Abstract: A double-sided wear insert, for a knife assembly that includes a knife, a clamp, and a holder. In one embodiment, the wear insert can be turned end-for-end, and in another embodiment the wear insert can be flipped up-side down, to double the service life of the part.

Abstract: A ring slicer with easily removable knife and knife assembly. According to one aspect of the invention, a ring assembly comprises two end plates for rotation about an axis of rotation. Each of the knife assemblies comprises an elongate knife having a cutting edge extending along an elongate axis, a base, and a clamp for clamping the knife to the base. The knife assemblies are adapted for installation between the end plates such that the shoulder portions of at least two shoulder bolts extend through one of the end plates into the base.

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 knife assembly and chipping knife therefor. The knife is rotated about an axis and has a front side facing the direction of rotation. The knife has a single deflector ridge extending from the front side of the knife and two indexing features on either side of the deflector ridge, each corresponding to spaced apart, parallel cutting edges of the knife defining a plane.

Abstract: A chipping knife and assembly. The knife has a front side and a spaced apart back side, the front and back sides terminating in a cutting edge so as to define an acute knife angle, the front and back sides having respective curvilinear portions for disposition between respective knife clamping members for clamping the knife, the knife having substantially constant thickness between the respective curvilinear portions. The assembly provides upper and lower clamping members shaped to fit the knife therebetween in a stable, indexed position.

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 double-sided wear insert, for a knife assembly that includes a knife, a clamp, and a holder. In one embodiment, the wear insert can be turned end-for-end, and in another embodiment the wear insert can be flipped up-side down, to double the service life of the part.

Abstract: A knife assembly and chipping knife therefor. The knife is rotated about an axis and has a front side facing the direction of rotation. The knife has a single deflector ridge extending from the front side of the knife and two indexing features on either side of the deflector ridge, each corresponding to spaced apart, parallel cutting edges of the knife defining a plane.

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: An apparatus having adjustable saws for wood cutting. A cutting head has at least two spaced apart disk-saws for producing respective slicing cuts in an article of wood, the saws defining respective distinct outer cutting diameters. Preferably, the disk-saws are bolted to the cutting head and spaced apart therefrom adjustable amounts by interdisposed control plates of predetermined thicknesses. Preferably, a first one of the disk-saws defines an annular ring having an inner diameter, and the outer cutting diameter for the first disk-saw is greater than the outer cutting diameter of a second one of the disk-saws. The outer cutting diameter of the second disk-saw is then less than the inner diameter of the first disk-saw, so that the second disk-saw is nested inside the first disk-saw while remaining axially displaceable therefrom.

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.

Abstract: A ring slicer with easily removable knife and knife assembly. According to one aspect of the invention, a ring assembly comprises two end plates for rotation about an axis of rotation. Each of the knife assemblies comprises an elongate knife having a cutting edge extending along an elongate axis, a base, and a clamp for clamping the knife to the base. The knife assemblies are adapted for installation between the end plates such that the shoulder portions of at least two shoulder bolts extend through one of the end plates into the base.

Abstract: A ring slicer having an easily removable knife and knife assembly. Within the scope of the invention, there is an apparatus for cutting an article of wood, comprising a ring assembly comprising two end plates and a plurality of knife assemblies. Each knife assembly comprises a knife, a base, and a clamp for clamping the knife to the base. The assemblies are provided for installation between the end plates. According to one aspect of the invention, the bases include one or more first apertures and at least one of the end plates includes a corresponding set of one or more second apertures therethrough for receiving respective dowel pins. The first apertures are adapted to snugly slidingly receive the respective dowel pins. According to another aspect of the invention, for each knife assembly, the clamp includes an upper clamping member that is mounted to the base so that a portion of the upper clamping member is cantilevered from the base.

Abstract: An apparatus having adjustable saws for wood cutting. A cutting head has at least two spaced apart disk-saws for producing respective slicing cuts in an article of wood, the saws defining respective distinct outer cutting diameters. Preferably, the disk-saws are bolted to the cutting head and spaced apart therefrom adjustable amounts by interdisposed control plates of predetermined thicknesses. Preferably, a first one of the disk-saws defines an annular ring having an inner diameter, and the outer cutting diameter for the first disk-saw is greater than the outer cutting diameter of a second one of the disk-saws. The outer cutting diameter of the second disk-saw is then less than the inner diameter of the first disk-saw, so that the second disk-saw is nested inside the first disk-saw while remaining axially displaceable therefrom.

Abstract: An adjustable profiling head for a wood cutting apparatus. There is a first body portion for carrying a plurality of first knives and a second body portion for carrying a plurality of second knives. The cutting edges of the knives define respective cutting surfaces of revolution about an axis that have different mean diameters for the two body portions. In one aspect of the invention, the body portions are adapted to receive the respective knives by associated knife clamping mechanisms that are adapted to be removably mounted to the body portions with one or more first control plates therebetween, for adjusting the radial positioning of the knives. In another aspect of the invention, the body portions are adapted to be removably mounted to each other so that the body portions are disposed axially adjacent one another with one or more second control plates therebetween, for adjusting the relative axial positioning of the knives of one of the body portions with respect to the knives of the other body portion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for profiling a log. In a profiler having first and second knives disposed on a rotating disc, a mounting member is adapted to mountably receive both the first and second knives so that each blade has a point on its cutting edge that is proximate a point that is on the cutting edge of the other knives. Preferably, the points are end most points and abut one another.

Abstract: An adjustable profiling head for a wood cutting apparatus. There is a first body portion for carrying a plurality of first knives and a second body portion for carrying a plurality of second knives. The cutting edges of the knives define respective cutting surfaces of revolution about an axis that have different mean diameters for the two body portions. In one aspect of the invention, the body portions are adapted to receive the respective knives by associated knife clamping mechanisms that are adapted to be removably mounted to the body portions with one or more first control plates therebetween, for adjusting the radial positioning of the knives. In another aspect of the invention, the body portions are adapted to be removably mounted to each other so that the body portions are disposed axially adjacent one another with one or more second control plates therebetween, for adjusting the relative axial positioning of the knives of one of the body portions with respect to the knives of the other body portion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for profiling a log. In a profiler having first and second knives disposed on a rotating disc, a mounting member is adapted to mountably receive both the first and second knives so that each blade has a point on its cutting edge that is proximate a point that is on the cutting edge of the other knives. Preferably, the points are end most points and abut one another.

Abstract: A log flaking and loading method and apparatus. First and second pairs of cutting heads have cutting heads spaced apart to receive a log passed therebetween and thereby to cut two substantially parallel sides. The log is first cut by the first pair of cutting heads, rotated about its elongate axis, and cut by the second pair of cutting heads to produce a four-sided cant. The logs are preferably stored ahead of the first pair of cutting heads in corresponding carriers, which are preferably held in a magazine for dispensing the loaded carriers.