US3552457A — Log break-down method and apparatus

Claim 1

Independent Claim 59 words

The method of breaking down logs in a continuous manner, which comprises gripping a log from beneath and moving said log past a first set of cutting elements arranged to cut two flat longitudinal surfaces on an upper surface thereof substantially at right angles to each other, said cutting elements removing slab portions of the log and boards therefrom.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 59 words

The method of breaking down logs in a continuous manner, which comprises gripping a log from beneath and moving said log past a first set of cutting elements arranged to cut two flat longitudinal surfaces on an upper surface thereof substantially at right angles to each other, said cutting elements removing slab portions of the log and boards therefrom.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method as claimed in claim 1 in which the slab portions are removed as pulp chips.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 64 words

The method as claimed in claim 1 in which the log with the two flat surfaces formed thereon is moved past a second set of cutting elements arranged to cut two longitudinal flat surfaces thereon substantially at right angles to each other and to the two first-cut surfaces, said second set of cutting elements removing remaining slab portions of the log and boards therefrom.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 46 words

The method as claimed in claim 3 in which the log after passing the first set of cutting elements is turned over and placed on a suitable conveyor, and the second two flat surfaces are formed along an upper surface thereof, resulting in a squared timber.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method as claimed in claim 3 in which the remaining slab portions of the log are removed by the second set of cutting elements as pulp chips.

Claim 7

Independent Claim 106 words

A method of breaking down a log in the manufacture of useful products, which comprises gripping a log along one side thereof and moving the log past a pair of chipper heads arranged to remove slab areas of the log as chips leaving two longitudinally-extending flat surfaces substantially at right angles to each other transversely of the log, and continuing the movement of the log past a pair of saws arranged at right angles to each other and positioned substantially parallel with and spaced inwarDly from said flat surfaces to cut two boards off the log, leaving a partially formed timber with normally-extending second flat surfaces.

Claim 8

Independent Claim 106 words

A method of breaking down a log in the manufacture of useful products, which comprises gripping a log along one side thereof and moving the log past a pair of chipper heads arranged to remove slab areas of the log as chips leaving two longitudinally-extending flat surfaces substantially at right angles to each other transversely of the log, and continuing the movement of the log past a pair of saws arranged at right angles to each other and positioned substantially parallel with and spaced inwarDly from said flat surfaces to cut two boards off the log, leaving a partially formed timber with normally-extending second flat surfaces.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 40 words

A method as claimed in claim 6 including moving said log before it reaches said saws past chipper heads shaped and positioned to remove chips from the log to provide finished edges at side edges of said second flat surfaces.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 119 words

A method as claimed in claim 6 including placing said partially formed timber with said second flat surfaces on moving means and moving the timber past a second pair of chipper heads arranged to remove remaining slab areas thereof as chips leaving third flat surfaces substantially at right angles to each other and to said second flat surfaces, and continuing said movement of the log past a second pair of saws arranged at right angles to each other and positioned substantially parallel with and spaced inwardly from said third flat surfaces to cut two more boards off the log, leaving a squared timber with fourth flat surfaces extending substantially normal to each other and to said second flat surfaces.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 45 words

A method as claimed in claim 8 including moving said log past chipper heads shaped and positioned around the surface of the log to remove chips from the log and provide finished edges at side edges of each of said second and fourth flat surfaces.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 26 words

A method as claimed in claim 8 in which the log is supported from beneath when moving past the first chipper heads and the first saws.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 71 words

Apparatus for breaking down logs in a continuous manner, comprising a first set of cutting elements, conveying means for gripping a log from beneath and moving it past said cutting elements, said cutting elements being adapted to cut two flat longitudinal surfaces along an upper surface of the log and lying substantially at right angles to each other, said cutting elements simultaneously removing slab portions of the log and boards therefrom.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 71 words

Apparatus for breaking down logs in a continuous manner, comprising a first set of cutting elements, conveying means for gripping a log from beneath and moving it past said cutting elements, said cutting elements being adapted to cut two flat longitudinal surfaces along an upper surface of the log and lying substantially at right angles to each other, said cutting elements simultaneously removing slab portions of the log and boards therefrom.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 28 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 in which said first set of cutting elements includes chipper heads positioned to remove slab portions of the log as pulp chips.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 83 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 including a second set of cutting elements, conveying means for accommodating the two flat surfaces of the log and moving the latter past the second set of cutting elements, said latter elements adapted to cut two flat longitudinal surfaces along an upper surface of the log and lying substantially at right angles to each other and to the first-cut flat surfaces, said second set of cutting elements removing remaining slab portions of the log and boards therefrom.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 27 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 in which said second set of cutting elements includes chipper heads arranged to remove said remaining slab portions as pulp chips.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 24 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 in which said cutting elements are arranged to cut in planes extending at substantially 45* to the horizontal.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 131 words

