A blade storage array is detachably mountable with a tissue log cutting saw. The saw has a cutting arm with a tool holder receptacle adapted and configured to hold a circular saw blade for the saw. The array has a plurality of storage units. Each storage unit is adapted and configured to store a circular saw blade for the saw. Each storage unit has a tool holder receptacle adapted and configured to hold a circular saw blade. Each storage unit is adapted and configured to move perpendicularly to the saw blade center axis.

Disclosed is a self-powered timber slasher. The self-powered timber slasher includes a self-propelled carrier and a powered circular saw mounted on a first end of the self-propelled carrier, wherein the powered circular saw is configured to cut timber. Further, a hydraulic motor coupled to the powered circular saw impart a rotational motion to the powered circular saw based on a flow of the hydraulic fluid that is stored with a hydraulic tank as the hydraulic motor is in fluid connection with the hydraulic tank. Yet further, the self-powered timber slasher a wireless controller electrically coupled to the powered circular saw. The wireless controller is configured to control operation of the powered circular saw based on a command received over a wireless communication channel.

Method (500) and calculating unit (620) for curve sawing of a block (100) in a cutting direction (S) with at least a first circular saw blade (110). The method (500) comprises determining (501) a radius (R) of the curve sawing, by measuring the curvature of the block (100) in the direction of cutting (S); calculating (502) a vertical inclination angle () of the first circular saw blade (110) in a vertical plane (V) relative to the cutting direction (S) in the block (100), based on the determined radius (R) of the curve sawing; inclining (503) the first circular saw blade (110) with the calculated (502) vertical inclination angle (); and sawing (508) the block (100) in the cutting direction (S) with the inclined (503) first circular saw blade (110) along the determined (501) radius (R) of the curve sawing.

A bench top board scoring device is provided, having a frame having a first end and an opposite second end, a work area defined between the first and second ends, each end having at least one leg configured for contacting a substrate. A track is connected to the frame and extends between the first end and the second end, a carriage is slidably mounted to the track for travel between the first end and the second end, and an arm has an upper surface, a pivot end pivotally connected to the carriage, and an opposite knife mount end. A knife blade is mounted to the knife mount end. Additionally, the present device is constructed and arranged so that as the carriage is moved from the first end to the second end, wallboard samples placed in the work area and contacted by the knife blade receive a constant scoring force.

This invention relates to a method for non-destructive inspection of a log (1) to identify inner zones of sapwood (14) of the log (1) that have not been attacked by fungi that cause bluestain in the wood. The method comprises a first step of carrying out a tomographic scan of the log (1) to be inspected using X-ray beams that pass through the log (1) and a second step of obtaining a three-dimensional representation of the log (1) that is representative of the local moisture content of the log, the local moisture content being correlated with attenuation of the X-ray beams through the log. The method comprises the step of processing the three-dimensional representation of the log (1) to identify inner regions (145) of the log (1), in which the local moisture content is greater than or equal to a moisture threshold value for a spatial extent greater than an extent threshold. The moisture threshold value corresponds, for trees of the same species as the log (1), to a sapwood (14) with local moisture content such that it excludes the growth of fungi that cause bluestain in the wood. Each inner region (145) identified in this way is classed as a sapwood (14) zone free of bluestain. This invention also relates to a procedure for obtaining one or more wooden products from a log (1), as well as an apparatus for carrying out a non-destructive inspection of a log (1).

Embodiments provide methods, apparatuses, and systems for cutting wood workpieces, such as logs and cants, into desired products. In various embodiments, after a log is chipped into a cant, the cant may be scanned and re-optimized based on the new scan data and information about the source log, such as simulated orientation parameters, a 3D model, and/or potential cut solutions. In other embodiments, data from multiple sensor types may be used in combination to detect splits in logs, cants, or both. Optionally, re-optimization and split detection techniques may be used in combination to improve wood volume recovery, value, and/or throughput speed.

A precut module with one or more profiling heads and/or circular saws may be provided upstream of a saw module. The precut module may be used to implement a portion of a cut that would otherwise be made by the saw module, thereby reducing the depth of cut required at the saw module. In some embodiments, profiling heads may be used to profile a block that is wider than a desired side board. The block may be cut from the workpiece and sent to the edger. This may provide the same or better wood volume recovery and/or throughput speed than profiling the side board or cutting the side board from a flitch. In some embodiments, cut patterns for the precut module and other machine centers may be calculated and/or selected based on a desired depth of cut at the saw module, desired throughput speed, wood volume recovery, and/or other parameters.

In various embodiments, a scanner optimizer system may generate a virtual model of a predicted flitch based on a 3D model of a log/cant and a cut solution for the log/cant. The scanner optimizer system may compare a virtual model of an actual flitch to virtual models of predicted flitches by comparing data points at a fixed elevation relative to one or both faces of the models. Based on the comparisons, the scanner optimizer system may identify the source log from which the actual flitch was cut. In addition, the scanner optimizer system may identify the saw used to cut the actual flitch, and/or other relevant information, and use the additional information to monitor and adjust the saws and other equipment. Embodiments of corresponding apparatuses and methods are also described.

A stump cutter controller and operator presence system includes one or more capacitive sensors in each of the three control levers that control movement of the cutter wheel. A sensor circuit measures changes in the capacitance of the sensors. The controller automatically disengages a drive clutch and applies a brake to the cutter wheel when the controller senses that an operator has left the operating stationwhich is assumed when the operator has not touched any one of the three control levers of the operator station for a predetermined time. The controller logic is set to allow the clutch to remain engaged during a delay period, of predetermined duration, to permit the operator to move a hand off of one control lever to another control lever. Also, a grace period, of varying duration based on the speed of the cutter wheel, may be provided during which the clutch is reengaged if an operator returns to the controls.

A precut module with one or more profiling heads and/or circular saws may be provided upstream of a saw module. The precut module may be used to implement a portion of a cut that would otherwise be made by the saw module, thereby reducing the depth of cut required at the saw module. In some embodiments, profiling heads may be used to profile a block that is wider than a desired side board. The block may be cut from the workpiece and sent to the edger. This may provide the same or better wood volume recovery and/or throughput speed than profiling the side board or cutting the side board from a flitch. In some embodiments, cut patterns for the precut module and other machine centers may be calculated and/or selected based on a desired depth of cut at the saw module, desired throughput speed, wood volume recovery, and/or other parameters.