Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~3~ ~f~
L _
CIRCULAR SAWING APPARATUS WITH ADJUSTABLE SAW GUIDES
INTRODUCTION
This inventio~ relates to a circular saw
apparatus and, more particularly, to a circular saw
apparatus utilizing an adjustable arbor with saw guides
for guiding the circular saws.
BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION
The use of circular saws in the lumber and
logging industry is, of course, well known. Such saws
are utilized for expediently cutting logs into cants and
boards and typically are mounted such that the log or cant
will enter the saw parallel to the plane of the saw and,
thereafter, cut into boards and cants as desired.
A disadvantage when using unguided circular saws
is that the thickness o-f the blade must necessarily be
increased to reduce oscillation of the blade. If the
blade oscillates, the kerf or width of the cut is
increased. If the thickness of the saw blade is
increased, the oscillation will be reduced but the kerE
will be at a maximum value. This value, however, can be
substantially greater than that in a guided saw.
It is possible to utilize saw guides with
circular saws in order to reduce the oscillation o~ the
blade and, thereby, to allow the use of larger saws with
minimum thicknesses to reduce. the kerf width. The use of
such saw guides, however, is difficult when the saw
diameters are varied since the saw guides must also be
changed.
-- 2 --
It is advantageous to use smaller or larger
diameter circular saws with differen-~ size logs and cants.
This is so since the kerf is desirably made as small as
possible depending on the size of the log or cant. It is
desirable, therefore, to provide adjustment between the
arbors on a double arbor saw to allow the replacement of
saw blades and dif~erent diameter saw to thereby allow
the minimum kerf necessary to be used to cut the log or
cant.
SVMMARY OF THE PRESENT_INVENTION
According to one aspect of the invention, there
is provided a circular saw apparatus comprising a first
arbor assembly moun-ted in a module, a first circular saw
mounted in said first arbor assembly, a first arbor
mounted in said first arbor assembly, a first saw guide
mounted in said first arbor assembly, said arbor assembly
-; being mounted for movement parallel to the plane of said
saw.
According to a further aspect of the invention,
there is provided a saw guide adjustment apparatus
comprising a cassette assembly mounted within a module, a
guide mount sleeve within said cassette assembly, saw
guides mounted on said guide mount sleeve and means to
simultaneously move said guide mount sleeve and said saw
guides relative to said cassette assembly.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
An embocliment o~ the invention will now be
described, by way of example only, with the use of
drawings in which:
2 ~ 3 l~ ,J ~ ~
-- 3 --
Figures lA and lB are side and plan
diagrammatic views, respectively~ of the circular sawing
: apparatus incorporating the inYentiOn;
Figures 2A and 2B are enlarged side and end
views, respectively, particularly illustrating the saw box
of the circular sawing apparatus o~ Figure l;
Figures 3A and 3B are end and side views,
respectively, o~ the cassette for the top or upper arbor
of the saw box;
Figures 4A and 4B are sectional end views of the
saw guides and bottom arbor according to the invention;
Figures 5A and 5B are side and plan views,
respectively, of a typical saw guide according to the
invention;
Figure 6 is a diagrammatic representation o~ the
installed and operating positions of the saw guides as
used with different diameter circular saws
Eigure 7 is a diagrammatic end view of the arbor
with the circular saws inskalled thereon and a quick
change sheave mounted on one end of the arbor;
Figures 8A and 8B are side and bottom views,
respectively, o~` the movable arbor assembly;
Figure 9 is a sectional view of the mounting of
the lower arbor within the saw box module;
Figures lOA and lOB are end and side views,
respectively, of the arbor cassette and saw guide sleeve;
~ ~ 3 i~
Figures llA and llB are side and end views,
respectively, of the arbor sleeve;
Figure 12 is a diagrammatic side view of the saw
guide adjustment apparatus according to the invention; and
Figure 13 is a view similar to Figure 2 but
illustrating a variation in the Figure 2 embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT
Reference is now made to the drawings and, more
particularly, to Figure lA where a circular saw apparatus
is illustrated generally at 10. It comprises an in feed
section generally illustrated at 11 which includes a sharp
chain 12 carrying the log or cant 13 (Figure 7), a saw box
generally illustrated at 14 and an out feed section
generally illustrated at 20 which includes side press
rolls 21.
