INCLINE WEDGE VARIABLE TARGET SIZE SAWGUIDES FOR CIRCULAR GANG SAWS

GUIDE-LAME A TAILLES VARIABLES A COINS INCLINES POUR SCIES ALTERNATIVES CIRCULAIRES A LAMES MULTIPLES

English Abstract

The device for selectively actuable positioning of sawguides for circular gang saws
mounted on a saw arbor shaft comprises a first shaft such as a guide bar extending along a first
axis generally parallel to the saw arbor shaft, first and second sawguides slidably mounted on the
first shaft for longitudinal sliding thereon on opposed sides of first and second wedges mounted
in threaded engagement, in left and right hand threaded engagement respectively, on a selectively
rotatable second shaft extending between the first and second sawguides along a second axis
generally perpendicular to the first axis, threadably journalled in the first and second wedges and
rotatably centered and anchored between the first and second sawguides, the first and second
wedges threadably mounted on the second shaft in opposed facing relation with the vertices of the
first and second wedges closest to a center position centered along the second shaft, means for
selectively rotating the second shaft so as to, when selectively rotated in a first direction, force the
first and second wedges towards the center position, and when selectively rotated in a second
direction counter to the first direction so as to force the first and second wedges away from the
center position, an actuator urges the first and second sawguides slidably towards each other along
the first shaft against the first and second wedges, respectively, whereby translation of the first and
second wedges along the second shaft by reason of selective rotation of the second shaft causes
relative longitudinal translation between the first and second sawguides on the first shaft.

French Abstract

Le dispositif de commande à distance de sélection de la position des guides-lames, pour les scies alternatives circulaires à lames multiples montées sur le mandrin de la scie, comporte un premier arbre, tel qu'un guide-chaîne, se prolongeant le long d'un premier axe habituellement parallèle au mandrin de la scie. Un premier guide-lame et un deuxième guide-lame coulissent longitudinalement sur le premier arbre sur les côtés opposés du premier coin et du deuxième coin. Les coins sont montés par vissage à gauche et à droite respectivement, sur un deuxième arbre tournant et se trouvant entre le premier guide-lame et le deuxième guide-lame le long d'un deuxième axe habituellement perpendiculaire au premier axe. Le deuxième arbre est fixé au premier coin et au deuxième coin par des tourillons filetés tout en étant centré et ancré en rotation entre le premier guide-lame et le deuxième guide-lame. Le premier coin et le deuxième coin sont vissés sur le deuxième arbre et font face aux sommets du premier coin et du deuxième coin les plus rapprochés d'une position centrale le long du deuxième arbre. Le dispositif comporte également des moyens pour faire tourner individuellement le deuxième arbre de sorte que, quand l'arbre tourne dans un sens, il force le premier coin et le deuxième coin vers le centre, et lorsque l'arbre tourne dans l'autre sens, il écarte le premier coin et le deuxième coin du centre. Un actionneur fait coulisser le premier guide-lame et le deuxième guide-lame l'un vers l'autre le long du premier arbre et contre le premier coin et le deuxième coin respectivement. Par conséquent, le déplacement du premier coin et du deuxième coin le long du deuxième arbre, à cause de la rotation sélective du deuxième arbre, entraîne le déplacement longitudinal relatif entre le premier guide-lame et le deuxième guide-lame sur le premier arbre.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A device for selectively actuable positioning of sawguides for circular gang saws mounted
on a saw arbor shaft, comprising:
a first shaft extending along a first axis generally parallel to said saw arbor shaft,
a plurality of first and second sawguides, said plurality of first and second sawguides
slidably mounted on said first shaft for longitudinal sliding thereon, each of said first and
second sawguides on laterally opposed sides of corresponding opposed pairs of first and
second wedges, wherein said first and second wedges are mounted in threaded longitudinal
engagement, in left and right threaded engagement respectively, on correspondingselectively rotatable second shafts between said plurality of first and second sawguides
along second axes generally perpendicular to said first axis, said second shafts threadably
journalled in said corresponding opposed pairs of first and second wedges and rotatably
centered and rotatably anchored between said first and second sawguides,
said opposed pairs of first and second wedges threadably mounted on said corresponding
second shafts in opposed facing relation with vertices of said first and second wedges
closest to a center position centered along said corresponding second shafts,
means for selectively rotating said second shafts either individually or collectively, by
rotating a selected or collective plurality of second shafts cooperatively journalled in a
corresponding plurality of said first and second wedges, so as to, when selectively rotated
in a first direction, force said first and second wedges towards said center position, and
when selectively rotated in a second direction counter to said first direction so as to force
said first and second wedges away from said center position, said selective rotating of a

