Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This is a division of applicants application
No.2,177,745 filed May 30, 1996
TITLE
CANTER CHIPPER HEAD And Canter Unit
FIELD OF INVENTION
This application is directed to the canter chipper
head disclosed and originally claimed in applicant's
above identified application.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
Applicant's above application is directed to a saw
mill unit for producing lumber from small diameter logs
and includes a multiplicity of units mounted on a common
frame. There is a log feed section comprising power
driven feed rolls for propelling a log end wise along a
preselected feed path, a canting section comprising first
and second pair of chipper canter units off-set 90
degrees from one another about the axis of the feed path,
an edging section in which there is an upper edger unit
and a lower edger unit for rabbetting the four corners of
the squared timber, a sawing section for producing pieces
of lumber from the squared timber and a lumber off-feed
conveyor. The operational components perform their
respective functions as the log is propelled endwise
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along the defined feed path. The present divisional
application is directed to the canter section and more
particularly to the canter head.
It is known to produce chips when reducing a log
from a squared piece of timber and by way of example
reference may be had to United States Patent 3,780,778
issued December 25, 1973 to F. Chapman.
Squaring a log using a first pair of chipper heads
and a second pair of chipper heads downstream from one
another is known as for example from the teachings of
Canadian patent 1,218,581 issued March 3, 1987 to K.
Rautio.
The chips that are produced have many uses and
consistency and quality is becoming a must. There are a
number of factors involved in the production of quality
chips one of which is the canter head design and the
cutting knife design and mounting thereof on the head.
Canter chippers are known and by way of example
reference may be had to PCT/SE92/00063 Published August
20, 1992 under international publication number
W092/13685. Disclosed in this PCT application is a
chipper head in the form of a truncated cone with
replaceable cutters mounted thereon.
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SUMMARY OF INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a
novel cutting head for a chipper canter.
In keeping with this object there is provided in
accordance with the present invention a canter chipper
head comprising a rigid base member having an annular rim
portion and a truncated conical portion projecting
outwardly from said rim, the axis of said conical portion
being co-incident with the axis of rotation of the
chipper head, said chipper head terminating in an outer
end face portion; at least one chip discharge opening
through said truncated conical portion and which extends
into said outer end face portion; a main cutter blade
detachably secured to said truncated conical portion and
having a leading cutting edge projecting to overlap an
edge defining a portion of said opening; and a shaving
cutter blade detachably secured to said outer end face
portion and having a leading cutting edge, said cutting
edge and the cutting edge of said main blade being
contiguous with one another and disposed at selected
angles to one another, each said cutting edge being a
straight line.
The forging canter head preferably has the conical
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portion sloping at an angle of approximately 45 degrees
to the axis of rotation of the head. The main blade
slopes upwardly from the rim in a direction rearwardly at
a selected angle to a radius from the axis of rotation.
There is also provided in accordance with the
present invention a log chipper canter unit comprising a
base support means; a shaft; bearing means supporting
said shaft on said support means; power means drivingly
connected to said shaft and carried by said base support
means; a chipper head mounted on the free outer end of
said shaft, said chipper head comprising:a rigid base
member having an annular rim portion and a truncated
conical portion projecting outwardly from said rim, the
axis of said conical portion being co-incident with the
axis of rotation of the chipper head, said chipper head
terminating in an outer end face portion; at least one
chip discharge opening through said truncated conical
portion and which extends into said outer end face
portion; a main cutter blade detachably secured to said
truncated conical portion and having a leading cutting
edge projecting to overlap an edge defining a portion of
said opening; and a shaving cutter blade detachably
secured to said outer end face portion and having a
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leading cutting edge, said cutting edge and the cutting
edge of said main blade being contiguous with one another
and disposed at selected angles to one another, each said
cutting edge being a straight line.
5 LIST OF DRAWINGS
The invention is illustrated by way of example in
the accompanying drawing wherein:
Figure 1 is an oblique, diagrammatic, diagrammatic
view illustrating the operative processing system and
components of a saw mill of the present invention which
is capable of converting small diameter logs into pieces
of lumber as well as short lengths of logs into pieces of
lumber;
Figure lA is a skematic, more general than figure 1,
illustrating the spacing of the components to provide a
compact sawmill;
Figure 2 is an exploded view showing the same
components as in figure 1 and a frame associated
therewith and on which the components are mounted to
provide a compact sawmill;
Figure 3 is an oblique view of the stationary
portion of the frame shown in figure 2 for some of the
components of the sawmill and the hydraulic units
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for moving such components and pneumatic cylinders for
releasably locking the movable frame in a raised position;
Figure 4 is an oblique view of a secondary
portion of the frame on which some of the components are
mounted and wherein such portion of the frame is pivotally
attached to the stationary frame portion permitting easier
access for service and maintenance of components mounted on
the stationary frame thereon;
Figure 5 is an oblique view of the secondary
frame portion of Figure 4 with some of the components
mounted thereon;
Figure 6 is an oblique view of a first set of
infeed rolls for propelling a log endwise along a
preselected feed path in which such log is processed by the
different components as it passes through the sawmill;