A butterfly chain 22 is mounted between
butterfly chain drums 23, 24 and is adjustable by air
cylinders 30, 31. The butterfly chain 22 is used to
assist the log 13 to travel on the sharp chain 12. The
weight of the butterfly chain 22 also is used to push the
log 13 down onto the sharp chain 12 to provide more
integrity for the transportation of the log or cant 13 on
the sharp chain 12 to the saw box 14.
. 30 The saw box 14 comprises two modules 32 (Figure
; lB). It will be understood that each of these modules 32
: are symmetrical about the centre line 33 (Figure 2B) and,
accordingly, only one module 32 will be described in
detail.
2 0 3 ~
: - 5
The modules 32 are mounted on chrome ways 34 as
seen more clearly in Figure 2B and are movable inwardly
and outwardly in the direction l'D'I indicated in Figure 2B
relative to the centre line 33 o~ the saw apparatus 14 by
the use of cylinders as leadscrews (not illustrated)
connected to each of the modules 32 and operated manually
externally of the modules 32 to obtain the desired
operating position for each module and, accordingly, the
circular saws generally illustrated at 35.
Each of the modules 32 has double or two arbors,
top arbor 40 and bottom arbor 41. Top arbor 40 is movable
in the direction "A" indicated in Figure 2A and is carried
in arbor supports 50 (Figure 8A) which are each movable on
arbor guides 51, 52 connected to the ~orward frame 53 of
module 32 o~ saw box 14. An adjustment screw drive 54 is
connected to an adjustment screw 60 which rotates within
an adjustment nut 61 which is mountad to the arbor support
50 and which provides for such arbor movement.
The top arbor 40 is mounted within a top arbor
cassette generally illustrated at 62 (Figure 3). The top
arbor cassette 62 comprises a tube 63 about which is
mounted a collar 64 and a plate 70. Collar 64 is mounted
directly to the top arbor support 50 (Figure 8B) and plate
70 is located outside the inner wall 71 similar to that
shown in Figure 9 of the module 35 but is not attached
thereto. A movable outer wall plate (not shown) .is
mounted outside the inner wall 71 oE the module 35 and the
plate 70 is connected to the movable outer wall plate to
allow for movement o~ the top arbor 40.
The bottom arbor 41 is mounted within a bottom
arbor cassette 74 which is identical to top arbor cassette
62 save that the collar 64 is not present. The bottom
arbor cassette 74 is not movable and, therefore, it is
2~3~
-- 6 --
connected directly to the inner wall 71 o~ the module 35
by cap screws 80 as seen more clearly in Figures 4B and 9.
Bottom arbor 41 is mounted within two bearings
72, 73 inside the bottom arbor cassette 74. l'he arbor 41
ext~nds outwardly o-f the bottom arbor cassette 74 and
terminates in a spline 81. An arbor sleeve 82 is mounted
on the spl.ine 81 and, it in turn, has a splined periphery
83 as also seen more clearly in Figure 11. The circular
saws 35 are mounted to the arbor sleeve 82 as will be
described in greater detail hereafter.
An arbor cap 84 is mounted to the arbor 41 by
cap screw 90 and retains the arbor sleeve 82 on the spline
81.
The bottom arbor cassette 74 includes, as
described, a plate 70 which extends parallel to and
yenerally upstream oE the direction of movement of the loy
13. A hole 91 is drilled in the outwardly extending arm
of the arbor cassette 74 (Fiyure 3A) and the inner wall 71
of the module 32. A yuide clamping cylinder 100 extends
throuyh and is movable relative to the inner wall 71 and
the arbor cassette 74. A guide mount sleeve 92 (Figure
lOB) is mounted to the arbor cassette 74 and has flats
(not shown) mounting the saw guides 102. A guide
clampiny head 9~ is connected to and moves with the yuide
clampiny cylinder 100. The guide clamping cylinder 100
and the guide clamping head 94 will move relative to the
30 guide mount sleeve 92 and gallery block 101 to exert
pressure on the saw guides 102 (Fiyures 5 and 6) in a
manner as will be described in greater detail hereafter
thereby to hold them in a precise position on guide mount
sleeve 92. A T-bar 11 is mounted to the arbor cassette 74
outwardly o~ the guide mount sleeve 92 and serves to stop
s~
-- 7
the rotation of the saw guides 102 which abut the T-bar
111 as described further hereafter.
A typical saw guide 102 is generally illustrated
in Figure 5. A hole 103 is drilled in one end and has an
opening 104 on one side. The saw guide 102 is mounted to
the guide mount sleeve 92 (Figure lOB) by way of the
opening 104 which fits over the flats (nok shown) machined
on the guide mount sleeve 92. Followin~ the mounting of
the saw guide 102 on the guide mount sleeve 92, the saw
guide 102 is rotated until the extension 110 contacts the
T-bar 111 (Figure lOB) which then prevents the saw guide
102 from rotating further as diagrammatically illustrated
in Figures 4A and 6.
Babbitts 112 (Figure 4A) are removably mounted
to both sides of the saw guide 102. The babbitts 112 are
usad to guide and re.tain the circular saws 35 on the
arbor sleeve 82 in the position desired. The babbitts 112
depend on the size of the circular saws 35 being used for
a particular application. The mounting of the saw guides
102 will be described in greater detail hereafter.
A pair of eleGtric motors 113, 114 are used with
each module 32 (Figure 2A). Motor 113 is connected to and
drives top arbor 40 as shown more clearly in Figure 7 via
a belt drive 120 which is connected to quic]c change sheave
122 mounted on arbor 40. Likewise, electric motor 114 is
connected to and drives bottom arbor 41 via a belt drive
121 which is connected to quick chang~ sheave 123 mounted
to the bottom arbor 41. The use of the quick change
sheaves 121, 123 allow for a variable rotation rate of
the circular saws 35 relative to the rate of rotation of
the motors 113, 114.
2 ~
, g
..
OPERATION
In operation, it will initially be assumed that
three circular saws 35 are intended to be used on each of
the top and bottom arbors 40, 41, as seen in Figures 2B
and 4Ao With re~erence to Figure 4A, four saw guides 102
will be required, the inside saw guide 102 or the one
closest to the sharp chain 12 will have only one babbitt
112 on its outer face. The outside saw guide 102 will
also have only one babbitt 112 but it will be mounted on
its inner face. The two inner saw guides 102 will have
babbitts 112 mounted on both sides.
Inside saw guides 102 will be mounted by fitting
the opening 104 (Figure 5A) over the flats on the guide
mount sleeve 92 as seen in Figure 6 and will be rotated
clockwise until the extension 110 contacts the T-bar 111.
First circular saw 35 is then mounted on the splined
periphery 83 of arbor sleeve 82 (Figure llB) until it is
in loose contact with the inside saw guide 102. Inner saw
guide 102 will then be mounted to the guide mount sleeve
92 in a similar manner followed by the mounting of a
urther circular saw 35. The process continues until the
; last and outside saw guide 102 is mounted over the guide
mount sleeve 92 and rotated into its operating position.
The guide clamping cylinder 100 (Figure 10B)
will then be activated which will exert a pull inwardly on
guide clamping head 94. This will move the saw guides 102
into tight and precise contact with the result that the
circular saws 35 on arbor sleeve 82 will be under the
precise control of the babbitts 112 o~ the saw yuides 102.
A similar process, of course, is followed for
each of the three remaining arbor cassettes 62 until all
:
2~3l~JL~
_ g _
the circular saws 35 and the saw guides 102 are mounted
for operation.
The top and bottom arbors 40, 41 may move
relative to one another as seen in Figure 2A. In the
configuration described, top arbor 40 is movable with
arbor cassette 62 and, therefore, its respective saw
guides 102, relative to bottom arbor 41 and its
corresponding arbor cassette and saw guides 102. The
movement of arbor 40 is achieved by moving the arbor
supports 50 (Figure 8A) with the use of the adjustment
screw drive 54 such that the top arbor 40 moves in the
directions indicated by the arrow "A'l in Figure 2~. Thus,
circular saws 35 of varying sizes may be used with the
double arbor assemblies described and illustrated.
In the event a different rotational speed of the
circular saws 35 is required, the quick change sheaves 121
may be replaced with sheaves of a different diameter
thereby to increase or decrease the rotation of the arbors
40, 41 and the respective circular saws 35 mounted
thereon. The motors 113, 114 are adjustably mounted on
the frame of the circular saw apparatus 10, thereby to
maintain the belts in the desired tension for efficient
drive.
With reference to Figure 2B, it will be seen
that the modules 32 can be moved inwardly and outwardly
with respect to the centre line 33 of the circular saw
apparatus 10. Thus, the position of the circular saws 35
and saw guides 102 may also be adjusted relative to the
distance o~ the log or cant 13 being carried on the sharp
chain 12 and entering the saw box 14.
With reference to Figure 4A, it will be noted
that the inside or most close to centre line 33 saw guide
~ ~ 3 ~ ~ ~ J
-- 10 --
102 is mounted with its babbitt 112 such that it is
directly beneath the shoulder of the sharp chain 12 which
is carrying tha log or cant 13. This is advantageous
since support for the pieces or boards being cut from the
log or cant 13 is provided which is desirable to enhance
the precision o~ the cut made by the circular saws 35.
Likewise, it will be seen that the arbor cap 84 viewed in
Figure 4B and connected to arbor sleeve 82 serves a
similar function.
It will be further seen that the saw guides 102
may be moved relative to the respective arbor and cassette
to which they are mounted by the movement of the saw
guides 102 and circular saws 35 on the splined periphery
of the arbor sleeve 82. It will also be noted that the
circular saws 35 and saw guides 102 may move with their
respective arbor 41 and that this movement may take place
; relative to the respective cassettes within which they are
mounted .
Yet a further embodiment o~ the invention is
illustrated in Figure 12. This embodiment is useful when
it is desired to adjust the position of the top saws 35
relative to the bottom saws 35 with the sawguides 102 "on
the fly" which thereby obviates the need for movement of
the entire module 32 of the circular saw apparatus 10.
Re~erring to Figures lOB and 12, the saw guides
102 (not shown) are mounted to the guide mount sleeve 92
and are tightly clamped in the normal fashion by
tightening guide clamping head 94 with the hydraulic guide
clamping cylinder 103 and thereby tightly maintaining the
saw guides 102 against gallery block 101. This entraps
:~ the saws 35 between the guides. In the Figure 12
embodiment, however, male member or micro adjustment
member 103 has a threaded outer periphery 104 and remains
r~
~ 11 ~
stationary with the arbor cassette 74. Collar or micro
adjuster nut 108 has internal threads 106 which are
complementary to the threads on male member 103. Collar
108 rotates and moves laterally along memb2r 103 and
mating collar or gallery block fork ring 107 moves
laterally with collax 108 together with gallery block 101
inwardly and outwardly relative to the arbor cassette 74
and male member 103 depending on the direction of rotation
of collar 108 relative to male member 103. By rotating
collar 108, therefore, the saw guides 102 will move
inwardly and outwardly on guide mount sleeve 92 and
independent of the arbor cassette 74. Of course, it would
be quite possible to maintain the topsaws stationary and
have the lower saws relative to the guide mount sleeve so
as to adjust the position of the top circular saws 102
relative to the bottom circular saws without the need -for
moving the entire module 32.
Many modifications will readily occur to those
skilled in the art to which the invention relates and the
specific embodiments described should be taken as
illustrative of the invention only and not as limiting its
scope as defined in accordance with the accompanying
claims.
