Method and apparatus for processing log for sawmill including end dogging carriage which rotationally repositions log to cutting position determined by computer after non-rotational scanning

摘要

A log processing method and apparatus are described in which the log is moved laterally through a light scanner by a pair of charger arms to determine the configuration of the log and the best cutting pattern solution for such log by a computer from the scan data. The log is skewed by adjusting the length and angular position of the charger arms to align the central axis of the log with the center of the cutting pattern solution. Then the log is swing by pivoting the charger arms into a transfer position where the log is transferred to an end dogging log carriage. After transfer, the log is rotationally repositioned into the desired cutting position by rotating it about a selected chuck of a plurality of chucks on one end dog with a driven dog blade on the other end dog which is aligned with the centerline of the cutting solution. After repositioning the log is clamped against further rotation by extending additional end dog chucks into engagement with the log. Then the clamped log is conveyed on the carriage through the cutting devices. One of the cutting devices is a bottom chipping head which is vertically adjusted in height by the computer during cutting to produce a curved or straight bottom surface on the log.