Abstract: A lathe for cutting a spiral strip of veneer from the surface of a log includes motor-driven mechanisms for adjusting the knife blade pitch angle and edge height, and for moving a pressure head relative to the knife to adjust the vertical gap and horizontal gap between the knife edge and the roller bar, and provides sensors for determining the actual positions of movable elements of the lathe, thus enabling computer-controlled adjustment of the movable elements of the lathe during lathe operation. A knife clamp of the lathe includes a plurality of separate clamp segments for pressing against different portions of a knife bar to hold it firmly, resisting deformation and rocking of the knife bar. Fluid-pressure-biased bearings eliminate looseness between relatively movable parts of the lathe, reducing the amount of variation of thickness in veneer produced using the lathe. Veneer thickness is controlled by monitoring cumulative movement of the lathe spindles and the main feed carriage.

Abstract: A veneer lathe charger system utilizing automated equipment for scanning and positioning a log to obtain optimum production of veneer therefrom. The charger has mechanical features specially designed to provide a degree of accuracy in the physical manipulation of the log comparable to the degree of accuracy provided by the automated scanning and positioning equipment. These include log manipulation features emphasizing engagement of the log only at its opposing ends during and after scanning and especially during transfer from one manipulating device to another, avoidance of end engagement by two different manipulating devices in identical end areas of the log, minimal movement of log positioning devices by the employment of dual scanning steps and features for retaining the accuracy of the manipulation devices despite wear thereof. The charger further includes features for improving its rate of production by reducing time delays between successive log manipulating steps.

Abstract: A method for optically measuring an elongate timber cant, regardless of whether in upright of inverted orientation, said cant having top and bottom substantially flat, mutually parallel surfaces separated by longitudinal wanes and having a generally trapezoidal cross section, and thereby locating the narrowest flat surface of the cant and the longitudinal boundaries thereof. The method is accomplished by effecting relative transverse movement between the cant and a crossed light pattern such that the longitudinal boundaries of the flat surfaces momentarily interrupt and restore a plurality of light beams forming the crossed light pattern, detecting four beam interruption and restoration events, and recording the amount of relative transverse movement between each of the four detected events. The resultant measurement data on the cant is used to space and orient a pair of edge trimming saws and to orient the cant in preparation for its advancement to the saws.