Planing And Sawing Patents (Class 144/39)
  • Patent number: 11345058
    Abstract: A machine for conical machining workpieces of wood and plastics has a support supporting the workpieces during feeding in a transport direction through the machine. Rotatably driven tools are provided to machine longitudinal sides of the workpieces extending in the transport direction. At least one of the rotatably driven tools is adjustable transverse to the transport direction. A tongue and groove guide guides the workpieces through the machine in transport direction. In a method for conical machining workpieces, the workpieces prior to or during feeding are measured in regard to the conicity to be machined. A form-fit element is produced on the workpieces and interacts with a counter form-fit element during feeding of the workpieces so as to guide the workpieces in transport direction. At least one of the rotatably driven tools is adjusted transverse to the transport direction during feeding of the workpieces based on the measured conicity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Michael Weinig AG
    Inventors: Albrecht Dawidziak, Klaus Weisenseel
  • Patent number: 8141603
    Abstract: A guide arm for a gang sawmill is provided adjacent to an inlet of a gang saw and is movable about a pivot pin depending on the actual curvature of a cant to adjust (continuously or fixed) the position of an incoming cant to maximize the yield of usable boards produced by the gang saw by moving the cant relative to the saw as a conveyor feeds the cant through the gang saw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Inventors: Patrick M Conry, Russell Kennedy, Chris Raybon, Russell Roberson
  • Patent number: 8002003
    Abstract: A system is provided for creating bevel edges on a plank. In some embodiments, the system comprises two bevel-cutting tools disposed in fixed positions and two guided cylinders disposed to independently move two edges of a plank to within varying degrees of contact with the bevel-cutting tools. Separate controllers can be provided to independently control the time, frequency, and rate of movement of the guided cylinders. Methods are provided for creating the appearance of a hand-scraped wood plank. A method for creating irregular bevel edges on a plank is also provided as are a system and method that use a plank production line operation. A plank having irregular beveled edges and the appearance of a hand-scraped wood plank is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Mannington Mills, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Nicholas Walker
  • Patent number: 7770616
    Abstract: A device for machining, in particular, profiling tree trunks is provided, which includes two rotating machining tools (2, 3), whose axes (A, B) are essentially offset by 90° in relation to one another and are oriented in an essentially perpendicular direction to the longitudinal axis of the tree trunk. The first machining tool (2) and the second machining tool (3) are arranged in relation to one another in such a way that the first axis (A) and the second axis (B) lie on a common plane (E) and/or that their respective workpiece machining zones (I, II) at least partially overlap one another in the transversal direction of the tree trunk or adjoin one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Gebruder Linck GmbH & Co. KG “Gatterlinck” Maschinenfabrik
    Inventors: Hermann Gross, Robert Maier
  • Publication number: 20100089495
    Abstract: A method and a system for glulams fabrication, comprising obtaining wood pieces of a target length from raw materials; and assembling them into structural timbers of a target thickness in a continuous line, whereby moisture content, end joints, mixing and applying of adhesives, glue line pressure and clamping time are continuously controlled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventors: Lucien Filion, Emilien Racine
  • Patent number: 7681610
    Abstract: An optimizing planermill system includes a control system and a workpiece feed path for feeding an array of workpieces linearly downstream to an optimizing planer. The gap size between successive workpieces is set so that each gap provides enough time for relative movement of at least one of movable cutting elements in the planer and movable guiding elements so as to obtain relative movement between the cutting elements and the workpiece being next fed in for optimized positioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: USNR/Kockums Cancar Company
    Inventors: Ronald W. McGehee, Patrick Doyle
  • Publication number: 20080289722
    Abstract: A forest products lineal cutter assembly comprises a work piece scanning assembly, an outfeed conveyor assembly and a cutting station. The lineal cutter assembly also includes first and second work piece hold down elements above the scan belt at a first exit end of the scan belt and above the outfeed belt at a second entrance end of the scan belt. In some embodiments the first and second work piece hold down elements comprise hold down rollers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Applicant: McGehee Development Company LLC
    Inventor: Ronald W. McGehee
  • Patent number: 7441571