Figure 7 is an oblique view of a second set of
infeed rolls downstream from the first set and a log guide;
Figure 8 is an oblique view of a first pair of
milling head type canter units for producing a first
vertical pair of parallel flat faces on the log;
Figure 9 is an oblique view of a second pair of
milling head type canter units, offset 90° from the first
set, for producing two horizontal parallel faces whereby
the log is reduced to a squared timber piece;
Figure 10 is an oblique view showing the front
face of one canter cutter head;
Figure 11 is an oblique view showing the rear
face of the cutter head of Figure 10;
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Figure 12 is an exploded oblique view of the
cutter head of Figure 10 with the base plate and cutters
removed;
Figure 13 is a sectional view taken along a
portion of line 13-13 of figure 10;
Figure 14 is an oblique view of a pair of
modified cutters;
Figure 15 is a view similar to Figure l0 showing
a modified cutter head with modified cutters;
Figure 16 is a top plan view of the cutter head
shown in Figure 15;
Figure 17 is a side elevational view of figure
16;
Figure 18 is a sectional view along a portion of
line 18-18 of Figure 15;
Figure 19 is a sectional view along a portion of
line 19-19 of Figure 15-15;
Figures 2o and 21 are respectively front and side
elevational views illustrating a desired relative
positioning of the canter cutter head and to the squared
timber and feed path axis;
Figures 22 and 23 are similar to Figures 20 and
21 and illustrate the relative positioning for a smaller
piece of timber permitted by an embodiment in which the
canter units are selectively adjustably positionable;
Figure 24 is an oblique view of a pair of edger
units for selectively rabbetting the four corners of the
squared log;
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Figure 25 is an oblique, partial diagrammatic,
view of the head portion of one edger unit shown in Figure
24;
Figures 26 to 33 are views of cutter heads for
the edgers illustrated in Figure 24 and in which Figures 27
to 29 illustrate one embodiment of cutter head and Figures
30 to 33 illustrate a second embodiment;
Figure 26 is an oblique view of the outer cutter
head of the upper edger unit shown in Figure 24;
Figure 27 is an oblique for the outer cutter head
of the lower edger unit shown in Figure 24;
Figure 28 is an oblique view showing the rear
face of the cutter head in Figure 26;
Figure 29 is an oblique view illustrating the hub
portion of the inner cutter head for the upper unit shown
in Figure 24;
Figures 30 and 31 are oblique views, taken from
the rear face, of alternative outer cutter heads for the
respective upper and lower edger units shown in Figure 24;
Figure 32 is an oblique view from the front face
of an inner cutter head for an upper edger unit;
Figure 33 is an exploded view of the cutter head
shown in Figure 31;
Figure 34 is an oblique view illustrating the
small diameter timber propelling powered rollers;
Figure 35 is an oblique view of a pair of driven
saws for severing a squared timber into pieces of lumber;
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Figure 36 is an oblique view of the pair of saws
of Figure 35 mounted on a support frame that pivotally
attaches to the frame portion A shown in Figure 3;
Figure 37 is a hydraulic schematic for
controllable movement of the secondary frame;
Figure 38 is an oblique exploded view of the
lumber outfeed conveyor;
Figures 39 and 40 are schematics for the
hydraulic control system for the sawmill diagrammatically
and schematically illustrated in Figures 1 and 2; and
Figure 41 is a schematic of a mill system using
to advantage the foregoing sawmill and is an example only
of one of many different arrangements.
Description of Preferred Embodiment
The compact sawmill of the present invention
comprises the following processing and handling components:
(a) an infeed section 100 in which there is a
first and a second pair of large diameter power driven feed
rolls for propelling a log endwise along a preselected feed
path and a log guide 200;
(b) a canting section 300 in which there is a
first and a second pair of chipper canter units offset 90°
from one another about the axis of the feed path;
(c) an edging section 400 in which there is an
upper edger unit and a lower edger unit for rabbetting the
four corners of the squared timber;
(d) a timber sub-dividing or sawing section 500;
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(e) a plurality of small diameter power driven
feed rolls variously located between the processing units
for engaging the flat faces of the squared timber piece to
guide and propel it along the preselected feed path; and
(f) a lumber outfeed conveyor section 600.
The operational components for these various
sections to perform the various processing functions,
described in more detail hereinafter, are mounted on a
structure of members providing a framework which is a rigid
support for all of the units. The components are closely
spaced and thus provided is a compact integrated self
sustaining sawmill unit.
The framework (a weldment and/or bolted together
members) includes a stationary primary frame portion 10 and
a secondary frame portion 20. The frame portion 20 is
movably mounted on the frame portion 10 such movement being
provided by a pivotal interconnection of frame portions 10
and 20. The pivotally mounted frame portion 20 allows for
easier access to components downstream from the infeed
section for service and maintenance purposes which
otherwise without the pivotal movement of the frame portion
would be difficult to access. Access to the components is
quite restricted because of the compactness of the sawmill
and while it is not essential to the system that frame
portion 20 be pivotally connected to frame portion 10 it
certainly is desirable.
The frame portion 20 has two pairs of apertured
lugs designated respectively 21 and 22 that receive
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respective sleeves 11 and 12 secured to rigid frame portion
10. A pair of pins designated 13 pivotally interconnects
the frame portions and a pair of hydraulic cylinders HR1
and HR2 are secured at one end by pins (not shown) to frame
portion 10 and at the other end to frame portion 20. By
actuating these hydraulic cylinder units frame portion 20
can be pivotally moved to a raised position and locked in
that position by a pair of hooked members designated 14 and
controlled by respective pneumatic cylinders HR3 and
10 HR4. Raising of the frame portion 20 (which has the infeed
pairs of rollers thereon) provides access to a first pair
of chipper canter units immediately downstream from the
infeed rolls for maintenance and repair purposes.