Apparatus for breaking down a log into useful products, comprising carriage means for gripping a log along one side thereof and moving said log in a longitudinal direction along a predetermined path, a pair of chipper heads arranged relative to said path and shaped to remove slab areas of the log moving past the heads and to leave two longitudinally-extending flat surfaces substantially at right angles to each other transversely of the log, a pair of saws arranged relative to the path and at right angles to each other and positioned in planes substantially parallel with and spaced inwardly of the planes of said flat surfaces to cut two boards off the log as said log moves along the path, thereby leaving a partially formed timber with normally-extending second flat surfaces.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 131 words

Apparatus for breaking down a log into useful products, comprising carriage means for gripping a log along one side thereof and moving said log in a longitudinal direction along a predetermined path, a pair of chipper heads arranged relative to said path and shaped to remove slab areas of the log moving past the heads and to leave two longitudinally-extending flat surfaces substantially at right angles to each other transversely of the log, a pair of saws arranged relative to the path and at right angles to each other and positioned in planes substantially parallel with and spaced inwardly of the planes of said flat surfaces to cut two boards off the log as said log moves along the path, thereby leaving a partially formed timber with normally-extending second flat surfaces.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 41 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 16 including a single chipper head positioned relative to said pair of chipper heads and the path to remove chips from the log and provide finished edges at adjoining side edges of said second flat surfaces.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 41 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 17 including additional chipper heads Positioned relative to said pair of chipper heads and the path to remove chips from the log and provide finished edges at the opposite side edges of said second flat surfaces.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 27 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 16 in which said chipper heads are mounted for adjustment towards and away from the respective planes of the pair of saws.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 132 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 18 including moving means for receiving said partially formed timber with said second flat surfaces resting on said moving means to continue movement of the log along said path, a second pair of chipper heads arranged relative to the path and said moving means to remove remaining slab areas of the timber as chips leaving third flat surfaces substantially at right angles to each other and to said second flat surfaces, and a second pair of saws arranged at right angles to each other and positioned in planes substantially parallel with and spaced inwardly from said third flat surfaces to cut two more boards off the log, leaving a squared timber with fourth flat surfaces extending substantially normal to each other and to said second flat surfaces.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 43 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 20 including chipper heads around the path along which the carriage means moves and shaped and positioned to remove chips from the log and to provide finished edges at side edges of said second and fourth flat surfaces.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 30 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 20 in which said second pair of chipper heads are mounted for adjustment towards and away from the respective planes of second pair of saws.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 24 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 16 in which said cutting elements are arranged to cut in planes extending at substantially 45 to the horizontal.

Claim 28

Independent Claim 89 words

The method of breaking down logs in a continuous manner, which comprises moving a log past a first set of cutting elements arranged to cut two flat longitudinal surfaces thereon substantially at right angles to each other, said cutting elements during said movement simultaneously removing two slab portions of the log and two boards therefrom along two pairs of parallel planes with the planes of one pair extending substantially at right angles to the planes of the other pair, whereby the boards are formed with substantially parallel opposite faces.

Claim 29

Independent Claim 89 words

The method of breaking down logs in a continuous manner, which comprises moving a log past a first set of cutting elements arranged to cut two flat longitudinal surfaces thereon substantially at right angles to each other, said cutting elements during said movement simultaneously removing two slab portions of the log and two boards therefrom along two pairs of parallel planes with the planes of one pair extending substantially at right angles to the planes of the other pair, whereby the boards are formed with substantially parallel opposite faces.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 82 words

The method as claimed in claim 24 in which the log with the two flat surfaces formed thereon is moved past a second set of cutting elements arranged to cut two longitudinal flat surfaces thereon substantially at right angles to each other and to the two first-cut surfaces, said second set of cutting elements during said second movement removing remaining slab portions of the log and boards therefrom along parallel planes, whereby the last-mentioned boards are formed with substantially parallel opposite faces.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 46 words

The method as claimed in claim 25 in which the log after passing the first set of cutting elements is turned over and placed on a suitable conveyor, and the second two flat surfaces are formed along an upper surface thereof, resulting in a squared timber.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 57 words

The method as claimed in claim 25 in which the log after passing the first set of cutting elements is turned over and placed on a suitable conveyor, the second two flat surfaces are formed along an upper surface thereof, resulting in a squared timber, and each of said planes extends at substantially 45* to the horizontal.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method as claimed in claim 25 in which all of the slab portions of the log are removed by said cutting elements as pulp chips.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1974-01-04	1974-07-06	1975-01-05	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1978-01-04	1978-07-06	1979-01-05	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1982-01-04	1982-07-06	1983-01-05	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Log break-down method and apparatus

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag