Abstract: Embodiments of an electric linear actuator may include a roller screw assembly, an electric motor coupled to the roller screw assembly, and a linear transducer operatively coupled with the roller screw assembly. The motor may be configured to drive the roller screw assembly to extend and retract another component, such as a rod. In some embodiments, the linear transducer may be configured to detect a position of the rod. The roller screw assembly may be coupled directly to the motor via a gear coupling, with the motor disposed generally in axial alignment with the roller screw assembly. Other embodiments disclosed herein include a veneer lathe carriage with electric linear actuators and corresponding apparatuses, methods, and systems.

Abstract: A veneer peeling apparatus includes a bearing frame (10) for rotatably supporting a round wood (20), a peeling blade (24) which can be placed against the periphery of the round wood, and at least one milling head (40) for scarfing at least one edge of the veneer, wherein the milling head (40) includes a groove milling cutter (44) for trimming the veneer.

Abstract: Embodiments of an electric linear actuator may include a roller screw assembly, an electric motor coupled to the roller screw assembly, and a linear transducer operatively coupled with the roller screw assembly. The motor may be configured to drive the roller screw assembly to extend and retract another component, such as a rod. In some embodiments, the linear transducer may be configured to detect a position of the rod. The roller screw assembly may be coupled directly to the motor via a gear coupling, with the motor disposed generally in axial alignment with the roller screw assembly. Other embodiments disclosed herein include a veneer lathe carriage with electric linear actuators and corresponding apparatuses, methods, and systems.

Abstract: A machine tool which removal-machines a workpiece by means of a tool includes a retaining device (a workpiece spindle and a tailstock) that retains the workpiece, a support device (an in-machine robot) that supports the workpiece, in order to suppress deflection of the workpiece retained by the retaining device, and a control device that controls driving of the support device by force control having a force as a control target. Specifically, a supporting force by the support device and a machining force by a tool are measured, and the driving of the support device is controlled so that the supporting force is equal to the machining force.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting a flitch into sheets of veneer. The method and apparatus include providing a drive mechanism which causes relative motion of a knife in contact with the flitch. The relative motion is relatively slower during one part of the cutting stroke and is relatively faster during another part of the cutting stroke.

Abstract: An apparatus for surfacing a flitch by cutting material from its radially outer surface to prepare the flitch for veneer slicing or other uses. The apparatus comprises a cutterhead rotatable about a cutterhead axis. The apparatus further comprises a carriage comprising a ring that rotates about a carriage axis and a pivot arm that carries the cutterhead and is coupled to the rotatable ring for pivoting movement about a pivot arm axis. The apparatus further comprises a flitch contour accommodation device coupled to the pivot arm and to the cutterhead to permit rotation of the cutterhead about a device axis that is generally transverse to the cutterhead axis.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for peeling veneer from a log (2). Veneer (4) is peeled tangentially from the circumferential surface of a log rotated around its longitudinal axis under conditions determined by the distance (knife gap) between the knife (3) and the nose bar pressing the surface of the log immediately in front of the cutting point. The peeling knife as well as the nose bar is moved towards the rotation axis of the log corresponding the proceeding of the peeling. At the ending stage of the peeling, the distance between the peeling knife and the nose bar is reduced substantially in accordance with the thickness of the veneer being peeled.

Abstract: A veneer composer is provided including a skew correcting station adapted to square at least one edge of a veneer piece to a first or reference side, a clipping station adapted to move in the same direction and at the same material being clipped, and a gap closing station adapted to close the gap between adjacent veneer pieces without causing excessive force between the adjacent edges.

Abstract: An apparatus for surfacing a flitch by cutting material from its radially outer surface to prepare the flitch for veneer slicing or other uses. The apparatus comprises a cutterhead rotatable about a cutterhead axis. The apparatus further comprises a carriage comprising a ring that rotates about a carriage axis and a pivot arm that carries the cutterhead and is coupled to the rotatable ring for pivoting movement about a pivot arm axis. The apparatus further comprises a flitch contour accommodation device coupled to the pivot arm and to the cutterhead to permit rotation of the cutterhead about a device axis that is generally transverse to the cutterhead axis.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting a flitch into sheets of veneer. The method and apparatus include providing a drive mechanism which causes relative motion of a knife in contact with the flitch. The relative motion is relatively slower during one part of the cutting stroke and is relatively faster during another part of the cutting stroke.