The infeed section 100 is mounted, as mentioned,
15 on secondary frame portion 20 and includes first and second
feed roll units 100A and 1008, each of which has a pair of
power driven rolls for tractively engaging and propelling
a log endwise for processing by the components of the
sawmill. The feed rolls are moved toward and away from a
predetermined fixed in position feed path axis. As viewed
in Figure 1 a log L is propelled endwise in a direction
from left to right during the processing functions which
are performed at positions spaced from one another
longitudinally along the log.
By way of example and to give an indication of
the compactness an actual constructed experimental
prototype machine has an overall length of approximately 17
feet. The center-to- center spacing between adjacent
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components used in the processing is less than the shortest
length of log to be processed. For example the spacing of
components may be in the range of 24 to 36 inches (center-
to-center) in a sawmill capable of processing logs
approximately 42 inches in length. The spacings, however,
can obviously vary depending upon the size of components
and/or length of logs to be processed. In the experimental
prototype lumber pieces were successfully produced from
logs as short as 30" in length and as small as 2" in
diameter.
The first feed roll unit 100A (see Figure 6)
comprises feed rolls 101 and 102 driven by respective
hydraulic motors 103 and 104. Feed rolls 101 and 102 are
mounted on respective arms 105 and 106 which are pivotally
mounted on the secondary frame 20 by respective shafts 107
and 108. The feed rolls are moved towards and away from
one another (see Figures 5 and 6) by a pneumatic cylinder
unit HR5 and a synchronizing link SLl the latter of which
interconnects the arms 105 and 106. The feed rolls have a
suitable surface to tractively engage the log L such
surface of the feed rolls being generally cylindrical. The
feed rolls move in arcs designated AR1 and AR2 in Figure 1
and these arcs are in a horizontal plane. The feed rolls
as mentioned are cylindrical and rotate about respective
vertical axes with the arms 105 and 106 interconnected by
the link SL1 to synchronize their movement toward and away
from the log disposed therebetween.
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The second set of feed rolls 100B similarly
comprises a pair of cylindrical feed rolls designated 120
and 121 driven by respective hydraulic motors 122 and 123.
Feed rolls 120 and 121 and their respective drive motors
are mounted on respective arms 124 and 125 which are
pivotally attached to the secondary frame B by respective
ones of a pair of shafts not shown. The shafts 124 and 125
are interconnected by a synchronizing link SL2. The feed
rolls 120 and 121 move in arcs designated AR3 and AR4 which
are disposed in a vertical plane. The first and second set
of feed rolls 100A and 100B accordingly are~located offset
from one another 90° around the axis of the path along which
a log travels while being processed. The log is gripped
and held tightly between the feed rolls with such feed
rolls engaging the top and bottom and two opposite side
surfaces of the log. The feed rolls of the first and
second sets 100A and 100B are controllably moved toward and
away from a fixed in position feed path axis by the
respective pneumatic cylinder unit HR5 and hydraulic
cylinder unit HR2, movement of the feed rolls in the
respective sets being synchronized by the links SL1 and
SL2.
The log guide unit 200 is mounted on the movable
frame portion 20 closely adjacent and downstream from the
second feed roll unit 100B. The log guide unit comprises
respective upper and lower guide shoes 201 and 202 disposed
in close proximity to the outfeed side of second feed roll
unit 100B. The guide shoes are movably mounted on the
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frame 20 by links in a parallelogram arrangement for
reciprocal movement up and down in a vertical plane as
indicated by respective double headed arrows AR5 and AR6
(see Figure 1).
Referring to Figure 7 guide shoe 201 is mounted
on a blade 204 pivotally connected as at 205 and 206
respectively to arm 207 and link member 208. Members 207
and 208 pivotally connect to the frame 20 by respective
pivot pins 209 and 210. The pins 205, 206, 209 and 210
provide a parallelogram linkage connection of the shoe 201
to the frame. Guide shoe 202 is similarly mounted and the
shoes are controllably moved toward and away from one
another by pneumatic cylinder HR7.
The canting section 300 has a first canting
section 300A and downstream therefrom a second canting
section 3008. The first canting section produces a pair of
parallel vertically disposed flat faces on the log as the
log is propelled endwise by the power driven rollers and
the second canting section 3008 produces a pair of
horizontally disposed flat faces. The squared piece of
timber is represented in Figure 1 by the broken line
designated SQ1. The timber piece, if desired, could be
rectangular in cross-section instead of square.
The two canting sections are the same except for
their orientation relative to the log about the
longitudinal axis of the feed path. The first canting
section 300A is shown in more detail in Figure 8 and the
second canting section in Figure 9. Since both sections
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have the same components and for purposes of simplification
the same reference numerals are used herein in designating
the components of the two canter sections 300A and 300B.
Each canter section comprises a pair of chipper
canter units 301 which are located respectively on opposite
sides of the log being processed. Each chipper canter unit
301 has a chipper head 302. The pair of chipper heads
located on opposite sides of the log rotate in the same
direction and thus one chipper head of the pair is a mirror
image of the other. The construction of each unit 301 is
otherwise the same and again for simplification of
description only one chipper canter unit is described in
detail herein.
The location of the four chipper canter units in
Figures 1, 8 and 9 are designated A1 and A2 for the canter
section 300A and B1 and B2 for the canter section 300B.
The position designations A1, A2, B1 and B2 in Figures 8
and 9 of the drawings are encircled.
