Patent Application
20140238547
Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to the technical field of shape sawing logs and, in particular, to systems with a laterally and rotationally moveable saw box containing dual vertical arbor saws.
When a log, cant, or similar lumber piece (collectively referred to as a log) is sawed, the logs may be of varying shapes and sizes. For example, a log may be curved. Alternatively, different logs may have different sizes. However, it is desirable to maximize the number of usable pieces of lumber that can be produced by sawing the log. To do so, it may be desirable to remove lumber slabs or boards from the log by sawing along the curvature of the log to provide boards having parallel and curved faces that follow the log curve. Doing so maximizes the boards that can be cut from the log. These boards may be subsequently straightened. This process is referred to as shape sawing.
Existing devices for shape sawing may have problems in certain situations. For example, if a log is too large, then a single arbor saw blade may not be sufficient to cut the log and a dual vertical arbor saw may be required. However, a smaller log may then be introduced to the shape sawing system and the dual vertical arbor saw may be wasteful or otherwise undesirable. Alternatively, the logs may not be oriented such that they can be appropriately sawed.
Embodiments will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. To facilitate this description, like reference numerals designate like structural elements. Embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings.
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout, and in which is shown by way of illustration embodiments that may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of embodiments is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
Various operations may be described as multiple discrete actions or operations in turn, in a manner that is most helpful in understanding the claimed subject matter. However, the order of description should not be construed as to imply that these operations are necessarily order dependent. In particular, these operations may not be performed in the order of presentation. Operations described may be performed in a different order than the described embodiment. Various additional operations may be performed and/or described operations may be omitted in additional embodiments.
For the purposes of the present disclosure, the phrase “A and/or B” means (A), (B), or (A and B). For the purposes of the present disclosure, the phrase “A, B, and/or C” means (A), (B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (B and C), or (A, B and C).
The description may use the phrases “in an embodiment,” or “in embodiments,” which may each refer to one or more of the same or different embodiments. Furthermore, the terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and the like, as used with respect to embodiments of the present disclosure, are synonymous.
Embodiments described herein are directed to a dual vertical arbor saw and infeed. The dual vertical arbor saw may have a saw box that is pivotable around, and laterally repositionable along, a generally horizontal axis of rotation. Thus, the saw box (and saws within) can be moved laterally while pivoting to follow the sweep of a log or cant feeding into the saws. The infeed may include one or more chipper units with positioning rolls. The positioning rolls may be coupled to a pair of levers that are joined at a common pivot point. The levers can be actuated to move the positioning rolls synchronously toward and away from a longitudinal center for accurate positioning of logs or cants feeding in to the saw.
The arbors 120a, 120b and the gang saws 125a, 125b, may be both horizontally and longitudinally offset from one another as shown in
It will be understood that in other embodiments the arbors may not be offset from one another in one or both of the horizontal and longitudinal directions. In other embodiments, arbor 120a may be closer to the front side 105 of the saw box 100 than arbor 120b. Additionally, arbors 120a, 120b may each be rotated by a plurality of drives, or a single drive. In some embodiments, the arbors may spin in directions opposite to one another, and in other embodiments the arbors may spin in directions identical to one another. In certain embodiments, the gang saws 125a, 125b may have the same or different diameters. In some embodiments, the diameter of the gang saws 125a, 125b may be large enough to cut logs with a diameter between 6″ and 8″. In other embodiments the gang saws 125a, 125b may have larger or smaller diameters.
In some embodiments, the top side 115 of the saw box 100 may be at least partially removable such that the interior of the saw box 100 is accessible without having to remove the saw box partially or completely from a sawing system For example, the top side 115 of the saw box 100 may have hinges, clasps, or some other form of fastening that allow the top side 115 to be removed from the saw box 100. A removable top side 115 may be desirable because it may make it easier for an individual to access or repair the interior of the saw box 100, or elements such as the arbors 120a, 120b, the gang saws 125a, 125b, or the guides 130, 130b.
The log may then pass from the chipping units 215a-c to the saw box 100. As described with respect to
After passing through the saw box 100, the leading end of the sawn log may enter an outfeed unit 230. The outfeed unit 230 and the saw box 100 may be coupled to a saw box rotate assembly 235 which is configured to rotate the saw box 100 around the horizontal axis.
The log may pass through the chipper unit 305 into the saw box 100. The log then passes from the saw box 100 to an outfeed unit 230.
