 41 is pivotally secured between the rod brackets 42 by means of a pair of bolts 14b and corresponding nuts 14c, as illustrated in FIGURE 2. A second set of pivot plates 36 and rod brackets 42 are pivotally attached to a second plate mount 37 in spaced relationship with respect to the first set of pivot plates 36 and the opposite end of the connecting rod 41 projects between the second set of rod brackets 42 and is pivotally secured by means of an additional bolt 14b and nut 14c. Accordingly, It will be appreciated from a consideration of FIGURES 1-3 of the drawings that the conveyor 13 may be raised or lowered in horizontal orientation by manipulation of the adjusting handle 31 to threadably move the connecting bar collar 34 outwardly or inwardly on the adjusting rod 27. This action pivots the two sets of spaced pivot plates 36 in concert by operation of the connecting rod 41 to raise and lower the conveyor frame 14 and conveyor belt 15. A fence 45, having a fence slot 45a, is welded to the conveyor frame 14 and projects above the plane of the top belt segment 18 of the conveyor belt 15, for guiding the workstock (not illustrated) during the cutting operation. Referring now to FIGURES 1, 4, 5 and 9-11 of the drawings, in a most preferred embodiment of the invention the retaining tire 46 of a retaining tire assembly 44 is disposed on an upward-standing tire support 11 by means of a tire mount bar 47, such that the retaining tire 46 may rest on a wood workstock (not illustrated) which is placed on the top belt segment 18 of the conveyor belt 15 when the horizontal band resaw 1 is in operation. One end of the tire mount bar 47 is secured to a tire pin 46a, projecting through the center of the retaining tire 46, while the other end is pivotally attached to the hinge pin 48a of a bar hinge 48, which is welded to the top of the tire support 11. Multiple spring bolts 51 are threaded in openings (not illustrated) provided in spaced relationship in the tire mount bar 47 and a tire spring 50 extends between a selected one of the spring bolts 51 and a curved spring hook 54, which is welded to the upward-standing tire support 11, as illustrated in FIGURE 10. One end of a tire stop bar 49 is welded to the tire support 11 and extends from the tire support 11 essentially parallel to the tire mount bar 47, as further illustrated in FIGURES 9 and 10. A tire stop bolt 52 extends through the projecting end of the tire stop bar 49 and multiple rubber shims 53, a washer 30 and a cushioning spring 55 are provided on the tire stop bolt 52, such that the head of the tire stop bolt 52 is aligned with the tire mount bar 47 to cushion the tire mount bar 47 and the retaining tire 46, as the retaining tire 46 contacts the workstock (not illustrated) placed on the top belt segment 18 of the conveyor belt 15 during operation of the horizontal band resaw 1, as further hereinafter described.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 and 4-8 of the drawings, in another preferred embodiment of the invention a pair of spaced blade housings 56 are disposed on either side of the conveyor 13 such that dual blade wheels 59 have an axis of rotation below the plane of the top belt segment 18 of the conveyor belt 15. The continuous blade 64, carried by the blade wheels 59, is vertically configured in the blade housing 56 such that the top blade segment 66 extends transversely and horizontally across the top belt segment 18 of the conveyor belt 15, spaced from the top belt segment 18 according to a selected elevation of the conveyor frame 14, which elevation may be changed by operation of the conveyor adjusting mechanism 25, as heretofore described. The blade wheels 59 each include a wheel hub 60, which receives a wheel axle 61, mounted in a pair of spaced wheel axle bearings 62, as illustrated in FIGURES 6 and 7. Accordingly, workstock (not illustrated) placed on the top belt segment 18 of the conveyor belt 15 engages the top blade segment 66 of the continuous blade 64 and is longitudinally cut by the blade teeth 65 to a thickness equal to the distance between the belt segment 18 and the top blade segment 66. The horizontally-oriented bottom blade segment 67 of the continuous blade 64 projects around the carrying blade wheels 59 below the bottom belt segment 19, as illustrated in FIGURES 1, 4 and 5. This arrangement of the continuous blade 64 wherein the top blade segment 66 is designed to effect cutting of the workstock, facilitates ease of movement by a single operator from the front to the rear portion of the horizontal band resaw 1 and allows both feeding of uncut workstock and receiving and stacking of cut workstock by a single operator. In a most preferred embodiment of the invention a flange 56b of each blade housing 56 is engaged by a housing release 58 which pivotally releases to facilitate^* pivoting of each blade housing 56 independently of each other on housing hinges 57 and effect changing the continuous blade 64 on the blade wheels 59. Referring now to FIGURES 6-8 of the drawings, changing of the continuous blade 64 from the slightly crowned blade wheels 59 is effected by operation of a band tensioning mechanism 69, which is normally enclosed by a band tensioning cover 70. The band tensioning mechanism 69 includes an L-shaped band tensioning lever 71, the lever handle 72 of which extends parallel to the tensioning frame 8 and the corresponding lever mount segment 73 projecting through spaced hinge elements 74, attached to the tensioning frame 8, as illustrated in FIGURES 6 and 7. A handle stop 72a is also mounted on the tensioning frame 8 in close proximity to the lever handle 72 to prevent the lever handle 72 from rotating past a predetermined point with respect to the tensioning frame 8, as hereinafter further described. A pair of segment bars 75 project from the center portion of the lever mount segment 73 of the band tensioning lever 71 and one end of an adjusting bar 76 is disposed between the spaced segment bars 75 and is retained in this position by a retaining pin 75a, as further illustrated in FIGURES 6 and 7. The opposite end of the adjusting bar 76 projects through and is welded between a corresponding set of segment bars 75, each of which receives a separate threaded adjusting bar 84, upon which is threadably mounted a pair of adjusting collars 78, each fitted with collar bolts 79, as illustrated in FIGURE 8. Each threaded adjusting bar 84 also projects through an opening (not illustrated) provided in a cylindrical rod mount 77a, extending between respective pivoting frame members 8a in the tensioning frame 8 and a rod bar spring 77b is fitted on each of the threaded adjusting bars 84 between one of the adjusting collars 78 and the rod mount 77a, respectively. The vertical pair of frame members 8a in the tensioning frame 8 which secure the rod mount 77a are, in turn, pivotally secured to a pair of channel plates 81, located on each end of adjusting channel 80, by means of a pivot bar 12, as further illustrated in FIGURE 8. The adjusting channel 80 is mounted in sliding relationship on the tensioning frame 8 and two sets of rod posts 83 project from spaced attachment to the tensioning frame 8 in fixed relationship and each receive a threaded channel adjusting rod 82, as further illustrated in FIGURE 8. Each channel adjusting rod 82 is threadably seated in the respective spaced, upwardly-turned flanges of the adjusting channel 80 and a pair of rod nuts 82a are welded or otherwise secured to each end of each channel adjusting rod 82, as further illustrated in FIGURE 8. Accordingly, rotation of the channel adjusting rod 82 by placing a wrench or socket on either of the respective rod nuts 82a causes the adjusting channel 80 to slidably shift on the tensioning frame with respect to the tensioning frame 8, as hereinafter described. Referring again to FIGURES 6 and 7 of the drawings, rotation of the band tensioning lever 71 by grasping the lever handle 72 also rotates the lever mount segment 73 with respect to the hinge elements 74. This action pivots the corresponding segment bars 75 into and out of alignment with the oppositely disposed segment bars 75, carried by the threaded adjusting bars 84, thereby lengthening or shortening the distance between the lever mount segment 73 of the band tensioning lever 71 and the wheel axle 61 of the corresponding blade wheel 59, since the wheel axle 61 is mounted on the parallel pivoting frame members 8a of the tensioning frame 8. The levering action therefore forces the wheel axle 61 farther from the lever mount segment 73 or releases tension to facilitate sliding the wheel axle 61 closer to the lever mount segment 73, depending upon whether it is desired to tighten or loosen and remove the continuous blade 64 from the respective blade wheels 59. Rotation of the lever handle 72 to engage the handle stop 72a aligns the respective spaced sets of segment bars 75 against the tension in the rod bar springs 77b and exerts maximum tension on the continuous blade 64 by forcing the wheel axle 61 located in the band tensioning mechanism 69 to its maximum extension from the lever mount segment 73 of the band tensioning lever 71. The extent of displacement or "throw" of the wheel axle 61 which extends through the band tensioning mechanism 69 depends upon the positioning of the respective adjusting collars 78 along the length of the corresponding threaded adjusting bars 84, as well as the position of the adjusting channel 80 between the spaced rod posts 83. Accordingly, adjustment for stretch and minor length variation in the continuous blade 64 can be accommodated, both by adjusting the adjusting collars 78 on the respective threaded adjusting bars 84 by loosening and subsequently tightening the respective collar bolts 79, and/or moving the adjusting channel 80, and therefore the corresponding upward-standing pair of pivoting frame members 8a, with respect to the respective segment bars 75, as heretofore described.

