US2834385A - Log-barking machine having logfeeding mechanism - Google Patents

Description

May 13, Y1958 J. l.. GYLLENBERG 2,834,385

LOG-BARKING MACHINE HAVING LOG-FEEDING MECHANISM Original Filed Oct. 16. 1953 11A Sheets-Sheet 1 -IIIIIJ www A TTU/PNE V5 May 13, 1958 J. l.. GYLLENBERG Y 2,834,385

LOG-BARKING MACHINE HAVING LOG-FEEDING MECHANISM Original Filed Oct. 16. 1953 l1 Sheets-Sheet 2 D JNVENToR.

J'OHN L. GYLLENBERG MVr-wv" ATTORNEYS N nl? J. L. GYLLENBERG 2,834,385

May 13, 1958 LOG-BARKING MACHINE HAVING LOG-FEEDING MECHANISM 1l Sheets-Sheet 3 Q O m v/ C) 'n 1 N II R O N nm w INVENTOR.

J'OHN L.GYLLENBERG ATTORNEYS May 13, 1958 J. L. GYLLENBERG 2,334,385

Los-BARKING MACHINE HAVING Loc-FEEDING MECHANISM 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed Oct. 16. 1953 mmm. o h@ MQ :im .N m Sm S MS NS v o uw mw @w 0@ w QN a QN l! Bw BN w Sw INVENTOR. .GYLLENBERG MM. aww ATTORNEYS JOHN L wir@ vnbpflm.

May 13, 1958 J. l.. GYLLENBERG 2,834,385

LoG-BARKING MACHINE HAVING LoG-FEEBING MECHANISM original Filed oct. 1s. 195s 11 sheets-sheet 5 nooo oocoooo O o o O o C c o o o N 42/ JNVENTOR.

JHN L.GYLLENBERG j g: 2O 2v Mmw Mayvl3, 1958 J. l.. GYLLl-:NBERG 2,834,385

LOG-BARKING MACHINE HAVING LOG-FEEDING MECHANISM Orighal Filed Oct. 16. 1953 11 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. JOHN L. GYLLENBERG ATTORNEYS May 13, 1958 J. L. GYLLENBERG 2,834,385

LoG-BARKING MACHINE HAVING Loc-FEEDING MECHANISM Original Filed Oct. 16. 1953 1l Sheets-Sheet 7 JOHN I .GYLLENBERG BY MW-/Mw f ATTORNEYS om v m w D 5 m RU m QT m Sm m wm u E@ m m: wvx w mm? RN\\ L i I..

F um mmm Rw www@ RM mmm N\..II.N...FN|

May 13, 1958 J. l.. GYLLENBERG 2,834,385

LOG-BARK1NG MACHINE HAVING Loc-FEEDING MECHANISM Original Filed Oct. 16, 1955 l1 Sheets-Sheet 8 1NVENToR. JOHN I .GYLLENBERG MMM ,a A TTORVE YS DING MECHANISM 11 sheets-sheet 9 May 13, 1958 f May 13, 1958 J. L. GYLLENBERG 2,834,385

LOG-BARKING MACHINE HAVING LOG-FEEDING MECHANISM Original Filed Oct. 16. 1953 11 Sheets-Sheet 10 ATTORNEYS May 13, 1958 J. 1 GYLLENBERG 2,834,385

Loc-BARKING MACHINE HAVING LoG-FEDING MECHANISM original Filed oct. 1s. 195s 11 sheets-sheet 11 BEARING Z aMmfW TTRNEYS 2,834,385 Patented May 13, 1958 'LOG-BARKING MACHENE HAVING DOG- FEEDING MECHANISM John L. Gyllenberg, Baker, Greg., assigner to Anthony Brandenthaler, Baker, Greg.

14 Claims. (Cl. 144-246) This invention relates to a machine for removing bark from logs, such machines being referred to as log-barking machines.

The present application is copending with and forms a division of my prior application entitled Log Barking Machine, iiled October 16, 1953, Serial No. 386,491, now Patent No. 2,780,252, dated February 5, l957.

There has long existed a pressing demand for a machine capable of Vquickly and eiectively removing the bark and underlying cambium layer from logs, as is evidenced by the numerous patents granted on such machines. A successful hydraulic log-barking machine has been developed comparatively recently, but this machine is very expensive and thus is available to only a small segment of the lumber industry. Mechanical log-barking machines are, in general, much less `expensive than hydraulic machines, but, although hundreds ofpatents have been granted von such machines, it is well known in the trade that they have not proved successful, and none have been adopted by even a small segment of the industry.

Various reasons are attributed to these failures. A primary reason has been the inability of the machines to entirely remove the cambium layer from even straight logs, and if such material is not entirely removed, the slabs, edgings,'et cetera, formed when the logs are cut into lumber, are not satisfactory for use in paper manufacture, which is a primary source of the demand for log-'barking machines. Another important reason why prior mechanical log-barking machines have been failures is that, while some of them do a creditable job of removing a substantial portion of the bark and cambium from straight, cylindrical logs having few or no knots,`

branch stubs, and the like, which logs form only a small percentage of those handled at a mill, they have been incapable of handling bowed, crooked, and otherwise unsymmetrical logs, or logs with many knots and branch stubs. There are other reasons for the failure of prior mechanical log-barkingmachines, but the fact that none of them have been adopted by even a smallsegment of the industry shows conclusively that they have not been successful.

It is a main object of the present invention to provide a mechanical log-barking machine which costs only a fraction of the price of a hydraulic machine, and which is completely ksuccessful in removing not only the bark but also the underlying cambium layer from all` logs suitable for sawmill work, including logs which are bowed and crooked, and those which are covered with knots and branch stubs.

It is another object of the present invention toV provide a log-barking machine having a novel log-rotating-andfeeding arrangement, and, in particular, comprising two elongated, extensible, articulated log-feeding Vmembers spaced to cradle a log therebetween, said members having incorporated therein spaced, toothed, log-feeding `elements, there being means for rotating the members whereby the` elements rotate a log, and means for disposing the axes of rotation of the elements angularly to the direction of extension of the members whereby the elements feed the log longitudinally along at a speed propoi-tional to the magnitude of the angle of departure of said axes from said direction.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement of the type described immediately above, wherein there is a mechanism for moving feeding members toward and away from one another along inclined planes to provide a log-receiving cradle adapted to accommodate dilerent-diameter logs, and whereby logs of different diameters may be fed into the cradle from a fixed-level log-input-feeding means.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide, in a log-barking machine having two log-rotatingand-feeding members adjustable `toward or away from one another to vary the cradle provided thereby, log holddown means arranged to engage the top of a log and hold the log down on the feeding members, the holddown means being operatively connected to the feeding members to be movable, in response to a change in spacing between the members, to a position outwardly from its initial position, when the spacing between the members is increased, and inwardly from its initial position, when the spacing between the members is decreased, whereby the hold-down means is adapted to effectively engage and hold down logs of different sizes.

Further objects of the present invention are to provide a novel control system for controlling the size of the cradle provided by feeding members of the type described above, and for controllingthe angular disposition of the axes of rotation of the toothed feeding elements, incorporated in such feeding members, relative to the direction of extension of such members.

