Abstract: Method and apparatus for removing camber from strip preparatory to forming helical pipe is taught utilizing the steps of feeding the strip longitudinally along a directional line of feed, sensing lateral deviations of the strip relative to the directional line of feed, laterally moving and realigning the strip in response to lateral deviations, then severing both side edges of the strip on lines parallel with the directional line of feed.Apparatus for practicing the method comprises a pair of laterally spaced guide rolls which are mounted for lateral adjustment toward and away from the other, means for moving the guide rolls simultaneously as a unit as well as independently of each other, and control means, including servomechanisms for positioning each roll in response to variations in both width of the strip and camber.

Abstract: System of transferring wane-edged boards through a control station for edging to detect the wane consistent and possibly other characteristics of the board automatically. The board is first aligned automatically by transporting each board separately and sequentially against a first group of fixed transversal stops to provide the same sawing line for each sequentially fed board; then each is moved sequentially from the transversal stops to and through a control station where the wane consistent and other features may be detected. The information is recorded in a data processing unit memory, and then the board is transferred to an edging station and aligned against a second group of transversely positioned adjustable stops. The movable stops are optimized on the basis of information supplied by the data processing unit based on quantities measured at the control station and other information so that each of the boards is transferred to the same sawing line.

Abstract: A device for cutting a piece of a flat workpiece at a selected location identifiable by two or more binary coded numbers which device includes a cutter, a cutting platen having an upper workpiece supporting surface and a lower portion, a plurality of upstanding, shiftable members, a guiding arrangement on the platen adjacent the lower portion for loosely receiving the members, an arrangement for moving the members in accordance with the coded numbers and a structure for forcing the cutter against the cutting surface. In accordance with another aspect, the shiftable members are movable by binary fluid motors each including a series of axially aligned fluid actuating units having strokes corresponding to binary numbers and an arrangement for actuating certain of these units in the fluid motor to move the shiftable members in accordance with the extended condition of the binary motors.

Abstract: Drafts of preselected weight are sliced into a preselected number of slices by passing the material to be sliced through a curtain of radiation to measure the density of the material, and this measurement is used to calculate the length of each draft, which measurement is stored and subsequently read out to control the operation of a stepping hydroelectric motor which pushes the material through a cutting station at the proper speed.

Abstract: Cants from logs are conveyed transversely to their length to measure the cant thickness and position of the upper surface by passing under a thickness detector that directs the vertical positioning of a plurality of linearly spaced proximity edge sensors. The cant passing a sensor causes a series of pulses related to the conveyor speed to be introduced into a computer to measure the width of the cant at each of the sensor positions. The computer determines the alignment of the linear axis of the cant to yield the maximum board volume and directs the positioning of the cant relative to edging saws and transfer of the cant to a longitudinal conveyor for feed into the edging saws.The apparatus employed comprises a frame supporting a conveyor having its travel transverse to the length of the cant to be transported and a plurality of upper and lower proximity edge sensors linearly spaced parallel to the length of the cant.

Abstract: In an automatic sawmill, a caliper device measures the diameter of an incoming log and the log is then positioned against a pair of backstands over a log receiving carriage. A plurality of cutting devices are positioned relative to the carriage, and the speed control for the carriage is predetermined, in response to the log diameter. The diameter measurement is supplied to data processing circuitry which provides outputs indicative of "sets" to be taken by the aforementioned backstands and cutting devices for sawing the log into a number of cants, boards, or slabs in a manner making optimum use of the log content.

Abstract: Hog loins or other meat items are trimmed to a base weight by severing from one relatively uniform end of each loin a single portion having a length determined by the amount of actual weight of said loin which exceeds the base weight multiplied by a factor representing a lineal relationship between increments of weight and length taken from corresponding uniform ends of other loins which also exceeded the base weight.