Referring to Figures 8 and 9 each chipper canter
unit has a chipper head 302 removably secured to a shaft
that is journalled for rotation in a housing 303. The
housing is rigidly secured to a base plate 304 which is
slidably mounted on a pair of parallel spaced apart rigid
shaft 305. The shafts 305 are interconnected at opposite
ends by respective ones of a pair of end bars 306. The
shafts and the bars (305 and 306) provide a rigid structure
306A that is mounted on the frame 10 and provides a
mounting base on which the base plate 304 slides. The
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positioning is such that the chipper heads are slidably
movable along shafts 305 so as to move in a direction
toward and away from the feed path whose axis is fixed in
position and designated x-x in Figures 20 to 23.
The rigid structure 306A may be fixedly mounted
on frame 10 or alternatively movably mounted so as to be
selectively movable for adjusting the chipper head position
relative to a timber piece to provide the relative
positioning illustrated in Figures 21 and 23. With
reference to Figures 20 to 23 the flat face on the chipper
head is shown positioned so that the peripheral cutting
edge thereof maintains a preselected position relative to
the edge of the timber piece. This relative positioning
for differently dimensioned square timber pieces can be
provided for by pivotally mounting structures 306A on the
frame 10 and providing for example a turn buckle type
adjusting mechanism to adjustably change the position of
chipper unit. Hydraulic cylinder units e.g. Temposonic*
units may be used in place of turn buckles for precise
adjustment. Referring to Figure 24 the frame 306A can be
provided with a pivot mounting shaft 411 for one of the two
chipper units in Figure 8 and Figure 9 and the other
chipper units in the respective pairs with a pivot mounting
shaft 410. Shafts 410 and 411 pivotally attach to frame 10
and adjusting mechanisms such as unit 475 interconnects the
frame 306A associated therewith and frame 10.
*Trade-Mark
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As previously mentioned the base plate 304 slides
on shafts 305 and to accomplish this there are collars 307
(two of them) on each of two bars 308. The two such bars
308, with the collars thereon, are secured to the base
plate 304 at spaced apart positions thereon by threaded
studs 309.
The cutter head 302 is driven by an electric (or
hydraulic if desired) motor 310 which is mounted on the
base plate 304 and by way of a plurality of V-belts 311 (or
direct drive if desired) drives the shaft on which the
cutter head is mounted. Tensioning of the V-belts can be
adjusted by means of a belt tensioner 312 that adjustably
moves the motor 310 relative to the base plate 304.
The positioning of the four cutter heads
designated A1, A2, B1 and B2 are selectively adjustable by
respective hydraulic piston cylinder units THR1, THR2, THR3
and THR4. Movement of the cutter heads is in a direction
toward and away from a log disposed therebetween and this
movement is represented in Figure 1 by double headed arrows
AR7, AR8, AR9 and AR10. Referring to Figure 8 the piston
end 315 of the hydraulic unit THR1 by way of a pin (not
shown) is connected to lugs 316 on the plate 304 and the
cylinder portion is anchored to the frame 10. These
hydraulic cylinders are accurately controllable and the
ones preferred are known under the trade name Temposonic*.
Temposonic hydraulic cylinders have a feedback loop and
positioning accuracy is about ~ 1/1000 of an inch.
*Trade-Mark
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The cutter head 302 is of novel construction made
by the present applicants and has proven most effective
from trial tests conducted with their prototype sawmill.
Details of the cutter head are shown in Figures 10 to 17
inclusive and there are two embodiments illustrated. These
are the preferred embodiments arrived at after extensive
experimentation, modification and testing. Figures 10 to
13 represent one embodiment and Figures 14 to 19 represent
a second embodiment which differs from the first mainly
with respect to the symmetrical shape of the cutters so as
to be reversible for left and right mountings and in
details of the mounting of the main cutter blades.
Referring to Figure 10 the chipper head 302
comprises a rigid base member 320 which has a truncated
conical portion 321 projecting outwardly from an annular
rigidifying rim portion 322. The outer end of the
truncated portion 321 has a rectangular recess 323 with a
central aperture 324. The cutter head is fastened to the
outer end of a shaft (not shown) journalled in the bearing
303 by a threaded stud. An end rectangular face plate 325
fits into the recess and is attached to the face 320 by a
plurality of studs 326 threaded into apertures 327. Figure
11 shows the inner face of the base member 320 in which
there is a recess 328 for receiving an end portion of the
power driven shaft. A collar is secured to the shaft and
a plurality of threaded studs passing through the collar
are threaded into apertures 329 thereby providing a secure
mounting of the chipper head 302 on the shaft.
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There are four equally spaced openings 330
through the base member for discharge of the chips removed
by cutters detachably secured to the base member 320. Each
opening 330 extends into the annular rim 322, as is evident
from Figure 11, and is defined by a wall 331 (generally U-
shaped) on the truncated conical portion 321.
Each cutter head 302 has four main cutter blades
335 there being one for each of the openings 330. Each
cutter blade 335 projects into a recess 336 in the head
truncated conical portion 321 and each blade at its lower
end projects into a slot 337 provided by the wall of the
recess 336 on one side and an inner face portion of the
annular rim 322. Each blade 335 is detachably secured to
the base member 320 by a threaded stud 340.
Associated with each main cutter blade 336 is a
secondary shaving type cutter 345. The cutter 345 fits
into a recess 346 in the end face of the truncated conical
portion 321 and each cutter is detachably secured to the
base member 320 by a threaded stud 347.
The cutters 335 and 345 have respective straight
line cutting edges 348 and 349 which facilitates sharpening
and re-sharpening of the blades. The cutting blades are so
positioned that the cutting edges 348 and 349 are
contiguous even though they are in different planes and
angularly disposed relative to one another. The two blades
abut one another, blade 345 having an edge angular planar
face 350 which abuts against an angular edge planar face
351 on the cutting blade 335. In Figure 12 the four blades
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345 at their four different positions are designated 345A,
345B, 345C and 345D. The main cutting blades 335 at these
same respective positions are designated 335A, 335B, 335C
and 335D. Figure 12 being an oblique view shows the
blades, because of their different positions, from
different angles.
Modifications to the foregoing described cutting
head are illustrated in Figures 14 to 18 inclusive and
referring to these the modifications only will be
described. In Figure 14 there is illustrated a modified
main cutting blade 335A designed so as to be reversible
permitting mounting the same on either one of the left and
right, i.e. mirror image chipper cutting heads. The blade
335A has a cutting edge 348 and two apertures for mounting
the latter being appropriately positioned to accommodate
mounting reversibly using only one of the holes for the
mounting. Each blade 335A has two angular disposed planar
end faces 351A and 351B for abutting a planar edge face 350
on a shaving cutter blade 345A.
The cutter blade 335A as seen from Figure 19 has
a tongue 335B that projects into a groove in the frusto
conical portion 321 of the base member 320 to securely
anchor the blade to the member 320.
A further minor change is illustrated in Figure
18 wherein a bolt and nut unit 341 is used to securely and
detachably fasten the cutting blade 335A to the base
member.
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A further modification is illustrated in Figure
16 wherein the outer peripheral edge of the member 322 is
provided with four notches 360 and a removably mounted
cutting blade or tooth 361.
The face plate 325, as seen from Figure 17, has
an outer surface that projects further outwardly from the
head at its center than at its outer peripheral edge. The
face effectively may be described as a relatively flat
conical face, the amount of taper being illustrated in
Figure 17 as 0.5°.
By way of example a cutting head having
dimensions and angulations illustrated in Figures 16, 17
and 18 has been found to provide excellent results during
operat-ion of the prototype sawmill.
A further and minor modification is the square
end 359 on the end of the cutter 345A and a corresponding
shape for the recess in the cutter head base member to
receive the same.
Figures 20 to 23 illustrate the preferred
positioning of the cutting blades relative to the edge of
the squared timber piece produced from the log L by the
chipping canter heads. Referring to these drawings the
squared timber piece is propelled endwise in the direction
designated by arrow 370 (left to right in Figure 1) and the
cutter head rotates in the direction designated by arrow
371. The knife cutting edges 348 and 349 meet at a point
which during rotation of the head trace out a circle
illustrated in Figures 20 and 22 by the broken line 372.
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The location of this circular path of travel is so
positioned as to be offset slightly outward from the upper
face 373 of the squared timber piece and this relative
positioning applies irrespective of the cross-sectional
size of the squared piece of timber.
With the feed path being fixed in position the
cutting heads 302 are mounted on the frame so as to be
moved toward and away one another and also the positioning
of the whole unit can be raised and lowered to maintain
this relative positioning or in the case of a second
chipper canter unit shown in Figure 1 moved laterally in a
horizontal position relative to the log. As previously
discussed one canter unit of one pair can be pivotally
mounted on frame 10 by shaft 410 and the other of such pair
pivotally mounted by shaft 411 described with reference to
Figure 24. Position adjustment may be selectively done
using adjusting mechanism 475.
The reaction from the cutting forces during
chipping is in a direction tending to propel the squared
timber piece along its path in the direction designated
370.
The edger section 400 is shown in greater detail
in Figures 24 to 33.
The edger section 400 comprises a pair of edger
units 400A and 40oB each unit being the same except for the
direction of rotation of the cutter head with a consequence
of the shape of one cutting head being the mirror image of
the other. Each of the units 400A and 4008 are mounted on
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a base having the same structure as described previously
with reference to Figures 8 and 9 illustrating the canter
chipper units. Further description of the same accordingly
will not be repeated herein for the sake of brevity and the
same reference numerals for the base structures in Figure
24 apply as in Figures 8 and 9.
Before referring to the details illustrated in
Figure 24 attention is directed to Figure 25 which
diagrammatically illustrates the cutter head portion of the
edger unit 4008. The unit 400A is the same except rotation
is in the opposite direction. Referring to~Figure 25 the
edger unit 400B has two concentric, telescopically
disposed, shafts designated 401 and 402 having respective
cutting heads 403 and 404 attached thereto for rotation
therewith. The shafts are journalled in a housing 303
secured to a mounting plate 304 and driven by a motor via
belt means 311 or direct drive. The shafts rotate in
unison by way of suitable coupling means, for example a
key, that allows telescopic relative movement of the
shafts. A shaft moving mechanism 425, described
hereinafter, telescopically moves shaft 401 relative to
shaft 402 selectively to vary the distance between the
cutting heads 403 and 404.
The cutting heads 403 and 404 each have suitable
cutting knives for rabbetting the squared timber piece.
The upper edger unit 400A rabbets the two upper edges of
the squared timber piece and the lower edger unit 4008
rabbets the two lower edges of the squared timber piece.
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The rabbetted squared timber is shown in cross-section in
Figure 1 by the dotted line designated 450. By rabbetting
the corners of the squared timber the actual squared timber
before rabbetting can have exposed corners that are
rounded, i.e. the original diameter of the log. This
maximizes the recovery of lumber pieces from a log
illustrated in Figure 1 by sawing so as to have a piece of
lumber in the centre which is of greater width than the
outer two pieces of lumber. This will be more fully
described hereinafter with reference to the outfeed
conveyor section 600.
The edger unit 400A pivotally attaches to the
stationary frame 10 by a pivot shaft 410 and the unit 400B
pivotally attaches to the same frame by a mounting pivot
shaft 411. A pair of adjusting mechanisms 475 for example
turn buckles or hydraulic cylinder units are used to pivot
the respective units for raising and lowering the edger
cutting heads.
Referring further to Figure 24 the outer shaft
402 is fixed in position by suitable radial and end thrust
bearings in housing 303 and the shaft 401 projects beyond
the drive and connects to a rotory coupling unit 415. This
rotary coupling connects the shaft to a link of the cutter
head spacing adjustment mechanism 425.
The mechanism 425 comprises a pair of link
members 426 and 427 pivotally connected at one end thereof
to a bar 428 which in turn by way of pivotal mounting 429
is connected to the rigid frame mechanism 306A. The pivot
CA 02314718 2000-08-04
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429 is midway between the pivotal connection of the links
426 and 427 to the bar 428. The link 426 at the other end
is pivotally connected as at 430 to a structure 431 rigidly
secured to and projecting upwardly from the plate 304. The
link 427 is pivotally connected by way of pivot pin 432 to
the rotary coupling 415. A Temposonic* or the like
hydraulic cylinder THR6 has the piston end thereof 433
connected by way of a pin (not shown) to lugs 434 on the
plate 304. The cylinder portion by way of a pin 435 is
connected to the rigid frame structure 306A by way of a
bracket 436. The hydraulic cylinder THR6 is associated
with the canter unit 400B and similarly a Temposonic type
hydraulic cylinder THR5 is associated with the unit 400A.
The hydraulic cylinders by way of the mechanism 425 move
the cutting heads 403 and 404 simultaneously and by equal
amounts either in a direction toward one another or in a
direction away from one another depending upon actuation of
the Temposonic cylinder.. The cutting heads accordingly
move equally and by the same amount toward and away from a
vertical plane passing through the feed path axis. Raising
and lowering the heads relative to the square timber piece,
is provided by adjusting mechanisms 475 that connect the
rigid frame structure 306A on respective units 400A and
400B to the frame structure 10. This vertical movement of
the cutting heads, relative to the timber piece, permits
selectively varying the depth of cut to be made while the
adjusting mechanism 425 increases or decreases the width of
*Trade-Mark
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cut inwardly from the vertical flat faces of the timber
piece.
One embodiment of the outer cutter head 403 for
the upper unit 400A is shown in Figure 26 and the one for
unit 400B is shown in Figure 27. Figure 28 is a rear view
of the cutter head shown in Figure 26. The two outer heads
differ from one another only in that they rotate in
opposite directions and therefore one is a mirror image of
the other. In each instance the outer cutter head 403
comprises a rigid base piece or hub 450 having in the rear
face thereof a first recess 451 for receiving an end
portion of the shaft 401 and a second larger diameter
shallower recess 452. There is a central aperture 453
surrounded by four stud receiving apertures 454. A collar
(not shown) is rigidly secured to the shaft 401 and four
studs 455 thread into the collar securely mounting the
cutting head on the shaft.
The cutting head has four cutting blades 460
secured to the base member 450 by stud means 461. Each
cutting blade has two straight line cutting edges
designated 462 and 463 disposed at right angles to one
another. The cutting edge 462 cuts the timber piece
leaving a vertical face in the rabbet while the cutting
edge 463 produces the horizonal face in the rabbet.
The inner cutting heads 402 are the same as the
outer cutting heads except for the central portion which
has a through central aperture portion 470 for sliding onto
the end portion of shaft 402 and in that the inner and
CA 02314718 2000-08-04
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outer cutting heads on the same unit are left and right.
Again the base member with the through aperture 470 has
four spaced apart through holes 454 through which studs
pass and are threaded into a collar (not shown) securely
fixed to the shaft 402.
In Figures 30 to 33 there is illustrated a second
embodiment of cutting heads for the rabbetting units 400A
and 4008.
Referring to Figure 30 illustrated from the rear
face is a cutter head 403A for the upper rabbet unit 400A.
The rear face of the hub 450A has respective concentric
recesses 451 and 452 and stud receiving through hobs 454
described with reference to Figure 28. These provide means
for mounting the cutter head on the shaft 401. As seen
from the exploded view in Figure 33 the hub has four equi-
circumferentially spaced peripheral flat faces 480 with
threaded bores 481 and 482 for receiving respective ones of
a pair of threaded studs 483. A cutting blade 484 with a
slotted hole 485 is secured to a mounting block 486 by way
of a threaded stud 487 and a plate like nut 488. The block
486 is recessed as at 489 to receive the cutting blade 484
and plate nut 488 and clampingly press the same captive
between the block 486 and flat 481 on the hub. A knife
adjusting screw 490 threads into a threaded aperture 491 in
the block and it is aligned to engage the edge 492 of the
blade remote from its cutting edge 493. The four blocks
486 abut against respective ones of four stops 495 on the
hub. The blades are thus accurately positioned and are
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adjustable for precision repositioning after each
sharpening.
Figure 31 is the same as Figure 30 but
illustrates a cutter head 403B for the lower rabbet unit
400B shown in Figure 24.
Figure 32 shows the front face of an inner cutter
head 404A for the upper rabbet unit 400A. The construction
is the same as illustrated in Figure 33 but the cutter
blades are oriented in an opposite direction. The inner
cutter head for the lower unit 400B is not shown but would
have the same cutter orientation as that shown in Figure 30
with the hub modified to have a through hold 470 for
mounting onto a collar secured to the shaft 402.
The sawing section 500 is illustrated in Figures
35 and 36. There is an upper saw unit 500A and a lower saw
unit 500B and these are mounted on a common rigid frame
501A. The frame 501A pivotally attaches to the frame
structure 10 for pivotal movement about a vertical axis
designated 502A for movement in an arcuate path designated
503. Pivotal movement of the frame structure 501A is
controlled by hydraulic cylinders HR10 and HR11. It should
be mentioned here that should there be a malfunction at any
place along the processing path the hydraulic cylinders are
immediately actuated moving the saw units 500A and 500B
away from the squared timber piece thereby preventing
damage to the circular saw blades.
Each saw unit 500A and 500B is mounted on a base
structure which is the same as or identical to that
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described with reference to Figures 8 and 9 and accordingly
further description of the same is not repeated for
purposes of brevity. The same reference numerals are used
in Figures 35 and 36 for the base structure as in Figures
8 and 9 and also as in Figure 24 where the edgers also use
the same base mounting structure.
The saw units 500A and 5008 have respective
circular saw blades 501 and 502 driven by respective motors
505 and 510. The rigid base structures 306A are secured to
the frame structure 501A and the movable plates 304 permit
raising and lowering the saw blades. Raising and lowering
of the saw blades 501 and 502 is effected by actuation of
respective Temposonic* hydraulic cylinders THR7 and THR8.
These units have a piston end 515 thereof connected to lugs
on the plate 304 and the cylinder portion is anchored as at
516 to the frame structure 501A.
Positioning of the saw blades is relatively
precise with each Temposonic* cylinder unit having an
accuracy of ~ 1/1000 of an inch. With the squared timber
rabbetted a horizontal cut is made by the saw blades 501
and 502 respectively above and below the horizontal face of
the rabbet. Each saw blade accordingly cuts through the
narrower dimensioned outer pieces of lumber designated 701
and 702 separating the same from the center piece 703 which
is of greater width. This of course applies only when the
corners of the timber piece has been rabbeted. In some
instances rabbetting will not be done and this will depend
*Trade-Mark
CA 02314718 2000-08-04
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upon the selected cut program based on the logs geometry.
The saw blades are of appropriate size for example 20
inches in diameter and saw dust wastage may be minimized by
using a thin kerf blade.
The outfeed conveyor 600 is shown in exploded
oblique view in Figure 38. Referring now to Figure 38 the
conveyor has a first frame 601 and a second frame 602 that
provide mountings for respectively a first group of power
driven rollers 603 and a second group of power driven
rollers 604. There are four rollers in group 603 driven by
respective motors 605, 606, 607 and 608, three of the four
rollers being designated 603A, 6038 and 603C with the
fourth one not being in view.
The pair of rollers 6038 and 603C are mounted on
arms pivotally attached to the frame 601 by respective
pivot pins 610 and 611 and similarly roller 603A and the
one not in view are mounted on arms pivotally attached to
the frame 601 by respective pivot pins 610A and 611A. The
arms are controllably pivoted by pneumatic cylinder units
620 and 621. Each unit has two piston rods 622 and 623 in
a common cylinder divided to provide separate pneumatic
power units 620A, 6208 and 621A, 6218.
The cylinders 620 and 621 can move power driven
rolls 603A and 6038, 603C and the one not shown are moved
toward and away from one another in the respective pairs.
The piston rod 622 of unit 620B connects via pin 622A to a
lug secured to the arm on which roller 6038 is mounted and
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the piston rod 623 via pin 623A is anchored to the frame
601.
The group of power driven feed rolls 604
comprises four tandem spaced apart wheel like units 604A,
6048, 604C and 604D.
These tandem wheel units are driven by respective
ones of four different hydraulic motors 630 via either
direct drive or belts and if desired electric motors may be
used instead of hydraulic. The tandem wheel units are
mounted on respective ones of four arms 631 pivotally
attached to the frame 602 as at 632A, 6328, 632C and 632D.
The arms 631 on which the respective tandem wheel units
604A and 6048 are mounted are connected to piston rod 643
of respective pneumatic cylinder units 641 and 642. Piston
rods 644 of the respective units 641 and 642 are anchored
to the frame 602 via respective ones of a pair of pins 645.
The units 641 and 642 have two pistons in a common cylinder
separated into two independent chambers. The wheel units
604A and 6048 and similarly wheel units 604C and 604D are
controllably moved by pneumatic cylinder units toward and
away from one another.
As previously mentioned Figure 38 is an exploded
view and as seen from Figure 1 in the assembled state
rollers 603A and 6038 are upstream of respective power
driven rolls 604A and 6048. The power driven roll 603C is
located between tandem wheel units 6048 and 604C while the
other roll not shown and driven by hydraulic motor 608 is
located between tandem wheel units 604A and 604D.
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The frames 601 and 602 are rigidly secured to the
frame 10 and frame 601 and 602 may be securely joined one
to the other if desired.
