Abstract: A sharp chain charger and infeed device for feeding logs in a desired orientation to a sawing machine is characterized by alignment and displacement assemblies for accurately positioning a succession of logs on a sharp chain drive mechanism. The alignment assembly includes a pair of pivotal arms for laterally aligning a log with the longitudinal axis of the sawing machine. A pair of longitudinal rollers are connected with the alignment arms to rotate the log to a selected rotary position. The displacement assembly displaces the alignment assembly longitudinally in the direction of the sawing machine and downwardly beneath the sharp chain, whereby the log is deposited on the moving chain with both longitudinal and vertical components while the desired rotational and aligned orientation of the log is retained for transport to the sawing machine.

Abstract: An infeed system for a gang saw includes at least one loading station laterally displaced from the infeed station of the gang saw, a pivotable skewing tube arrangement operable at the loading station for orienting a two-sided cant to a given orientation relative to a line parallel with the longitudinal horizontal infeed line of the gang saw, thereby to obtain maximum yield from the cant, a lateral transport device operable to transport the skewing tube and the cant from the loading station to a position adjacent the infeed line while maintaining the cant in the desired orientation, and a longitudinal transport device for transporting the properly orientated cant to the gang saw. Preferably, a second loading station is laterally spaced on the opposite side of the infeed line from the first loading station, whereby cants may be selectively supplied to the in-feed station from the large-log and small-log sides of the mill, thus producing maximum production from a single gang saw means.