Abstract: Apparatus and control circuitry used in a copy machine for providing copy paper cut to length in accordance with an original sheet sensed by two switches in the path of travel of the original. A first feed roller is rotated via a clutch upon energization of a solenoid for the cluch when the leading edge of the original is sensed by the first switch with the clutch disengaged upon deenergization of the solenoid when the leading edge of the original reaches the second switch to provide limited movement of the leading edge of the copy paper from a solenoid operated cutter to a second feed roller. The second feed roller continues to pull copy paper from the roll until the cutter is operated by energization of its solenoid upon passage of the trailing edge of the original past the first switch. The cutter solenoid is deenergized when the trailing edge passes the second switch.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are described wherein an integrated saw mill includes conveyor means for feeding debarked logs, classifying the logs and storing them according to size, advancing a particular log, scanning and analyzing the log and determining its cut pattern, squaring off the log by chipping heads, collectively cutting the log in line in accordance with the predetermined cut pattern, simultaneously advancing on separate conveyor means each piece of lumber so produced, sorting and storing each piece of lumber in accordance with its size, and further discharging the lumber onto a sticker-stacker for transferring stacks to drying kilns.

Abstract: An improved trimmer section is provided for use in a sawmill, together with method and means for automatically selecting timbers and the like to be trimmed, and for automatically routing trimmed timbers to a preselected one of a plurality of different storage and loading points in the sawmill. In particular, the operator is required to select which of several stations is to receive each timber after it has been cut to a designated length. Thereupon, the timber is automatically transferred through several stages of mechanical manipulation to the designated station while, simultaneously therewith, another un-trimmed timber is promptly conducted to the trimming saws. Actuation of the entire operation is effected by merely selecting the station to receive the trimmed timber, since the cycle will repeat as long as there are timbers to be trimmed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cutting portions having defects therein from lengths of timber includes determining an aligning distance for a given one of the lengths of timber as the timber length moves along a conveyor, the aligning distance being defined by the distance between a cutting line located next to the defect and one of a series of parallel lines which extend in the conveying direction, indexing the timber length in a direction transverse to the conveying direction to align the cutting line with one of the parallel lines and then incrementally moving the timber length in a direction transverse to the conveying direction a member of incremental distances determined by the particular one of the series of parallel lines with which the cutting line is aligned and cutting the timber length along the cutting line.

Abstract: First feeding means serve to deliver a first strip at a controlled velocity. Second feeding means serve to receive said first strip from said feeding means and to intermittently pull said first and second strips in contact with each other. Looping means serve to engage said first strip between said first and second feeding means and to urge said strip to form a loop. Sensing means serve to indicate the length of said loop. Control means serve to control the velocity at which said first strip is delivered by said first feeding means in response to said sensing means in inverse relation to the length of said loop.

Abstract: Apparatus for sawing of curved-form timber feeds the log past a band saw such that the cut follows the curved form of the log. Spaced guides function to guide the log in a curved-form path through the saw. The guides are displaceable in a direction transversely to the feeding direction of the log depending on the curved form of the log. The guides may comprise guide rollers provided on each side of the log to be forced to the sides of the log.

Abstract: A method and means for adjusting a log into a position in front of a saw necessary to obtain a maximum yield. The log is turned in such a manner that any curvature is positioned in a plane parallel to the plane of the saw members and is then is displaced sidewardly in such a manner that a plane containing the log end centers becomes properly positioned in relation to the plane of the saw members. The positioning of the log into the desired rotational position is carried out at a point to the side of the saw line with a simultaneous scanning of the log dimensions electronically and storing of such information in a computer. The log, having been turned into the desired rotational position, is then held in that position and is fed laterally generally into the saw line where the log is side-adjusted into a proper orientation longitudinally in relation to the saw members.

Abstract: There is described a method of guiding a machine as it moves relative to a surface, which is preferably the surface of a workpiece on which the machine is working, by selectively magnetizing a layer of magnetic material provided at or close to the surface so as to define a path of movement, producing guidance signals during the relative movement by detecting the selective magnetization, and using the guidance signals to automatically guide the relative movement, so that the defined path is followed. Data other than guidance data may be provided on the layer by selective magnetization.