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

Fig. 1 is a side view of a log-barking machine embodying the concepts of the present invention, showing a log of considerable size being operated on by the machine;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine disclosed in Fig, 1;

Fig. 3 is an end view taken in the direction of the arrows 3 3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, sectional View taken along line 4`4 of Fig. 3, showing the manner of supporting a log-feeding element; v

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken along line 5--5 of Fig. 3, showing the cleaning fork for a feeding element; v

Fig. 6 (Sheet No. l) is a view in plan showing one row of log-feeding elements and the connections between said elements, the full lines showing the feeding elements in their neutral positions and the dotted lines showing the elements in positions for feeding a log forwardly through the machine;

Fig. 7 (Sheet No. 5) is an enlarged plan view of the feeding-element angle-control box located in the control booth, parts being broken away for convenience in illustration;

Fig. 8 is a front view of the control box disclosed in Fig. 7, taken in the direction of the arrows 8 8 in Fig. 7, parts being broken away for convenience in illustration;

Fig. 9 (Sheet No. 6) is a schematic diagram of the feeding-element angle-control system;

Fig. l0 (Sheet- No. 4) is a sectional View taken along line 10-10 of Fig. 2, showing part of the mechanism for changing the size of the cradle for a log;

Fig. l1 (Sheet No. 6) is a schematic diagram showing the manner of operation of the cradle-control system;

Fig. 12 (Sheet No. 7) is a front elevation of the control box for the cradle-control system for the various barkremoving instrumentalities, and for the log hold-down devices, parts being broken away for convenience 1n illustration; "e

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken along line 13--13 of Fig. 12;

' Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken along line 14-14 of Fig. 13, showing part of the cr-adle-control system;

Fig. 15 (Sheet No. 8) is a sectional view taken along 15-15 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary, perspective view showing the relation of the switch rollers to the two strip cams of the log-cradle-control system;

Fig. 17 (Sheet No. 9) is a Sectional view taken along line 17-17 of Fig. 2, showing the construction of one of the first pair of bark-cutting-and-removing instrumentalities and one of the second pair of bark-cutting-and-removing instrumentalities;

Fig. 18 (Sheet No. 10) is a view taken in the direction of the arrows 18-18 in Fig. 3, showing the manner of mounting a hold-down roller;

Fig. 19 (Sheet No. 9) is a view taken along line 19-19 of Fig. 17;

Fig. 2O (Sheet No. 5) is an enlarged view taken along 20-20 of Fig. 17, showing more fully the construction of one of the second bark-cutting-and-removing instrumentalities;

Fig. 21 is a side view taken from the right of the cutting device disclosed in Fig. 20;

Fig. 22 (Sheet No. 11) is a fragmentary, sectional view taken along line 22-22 of Fig. 21, showing the manner of eccentrically mounting a cutter;

Fig. 23 is a view taken along line 23-23 of Fig. 21, more fully showing the construction of the equalizer bar;

Fig. 24 (Sheet No. 10) is a sectional view taken along line 24'24 of Fig. 2, showing the construction of the wire-brush units;

Fig. 25 (Sheet No. 8) is a view looking at the operating face of a wire brush;

Fig. 26 is a sectional View through the wire brush showing the manner of its operation on a knot; and

Fig. 27 (Sheet No. l1) is a scsematic view showing the manner of controlling and operating a wire-brush unit.

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout, there is disclosed a long-barking machine embodying the concepts of the present invention, and in which a log of considerable size is shown being processed. The machine comprises a frame including five upright, M- shaped, aligned frame sections 11, 13, 15, 17 and 19 spaced from one another as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and 'adapted to be directly or indirectly fixed to the lloor of a building or other suitable structure. Each frame section comprises ,two spaced M-shaped members xedly connected at their lower ends by base plates 20, and at the upper side portions thereof by side plates, relatively narrow side plates 21 being provided for sections 11 and 19, and relatively deep side plates 22 being provided for the remaining sections (see Fig. 1),

Two spaced rows of log-rotating elements i Provided along each inclined, upwardly facing surface of each M-shaped member is a guide 23 (see Fig. 4), the guides on opposed frame members facing one another and slidably receiving a feed-element-supporting plate 25 of generally rectangular configuration (compare Figs. 2, 4 and Each plate 25 is adjustably held in a selected `position along the guides 23 in a manner to be presently set forth. Upon each feed-element-supporting plate is pivotally mounted at 26, for swiveling movement about an axis perpendicular to said plate, a feed-element pivot plate 27 of generally pear-shaped configuration, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6.

A toothed feed element 29, having conico-frustum ends Y and two annular grooves 30 therearound, is provided for each pivot plate 27, and has a shaft 31 journaled in uprights 32 (see Fig. 4) fixed to said pivot plate. A cleaning fork 33 (see Fig. 5) is provided for each feed element 29, and is supported by arms 34 forming extensions of the associated uprights 32, and lits within the upper portions of the annular grooves of the feed clement to automatically clean the element as the element is rotated by means to be presently set forth. As is apparent from the arrows in Fig. 3, the feed elements 29 on each frame section rotate in the same direction, counterclockwise as shown, and so the arms 34 of both pairs of the uprights 32 on each frame section extend to the left, as the parts are depicted in Fig. 3, to dispose each fork to the left of its feed element in position so that the prongs thereof effectively clean the feed element.

There is a curved log-retaining arm associated with each feed element, the left-hand retaining arm in Fig. 3 being given the reference numeral 35 and being secured to the nearest arm 34 shown (compare Figs. 3 and 5), whereas the right-hand retaining arm is given the reference numeral 36 and is secured to the right edge of the nearest upright 32.

As is apparent from Figs. 2 and 3, the feed elements 29 are arranged in two longitudinal rows to provide a cradle for a log labeled A, the elements being operable when rotated to rotate the log and, when arranged with their axes of rotation other than parallel to the direction of extension of said rows, to feed the log one way or the other along the machine, depending on which direction they are swiveled from their parallel positions.

Simultaneous articulation of all log-rotating elements to cause feeding of a log Each row of the feed elements 29 is connected in endto-end fashion in a manner to provide an elongated, extensible, articulatedfeed member. Figs. 2 and 6 best show this arrangement, and the arrangement will be described in connection with the top row of elements as the parts are depicted in Fig. 2. Connected to the opposite ends of each feed element shaft 31, except for the left-hand end of the leftmost shaft in Fig.'2, is a universal joint 41, and connecting the universal joints of the various feed elements of the row are two-part, splineconnected, telescopic shafts. The three centrally located feed-element shafts are connected by relatively short twopart shafts 43, whereas there is a relatively long twopart shaft 45 connecting the shaft 31 of each end feed elementwith the shaft 31 of the adjacent feed element. A two-part, spline-connected, telescopic input shaft 47 (see Fig. 2) is connected and transmits power to the right-hand universal joint on the right-hand end of thc shaft 31 of the rightmost feed element of the row.

The opposite row of feed-element shafts are similarly connected and driven. By such an arrangement, the feed elements of a row are driven at the same speed in the same direction. The two input shafts 47 are arranged to drive the two rows of feed elements in the same direction, as is apparent from the direction-ot-rotation arrows in Fig. 3.

When the feed elements are swiveled on their supporting plates by means to be presently described, the distances between the adjacent ends of the feed-element shafts varies, the two-part shafts varying in length to accommodate such action. The dotted-line position of the parts in Fig. 6 shows this action. l

The mechanism for controlling the angular disposition of the axes of rotation of the feed elements will now be described. Referring particularly to Fig. 6, the pivot plates 27 of each row of feed elements 29 are pivotally connected at the protruding portions thereof atv 69 to a control link 71 extending longitudinally of the machine. The right-hand end of each link, as the parts are depicted `in Figs. 2 and 9, is bent outwardly and is pivotally connected to a sliding block 73 which is slidably received within the elongated slot of a slotted link 75. The slotted link 75 for the upper row of feed elements, as the parts are depicted in Figs. 2 and 9, is pivoted at its upper end to` one end of a link 77, the latter being pivoted at 79 to frame section 19.

