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 for turning a log thereon to cut off veneer sheets therefrom. The log is principally driven by a rotary roller having a plurality of projections therearound, which roller is pressed against the log to ensure positive engagement with the periphery thereof. The log is formed with a center bore at a core portion thereof. A spindle to support the log is inserted into the center bore to prevent the log deflection due to the pressure from the rotary roller. Another form of this veneer lathe is additionally provided with a center bore forming mechanism together with a centering mechanism for the boring operation such that a center bore is formed in the log in advance before being turned on the veneer lathe.

Abstract: A veneer lathe comprising a knife for peeling a veneer from a log, a plurality of pressure nose bars retained as regularly spaced on a pressure bar frame and disposed parallelly to the knife, a plurality of circular discs of a smooth circumferential face interposed between the adjacent pairs of the pressure nose bars and retained in position by the pressure bar frame through the medium of a drive shaft, means for driving the drive shaft, means for inching the pressure bar frame toward the log in proportion as the cutting of the log proceeds, and pressure means for advancing the circular discs toward the log independently of the action of the inching means thereby keeping the log under a substantially constant pressure.

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 for peeling a veneer from a log, comprising a knife mounted on a knife frame and adapted to peel said veneer from said log, a plurality of pressure bars retained on a pressure bar frame as disposed parallelly to said knife and spaced in the direction of the line of the blade of said knife, roller discs interposed one each between said plurality of pressure bars, retained on said pressure bar frame through the medium of rotary shafts, and rotated at a peripheral speed greater than the peripheral speed of said log, a guide face forming the passage of said veneer from the vicinity of said knife through said roller discs, a plurality of pressure rollers disposed on the lower side of said guide face and pressed displaceably in the direction of the axial line of said roller discs, and a guide member for said peeled veneer disposed on the underside of said pressure bar frame.

Abstract: Disclosed is a machine for supporting a log in a veneer lathe so that the log does not deflect. The machine has two rolls which engage the log opposite the lathe knife and nose bar. The rolls are mounted on a roll carriage having a kinematic linkage which maintains both rolls in positions tangential to the log throughout a range of log diameters. The roll carriage is powered by a feed screw mechanism which mechanically synchronizes the rolls' positions with respect to the knife and knife carriage. A control system is provided to automatically lower and raise the roll carriage or to operate it manually when desired.

Abstract: A veneer lathe apparatus is described including three powered drive rolls between which a log is clamped for rotation about a lathe axis while the log is engaged by the lathe knife for peeling a sheet of veneer therefrom. One of the powered rolls is employed as a reference roll for the other two rolls, such reference roll being held by a reference means locked in a reference position during peeling. The reference position of the reference roll is automatically adjusted relative to the lathe axis and to the other two drive rolls in response to changes in position of the lathe knife during peeling to maintain such reference roll in contact with the log. The other two drive rolls are driven by a common drive motor and supported on common support arms for movement toward and away from the reference roll while maintaining the spacing between such other two drive rolls substantially constant.

Abstract: A cord burying apparatus for a veneer sheet is provided. The apparatus comprises a cord burying knife and a piercing element having a plurality of piercing members thereon and provided on one side of the cord burying knife in axial juxtaposition therewith relative to the log. The cord burying knife has an edge facing upstream with respect to the log rotation to come into a cutting engagement with the log. The piercing members on the piercing element also come into cutting engagement with the log to positively move the log past the knife. The provision of the piercing element facilitates cutting operations of a log having rotten portions.

Abstract: A veneer lathe log peeling apparatus and method of producing wood veneer are disclosed employing a powered back-up roll for adding torque to and preventing deflection of log cores of small diameter. The powered roll and an idler roll are positioned in contact with the side of the log in spaced relationship so that the resultant force vector of the cutting forces produced by the lathe knife and the nose bar is directed between the idler roll and the powered roll. The angular and radial positions of the idler roll and the power roll relative to each other and with respect to the axis of rotation of the log are independently adjusted by an automatic control means, in response to decreases in the diameter of the log being peeled.

Abstract: An improved veneer lathe which cuts sheets of veneer from a turned log. A torque is applied to the log both by way of the spindle chuck holding its axial ends and by way of its outer periphery. During the cutting operation, the primary cause of log rotation is designed to be an external force applied to the log periphery by using an idling mechanism including a torque limiter, an overrunning clutch, etc.

Abstract: A veneer lathe including drive rolls capable of being adjusted horizontally and vertically with the advance of the cutting operation. As the log diameter decreases, drive roll spike pressure and depth are adjusted, thus avoiding veneer damage and improving veneer quality.

Abstract: A veneer lathe in which a log is rotatably supported, and powered endless chain members having sharpened projections on their outer side are employed to rotatably drive the log. A knife is provided at the log surface so that the log is cut in a circumferential direction as the knife moves toward the longitudinal axis of the log and the log rotates. Log pressure means are provided to press the log surface adjacent the knife edge, and a conventional transport mechanism moves the assembly of the endless chain members, the knife, and the log pressure means toward the longitudinal axis of the log in synchronization with the log rotation so that a veneer is continuously cut from the log.

Abstract: A new type of veneer lathe which comprises threaded cylinders as a means for exerting a driving force onto the periphery of a log. The tread on each cylinder is edged such that when pressed it cuts into the log periphery, and the cylinder is axially rotated to exert a rotary driving force onto the log periphery. Since the bottom end portion contacts the log immediately ahead of the edge of a cutting knife, the force which is exerted on the log to overcome the cutting resistance will not break soft wood of a poor quality log.

Abstract: A pressure bar of the fixed type for veneer cutting is heated to reduce frictional drag against the wood surface. In the preferred form, the pressure bar is contoured having a tip with a relatively small radius of curvature and a face, in advance of the tip, which has a relatively large radius of curvature. The combination of a heated contoured pressure bar provides performance comparable with that of a roller bar in terms of roughness and friction, but at significantly reduced cost.

Abstract: An improved veneer lathe which cuts off a sheet of veneer from a log supported rotatably by applying a torque directly to the outer periphery of the log. An external force for cutting the log is fed from the vicinity of a knife included in the lathe. The log core is not subjected to a load attributable to a cutting resistance so that even logs of a poor quality are usable for turning veneer sheets therefrom, enhancing the yield of plywood production.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for tenderizing a veneer. The method has the steps of forming cuts in one of the surfaces of a veneer transferred in a stretched condition, and bending the veneer toward the side opposite to the cut surface, thereby to allow a number of cracks to be generated from the cuts, thereby to tenderize the veneer and to avoid the curling of the same.

Abstract: A veneer peeling machine has a frame in which three rollers are mounted for rotation thereby to rotate a log between them. Two of the rollers are movable towards the third roller as the diameter of the log is reduced by peeling. A knife is movable to engage the log and peel a veneer from it, and the third roller, or preferably a fourth roller mounted close to the third roller in a fluid bearing extending along the length of the fourth roller, engages the log closely ahead of the knife edge to function as a nose bar.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting off a thickness of wood or veneer from a log, which apparatus uses a plurality of resilient pressing members formed as rollers for pressing the surface of the log during the cutting operation. Each roller has a plurality of edged members projecting from the periphery thereof, which edged members form a plurality of small cuts in the surface of the log prior to cutting of the thickness of wood or veneer therefrom.

Abstract: An improved veneer lathe which cuts sheets of veneer from a turned log. A torque is applied to the log both by way of the spindle chuck holding its axial ends and by way of its outer periphery. During the cutting operation, the primary cause of log rotation is designed to be an external force applied to the log periphery by using an idling mechanism including a torque limiter, an over-running clutch, etc.