US2771922A - Pulp-wood bark-removing machine having pivotable angular supporting arms for rotatable cutters and brushes - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 27, 1956 J. GYLLENBERG 2,771,922

PULP-WOOD BARK-REMOVING MACHINE HAVING PIVOTABLE ANGULAR SUPPORTING ARMS FOR ROTATABLE CUTTERS AND BRUSHES Filed Sept. 17, 1954 10 Sheets-Sheet l [1 I d l INVENTOR. 8; I q; W i JOHN L.GYLLENBERG l 2 BY 3g 1 'm::

E LI I I l Q it? Q ATTO R N EYS PULP-WOOD BARK-REMOVING MACHINE HAVING FIVOTABLE ANGULAR SUPPORTING ARMS FOR ROTATABLE CUTTERS AND BRUSHES INVENTOR JOHN L. GYLLENBERG ATTQ RNEYS Nov. 27, 1956 J. L. GYLLENBERG 2,771,

PULP-WOOD BARK-REMOVING MACHINE HAVING PIVOTABLE ANGULAR SUPPORTING ARMS FOR ROTATABLE CUTTERS AND BRUSHES Filed Sept. 17, 1954 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 a mmvron JOHN L. GYLLENBERG ATTORNEYS Nov. 27, 1956 J. L. GYLLENBERG PULP-WOOD BARK-REMOVING MACHINE HAVING PIVOTABLE SUPPORTING ARMS FOR ROTATABLE CUTTERS AND BRUSHES Filed Sept. 17, 1954 INVENTOR.

JOHN L. GYLLENBERG I III 5 I I I I I VIIIII'II ATTORNEYS ANGULAR J. L. GYLLENBERG REMOV Nov. 27, 1956 PULP-WOOD BARK ING MACHINE HAVING PIVOTABLE FOR ROTATABLE CUTTERS AND BRUSHES l0 Sheets-Sheet 5 SUPPORTING ARMS Filed Sept. 17, 1954 INVENTOR. JOHN L. GYLLENBERG ATTORNEYS Nov. 27, 1956 J. L. GYLLENBERG 7 PULP-WOOD BARK-REMOVING MACHINE HAVING PIVOTABLE ANGULAR SUPPORTING ARMS FOR ROTATABLE CUTTERS AND BRUSHES Filed Sept. 17, 1954 10 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR. J'OH N L,GYLLENBERG BY WWW ATTORN EYS 7, 1956 J L. GYLLENBERG 2,771,922

PULP-WOOD BARK-REMOVING MACHINE HAVING PIVOTABLE ANGULAR SUPPORTING ARMS FOR ROTATABLE CUTTERS AND BRUSHES Filed Sept. 17, 1954 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR. JOHN L GYLLENBERG MMM ATTORNEYS 1956 J. L. GYLLENBERG ,771,

PULP-WOOD BARK-REMOVING MACHINE HAVING PIVOTABLE ANGULAR SUPPORTING ARMS FOR ROTATABLE CUTTERS AND BRUSHES Filed Sept. 17, 1954 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR. JOHN L.GYLLENBE RG ATTO RN EYS Nov. 27, 1956 J. L. GYLLENBERG 2,771,

PULP-WOOD BARK-REMOVING MACHINE HAVING PIVOTABLE ANGULAR SUPPORTING ARMS FOR ROTATABLE CUTTERS AND BRUSHES Filed Sept. 17, 1954 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR.

JOHN L.GYLLENBERG ATTORNEYS 1956 J. L. GYLLENBERG 2,771,922

PULP-WOOD BARK--REMOVING MACHINE HAVING PIVOTABLE ANGULAR SUPPORTING ARMS FOR- 'BOTATABLE CUTTERS AND BRUSHES Filed Sept. 17, 1954 10 Sheets-Sheet l0 FIG. l5

IN VEN TOR.

JOHN L. GYLLENBERG ZWMJM ATTOR N EYS United States Patent PULP-WOQD BARK-REMOVING MACHHNE HAV- ING PIVOTABLE ANGULAR SUPPORTING ARMS FOR ROTATABLE CUTTERS AND BRUSHES John L. Gyllenberg, Baker, Greg, assignor to Anthony Bradenthaler, Baker, Oreg.

Application September 17, 1954, Serial No. 456,822

14 Claims. (Cl. 144-208) This invention relates to log-barking machines and particularly to mechanical log-barking machines.

My copending application entitled Log Barking Machine, Serial No. 386,491, filed June 16, 1953, discloses a log-barking machine adapted for mechanically removing the bark and cambium layer from saw logs. The present invention is concerned with a machine for handling pulp-size logs, which are in general considerably shorter and smaller in diameter than saw logs.