    Abstract: A conical chipper/canter head. The head includes, at least, one or more chipping knives. Each chipping knife provides at least one pair of linear cutting edges including a face cutting edge and a chip cutting edge angled with respect to each other. The face cutting edge defines a planar, face cutting surface of revolution of the cutting head, and the chip cutting edge defines a conical, chip cutting surface of revolution of the cutting head. The face and chip cutting edges of the same chipping knife lie in substantially the same plane. A cutting head may include a plurality of facing knives and corresponding clamping members in addition to one or more chipping knives. The facing knives and corresponding clamping members are adapted so that each of the facing knives is removable from the cutting head without removing any other facing knives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Key Knife, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley R. Stager, Jianmin Liao
  • Patent number: 7210509
    Abstract: A chipping head, particularly a chipping head of a chipping canter, is disclosed comprising a head body having thereon mounted multiple chipping knives that are adapted on the head body in an annular fashion spaced at a distance from each other. Onto the chipping head, on the head end face thereof touching a wooden workpiece being processing and/or on the lateral surface of a disc-like or flange-like element such as a circular saw blade mounted on the chipping head body, there is formed at least one groove and/or ridge, the groove and/or ridge spiraling about the axis of head body rotation so that the starting point of the groove and/or ridge is radially displaced at a distance from the axis of rotation and, respectively, the end point of the groove/ridge is closer than its starting point to the axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Inventor: Kauko Rautio
  • Patent number: 7159628
    Abstract: A split sawbox for a gangsaw includes a sawbox having at least first and second mating sawbox sections. The sections are linearly selectively translatable relative to one another between a closed position wherein the sections are releasably locked together for operation of the gangsaw, and an open position wherein the sections are linearly separated from one another to open a gap within which a workman may stand for maintenance of the gangsaw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Coe Newnes/McGehee Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Stroud, Rory M. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 7117907
    Abstract: An apparatus for adjustably profiling a cant comprising a first and second shaft rotatably mounted on a first and second frame, respectively. A first and second pair of laterally spaced apart profiling heads are slidably and rotatably mounted on the first and second shaft, respectively. Corresponding pairs of linear positioners laterally translate the first and second laterally spaced apart heads so that each profiling head in each pair of profiling heads may be independently translated relative to the other to set spacing, and then each pair may be sleeved cooperatively in unison. The pairs of profiling heads may be vertically displaced relative to the longitudinal centerline of a cant. The profiling heads remove notches from the wane corners of the cant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: COE Newnes/McGehee Inc.
    Inventor: Rory M. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 7017632
    Abstract: A method of position-based integrated motion controlled curve sawing includes the steps of: transporting a curved workpiece in a downstream direction on a transfer, and monitoring position of the workpiece on the transfer, scanning the workpiece through an upstream scanner to measure workpiece profiles in spaced apart array, along a surface of the workpiece and communicating the workpiece profiles to a digital processor, computing by the digital processor, a high order polynomial smoothing curve fitted to the array of workpiece profiles of the curved workpiece, and adjusting the smoothing curve for cutting machine constraints of downstream motion controlled cutting devices to generate an adjusted curve generating unique position cams unique to the workpiece from the adjusted curve for optimized cutting by the cutting devices along a tool path corresponding to the position cams, sequencing the transfer and the workpiece with the cutting devices, and sequencing the unique position cams corresponding to the work
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Coe Newnes/McGehee, Inc.
    Inventors: Joe B. Kennedy, Roland Davyduke, James G. Jackson, James B. Hannebauer, William R. Newnes, Brian Stroud, John Sergeant
  • Patent number: 6991012
    Abstract: A method of forming a workpiece into sectioned parts using a pair of laterally translatable chipping heads and, downstream, a cutting device of the type having a plurality of rotatable cutting members mounted for rotation on a common axis which is movable and including workpiece transport means for moving the workpiece from a starting position to a final position along a path which extends first past the chipping heads and then past the cutting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Coe Newnes/McGehee Inc.
