US3786712A — Sawmill log indexing device

Claim 1

Independent Claim 257 words

Apparatus suitable for carrying a log through a pair of adjustable saw blades which cut said log longitudinally into lumber, the apparatus comprising; a carriage with a plurality of wheels adapted to ride along at least one rail, the carriage being reciprocally movable to convey said log through said saw blades; support means connected to the carriage; a pair of chucks rotatably mounted in the support means and operable to support said log by engagement substantially centrally of each end thereof, one of the chucks being secured to one end of a chuck shaft that can be driven to rotate the chuck and the log; positioning means operatively coupled to said one end of the chuck shaft so that the log can be rotated, while chucked, to an initial selected index position that allows the maximum lumber recovery from the log being sawed, the positioning means including a shaft rotatably mounted in the support means remote from said chuck shaft, and having a free outer end thereof, further including non-extensible chain drive means for coupling said shafts together, said chain drive means being adapted to be driven to rotate the chuck and the log; indexing means secured to the free end of one of the shafts, the indexing means having a plurality of index positions thereon in co-ordinated pairs spaced 90* apart to enable rotation of 90* from the initial selected index position; and locking means that are actuatable to effect holding the positioning means fixed at said initial selected index position and the co-ordinated index position.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 257 words

Apparatus suitable for carrying a log through a pair of adjustable saw blades which cut said log longitudinally into lumber, the apparatus comprising; a carriage with a plurality of wheels adapted to ride along at least one rail, the carriage being reciprocally movable to convey said log through said saw blades; support means connected to the carriage; a pair of chucks rotatably mounted in the support means and operable to support said log by engagement substantially centrally of each end thereof, one of the chucks being secured to one end of a chuck shaft that can be driven to rotate the chuck and the log; positioning means operatively coupled to said one end of the chuck shaft so that the log can be rotated, while chucked, to an initial selected index position that allows the maximum lumber recovery from the log being sawed, the positioning means including a shaft rotatably mounted in the support means remote from said chuck shaft, and having a free outer end thereof, further including non-extensible chain drive means for coupling said shafts together, said chain drive means being adapted to be driven to rotate the chuck and the log; indexing means secured to the free end of one of the shafts, the indexing means having a plurality of index positions thereon in co-ordinated pairs spaced 90* apart to enable rotation of 90* from the initial selected index position; and locking means that are actuatable to effect holding the positioning means fixed at said initial selected index position and the co-ordinated index position.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 64 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the indexing means comprises a circular template having said index positions thereon defined by a series of radially disposed slots on the periphery thereof, and wherein said locking means includes a reciprocally movable pin means of a shape complemental to said slots, the pin means being engageable in the slots to positively lock said positioning means in position.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 52 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein automatically actuatable drive means are operatively coupled to said chain drive means, the automatically actuatable drive means being responsive to a signal provided by a sawyer to effect movement of the chain drive means and simultaneously therewith rotation of the log carried by the two chucks.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 50 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said chain drive means is operatively coupled to a piston and cylinder combination, said combination being actuatable to cause reciprocal movement of the piston with such movement simultaneously effecting rotational movement of said chuck shaft and the log being carried by the rotatable chucks.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 58 words

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said support means comprises an enclosure which serves to rotatably mount and house said shafts; the enclosure being rigidly connected to said carriage as an integral part thereof, and functioning, in use, as a shield-like deterrent, to sawdust and wood chips which could tend to clog the slots in said indexing template.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 41 words

The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the indexing template is secured to the end of said shaft remote from the chuck shaft, the radially disposed slots being tapered to a narrow inner end, the tapered slots facilitating improved accuracy in positioning.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 31 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of index positions has an axis, each axis extending through a common center, with adjacent axes enclosing an angle 45* therebetween.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1977-01-21	1977-07-23	1978-01-22	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1981-01-21	1981-07-23	1982-01-22	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1985-01-21	1985-07-23	1986-01-22	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Sawmill log indexing device

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