A method of preparing wood for packing comprises: loading wood lengthwise into a conveyor system; conveying the wood pieces one-by-one onto a loading hatch in a predetermined orientation; when a wood piece is fully on the loading hatch, opening the loading hatch and dropping the wood piece in the predetermined orientation into a measuring compartment; repeating the conveying and dropping process so that multiple wood pieces are stacked in the same orientation in the measuring compartment; and, when a required amount of stacked wood is within the measuring compartment, dropping the stacked wood pieces into a packing area.

A method of preparing wood for packing comprises: loading wood lengthwise into a conveyor system; conveying the wood pieces one-by-one onto a loading hatch in a predetermined orientation; when a wood piece is fully on the loading hatch, opening the loading hatch and dropping the wood piece in the predetermined orientation into a measuring compartment; repeating the conveying and dropping process so that multiple wood pieces are stacked in the same orientation in the measuring compartment; and, when a required amount of stacked wood is within the measuring compartment, dropping the stacked wood pieces into a packing area.

A log handling device, having a rotatable rotor provided with log handler, and a feeder attached to the rotor for conducting an operating medium to the log handler. The feeder is arranged to wind around the rotor when the rotor is rotated in a first direction, and which feeder is arranged to unwind from around the rotor when the rotor is rotated in a second direction. The log handling device includes a rotatable second rotor to which the feeder is attached, and an operating device for rotating the second rotor synchronously with the rotor, such that the feeder is arranged to wind around the second rotor when the rotor is rotated in the second direction, and that the feeder is arranged to unwind from around the second rotor when the rotor is rotated in the first direction.

A log handling device, having a rotatable rotor provided with log handler, and a feeder attached to the rotor for conducting an operating medium to the log handler. The feeder is arranged to wind around the rotor when the rotor is rotated in a first direction, and which feeder is arranged to unwind from around the rotor when the rotor is rotated in a second direction. The log handling device includes a rotatable second rotor to which the feeder is attached, and an operating device for rotating the second rotor synchronously with the rotor, such that the feeder is arranged to wind around the second rotor when the rotor is rotated in the second direction, and that the feeder is arranged to unwind from around the second rotor when the rotor is rotated in the first direction.

A log feeding apparatus for feeding a log to first and second cutting spindles is provided, in which a log is fed to a second receiving position when centering spindles have reached second delivery position that is away from the second receiving position downward in the direction of log transport by a distance equal to or greater than an assumed maximum diameter of the log. That is, a new log is transported to the second receiving position when the log transported by placing sections reaches a position not to contact the log held between the centering spindles. As a result, the time can be reduced for transporting the log to the cutting spindles.

A log feeding apparatus for feeding a log to first and second cutting spindles is provided, in which a log is fed to a second receiving position when centering spindles have reached second delivery position that is away from the second receiving position downward in the direction of log transport by a distance equal to or greater than an assumed maximum diameter of the log. That is, a new log is transported to the second receiving position when the log transported by placing sections reaches a position not to contact the log held between the centering spindles. As a result, the time can be reduced for transporting the log to the cutting spindles.

An automated cutting for scenic flats construction system and method for cutting of wide dadoes accurately spaced along sets of multiple boards to be used as studs or stiles for scenic flats, cleanly and accurately across the boards in one pass for each wide dado cut. A controller controls the automatic operation. A main unit with a support stand and a main-unit shell provides a sled unit extending and retracting along linear-bearing tracks by operation of sled actuators controlled by the controller. The sled unit provides a wide one-pass dado blade assembly capable of cutting a wide dado across multiple boards in one pass as the sled unit is moved along the linear-bearing tracks by the sled actuators under the control of the controller. After initial positioning of the set of uncut boards on an infeed table and against a positioning stop, the set of boards is held in place by hold-down clamps, the wide dado cut is made in one pass of the sled unit with the wide one-pass dado blade assembly, the hold-down clamps are released, the set of boards is moved through the main unit and toward a receiving table by a pre-set distance by a driving dog on a drive chain, the hold-down clamps are activated, and another wide dado cut is made in one pass, all under the control of the controller, repeating until all dado cuts are made to the set of boards.

An automated cutting for scenic flats construction system and method for cutting of wide dadoes accurately spaced along sets of multiple boards to be used as studs or stiles for scenic flats, cleanly and accurately across the boards in one pass for each wide dado cut. A controller controls the automatic operation. A main unit with a support stand and a main-unit shell provides a sled unit extending and retracting along linear-bearing tracks by operation of sled actuators controlled by the controller. The sled unit provides a wide one-pass dado blade assembly capable of cutting a wide dado across multiple boards in one pass as the sled unit is moved along the linear-bearing tracks by the sled actuators under the control of the controller. After initial positioning of the set of uncut boards on an infeed table and against a positioning stop, the set of boards is held in place by hold-down clamps, the wide dado cut is made in one pass of the sled unit with the wide one-pass dado blade assembly, the hold-down clamps are released, the set of boards is moved through the main unit and toward a receiving table by a pre-set distance by a driving dog on a drive chain, the hold-down clamps are activated, and another wide dado cut is made in one pass, all under the control of the controller, repeating until all dado cuts are made to the set of boards.

A log feeding apparatus for feeding a log to first and second cutting spindles is provided, in which a log is fed to a second receiving position when centering spindles have reached a second delivery position that is away from the second receiving position downstream in the direction of log transport by a distance equal to or greater than an assumed maximum diameter of the log. That is, a new log is transported to the second receiving position by placing sections when the log held between the centering spindles reaches a position that will avoid contact with the new log. As a result, the time can be reduced for transporting the log to the cutting spindles.

A log feeding apparatus for feeding a log to first and second cutting spindles is provided, in which a log is fed to a second receiving position when centering spindles have reached a second delivery position that is away from the second receiving position downstream in the direction of log transport by a distance equal to or greater than an assumed maximum diameter of the log. That is, a new log is transported to the second receiving position by placing sections when the log held between the centering spindles reaches a position that will avoid contact with the new log. As a result, the time can be reduced for transporting the log to the cutting spindles.