Abstract: A lathe having first and second support walls that support pairs of vertical and elevated vertical guides, and having frames that support horizontal guides. Trunnions are mounted on the vertical guides and support a log peeling assembly. A structure supporting back-up powered rollers is mounted on the elevated vertical guides. First and second spindle assemblies are mounted on the horizontal guides for movement between a first working position where a log to be peeled is gripped and rotated, and a second working position where the log continues its rotation into a knife extending from the log peeling assembly to produce veneer. When a predetermined log diameter is reached the first and second spindle assemblies release and return to the first working position to grip another log, while the log being rotated continues to be peeled until it reaches a minimum core diameter.

Abstract: A method of cutting a wood block for production of veneer by a rotary veneer lathe. The veneer lathe includes a veneer knife, a number of rotatable peripheral drive wheels placed parallel to the veneer knife and each having a number of tooth-like projections pierceable into a wood block for driving the wood block for rotation about its axis, and a guide member for guiding veneer peeled from the wood block. The cutting of the wood block is done at a first position of the peripheral drive wheels where the veneer peeled from the wood block is pierced by the projections to such an extent that substantial splits are formed in the veneer along wood grain thereof, and also at a second position where the projections provide no force to the veneer moving past the guide member that causes the substantial splits in the veneer.

Abstract: A method for locating an optimum peeling axis of a log and a maximum radius point on peripheral surface of the log with respect to the located optimum peeling axis and an apparatus for practicing the method are disclosed. A plurality of swingable members are provided, each member having a contact surface which is swingable in contact with the peripheral surface of the log thereby to follows the peripheral profile of the log while it is being rotated about its preliminary axis. Angular positions of the contact surfaces are measured with respect to a reference position at a number of angularly spaced positions of the log. On the basis of the measured angular positions of the contact surfaces, radial distances of the log from a plurality of predetermined locations on the optimum peeling axis to selected contact surfaces are computed for comparison such radial distances. The distance having the greatest value is regarded as the maximum radius point of the log.

Abstract: A method of cutting a wood block for production of veneer by a rotary veneer lathe. The veneer lathe includes a veneer knife, a number of rotatable peripheral drive wheels placed parallel to the veneer knife and each having a number of tooth-like projections pierceable into a wood block for driving the wood block for rotation about its axis, and a guide member for guiding veneer peeled from the wood block. The cutting of the wood block is done at a first position of the peripheral drive wheels where the veneer peeled from the wood block is pierced by the projections to such an extent that substantial splits are formed in the veneer along wood grain thereof, and also at a second position where the projections provide no force to the veneer moving past the guide member that causes the substantial splits in the veneer.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for reciprocating a flitch table (114), the drive mechanism comprising a drive shaft (118) having an output end, a prime mover coupled to the drive shaft (118) for rotating the drive shaft (118), a coupler (120) on the output end of the drive shaft (118), and a connecting rod (122) coupled to the flitch table (114) and the coupler (120). The flitch table (114) is supported from the frame (130) by a guide member (128) secured to one of the flitch table (114) and the frame (130) and a bearing member (126) secured to the other of the flitch table (114) and the frame (130) for cooperation with the guide member (128). The guide member (128) and bearing member (126) form between them at least one channel (86) for a plurality of bearings (90). The bearings (90) are movable relative to the bearing member (126) and the guide member (128).

Abstract: In prior art veneer-slicing machines, the blade is always mounted so that its cutting edge is parallel to the plane of the table, inside of which a wooden beam can be clamped. As a result, it is not possible or only possible with a high degree of complexity, to make adaptations to the shape of the wooden beam, said shape being, for example, conical in some types of wood, or to the course of the grain in order to achieve an optimal sectional image and thus the best possible veneer quality. The inventive veneer-slicing machine should make it possible to make simple adaptations to the shape of the wooden beam or should be able to influence the sectional image. To this end, the tool slide (1) can be placed at an angle (?) that is slanted with regard to the plane of the table (17).

