Abstract: Apparatus for aligning and orienting generally elongate objects of irregular shape and variable dimensions such as wood residue. The apparatus includes a plurality of spaced, rollers to transport the objects in a direction of transport from an inlet zone through a sorting zone to an outlet zone by rotation of the rollers. There are a plurality of aligning walls extending over the rollers parallel to the direction of transport from the outlet zone toward the inlet zone. There are also eccentric vanes mounted to some of the rollers to rotate with the rollers to move through the objects on the rollers. Objects introduced into the inlet zone in a generally random, entangled collection are aligned and oriented in the direction of transport into generally, parallel, stacked relationship at the outlet zone by movement over the rollers between the aligning walls subject to the action of the eccentric vanes.

Abstract: A knife projection sensing system for cutting machines having a rotatable surface adapted to retain a plurality of cutting knives. The system employs a plurality of sensors mountable to the cutting machine to be stationary with respect to the rotatable surface. The sensors generate a signal capable of indicating the position of each cutting knife as the knives rotate past the sensors. A microprocessor in communication with the sensors analyzes the signal generated to determine the projection of each knife from a reference surface and to determine if the projection of at least one of the plurality of cutting knives deviates outside preset desirable limits. The projection status of the knives is communicated to an operator by a light display or paper printout. The system can be used to ensure that knives are correctly installed in the cutting machine and to monitor knife position during normal operation. The system can also be used to determine when knives need changing for sharpening.

Abstract: A knife projection sensing system for cutting machines having a rotatable surface adapted to retain a plurality of cutting knives. The system employs a plurality of sensors mountable to the cutting machine to be stationary with respect to the rotatable surface. The sensors generate a signal capable of indicating the position of each cutting knife as the knives rotate past the sensors. A microprocessor in communication with the sensors analyzes the signal generated to determine the projection of each knife from a reference surface and to determine if the projection of at least one of the plurality of cutting knives deviates outside preset desirable limits. The projection status of the knives is communicated to an operator by a light display or paper printout. The system can be used to ensure that knives are correctly installed in the cutting machine and to monitor knife position during normal operation. The system can also be used to determine when knives need changing for sharpening.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for non-destructively testing the stiffness of wood panels. The apparatus comprises a support framework having infeed, center and outfeed support assemblies mounted to the framework in spaced, successive positions. Each support assembly is adapted to contact the opposed panel surfaces of each panel to define a travel path along which the panel is advanced through the assembly. A first deflection member is provided intermediate the infeed and center support assemblies and is movable to contact one of the panel surfaces as each panel extends between the infeed and the center support assemblies. The first deflection member acts to bend the panel to a first pre-determined curvature. In a similar manner, there is a second deflection member intermediate the center and outfeed support assemblies movable to bend the panel to a second pre-determined curvature.

Abstract: An improved system for clamping and retaining a cutting knife in position in an apparatus for processing wood. The apparatus includes a support surface, a cutting knife, an associated holding location on the support surface to receive the cutting knife, and a clamp member having a clamping surface to engage and hold the at least one cutting knife in the associated holding location. The improvement involves mounting the clamp member to the support surface at a pivot joint for pivotal movement of the clamp member with respect to the support surface. The clamp member has a clamping surface that extends on one side of the pivot joint and a lever arm extending on the other side of the pivot joint. An actuating member is provided to apply a force to the lever arm so that a clamping force is applied to the cutting knife through the clamping surface according to the principle of a first order lever. The pivoting clamping arrangement provides secure and reliable clamping of the cutting knives.

Abstract: An improved knife clamping system for use in an apparatus for processing wood, such as a flaker, chipper or waferizer, that employs a rotary disc or ring, cutting knives, holding locations mounted on the disc or ring to receive the cutting knives, clamping members to engage and hold the cutting knives in position and fasteners to mount the clamping members to the holding locations. The improvement comprises providing a surface having an undulating profile to engage against the cutting knives. The undulating surface can be formed on the clamping member, at the holding location or at both locations. The surface is shaped to deform to engage the cutting knives with a uniform clamping load upon securing of the fasteners to a pre-selected torque. The foregoing arrangement requires fewer fasteners while still maintaining an adequate clamping force on the cutting knives. This makes parts less expensive and reduces the time to change the knives as there are fewer parts to loosen and tighten.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for aligning objects, particularly logs, into a loading region are provided. The apparatus comprises a stationary first side wall and a second side wall having a section that is movable with respect to the first wall. A lower floor section is provided between the two side walls. The side walls and the lower floor co-operate to define a loading region having an inlet and an outlet. The loading region is expandable from an initial minimum width sufficiently narrow to prevent misalignment of logs introduced through the inlet to a maximum width. Movement of the second movable side wall expands the loading region to create a gap between one side wall and aligned logs arranged against the other side wall. The gap is sufficiently narrow to prevent misalignment of logs introduced into the gap to ensure an aligned and ordered stack of logs within the loading region.

Abstract: A ring flaker has a housing with a back opening so that a blade ring mounted to an arbor assembly can be slid backwards away from the housing to allow the blade ring to be replaced without removing the housing. This arrangement reduces the down time generally necessary to replace a blade ring in a ring flaker. The back opening in the housing is of sufficient size to permit the blade ring to be axially withdrawn. The arbor assembly has a slide arrangement on the ring flaker carriage and there is provision to use a hydraulic jack to move the arbor assembly on the slide arrangement for a distance sufficient for the blade ring to be disconnected for removal and replacement.