    Inventors: Rory Matthew Mitchell, Brian Stroud
  • Publication number: 20040238069
    Abstract: A multifunctional electrically powered and operated construction apparatus incorporating an electric saw tool, an electric planer tool, and an electric drill tool all mounted upon a common stock pillar of the apparatus. The apparatus incorporates a unique system of cooperating transmission and gear subassemblies that enable an operator of the apparatus to quickly and efficiently adjust the apparatus to toggle between sawing, drilling and planning functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventor: Cai Bai He
  • Patent number: 6817392
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming workpieces with rounded ends especially for use as webs in timber roof trusses. The apparatus includes a feeding system for feeding workpieces into a row of workpieces arranged along a path of travel and cyclically advancing the row along the path to a rotary cutter tool. A movable conveyor receives workpieces thereon and delivers each workpiece sequentially to a loading position adjacent the upstream end of the path of travel. A pushing device is at the upstream end of the path. A common drive shaft simultaneously powers the conveyor and the pushing device. A stop bar prevents movement of the workpieces in a direction generally transverse the path of travel while the cutter tool is shaping the ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Mitek Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Stewart A. Phillips
  • Patent number: 6755102
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for steering saw blades which includes an arbor rotatable about a rotation axis. Saw blades are mounted on the arbor in such a manner that the saw blades rotate with the arbor and are angularly adjustable in relation to the rotation axis of the arbor. A rigid guide assembly is provided having a plurality of guides each of which accommodate one the saw blades, such that movement of the guide assembly angularly adjusts the saw blades in unison. A leading edge of each of the saw blades is positioned along a common alignment plane. A support is provided for the guide assembly. The support has an underlying pivot axis spaced from and substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of the arbor. This pivot axis is on the alignment plane such that the leading edge of each of the saw blades remain positioned along the alignment plane as the guide assembly is pivoted to move the guide assembly to alter the angular positioning of the saw blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Gordon Buchanan Enterprises Ltd.
    Inventors: Greg Arnold Buchanan, Kenneth Allan Ogg
  • Patent number: 6719022
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing an essentially wedge-shaped wood flake comprises a chipping tool rotating about a first, horizontal axis for chipping the flake out of the wood such that the flake has a first, concave surface and a second, convex surface. The flake is delimited between the surfaces. A circular saw blade is provided rotating about a second, vertical axis for removing wood in an area in which the surfaces intersect in an imaginary tip, prior to the chipping out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Esterer WD GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Hans Dietz, Jürgen Edelmann
  • Patent number: 6712105
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for planing an article of wood. Specifically disclosed is a cutting head adapted for rotation about an axis, and at least one elongate knife including a linear cutting edge for cutting the wood. The cutting edge terminates at opposite ends of the knife in respective tips. The knife is held by the cutting head so that each tip is rotated about the axis of rotation at the same fixed radius. However, the cutting edge is misaligned by a predetermined bias angle with respect to the axis of rotation. Where a plurality of the cutting heads are stacked or ganged together, preferably, the angle of misalignment for the knives of some of the cutting heads is reversed from the angle of misalignment for the knives of others of the cutting heads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Key Knife, Inc.
    Inventors: Edwin O. Cannon, Thomas Charles Hinchliff
  • Patent number: 6705363
    Abstract: A log processor and log processing method scans a log (L) at a first station (18) so that the longitudinal centerline (32) and a sawing scheme for the log can be automatically determined by a controller (4). The log is oriented at a second station (24) so that the longitudinal centerline is oriented with respect to a vertical plane passing through the feed line. The position of the log is automatically adjusted at third and fourth stations (36, 42) so that the saw blade path (56) through the log is generally parallel to the feed line as the log passes a log exit (12) and through a saw (14). The sawing scheme can include variable tapering sawing from split taper sawing to full taper sawing. Differential steering chain assemblies (37) may be used at the fourth station and may each include continuous loop, log-engaging chains (106) which engage the log above and below the log. Log chipping, profiling heads (62) may be used on either side of the feed line, such as at a fifth station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Inventors: Ronald W. McGehee, Rory M. Mitchell
  • Publication number: 20040045634
    Abstract: An apparatus having adjustable saws for wood cutting. A cutting head has at least two spaced apart disk-saws for producing respective slicing cuts in an article of wood, the saws defining respective distinct outer cutting diameters. Preferably, the disk-saws are bolted to the cutting head and spaced apart therefrom adjustable amounts by interdisposed control plates of predetermined thicknesses. Preferably, a first one of the disk-saws defines an annular ring having an inner diameter, and the outer cutting diameter for the first disk-saw is greater than the outer cutting diameter of a second one of the disk-saws. The outer cutting diameter of the second disk-saw is then less than the inner diameter of the first disk-saw, so that the second disk-saw is nested inside the first disk-saw while remaining axially displaceable therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventor: Bradley R. Stager
  • Patent number: 6690990
    Abstract: A method of optimizing a layout of selected parts to be cut from a piece of raw material such as wood, uses data representing geometric and defect-related characteristics of the each piece and data representing geometric and grade characteristics of a set of parts to be cut. A subset of parts characterized by a predetermined grade (quality) value and associated with a predetermined group of dimension values (width/length) is defined, as well as an arrangement of subdivided piece surface sections to be obtained through a primary cutting operation according to one or more of the width/length values. One or more subsections included in each piece surface section is defined according to the geometric and defect-related characteristics of the piece, and, for each subsection, a plurality of arrangements of parts to be included therein and selected from the subset of parts, to be obtained through a secondary cut operation, are defined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Centre de Recherche Industrielle du Québec
    Inventors: Martin Caron, Pierre Coulombe
  • Patent number: 6688351
    Abstract: An adjustable profiling head for a wood cutting apparatus. There is a first body portion for carrying a plurality of first knives and a second body portion for carrying a plurality of second knives. The cutting edges of the knives define respective cutting surfaces of revolution about an axis that have different mean diameters for the two body portions. In one aspect of the invention, the body portions are adapted to receive the respective knives by associated knife clamping mechanisms that are adapted to be removably mounted to the body portions with one or more first control plates therebetween, for adjusting the radial positioning of the knives. In another aspect of the invention, the body portions are adapted to be removably mounted to each other so that the body portions are disposed axially adjacent one another with one or more second control plates therebetween, for adjusting the relative axial positioning of the knives of one of the body portions with respect to the knives of the other body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Key Knife, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley R. Stager, John S. Luecke
  • Patent number: 6644164
    Abstract: A rotatable saw unit for optimized log breakdown includes a saw unit immediately downstream of an infeed conveyor and cooperating with the infeed conveyor for sawing a workpiece as the workpiece is translated by the infeed conveyor into the saw unit. The saw unit includes at least one saw aligned for sawing of the workpiece parallel to a longitudinal infeed axis. An optimizing processor determines an optimized sawing orientation relative to the longitudinal infeed axis. A saw unit positioner'selectively rotates the saw unit about a saw unit rotation axis so as to rotate the at least one saw into the optimized sawing orientation prior to sawing of the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Inventor: Brian T. Stroud
  • Patent number: 6637483
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for profiling a log. In a profiler having first and second knives disposed on a rotating disc, a mounting member is adapted to mountably receive both the first and second knives so that each blade has a point on its cutting edge that is proximate a point that is on the cutting edge of the other knives. Preferably, the points are end most points and abut one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Key Knife, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley R. Stager, John S. Luecke
  • Patent number: 6612210
    Abstract: A shape sawing system for sawing lumber pieces from a curved cant. The cant is scanned by scanners and the scan data is input to a computer. The computer determines a curved path for the saw to follow in sawing the cant into lumber pieces. The saw is laterally and pivotally adjustable to follow the determined path established by the computer. The saw is a plurality of circular saw blades having a defined cutting edge portion that is inclined from a leading point at the bottom of the cant to a trailing point at the top of the cant. The point of pivot of the saws is between the leading point and the trailing point of the cutting edge portion. The saw assembly is mounted on pads having a low coefficient of friction. Pressurized air and lubricant are delivered to the pads to reduce the friction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: U.S. Natural Resources, Inc.