Abstract: The invention relates to a veneer slicing machine. The output of prior art veneer slicing machines is limited by virtue of the fact that the slideways quickly heat up at a maximum stroke rate. As a result, the maximum permissible temperature of 120° C. is quickly reached thereby making it necessary to shut down the machine in order to permit the slideways to cool. The inventive veneer slicing machine should be able to be used in continuous operation at a maximum stroke rate and thus function without resulting in a loss in quality. To this end, cooling means are arranged on the slideways (16) and are provided in said slideways (16) e.g. in the form of borings (21) through which the coolant circulates whereby enabling heat to be carried away in a well-directed manner.

Abstract: Vacuum flitch-retaining systems use vacuum valves having pressure-operated reciprocatable pistons capable of high valve closure forces to provide the reliable closure of their associated valve seats, notwithstanding the presence of resin, wood fibers, dirt and other debris that may be present in the valves and on the valve seats, to control the application of vacuum to vacuum cells formed in a flitch-retaining table.

Abstract: In a slicer having a table for supporting a workpiece from which a slice is to be sliced, a knife is linked at opposite end portions of the knife to cranks for moving the knife in strokes having components generally transverse and parallel to the knife. The table with supported workpiece moves toward the knife while the knife moves for making the slice.

Abstract: A peripherally driven veneer lathe employs a knife with an improved shape which increases the deflection resistance of the cutting edge and improves its cutting ability. A cutting edge (7c) is positioned on the flank side a predetermined distance (H) away from a point (X) of intersection of an extended plane of a cutting face (7a) and that of a flank (7b) of a knife (7) toward the downstream of the rotation of a log. The cutting face immediately following the cutting edge (7c) is formed as a connecting curved surface (7d) coinciding with a concentric arc distanced from the trajectory (G) of rotation of piercing projections (4a) of a peripheral-drive member (4) with a predetermined gap (S). Preferably, the angle (&agr;) formed by a line (D) tangent to the connecting curved surface (7d) at the cutting edge and the flank (7b) is roughly equal to the sharpness angle (&bgr;: 18° to 25°) of the conventional knife.

Abstract: A veneer lathe that can provide a veneer produced by cutting out a log, which is substantially free from surface scratches, and thus can be used as a surface sheet for plywood. A roller bar drives a log while pushing its peripheral surface on the upstream side of a knife fixed to a knife carriage for cutting the rotating log in a log rotating direction. The roller bar 3 has a large number of grooves defined in a peripheral surface thereof. The shape of the grooves 5a in a section crossing the shaft centerline of the roller bar 3 is set so that an angle between a tangent at a corner portion 3e constituted by a line 3d of an outer periphery of the roller bar 3 and a line 3b extending outward from an upstream side face of the grooves 5a is 130 to 160 degrees.

Abstract: The invention relates to a knife assembly for a veneer lathe, the knife assembly comprising heads having mounted therebetween a knife beam and a nose bar beam, the beams respectively supporting a peeling knife and a solid nose bar. The knife assembly is turnable about an axis of rotation aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the peeling knife and the nose bar, whereby the angular position of the knife assembly relative to the lathe carriage heads is adapted to change about this axis of rotation in compliance with the progress of veneer peeling. In the knife assembly, the angular position of the nose bar relative to the peeling knife is adapted changeable during peeling in order to control the angle between the nose bar and the peeling knife.

Abstract: The invention relates to a veneer lathe knife assembly comprising supported by a frame assembly a knife mounting beam (4) and a nose bar beam (5), both of which having a front portion (4′; 5′) for holding a cutting knife (6) and a nose bar (7), respectively, and a stiffening rear portion. The knife mounting beam (4) and the nose bar beam (5) are adapted movable relative to each other on the frame assembly so as to permit adjustment of the knife gap formed between the cutting knife (6) and the nose bar (7). Heat transfer means (2, 2′, 2″, 2′″) are adapted to the stiffening rear portion of both the knife mounting beam (4) and the nose bar beam (5). Both the knife mounting beam (4) and the nose bar beam (5) have placed thereon, in a close vicinity to the knife (6) and the nose bar (7), at least one first set of temperature sensors (3, 3′) disposed in predetermined positions along the length of the knife and the nose bar.

