Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and systems for producing wood chips are disclosed. The disclosure in one embodiment produces smooth wood chips of generally uniform size and shape, suited for use in making paper, cardboard, and other recyclable materials. In one embodiment, an apparatus is disclosed for collecting, aligning and guiding wood scraps through an array of spaced-apart saw blades using a feeder assembly operating on a continual basis. The feeder assembly in one embodiment includes one or more paddle assemblies shaped to align and guide the wood scraps along a feeder path toward the saw blades. A system for controlling an apparatus is also disclosed. A method for reducing wood scraps into cut chips is also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and systems for producing wood chips are disclosed. The invention in one embodiment produces smooth wood chips of generally uniform size and shape, suited for use in making paper, cardboard, and other recyclable materials. An apparatus is disclosed for collecting, aligning and guiding wood scraps through an array of spaced-apart saw blades using a feeder assembly operating on a continual basis. The feeder assembly may include one or more paddle assemblies shaped to align and guide the wood scraps along a feeder path toward the saw blades. A system for controlling the inventive apparatus is also disclosed. A method for reducing wood scraps into cut chips is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for cutting oversized wood chips smoothly and uniformly, such that the resulting chips are of optimum size and shape for use in making paper, cardboard, and other recyclable materials. A method is provided for aligning and guiding oversized wood chips through an array of spaced-apart saw blades using a reciprocating plunger controlled to continuously align and sweep the wood chips completely through the saw blades. The method and apparatus can be adapted to produce a variety of desired wood chip sizes.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for cutting oversized wood chips smoothly and uniformly, such that the resulting chips are of optimum size and shape for use in making paper, cardboard, and other recyclable materials. A method is provided for aligning and guiding oversized wood chips through an array of spaced-apart saw blades using a reciprocating plunger controlled to continuously align and sweep the wood chips completely through the saw blades. The method and apparatus can be adapted to produce a variety of desired wood chip sizes.

Abstract: A double valved snorkel has an inlet tube with a mouthpiece intermediate the upper and lower ends of the inlet tube. An inlet valve is positioned adjacent to the upper end of the tube and admits air into the inlet tube upon a suction force being applied to the mouthpiece. A repository is positioned adjacent an exit valve at the lower end of the tube. A drain basin is positioned in the inlet tube above the mouthpiece and diverts moisture inside the tube toward the repository. Since the repository is adjacent the exit valve below the mouthpiece, all moisture in the repository is expelled through the exit valve when a swimmer or diver exhales through the mouthpiece.

Abstract: A wood processing machine includes a cylindrical cutter assembly having a plurality of adjacent disks, each holding one or more cutting blades. The cutting blades are mounted in indentations in the disks. The solid character of the cylindrical structure thus formed can be smaller than prior drum-type wood processors because the individual disks are stronger than the thin plate of a drum. The novel disk construction is shown utilized in a wood chipping apparatus and in a wood flaking apparatus.

Abstract: An improved cutter knife for wood chip and flake producing apparatus includes shallow grooves in either the heel face or the gullet face of the knife intersecting the cutting edge and extending away from the cutting edge. The depth of the grooves is less than the depth of cut of the knife, and the grooves and corners formed by the grooves with the cutting edge provide an aggressive serrated cutting edge which penetrates into the wood and remains sharp longer than conventional cutting edges. Also disclosed is a novel wood flake material in which flake members have a larger area of exposured grain than of exposed side grain, thereby providing a short fiber length flake which can absorb moisture quickly by means of the exposed end grains, and can also dry quickly. The flake material is particularly useful as a bedding material for animals.

Abstract: An improved cutter knife for wood chip producing apparatus includes two cutting edges intersecting at an angle of 521/2 degrees. This knife allows wood to be fed perpendicularly into a knife holding disc or drum requiring less space and less power for the production of the wood chips. The improved knife also produces chips of precise dimensions.

Abstract: An improved cutter knife for wood chip and flake producing apparatus includes shallow grooves in either the heel face or the gullet face of the knife intersecting the cutting edge and extending away from the cutting edge. The depth of the grooves is less than the depth of cut of the knife, and the grooves and corners formed by the grooves with the cutting edge provide an aggressive serrated cutting edge which penetrates into the wood and remains sharp longer than conventional cutting edges. Also disclosed is a novel wood flake material in which flake members have a larger area of exposured grain than of exposed side grain, thereby providing a short fiber length flake which can absorb moisture quickly by means of the exposed end grains, and can also dry quickly. The flake material is particularly useful as a bedding material for animals.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of processing logs prior to further processing in lumber, plywood, pulp or veneer mills. In the apparatus, logs are deposited into a cradle formed between a rotating cutter drum and support rollers which guide the log against the cutting drum and rotate the log about its longitudinal axis in a direction opposite to the rotation of the cutter drum, at a controlled speed slower than the drum. Constant rotation of the log reduces horsepower requirements by minimizing the length of each cut made by cutter assemblies extending from the cutter drum. Logs are discharged by lowering the guide rollers with respect to the cutter drum. A second embodiment is disclosed including a pair of cooperating rollers providing a variable sized cradle adjacent to the cutter drum. Means for delivering logs to the apparatus and for removing material cut from the log are disclosed. In a single operation, logs are debarked, rounded, reduced to any desired diameter, or completely reduced to chips.