Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6776202
-
Patent Number
6,776,202
-
Date Filed
Monday, September 16, 200222 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, August 17, 200420 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Ostrager; Allen
- Self; Shelley
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 144 2081
- 144 2084
- 144 2085
- 144 2086
- 144 341
- 144 25025
- 047 101
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A log-peeling machine for removing bark from logs to simulate hand peeled logs. A log is held in position on a pair of movable log support frames, each having multiple adjustable log support and drive roller assemblies. An independent high-speed cutting head is movable along the length of the log removing bark in longitudinal strips by adjustably following the log surface which is raised and lowered and rotated for engagement with the cutting head.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
This device relates to bark removing machines that are used to process logs for use in the log structures. The bark must be removed before the logs can be used in the log building industry. Historically, bark was removed by hand by use of a drawknife or by a broad axe when the log was hand honed into support beans and the like.
2. Description of Prior Art
Prior art machines for rapidly removing bark can be found in sawmills, for example, in which large automated debarkers are used to grind and strip the bark from logs prior to milling. Such devices as drum debarkers use a rotating drum with a plurality of internal bark engagement ribs. As the log passes through the drum, they strike the ribs and other logs removing the bark. Other log debarking devices can be seen, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,987,825, 4,036,270, 4,249,585, 4,425,952 and 4,875,511.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,987,825 a tree bark removing apparatus is disclosed having two rows of oppositely disposed angularly aligned log transportation wheels and a fixed overhead cutting head. The logs are advanced longitudinally and engaged by the rotating tool removing the bark.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,036,270 disclosed a log peeling machine having a rotary peeling drum assembly with in feed and out feed conveyors that engage both the top and bottom surface of the logs directing it for engagement with the rotating bark removing drum.
A log debarking apparatus is claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,249,585 in which a log is rotated in a fixed longitudinal position while a debarking tool is moved along the log in a spiral path.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,425,952 a log feeding apparatus is shown having a pair of support arms with three log feed assemblies positioned thereon. Each assembly has a rotating drum with a plurality of log engaging spikes on its outer surface.
A bark removing apparatus is shown in U.S. Pat. 4,875,511 in which multiple pairs of concave rollers engage oppositely disposed surfaces of the log, removing the bark therefrom.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A log peeling device which selectively engages a log, removing longitudinal strips of bark. It is advantageous to remove bark in this fashion on logs to be used in log home construction giving the logs a hand peeled look which heretofore was only possible by labor intensive hand debarking. Logs are held in fixed longitudinal position on a vertically adjustable support table and engaged along their longitudinal axis by a movable overhead cutting head. A log chuck selectively rotates the log, repositioning it for the cutting head which has a plurality of blades on a central arbor that engage the presented log surface removing the bark as it is passed over the surface of the log.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a partial side elevational view of the log peeling apparatus of the invention;
FIG. 2
is a partial top plan view of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 3
is a partial side elevational view of the log peeling apparatus of the invention;
FIG. 4
is a partial top plan view of
FIG. 3
;
FIG. 5
is an end elevational view of a log engagement roller assembly with a non-powered version shown in solid lines and a power assembly for driving the rollers shown in broken lines and adjustability of the rollers;
FIG. 6
is an enlarged side elevational view of the drive assembly of the log engagement rollers as seen in
FIG. 5
of the drawings;
FIG. 7
is an end elevational view of a log support portion of the invention showing a log, in broken lines, thereon, ready for processing:
FIG. 8
is an end elevational view of the log-supporting portion of the invention showing the log, in broken lines, positioned on the lift table support beams in load and unload position;
FIG. 9
is an enlarged partial front elevational view of a log engagement chuck;
FIG. 10
is an enlarged partial side elevational view of the log engagement chuck with portions broken away;
FIG. 11
is a top plan view of a cutting head assembly of the device with portions of the cutting head shown in broken lines;
FIG. 12
is a partial side elevational view of the cutting head assembly illustrating the cutting blade and associated interconnected drive elements;
FIG. 13
is an enlarged partial front elevational view with portions broken away of the cutting head adjustment support structure;
FIG. 14
is an enlarged side elevational view of an indexing pin and handle assembly for repositioning the cutting head in relation to the log;
FIG. 15
is an enlarged front elevational view with portions broken away and in section of an angular adjustment assembly for the cutting head support structure;
FIG. 16
is an enlarged top plan view of a cutting blade;
FIG. 17
is an enlarged partial cross-sectional side elevational view of the blade mounting assembly of the cutting head;
FIG. 18
is a side partial elevational view of the cutting head and support mechanism;
FIG. 19
is a partial front elevational view of the cutting head and head support assembly positioned above a log;
FIG. 20
is an enlarged partial side elevational view of the log chuck assembly and associated interconnected drive and support elements;
FIG.
21
.is an end elevational view of the chuck drive assembly illustrated in
FIG. 20
;
FIG. 22
is a graphic representation of the adjustable angles achieved by the cutting head assembly for engagement with the log in both solid and broken lines;
FIG. 23
is an enlarged partial cross-section of a shot pin support assembly;
FIG. 24
is a partial front elevational view of a material support post and associated shot pin assembly with a log support beam engaged thereon;
FIG. 25
is a side elevational view of the support post illustrated in
FIG. 24
;
FIG. 26
is a graphic top plane representation of the log support lift tables with an irregular log positioned thereon; and
FIG. 27
is a graphic side elevational representation of the log lift tables showing an irregular log representation thereon in solid and broken lines.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to
FIGS. 1-5
of the drawings, a log peeling apparatus
10
can be seen having a rectangular main base support frame
11
. A pair of elongated longitudinally aligned lift tables
12
and
13
are positioned within the main base support frame
11
. Each of the lift tables
12
and
13
is generally rectangular having oppositely disposed parallel side frames
14
and
15
and interconnecting oppositely disposed end frames
16
and
17
. An operator support walkway
18
extends along the length of the main base support frame
11
outwardly from an interconnecting the respective lift tables
12
and
13
as best seen in
FIGS. 2 and 4
of the drawings.
Each of the lift tables
12
and
13
has a pair of oppositely disposed powered scissor lift assemblies
19
and
20
engageable thereunder inwardly of the table's respective end frames
16
and
17
. The scissor lifts
19
and
20
have a base
21
and an upper engagement frame
22
interconnected by pairs of cross-pivoted support arms
23
and
24
. A pair of hydraulic piston and cylinder assemblies
25
and
26
are engaged on a cross beam
27
for vertical activation of the upper engagement support frame
22
best seen in
FIG. 7
of the drawings.
The lift tables
12
and
13
each have a plurality of longitudinally spaced material engagement beams
27
extending transversely thereacross as seen in
FIGS. 1-3
of the drawings. Each of the material engagement beams
27
is held in removable position across the upper surface
28
of the respective side frames
14
and
15
by a spaced upstanding guide frame
29
secured to the side frames
14
and
15
as best seen in
FIG. 7
of the drawings. Each of the material engagement beams
27
has a corresponding pair of oppositely disposed beam engagement guide posts
30
having a slotted upper position
31
for registering alignment with the ends of the corresponding material engagement beams
27
when the respective lift tables
12
and
13
are in lowered position.
Each of the guide posts
30
have a shot pin assembly
32
, best seen in
FIGS. 23-25
of the drawings in which a pneumatic cylinder
33
is enclosed within a cylinder guard
34
attached to a pin housing
35
. A shot pin
36
has a beam registration area at
37
of reduced diameter and is secured to an activation rod
38
of the cylinder
33
. The slotted upper portion
31
of the guide post
30
has aligned apertures A within and a tubular shot pin receiving extension
39
A for registration of the shot pin
36
when extended during activation as indicated by the arrow PA and in
FIG. 24
of the drawings. With the shot pin
36
extended within the guide post
30
, the material engagement beams
27
are held thereon as the respective lift tables
12
and
13
are lowered, as illustrated in
FIG. 8
of the drawings. Additionally, it will be evident that with the shot pin
36
retracted, the material engagement beams
27
will remain on the respective lift tables
12
and
13
to a lower guide engagement position illustrated in
FIG. 7
of the drawings.
Pairs of work piece support roller assemblies are adjustably positioned within the respective lift tables
12
and
13
. A first roller assembly pair
39
is positioned adjacent one end of the respective lift tables
12
and
13
and have a fixed roller
40
and a three-position adjustable roller
41
. The fixed roller
40
is rotatably mounted on a pair of upstanding mounting brackets
42
, as best seen in
FIG. 5
of the drawings. The adjustable roller
41
has a pivoted pair of mounting brackets
43
selectively secured between apertured support plates
44
by repositioning engagement pin
45
.
It will be evident from the above description that by removing the engagement pin
45
and repositioning the apertured mounting brackets
43
and re-engagement of the pin
45
that the roller
41
can be adjustably positioned as illustrated in broken lines in
FIG. 5
of the drawings.
The respective roller assembly
39
on each of the lift tables is power driven by respective drive sprocket and drive chain assembly
46
interconnecting both rollers
40
and
41
to a gear reduction box
47
and drive motor
48
via a coupling
49
as seen in
FIG. 6
of the drawings.
The respective powered roller assemblies
39
are repositionable adjacent the respective end frames
16
and
17
of the lift tables in accordance with use requirements which will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter. A second roller assembly pair
50
has fixed and adjustable roller supports corresponding to the first roller assembly, but is not power driven as hereinbefore described. The roller assemblies
50
are repositionable respectively anywhere along the respective lift tables longitudinal length
12
and
13
to be configured to a given log length, as noted above.
Referring now to
FIGS. 3
,
4
,
9
,
10
,
20
and
21
of the drawings, a log engagement and rotating chuck assembly
51
can be seen positioned at one end of the main support base frame
11
.
The log engagement chuck assembly
51
has an annular material engagement plate
53
positioned within and supported by a pair of annular frame bands
54
and
54
B. Multiple power engagement jaw assemblies
56
are secured about the first frame band
54
. Each of the power jaw assemblies
56
has a pivoted contour material arm
57
with an engagement jaw end
57
A within an interconnected activation piston and cylinder assembly
58
which extends from the secondary support frame assembly
54
B.
In operation, the lift tables
12
and
13
are lowered to their lowest position wherein the multiple material engagement beams
27
are held within the corresponding beam engagement guide post pairs on the extended shot pins
36
as hereinbefore described as seen in
FIG. 8
of the drawings. A log L to be processed is positioned on the respective material handling beams
27
and up against the engagement plate
53
of the log engagement chuck assembly
51
. Upon activation of the respective piston and cylinder assemblies
58
, the material engagement jaw assemblies
56
are pivotally advanced for engagement by the jaw end
57
A with the log L as best seen in
FIG. 11
of the drawings.
A drive shaft
52
extends from the log chuck assembly
51
having universal couplings
52
A and
52
B to a rotary union
59
on the end of a power support shaft assembly
60
. A drive motor
61
and interlinking drive chain
62
selectively rotates the chuck assembly
51
and engaged log L thereon.
Referring now specifically to
FIGS. 3
, and
20
of the drawings, an adjustable chuck head support stand
63
can be seen wherein pairs of support rollers
64
and
65
are positioned on a sliding alignment frame
66
. A powered scissor lift frame assembly
67
extends from the main base support frame
11
having a roller assembly
68
engageable by the alignment frame
66
which can be raised and lowered thereby as best seen in
FIG. 20
of the drawings. The respective support roller pairs
64
and
65
are of unequal vertical height to registerably engage the respective annular frame support bands
54
A and
54
B which are of dissimilar dimensions.
In operation, the log chuck assembly
51
is engaged and supported for vertical adjustment by the support stand
63
so as to be positioned with the log L to be processed which can vary in its end position on the respective lift table
13
when in raised log receiving and removing position as hereinbefore described. Once the log L has been engaged by the chuck assembly
51
, the support stand assembly
63
is lowered freeing the chuck
51
for operation. Correspondingly, the lift tables
12
and
13
are raised so that the log L is engaged by the hereinbefore-described drive and idle roller assemblies
39
and
50
respectively.
