Abstract: A drum chipper and method providing for air cooling. A drum member, a knife, and a carrier for mounting the knife to the drum member are provided. The carrier comprises an upper clamping member and a lower clamping member for clamping the knife therebetween. The carrier is adapted to mount to the drum member at axially spaced apart mounting positions thereon. The apparatus is advantageously used to chip heat sensitive materials, such as plastic, particularly where the carrier is spaced above and unsupported by the drum member over a span defined between the mounting positions to provide for airflow between the drum member and the carrier.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adjusting knife extension. A knife assembly comprises a base and cover plate for clamping a knife therebetween. The cover plate attaches to the base and indexes the knife. An adjustment mechanism provides for adjusting the position of the cover plate relative to the base and defining an adjusted position of the knife relative to the base.

Abstract: A drum flaker and knife therefor. A drum flaker comprises a drum for turning about an axis of revolution, a plurality of knife assemblies mounted to the drum, and a plurality of knives for mounting in the knife assemblies. The knives each have an elongate axis and comprise, on a first cutting side of the knife, at least two sets of cutting edges. The cutting edges of one of the sets alternate with and are radially offset from corresponding and respective cutting edges of the other of the sets.

Abstract: A conical chipper/canter head. The head includes, at least, one or more chipping knives. Each chipping knife provides at least one pair of linear cutting edges including a face cutting edge and a chip cutting edge angled with respect to each other. The face cutting edge defines a planar, face cutting surface of revolution of the cutting head, and the chip cutting edge defines a conical, chip cutting surface of revolution of the cutting head. The face and chip cutting edges of the same chipping knife lie in substantially the same plane. A cutting head may include a plurality of facing knives and corresponding clamping members in addition to one or more chipping knives. The facing knives and corresponding clamping members are adapted so that each of the facing knives is removable from the cutting head without removing any other facing knives.

Abstract: A high speed planer head. Disclosed according to one aspect of the invention is a hub and a threaded member. The hub is axially disposed for rotation about an axis, and has a pocket for receiving a first knife against a supporting wall of the pocket. The threaded member has a frustoconical ramping portion for producing a wedging force against the knife when the threaded member is threaded into a threaded hole in the hub. According to another aspect of the invention, a second hub for carrying a second knife is provided, the second hub preferably being bolted to the first hub to that the hubs can be disassembled. The second knife preferably has two linear cutting edges and the second knife preferably has at least two curvilinear cutting edges and more preferably has four concave, semi-circular cutting edges that are spaced apart from one another with 90 degree rotational symmetry.

Abstract: A high speed planer head. A threaded member having a frustoconical portion wedges against a knife, to clamp a knife to a hub for rotating the knife about an axis of revolution. The knife has a front and back side, two cutting edges and mirror image symmetry about a mirror plane passing through the knife. To cut both a planar face and two opposed, radiused corners, the cutting edges include respective linear face-cutting portions disposed between two concave, arcuate corner-cutting portions.

Abstract: A high speed planer head. Disclosed according to one aspect of the invention is a hub and a threaded member. The hub is axially disposed for rotation about an axis, and has a pocket for receiving a first knife against a supporting wall of the pocket. The threaded member has a frustoconical ramping portion for producing a wedging force against the knife when the threaded member is threaded into a threaded hole in the hub. According to another aspect of the invention, a second hub for carrying a second knife is provided, the second hub preferably being bolted to the first hub to that the hubs can be disassembled. The second knife preferably has two linear cutting edges and the second knife preferably has at least two curvilinear cutting edges and more preferably has four concave, semi-circular cutting edges that are spaced apart from one another with 90 degree rotational symmetry.

Abstract: A wood chipping or cutting knife assembly providing improved knife stability. A number of control surfaces and other geometric features are provided to stabilize the knife in the assembly. An improved splitter is also provided for the knife assembly.