Referring again to FIGURES 5 and 6 of the drawings, as further heretofore described, the blade drive motor 85 is secured by the motor frame members 7, with the blade drive motor shaft 85a projecting from the blade drive motor 85 and receiving a blade drive motor pulley 86, which is aligned with a corresponding wheel drive pulley 88. A blade drive motor belt 87 connects the blade drive motor pulley 86 and the wheel drive pulley 88 for driving purposes and the wheel drive pulley 88 is further mounted on a wheel drive shaft 89, seated in a pair of spaced wheel axle bearings 62. The opposite end of the wheel drive shaft 89 is secured to the wheel hub (not illustrated) of one of the blade wheels 59, disposed inside a corresponding blade housing 56. A drive motor cover 90, having a cover handle 90a, is shaped to fit over the blade drive motor 85 when the horizontal band resaw 1 is operating, as illustrated in FIGURE 5. The blade drive motor 85 is electrically coupled to a control box 99 by means of motor wiring 98, in conventional fashion.

Referring now to FIGURES 5, 12 and 13, in still another preferred embodiment of the invention a blade guide mechanism is generally illustrated by reference numeral 100. The blade guide mechanism 100 is mounted on a vertical blade guide support 101, which is secured to a frame member 4 of the support frame 2 by means of a 90 degree angle iron blade guide brace 102 and a pair of adjusting bolts 104, extending through adjusting holes 103 provided in the blade guide brace 102 and threaded in the blade guide suppot 101. An offset auxiliary brace 105 is provided with one end welded or otherwise secured to the blade guide support 101 and the opposite end adapted to receive a vertically-oriented threaded collar 107 and an auxiliary brace adjusting bolt 106, the extending threaded end of which contacts the frame member 4 of the support frame 2. Accordingly, vertical threadable adjustment of the auxiliary brace adjusting bolt 106 causes the blade guide support 101 to extend perpendicular to the frame member 4 or lean either forwardly or rearwardly, for purposes which will be hereinafter further described. As illustrated in FIGURES 12 and 13, a top bar 109 and bottom bar 110 project horizontally from fixed attachment to the substantially vertical blade guide support 101. A threaded guide rod 112 connects the top bar 109 to the bottom bar 110 and two sets of shims 117 and a pair of spacer nuts 118 locate a rotatable blade guide 116 in horizontal alignment with and touching the top blade segment 66 of the continuous blade 64 on the opposite edge of the continuous blade 64 from the blade teeth 65. The top blade segment 66 projects between and also touches a pair of threaded guide tips 114, one of which is threadably mounted to the top bar 109 by means of a lock nut 111, secured on the guide threads 115 and the other threadably secured to the bottom bar 110 by a second lock nut 111, threaded on corresponding guide threads 115. Accordingly, it will be appreciated from a consideration of FIGURES 12 and 13 that movement of the top blade segment 66 of the continuous blade 64 transverse to the top belt segment 18 of the conveyor belt 15 is facilitated by adjustment of the blade guide support 101 and adjustment of the guide tips 114 by means of the respective lock nuts 111. Furthermore, the blade guide 116 is constantly in contact with the non-cutting edge of the top blade segment 66 to stabilize and guide linear movement of the top blade segment 66 during the cutting operation. Adjustment of the blade stabilizer 116 and guide tips 114 horizontally to accommodate workstock of various width is effected by removing the adjusting bolts 104, sliding the blade guide support 101 to a selected position and reinserting the adjusting bolts 104 through a different set of adjusting holes 103 and into the blade guide support ltil, as necessary.

