Log carriage apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for gripping and transporting logs past cutting elements for accurate cutting thereof, comprising a plurality of bases arranged longitudinally in series, each base being swingably mounted adjacent one end thereof to permit its opposite end to be moved up and down, guide means supporting said bases for movement longitudinally thereof, means interconnecting said bases for movement in unison, an upwardly projecting chair mounted on each base adjacent said opposite end thereof, said chairs being adapted to support a log resting thereon and extending longitudinally of the series of bases, gripping means on the chairs reaching upwardly to the log and operable to grip said log from beneath, and power means connected to each base near said opposite end thereof for shifting the latter end and therewith the chair mounted on said each base up and down.

Claim 3

Apparatus for gripping and transporting logs past cutting elements for accurate cutting thereof, comprising a plurality of bases arranged longitudinally in series, a frame extending longitudinally of and past the bases and interconnecting said bases for movement in unison, guide means supporting said bases for movement longitudinally thereof, an upwardly projecting chair mounted on each base, said chairs being adopted to support a log resting thereon and extending longitudinally of the frame, gripping means on the chairs reaching upwardly to the log and operable to grip said log from beneath, pivot means swingably connecting one end of each base to the frame and permitting its opposite end to be moved up and down, the chair of each base being mounted thereon adjacent said opposite end, and power means connected to each base near said opposite end thereof for shifting the latter end and therewith the chair mounted on said each base up and down relative to the frame.

Claim 4

Apparatus for gripping and transporting logs past cutting elements for accurate cutting thereof, comprising a plurality of bases arranged longitudinally in series, a frame extending longitudinally of and past the bases and interconnecting said bases for movement in unison, guide means supporting said bases for movement longitudinally thereof, an upwardly projecting chair mounted on each base, said chairs being adopted to support a log resting thereon and extending longitudinally of the frame, gripping means on the chairs reaching upwardly to the log and operable to grip said log from beneath, pivot means swingably connecting one end of each base to the frame and permitting its opposite end to be moved up and down, the chair of each base being mounted thereon adjacent said opposite end, and power means connected to each base near said opposite end thereof for shifting the latter end and therewith the chair mounted on said each base up and down relative to the frame.

Claim 5

Apparatus for gripping and transporting logs past cutting elements for accurate cutting thereof, comprising base means, guide means supporting the base means and for movement longitudinally thereof, a plurality of chairs on and spaced apart longitudinally of the base means and projecting upwardly therefrom, said chairs being adapted to support a log resting thereOn and extending longitudinally of the base means, gripping means on each of said chairs reaching upwardly to the log and operable to grip said log from beneath, each chair being mounted for both transverse adjustment and vertical adjustment on the base means, first power means for shifting each of said chairs transversely on the base means independently of others of said chairs, and second power means for vertically shifting each chair independently of the others of said chairs.

Claim 6

Apparatus for gripping and transporting logs past cutting elements for accurate cutting thereof, comprising base means, guide means supporting the base means and for movement longitudinally thereof, a plurality of chairs on and spaced apart longitudinally of the base means and projecting upwardly therefrom, said chairs being adapted to support a log resting thereOn and extending longitudinally of the base means, gripping means on each of said chairs reaching upwardly to the log and operable to grip said log from beneath, each chair being mounted for both transverse adjustment and vertical adjustment on the base means, first power means for shifting each of said chairs transversely on the base means independently of others of said chairs, and second power means for vertically shifting each chair independently of the others of said chairs.

Claim 7

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said base means comprises a plurality of bases arranged in series, and means interconnecting said bases for movement in unison, each chair being mounted on one of said bases.

Claim 8

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which each chair has an upper end shaped transversely of the base means for cradling the portion of said log supported by said each chair.

Claim 9

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said gripping means comprises at least one pair of opposed gripping dogs movably mounted on each chair for movement towards and away from each other, and including power means for shifting said dogs towards and away from each other.

Claim 10

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the chair is mounted for transverse adjustment on said each base, and including power means connected to said chair for shifting the latter transversely of the base.

Claim 11

Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 in which said gripping means comprises at least one pair of opposed gripping dogs pivotally mounted on each chair for movement towards and away from each other, and including power means for shifting said dogs towards and away from each other.

Claim 12

Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 in which said gripping means comprises a plurality of pairs of opposed gripping dogs pivotally mounted on each chair for movement towards and away from each other, the dogs of each pair being of a different length than the dogs of each other pair so that the dog pairs grip logs at different levels relative to the longitudinal center of the logs, and including power means for shifting the dogs of each pair towards and away from each other.

Claim 13

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said interconnecting means comprises a frame extending longitudinally of and past said bases, and means connecting each base to the frame.

Claim 14

Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which said pivot means comprises a horizontal shaft extending through the one end of said each base and a portion of the frame.

Claim 15

Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 in which said guide means comprises wheels mounted on said shafts.