As previously mentioned there are three pieces of
lumber produced in the illustrative example comprising
outer lumber pieces 701 and 702 which are narrower in width
than the center lumber piece 703. The center lumber piece
703 is gripped between power driven rolls 603A and 6038 and
between the pair of rolls 603C and the one driven by motor
608. The spacing of the wheels on the tandem wheel units
604A and 6048, 604C and 604D is such that the lumber piece
703 passes between the pairs of wheels. Each of the .lumber
pieces 701 and 702 are gripped between the pairs of tandem
wheels 604A and 6048 and between each of the pair of tandem
wheels 604C and 604D.
From the foregoing it is readily apparent that
each produced lumber piece is securely gripped between two
pairs of power driven rolls for controllable outfeed and
guidance of each lumber piece.
The timber piece is guided and propelled by a
series of power driven rolls that are relatively small in
diameter compared with the infeed rolls. The guide small
power driven feed and guide rolls comprise a first pair
800A located between the two canter sections 300A and 3008,
a second and a third pair designated respectively 8008 and
800C located between the second canter chipper section 3008
and the edgers 400 and two further pairs designated 800D
and 800E located between the edger 400 and the saw section
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500. The rolls in each pair are driven by respective
hydraulic motors 801 and 802 shown in Figure 1 with respect
to feed roll unit 800A. For sake of clarity the hydraulic
motors are not shown with respect to the pairs of feed roll
units 800B, 800C, 800D and 800E. As will be seen from
Figure 1 the power driven roll unit 800D and 800E
tractively engage the vertical side faces of the square
timber piece while the pairs of rolls 800C and 800E engage
respectively the upper and lower faces.
As previously mentioned the reactionary forces
from the chipper canters is such on the log~as to tend to
propel the log endwise in a path of travel from left to
right as viewed in Figure 1 as is also the case with the
edging units 400A and 40oB. The saw at the other hand is
driven to rotate in a direction against the direction of
travel of the timber piece.
The foregoing described sawmill is most effective
when the logs being processed are previously sorted so that
they are similar in geometry. In Figure 41 there is a
diagrammatic illustration of a system environment in which
the foregoing described sawmill is utilized. Referring now
to Figure 41 there is illustrated two piles of logs
designated 1000 and 1001 which are of an 8 or 9 foot length
as received from field logging operations. Logs from this
are loaded onto a conveyor 1100 which spaces one log 1101
from the next and discharges a log one at a time onto an
endless belt conveyor 1200. Arrows indicate the direction
of travel. The logs one by one pass under a scanner 1300
CA 02314718 2000-08-04
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and downstream from the scanner one of four (or five or
more) different kickers 1400 transfer the logs according to
log geometry or size into respective ones of four different
holding bins 1500. The logs for example in bin 1500A are
essentially of the same diameter for example 5 inches. The
logs in another bin may be 4" in diameter and 6" in another
bin.
The foregoing sawmill of Figure 1 designated SM
in Figure 41 has the infeed rolls thereof aligned with a
belt type conveyor 1600 that for example is feeding logs
one at a time from the bin 1500A to the sawmill. The logs
are essentially the same geometry that are being processed
as they are propelled through the sawmill and as indicated
there is at the infeed end infeed rolls 100A and 1008 along
with the previously described log guide 200 followed by in
succession, canter unit 300A, guide and propelling roll
unit 800A, canter unit 3008, propelling and guide roll
units 800B and 800C, edger unit 400, feed and guide roll
units 800D and 800E, saw unit 500 and the outfeed conveyor
600 from which there is discharged pieces of lumber 700.
Processing is controlled by a computer processor
unit 1700. The programmed processor unit controls the
sawmill units for maximized lumber value or volume recovery
relative to the geometry of logs being processed.
The propelling speed of the logs can be
selectively varied within a range of about 300 to 500 feed
per minute and the speed of the chipper heads may be
controllably varied so as to run at different fixed speeds.
CA 02314718 2000-08-04
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This adjustable speed is important for the purpose of
minimizing variation of chips and providing chips of
different sizes. High quality and different chip size can
be produced consistently providing a valued added product
from the sawmill system. The length of chip varies
directly with feed speed a 3/4" chip length being produced
at a log feed speed of 300 ft./min., a 1" chip length at
400 ft./min. and a 1 1/8th" chip length at a feed speed of
450 ft./min.
As an alternative to the system illustrated in
Figure 41 and in place of presorting each log can be
scanned as it is fed to the sawmill and the information
therefrom fed to the processor 1700 which determines from
the log geometry the best cutting pattern. Signals from
the processor are used then to control movement of the
different processing units to accomplish the desired
result. Rabbetting may or may not occur depending upon the
predetermined cutting pattern. The log instead of being
cut into a square may be rectangular in cross-section. The
log geometry may dictate a cut pattern of for example 3 -
2 x 6 's, or a single 2 x 2 or one 2 x 6 and two 2 x 4 's
or any other pattern for maximum value and/or volume of
recovery.
The edger rabbetting is done selectively i.e.
only when required as dictated by the cut pattern which in
turn is dependent upon information received from log
scanning. The log scanning provides information to the
processor as to log diameter and geometry.
CA 02314718 2000-08-04
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The pattern of cut may for example be 2 - 2" x 4"
's and 1 - 2" x 6" from a log or 2 - 1" x 4" ~ s and 1 - 2"
x 6" and this would require rabbetting the squared timber
piece. Rabbetting is not required when the lumber pieces
are to be the same size which by way of example might be 1
- 2" X 2" Or 2 - 2" X 4" Or 3 - 2" X 4" Or 3 - 2" X 6"
pieces of lumber from one log.
The components are precision adjustably
positioned and this is done through hydraulic and/or
pneumatic units.