A response cable 81 is yconnected at one end to the slotted link 75 and is trained about a sheave 83 rotatably mounted on the frame section 17 (see Figs. 2 and 9), and then about a sheave 85 mounted on a control booth generally indicated at 87. The cable is then connected at its other end to a response lever 89 (compare Figs. 2, 7 and 9) which forms part of a control box generally indicated at 90, about which more will presently be said.

The other end of the upper slotted link 75 (Fig. 2) is pivoted to two plain links 91 and 93, the former being pivoted to frame section 19 and the latter being pivoted to an actuating disk 95. It is apparent that the link 77 and the link 91 provide a parallel linkage arrangement for the associated link 75, so that the slot of said link will always be maintained normal to the longitudinal axis of the machine. The disk 95 is pivotally mounted at 96 on a bracket 97 fixed to the frame section 19, and has an arm 99 pivotally connected to the piston rod 101 of a hydraulic actuator 103. The cylinder of said actuator is pivoted at 105 to the frame section 19.

The slotted link for the lower row of feed elements, as the parts are depicted in Fig. 2, is also connected to the frame section 19 and disk, 95 by a second pair of links 91 and 93, and is also connected to said frame section by a link 107 for parallel movement.

It is evident that if the disk 95 is rotated counterclockwise by the action of the hydraulic actuator 103, as the parts are depicted in Figs. 2 and 9, the upper slotted link 75 will shift its control link 71 to the left, whereas the lower slotted link 75 will shift its control link 71 to the right. This movement of the control links will angularly shift the axes of rotation of the feed elements clockwise from the neutral positions shown, and in such positions the feed elements will, upon rotation, feed a log forwardly from left to right. Since the control links will be moved equally in opposite directions, and since the upper link is located below its row of feed elements (still referring to Fig. 2), whereas the lower control link is located above its row of feed elements, the two opposed feed elements of each frame section will be adjusted the same angular extent in the same direction, so that their axes of rotation will remain parallel to one another and cooperate to evenly feed the log along the machine.

It is pointed out that if the disk 95 is turned by the actuator 103 ina clockwise direction, this action willcause an opposite angular disposition of the feed elements, which will result in feeding a log rearwardly, or from right to left. V

The control box 90 forms part of a general control system provided in the control booth, and is most clearly shown in Figs. 2, 7 and 8. The control box includes a square base plate 111 secured to a table or shelf 113 forming part of the control booth. A sleeve 117 slidably extends through the base plate 111 approximately centrally thereof and has the response cable lever 89 fixed to the lower end thereof. Referring to Fig. 8, a cable 118, connected to the lever 849, is trained about a sheave 119 supported from the table 113 (see Figs. 8 and 9), the cable 118 suspending from the free end thereof a weight 119a which at all times urges the lever clockwise as the parts are depicted in Fig. 9.

Fixed to the base plate 111 is a circular guide plate 120 (Fig. 8) apertured to receive the sleeve 117 therethrough. Guided by the guide plate is a rotary, cylindrical housing member 121 engaging the outer edge of the guide plate and having secured to its upper edge a cover plate 123.`

The cover plate 123 has a lever arm 125 formed integrally therewith and extending therefrom and by which the cover plate and housing member 121 may be turned relative to the base plate 111.

The sleeve 117 protudes through the cover plate 123 and has. mounted on the upper end thereof a set collar 12,7 by which the movable sleeve is supported on the cover plate 123. A lower set collar 129 is fixed to the sleeve 117' below the base plate 111, thus precluding endwise movement of the sleeve.

Supported by the guide plate is a circular switchsupporting plate 141 apertured to receive the sleeve 117 therethrough, said supporting plate having a set collar 143 fixed concentrically thereto and adapted to be adjustably secured to the sleeve 117 for purposes of initial adjustment of the mechanism, the sleeve 117 and the switchsupporting plate 141 being operable only by movement of the response-cable lever 89. Mounted on the switchsupporting plate 141 are two normally open switch units 145 and 147 (see Fig. 9) having `electric-current-carrying cable pairs 148 and 149, respectively, extending therefrom and connected to solenoids 150 and 151, respectively. 'l'hese solenoids control the supply to, and the release of, hydraulic fluid from the feed-element-control actuator 103 in a manner to be presently described.

Each switch unit includes a horizontal arm 152 pivoted at 152g on a switch unit box 152i), said arm carrying a roller 153. The arms are biased by springs (not shown) contained within boxes 1521; to normally hold the rollers 153 in engagement with the ends of an arcuate cam 155 fixed to the interior of cylindrical housing member 121. The arrangement is such that when the rollers 153 are against the ends of the cam, the switch units are in open condition, but when an arm is forced inwardly, as when its roller rides onto the inner periphery of the cam, the associated switch is closed.

The solenoids 150 and 151 are connected to a movable valve member 157 of a hydraulic fluid-control valve 159, which is only schematically shown. Conduits 161 and 162 extend from the opposite ends of the valve cylinder' to the opposite ends of the actuator cylinder 103. A solenoid is operable, when energized, to apply thrust to the valve member 157 and push it toward the opposite end of the valve cylinder. An inlet conduit 163 leads from the high-pressure side of a hydraulic fluid pump 164 to the center of the valve cylinder. An outlet conduit 165 extends from the center of the valve cylinder to the low-pressure side of the pump.

The valve member 157 has twp inlet passages 166 and 167, the inlet ends of which are spaced to providev a land facing and closing the conduit 163 when the valve member is centrally positioned in the valve cylinder.

' The inlet passages communicate with the adjacent ends of the valve cylinder. The valve member has two outlet passages 16S and 169, the outlet ends of which are spaced to provide a land facing and closing the outlet conduit 165 when the valve member is centrally positioned in the valve cylinder. The outlet passages communicate at all times with the remote ends of the valve cylinder.

The solenoids are of conventional construction and thushave been only schematically shown. Each has a built-in spring (not shown), said springs functioning to urge the valve member to assume a position centrally of the valve cylinder.

The operation of the feed-element angle-control system is as follows. Fig. 9 shows the parts in neutral posi` tion with the feed elements 29 rotating about axes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the machine. Assume that it is desired to feed a log forwardly, that is, from left to right in both Figs. 2 and 9. The lever arm 125 is swung clockwise to cause the end of cam 155, adjacent the roller 153 associated with the switch unit 145, to force said roller to swing inwardly and close the associated switch, while the end of cam 155 adjacent the roller of switch 147 retreats from said roller, which merely swings outwardly into engagement with the housing member 121, and thus the switch remains open. Closing of the switch 145 energizes the solenoid 150 to force the movable valve member 157 to the left, as the parts are shown in Fig. 9, to bring the passage 166 into communi- 7 cation with the inlet conduit 163 to supply hydraulic fluid under pressure to the right-hand end of the actuator cylinder 103, and to bring the passage 169 into communication with the outlet conduit 165 to communicate the left-hand end of the actuator cylinder 103 with the low-pressure side of the pump 164. The actuator piston is thus forced to the left, which acts through the disk 95, the slotted links 75 and the control links 71 to shift the Aaxes of rotation of both rows of feed elements clockwise from the positions shown in full lines in Fig. 6 to the dotted-line positions. In these positions, a log will be fed forwardly through the machine.

Movement of the `upper slotted link 75 to the left allows the weight 119a on the cable 118 to turn the lever 89 (and thus the plate 141 and the switch units) clockwise onlyfto such an extent that the roller for the switch unit 145 rides olf the inner periphery of the cam 155, and onto the adjacent end of the cam, whereupon said switch opens and deenergizes the solenoid 150. When this occurs, the built-in springs for the solenoids, before mentioned, force the valve member 157 back to its central position and thus cut olf the supply of fluid to the actuator 103, and also the discharge of fluid from said actuator. The uid trapped in the actuator 103 and conduits 161 and 162, and within the valve cylinder and movable valve member, holds the control links 71, and thus the feed elements 29, in their adjusted positions.

In order to determine the extent of angular adjustment of the feed elements 29, the cover plate 123 (see Fig. 7) is provided with an arcuate slot 171 within which is disposed a xed indicator 173 secured to the base plate 111. The indicator has a mark 175 adapted to cooperate with marks 177 provided on the cover plate 123 adjacent the slot 171 to indicate the extent of angular adjustment of the feed elements 29, preferably in terms of the rate of longitudinal feed of the log.

Means to vary the lateral spacing of the r'ows of log-rotating elements As previously indicated, the feed elements 29 are adapted to be bodily shifted inwardly and outwardly along the guides 23 to accommodate different-sized, that is, diameter, logs. The two feed-element assemblies of each frame section are connected for movement in unison. This arrangement will now be explained, and thereafter the manner of controlling the bodily movement of the feed-element assemblies from the control booth will be set forth.V

Referring to Fig. l0, depending from each left-hand feed-element-supporting plate 25 is a pair of lugs 181, and depending from each right-hand feed-element-supporting plate `is a singlelug 182, the lugs 181 being pivotally connected at 183 to a link 185, whereas the lug 182 is disposed between and pivotally connected at 187 to a double link 189. The link 185 and double link 189 are pivotally connected together at 191.

Extending through all of the double links 189 of the opposed sets of feed elements intermediate the ends thereof is a common shaft 193 (see Fig. l) which is preferably keyed to said links. There'is a link 195 for Aeach double link, pivotally connected at one end to the common shaft 193 and at its opposite end at 197 to the adjacent leg of the associated frame section.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 10 and l1, a hydraulic actuator .201 is provided for bodily shifting the sets of feed elements, said actuator including a cylinder 203 pivoted at V205 to a tubular cross piece 207, the latter member ,being supported in part intermediate its ends by a pair of angular brackets 209 (compare Figs. l and l) lixed to theright-hand side plate 22 of the frame section 15, as the parts are depicted in Fig. 10. The cylinder 203 has therewithin a piston 210 (see Fig. ll) having a piston rod 211 extending from the cylinder and connected by a clevis connection 213 (Fig. to the plate 25 of the right-hand feed element 429|.

Counterbalancing each of the feed-element assemblies of the frame sections 11 and 19, and the upper feedelement assemblies of the sections 13 and 17, as the parts are depicted in Fig. 2, is a counterweight 221 (see Figs. 2 and 3) which is suspended by a rope or cable 223, said cable being trained over a sheave 225 and connected to the outer margin of the adjacent feed-element-supporting plate 25 of the adjacent feed element. Each sheave 225 is rotatably supported by a bracket 229 from the associated frame section.

Referring to Figs. 10 and 1l; when actuator 201 is actuated in a manner such as to force inwardly the feedelement assemblies of the right-hand row, as the parts are depictedin Fig. 10, against the resistance of the weights 221, the links 189, 195 and 185, through the common shaft 193, force the feed-element assemblies of the opposite row inwardly the same amount, the links being dimensioned to achieve this result.

The manner of controlling the spacing of the rows of the feed-element assemblies will now be explained. Mounted on the frame section 15 adjacent the actuator 201 (in a manner not shown) is a hydraulic fluid control valve 232 (see Fig. 1l), the construction of which duplicates the. valve 159 previously described, and hence .i similar reference numerals have been applied to corresponding parts of the valve 232 prime marks being added to the numerals to differentiate such corresponding parts. The conduits 233 and 234 connect the valve 2,32 to the cylinder of the actuator 201. Solenoids 235 and 236 control the operation of the valve 232 and are in turn controlled through current lines 243 and 244 by a control box 245 mounted on the table or shelf 113 of the control booth.

Referring particularly to Figs. 12 through 16, the con-v trol box 245 includes a housing having a horizontal face plate 249, an inclined face plate 251, end plates 253, an angularly bent back plate 255, and a base plate 257, the latter being secured to the shelf or table 113 of the control booth. A control arrangement for the bark-cuttingand-removing instrumentalities to be described hereinafter is in part mounted beneath the horizontal face plate 249, but of present concern is the control arrangement for the actuator 201, which control arrangement is in part located beneath the inclined face plate 251.

The latter control arrangement includes a movable indicator carriage 261 (see Fig. 14) slidably mounted by means of depending ears 263 on a pair of spaced, parallel rods 265 secured to the end plates 253. The carriage 261 is of generally open, rectangular configuration, as is apparent from Fig. l5, and has mounted 0n the left side thereof, as the parts are depicted in Fig. 15, a handle 267 protruding through an elongated slot 269 (Fig. 12) formed in the inclined face plate 251. The handle 267 is adapted to have significance of position by virtue of markings 271 provided on the face plate 251 adjacent thc` slot, the markings being calibrated in terms of log size or diameter.

Mounted in spaced relation on the carriage 261 are two switch units 275 and 277 having depending, pivotally mounted arms 279 and 281, respectively, carrying rollers 283 and 285, respectively (see Fig. 16). Operatively associated with the roller 283 is a strip cam 287, and operatively associated with the roller 285 is a strip cam 289, said cams being laterally and longitudinally spaced with respect to one another, but being parallel to one another, and extending in opposite directions from the rollers and presenting beveled ends to their respective rollers.

The strip cams are mounted on a carriage 291 (Fig. 14) slidably supported by depending ears 292 on a pair of spaced parallel rods 293 connected yto the end plates 253. `The arms 279 and 281 are biased by springs (not shown) to positions against stops (not shown) disposed within the boxes of the switch units. When the arms are against the stops the switches are open. The switch units are of conventional construction, and therefore the detailed construction thereof need not be shown. Current supplylines 243 and 244, previously mentioned, are connected respectively to switch units 275 and 277.

Connected to the right-hand end of the carriage 291, as the parts are depicted in Fig. 15, is a cable 301 which is trained over a sheave 303 and suspends at its opposite end a weight 305 (see the corresponding left-hand end of the carriage 291 in Fig. 11).

Thus, the carriage 291 is constantly urged to the left, as the parts are depicted in Figs. 2 and ll. Connected to the left-hand end of carriage 291, as the parts are depicted in Fig. 15, is one end of a response cable 307, the cable then being trained over a sheave 309 mounted on the control box, then extending through an opening in the shelf or table 113, and then being trained over a sheave 311 (see Fig. the latter sheave being mounted on control booth. The other end of the cable 307 is trained about a sheave 317 and is connected at 319 to the double link 189 associated with the frame section 15.

The operation of the control arrangement described above is as follows. For clarification, it will be pointed out that in Figs. 2 and 11 the directions are unavoidably opposite or contrary from those depicted in Figs. 12, 14, and 16. It may be assumed that the handle 267 on the control box 245 is moved to the right from the position shown in Figs. 2 and l1 (to the left as the parts are shown in Figs. 12, 14 and 15) to accommodate a log of larger size. This action causes the switch actuating roller 283 associated with the switch unit 275 to ride up and onto the associated strip 287 and pivots the arm 279 carrying the roller to close the switch incorporated in the switch unit 275 to energize the solenoid 235 to supply fluid under pressure to the inner end of the cylinder of actuator 201. This forces the two rows of feed elements to move in unison outwardly, such movement being transmitted, through the double link 189 associated with the frame section 15, and the cable 307, to the carriage 291 within the control box 245, thus moving the carriage 291 and strip 287 against the pull of weight 305 and toward the right, as -the parts are depicted in Fig. l1, so as to bring the beveled end of the strip cam 287 associated with the switch unit 275 back under the associated switchcontrol roller 283. corporated in the switch unit 275 and stops the operation of the actuator 201 by deenergizing the solenoid 235. The solenoids have built-in springs (not shown) which function to bring the movable valve element of valve 232 back to its central position whenever the solenoids are deenergized, this action functioning to trap the hydraulic fluid in the actuator 201 to hold the rows of feed elements 29 in their adjusted position.

Movement of the handle 267 in the opposite direction, so as to accommodate a log of smaller size, will cause hydraulic fluid, through the actuation of the switch in switch unit 277 and the energization of the solenoid 236, i

to be supplied under pressure to the outer end of the cylinder of actuator 201 and will release hydraulic uid from the inner end of the cylinder of said actuator, the resulting approaching movement of the two rows of feed elements tending to slacken the cable 307. The response mechanism will be operable through the pull maintained by the weight 305 on cable 301 to slide the carriage 291 to the left (assuming the orientation of Figs. 2 and 11) to bring the beveled end of strip cam 289 back under the switch roller 285 and thus open the switch unit 277.

In use, a series of live rolls forming a conveyor will be employed to feed logs into the machine, and a considerable advantage of providing anadjustable cradle lies in the fact that logs of different sizes may be fed from a fixed-level conveyor into the machine.

A review of the structure so far explained shows that each row of the feed'elements 29 is rotated in the samel direction (in a counterclockwise direction as the parts are depicted in Fig. 3) so as to rotate a log -cradle thereby, and that provision is made for bodily shifting the rows .of

This action opens the switch i.n`

V10 feed elements inwardly or outwardly along inclined planes to accommodate different-sized logs. Provision is also made for simultaneously adjusting the angular positions of the axes of rotation of the feed elements from neutral positions either way so as to selectively feed a log from left to right (as the parts are depicted in Fig. 1), which is the normal direction of travel, or to stop the log at any place along the machine, or to reverse the direction of feeding movement of the log, and then to feed the log forwardly again, at the option of the operator. Thus, the operator has full control over the movement of the log, and by stopping the log at a debarking station to be presently described, or by reversing the direction of travel of the log at the debarking station, a log of irregular or unusual shapeor size may be entirely debarked despite its shape.

Log hold-down units Operating in conjunction with the feed elements 29, are two hold-down units 331 and 333 mounted respectively on the frame sections 13 and 17. Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 18, each hold-down unit includes a pair of bracket plates 334 fixed to the adjacent side plate 22 of the associated frame section. A horizontal shaft 337 is journaled in each pair of brackets adjacent the upper end thereof and has fixed thereto spaced arms 341, the latter carrying intermediate their lengths a pin 343. Pivotally connected -at its opposite ends to the pin 343 and ya double lug 345 carried by the plate 25 of the adjacent feed-element assembly is a link 347.

It follows from the above structure that when the rows of feed elements are shifted inwardly or outwardly, the arms 341, through the links 347, are likewise shifted in a direction :corresponding to the direction in which the feed elements `are moved. vThat is, if the rows are shifted apart, the arms are swung outwardly, and if the rows of feed elements are moved toward one another, the arms 341 are swung inwardly. This action adjusts the position of the hold-down units relative to the size of the log being processed.

The arms 341 have la shaft 349 journaled on their upper ends. A pair of bell-crank members 353 are fixed intermediate their ends to the shaft 349. vThe inner ends of the bell-crank members have fastened thereto a plate 354 (compare Figs. 3 and 18), and pivotally carried by said plate is a caster assembly including a hold-down roller 355 adapted to engage a log. The outer ends of the bell-crank members are curved toward one another (see Fig. 2) and journaled therein is a pin shaft 356 which is connected to al piston rod 357 of a pneumatic actuator 359.

The caster assembly above mentioned includes a plate 360 swiveled by a pivot 361 on the plate 354. The plate 360 carries downwardly curved arms 362 rotatably supporting the hold-down roller 355. By this caster arrangement the hold-down roller will adjust itself to the helical path of movement of the surface of the log which it engages, and thus not interfere with forward movement or reverse movement of the log through the machine.

The actuator 359 has a cylinder 363 pivotally connected af 364 to the arms 341 (compare Figs. 2 and 3). A counterweight arm 365, carrying a counterweight 35 is fixed to the shaft 337, previously mentioned.

In Figs. 2 and 3 the hold-down rollers 355 are shown engaging the log generally indicated at A, this position being caused by the supply of air under pressure to the inner ends of the pneumatic actuators 359, this action causing the bell-crank arms to pivot from the brokenline position shown in Fig. 3 to the full-line position.

When -a log is to be fed into the region of the hold-down arms, the hold-down rollers are arranged in their more outwardly disposed positions by the supply of air to the outer ends of the pneumatic actuators 359, and thereafter air under pressure is supplied to the inner ends of 11 said actuators to bring the hold-down rollers 355, independently or simultaneously, into yielding engagement with the top of a log.

The supply of air under pressure to the pneumatic actuators 359 is controlled from the control booth in a manner to be indicated hereinafter.

Arranged between the hold-down units 331 and 333 (considered longitudinally of the machine) are three pairs of bark-and-cambium-layer-removing' instrumentalities, the instrumentalities of each pair being disposed one on either side of the path of travel of a log.

Swngable bark-removing cutters The bark-removing instrumentalities of vthe present machine are claimed in my prior copending application, Serial No. 386,491, previously mentioned, but the description of these instrumentalities will be of assistance in fully understanding the operation of the machine.

The first set of bark-removing instrumentalities or tools comprises two cutterhead units 381 and 383 (see Figs. 2 and 17), the primary purpose of which is to remove bark. Each unit includes a swinging tubular arm 385 afiixed adjacent its lower end to a sleeve 386 journaled on a shaft 387, the latter being fixed to a pair of brackets 389 which in turn are fixed to the side plates 22 of frame sections 13 and 15 (compare Figs. l and 17). At its opposite end, each swinging arm 385 has fixed thereto in offset relation a clevis member 391 (see Fig. 19), rotatably supporting a shaft 393, the latter having fixedly secured thereto a rotary toothed-cutter 395. The teeth of the cutter are helical as shown, the helix preferably being arranged so as to assist forward feeding movement of thev log through the machine.

Each cutter 395 is adapted to be rotated in a counterclockwise direction (as the parts are depicted in Fig, 17) by a motor 401 mounted on the lower end of the associated swinging arm and driving the cutter through a chainand-sprocket drive 403. The cutter is driven at a higher rate of speed than that of the feed elements 29, but in the same direction, so that there is relative movement between the rotating cutters and the log to enable the cutters to perform their bark-removing operations Without retarding the rotary movement imparted to the log by the feed elements 29.

For urging the cutters into yielding engagement with a log, there is provided a-pneumatic actuator 405 for each cutterhead unit. A cylinder 407 of each actuator 405 is pivoted at 409 on the associated cross member 207. A piston rod 410 of each actuator 405 is pivotally connected by a clevis 410a to a lug 411 fastened to the associated swinging arm 385 intermediate the length of said arm. The control of air under pressure to and from pneumatic actuator 405 will be indicated hereinafter along with the description of the operation of other barkremoving instrumentalities.

The right-hand cross member 207, as the parts are depictedin Fig. 24, is supported at its ends by a pair of plates 412 fixed to the outer edges of the two most adjacent plates 334 (compare Figs. 1, 2 and 3). The lefthand cross member 207 is supported at its ends by another pair of angle brackets 209.

Swingable and rockable bark-removing cutters The second pair of bark-and-cambium-layer-removing instrumentalities or tools, labeled 415 and 416, is best shown in Figs. 2, 17, and 20 through 23. The two mechanisms are similar in construction and thus the construction of only one unit, unit 415, will be explained in detail. The unit 415 includes a tubular support 417 having fixed adjacent its lower end a sleeve 418 journaled on the shaft 387 (see Fig. 17). Fixed on the upper end of support 417 is a forked member 419 (see Fig. 20) having a first pair of forked arms 420 and a second pair of forked arms 421, there being a bearing .sleeve 423 extending through and fixed to the four forked arms and ass-rasee protruding beyond the two outermost arms. Straddling the arms 420, and pivotally mounted on the sleeve 423, are depending arms 424 of a forked member having upwardly extending arms 425, and straddling the arms 421, and pivotally mounted on the sleeve 423, are depending arms 426 of a forked member having upwardly extending arms 427. The two forked members just mentioned are thus mounted for independent pivotal movement. Rotatably mounted on the arms 425 by a shaft 428 is a cutter 429 having helical teeth, and rotatably mounted on the arms 427 by a shaft 430 is a cutter 431 having helical teeth.

Each of the shafts 428 and 430 has reduced end portions (see Figs. 20 and 22) rotatably received by the associated arms, and a clamp 433 mounted on each outer associated arm fixes each `shaft in any position to which it has been rotatably adjusted, said clam-p engaging a ange 434 fixed to the outer end ofeach shaft. Formed on each of the shafts 428 and 430 intermediate its ends is an eccentric portion 435 (see Fig. 22) on which is rotatably mounted the associated cutter. By rotatably adjusting each of the shafts, the distance between the axis of rotation of the associated cutter and the axis of sleeve 423 may be varied for a purpose to presently appear.

Up to this point, it is apparent that, if the tubular support 417 were swung inwardly toward a log, the two cutters would merely pivot rearwardly about the sleeve 423, and hence no forcible engagement of the cutters and the log could be achieved.

However, there is provided an equalizing bar 439 (see particularly Fig. 23) having its ends loosely received through apertures 44011 (see Fig. 21) formed in a pair of rearwardly extending lugs 440 fixed to the outer cuttersupporting forked arms. Heavy cotter pins 441 are provided on the ends of the equalizing bar. Formed centrally in the bar 439 is an opening 439a (Fig. 23) through which loosely extends the upper end of a pivot element 442 fixed at its lower end to the support 417 (see Fig. 2l). The upper end of the element 442 has a heavy cotter pin 443 provided thereon. The opening 439a in bar 439 is suicient to allow the equalizing bar not only to pivot in its own plane but also to wobble or rock when the cutters pivot back and forth on the sleeve 423.

It is evident from the above description that the cutters are self-adjusting and that one cutter may ride upon a knot or branch stud, such motion being transmitted through the equalizing bar 439 to the other cutter to thrust it inwardly into engagement with the side of the knot or branch stub, or the area immediately surrounding the knot or branch stub, to remove the bark and at least some of the cambium layer therefrom.

For rotating cutters 429 and 431, there is provided an electric motor 451 (see Fig. 17) mounted on the lower end of the support 417 and driving through a chain 453 a sprocket 455 (see Fig. 20) fixed to a shaft 457, the latter extending through and being journaled in the sleeve 423. Also fixed to the shaft 457 are sprockets 459 and 461, which drive respectively sprockets 463 and 465 through chains 467 and 469, respectively, the latternamed sprockets being respectively rotatably mounted on the eccentric portions of the shafts 428l and 430. The sprockets 463 and 465 are fixed to the cutters 429 and 431, respectively. The cutters are thus driven in the same direction atfthe same speed.

To obtain the correct tension in the chains 467 and 469, the shafts 428 and 430 mayv be rotatably adjusted upon loosening the clamps 433 to vary the distances between the axes of the upper and lower pairs of sprockets, as the parts are shown in Fig. 20.

For swinging the cutters inwardly and outwardly with respect to a log supported by the feed elements 29, there is provided a pneumatic actuator 471 for each tubular support 417. The outer end of the actuator cylinder is pivotally mounted at 473 to the cross piece 207 (see Fig. 17), andsthe actuator piston rod 475 is pivotally il. u.

,connected at 477 to the support 417 at a place between `the shaft 387 and the cutters. The manner of supplying air to and discharging air from the actuator will be indicated hereinafter.

Swingable bark-removing brushes strumentalities is to remove any minor portions of bark on the log which have not been previously removed.

As is apparent in Figs. 2 and 24, each of the third pair of instrumentalities comprises a brush unit, one brush unit being indicated at 431' and the other brush unit being indicated at 483. Each brush unit comprises a swinging arm 485 having an offset lower portion journaled by a sleeve 486.0n a shaft 487 fixed to a pair of brackets 489 fixed to the side plates 22 `(see Fig. 1) on the adjacent legs of frame sections and 17. Rotatably carried by the upper end of each arm 485 is a shaft 495 having fixed 4to the inner end thereof a wire brush 497. Fixed to the outer end of each shaft is a sprocket 499, and driving the sprocket is a chain Sill driven by a sprocket 563 fixed to the shaft of a motor 505, the latter being mounted on the lower end of arm 485.

Referring particularly to Figs. and 26, each wire brush comprises a base plate 511 having a plurality of stiff, short, heavy cable sections 513 welded in sockets or holes provided in said plate. As is apparent from Fig. 26, cable sections are not provided on the central portion of the plate, leaving a cavity or recess in the center of the brush. This cavity or recess is very important to the operation of the brushes, as it allows them to fit over and generally conform to the configuration of a knot or branch stub and thus remove the bark and cambium layer on the sides and in the areasurrounding the knot or stub, these places being most difficult areas from which to remove bark and cambium layer.

For holding the wire brushes in engagement with the exterior of a log being debarked, there is provided a pneumatic actuator 521 for each wire-brush unit, the cylinder of each pneumatic actuator being pivoted at 523 to the associated cross member 207. The piston rod 525 of each pneumatic actuator is pivotally connected at 527 to the arm 485 intermediate the length'thereof.

Hydraulic control fOr the pneumatically positioned cutters and brushes ingly but forcibly engage a log, by selective operationof a plurality of control handles provided on the control box 245. For convenience in description, the control handles have been given the same reference numerals as the instrumentalities which they control, the subscript a being added to distinguish between the parts (compare Figs. 2 and 12).

Referring particularly to Fig. 27, where the control arrangement for the wire-brush assembly 433 is disclosed, a description of the manner and operation of this control system will serve to indicate how the other instrumentalities, as well as the two hold-down devices 331 and 333, are operated.