An overhead frame assembly
69
, best seen in
FIGS. 1 and 3
of the drawings is formed from a pair of metal trusses
69
A and
69
B extending between and supported by upstanding end post and beam frames
70
and
71
that extend from respective ends of the main support base frame
11
.
The trusses
69
A and
69
B are interconnected in spaced parallel relation to one another by multiple bracing bars
72
. A pair of overhead guide support channels
73
are suspended from respective bottom cords
74
of the trusses
69
, best seen in
FIGS. 19 and 20
of the drawings.
Referring now to
FIGS. 11 and 12
of the drawings, a cutter head assembly
75
can be seen having a main housing
76
shown in broken lines with a rotary blade assembly
77
within. The blade assembly
77
has a contoured circular blade support arbor
78
with an upstanding annular perimeter edge flange
79
thereon. A central support frame
80
extends from the support arbor
78
and is secured to a drive shaft
81
having multiple support bearings and drive pulleys
82
and is supported by an interior housing frame element
83
, as best seen in
FIG. 12
of the drawings.
The blade arbor
78
has pairs of oppositely disposed annularly spaced blade engagement slots S therein. A blade mounting assembly
84
has an elongated angularly inclined base mounting plate
85
and is secured by welding W to the support arbor
78
within the respective blade opening slots S as best seen in
FIG. 17
of the drawings. A rectangular cutting blade
86
can be seen having a chiseled cutting edge
87
and a pair of mounting slots
88
extending inwardly from an edge
89
opposite said cutting edge
87
. The cutting blade
86
is aligned on the base plate
85
with a corresponding apertured base retaining clamp plate
90
positioned thereover through which is engaged by a pair of respective threaded fasteners F which are correspondingly registerably secured within a pair of aligned longitudinally spaced threaded apertures
91
within the base plate
85
.
It will be seen that the multiple cutting edges
87
of the corresponding blades
86
will extend from the respective slots S for selective engagement with the log L during use.
The blade arbor
78
is driven by a motor
92
mounted within the cutting head housing
76
by corresponding interengaging drive belt
93
as will be well understood by those skilled in the art.
The main housing
76
has a contoured front portion
94
with a central elongated upstanding enclosure
95
thereon covering the hereinbefore-described blade drive mechanism.
Referring now to
FIGS. 18 and 19
of the drawings, the cutting head assembly
75
is movably positioned along the support channels
73
by an adjustable support assembly
96
having a U-shaped suspension bracket
97
extending from the cutting head assembly
75
being pivotally secured thereto by pivot bearings
98
positioned on either side of the housing
76
, as best seen in
FIGS. 19 and 20
of the drawings. An adjustable mounting frame
99
extends from and is secured to the suspension bracket
97
providing multiple repositioning of the cutting head
75
as will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter.
The adjustable mounting frame
99
has a transverse oriented slide assembly
100
with a pair of oppositely disposed guide tracks
101
with wheeled slide carriages
102
registerable within that allows for the transverse movement of the cutting head assembly
75
as indicated by the arrow in
FIG. 18
of the drawings. The guide tracks
101
are in turn suspended from secondary wheeled carriages
103
A within the respective overhead support channels
73
.
The U-shaped suspension bracket
97
has a longitudinal angular adjustment feature defined by a pair of oppositely disposed angular height adjustment assemblies
103
. Each of the adjustment assemblies
103
as seen in
FIG. 15
of the drawings has an internally threaded rod
104
that is registerable within a traveling mounting block
105
fixed within a tubular extension
106
telescopically extensible from within the main suspension bracket support portions
106
A. The threaded rod
104
is rotated by a manual adjustment wheel
107
with an associated locking pin
108
which when advanced prevents the rod
104
from rotating. The angular height adjustment assemblies
103
are independently adjustable and thus impart up to a five degree horizontal angular inclination to the cutting head assembly
75
in relation to the adjustable mounting frame
99
as indicated by arrows in
FIG. 19
of the drawings.
Referring now to
FIGS. 13
,
15
and
19
of the drawings, the cutting head
75
is pivoted on an arcuate axis indicated by arrow PA by support frame extensions
109
that are pivotally positioned on a pair of bearing block assemblies
110
within the slide assembly. This will allow for arcuate readjustment of the cutting head U-shaped suspension bracket
97
so as to help conform to the log engagement inclinations when necessary as illustrated in
FIG. 22
of the drawings.
The cutting head housing
76
accordingly is spring biased by a pair of springs
111
,
111
A and
111
B from the adjustable support assembly
96
as best seen in
FIG. 19
of the drawings.
It will be evident from the above description that the cutting head assembly
75
can be moved in multiple horizontal, longitudinal and arcuate planes along the overhead head support trusses as well as transversely for and aft as indicated by the directional arrows as noted in
FIGS. 18 and 19
of the drawings.
Referring now to
FIGS. 13
,
14
, and
19
of the drawings, an indexing locking pin assembly
113
is shown utilized to incrementally position and lock the cutting head assembly
75
in its transverse movement across the support head surface frame as noted above. The locking pin assembly
113
has a U-shaped mounting bracket
114
with a spring urged pin
115
which is arranged for registration within a multiply apertured indexing bracket
116
thereabove. A handle assembly
117
is used both to unlock the pin
115
and move the head assembly along the hereinbefore-described guide tracks
101
and then lock the cutting head assembly in its new position indicated by the actuation arrows in
FIG. 19
of the drawings.
In operation, as noted above, the log L is positioned onto the elevated material support beams
27
as seen in
FIG. 8
of the drawings. Multiple extensible safety stakes
118
have been telescopically extended from tubular stakeholders
119
adjacent some of said respective guideposts
30
.
The end of the log L is then engaged against the chuck assembly
51
and held by the multiple power jaws
56
extending there from. The lift tables
12
and
13
are raised to engage the log L with respective roller assemblies
39
and
50
, and the chuck support stand
63
is lowered and the multiple material cross beams
27
are held in their respective beam fittings
29
. The shot pins
36
are retracted from the guideposts
30
as seen in broken lines in
FIG. 7
of the drawings. This allows the lift tables to be selectively raised and lowered to maintain log engagement with the cutting head
75
which is in turn adjustable in multiple horizontal and angular defined planes as set forth hereinbefore.
Referring now to
FIGS. 19 and 22
of the drawings, the cutting head
75
can be seen to be engaging the log L with multiple cutting blades spinning at high speed while being moved longitudinally along the overhead support channels
73
. The cutting head
75
can be repositioned in multiple vertical and horizontal planes as hereinbefore described so as to follow the varying contours of the log L removing longitudinal strips of bark indicated at
120
in
FIG. 19
of the drawings. As noted, the log L can be raised and lowered by the lift tables
12
and
13
to maintain contact with the cutting head
75
and be incrementally rotated by the activation of the chuck assembly
51
or power rollers
39
to reposition a new section of the log L to be stripped by the cutting head
75
.
The operator, not shown, can control both the position of the log L vertically and rotatably and the cutting head
75
from multiple controls
121
and
122
positioned on the cutting blade housing and on oppositely disposed extending handles
123
that extend outwardly from the housing
76
on support arms
124
, a safety screen
124
A and flexible flap
125
extend between the support arms
124
.
The log-peeling machine
10
can accommodate a variety of log sizes, both in diameter and length. The log engagement rollers
29
and
50
, as described, can be adjusted in both longitudinal spaced relation to one another within each assembly to accommodate larger or smaller diameter logs as illustrated generally in solid and broken lines in
FIG. 5
of the drawings.
The length of the log L and longitudinal bow LB, if any, can be generally accommodated by the relative positioning of the roller assemblies
29
and
50
on the respective lift tables
12
and
13
and their associated orientation therewith as graphically illustrated in
FIGS. 26 and 27
of the drawings.
In
FIG. 26
of the drawings, a top graphic illustration is shown in which the two lift tables
12
and
13
have a log L positioned thereon with a longitudinal bow LB along its length. This illustrates the nature of repositioning the respective roller assemblies and the fact that the machine will accommodate for a variety of angularly disposed log lengths within.
FIG. 27
illustrates a graphic side elevational view showing how the log can be rotated on its longitudinal axis even when having a certain degree of longitudinal bend LB therein as shown in both solid and broken lines.
Given that the log L can be rotated by the chuck assembly
51
and also by the power rollers
50
it will be advisable in some situations to unchuck the log L after the majority of bark has been removed and simply rotate the log L by the associated power rollers
50
and the finish the bark removal to the end of the logs.
Since there are two lift tables
12
and
13
and associated powered and non-powered roller assemblies
29
and
50
respectively associated with each table a second cutting head and chuck assembly, (not shown), may be added so that two independent log peeling operations can be undertaken simultaneously within the confines of the length of the tables relative to the length of the logs as will be evident to those skilled in the art.
A main control and power source panel (not shown) is positioned within the main base support frame adjacent in this example to the primary chuck assembly
51
. Power lines PL extend outwardly therefrom to the movable cutting head assembly
75
on a plurality of side guided clips
125
that extend from one of the guide channels as hereinbefore described.
It will be evident from the above description that by the nature of the orientation of the scissor lifts
18
and
19
at the respective end of each of the lift tables
12
and
13
that the tables can be lifted in tandem together at the same rate independently or alternately from end to end within a given range so that an angular inclination of each lift table can be imparted.
In the loading and unloading of a log for processing on the log peeling device
10
of the invention, multiple pairs of safety stakes, as noted, are used initially on one side of the respective lift tables
12
and
13
as the log L is loaded thereon and repositioned for engagement with the log chuck
51
, if required. The second set of stakes on the opposite side of the lift tables
12
and
13
are then inserted as a safety precaution to prevent the log L from rolling off the machine and onto the operator.
The log processing sequence then follows in which, as noted, the lift tables
12
and
13
are elevated so that the log is engaged by the respective powered and non-powered roller assemblies
39
and
50
lifting the log from the support beams
27
which are then engaged by the brackets on the lift tables and held in spaced relation to the log.
The shot pins
36
are then retracted from the plurality of oppositely disposed pairs of guide posts as hereinbefore described and the lift tables
12
and
13
can then be lowered and raised as required with respective material support beams
27
traveling at their lower most position freely within the guide slots
31
of the guide posts
30
allowing for the proper repositioning of the log L in relation to the overhead cutting head assembly
75
as it is moved longitudinally along the surface of the log as hereinbefore described.
It will thus be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.
Claims
- 1. A log peeling apparatus comprising an elongated rigid base support frame, a lift table within said base support frame, multiple log engagement rollers on respective upstanding support brackets one of which is pivotally adjustable on said lift table, a log chuck at one end of said base support frame for engaging with and rotating a log about its longitudinal axis, said log chuck having a central plate within a support frame, multiple jaws on said central plate, a cutting head assembly having an arbor disk with a plurality of cutting blades extending therefrom within a housing for removing bark from the log in sequential longitudinal strips, said cutting blades adjustably positioned on a blade base support, a rotating plate overlying said blade secured to said base support, a cutting head support carriage having a U-shaped suspension bracket slidably positioned within overhead guide support channels extending from an overhead frame on said base support frame for moving the cutting head in longitudinal and transverse horizontal planes relative to said log, a plurality of log support means selectively positioned on said lift tables from a first non-log engagement position on said table to a second log engagement position in spaced relation to said lift tables, oppositely disposed beam engagement guide and support posts extending from said base support frame, slot pins in said beam engagement guides and said support posts registerable with respective beams when in said first non-log engagement position on said tables and in said second log engagement position in spaced relation to said tables, one of said log engagement rollers are rotatably driven.
- 2. The log peeling apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said lift tables comprise, an elongated rectangular frame having scissor lift assemblies engageable within said lift tables and said base support frame.
- 3. The log peeling apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said selective log supporting means on said lift tables comprises, a plurality of longitudinally spaced material engagement beams extending transversely there across, beam engagement brackets on said lift tables.
- 4. The log peeling apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said central plate of said log chuck is rotated by motor means in communication therewith.
US Referenced Citations (8)