Lumber slicing apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for slicing lumber from a log or timber cant workpiece by passing the same in an angular direction against a slicing blade or blades, comprising at least one slicing blade adapted to slice said workpiece along a path transverse thereto; an active jaw and a passive jaw adapted to grip said workpiece therebetween, each of said jaws being individually mounted so that its movement is constrained to follow an angular path relative to said slicing blade; resilient means supporting said passive jaw, said resilient means being adapted to permit said passive jaw to yield under application of pressure by said active jaw and to return upon relieving of said pressure; and means to move said active jaw against the resistance of said passive jaw thereby to force said workpiece along said path against said blade.

Claim 3

Apparatus as in claim 1 in which said resilient means comprise pneumatic cylinder and piston means.

Claim 4

Apparatus as in claim 1 in which said moving means comprise hydraulic cylinder and piston means.

Claim 5

Apparatus as in claim 1 in which said jaws are mounted to follow substantially parallel angular paths.

Claim 6

Apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising means selectively positioned below said jaws and adapted to support said workpiece in a predetermined position with respect to said slicing blade.

Claim 7

Apparatus for slicing lumber from a log or timber cant workpiece by passing the same in an angular direction against a slicing blade or blades, comprising a frame; a first plate mounted on said frame; a slicing blade attached to said first plate so that its cutting edge is parallel thereto and extends therefrom, said slicing blade being adapted to slice said workpiece by movement in the direction of the short dimension thereof; a second plate mounted on said frame; an active jaw mounted on said second plate for movement along a path angular with respect to said slicing blade; hydraulic means mounted on said second plate and attached to said active jaw and adapted to move the same along said path relative to said slicing blade; a passive jaw mounted on said first plate for movement along a path angular with respect to said slicing blade but independent of said path of said active jaw; pneumatic means mounted on said first plate and attached to said passive jaw, said pneUmatic means being adapted to permit said passive jaw to yield under application of pressure by said active jaw and to return upon relieving of said pressure, said active jaw and said passive jaw being adapted to grip said workpiece therebetween; and means selectively positioned below said jaws and adapted to support said workpiece in a predetermined position with respect to said slicing blade, movement of said active jaw by said hydraulic means causing said active jaw, said passive jaw and said workpiece therebetween to be moved along said angular path relative to said slicing blade against said blade to slice a piece from said workpiece.

Claim 8

Apparatus for slicing lumber from a log or timber cant workpiece by passing the same in an angular direction against a slicing blade or blades, comprising a frame; a first plate mounted on said frame; a slicing blade attached to said first plate so that its cutting edge is parallel thereto and extends therefrom, said slicing blade being adapted to slice said workpiece by movement in the direction of the short dimension thereof; a second plate mounted on said frame; an active jaw mounted on said second plate for movement along a path angular with respect to said slicing blade; hydraulic means mounted on said second plate and attached to said active jaw and adapted to move the same along said path relative to said slicing blade; a passive jaw mounted on said first plate for movement along a path angular with respect to said slicing blade but independent of said path of said active jaw; pneumatic means mounted on said first plate and attached to said passive jaw, said pneUmatic means being adapted to permit said passive jaw to yield under application of pressure by said active jaw and to return upon relieving of said pressure, said active jaw and said passive jaw being adapted to grip said workpiece therebetween; and means selectively positioned below said jaws and adapted to support said workpiece in a predetermined position with respect to said slicing blade, movement of said active jaw by said hydraulic means causing said active jaw, said passive jaw and said workpiece therebetween to be moved along said angular path relative to said slicing blade against said blade to slice a piece from said workpiece.

Claim 9

Apparatus as in claim 6 further comprising at least one pivot arm pivotally connected to said active jaw, said pivot arm being pivotally connected to said second plate; and a thrust arm pivotally connected at one end to said active jaw and at the other end to said hydraulic means, said path of said active jaw being determined by the rotation of said pivot arm by force exerted on said active jaw by said thrust arm.

Claim 10

Apparatus as in claim 6 further comprising at least one pivot arm pivotally connected to said passive jaw, said pivot arm being pivotally connected to said first plate, said path of said passive jaw being determined by the rotation of said pivot arm on said first plate.

Claim 11

Apparatus as in claim 6 further comprising a recess in said active jaw adapted to receive said cutting edge of said slicing blade, and elastomeric material in said recess, whereby receipt of said blade in said active jaw is permitted without injury to said edge.

Claim 12

Apparatus for slicing a segment from each side of a log by passing the same in an angular direction against a slicing blade or blades, comprising a frame; at least one slicing blade attached to said frame, said blade being adapted to slice a segment from the side of said log by relative movement therebetween in the direction of the short dimension of said log; an active jaw mounted on said frame for movement along a path angular with respect to said blade; hydraulic means mounted on said frame and attached to said active jaw, said hydralic means being adapted to move said active jaw along said path relative to said blade; a passive jaw mounted on said frame for movement along a path angular with respect to said blade but independent of said path of said active jaw; pneumatic means mounted on said frame and attached to said passive jaw, said pneumatic means being adapted to permit said passive jaw to yield under application of pressure by said active jaw and to return upon relieving of said pressure, said active jaw and said passive jaw being adapted to grip said log therebetween; means to prevent relative motion of said log in any direction with respect to said active jaw; and means to restrict lateral motion but not longitudinal motion of said log with respect to said passive jaw.

Claim 13

Apparatus for slicing a segment from each side of a log by passing the same in an angular direction against a slicing blade or blades, comprising a frame; at least one slicing blade attached to said frame, said blade being adapted to slice a segment from the side of said log by relative movement therebetween in the direction of the short dimension of said log; an active jaw mounted on said frame for movement along a path angular with respect to said blade; hydraulic means mounted on said frame and attached to said active jaw, said hydralic means being adapted to move said active jaw along said path relative to said blade; a passive jaw mounted on said frame for movement along a path angular with respect to said blade but independent of said path of said active jaw; pneumatic means mounted on said frame and attached to said passive jaw, said pneumatic means being adapted to permit said passive jaw to yield under application of pressure by said active jaw and to return upon relieving of said pressure, said active jaw and said passive jaw being adapted to grip said log therebetween; means to prevent relative motion of said log in any direction with respect to said active jaw; and means to restrict lateral motion but not longitudinal motion of said log with respect to said passive jaw.

Claim 14

Apparatus as in claim 10 further comprising only one arm pivotally connecting said passive jaw to said frame whereby said passive jaw may rotate with respect to said active jaw to grip tapered logs therebetween.

Claim 15

Apparatus as in claim 10 further comprising spike means in said active jaw to prevent any relative motion of said log with respect thereto.

Claim 16

Apparatus as in claim 10 further comprising groove means in said passive jaw to restrict lateral but not longitudinal motion of said log with respect thereto.