It will be understood that although different infeed units, for example infeed unit 405 and infeed unit 205, or different outfeed units such as outfeed unit 230 or outfeed unit 410 are described with respect to specific systems 200, 300, 400, different embodiments may have different combinations of these units. For example, an alternative system may include outfeed unit 410 coupled with infeed unit 405 and one or more of chipper units 215a-c, or chipper unit 305. One skilled in the art will recognize the different combinations possible with the different described units in
The system 500 may comprise an outfeed unit 230 and a saw box 100. The saw box 100 may comprise a back side 110 coupled with a plurality of bases 505a, 505b with a hinge 510 placed therebetween. The hinge 510 may be configured to couple with a carriage 515 of a saw box rotate assembly 235. Saw box rotate assembly 235 may include an actuator (e.g., a linear positioner). The carriage 515 of the saw box rotate assembly 235 may be coupled to the actuator. In the illustrated embodiment, the carriage 515 is coupled to an end of a rod 520 of an actuator which is configured to extend or contract rod 520 with respect to a base 525 of the saw box rotate assembly 235. The saw box rotate assembly 235 may be rotatably coupled with the outfeed unit 230 via one or more hinges 530. The pivot assembly 225 may comprise an actuator 535 coupled with a cylinder mount 540. The cylinder mount 540 may then be coupled with the saw box 100. Further details of the pivot assembly 225 are discussed below with respect to
As shown in
It will be recognized that a different configuration of the hinge 510 and bases 505a, 505b is possible such that the hinge 510 is connected to the saw box 100 by only a single base, or more than 2 bases. Additionally, the saw box 100 may be connected to a plurality of saw box rotate assemblies configured to rotate the saw box 100.
The pivot assembly 225 may further comprise a pivot pin 715 which extends through the frame 700 of the saw box 100 and is coupled with the rod 710 of the actuator 535 inside of the cylinder mount 540. The pivot pin 715 may also be coupled with an internal support such as a portion of the frame 720 of an outfeed unit such as outfeed units 230 or 410 via a second bushing 723.
In some embodiments, the actuator 535 may create a force on the rod 710 which is coupled with the pivot pin 715. Because the pivot pin 715 may be coupled with the frame 720 of an outfeed unit, the force may cause the saw box 100 to move horizontally with respect to the outfeed unit. For example, if the actuator 535 extends the rod 710, the force of the rod 710 may cause the actuator to move further from the frame 720. Because the actuator may be coupled with, and inseparable from, the frame 700 of the saw box 100, the frame 700 may slide laterally along pivot pins 715 and 730 and move to the right as viewed in
It will be recognized that in other embodiments, an actuator may also be coupled with the pivot end 320. Some embodiments may have multiple actuators. Additionally, the actuator may be coupled elsewhere on the frame 700 of the saw box 100, and still operable to create a force on pivot pin 715.
The levers 810a, 810b may be coupled with one another via a pivot 825 defining a pivot axis. The levers 810a, 810b may also be coupled with one another via an actuator 830. In the depicted embodiment, when the actuator 830 expands, the levers 810a, 810b may pivot around the pivot axis 825. When the levers 810a, 810b pivot around the pivot axis 825, the carriages 815a-d may slide along the guiderails 820a, 820b and result in rollers 805a, 805b moving closer to one another. Similarly, when the actuator 830 contracts, the levers 810a, 810b may pivot around the pivot axis 825 in such a manner that the carriages 815a-d move horizontally along the guiderails 820a, 820b and the rollers move vertically further from one another.
It will be appreciated that in other embodiments, the placement of the actuator 830, the pivot 825 and the rollers 805a, 805b may be altered with respect to the lever 810a, 810b. For example, the levers 810a, 810b may cross one another at the pivot axis 825. Alternatively, the pivot axis 825 may be located at a top portion of the levers 810a, 810b, and the actuator 830 may be located in a middle portion of the levers 810a, 810b. Other embodiments may have different mechanical structures, as will be recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art. It will also be recognized that the actuator 830 may be hydraulic, electric, mechanical, or some other form of actuator as will be recognized in the art.
The rollers 805a, 805b may be passive, or they may be powered. If they are powered, they may be coupled with one or more drives 835a, 835b via one or more universal joints 840a-d. In the depicted embodiment, roller 805a is coupled with drive 835a by a shaft member with two universal joints 840a, 840b. Additionally, roller 805b is coupled with drive 835b via another shaft member with universal joints 840c, 840d. In other embodiments, other types of movable joints known in the art may be used instead of universal joints. The universal joints 840a-d may be desirable because they may allow the rollers 805a, 805b to move with the carriages along the guiderails 820a, 820b without becoming decoupled from drives 835a, 835b or altering the vertical orientation of the rollers 805a, 805b.
One of skill in the art will recognize that the described embodiments offer several advantages. For example, the use of one or more vertical roller and drive assemblies 800 in one or more infeed units 215a-c may allow an operator of a sawing system 200 to precisely center and orient a log being sawed, even if the log has a different thickness than the log before it. Additionally, the use of a saw box 100 that is able to move both laterally and rotationally may allow for the precise sawing of logs of different widths or orientations without having to spend large amounts of down time on re-positioning the elements of the sawing apparatus 200. In addition, the ability to move the saw box 100 laterally means that if the saws need to be moved laterally, the saw box 100 can move to accommodate the log rather than having to move an infeed of a sawing system. These benefits will offer savings in terms of time and operator effort.
Although certain embodiments have been illustrated and described herein for purposes of description, this application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the embodiments discussed herein. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that embodiments described herein be limited only by the claims.
Where the disclosure recites “a” or “a first” element or the equivalent thereof, such disclosure includes one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements. Further, ordinal indicators (e.g., first, second or third) for identified elements are used to distinguish between the elements, and do not indicate or imply a required or limited number of such elements, nor do they indicate a particular position or order of such elements unless otherwise specifically stated.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61768302 | Feb 2013 | US |