    Inventors: Mike Dockter, Michael P. Knerr, Glen O. Chambers
  • Patent number: 6543497
    Abstract: For use as a wood intermediary and the like in industry, an essentially wedge-shaped wood flake with opposite concave and convex surfaces that converge at an imaginary tip outside the flake dimensions. The tip is located beyond the flake a distance of typically between 40% and 100% of the flake length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Inventor: Hans Dietz
  • Patent number: 6520228
    Abstract: A method of position-based integrated motion controlled curve sawing includes the steps of: transporting a curved workpiece in a downstream direction on a transfer, and monitoring position of the workpiece on the transfer, scanning the workpiece through an upstream scanner to measure workpiece profiles in spaced apart array, along a surface of the workpiece and communicating the workpiece profiles to a digital processor, computing by the digital processor, a high order polynomial smoothing curve fitted to the array of workpiece profiles of the curved workpiece, and adjusting the smoothing curve for cutting machine constraints of downstream motion controlled cutting devices to generate an adjusted curve generating unique position cams unique to the workpiece from the adjusted curve for optimized cutting by the cutting devices along a tool path corresponding to the position cams, sequencing the transfer and the workpiece with the cutting devices, and sequencing the unique position cams corresponding to the work
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: CAE Inc.
    Inventors: Joe B. Kennedy, Roland Davyduke, James G. Jackson, James B. Hannebauer, William R. Newnes, Brian Stroud, John Sergeant
  • Patent number: 6405769
    Abstract: Material-recovery apparatus for obtaining usable, uniformly-dimensioned blanks from scrap. Apparatus is small, and economical in manufacture and operation, using only a single lifting jack and vertical support unit to support the tool-and-feed-roller housing. Feed-roller tensioning units for exerting downward force on rollers have a spring-biased bell-crank mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Inventor: Thom L. Labrie
  • Patent number: 6240988
    Abstract: To make the usable wood volume of the tree trunks as large as possible, octagonal or dodecagonal dressed timbers are proposed from which then boards or beams with inclined edges are cut. To produce octagonal or dodecagonal dressed timbers, in a first machining stage (11) two side surfaces (13) are milled off the tree trunk, it is then turned by 90° and two additional side surfaces (19) are milled off in a second machining station (17). Immediately thereafter in another machining station (21) with four (for octagonal dressed timbers) or eight (for dodecagonal dressed timbers) milling cutters (22) the remaining rough edges (20) are milled off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Wol Systembau Gesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventor: Johann Wolf
  • Patent number: 6213176
    Abstract: A device for producing squared timber from tree trunks includes a feed section, a machining center, and a delivery section; the feed section has at least two grippers which can be placed against the tree trunk to be machined and using which the tree trunk is supplied to the machining center; the machining center has several plan cutters and feed rollers in order to advance the tree trunk, while it is machined by cutting at the desired locations. The square beam is transported from the machining center onto the delivery section and then removed for further machining. The grippers may be made such that they hold the tree trunk regardless of its diameter at a height which at least roughly corresponds to the axis of the machining center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Inventors: Johann Wolf, Dale Sanborn
  • Patent number: 6196283
    Abstract: A woodworking machine, in particular a trimming machine, of working elongate workpieces such as timbers, beams, boards and the like is proposed, the workpiece resting on a support and a longitudinally movable coupling element guiding the workpiece to working units. In this machine there is provided a guiding element which is likewise longitudinally movable and can be positioned in such a manner at a working unit that, on the one hand, optimal workpiece guidance is achieved and, on the other hand, the coupling element and the guiding element remain outside the operative region of the working unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Inventor: Hans Hundegger
  • Patent number: 6178858
    Abstract: This invention applies to a shape sawing system for sawing lumber pieces from a curved cant portion. A scanner scans the cant portion as it is conveyed on a conveyor system and inputs the scan data into a computer. The computer determines the curvature and position of the cant portion on the conveyor system. The conveyor system conveys the cant portion through side chippers and into a saw. The side chippers are independently laterally adjustable to follow the curvature of the cant portion. Guide members mounted strategic to the saw guide the cant portion into the saw. The saw is pivotally and laterally adjustable to follow the curvature of the cant portion to produce full length and partial length lumber pieces from the cant portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: U.S. Natural Resources, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P. Knerr, Mike Dockter
  • Patent number: 6161603
    Abstract: Procedure for working curved tree trunks by chipping into timber products, such as boards and cants, in which procedure the trunk (T) is crook-chipped and a straight side board (S1) is edged at the same time. The invention also relates to an apparatus for implementing the procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Inventor: Kauko Rautio
  • Patent number: 6148884
    Abstract: A method of producing a hardwood flooring product, including the steps of processing a strip of raw wood into a blank having a predetermined thickness and width, and top and bottom surfaces defining parallel planes relative to each other, and splitting the blank along the width of the blank from one side to the other to form two low profile flooring strips having the same width as the blank and a thickness less than one-half the thickness of the blank. The splitting step includes the steps of providing first and second circular saw blades mounted on spaced-apart vertical axes for rotation in a single plane intermediate and parallel to the planes of the top and bottom surfaces of the blank and positioning the blank on conveying means upstream from the saw blades with the plane of rotation of the saw blades intermediate and parallel to the planes of the top and bottom surfaces of the blank for movement of the blank from an upstream position to a downstream position relative to the saw blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Triangle Pacific Corp.
