Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
The invention relates to a composite reducer head assel~ly
for timber working machines, comprising a reducer head
having a peripheral part in the general shape of a trun-
cated cone and encompassing by its circular inner edge a
central part with a generally disc-shaped front face. The
peripheral part is supported and driven in rotation by a
first shaft means and at least one wood chipping means
such as knife or similar is provided thereon. At least one
additional operative MeanS for affec-tiny a processed piece
of tim~er at a dif~erent rotational speed than the peri~
pheral part is arranged on the central part, and at least
one second shaft means is provided to support said addi-
tional means. Reducer heads operate generally as a pair
in coaxial arrangernent in timber processing machines and
a pair of reducer heads of the kind aforesaid is shown
and described ln U.S. patent 3,812,891 issued on May 28,
197~, to Alfred Reu-ter. In this embodimen-t, the centr-al
part is along its periphery provided wi.th a plurality of
, finishing blades arranged in a ring or as radially extending
saw -teeth, both the said ring and the said teeth being
concentric with peripheral and cen-tral parts of the re-
ducer head. The cen-tral part rotates always at a higher
speed than the peripheral part.
~, ~
~ 2
~3~5
.
The present inven-tion provides an improved composite re-
ducer head assembly enabling to apply more varied modes
of working and/or providing improved sidewise yuiding fa-
cilities of timber trunks passing through a processing
machines. The characterizing features of the present in-
vention are evident from the attached patent claims.
According to the invention, there is essentially provided
a reducer head having in the central part or portion
mounted at least one additional operative means, which
can be a machining means or a guide means, and which is
kinematically independent of the peripheral part or por-
tion of the reducer head in the sense of as well the
speed as the direction of rotation, and also the axial
position. The additional means can no-t only rotate at a
higher speed, as has already been proposed, but also at
a lower speed~or it can remain stationary when the peri-
pheral part ro-tatesO In different embodiments which will
be described later in greater detail, -the addi-tional ope-
rative means may be flush with the inner edge of the periphe-
ral part or it may project therefrom -to a selec-ted degree,it
may rotate about an axis different from the rotational axis
of the peripheral part or portion or even as well to ro-
tate about its own axis, as to move along a circular patharound the axis of the peripheral portion.
3 ;:~9~
The invention will now be described more in detail with
reference to the accompanying schematic drawings which
show exemplary embodiments and in which:
FIG. 1 is a plan view, partly in section, of a first
embodiment of the invention;
FIGS. 2 ~ show in plan view, partly in section, a second
and 3 J and a third embodiment;
FIGS. 4a ~ illustrate linearly movable planar guiding
and 4b J members applicable in assemblies according to
FIGS. 2 or 3;
FIGS. 5 l illustrate four further embodiments of the pre-
to 7 J sent invention;FIGS. 8 illustrate in side elevation and in plan view
and 9, respectively three other embodiment~ of the
10 and 11, invention.
12 and 13
Referring now to the drawings, wherein identical reference
characters are used -to refer to parts wi-th essentially
identical shape and function, there is shown in FIG. 1 one
side of a machine for reducing (side processing) a piece
of timber 10 having a centre line CL and forwarcled on a
conveyor 101 (which for simplici-ty will not be repeated
in subsequent plan view drawings) in the di.rection of
`.
4 ~ ~S ~ ~
arrow A~so that a block 10' having planar side faces 1OA
is obtainedD The other side of the m chine is identlcal
as shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b. A reducer head 11A has a
peripheral portion, in the example shown defined by a
separate peripheral part 110, encompassing or surrounding
by its inner edge 111B a central portion~in the instance
also defined by a separate part 120. Peripheral part 110
has generally the shape of a truncated cone (possibly
with steps, as in the embodiment shown) limited by said
inner edge 111B and by an outer edge 111C, and is provided
with a plurality of wood chipping means such as straight
blades 11la. Inner edge 111B limits a circular centre
front portion wherefrom a cylindrical space M extends into
the body of reducer head. In said space M is a separate
centre part 120, having a planar front face 121 and a
cylindrical sid~ face 122, situated. The peripheral part
110 is mounted on a hollow, tubulax shaft 12 defining
first shaft means, and the central part 120 is mounted on
a massive shaft 13 defining second shaft means and located
and guided in the hollow of tubulax shaft 12. Shaft 12 is
via gears 14a, 14b operatively connected to an electric
motor 16 and is axially displaceable in the sense of
arrow C, e.g. together with motor 16, for adjustment of
the spacement N (FIG.4a) to an opposite reducer head, so
that timber trunks with varying diameters can be processed.
Alternatively, at least one of the gears 14a, 14b may be
sufficiently broad as to allow such setting motion with a
stationary motor 16. Such axial setting of a reducer head
is known.
5 ~:~L95~
.
Central part 120 has the shape o~ a low ~i.e. with
greater diameter than height3 cylindrical body which is
either on its planar ront face 121, or on its cylindri-
cal side face 122, or on both (as illustrated in FIG. 1),
provided with additional operative means, in the example
shown with additional working or machining means defined
by cutting or chipping elements (spikes~ 121a, 122a. The
peripheral and central parts rotate about a common axis
D, but generally at different speeds and/or in different
axial positions.
Shaft 13 is driven by another electric motor 15 slidably
mounted in a rectilinear guide 201, parallel with shaft
13. A double-working cylinder-piston-unit 200, fed via
pipes 202 and a command (distributor) valve 203 with
pressure fluid supplied through pipe 204 from a pressure
fluid source (not shown) is arranged to move motor 15,
shaft 13 and central part 120 in both senses of arrow B,
independently on possible displacements of shaft 12 in
the senses of arrow C. Valve 203 is by an electric line
100a connected to a dator type electronic unit 100, shown
in FIG. 2.
Alternatively, the additional operative means may be a
guiding means without any machining function, such as,
e.g. accoxding to FIG. 2, a smooth front face 121A on
centre part 120A, which part then has machining means
only on the side face 122'. Such centre part carries
thus operative means of two different kinds affecting
a piece of timber processed by the peripheral part, viz.
a machining means and a guide means.
The reducer head llB of Fig. 2 has a separate
5. centre part 120A with a side face 122' which in its outer
portion tapers outwardly and which is provided with wood
chipping and cutting elements, defined by straight edges
122a, on the cy:Lindrical as well as on the tapered portion.
Central par-t 120A may be selectively moved out, e.g. as
far as into the position 120' shown in phantom, where it
lies closer to the centre line CL of trunk 10 than inner
edge lllB. Peripheral part 110 is in the side and bottom walls of
space M provided wi-th openings 112 for discharging chips produced by
the elements 112a. Shafts 12 and 13 are driven each by its own tor
15, 16 via a belt drive 15A and 16A respectivelyr allowing independent
displacement of both shafts in bo-th senses of the arrows
B, C even if motors 15, 16 are stationarily mounted. Belt
drive 15A includes belt discs 13B, 15B and belt drive 16A
includes belt discs 12B, 16B. The front face 121A of
centre part 120A is smoo-th and defines a guide means.
Reducer head llB belongs, together wi.th an opposite
-- 6 --
~., ,~, '
7 ~ ~
reducer head of the same kind, not shown, to a timber
working or processing machine where downstream the two
heads at least two saw blades such as blade 18 are pro-
vided. Downstream each reducer head 11B and upstream
each saw blade 18 there is provided a side guide means
17 overbridging the distance between the reducer heads
and the saw blades. According to the invention, the side
guide means 17 is pivotally mounted on a vertical pi~ot
pin 17a which is anchored in part 17b rigidly connected
to the mount 12a of shaft 12. Mount 12a is displaceable
in the sense of arrow C for said setting of spacement N.
Consequently, part 12b follows this setting movement of
the peripheral part 110, carried out before processing
of any trunk 10 is begun.
Side guide means 17 can pivot in both senses of arrow B'
in order to follow centre part 120A, e.g. to the posi-
tion 17' and back. Thus guide means 17 follows on the
one hand, in conventional manner, the setting movement
of the peripheral part 110 Clinear motio~, and, in a
novel manner, also the axial displacement of the central
part 120A (pivotal motion)~ In the example shown, side
guide means 17 is defined by a planar plate having a
tapering leading edge 17C and carrying at its downstream
end a rotary roller 17D the periphery of which is sub-
stantially tangential to the face of the planar plate
which is closest to the centre line CL of the processed
trunk.
8 ~9s~s
A double-working cylinder-piston-unit 170 is pivvtally
mounted on part 17B and the projecting piston rod 171
thereof i5 pivotally attached to the side guide means
17 spacedly from pin 1ia. Unit 170 is supplied with
pressure fluid from a command (distributor) valve 173
and through flexible hoses 172. Pressure fluid is supp-
lied to valve 173 from a source (not shown) via a pipe
174.
19 Distributor valve 175 is by an electric line 100b con-
nected to a programmable, computor type electronic
unit 100 from which also a plurality of other electric
lines 100a lead to other controllable parts of the
assembly, such as to command valve 203 of FIG. 1.
Unit 170 is arranged to swing out the downstream end of
side guide means 17 and to retract it to the same degree
as shaft 13 can be moved out and withdrawn. Dator unit
100 is programmed ts send command siynals to the distri-
butor valve 173 either simultaneously with command sig-
nals to operating means for displacement of the respec-
tive reducer head's centre part (distributor valve 203),
or with a selected delay. When the centre part is being
retracted ~i.e. when it passes from position 120A' to
position 120A), the delay is selected so that piston rod
171 is retracted first when step 10' on the log 10 has
reached the upstream edge 17c of the side guide means 17 .
Step 10' was created when centre part 120A has left its
projecting position, and with known -transport speed of
9 ~ s
trunk 10 on conveyor 101 said delay may readily be ascer~
tained.
When the centre part is stepped out, e.g. into position
120A', in order to receive the na.rrow top end of a new
log, piston rod 171 is retracted only after the wide root
end of a preceding log has left the roller 17D.
In FIG. 4a is shown side guide means 270 defined by a
planar guide plate which can be displaced rectilinQarly,
i.e. parallel with itself, but otherwise in the same mode
as guide mean~ 17, i.e. either simultaneously, or with a
delay, relative to the centre part. Means 270 is rigidly
attached to the piston rod 271A of a steadily anchored
cylinder-piston-unit 271 and is supplied with a pressure
medium in the same way as shown in FIG. 2. It will be
observed that the timber processing machine comprises a
pair o~ co-axial reducer heads 11~, a pair of opposite
guide means 270 and two saw blades defined by band saw
blades 18' running over wheels 318. The centre parts
120A of the reducer heads have a smooth front face 121
which, with the exception of said possible delays, is
flush with the side guide means 270, and the cylindrical
side faces of the centre parts are provided with machining
spikes 122a. According to FIG. 4b, two pairs of side guide
means 270, 272 are provided, each activated by its own
cylinder-piston-unit5271, 273 controlled by dator comman-
ded distributor valves, as shown in FIG. 2.
~5~5
In Fig. ~b is illustrated -the situation shortly
after the centre parts 120A have been retracted to the zero
position, shown in the drawing, after having been for some
time stepped out -to a position flush with the illustrated
position of side guide means 272. When the centre parts
120A have occupied their moved out position, also guide
means 270 of the other pair were in the position now
illustrated with guide means 272. Guide means 270 have
not been re-tracted simultaneously with -the centre parts
120A, but somewhat later, viz. when the steps 10' have
reached the downstream ends of the centre parts 120A.
Guide means 272 will now shortly follow in this retractive
movement to allow steps 10' to enter between them. At
known transport speed of timber trunk 10 in the sense of
arrow _, the necessary delays can be readily calculated
and the dator unit 100 accordingly programmed. It will
be noted that trunk 10 is continuously rigidly guided side-
wise in all processing steps until i-t reaches the saw blade
section.
In the following drawings, Figs. 3 and 5 to 13
will be illustra-ted embodiments where the at least one
additional operative means is kinematically separated from
the centre portion or centre part.
In Fig. 3 is shown a por-tion of a similar process-
ing machine with saw blades 18 and side guide means 17.
Reducer head llC has, in contras-t to -the previously des-
cribed embodimen-ts, a central portion 120' which in conven-
tional manner is integral with the peripheral portion 110'
and thus supported and driven by the same first shaft means
12' and the same motor 16 (via a bel-t transmission 16A)
as the peripheral por-tion 110'. Part 17b carrying the
pivot pin 17a is in this embodiment displaced in accor-
.
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.,
52~5
?
dance with the displacements of the shaft 12' which is
also conventional and is not illustrated in detail in the
drawing. In a novel manner, however, at least one addi-
tional operative means, in the instance a pair of coun-
ter-rotating cylindrical cutters 20, is mounted in the
centre portion for rotation together therewi-th and, more-
over, about their own a~es Each cutter 20 has the shape of
a sharply cut-off drill with helical grooves 20a for
chips and is affixed to the first end of a shaft 21, de
fining said second shaft means with an axis I. Shafts 21
are mounted for rotation and for linear displacement in both
senses of arrow B in centre portion 120' and to their projec-
ting other endS are gears 22 affiXed-To shaft 12l/ which
freely passes through a sleeve or tube 219, is a larger
gear 220, meshing with both gears 22l affixed. Gears 22
and 220 define together a planetar gearing. At leastei-ther
the meshing gears 22 or the meshing gear 220 have sufficient dimension
in axial direction to allow relative displacement in the
sense of arrow B without interrupting the transfer of
-torque. In the drawing are the gears 22 shown to be
broader to this purpose. Sleeve 219 can either be mounted
stationarily, or it may define a hollow shaft of an elect-
ric motor 15' and can then rotate at different speed and/or
in reverse sense than shaft 12'.
When sleeve 219 is moun-ted stationarily, the cutters 20
; are rotated with a speed depending on the selected ratio
between the diameters of the gears 22 and 220. When sleeve
219 is driven by a separate motor, the ro-tational speed of
:
.
12 ~ ~ 95~
the cutters 20 is quite independent o the rotational
speed of the peripheral portion 110'.
Shafts 21 have end portions 21b which slightly project
beyond the gears 22 and rest on a non-rotary catch plate
23 towards which they are constantly pressed by helical
springs 21a slipped on the shats 21 between the gears
22 and an opposite face of reducer head 11C. Catch plate
23 may either be rectilinearly displaced in the sense of
arrows B'', or it may be arranged to rock about a trans-
verse axis 23A, e.g. to the position 23' shown in phantom.
In the first named case, all cutters 20 are stepped out
and withdrawn at the same time and to the same extent.
In the last named case, rocking of plate 23 induces a
reciprocating motion of the cutters 20 as they rotate
about the axis D of shaft 12'. It will be noted that
catcher plate 23 may be constantly rocked to this pur-
pose, but that it also is sufficient when plate 23 is
stationarily kept in a position not at right angles to
axis D. In practice, a shaft 21 may preferably be defined
by a cone or a shaft of a quick-grip-head, carrying gear
22. Lt will be readily understood that also a diferent
number of cutters 20 may be used.
In dependence of the selected mode of driving gear 220
(stationary, greater or smaller speed than shaft 12'),the
additional machining means provided, such as cutters 20,
process trunk 10 at a different rota-tional speed than
~,
13
peripheral portion 110' inclusi~e at considerably highex
speed.