Referring again to FIGURE 4 of the drawings, in another preferred embodiment of the invention the conveyor motor 91 is mounted between a pair of conveyor motor mount plates 120, the bottom plate of which is secured by means of a plate bracket 121 to a plate bracket hinge 122. Accordingly, the weight of the conveyor motor 91 exerts tension on the corresponding conveyor motor belt 93 and this tension can be lessened by operating a rod crank 124, secured to a threaded adjusting rod 123 which is threadably inserted in the gearbox support 5 and extends into contact with the bottom one of the conveyor motor mount plates 120, as illustrated in FIGURE 4. The conveyor motor 91 and blade drive motor 85 are electrically connected to control boxes 99, respectively, by means of motor wiring 98, in conventional fashion.

In operation, and referring again to the drawings, the horizontal band resaw 1 is readied for operation by initially energizing the blade drive motor 85 and conveyor motor 91 by manipulating switches (not illustrated) wired into the control boxes 99. Accordingly, the top belt segment 18 of the conveyor belt 15 and the top blade segment 66 of the continuous blade 64 are operated in transverse relationship, such that workstock (not illustrated) placed on the top belt segment 18 is caused to move in the direction of the arrow into contact with the top blade segment 66, as illustrated in FIGURE 12. The retaining tire 46 is designed to sit on top of the workstock and retain it against the top belt segment 18 by operation of the tire spring 50, as illustrated in FIGURES 10 and 11. Accordingly, the workstock is cut longitudinally along its entire length as it traverses the top blade segment 66 with movement of the top belt segment 18 of the conveyor belt 15. It will be appreciated that the thickness of the cut through the workstock can be varied by adjusting the height of the conveyor 13 through manipulation of the conveyor adjusting mechanism 25, illustrated in FIGURES 1-3. Accordingly, if it is desired to raise the height of the conveyor 13 and therefore reduce the thickness of the cut through the workstock, the handle grip 32 is grasped and the handle grip 32 and connecting bar collar 34 rotated in the counterclockwise direction as the adjusting rod 27 is viewed from the front, to pivot the two sets of pivot plates 36 in concert on the pivot bolts 38, respectively, and force the support pipes 39 upwardly and to the right together, as viewed in FIGURES 1 and 2, thus raising the conveyor frame 14 and the top belt segment 18 of the conveyor belt 15. Reverse rotation of the handle grip 32 lowers the conveyor frame 14 and thus, the top belt segment 18, and increases the thickness of the cut through the workstock 10. Adjustment of tension in the conveyor belt 15 may be effected by terminating operation of the conveyor motor 91 and threadably adjusting the tensioning bolts 21 in each of the belt tensioners 20 illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 6 with a wrench or socket tool, to force the frame plates 14a, roller bearings 24 and belt idler roller 16 outwardly or inwardly, as further illustrated in FIGURE 6.

Removal of the continuous blade 64 from contact with the respective blade wheels 59 is effected by terminating operation of the blade drive motor 85 and manipulating the lever handle 72 of the band tensioning lever 71 to misalign the respective sets of segment bars 75, connected by the adjusting bar 76, and allow the wheel axle 61, which is pivotally mounted in the tensioning frame 8, to move closer to the lever mount segment 73 of the band tensioning lever 71, thereby releasing tension in the continuous blade 64. Access to the continuous blade 64 is then effected by manipulating the housing releases 58 from contact with the respective housing flanges 56b and pivoting the blade housings 56 downwardly on the respective housing hinges 57 to facilitate removal and replacement of the continuous blade 64. It will be appreciated from a consideration of FIGURES 6-8 of the drawings, that under circumstances where it is desired to adjust the tension in the continuous blade 64, the lever handle 72 of the band tensioning lever 71 may be initially manipulated as described above to first release tension on the continuous blade 64. Either of the rod nuts 82a on each of the channel adjusting rods 82 may then be engaged by a wrench or socket tool and rotated to rotate the channel adjusting rod 82 and slide the adjusting channel 80 toward or away from the conveyor belt 15 to facilitate application of the desired tension in the continuous blade 64 by subsequent operation of the lever handle 72 of the band tensioning lever 71. Accordingly, adjusting the adjusting channel 80 farther from the conveyor belt 15 facilitates placing more tension in the continuous blade 64, while the opposite motion of the adjusting channel 80 facilitates application of less tension in the continuous blade 64, by operation of the lever handle 72.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that a primary advantage of the horizontal band resaw of this invention is the facility for placing the continuous blade 64, blade wheels 59 and respective blade housings 56 at a lower level than conventional band resaws and cutting various workstock with the top blade segment of the continuous blade, rather than the bottom blade segment. As illustrated in the drawings, this facility results in an economy of space which allows continuously feeding workstock stacked on the workstock plate 9 to the top blade segment 66 of the continuous blade 64 and continuously removing the cut workstock from a point behind the continuous blade 64, with economy of effort. Such economy of effort is not possible in conventional band resaws because of the spaced-consuming location of the bandsaw above the conveyor for the purpose of positioning the lower portion of the bandsaw blade to cut the workstock.