plurality of second shafts for forming saw blade zones with selected spacing between saw
blades,
means for urging said first and second sawguides slidably towards each other along said
first shaft against said first and second wedges, respectively, whereby translation of said
first and second wedges along said second shaft by reason of selective rotation of said
second shaft causes relative longitudinal translation between said first and second
sawguides on said first shaft.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein said first and second wedges have continuous inclines for
sliding engagement with inclined surfaces on said first and second sawguides.
3. A method for selectively actuable positioning of sawguides in circular gang saws mounted
on a saw arbor shaft, wherein a first shaft extends along a first axis generally parallel to
said saw arbor shaft, comprising the steps of:
(a) slidably mounting a plurality of first and second sawguides on said first shaft, each
of said first and second sawguides on laterally opposite sides of corresponding
opposed pairs of first and second wedges,
(b) mounting said first and second wedges in threaded longitudinal engagement, in left
and right threaded engagement respectively, on corresponding selectively
rotatable second shafts between said plurality of first and second sawguides along
second axes generally perpendicular to said first axis, said second shafts threadably
journalled in said corresponding opposed pairs of first and second wedges and
rotatably centered and rotatably anchored between said first and second sawguides,
said opposed pairs of first and second wedges threadably mounted on said
corresponding second shafts in opposed facing relation with vertices of said first

and second wedges closest to a center position centered along said correspondingsecond shafts,
(c) selectively rotating, by means for selectively rotating, said second shafts either
individually or collectively, by rotating a selected or collective plurality of second
shafts cooperatively journalled in a corresponding plurality of said first and second
wedges, so as to, when selectively rotated in a first direction, force said first and
second wedges towards said center position, and when selectively rotated in a
second direction counter to said first direction so as to force said first and second
wedges away from said center position, said selective rotating of a plurality ofsecond shafts forming saw blade zones with selected spacing between saw blades,
(d) urging, by means for urging, said first and second sawguides slidably towards each
other along said first shaft against said first and second wedges, respectively,whereby translation of said first and second wedges along said second shaft by
reason of selective rotation of said second shaft causes relative longitudinal
translation between said first and second sawguides on said first shaft.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein said first and second wedges have continuous inclines for
sliding engagement with inclined surfaces on said first and second sawguides.
11

Description

CA 022028~2 1997-04-16
INCLINE WEDGE VARIABLE TARGET SIZE
SAWGUIDES FOR CIRCULAR GANG SAWS
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a device for adjust;ng saw blade spacings in a circular
gang saw, and, in particular, relates to interleaving between sawguides a pair of opposed facing
adjustable wedges for remotely adjusting the saw spacings to thereby vary lumber target sizes.
0 Background of the Invention
In the prior art, circular gang saws are typically mounted on a splined arbor. The
saws in the gang saw are stabilized and positioned relative to each other on the splined arbor by
sawguides. Each saw within the gang saw has a corresponding sawguide. Each sawguide has an
opposed pair of rigid members spaced apart to allow the saw blade to pass between the opposed
rigid members. The opposed rigid members support babbitt pads or the like which rub against the
sides of the saw blade. The sawguides are sandwiched together in a laterally extending array
across the laterally extending circular gang saw by means of a hydraulic press.
2 o It is desirable to change the relative spacing between saws in the circular gang saw
in order to cut different sized lumber from a cant being fed into the gang saw. In the prior art,
ch~nging the spacing between the saws in the gang saw meant stopping operation of the gang saw,
releasing the hydraulic press, removing the sawguides and replacing the sawguides with sawguides
of a different thickness and reassembling the gang saw with the saw blades set at the new spacing
2 5 dictated by the new sawguides. This process typically caused considerable down time and lost
productivity. It did not allow for the quick ch~nging of the lumber target size for which the gang
saw was preset.