    Inventors: Darl J. Bolyard, James E. Price
  • Patent number: 6135176
    Abstract: Chipping heads are mounted for lateral movement in one dimension in a gang saw module which is itself moveable translationally in the first dimension and angularly in a second dimension, for skewing relative to an in-feed direction of a curved cant. The chipping heads are mounted on an in-feed side of the gang saw assembly. Stationary drive motors are mounted directly above the chipping heads, supported by a tower that is independent of the gang saw module. Vertical drive lines with U-joints drivingly connect the drive motors to the chipping heads while permitting the chipping heads to be moved normal to the axes of rotation of the drive motors. The motors are centered above the chipping heads, with their vertical drive axes midway between lateral endpoints in each dimension of the range of travel of the chipping heads. Motor spacing above the chipping heads and the drive line lengths are sufficient to accommodate that range of lateral travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Timber Machine Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Greg F. Smith
  • Patent number: 6062280
    Abstract: An active edger includes an actively positionable gangsaw or a first end saw mounted on an arbor mounted within a stationary saw box. The gangsaw or first end saw is actively positionable relative to the saw box. In a second embodiment, the gangsaw or first end saw is mounted on an arbor in fixed translational and skewing relation relative to, and within, an actively positionable saw box. The actively positionable gangsaw is selectively actively laterally translatable and selectively actively rotatable so as to skew the gangsaw relative to the saw box. In both embodiments, the saw box receives a workpiece, longitudinally conveyed in a downstream direction, longitudinally into the gangsaw or first end saw from an upstream position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: CAE Electronics Ltd. CAE Electronique Ltee
    Inventors: William R. Newnes, Steven W. Michell, Brian T. Stroud
  • Patent number: 6062281
    Abstract: A processing system for processing logs having a curvature into lumber pieces. The system has a cutting station including a saw box with a chipper and a vertical arbor saw mounted to the saw box. The saw box is movable upwardly and downwardly and angularly for tilting. The movement of the saw box orients the chipper relative to the log and provides the capability of the saw to follow a curved saw path. A scanner scans the log and a computer processes the scan data to determine the optimum saw path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: U.S. Natural Resources
    Inventors: Mike Dockter, Michael P. Knerr
  • Patent number: 6039096
    Abstract: The invention concerns a milling tool (10) with reduced noise emission for machining panel-like pieces of wood. The reduction in noise emission is brought about by reducing the vibrations produced in the tool and workpiece and by proportioning the cut, machining being carried out in two stages. The greatest part of the chip volume (first stage) is removed under favorable noise-emission conditions using a special cutting geometry. The tool and workpiece vibrations are reduced by a clearly reduced rise in the shear force pulse using a special cutting tooth geometry. The chip volume removed under these conditions is only small (second stage), and so good quality machining can be attained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Inventors: Uwe Heisel, Johannes Troger
  • Patent number: 6039098
    Abstract: A method of position-based integrated motion controlled curve sawing includes the steps of: transporting a curved workpiece in a downstream direction on a transfer, and monitoring position of the workpiece on the transfer, scanning the workpiece through an upstream scanner to measure workpiece profiles in spaced apart array, along a surface of the workpiece and communicating the workpiece profiles to a digital processor, computing by the digital processor, a high order polynomial smoothing curve fitted to the array of workpiece profiles of the curved workpiece, and adjusting the smoothing curve for cutting machine constraints of downstream motion controlled cutting devices to generate an adjusted curve generating unique position cams unique to the workpiece from the adjusted curve for optimized cutting by the cutting devices along a tool path corresponding to the position cams, sequencing the transfer and the workpiece with the cutting devices, and sequencing the unique position cams corresponding to the work
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Cae Electronics Ltd.
    Inventors: Joe B. Kennedy, Roland Davyduke, James G. Jackson, James B. Hannebauer, William R. Newnes, Brian Stroud, John Sergeant
  • Patent number: 6039097
    Abstract: A method of position-based integrated motion controlled curve sawing includes the steps of: transporting a curved workpiece in a downstream direction on a transfer, and monitoring position of the workpiece on the transfer, scanning the workpiece through an upstream scanner to measure workpiece profiles in spaced apart array, along a surface of the workpiece and communicating the workpiece profiles to a digital processor, computing by the digital processor, a high order polynomial smoothing curve fitted to the array of workpiece profiles of the curved workpiece, and adjusting the smoothing curve for cutting machine constraints of downstream motion controlled cutting devices to generate an adjusted curve generating unique position cams unique to the workpiece from the adjusted curve for optimized cutting by the cutting devices along a tool path corresponding to the position cams, sequencing the transfer and the workpiece with the cutting devices, and sequencing the unique position cams corresponding to the work
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: CAE Electronics Ltd.
    Inventors: Joe B. Kennedy, Roland Davyduke, James G. Jackson, James B. Hannebauer, William R. Newnes, Brian Stroud, John Sergeant
  • Patent number: 5946995
    Abstract: An edging and curve-sawing saw has a selectively skewable sawbox, skewable to a workpiece infeed path so as to receive workpieces translated longitudinally along the infeed path and into the sawbox. The sawbox rotatably supports a saw arbor. A plurality of saw blades are slidingly mounted on the saw arbor in a parallel laterally spaced array. The saw blade array spacing is selectively adjustable device mounted to the sawbox. The array is slide on the arbor relative to the sawbox according to an optimized profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: CAE Electronics Ltd. CAE Electronique Ltee
    Inventors: Steven W. Michell, Emeric Johnson, Brian Stroud, James Jackson, John Sergeant
  • Patent number: 5934348
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for fabricating strands from round wood are disclosed. The strands have a length of between 200 and 350 mm in the direction of the wood fibers and have a width of between 1 and 15 mm. The strands are fabricated from profiled logs. In the cross-section of the logs, residual areas outside a center piece are defined, the center piece being the area intended to be dissected into beams or boards at a later stage. The residual areas are provided with longitudinal slits by cutting or sawing. The strands are then cut out of the residual areas until the residual areas are entirely removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Inventor: Hans Dietz
  • Patent number: 5915429
    Abstract: A sawmill that is a compact integrated unit of a multiplicity of components all mounted on a common frame for performing different functions to produce pieces of lumber from a log. Logs can be processed that have a minimum diameter of approximately 2" and a minimum length of approximately 42" with the overall length of the mill being approximately 17'. There are a number of power driven feed and guide rolls that propel a log endwise along a fixed path. The processing components include first and second pairs of chipper canter units with novel chipper heads, a pair of rabbet units in which each has a pair of cutter heads on concentric telescopic shafts and power driven rolls for off-feeding pieces of lumber of differing widths. The log feed speed and/or chipper head speed can be varied to provide chips of selected different lengths. Positioning of the processing units is controlled by a programmed processor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Tembec Inc.
    Inventors: Gilles Pelletier, Jean Guy Bouchard, Laurent Trudel, Serge Constantineau
  • Patent number: 5884682
    Abstract: A method of position-based integrated motion controlled curve sawing includes the steps of: transporting a curved workpiece in a downstream direction on a transfer, and monitoring position of the workpiece on the transfer, scanning the workpiece through an upstream scanner to measure workpiece profiles in spaced apart array, along a surface of the workpiece and communicating the workpiece profiles to a digital processor, computing by the digital processor, a high order polynomial smoothing curve fitted to the array of workpiece profiles of the curved workpiece, and adjusting the smoothing curve for cutting machine constraints of downstream motion controlled cutting devices to generate an adjusted curve generating unique position cams unique to the workpiece from the adjusted curve for optimized cutting by the cutting devices along a tool path corresponding to the position cams, sequencing the transfer and the workpiece with the cutting devices, and sequencing the unique position cams corresponding to the work
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: CAE Newnes Ltd.
    Inventors: Joe B. Kennedy, Roland Davyduke, James G. Jackson, James B. Hannebauer, William R. Newnes, Brian Stroud, John Sergeant
  • Patent number: 5816302
    Abstract: A gangsaw in-feed mechanism for positioning a cant and feeding the cant generally longitudinally into a gangsaw along a feed path, wherein the cant is oriented with its planar faces generally horizontal, and wherein the in-feed mechanism has laterally opposed laterally translatable skewable chipping heads lying generally in first and second generally parallel vertical planes laterally opposed on either side of the feed path, a method for opening opposed generally vertical longitudinal faces so as to form curved longitudinal profiles on laterally opposed sides of the cant according to an optimized profile solution, so as to feed the cant into the gangsaw along a generally linear feed path for curve sawing in the gangsaw, having the steps of longitudinally translating and positioning the cant along the feed path between said chipping heads, laterally translating and simultaneously skewing the chipping heads, according to the optimized profile solution, into cutting engagement with the laterally opposed sides of
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Newnes Machine Ltd.
    Inventor: William R. Newnes
  • Patent number: 5765615
    Abstract: A canter capable of curve-cutting featuring rotary, power-driven frustro-conical chipper heads for chipping a workpiece, which chipper heads are adjustable under the influence of movement structure to achieve five degrees of freedom of motion and adjustment which take into account the different topographical characteristics of different workpieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Optimil Machinery, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Chapman, Ernie R. Buchacher
  • Patent number: 5762121
    Abstract: Procedure for working tree trunks by machining into wood products, such as boards and cants. In the procedure, from trunks (1) preferably trimmed on at least two sides, at first at least one side board (3) is sawn so that at least part of the dull edge (2) remains on the side board (3), whereupon the dull edges (2') of the side board are edged. The side board (3) is moved together with the central section (1') during the edging operation and the side board (3) and the central section (1') are kept at a distance from each other by means of a separating element (6), such as a dividing knife, at least during the edging operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Inventor: Kauko Rautio
  • Patent number: 5722474
    Abstract: Apparatus for detecting dimensional information of a workpiece such as a canted log is used to control a gang saw mounted on a pivot axis to cut the log into substantially even thickness boards while moving the log past the cutting device and pivoting the gang saw to accommodate curvature in the log.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Inventors: Christopher Raybon, Levi A. Pollard, V, Ronald W. McGehee, Russell R. Kennedy, Patrick M. Conry
  • Patent number: 5664611
    Abstract: A machine in which a log is transported through the machine center for chipping or sawing a slab from both sides of the log in a single pass and/or sawing a side board or flitch from one or both sides of the log in a single pass and/or sawing multiple boards by reciprocating the log through the center of the machine. This invention relates specifically to the center carriage feed system having a bottom carriage and a top carriage in which the bottom carriage supports the log continuously for its full length and the top carriage utilizes hold down bars or dogs that engage the top of the log. The bottom carriage includes a log supposing vertical member having a transverse member at its lower end provided with a wheel at each end to engage widely spaced parallel tracks. One of the wheels and tracks are of V-shaped configuration to stabilize and guide the vertical log supporting member to reduce lateral deflection. The other track and wheels are flat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Inventor: Merle McDowell
  • Patent number: 5617908
    Abstract: A substantially cylindrical cutter head for cutting chips from wood. The cutter head has a body formed of disc-shaped body sections mounted in a substantially axially aligned position. Double-edged knives are mounted on the perimeter of the cutter head body, and also on the end of the cutter head body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: Key Knife, Inc.
    Inventor: William C. Toogood