It will also be appreciated that although the horizontal band resaw 1 of this invention is illustrated as driven by an electric blade drive motor 85 and conveyor motor 91, a gasoline or alternatively fueled horizontal band resaw may be used. In this regard, while the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications may be made in the invention and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described my invention with the particularity set forth above, what is claimed is:

Claims

1. A horizontal band resaw comprising conveyor means, bandsaw means spanning said conveyor means in substantially transverse relationship and an endless blade provided in said bandsaw means, said endless blade having a horizontal top blade segment positioned above said conveyor means, whereby workstock placed on said conveyor means is cut by said top blade segment responsive to operation of said conveyor means and said bandsaw means.

2. The horizontal band resaw of claim 1 further comprising conveyor height-adjusting means engaging said conveyor means, whereby the height of said conveyor means and the space between said conveyor means and said top blade segment of said bandsaw means are adjustable responsive to operation of said conveyor height-adjusting means.

3. The horizontal band resaw of claim 1 further comprising band tensioning means provided in said bandsaw means for adjusting the tension in and changing said endless blade.

4. The horizontal band resaw of claim 1 further comprising:

(a) conveyor height adjusting means engaging said conveyor means, whereby the height of said conveyor means and the space between said conveyor means and said top blade segment of said bandsaw means are adjustable responsive to operation of said conveyor height-adjusting means; and

(b) band tensioning means provided in said bandsaw means for adjusting the tension in and changing said endless blade.

5. The horizontal band resaw of claim 1 further comprising frame means adapted for receiving said bandsaw means in fixed relationship and mounting said conveyor means in height-adjusting relationship.

6. The horizontal band resaw of claim 5 further comprising conveyor height-adjusting means carried by said frame means and engaging said conveyor means, whereby the height of said conveyor means and the space between said conveyor means and said top blade segment of said bandsaw means are adjustable responsive to operation of said conveyor height-adjusting means.

7. The horizontal band resaw of claim 5 further comprising band tensioning means carried by said frame means and engaging said bandsaw means for adjusting the tension in said endless blade.

8. The horizontal band resaw of claim 5 further comprising:

(a) conveyor height-adjusting means carried by said frame means and engaging said conveyor means, whereby the height of said conveyor means and the space between said conveyor means and said top blade segment of said bandsaw means are adjustable responsive to operation of said conveyor height-adjusting means; and

(b) band tensioning means carried by said frame means and engaging said bandsaw means for adjusting the tension in said endless blade.

9. The horizontal band resaw of claim 5 further comprising retaining tire means carried by said frame means for removably contacting the workstock and retaining the workstock on said conveyor means while said top blade segment cuts the workstock.

10. The horizontal band resaw of claim 9 further comprising conveyor height-adjusting means engaging said conveyor means, whereby the height of said conveyor means and the space between said conveyor means and said top blade segment of said bandsaw means are adjustable responsive to operation of said conveyor height-adjusting means.

11. The horizontal band resaw of claim 9 further comprising band tensioning means carried by said frame means and engaging said bandsaw means for adjusting the tension in and changing said endless blade.

12. The horizontal band resaw of claim 9 further comprising:

(a) conveyor height-adjusting means engaging said conveyor means, whereby the height of said conveyor means and the space between said conveyor means and said top blade segment of said bandsaw means are adjustable responsive to operation of said conveyor height-adjusting means; and

(b) band tensioning means carried by said frame means and engaging said bandsaw means for adjusting the tension in and changing said endless blade.