CA 022028~2 1997-04-16
Consequently, it is an object ofthe present invention to provide a circular gang saw
having adjustable sawguides, adjustable by means of a remote control system and selectively
actuable actuators so as to thereby to reduce the time required to change lumber target size, the
device not requiring the breakdown and reassembly of the sawguides in order to change lumber
target size.
Summary of the Invention
An apparatus for the adjustment of sawblade spacing in a gang saw adjusts saw
0 blades to different target lumber sizes, without having to ~li.sm~ntle the gang saw to remove and
replace each sawguide. The gang saws are equipped with splined saw blade arbors. The sawguides
may be of the babbitt pad type which hold the blades in position by contacting the blade sides with
sawguide pads. Each sawguide pair incorporates a pair of cooperating, opposed wedges that are
threaded onto a threaded rod. The threaded rod has left and right hand threads extending
respectively, from the center of the rod to the opposite ends of the rod. ~ounted rigidly onto the
threaded rod, in the center of the threaded rod (relative to its length) and centered between the pair
of opposed wedges when the wedges are threaded onto the threaded rod, is a disc or other
centering or mounting means that holds the threaded rod longitudinally stationary relative to, and
between the sawguides, in opposed recesses in opposed sawguide surfaces. The centering means
2 o is free to rotate in the opposed recesses thereby allowing the rod to rotate while r~ ining centered
relative to the sawguides. In its simplest form, the disc may be a washer welded to the rod. The
flanges on the washer have to be large enough so that when the sawguides are separated a
maximum distance apart, the flanges will not pull free of the recesses.
2 5 The sawguide pairs are attached to a sawguide bar that runs through the gang. The
opposed facing sawguide surfaces of the sawguide pairs each have an inclined surface that
matches or generally corresponds to the corresponding surfaces of the wedges. The centering
means is positioned in the center of the sawguide pairs' width and holds the wedges at equal

CA 02202852 1997-04-16
distance apart along the length of the threaded rod as the wedges move in towards the center along
the rod, to thereby ride up the incline when the threaded rod is rotated one direction (thus
expanding the sawguide pairs), or when the wedges move out toward the outer edges of the
sawguides (i.e. away from the center of the rod), to thereby ride down the incline (thus contracting
the sawguide pairs) when the threaded rod is rotated in the opposite direction. Each threaded rod
is rotated by a linkage that is in turn rotated by a stepper motor (or other means).
The sawguides are pressed together by a press that fixes the lumber target size after
the adjustment has been made. The sawguide bar has two opposing flat sides that allow the
sawguides to be removed, by first releasing the press, spreading the sawguides apart, withdrawing
the rod linkage and removing the wedge sets and attached threaded rod. The threaded rods all can
be simultaneously rotated the same amount, or individually to selectively create dirr~rellt zones,
or areas of sawguide pairs, across the gang saw, having selectively different thickness target sizes
in those zones.
In summary, the device for selectively actuable positioning of sawguides for
circular gang saws mounted on a saw arbor shaft comprises a first shaft such as a guide bar
extending along a first axis generally parallel to the saw arbor shaft, first and second sawguides
slidably mounted on the first shaft for longitudinal sliding thereon on opposed sides of first and
2 o second wedges mounted in threaded engagement, in left and right hand threaded engagement
respectively, on a selectively rotatable second shaft extçn~ling between the first and second
sawguides along a second axis generally perpendicular to the first axis, threadably Journalled in
the first and second wedges and rotatably centered and anchored between the first and second
sawguides, the first and second wedges threadably mounted on the second shaft in opposed facing
2 5 relation with the vertices of the first and second wedges closest to a center position centered along
the second shaft, means for selectively rotating the second shaft so as to, when selectively rotated
in a first direction, force the first and second wedges towards the center position, and when
selectively rotated in a second direction counter to the first direction so as to force the first and

CA 022028~2 1997-04-16
second wedges away from the center position, means for urging the first and second sawguides
slidably towards each other along the first shaft against the first and second wedges, respectively,
whereby translation of the first and second wedges along the second shaft by reason of selective
rotation of the second shaft causes relative longitudinal translation between the first and second
sawguides on the first shaft.
The method of the present invention for selectively actuable positioning sawguides
in circular gang saws mounted on a saw arbor shaft, wherein a first shaft extends along a first axis
generally parallel to the saw arbor shaft, comprises the steps of: (a) slidably mounting a plurality
o of first and second sawguides on the first shaft, where each of the first and second sawguides are
mounted on laterally opposite sides of corresponding opposed pairs of first and second wedges,
(b) mounting the first and second wedges in threaded longitudinal engagement, in left and right
threaded engagement respectively, on corresponding selectively rotatable second shafts mounted
between the plurality of first and second sawguides along second axes generally perpendicular to
the first axis, the second shafts threadably journalled in the correspondin~ opposed pairs of first
and second wedges and rotatably centered and rotatably anchored between the first and second
sawguides, the opposed pairs of first and second wedges threadably mounted on the corresponding
second shafts in opposed facing relation with vertices of the first and second wedges closest to a
center position centered along said corresponding second shafts, (c) selectively rotating the second
2 o shafts either individually or collectively, by rotating a selected or collective plurality of second
shafts cooperatively journalled in a corresponding plurality of the first and second wedges, so as
to, when selectively rotated in a first direction, force the first and second wedges towards the
center position, and when selectively rotated in a second direction counter to the first direction so
as to force the first and second wedges away from the center position, the selective rotating of a
2 5 plurality of second shafts forming saw blade zones with selected spacing between saw blades, (d)
urging the first and second sawguides slidably towards each other along the first shaft against the
first and second wedges, respectively, whereby translation of the first and second wedges along

CA 022028~2 1997-04-16
the second shaft by reason of selective rotation of the second shaft causes relative longitudinal
translation between the first and second sawguides on the first shaft.
The invention provides other advantages which will be made clear in the
description of the prerelled embodiments.
Brief Description of the Drawings
The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a side elevation view according to a preferred embodiment of the
invention;
Figure 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, side elevation view taken from Figure 1,
- showing sawguides in their down (operating) position and with dashed lines showing the guides
in the saw removal position;
Figure 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, side cross-sectional view of the sawguides2 o in their expanded position;
Figure 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, side cross-sectional view of the sawguidesin their contracted position,
2 5 Figure Sa is an enlarged side elevation view of a sawguide;
Figure 5b is an end cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in Figure 5a;

CA 022028~2 1997-04-16
Figure 6 is, in cross section, the sawguide plates in a modified embodiment.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment
Referring to the drawing figures wherein similar characters of reference represent
corresponding parts in each view, the apparatus is generally indicated by the reference numeral
10. As seen in Figure 1, apparatus 10 includes a support frame constructed of various vertical and
horizontal structural plates 12, a plurality of driven feed rollers 14, and press rolls 16 each having
corresponding actuating cylinders 18. Splined saw arbor 22 has slidably mounted thereon a
lo plurality of saw blades 24. As better seen in Figure 2, each saw blade 24 is guided by a
corresponding sawguide set 26. As seen in Figure 3 each sawguide set 26 has two plates 26a and
26b mounted on the saw arbor 22 on either side of the corresponding saw blade 24. The sawguide
sets 26 have mounted thereon sawguide pads 28. Sawguide pads 28 contact the saw blades 24,
one on each side of the blade. Sawguide pairs 26 are mounted on a sawguide bar 30. As seen in
Figures Sa and 5b, sawguide pairs 26 have mounted therebetween a pair of opposed wedges 32a
and 32b. Sawguides 26 have recessed inclines 26c that accept wedges 32a and 32b in sliding
engagement thereon.
Threaded rod 34 has left hand and right hand threads, extending in opposite
2 o directions along the rod from a disc or other centering means 34a rigidly affixed to the rod. Rod
34 is positioned between the wedges 32a and 32b. Sawguide pairs 26 have recess 26d for
rotational mounting of disc 34a therein. Threaded rod 34 is attached to a linkage 36 by means of
a male/female socket coupling or the like. Lir~age 36 may he a flexible cable, a pair of universal
Joints combined with a slipjoint, or other suitable linkage means. The linkage 36 is connected
2 5 to a linkage gear 38. Rotation of gear 38 is controlled by worm gear 40 or other means. Rotation
of worm gear 40 is in turn controlled by a stepper motor or other means (not shown).