A control handle 483.51 has fixed to its lower end a cam 535 pivotally mounted on a pivot rod 537 (see Figs. l2 and 13) fastened in the end plates 253 of the control box 245. There is a lever 539 pivoted on a pivot rod 541 secured at its ends in the end plates of the housing, one end of the lever resting on the cam 535 and the other end resting on the protruding portion of a valve member S45 forming part of a valve 547 fixed to the base 257 of the housing. A hydraulic fluid-supply line 555 (see Fig. 27) communicates with the loweal end of the chamber of the valve body of valve 547, and a hydraulic huid-discharge conduit S51 communicates with the upper end of said chamber. A supply-and-discharge conduit 559 communicates at one end centrally with the valve chamber, and then branches to provide' branch conduits 563 and 56S communicating with valves 567 and 569, respectively, which valves are of conventional construction. A compression spring 49, arranged within `the valve 547, constantiy urges the valve member 545 upwardly and therefore pivots the lever 539 in a direction to constantly dispose it in engagement with the cam 535.

The valve 567 has a movable valve member 571 biased upwardly bya spring 573, and the valve 569 has a movable valve member 575 constantly biased upwardly by a spring 577. it is apparent that the branch conduits 563 and 565 communicate respectively with the upper ends of the bores within which the valve members 571 and S75 travel. Suitable stops or lugs in each of the valves 567 and 569 iimit upward movement of the respective valve members. Also, suitable stops are provided for limiting downward travel of the valve members.

it is evident that when hydraulic fluid is supplied through the conduits 559, 563 and 565, the two valve members 571 and 575 are both forced downwardly simultaneously. In order to supply hydraulic fluid to the conduits 563 and 565, the valve member '545 is provided with a passage S81 having an enlarged right-hand portion, as the parts are depicted in Fig. 27, which is in constant communication with the conduit 559, and having an upper passage portion communicating with the conduit 551 when the valve member is in its upper position, but being cut off from communication with said conduit when said valve member is depressed. The passage 581V also has a lower leg portion which is normally out of communication with the conduit 555 but is adapted to communicate with said conduit when the valve member 545 is depressed.

Assuming that the control member 483m is in its upright position, it is apparent that the valve member 545 will be disposed in its upward position, and thus the conduit 559 is in communication with the discharge conduit 551, and thus no pressure is applied to the valve members 571 and 575, and therefore they remain in their upward positions under the inliuence of the springs S73 and 577, respectively. However, the control member 483g is adapted to be swung counterclockwise, as the parts are depicted in Fig. 13, to the broken-line position, which action through the cam 535 and lever 539 depresses the valve member 545 and places the conduit 559 in communication with the supply conduit 5S5`so that hydraulic fluid is simultaneously supplied to the upper ends of valve members 571 and 575, depressing said valve members. The effect of forcing the just-mentioned valve members downwardly will now be explained.

Air under pressure from a source (not shown) is adapted to be `supplied to the valves 567 and 569 through the supply conduits 585 and 537, respectively. As shown in Fig. 27, the conduit 587 normally communicates with a conduit 591 through a passage 593 formed in the valve member 57S, whereas the conduit 585 is normally out of communication with a conduit 595, but is adapted ito be brought into communication with the conduit 595 by a passage 597 formed in the valve member .571 when the valve member is forced downwardly. The conduit 552i communicates with the right-hand end of the cylinder for the actuator 521, whereas the conduit 595 communicates with the left-hand end of said cylinder. Formed in the valve member S71 is an exhaust passage 599 normally' communicating the conduit S with the atmosphere through the lower end of the bore within which the valve member S71 travels. The conduit 591 is adapted to be placed in communication with a discharge or exhaust 15 conduit 601 by a passage 603 formed in the valve member 575 when the valve member is depressed.

The operation of the control system for the wire-brush unit 483 is as follows. When tbe machine is entirely at rest and when there is no supply of air under pressure to the valves 567 and 569, the wire-brush unit swings under the influence of gravity clockwise from the position shown in Fig. 27 towardithe zone to be occupied by the log. When the air compressor for the system is energized and air is supplied to the valves 567 and 569, air under pressure traveling through the conduit 587, passage 593 and conduit 591 into the actuator will force the wirebrush unit 483 to swing counterclockwise ou-t of the zone to be occupied by the logs. However, when at an appropriate time it is desired to bring the wire brush into forcible but yielding engagement with the log, the control handle 483a is swung counterclockwise :to communicate the conduit 591 with the atmosphere and to communicate the conduit 595 with the supply of air under pressure so that the wire-brush unit is forced clockwise to bring the brush 497 into engagement with the log.

By locating the control handles in the arrangement shown in Fig. 12, it is apparent that the operator may with one hand grasp two adjacent control handles and pull them forwardly. The control handles are arranged so that the l.two wire-brush handles are next to one another, so that handles of the first two bark-removing instrumentalities are next to one another, and so that the handles of the second pair of bark-removing instrumentalities are next to one another. Normally, the operator will desire to bring each pair of bark-removing instrumentalities into substantially simultaneous engagement with a log, and this he may readily accomplish by pulling forward the appropriate adjacent pair of handles.

Summary of operation The operation of the machine has been explained along with the description of the various assemblies and mechanisms and therefore need not be repeated in detail. However, in general, the operator will be apprised of, or will visually estimate, the size of the log to be debarked, and will shift the control handle 267 (Fig. ll) one way or the other to vary the size of the cradle such as to enable the log to move into the cradle from a xed-level supply arrangement, and also to provide a cradle to properly support the log. As the forward end of the log is fed into the machine, the operator will swing the control handle 125 clockwise (Fig. 9) to adjust the angular positions of the axes of rotation of the feed elements to feed the log forwardly from left to right as the parts are de-l picted in Fig. 2. As the forward end of the log reaches the hold-down unit 331, the operator will, normally, pull forwardly on the control handle 331a to bring the associated hold-down roller into engagement with the log. The hold-down roller, being caster mounted, will automatically adjust itself to the helix angle of the strip of log surface passing therebeneath so as not to interfere with the forward feed of the log and yet yieldably but forcibly retain the log on the cradle. As the forward end of the log reaches the first pair of bark-cutting instrumentalities, the operator will pull forwardly on the control handles for these cutting instrumentalities to bring them into engagement with the surface of the log. The cutting heads of these units are arranged to rotate in the same direction as that of the logs, but at a higher rate of peripheral speed and thus do not interfere with the rotative movement imparted to the log by the feed elements, and yet have relative movement to the log surface, and thus cut, tear and mutilate the bark surface, and also tosome extent remove the underlying cambium layer. Because the bark-cutting-and-removing instrumentalities are all yieldably forced into engagement with the log, they will oscillate back and forth so as to accommodate irregularities in the contour of the log.

When the forward end of the log reaches the second pair of bark-cutting-and-removing instrumentalities 415 and 416, the operator will grasp the adjacent pair of control handles 415a and 416a and bring the cutting heads of units 415 and 416 into forcible but yielding engagement with the surface of the log. These cutting heads will further cut, Itear and mutilate the bark and further remove portions of the cambium layer. The second pair of barkcutting-and-removing instrumentalities, being self-adjusting to the contour of knots, branch stubs and the like, will account in a considerable degree for the removaly of bark and portions of the cambium layer around these knots, branch stubs, and other irregularities including recesses in the logs.

As the forward end of the log reaches the wire-brush units, the operator will grasp the adjacent handles 48111 and 483a and pull them forwardly to bring the wire brushes into yielding but forcible engagement with the surface of the log, which has now been substantially depleted or cleared of bark, although some portions of bark will remain. The wire-brush units will remove these minor portions of the bark and the cambium layer. As knots, branch stubs and the like are brought into the region of activity of the wire-brush units, the wire-brush units will lit over these knots, branch stubs and the like and completely remove the bark and cambium layer on and around such portions.