It is a main object of the present invention to provide an improved log-barking machine having mechanical means for removing the bark and cambium layer from a log, and a log-feeding means which is especially adapted to readily support logs of small diameter and short length and feed them past the mechanical log-barking means.

It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide a machine of the character just described wherein the supporting means assumes the form of a pair of elongated, juxtaposed feed rolls, one of which has a longitudinally fluted log-engaging surface and the other of which has a spirally threaded log-engaging surface.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a log-barking machine having a log-supporting-and-feeding means of the type just described, and having in combination therewith a mechanical log-barking arrangement including bark-cutting means adapted to cut and remove considerable portions of the bark from the log, and a rotary brush means arranged to engage the log after a log has been operated on by the cutting means to remove the unremoved bark portions and the cambium layer of a log.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a long-barking machine having a log-feeding-and-supporting means of the type described above, and having mechanical log-barking means which are particularly designed and arranged to urge a log to remain on the rolls and to press the log against the rolls with even pressure.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a machine of the above general character in which the operating elements are designed, mounted and driven in a novel manner to enable the parts to be arranged in a very compact unit.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a log-barking machine having a pair of feed rolls of the above type for supporting a log, and brush means for engaging a log on the rolls, the brush means being so mounted as to be capable of engaging even a very smalldiameter log supported substantially down between the two feed rolls without engaging the rolls.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a machine of the general character above set forth having a novel wire-brush unit for removing the bark and cambium layer from a log.

Various other object of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

2,771,922 Patented Nov. 2?, T356 Fig. 1 is a plan view of a log-barking machine embodying the concepts of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the machine disclosed in Fig. 1, taken in the direction of the arrows 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation taken in the direction of the arrows 33 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, longitudinal, vertical sectional view through the fluted feed roll, showing its construction and the manner of supporting the same, the view being taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 1 and certain parts being broken away;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 66 of Fig. 1, showing in full lines one single-cutterhead mechanism operating on a small-diameter log, which is not shown in Figs. 1., 2 and 3, showing in broken lines such single-cutterhead mechanism operating on a largerdiameter log, and showing in phantom lines the other single-cutterhead mechanism in ditferent positions for operating on such logs;

Fig. 7 is a developed sectional view taken along line 77 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation taken along line 8-8 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 9-9 of Fig. 1, showing in full lines the double-cutterhead mechanisms operating on a small-diameter log, and showing in broken lines the double-cutterhead mechanisms operating on a larger-diameter log;

Fig. 10 is a developed fragmentary sectional view taken along line 10-10 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken along line 1111 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is a sectional elevation taken along line 12--12 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 1313 of Fig. 1, showing in full lines the brush mechanisms of the machine operating on a small-diameter log and, in broken lines, the brushes operating on a largerdiameter log;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged side view of one of the wire brushes, parts being broken away and shown in section to better reveal the construction;

Fig. 15 is a vertical transverse section of a modified form of the invention, in which the feed rolls are laterally adjustable; and

Fig. 16 is a reduced view looking at the face of the brush disclosed in Fig. 14.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout, the log-barking machine disclosed includes an elongated rectangular base made up of two longitudinal pieces 11 and a number of cross pieces 13 (Fig. 1, 2 and 3). Spaced above the base intermediate the length thereof is an open, generally square top frame'l supported on base 11 by a number of posts 17. Rotatably supported on base 11, 13 by spaced bearing units 18 are two horizontal log-supporting rolls 19 and 21, which extend centrally almost the full length of the base in parallel, juxtaposed relation. A log, indicated at A in Fig. 6 but not shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, may be cooperatively supported between the rolls with its axis arranged parallel to the length of the rolls.

Roll 19 has a plurality of equally circumferentially spaced, longitudinal flutes 23 extending the length thereof (Figs. 2 and 6), and roll 21 has a spiral thread 25 formed thereon. Roll 19, by virtue of its flutes, imparts rotary movement to the log when said roll is rotated, whereas roll 21, by virtue of its spiral thread, simultaneously imparts a longitudinal advancing movement to the log when roll 21 is rotated faster than roll 19. Thus, a particular spot on a log is fed in a spiral path through the machine and past a number of bark-removing mechanisms to be presently described.

The construction of roll 19 is shown in Fig. 5, roll 21 being similarly constructed. Roll 19 comprises three similar sections, each being of elongated drumlike form, two of such sections being shown in Fig. 5. A flanged hub 31, supported by a bearing unit 18, is secured to the outer end of each end section. The inner end of each end section is joined to the adjacent end of the inner section by a double-flanged hub 33 which is supported by a bearing unit 13, as shown in Fig. 5. Each bearing unit includes a bearing 34 and a guard 35, which functions to exclude large chips and pieces of bark from the bearings. The bearings are mounted on hearingsupport beams 37 which are mounted on the base of the machine.

Rolls 19 and 21 are driven respectively by motor units 41 and 43 (Figs. 1 and 2) in the directions indicated in Figs. 1 and 4, by means of endless drives 44. Motor units 41 and 43 are mounted on the right-hand end of base 11, 13 of the machine as the parts are shown in Fig. 1. Unit 41 has incorporated therein a variable-speed drive arrangement to permit varying the speed of roll 21 and thus the speed of travel of a log through the machine. A pair of transversely arranged rotary feed elements 45 are provided at the right-hand end of the base of the machine (Figs. 1 and 2) for feeding logs onto the feed rolls. The feed elements are mounted for rotation about horizontal transverse axes, are tapered from both ends toward their centers, and are provided with flutes to impart a positive advancing movement to a log placed thereon. The feed elements 45 are driven by a motor (not shown) which drives the feed elements through a chain-and-sprocket drive at 47 (Fig. l).

A pair of spaced, parallel, longitudinally extending guard rails 51 are provided to aid in retaining a log on the rolls during travel of the log through the machine, said rails being in part supported by inclined standards 53 (Figs. 1, 2 and 4), and also being supported within the zone of the top frame by horizontal cantilever supports 55, two of which are shown in Fig. 13. The cantilever supports are themselves mounted on bracing beams 57 (Fig. 12) which form part of the frame of the machine. The guard rails are interrupted within the zone of the top frame to accommodate movement of certain of the log-barking mechanisms to be presently described.

A pair of hold-down devices are provided to aid in retaining a log on the feed rolls. Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, each device comprises a caster 61 swivelly mounted on a frame member 63, the latter being supported from top frame 15 by a parallel linkage assembly at 65. A pneumatic cylinder-and-piston unit 67, which is mounted on a stringer 69 of the top frame 15, operates the parallel linkage assembly to raise and lower the caster 61 by means of a crank 71. Fig. 3 shows the elevating devices in full lines in their elevated positions, and in broken lines in their lowered positions.

A control booth 81 is shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, from which all operations of the log-barking machine may be controlled. The various means for controlling the operating units of the log-barking machine are not of importance to the present invention and hence have not been shown. Booth 81 is supported partly on its own base member 83 (Fig. 6) and partly on the main frame of the machine. Base member 83 is joined to the adjacent side piece 11 of the base of the machine frame.

Three pairs of barking mechanisms or units are provided for removing the bark and the cambiurn layer from logs fed through the machine. The first pair comprises single-cutterhead mechanisms, which are best shown in Figs. 1, 6, 7 and 8. The single-cutterhead mechanisms are very similar in construction, and thus only the detailed construction of the left-hand mechanism shown in Fig. 6 will be set forth. This cutterhead mechanism includes a generally bell-crank-shaped arm 91, which is pivotally mounted at its lower end by means of a hub portion 92 (Fig. 7) on a shaft 93. Shaft 93 is mounted by bearings 95 (Fig. 8) on a post 17 and uprights 97 forming part of the frame of the machine. The other end of arm 91 is formed in the shape of a clevis, be tween the jaws of which a cutter 99 is rotatably mounted. Cutter 99 has helical teeth which cut diagonally across the grain of the bark and wood of a log.

Arm 91 is swung about shaft 93 by means of a pneumatic piston-and-cylinder unit 101, which is pivotally mounted on the control booth at 102 and is pivotally connected at 103 to the arm at the end or angular portion thereof (Figs. 6 and 8). A shield plate is provided on the frame just below control booth 81 (Fig. 8).

The angular construction of arm 91 provides for a very compact machine, because the lower end of the arm can be pivotally mounted at a location close to the base of the machine and close to the rolls, yet the cutter 99 can be moved to a position in engagement with a very small-diameter log A supported by and substantially between the feed rolls 19 and 21, such as is clearly shown in full lines in Fig. 6.

Shaft 93 is driven by a motor 104 (Figs. 8 and 13) through a chain-and-sprocket drive 105. Cutter 99 is driven from shaft 93 by means of a first chain-andsprocket drive 107 (Fig. 7) which drives a shaft 109 rotably mounted at the bend of arm 91. Shaft 109 in turn drives a second chain-and-sprocket drive 111 which is drivingly connected to cutter 99. It is pointed out, as is clearly shown in Fig. 6, thatthe cutter 99 could not be driven by a single straight chain-and-sprocket drive directly from shaft 93 to the cutter, because such drive would interfere with roll 21 when the arm 91 is moved to its lowermost position. Appropriate guards 113 are provided around chain-and-sprocket drives 107 and 111.

The other single-cutterhead mechanism is, as previously mentioned, very similar in construction. The arrangement and manner of actuating the arm of the other single-cutterhead unit is, however, slightly different and is best explained with reference to the manner of mount ing of the double-cutterhead mechanisms to be presently described. At this time it is pointed out that the other singlecutterhead unit is pressed into engagement with a log by a pneumatic piston-and-cylinder unit, which is designed to apply a force to said other cutterhead equal to that with which said one .cutterhead is pressed against a log. This result is easily obtained by making the piston diameters equal and the pressures in the cylinders equal.

The two single cutters are driven in opposite directions, the left-hand cutter in Fig. 6 being driven in a clockwise direction and the right-hand cutter being driven in a counterclockwise direction. Also, it is apparent that the cutters are always disposed in symmetrical positions relative to a longitudinal vertical central plane between the rolls 19 and 21. This is so because the cutterhead mechanisms have the same dimensions, are ymmetrically mounted relative to the vertical center line between the rolls, and engage a log which itself is generally symmetrical about its longitudinal axis. With the above arrangement, the lateral force of one cutter tending to dislodge the log from its position between the feed rolls is counteracted by the dislodging force of the other cutter. That is, the lefthand cutter in Fig. 6 urges a log to climb over the upper surface of feed roll 21, but such force is counteracted by the right-hand roll which urges the log to climb over the surface of roll 19. This arrangement is also important in that the cutters cause the log to bear with equal pressure against the two feed rolls, resulting in an even spiral feed of the log through the machine. If a log is pressed against one feed roll with a greater pressure than against the other, the log is affected to a greater extent by the feed roll against which it bears with the greatest pressure. For instance, if it were to bear against the feed roll 19 with greater pressure than against feed roll 21, the log would tend to rotate at a faster rate than desired and its longitudinal feeding rate would be lessened. It is pointed out that even if the two single cutter-heads were pressed with equal pressure against a log, the log would be pressed against the rolls with uneven pressures were the cutterheads rotated in the same direction. This is so because the pressure of the log against the rolls is determined not only by the cutterhead pressure but also by a component of the cutting force of each cutterhead against a log. The component of one cutterhead cancels the component of the other when the cutterheads are rotated in opposite directions.-

The second pair of log-barking mechanisms comprises a pair of double-cutterhead mechanisms, best shown in Figs. 1, 9, 10, 11 and 12. Only one double-cutterhead unit is fully disclosed in Fig. 9 and this is the only one which will be described in detail. It comprises a bellcrank-shaped arm including a lower arm portion 121 having a hub 123 pivotally mounted on a shaft 125. Shaft 125 is mounted by bearings 126 on posts 17 and uprights 127 (Fig. 12), the latter forming part of the frame of the machine.

A T-shaped bearing member 128 (Fig. 10) is fixed on the upper end of portion 121, on which is pivotally mounted a pair of cut-terhe-ad supports 129. The supports are allowed limited pivotal movement by a tilt bar 131, which has its ends loosely received within openings formed in upstanding flanges 132 on the cutter supports (Fig. 11). The tilt bar receives at its center a pivot pin 133 forming part of an arm portion 135, which is arranged at an angle to arm portion 121 and rigidly secured thereto. The loose fit of the ends of the tilt bar in the flanges 132 determines the extent of pivotal movement of the cutter supports 129 relative to one another. A cutter 137 is rotatably mounted in the free clevis-shaped end of each support (Fig. 10). Each cutter is preferably provided with helical teeth, as shown, which cut diagonally across the grain of the bark and wood of a log.

The limited pivotal movement of one cutter support relative to the other permits one cutter to ride upon a knot while the other cutter is being pressed by the tilt bar against the log in the area locally of the knot.

Cutters 137 are driven in opposite directions as is shown by the arrows in Fig. 9, and are symmetrically arranged relative to a vertical center line between the rolls. The cutters are driven by means of a first chain-andsprocket drive 141, which connects shaft 125 to a shaft 143, the latter being rotatably mounted substantially at the bend or angular portion of the arm of the doublecutter mechanism. A separate chaiu-and-sprocket unit 145 drives each cutter 137 from shaft 143. Suitable chain guards 147 are provided for the chain-and-sprocket drives. Shaft 125 is driven by a mot-or 145 through a chain-andsprocket drive 146 (Figs. 12 and 13).

The right-hand double-cutterhead unit mechanism disclosed in Fig. 9 is pivotally moved about shaft 125 by means of a pneumatic piston-and-cylinder unit at 151, which is pivotally supported from top frame 15 by means of a bracket 153. The piston-and-cylinder unit pivots arm portion 121 by means of a crank member 155 rigidly connected to arm portion 121.

At this time it is convenient to explain that the second single-cutterhead unit, previously mentioned, is mounted on and pivoted about shaft 125 by an arrangement very similar to that shown in Fig. 9 for the double-cutterhead unit. The piston-and-cylinder unit for the second singlecutter'head unit has been given the reference numeral 157 (Figs. 1, 2 and 12). It is also convenient at this time to point out that the other double-cutterhead mechanism is pivoted about shaft 93 by an arrangement almost identical to the one shown in Fig. 6 for the first singlecutterhead unit. The pneumatic pis'ton-and-cylinder unit for actuating the second double-cutterhead mechanism has been given the reference numeral 159 (Figs. 3 and 8). The arm 121, of the second double-cutterhead mechanism is pivotally supported on shaft 93 in a manner similar to that in which arm 121, 135 of the first double-cutterhead mechanism is mounted on shaft 125 (Fig. 8).

Piston-and-cylinder units 151 and 159 have equaldi-ameter pistons and are supplied with equal pressure to thus press the double cutterheads with equal pressure against a log. It follows that oppositely rotating and symmetrically arranged double cutters 137 function to press a log with even pressure against rolls 19 and 21, and urge the log to remain on the rolls for reasons explained above in connection with the single-cutterhead mechamsms.

The third pair of bark-removing instrumentalities is disclosed in Figs. 1, 13 and 14, and each unit includes a rotary wire brush which is operable to remove loose bark, to remove bark around knots, and particularly to remove the cambium layer which has been exposed, at least to a major extent, by the action of the singleand doublecutterhead units previously described.

Each brush unit includes an arm 171 having a hub 173 pivotally mounted on a shaft 175. Each shaft 175 is supported by bearings 177 (Fig. 12) at a level considerably above that of shafts 93 and 125. Each shaft 175 is driven from the associated lower shaft through a chainand-sprocket drive 181.

On the free end of each arm 171 is fixed a gear case 183 which rotatably supports a brush shaft 135. A rotary brush is fixed to the lower end of each shaft and includes a base plate 187 (Fig. 14) and a removable, annular, brush-element-s'upporting plate 189 held on the base plate by bolts 191. Annular plate 139 carries a plurality of brush elements 193 therearonnd. A knot-receiving recess is thus provided in the center of each brush.

The brush elements may take any suitable form, but the form disclosed in Fig. 14 is preferable. Each comprises a short length of heavy wire cable on the upper end of which is secured a ferrule 194. Each ferrule fits within a mating socket formed in the upper face of annular plate 189. The brush elements are supported against undue lateral deflection by an outer ring 195 removably fastened, such as by setscrews 197, to annular plate 189, and an inner ring 199 which is disposed within the confines of the brush elements and removably secured, such as by setscrews 201, to plate 189.

After the brushes wear down to a point fairly close to the lower edges of rings 195 and 199, the rings may be removed and a set of rings of lesser width substituted therefor, to permit continued use of the brushes. t is apparent from the foregoing description that the recess in the center of each brush permits a brush to fully engage and remove the bark surrounding a knot, which is accommodated within the recess.

Each brush shaft is driven by a shaft 205, which is supported by bearings Within hollow arm 171. Shaft 205 is connected by beveled gears 207 to shaft 185 and by miter gears 209 to shaft 175.

Each brush arm 171 is pivotally moved about shaft 175 by means of a pneumatic piston-and-cylinder unit 215, which is pivotally mounted on the base of the machine frame at 217 and is operatively connected to the hub 173 of the arm by means of a crank 219. Fig. 13 shows the raised and lowered positions of the brushes.

It is pointed out, as shown in Fig. 13, that shaft 185 forms a downwardly facing acute angle with shaft 205. This feature, in combination with the feature mounting the arm 171 at a level higher than shaft 93 and 125, means that the outer brush elements of a brush are permitted to engage a very small-diameter log disposed between the feed rolls 19 and 21, without engaging the feed rolls. That is, the periphery of the working face of the right-hand brush shown in Fig. 13 is disposed at the left-hand portion thereof at a level below that of the top surfaces of the feed rolls. Thus, the right-hand brush may be described as having its working face disposed in a plane which forms an upwardly opening, acute angle with a longitudinal, vertical, central plane between the feed rolls.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 13, it is apparent that the guard rails 51, previously mentioned, extend through the zone occupied by the brushes, but terminate short of the zones occupied by the single and double cutters. A short rail section, one of which is clearly shown in Fig. l and given the reference numeral 51, is provided between each singleand double-cutterhead unit. Each short rail section is supported by a cantilever arm 55 from the frame of the machine.

Fig. 15 illustrates a modified form of the invention in which the feed rolls 19 and 21 are supported by a plurality of blocks 301 and 303, respectively, arranged along their lengths. The blocks are mounted to slide transversely on frame members 305. Adjusting screws 307 and 309 are provided for the rolls 19 and 21, respectively, and threadedly extend into the associated blocks. The screws rotatably extend through upstanding pieces 311 on the frame member 305 and are provided with collars 313 to prevent endwise movement of said screws.

The feed rolls 19 and 21 are shown in full lines as supporting a small-diameter log A. The rolls may be moved apart to better accommodate and support a largerdiameter log. The broken lines show the rolls as having been shifted outwardly and supporting a larger-diameter log B.

The operation of the log-barking machine disclosed in the drawings has been explained to a considerable extent along with the specific description and hence need only be summarized here. Referring to Fig. 1, a log, placed on feed elements 45, is fed by such elements onto the feed rolls 19 and 21 which are rotated to feed the log longitudinally along the frame of the machine. The right-hand hold-down caster 61 may be lowered to press the log against rolls 19 and 21 if desired. The bark of the log is first subjected to a bark-removing action by the oppositely rotating single cutters 99, and thereafter by the oppositely rotating double cutters 137. Thereafter, the wire brushes function to remove the unremoved loosebark portions and the exposed cambium layer.

It is pointed out that, in Fig. 13, the small log A is engaged only by the peripheral bristles and there is no opportunity for the recess of the brush to accommodate a knot of such a small log. However, the knots on such a small log are very small and do not seriously impede the removal of bark surrounding such knots. When the log is of a larger diameter, such as log B in Fig. 13, the knots are usually larger and these larger knots considerably impede the removal of bark surrounding such knots. It is important that the wire brushes be disposed in positions relative to such larger logs as to enable the recesses of the wire brushes to fit over and accommodate a knot during movement of the log through the machine. This action enables the bristles around the recess in the brush to readily remove the bark around the larger knots.

Having described the invention in what are considered to be the preferred embodiments thereof, it is desired that it be understood that the invention is not to be limited by the specific details shown unless they constitute critical features of the present invention, all of which will be apparent by reference to the following claims.

I claim:

1. A log-barking machine having a longitudinally fluted roll and a spirally threaded roll arranged side by side and operable respectively to rotate and longitudinally feed a log supported therebetween, toothed bark-removing means adjacent said rolls and operable to tear and scrape bark from a supported log to remove at least a major 8 portion of said bark and expose the underlying cambium layer, and Wire-brush means adjacent said rolls and dis placed from said toothed bark-removing means in the direction in which a supported log is fed and operable to remove unremoved bark portions and the cambium layer of a supported log, said wire-brush means being rotatable about an axis lying in a plane which is normal to the axes of the rolls.

2. In a log-barking machine, a pair of equal-diameter juxtaposed feed rolls rotatable about parallel, horizontal axes and cooperatively forming a bight to support a similarly arranged log on their upper surfaces, one roll having a longitudinally fluted log-engaging surface for imparting rotary movement to a supported log, the other roll having a spirally threaded surface for imparting longitudinal movement to a supported log, and barle removing means arranged above the rolls and adapted to engage the upper surface of a supported log, said barkremoving means including two rotary barking tools rotatable about axes parallel to the axes of the rolls, means supporting said tools adjacent one another in positions for engaging a supported log at places laterally symmetrically disposed with respect to a vertical center line through the axis of a supported log, and means for holding the tools against a supported log and for rotating the tools in opposite directions, the supporting means including arm means mounting said tools for swinging movement in paths containing parallel, longitudinally displaced, vertical planes and from positions approximately within the bight of the rolls to positions substantially away from said rolls.

3. In a log-barking machine, a pair of equal-diameter juxtaposed feed rolls rotatable about parallel, horizontal axes and cooperatively forming a bight to support a similarly arranged log on their upper surfaces, one roll having a longitudinally fluted log-engaging surface for imparting rotary movement to a supported log, the other roll having a spirally threaded surface for imparting longitudinal movement to a supported log, and barkremoving means arranged above the rolls and adapted to engage the upper surface of a supported log, said barkremoving means including two rotary barking tools rotatable about swingable axes parallel to the axes of the rolls, means supporting said tools adjacent one another in positions for engaging a supported log at places laterally symmetrically disposed with respect to a vertical center line through the axis of a supported log, and means for holding the tools with equal pressure against a supported log and for rotating the tools in opposite directions, the supporting means including arm means mounting said tools for swinging movement in paths containing parallel, longitudinally displaced, vertical planes and from positions approximately within the bight of the rolls to positions substantially away from said rolls, the swingable axes of the tools being disposed in spaced, parallel relation, one on either side of a vertical plane containing the axis of rotation of a supported log.

4. In a log-barking machine, means for feeding a log along a predetermined horizontal path, barking means adjacent said path including a toothed barking tool and a brush, said tool being mounted for rotation about an axis parallel to said path, said brush being mounted for rotation about an axis lying in a plane perpendicular to said path, means for driving said tool and said brush including a. common shaft arranged parallel to said path, means including miter gears for driving said brush from said shaft, and chain-and-sprocket-drive means for driving said tool from said shaft.

5. In a log-barking machine, means for feeding a log along a predetermined horizontal path, barking means adjacent said path including a toothed cutter and a brush displaced from one another along said path, said toothed cutter being mounted for rotation about. an axis parallel to said pat-h, said brush being mounted for rotation about an axis lying in a plane angularly intersecting said path,

means for driving said cutter and said brush including a common shaft arranged parallel to said path, means including miter gears for driving said brush from said shaft, chain-and-sprocket-drive means for driving said cutter from said shaft, and an arm supported at one end for swinging movement about an axis parallel to said path and rotatably supporting said cutter at its other end, said arm being swingably mounted about the axis of said common shaft.

6. In a log-barking machine, a pair of juxtaposed, parallel, horizontal log-feeding rolls adapted to support therebetween a log of substantially smaller diameter than said rolls, a log-barking tool for removing bark from said log, means for supporting said tool for movement to and from a lowered position against the top surface of a supported log including an arm mounted at one end for swinging movement about an axis located below the top surfaces of said rolls and sufficiently close to one roll so that a straight line through said axis and said lowered position of said tool extends through said one roll, said tool being rotatably supported on the other end of said arm, said arm being of generally bell-crank shape and having the lesser angle side thereof confronting said one roll and curved generally upwardly and inwardly around said one roll to accommodate the same while disposing said tool in engagement with a small supported log on said rolls, and means for rotating said tool.

7. In a log-barking machine, a pair of juxtaposed, parallel, horizontal log-feeding rolls adapted to support therebetween a log of substantially smaller diameter than said rolls, a log-barking tool for removing bark from a supported log, means for supporting said tool in a position against the top surface of a supported log including an arm mounted at one end for swinging movement about an axis located below the top surfaces of said rolls and adjacent one of said rolls, said tool being rotatably supported on the other end of said arm, said arm being of generally bell crank shape and mounted so that its bight portion or smaller angle side confronts said one roll, means for rotating said tool including a first chain-and-sprocket drive extending from the swinging axis of said arm to the angular portion of said arm, and a second chain-andsprocket drive extending from said angular portion to said tool and being drivingly connected to the first chain-andsprocket drive and to said tool, one of said chain-andsprocket drives being located on one side of said arm and the other chain-and-sprocket drive being located on the other side of said arm.

8. In a log-barking machine, a pair of parallel, horizontal, juxtaposed feed rolls adapted to supportttherebetween a log of a sufficiently smaller diameter than that of the rolls so as to have its upper surface disposed below that of the upper surfaces of the rolls, means for removing bark and the cambiurn layers from such a log including a circular brush of a diameter substantially larger than that of the diameter of such a log and being rotatable about an axis contained in a vertical plane normal to the axes of the rolls, and means for moving the brush toward and away from the rolls along an arcuate path and at an angular disposition to bring the peripheral edge of the brush into engagement with such a log, with the face of the brush arranged in a plane forming an upwardly opening acute angle with a vertical longitudinal plane between the rolls whereby the brush engages such a log without engaging the rolls.

9. In a log-barking machine, bark-removing means, and a pair of parallel, horizontal, juxtaposed feed rolls adjacent the bark-removing means and operable to rotate and longitudinally feed a log past the bark-removing means, at least one roll including at least two hollow, tubular drumlike sections, a double-flanged hublike member rigidly fastened at its opposite flanges to the opposed ends of said drum sections, bearing means rotatably supporting the hublike member in the region thereof between the flanges, a hublike member secured to each remote end of said drum sections, and bearing means rotatably supporting the latter-mentioned hublike members.

10. In a log-barking machine, a pair of rotary, parallel, horizontal, juxtaposed log-feeding members, and logbarking means adjacent said members for removing bark and the cambium layers from a log supported by said members, said log-barking means including a wire brush, supporting means for said brush including an arm pivotally mounted at one end at a place adjacent and laterally of said members, and means at the opposite end of said arm supporting said brush for rotation about an axis forming a downwardly directed, acute angle with said arm.

11. In a log-barking machine, a pair of equal-diameter juxtaposed feed rolls rotatable about parallel, horizontal axes and cooperatively forming a bight to support a similarly arranged log on their upper surfaces, one roll having a longitudinally fluted log-engaging surface for imparting rotary movement to a supported log, the other roll having a spirally threaded surface for imparting longitudinal movement to a supported log, and barloremoving means arranged above the rolls and adapted to engage an upper surface of a supported log, said barloremoving means including two rotary barking tools rotatable about axes parallel to the axes of the rolls, means supporting said tools adjacent one another in positions for engaging a supported log at places laterally symmetrically disposed with respect to a vertical center line through the axis of a supported log, and means for holding the tools against a supported log and for rotating the tools in opposite directions, the supporting means including arm means mounting said tools for swinging movement in paths containing parallel, longitudinally displaced, vertical planes and from positions approximately within the bight of the rolls to positions substantially away from said rolls, said arm means being pivoted adjacent said roll and below the top surfaces thereof and being curved generally upwardly and inwardly around said rolls to accommodate the same while disposing said tools in engagement with a small supported log in said bight.

12. In a log-barking machine, a pair of equal-diameter juxtaposed feed rolls rotatable about parallel, horizontal axes and adapted cooperatively to support a similarly arranged log on their upper surfaces, one roll having a longitudinally fluted log-engaging surface for imparting rotary movement to a log, the other roll having a spirally threaded surface for imparting longitudinal movement to such log, and bark-removing means arranged above the rolls and adapted to engage an upper surface of such log, said bark-removing means including two rotary barking tools rotatable about axes parallel to the axes of the rolls, means supporting said tools adjacent one another in positions for engaging such log at places laterally symmetrically disposed with respect to a vertical center line through a longitudinal axis of such log, and means for holding the tools with equal pressure against such a log and for rotating the tools in opposite directions, the supporting means including arm means mounting said tools for swinging movement in paths containing parallel, longitudinally displaced, vertical planes from positions approximately within the bight of the rolls to positions substantially away from said rolls, the swinging axes of the tools being disposed in spaced parallel relation, one on either side of the axes of rotation of the rolls, said arm means being pivoted at places adjacent said rolls and below the top surfaces thereof and being curved generally upwardly and inwardly around said rolls to accommodate the same while disposing said tools in engagement with a small supported log in said bight. t

13. In a log-barking machine, a pair of elongate juxtaposed feed rolls rotatable about parallel, horizontal axes and cooperatively forming a bight to support a log on their upper surfaces with an axis of such log extending longitudinally of the rolls, said rolls each having a length greater than a supported log to be debarked so that such a log may be supported along its entire length by said amaze 1 1 rolls, at least one of said rolls having longitudinal flutes for imparting rotary movement to a supported log, at least one of the rolls having spiral threads for imparting longitudinal movement to a supported log, and bark-removing means arranged above said rolls and adapted to engage an upper surface of a supported log, said bark-removing means including two rotary barking tools, means supporting said tools adjacent one another in positions for engaging a supported log at places laterally symmetrically disposed with respect to a vertical center line through such longitudinally extending axis of a supported log, and means for holding said tools against a supported log and for rotating the tools, the supporting means including arm means mounting said tools for swinging movement in paths containing parallel, longitudinally displaced vertical planes and from adjacent positions approximately within the bight of said rolls to positions sub-' stantially spaced from said rolls.

14. In a log-barking machine, a pair of elongate juxtaposed feed rolls rotatable about parallel, horizontal axes and cooperatively forming a bight to support a log on their upper surfaces with an axis of such log extending longitudinally or the rolls, said rolls each having a length greater than a supported log to be debarked so that such a log may be supported along its entire length by said rolls, at least one of said rolls having longitudinal flutes for imparting rotary movement to a supported log, at least one of the rolls having spiral threads for imparting longitudinal movement to a supported log, and bark-removing means arranged above said rolls and adapted to engage an upper surface of a supported log, said bark-removing means including two rotary barking tools, means supporting said tools adjacent one another in positions for engaging a supported log at places laterally symmetrically disposed with respect to a vertical center line through such longitudinally extending axis of a supported log, and means for holding said tools against a supported log and for rotating the tools, the supporting means including arm means mounting said tools for swinging movement in paths containing parallel, longitudinally displaced vertical planes and from adjacent positions approximately within the bight of said rolls to positions substantially spaced from said rolls, said arm means including an arm for each tool, the arms being pivotally mounted for swinging movement about axes disposed on the opposite sides of said rolls but adjacent said rolls and below the top surfaces of said rolls, each arm being curved generally upwardly and inwardly around the associated roll to accommodate the same while disposing the associated tool in engagement with a small supported log in said bight.

References Cited in the file of this patent UN1TED STATES PATENTS 572,948 Beals Dec. 15, 1896 593,897 Jones Nov. 16, 1897 892,176 Moravec June 30, 1908 1,172,762 Bezner Feb. 22, 1916 1,473,582 Leedom Nov. 6, 1923 1,751,258 Vogl- Mar. 18, 1930 2,338,136 Shaw et al. Jan. 4, 1944 2,401,500 Ockfen June 4, 1946 2,490,165 Shaw Dec. 6, 1949 FOREIGN. PATENTS 108,230 Germany Jan. 20, 1900 136,210 Germany -1 Nov. 22, 1902 358,636 Germany Sept. 15, 1922 54,985 Sweden July 11, 1923 505,048 Belgium Dec. 19, 1952

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