In FIG. 5 is shown a centre part with an additional ope-
rative means having exclusively guiding function (in con-
trast e.g. to centre part of FIG. 2 with machlning and
guiding operative means3. A reducer head 1lD has a free
space M occupying practically the entire centre portion
thereof, also in axial direction. A centre part defining
a carrier means, e.g~ in the form of a massive cylindri-
cal body 19,is arranged in space M. The rear end 19a
of body 19 projects from the rear end 12' of shaft 12 in
the same way as e.g. shaft 13 does in FIG. 2, and shaft
12 is also in the same way as in FIG.2 at its rear end ~rov.ided
with.a belt disc 12B t ~ r~ edJ or possibly with
a gear 14a as in FIG. 1. The projecting reax end 19a is
non-rotarily, but displaceably in the sense of a.rrow B,
mounted in a stationary part H of the assembly or process-
ing rnachine. In the front portion 19b of carrier 19 is
a smooth, freely rotatable cylindric roller ?4 mounted
on a shaft 24A. Shaft 24A defines said second shaft
means and has an axis P which extends at right angles
as well to axis B, as to transport direction A, in other
words perpendicularly to the plane of conveyor 101, i.e.
to the drawing plane of FIGS. 1 to 4 li.f the device
would be used in connection with the assemblies illust-
rated therein)~ Roller 24 defines an additional operative
means which is a guide means with superior performance
than a simple smooth front face 121.
S
At the inner edge 111B of peripheral part 110 is a sub-
s-tantially planar, annular zone 11OA arranged in which
machining elements 113 are mounted which may be of the same
type as the eiements provided on the peripheral pa-rt
110 , or of a different type. Means 113 are no-t additio-
nal operative means, as herebefore defined, because
they are no-t independent of the peripheral part. Openings
113A are provided fort the discharge of chips.
In FIG. 6 is shown an al-ternative emhodiment of the
front portion l9b' of a carrier 19. All the remaining
parts are substantially the same as in FIG. 5 and are
not repeated for simplicity. The same applies also to
subsequent FIG. 7.
The embodiment of FIG. 6 differs from the embodimen-t
of FTG. 5 principally in two aspects. Smooth guiding
roller 24 has been replaced by a machining roller 24b, and thus is
driven by a motor, not shown, via a belt 124 and a belt
disc 124a affixed to a shaft 24A', defining said second shaft
means, and to which also roller 24b is firmly affixed.
Shaft 24A' is ro-tarily mounted in front portion 19b'~
The surface of roller 24b may have selected quality,
such as being an abbrasive, or a cu-t-ter, e.g. analogous
to cutter 20 of I~'IG. 3, as illustrated, etc.
An embodiment defining a more complex machining device,
rotarily mounted in front por-tion 19b" of carrier 19,
is illustrated in FIG. 7. Shaf-t 24~', belt disc 124a
,,
1 5 ~L~L95~l5
non-rotarily mounted on shaft 24A', and driving belt 124
are the same as in FIG. 6. Two disc-shaped milling cut-
ters 25A, 25B with cut~iny side faces 25AI, 25B' are
s~acedly mounted on shaft 24A' and a circular saw blade
5 ~ 2~ is mounted on shaft 24A' between the cutters. A trunk
10, transported on conveyor 101,has planar side faces
10A machined by the peripheral part o the respective
reducer head 11D. Into these side faces are now notches
or cuts made in dependence on the character of the addi-
tional machining means mounted on shaft 24A'. So cane.g. wane~ ~dull edges) on a future plank (separated
from the trunk by saw blades 18 or 18', FIG. 1-4) be
removed immediately in the reducer part of the process-
ing machine, as in the case of the illustrated example.
With the interrupted double line 18" is shown the kerf
which in log 10 will be made by saw blade 18 or 18' when
the cross-section of the log illustrated in FIG. 7
reaches the saw blade. Thanks to the preparatory work
done by the cutters 25A, 25B and also by the saw blade
~9
~, two fully machined tirnber pieces 1Ob and 10c will
then automatically be obtained. The cross-sectional di-
mensions of these pieces can be selected by appropriate
dimensioning of the means 25A, 25B and 26 and their
~ q
setting on shaft 24A'. Saw blade.~ has a somewhat
smaller diameter than -the cutters 25A, 25B in order that
no trace be left at 18"a; the difference may amount
e.g. to half the width of kerf 18'l.
It will be understood that in the embodiments of FIGS.
16
6 and 7 the belt drive 12~, 124a also can be replaced by
a driving shaft parallel with axis D and a bevel gear
drive. While it is not necessary for carrier 19 in the
embodiment of FIG. 6 to be mounted non-rotarily, non-ro-
tary mounting is mandatory in the embodiment of FIG. 7.
Carrier 19 may, however, in the embodiment of FIG. 7
preferably ~e smaller in the direction of shaft 24A'
than what the diameter of the space M (FIG. 5) is,
thereby allowing a setting Irelative to the plane of con-
veyor 101~ also in the sense of arrow V, additionally tothe setting in the sense of arrow B.
In FIGS. 8 and 9 is illustrated a reducer head 11D simi-
lar to that of FIG. 5, in the central space M of which
a centre part defined by a cylindrical carrier 120B,
similar to carrier 19 of FIG. 5, but hollow, is accomo-
dated. Carrier 120B has a frcnt face 120B' and the
arrangement of the rear portion of the assembly is the
same as shown in FIG. 5 or FIG. 13.
An additional machining means 26, e.g. a cutter of the
same sort as cutters 20 cf FIG. 3, has a shaft 13 de-
e~c e ~
fining said second shaft means, ancLwhich is~l~unted in an
opening in the front face 120B'. Cutter 26 is driven by
a motor of its own (not shown). Carrier 120 is/likewise
' as carrier 19, not driven in rotation, but it can be ro-
Il
tated in the senses of arrow G in its mount ~ (FIGS. 5
and 13) for setting purposes. For this setting~carrier
120B can be provided with a gear similar to gear 14a,
~'
17 3 ~L 952~5
and meshing with a hand operated gear similar to gear
14b, or with a hand operated gear rack. By such setting,
the posltion of means 26 rel~tive to the trunk 10 is ad-
justed, more precisely the vertical distance h between
the axes D of the reducer head and I of the additional
means is set. Head 1lD rotates in the sense of arrow E
and means 26 rotates in the sense of arrow F. Means 26
can be, together with its shaft 13, displaced ~n the
senses of arrow B relative to the carrier or centre
part 120B, which in its turn is not axially displaceable
rela-tive to the peripheral part 110" of head 11D. Side
guide means 270' is mounted in the same way as part 17b
in FIG. 2, i.e. for rectilinear common displacement with
the peripheral part 110, because a portion 1OA' of the
planar side face 1OA of trunk 10, produced by the peri-
pheral part 110, always remains unaffected by the addi-
tional working means 26. There is therefore no need for
guide 270' to follow cutter 26 in the projecting posi-
tion.
In the embodiment of FIGS. 10 and 11 there are two cut-
ters 26A, 26B provided, similarily to FIG. 3, and they
are adjustable in their position by a rotational setting
movement of centre part 120C tangle ~). Centre part 120C
with front face 120C' differs from centre parts 19 and
120B by not being a cylindrical body, but a circular
plate supported by a rod 123, rotarily mounted (for set-
ting purposes) in mount K. Cutters 26A, 26B are driven
by a motor other than by which shaft 12 is driven, possibly
18
with the aid of a planetary gear as shown in FI~. 3. The
axis or axes I in the embodiments of FIGS~ 3, 8 and 10
orbit round the axis D of the peripheral part or por-
tion.
s
Accoxding to FIGS. 12 and 13, the additional working
means is defined by a cleaving circular saw blade 27
mounted on shaft t3 which in its turn is rotarily mounted
in the separate centre part 12OB, in the same way as
shown in FIG. 9. The rear end 120B" of carrier or centre
part 120B, projecting from the rear end 12' of tubular
shaft 12, is rotarily mounted in a mount ~for setting
purposes. The rear end 13' of shaft 13 pro~ects from the
rear end 120B" of centre part 120B and is provided with
a drive means such as e.g. a belt disc 13B, driven via
a belt 15A by a motor other than by which shaft 12 is
driven~
By adjusting setting angle ~, a convenient distance 1
of the axis I of the saw blade 27 downstream from the
axis E of the reducer head 11D is adjusted in this em-
-
bodiment, because a cleaving operation shall not take
place too much forwards.The concurrently occuring change
of the vertical distance _ (FIG. 8) between the two said
axes is rather lrrelevant with a saw blade.
., .
