Patent US4468993A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4468993A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Small log bucking system
Assignee: International Paper Co
•
Filing: 1982-06-11
•
Granted: 1984-09-04
•
Expires: 2002-06-11
Abstract
Abstract A bucking station for small logs is disclosed, in which a log is scanned to determine its size and shape, the resulting data are analyzed by a computer which determines the optimum locations for cuts, and the proposed cut locations are displayed on the log optically for the operator's inspection. If the operator overrides any of the proposed cuts, the computer recalculates any cuts not specified by the operator. When all cuts have been approved, the log is kicked to a cutting bed, where the cuts are made by means of two independently controllable traveling saws. The cutting bed is preferably defined by three sets of parallel plates. The first set comprises stationary plates having V-shaped upper edges which define a V-shaped trough in which the log is initially received. The second and third sets of plates are vertically movable and, when raised, together define a second V-shaped trough located above the first trough. After the log is received in the first trough, the movable plates are raised to elevate the log to the second trough, where it is cut. After each cut is made, the movable plates supporting the downstream side of the cut-off segment are lowered to allow the segment to roll onto an output conveyor, which carries it to the next work station. In this manner the segments are automatically singulated without a separate singulating station.
Inventors
- 👤 Jack R. McCown
- 👤 J. Rogers Firth
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 13:39
CPC Classifications
B; B27; B27B; B27B1/00; B27B1/002; B23; B23D; B23D59/00; B23D59/008; B26; B26D; B26D7/00; B26D7/06; B26D7/0625; B27B31/00; B27B31/06; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T83/00; Y10T83/141; Y10T83/148; Y10T83/155; Y10T83/202; Y10T83/2092; Y10T83/2096; Y10T83/2098; Y10T83/2198; Y10T83/525; Y10T83/527; Y10T83/53; Y10T83/647; Y10T83/6572; Y10T83/768; Y10T83/7684; Y10T83/7688; Y10T83/849; Y10T83/853
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
211 words
A log bucking system, comprising: cutting bed means for supporting a log to be cut; saw means for cutting a log supported by said cutting bed means; input means for moving a log to said cutting bed means to be cut; and output means for transporting log segments cut by said saw means away from said cutting bed means; said cutting bed means comprising stationary means defining a first trough for receiving a log from said input means and first and second movable means that are movable between a retracted and a raised position, and that cooperate, when at said raised position, to define a second trough at an elevated cutting position; said second movable means comprising a plurality of means for supporting different portions of the length of a log, each said supporting means being lowerable, independently of the other said supporting means to cause a log segment cut from a log and supported by at least one said supporting means to move from said elevated cutting position onto said output means, while the remainder of the log is retained at said elevated cutting position, in such a manner that the log segments are spaced at least a predetermined distance apart on said conveyor means, thereby singulating the log segments.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
211 words
A log bucking system, comprising: cutting bed means for supporting a log to be cut; saw means for cutting a log supported by said cutting bed means; input means for moving a log to said cutting bed means to be cut; and output means for transporting log segments cut by said saw means away from said cutting bed means; said cutting bed means comprising stationary means defining a first trough for receiving a log from said input means and first and second movable means that are movable between a retracted and a raised position, and that cooperate, when at said raised position, to define a second trough at an elevated cutting position; said second movable means comprising a plurality of means for supporting different portions of the length of a log, each said supporting means being lowerable, independently of the other said supporting means to cause a log segment cut from a log and supported by at least one said supporting means to move from said elevated cutting position onto said output means, while the remainder of the log is retained at said elevated cutting position, in such a manner that the log segments are spaced at least a predetermined distance apart on said conveyor means, thereby singulating the log segments.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
The bucking system of claim 1, wherein each said supporting means comprises a vertically movable plate having an inclined portion for supporting a log at said elevated position in cooperation with the other said supporting means and with said first movable means, and means for raising and lowering each said plate independently of the other said plates.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
The bucking system of claim 2, wherein said first movable means and said stationary means each comprise a plurality of parallel vertical plates interleaved with said plates of said second movable means to allow trims cut from a log supported in said cutting bed to fall between said plates for removal from said bucking system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The bucking system of claim 3, further comprising a chipper conveyor for transporting trims away from said bucking system, and chute means for directing trims that have fallen between said plates to said chipper conveyor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The bucking system of claim 4, further comprising second chute means for directing sawdust from said saw means to said chipper conveyor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The bucking system of claim 1, further comprising scanning means for scanning a log for determining its size and shape.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The bucking system of claim 6, further comprising computing means for calculating the optimum locations at which to cut a log as a function of the size and shape thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The bucking system of claim 7, wherein said computing means is further for controlling the operation of said input means, said cutting bed means, said saw means and said output means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The bucking system of claim 7, further comprising display means for projecting light on a log at a location selected by said computing means for a cut.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The bucking system of claim 9, wherein said display means comprises a plurality of n lasers, n being a natural number greater than 1, for projecting light at up to n locations on a log simultaneously.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The bucking system of claim 10, wherein each said laser is movable parallel to the axis of a log supported in said cutting bed, for varying the location at which each said laser projects light on the log.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US497098A
Cited
US351144A
Cited
US2206156A
Cited
US2863476A
Cited
US2806492A
Cited
US3101755A
Cited
US3304971A
Cited
US3329181A
Cited
US3459246A
Cited
US3566936A
Cited
US3502123A
Cited
US3381729A
Cited
US3513321A
Cited
US3658103A
Cited
US3736968A
Cited
US3897156A
Cited
US3885483A
Cited
US3750727A
Cited
US3856061A
Cited
US3890509A
Cited
US3812951A
Cited
US3841461A
Cited
GB1418201A
Cited
US3852579A
Cited
US3941019A
Cited
DE2350988A1
Cited
US3937114A
Cited
US3963938A
Cited
US3970128A
Cited
US4152960A
Cited
US4031790A
Cited
US3983403A
Cited
US4149089A
Cited
US4068695A
Cited
US4195346A
Cited
US4139035A
Cited
US4188544A
Cited
US4164248A
Cited
DE2912163A1
Cited
US4186310A
Cited
US4196648A
Cited
US4294295A
Cited
US4331052A
Cited
US4383604A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-09-04 | 1988-03-05 | 1988-09-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-09-04 | 1992-03-05 | 1992-09-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-09-04 | 1996-03-05 | 1996-09-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |