Abstract: A method and apparatus for positioning a log in a lathe charger for transfer to a veneer lathe for peeling in which the geometrical centerline of the log is first determined by sensing the log in an at-rest position with light sensors or mechanical sensors and then two geocenters where such centerline intersects the ends of the log are determined. The log is then scanned with light scanners while it is rotated on charger spindles about such centerline to determine the optimum yield axis of the log by computer processing of the scan data. Two computed centers where the optimum yield axis intersects the opposite ends of the log are computed and the vectors of such computed centers relative to the geocenters are computed. A common line extending between the computed centers is determined and the displacement angle between such common line and a reference line is computed. The reference line may be a vertical axis or the charger pendulum arm radius.

Abstract: A veneer lathe apparatus and method are described in which the height of the nose bar roller relative to the knife is automatically adjusted during peeling by a computer control system. In addition, the two veneer exit gaps between the nose bar and the knife and between the nose bar and the knife backing member are automatically maintained substantially the same as or slightly greater than the veneer path width which is equal to the thickness of the veneer plus a clearance space of a predetermined amount. As a result the automatic control positions the nose bar as close as possible to the knife during peeling thereby greatly improving the quality of the veneer. The height of the nose bar is adjusted by moving a moveable wedge along a fixed wedge with a control cylinder in response to a computer generated control signal.

Abstract: An electrical control system is described for automatic adjustment of the pitch angle of a lathe knife in a veneer lathe apparatus in response to reduction of the diameter of the log during peeling. The control system includes a digital computer having a memory in which are stored a plurality of data tables of different pitch angle profile ranges for different wood species. The lathe knife pitch angle is adjusted by such compute control system changing the height of a cam follower roller on a knife carriage which moves along a mechanical pitch rail cam member during peeling.

Abstract: A veneer lathe apparatus control system and method are described for automatic adjustment of lathe components which engage the log during peeling in response to reduction of the log diameter and to changes in the surface temperature of the log. The lathe components which are automatically adjusted include the lathe knife pitch angle, the knife gap spacing from the nose bar, and the radial positions of backup idler rolls and of core drive rolls. A computer control system is employed for such automatic adjustment of the lathe components in response to control signals produced by a temperature sensor which senses the surface temperature of the log and by a lathe carriage position sensor whose output indicates the diameter of the log as it is being peeled. Adjustment curves selected by the computer, such as pitch angle profiles and knife gap curves, are stored as data tables in the data memory of the computer.

Abstract: Aa veneer lathe charger and method of operation to center logs for transfer to a veneer lathe to obtain optimum yield of wood veneer at a higher production rate up to 15 logs per minute is described. The method includes scanning the log to determine its optimum yield axis while the log is being rotated and moved laterally toward a transfer position and adjusting the position of the log spindles to align the optimum yield axis with a lathe reference axis at such transfer position for transfer to the veneer lathe axis.

Abstract: A large diameter nose bar roll apparatus for a veneer lathe is disclosed including an automatic knife gap adjustment means. The knife gap adjustment means reduces the knife gap between the nose bar roll and the knife blade during peeling in response to decreases in the log diameter and/or changes in the knife pitch angle. This knife gap adjustment maintains the nose bar roll in contact with the log at the proper contact pressure as the diameter of the log decreases during peeling. This is necessary for nose bar rolls having a large diameter of at least 1.5 inches and 15 times the thickness of the veneer such as, for example, a nose bar roll of 3.75 inches diameter. An electrical control means is employed for automatically controlling the knife gap adjustment means by moving the nose bar roll toward the knife in response to decreases in the log diameter and changes in the pitch angle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus minimize the amount of waste veneer cut by a rotating veneer lathe after a peel break by coordinating the contour of the previous peel spiral with the motion including the path, speed, and position of the knife as it reengages the surface of the rotating log from which the veneer is cut. Upon a command to resume peeling, the knife moves from a standby location toward the surface of the block at a first peel rate and reengages the block at a second peel rate. The approach path toward and entry location on the surface of the rotating block defined by the first and second peel rates promote the cutting of continuous veneer of a desired thickness at the largest possible block radius.