Abstract: Drafts of preselected weight are sliced into a preselected number of slices by passing the material to be sliced through a curtain of radiation to measure the density of the material, and this measurement is used to calculate the length of each draft, which measurement is stored and subsequently read out to control the operation of a stepping hydroelectric motor which pushes the material through a cutting station at the proper speed.

Abstract: Apparatus for dispensing fabric from a bolt in which the bolt is cradled in a loop of an endless belt and unwound by driving the belt. The length of fabric unwound is accurately measured by measuring the distance of belt travel, and provision is made for presetting the length of fabric to be unwound, manually starting the belt to unwind the fabric, automatically starting measurement of the length unwound when the leading end of the fabric passes a predetermined point, and automatically stopping the belt when the preset length has been measured. The fabric unwound from the belt is automatically folded, and presented for being cut.

Abstract: Apparatus for cutting elongate members of arbitrary length, for example, cants or boards, into shorter sections of predetermined like or unlike lengths, so that each material length is utilized to the maximum with the least possible waste, is provided with a plurality of abutments which may be guided in and out of the direction of travel of the material to determine the length of the different shorter sections. The material to be cut is measured longitudinally while it is advanced towards the cutting element by means of an automatic measuring device which transmits pulses via a programming device which determines the lengths into which various material lengths are to be cut in order to give the least possible waste. The programming device controls the abutments which determine the length of feed of the material in the direction towards the cutting element.

Abstract: A slitting machine is disclosed which feeds corrugated pipe through the machine intermittently and between the periods of pipe feeding when the pipe is stationary a plurality of angularly spaced saw sets are moved radially inward toward the machine axis and the pipe to cut slots through the wall thereof, and then withdrawn whereupon the cycle repeats. The pipe is fed through the machine by endless transporters equal in number to the saw sets and uniformly disposed angularly with respect to each other, the saw sets and the axis. The transporters have projections which fit into the corrugations of the pipe for a driving connection therewith. A saw set is located angularly between each pair of transporters so that a pair of the latter are roughly opposite to a saw set for an even number of sets or directly opposite a transporter for an odd number of sets.

Abstract: A roll fed copier is provided with mechanism responsive to depression of a copy button to start or turn on power to the machine and thereby initiate the feed of copy paper from a supply roll and to cock a sprng-powered knife which is tripped by linkage operated by an adjustable copy length control on the movable original carrying platen. Additional mechanism is also provided to break the power lines to the machines if the copy button is not actuated for a predetermined interval.

Abstract: A system for obtaining N slices of substantially uniform thickness from a solid to provide a batch having a desired weight, where N is an integer which may have a value between predefined limits. A partial batch weight is taken in response to weighing a number of slices less than N. A terminal value of N is estimated on the basis of the number of slices in the partial batch and the ratio of the desired batch weight and the partial batch weight. A predicted terminal deviation from the desired batch weight is calculated based on the partial batch weight and the ratio of the estimated value of N and the number of slices in the partial batch. In one embodiment the feed rate of the solid into a slicing device, and accordingly the slice thickness and terminal batch weight, is controlled as a function of the value of the predicted terminal deviation.

Abstract: A sawmill assembly allows a single operator to selectively control both cutting to length and gang sawing of cants to make pallet stock, eliminating the danger and labor of hand feeding a gang saw, and allowing efficient use of wood by operator selection of gang saw cut direction. A rapidly-acting improved cant turner is disclosed.

Abstract: A camera film locating feed system for processing of film strips utilizing locating holes in the film that have or tend to undergo trailing edge damage due to mishandling of the camera when the film is being advanced from one frame setting to the next. In feeding such film in the processing device a selectable control means detects film positioning by reference to the leading edge of each locating hole with the film in one orientation in the processor, and by the lagging edge with the film inverted or oppositely oriented in the processor, and rejects false detection control signals from certain kinds of locating hole damage by the delaying action of a control means gate.