The operator will observe the progress of the log through the machine and, whenever he sees that a particular spot has not been cleared of bark and cambium layer, he may bring the control handle to a neutral position to allow the various instrumentalities to operate on the uncleared portion, or may reverse the handle 125 to ,move the log from right to left, or rearwardly, so as to allow the bark-cutting-and-removing instrumentalities to have a second pass at the uncleared region. Many of the logs to be debarked will be successfully and entirely debarked both of bark and cambium layers on the rst pass through the machine. However, one primary advantage of the present machine is that it may entirely remove the bark and underlying cambium layer from all sizes and types and configurations of logs in various conditions, such as logs which are entirely green to those which have been allowed to dry so that the bark and the cambium layer are very difficult to remove in the usual machine. When a particularly difficult log is encountered, the operator, because of the versatility of the present machine, may subject the particular difficult area to a thorough cleaning operation by holding it stationary at a bark-removing station, or by reversing the feed of the log and subjecting the particular region to several passes by particular sets of bark-removing instrumentalities.

It is pointed out that by making the peripheral speed of the cutterheads greater than that of the log, the cutterheads assist in maintaining, rather than retarding, rotation of a log and also cause the bark to be cut into smaller pieces than would be the case were the peripheral speed slower than that of the log. This is so because at a slower speed the cutterheads would exert a hoeing action on the bark and thus the size of the pieces of bark removed would depend on the strength of the bond between the bark and the cambium layer rather than on the spacing and speed of the cutterhcad teeth. By cutting the bark into smaller pieces, the bark is ready for use as fuel without being run through a hogging machine.

A further advantage of the cutterheads is that the helix angle of the cutters is arranged to assist longitudinal movement of a log through the machine. That is, the teeth cut along a diagonal path generally parallel to the spiral path of the bark traveling thereunderneath, rather than across such path. Thus the cutting action is like that of a Scythe rather than that of a hoe-type pull, and enables the bark to be removed without excessive tearing which would damage the useful wood fibers of the log.

The provision of helical cutting teeth also preventsplogging of the heads with bark, because as bark accumulates in the grooves between the tc 3th, subsequent pressure by engaged bark creates forces acting on the accumulating bark urging it along the grooves and out the ends thereof.

The advantages of the present machine have been indicated heretofore, but it is believed important to point out that it is the capability of the machine of the present invention for handling all types and kinds of logs which accounts for its success.

Having described the invention in what is considered to be a preferred embodiment thereof, it is desired that it be understood that the specific details shown are illustrative and that the invention may be carried out in other ways within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a barking machine, means for rotating a log and feeding a log longitudinally along a predetermined path of travel, bark-removing means adjacent the just-mentioned means for removing bark from a log being fed, said rotating-and-feeding means including at least two laterally spaced parallel rows of log-supporting-and-feeding elements, means for rotating said elements in the same direction, means for simultaneously changing the angular relationship of said elements relative to said path of travel, and means for simultaneously moving the rows of feeding elements toward and away from one another so that the rows of elements may conveniently accommodate logs of different diameters.

2. In a log-barking machine, means for rotating and feeding a log longitudinally along a predetermined path of travel, bark-removing means adjacent the just-mentioned means for removing bark from a logy being fed,

4said rotating-and-feeding means including at least two laterally spaced parallel rows of log-supporting-and-feeding elements, means for rotating said elements in the same direction, common means interconnecting said elements and operable for simultaneously changing the angular relationship of said elements relative to said path of travel, and additional common means interconnecting the elements for moving the feeding elements toward and away' from one another along directions converging downwardly toward one another.

3. In a barking machine, at least two laterally spaced parallel rows of rotary elements, means for rotating said elements, means for changing the angular relationship of said elements relative to the length of said rows of elements, and means for moving the rows of elements toward and away from one another and mutually toward and away from a predetermined path so that the rows may conveniently accommodate logs of different diameters with each such log symmetrically disposed relative to such predetermined path.

4. In a barking machine, means for rotating a log and feeding a log longitudinally along a predetermined path of travel, bark-removing means adjacent the justmentioned'means for removing bark from a log being fed, said rotating-and-feeding means including at least two laterally spaced rows of log-supporting-and-feeding elements extending generally in the same direction, means for rotating said elements in the same direction, means for changing the angular relationship of said elements relative to said path of travel, and additional means for moving the rows of elements toward and away from one another and mutually toward and away from said predetermined path so that the rows may conveniently accommodate logs of diiierent diameters with each such log symmetrically disposed relative to such predetermined path.

5. In a barking machine, means for rotating a log and feeding a log longitudinally along a predetermined path of travel, bark-removing means adjacent the justmentidned means for removing bark from a log being fed, said rotatng-and-feeding means including at least two laterally spaced rows of log-supporting-and-feeding elements extending generally in the same direction, means for rotating said elements in the same direction, means for changing the angular relationship of said elements relative to said path of travel, and 'additional means for moving the rows of elements toward and away from one another and mutually toward and away from said predetermined path of travel so that the rows may conveniently accommodate logs of different diameters with each such log symmetrically disposed relative to such predetermined path of travel, the means for changing the angular relationship and said additional means being so operatively connected to one another as to permit independent operation of either means without affecting the other.

6. In a log-barking machine, a log-supporting means, means for holding a log down on the log-supporting means while it is being debarked, said hold-down means including an arm support, a log-engaging member, an arm carrying the log-engaging member and mounted on the arm support for movement toward and away from the region to be occupied by a log, normally inactive pneumatic means operatively connected to the arm to swing the arm into engagement with a log, and means operatively connected to the arm support to adjustably position the support relative to the region to be occupied by a log, said log-supporting means including at least two rows of feed elements laterally spaced to provide a cradle to support a log, means operatively connected to the feed elements for shifting the longitudinal rows inwardly or outwardly to accommodate different-sized logs, and said means operatively connected to the arm support including means operatively connecting the feed elements to the arm support for causing corresponding movement of the arm support upon movement of the feed rollers.

7. In a log-barking machine, means for rotating and longitudinally feeding a log including a row of log-engaging elements, means for removing bark from a log as it is rotated and fed along, a support rotatably supporting each element for rotation about an axis lying in a plane generally parallel to the direction of travel of a log, each support being supported for swiveling movement about an axis generally normal to the axis of rotation of its element, an adjustable member eccentrically connected to the supports to be operable to pivot the supports and change the angular relationship of the axes of rotation of the elements relative to the direction of extension of the row of elements upon longitudinal movement of said member, a mechanism for longitudinally ad'- justing the adjustable member including a control member movable along a predetermined path, shiftable means operable when rendered active to cause longitudinal movement of the adjustable member, and being operatively connected to the control member to be rendered inactive when the control member is stationary, but being rendered active upon movement of the control member from a previous stationary position, and a response means connecting the adjustable member and the shiftable means for moving the shiftable means proportional to the movement of said adjustable member and in the same direction as the control member is moved whereby, when the control member is moved from one position to another, the shiftable means will be activated to cause the adjustable member to be longitudinally shifted, whereupon said adjustable member through the response means will cause the shiftable means to return to its inactive relation with respect to the control member.

8. In a log-barking machine, log-supporting means including two laterally spaced, parallel rows of longitudinally spaced log-rotating elements, a separate support plate for each element mounting the element for rotary movement, a guide slidably supporting each support plate for movement normal to the length of the rows of elements, means interconnecting said plates for simultaneously moving said plates inwardly or outwardly, and means for rotating said elements.

9. In a log-barking machine, log-supporting means in-

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