CA 022028~2 1997-04-16
Sawguide sets 26 and incline wedges 32a and 32b are pressed together so as to besandwiched along the saw arbor by a hydraulic press (not shown). The hydraulic press is backed
off, when ch~n~:ing target lumber size settings, or when ch~nging range sizes, sawguide pads or
saw blades.
In operation the hydraulic press (not shown) is released and worm gear 40 is rotated
a predetermined amount by a stepper motor or other means (not shown), as is desired for the
particular target lumber size needed. The target lumber size which is desired dictates the size of
the spacing between the saw blades. The worm gear 40 causes the linkage gear 38 to rotate, which
0 in turn causes the flexible linkage 36 to rotate. Linkage 36 rotates threaded rod 34. Disc 34a
holds the threaded rod 34 in a centered position for rotation between sawguide pairs 26. Thus
wedges 32a and 32b are held apart an equal distance as wedges 32a and 32b are drawn towards
disc 34a on rod 34 so as to ride up incline 26c within sawguide pairs 26 when threaded rod 34 is
rotated one direction, thereby increasing the spacing between the sawguide pairs 26 as shown in
Figure 3. Wedges 32a and 32b are forced in opposite directions away from disc 34a toward the
outer edges of sawguides 26, and thereby slide down incline 26c to thereby decrease the spacing
between sawguide pairs 26 as shown in Figure 4 when threaded rod 34 is rotated in the opposite
direction. Thus selective rotation of rod 34 changes the spacing between saw blades 24.
2 o During adjustment of saw blade spacing the hydraulic press (not shown) is actuated
to hold a small residual pressure against the sawguides sets 26 and the wedges 32a and 32b to
inhibit unwanted movement of wedges 32a and 32b and to inhibit debris from falling into the area
of the wedges 32a and 32b as the lumber target size is adjusted. The hydraulic press (not shown)
is actuated with substantial pressure once the sawguide spacing adjustment has been made and the
2 5 desired width is selected, to thereby press sawguide sets 26 together, and clamp sawguides sets
26 to fix the target lumber size.

CA 022028~2 1997-04-16
When zones of di~~ thickness of target lumber sizes are required, the hydraulic
press (not shown) is released, the sawguide sets 26 are slid apart, the flexible linkage 34 is
detached, and the wedges 32a and 32b along with the threaded rod 34 can be changed to substitute
wedges of different width. The required different width range of target lumber size in that
particular zone of the gang is thus obtained.
As illustrated in Figure 6, recessed inclines 26c on sawguide plates 26a and 26b,
that accept wedges 32a and 32b in sliding engagement thereon, may forrn continuous inclines 26e
therebetween extending the entire distance between recess 26d and the outerrnost edges of
o sawguide plates 26a and 26b. The continuous inclines 26e are provided so that sawdust buildup
is forced outwards, as by squeezing, when wedges 32a and 32b are slid outwards to allow the
spacing between the saw blades to be reduced.
As will be appalelll to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing
disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention
without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to
be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following claims.

Representative Drawing