Abstract: A veneer lathe knife assembly includes a lower portion supporting a veneer cutting knife, and a upper portion supporting a backing nose bar. The upper portion includes adjustment screws, for example, for adjusting a position of the nose bar in the upper portion of the assembly. To perform a fine adjustment of the knife gap formed between the cutting knife and the nose bar, the adjustment screws are individually temperature controlled to compensate for a thermal expansion of the adjustment screws, thus maintaining the knife gap along the length of the knife assembly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining the starting point of rounding turning in the turning of veneer. For turning a log, the knife carriage of the lathe is withdrawn into a home position before starting the turning of a new log and, during the initial phase of turning, the knife carriage is driven from the home position forward into the starting position of rounding turning at a fast rate. During the initial turning phase, the intensity of knife carriage vibration is monitored and the thus obtained intensity value of knife carriage vibration is used in the determination of the initial position of the log rounding phase.

Abstract: A veneer lathe comprising a piercing roller and a guiding member for producing a veneer which is free from piercing scars. A third rotational shaft (25) is raised from the position where the piercing projections (27a) of the piercing rolls (27) are pierced into the outer peripheral wall of the log (3) to a position which enables the distance between the tip end of the piercing projections (27a) and the backing plate (5a), the concave portion (4) and the guide member (6) to become larger than the thickness of the veneer (T1), and then, the third rotational shaft (25) is moved away from the log (3) up to a position which makes the piercing projections (27a) impossible to pierce the outer peripheral wall of the log (3), after which the log (3) is rotated to perform the cutting by means of knife (5).

Abstract: To make coincide cutting centers of two end surfaces of raw wood with the axis of spindles of a veneer lathe, at least two axial corrections which are performed in a state in which the raw wood is held by centering spindles are required. Conventional apparatuses suffer from too complicated structures and enlargement of the cost because of the complicated structures. A correction operation of an axial direction of correction operations in the two axial directions is performed such that only a movable centering spindle is moved in a direction intersecting a direction in which holding arms are extended/contracted. Another correction operation in another axial direction is performed by extending/contracting the holding arms.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a new kind of veneer which has the cross grain (such as wavy grain and interlocked grain) artificially formed on the surface of straight-grained veneer cut by quarter sawing from a species of wood which should yield the cross grain but actually has no cross grain. Disclosed also herein is a method of producing the cross-grained veneer, said method comprising cutting wood into veneer of desired thickness which assumes the straight grain, by using a veneer peeling machine equipped with a knife whose cutting edge waves continuously in the lengthwise direction, and flattening the veneer having an uneven surface by means of thermal fixing or hot pressing, thereby artificially forming the cross grain on the surface of the straight-grained veneer. The knife is constructed such that the cutting edge waves in the widthwise direction of the knife and the troughs of the wave are disposed along the straight line extending in the lengthwise direction of the knife.

Abstract: A nose bar device for a veneer lathe which is equipped with a knife carriage movable toward and away from a log from which a veneer sheet is cut, and a knife mounted on the knife carriage and having at the tip end thereof a cutting edge extending horizontally across the direction in which the knife carriage is moved. The lathe further includes a plurality of nose bars juxtaposed along the cutting edge of the knife and mounted to a block which forms a part the knife carriage and is adapted to be movable independently of the knife carriage. Each nose bar has at the lower end thereof a pressure edge located adjacent to the cutting edge of the knife for pressing against the log periphery adjacent to the knife cutting edge. There is provided a mechanism for independently adjustably moving the pressure edge of at least one of the nose bars toward and away from the cutting edge of the knife.

Abstract: A pair of centering spindles are disposed away from cutting spindles and movably in the direction of Z or parallel with the axial center line of cutting spindles. A plurality of log center detecting means are disposed along the Z direction in relative to a log chucked by the centering spindles. A pair of holding members are mounted movably in the directions of X, Z, and Y including components orthogonally intersecting the X and Z. By way of controlling means, the centering spindle holding a log is caused to rotate at least one revolution thereby enabling the log center detecting means to determine each position of axial center which is assumed to constitute the axial centers at both end faces of the log, the virtual line passing through every positions of axial centers in Z direction is aligned with the Y, and the holding members are moved in the Z direction to hold the log, after which the chucking of log by the centering spindles are released.