Abstract: A clamp comprising first and second spaced supports on either side of a clamping surface and a flexible strap having first and second ends extending between the spaced supports. A carriage system is provided to allow the flexible strap to be moved toward or away from the clamping surface to engage and clamp articles between the flexible strap and the clamping surface. The flexible strap forms about the articles to be clamped thereby ensuring a good clamping grip. The clamp is particularly suited for use in clamping logs in a delivery chute during processing operations.

Abstract: A conveyor chain trackway to receive a chain. The chain has first and second links, the latter alternating with the first. Each first and second link comprises a pair of spaced side members. There is a pivotal joint between neighbouring links. Spikes are formed on a plurality of first links to receive and locate a load. The trackway comprises a base member in the low friction layer on the base member and dimensioned to receive the second links. Side plates are spaced from each side of the base member. The side plates extend upwardly to be alongside the chain when the chain is in position. The side plates can be adjusted on the base to vary the distance from the base. Low friction distance pieces on the inner side of the side plate extend to contact and locate the chain. The chain is thus held on a fixed course and movement inwardly of the low friction distance pieces can compensate for wear in the chain.

Abstract: A system of optimizing the volume of boards that may be cut from a log provides for one surface of a cant to be cut with a curved or straight surface. This takes into account curved, tapered or straight logs. The system comprises a scanner positioned to scan the log and determine an optimum cut surface profile, a cutting head positioned to cut the top surface of the log, the cutting head having relative vertical movement to the top surface, a conveyor to convey the log passed the scanner and the cutting head, and a controller to control the relative movement of the cutting head in accordance with the signal from the scanner to produce the predetermined optimum cut surface profile for the top surface of the log.

Abstract: A mantle for use with a rock crushing apparatus comprising an essentially tubular mantle body having side walls defining an exterior surface and a hollow interior being adapted to fit over the main shaft of a rock crushing apparatus. Wear plates for attachment to the exterior of the mantle body are provided, an adhesive filling material being used between the mantle body and the wear plates. A system of locking bolts are used to removably locate the wear plates to the outer surface of the mantle body.

Abstract: A long log waferizer for converting logs into wafers comprising a base, with a reciprocating hydraulic cylinder for controlling a wheeled movable frame adapted for linear reciprocating movement on the base. A motor is mounted to the movable frame to drive a rotary cutter that is also mounted to the movable frame. A log delivery chute adapted to direct logs in front of the rotary cutter is provided and the movable frame is moved by the hydraulic cylinder to advance the rotary cutter into the logs, the rotary cutter cutting the logs into wafers.

Abstract: A waferizing apparatus having a rotatable disc. There are knife carriers mounted on the disc with spaced openings between the carriers. Openings in the disc correspond to the openings in the carrier and there is a knife associated with each opening. A knife clamp is bolted to the carrier to clamp each knife in position. Each knife clamp is urged resiliently inwardly against the carrier to clamp each knife in position in the apparatus. An expandable device can expand to separate the clamp and the carrier to permit removal of each knife.

Abstract: A sawdust shear apparatus to enable cleaning of the band saw of a band mill. The apparatus has a shear to contact the band saw and a housing to carry the shear. A recess is formed within the housing. The apparatus has a base and a piston extends from the base and is received within the recess with a fluid tight, slidable fit. Fluid can be supplied under pressure to the recess to move the shear outwardly from the base to clean the band saw. A spring or the like urges the shear towards the base. The apparatus is effective in cleaning a band saw with very little maintenance or inspection.

Abstract: A rotatable carrier element has a plurality of elongate slots opening out from a work surface thereof with cutter knives projecting from the slots for slicing wafers off pieces of wood bearing against the work surface with the sides and the grain of the pieces extending substantially parallel to the work surface and the slots when the latter pass the wood. Each cutter knife forms part of a waferizing arrangement in each slot. Each waferizing arrangement includes a reactor guide in the slot positioned relative to the knife so as to be engaged by wafers cut by the knife to break the wafers longitudinally thereof into predetermined widths.

Abstract: A rotatable carrier has a plurality of cutter knives protruding from a work face thereof. A feed passage is positioned to direct longitudinal sides of wood pieces against the carrier face to enable the knives to slice wafers from the pieces during rotation of the carrier. The feed passage is defined by opposed side walls each having a plurality of superimposed gripper chains with runs forming a moving inner surface of the respective wall. These chains are adapted to grip the ends of wood pieces and move said pieces along the passage. The chain arrangement of at least one side wall is mounted in floating relationship to that of the other side wall and is resiliently biased towards the latter.

Abstract: A bandmill has a frame, first and second bandwheels for receiving and guiding a bandsaw, the bandwheels being rotatable about spaced-apart, generally parallel axes of rotation, first and second arbors of the first and second bandwheels respectively, apparatus fixedly mounting the first arbor on the frame, and a strain mechanism for the bandsaw. The strain mechanism comprises a bearing member for the second arbor and an elastomeric member compressibly supporting the bearing member.

Abstract: Precision guide means for accurately directing lumber to and/or receiving cut lengths from saws. The guide means is mounted for selective movement by setworks back and forth across a path along which the lumber moves. A closed hydraulic system includes piston-cylinder units with a unit near each of opposite ends of the guide means. One end of each cylinder unit is fixed against movement and the opposite end thereof is connected to the adjacent end of the guide means, and pipe means interconnects these cylinder units so that when the guide means is moved, hydraulic fluid is transferred from an end of one of the units to an opposite end of another unit to ensure that both ends of the guide means move exactly the same distance. The guide means can be a linebar and a tailbar interconnected by the hydraulic system so that they are moved in unison exactly the same distance by the setworks. The guide means can be or include a relatively long splitter.