13. A horizontal band resaw comprising a frame; a conveyor carried by said frame in substantially horizontally adjustable relationship; a bandsaw carried by said frame in transverse relationship with respect to said conveyor and an endless bandsaw blade provided in said bandsaw, wherein said endless bandsaw blade further comprises a top horizontal blade segment and a bottom horizontal blade segment spaced from said top horizontal blade segment, with said top horizontal blade segment positioned above said conveyor and said bottom horizontal blade segment located below said conveyor, whereby workstock placed on said conveyor is cut by said top horizontal blade segment responsive to operation of said conveyor and said bandsaw.

14. The horizontal band resaw of claim 13 further comprising conveyor height-adjusting means carried by said frame and engaging said conveyor, whereby the height of said conveyor and the space between said conveyor and said top horizontal blade segment of said endless bandsaw blade are adjustable responsive to operation of said conveyor height-adjusting means.

15. The horizontal band resaw of claim 13 further comprising band tensioning means carried by said frame and engaging said bandsaw for adjusting the tension in and changing said endless bandsaw blade.

16. The horizontal band resaw of claim 13 further comprising:

(a) conveyor height-adjusting means carried by said frame and engaging said conveyor, whereby the height of said conveyor and the space between said conveyor and said top horizontal blade segment of said endless bandsaw blade are adjustable responsive to operation of said conveyor height-adjusting means; and

(b) band tensioning means carried by said frame and engaging said bandsaw for adjusting the tension and changing said endless bandsaw blade.

17. The horizontal bandsaw of claim 13 further comprising a retaining tire carried by said frame above said conveyor for removably contacting the workstock and retaining the workstock on said conveyor while said top horizontal blade segment cuts the workstock.

18. The horizontal bandsaw of claim 17 further comprising a conveyor height-adjusting means carried by said frame and engaging said conveyor, whereby the height of said conveyor and the space between said conveyor and said top horizontal blade segment of said endless bandsaw blade are adjustable responsive to operation of said conveyor height-adjusting means.

19. The horizontal band resaw of claim 18 further comprising band tensioning means carried by said frame and engaging said bandsaw for adjusting the tension in said endless bandsaw blade.

20. The horizontal band resaw of claim 13 further comprising adjustable blade guide means carried by said frame for receiving and guiding said top horizontal blade segment of said endless bandsaw blade.

21. The horizontal band resaw of claim 20 further comprising conveyor height-adjusting means carried by said frame and engaging said conveyor, whereby the height of said conveyor and the space between said conveyor and said top horizontal blade segment of said endless bandsaw blade are adjustable responsive to operation of said conveyor height-adjusting means.

22. The horizontal band resaw of claim 21 further comprising band tensioning means carried by said frame and engaging said bandsaw for adjusting the tension in and changing said endle.ss bandsaw blade.

23. The horizontal band resaw of claim 22 further comprising retaining tire means carried by said frame above said conveyor for removably contacting the workstock and retaining the workstock on said conveyor while said top horizontal blade segment cuts the workstock.

24. A blade guide for engaging and guiding the saw blade of a saw apparatus, comprising support means carried by the saw apparatus and a pair of oppositely-disposed guide tips carried by said support means in vertical relationship, said guide tips spaced to accommodate and guide said saw blade responsive to operation of said saw apparatus.

25. The blade guide of claim 24 further comprising a round blade stabilizer rotatably carried by said support means in spaced relationship with respect to said guide tips, said blade stabilizer engaging the non-cutting edge of the saw blade for stabilizing the saw blade between said guide tips.

26. The blade guide of claim 24 further comprising threads provided on said guide tips, receiving receptacles provided in said support means for receiving said threads, respectively, and nuts threaded on said threads for threadably vertically adjusting said guide tips with respect to said support means and said blade.

27. The blade guide of claim 26 further comprising a blade stabilizer rotatably carried by said support means in spaced relationship with respect to said guide tips, said blade stabilizer engaging the non-cutting edge of the saw blade for stabilizing the saw blade between said guide tips.