APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING A SAWN TIMBER PACKAGE INTO MAIN AND SIDE PRODUCTS

Abstract

An apparatus for separating a sawn timber package cut from a log into main and side products during longitudinal transport thereof, having at least one separating device positioned such that, during a feed motion of the sawn timber package, it engages in a sawing gap between single- or multi-cut main product and side product and deflects the side product in a direction leading away from the main product. Two rotatably mounted conical rollers form the separating device, each having a circumferential separating edge formed by two surfaces of revolution enclosing an acute angle, and the two conical rollers are arranged on both sides of the sawn timber package and oriented such that they engage laterally into the sawing gap with respective separating edges and roll on the main product with their first surface of revolution, while deflecting the side product from the main product with their second surface of revolution.

Claims

1. An apparatus (1) for separating a sawn timber package (2) obtained by cutting from a log into main products (3) and side products (4) during a longitudinal transport thereof, the apparatus comprising: at least one separating means (9) positioned such that during a feed motion of the sawn timber package (2), the at least one separating means (9) engages in a sawing gap (5) between single-cut or multi-cut portions of the main product (3) and the side product (4) and deflects the side product (4) in a direction leading away from the main product (3); the side product (4) is arranged at least one of above or below the main product (3) during the longitudinal transport of the sawn timber package (2); the separating means (9) comprises two rotatably mounted conical rollers (9), and the conical rollers each have a circumferential separating edge (13) which is formed by two surfaces of revolution (11, 12) enclosing an acute angle, and the two conical rollers (9) are arranged on both sides of the sawn timber package (2) and are oriented such that the two conical rollers (9) engage laterally in the sawing gap (5) with respective separating edges (13) thereof and roll on the main product (3) with said first surfaces of revolution (11, 12), and deflect the side product (4) from the main product (3) with said second surfaces of revolution (11, 12).

2. The apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the conical rollers (9) each have a lateral surface (12) and a flat base surface (11), and the respective lateral surface (12) forms the first surface of revolution and the respective base surface (11) forms the second surface of revolution.

3. The apparatus (1) according to claim 2, wherein the conical rollers (9) are each mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation (10) and the respective axis of rotation (10) encloses an acute angle of inclination (15), in a plane of inclination (14) which is directed orthogonally to the feed motion (7), with a sawing gap plane (6) formed by the sawing gap (5), and the main product (3) bears at least partially on the respective separating edge (13).

4. The apparatus (1) according to claim 3, wherein the respective axis of rotation (10) encloses an acute angle of incidence (16), in the sawing gap plane (6), with the plane of inclination (14), which is directed orthogonally to the feed motion (7), and the base surfaces (11) of the conical rollers (9) each face counter to the feed motion (7) of the sawn timber package (2) and form sliding planes for the side product (3) to be deflected.

5. The apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the conical rollers (9) each have a lateral surface (12) and a flat base surface (11), and the respective base surface (11) forms the first surface of revolution and the respective lateral surface (12) forms the second surface of revolution.

6. The apparatus (1) according to claim 5, wherein the conical rollers (9) are each rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation (10), the respective axis of rotation (10) encloses an acute tilting angle (18) with a sawing gap plane (6) formed by the sawing gap (5) in a tilting plane (17), which is directed parallel to the feed motion (7) and orthogonally to the sawing gap plane (6) formed by the sawing gap (5).

7. The apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the conical rollers (9) each have a drive, which is configured to impart a rotational movement to each of the conical rollers (9), and in a region of the respective separating edge (13) engaging in the sawing gap (5), the conical rollers (9) have a tangential speed which is directed at least partially in or counter to the feed motion.

8. The apparatus (1) according to claim 1, further comprising a centring unit arranged in front of the conical rollers (9) in relation to the feed direction (7) and is configured to align the sawn timber package (2) with respect to the conical rollers (9) in the feed motion.

9. The apparatus (1) according to claim 1, further comprising a positioning device (18) configured to at least one of move or rotate each of the conical rollers (9) relative to the sawn timber package (2) at least one of along or about at least one adjusting axis.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0043] Further advantages are explained with reference to exemplary embodiments and the figures. More specifically:

[0044] FIG. 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment for an apparatus having a conical roller arrangement for separating a sawn timber package in an isometric view;

[0045] FIG. 2 shows the first exemplary embodiment in a front view;

[0046] FIG. 3 shows the first exemplary embodiment in plan view;

[0047] FIG. 4 shows the first exemplary embodiment in a side view;

[0048] FIG. 5 shows a positioning device having a conical roller mounted in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment in an isometric view;

[0049] FIG. 6 shows the positioning device in a front view;

[0050] FIG. 7 shows the positioning device in plan view;

[0051] FIG. 8 shows the positioning device in a side view;

[0052] FIG. 9 shows the first exemplary embodiment of the apparatus for separating the sawn timber package with four positioning devices;

[0053] FIG. 10 shows the first exemplary embodiment of the apparatus for separating the sawn timber package with four horizontally adjustable positioning devices;

[0054] FIG. 11 shows the first exemplary embodiment of the apparatus for separating the sawn timber package with four horizontally adjustable positioning devices in a rear view;

[0055] FIG. 12 shows a second exemplary embodiment for an apparatus having a conical roller arrangement for separating a sawn timber package in an isometric view;

[0056] FIG. 13 shows the second exemplary embodiment in a side view;

[0057] FIG. 14 shows the second exemplary embodiment in a first front view;

[0058] FIG. 15 shows the second exemplary embodiment in a second front view; and

[0059] FIG. 16 shows a positioning device having a conical roller mounted in accordance with the second exemplary embodiment in an isometric view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0060] FIG. 1 shows an apparatus 1 for separating a sawn timber package 2. The sawn timber package 2 originates from a tree trunk with a substantially circular cross section. In the example shown, the tree trunk was processed in such a way that a single-cut beam, which is referred to below as the main product 3, was obtained from the inner cross-sectional region. The boards obtained from the outer cross-sectional region of the tree trunk, which rest against the upper side and the lower side of the main product, are referred to as the side product 4. In the following, for greater ease of understanding, reference is made only to the side product 4 arranged above the main product 3.

[0061] The main product 3 is separated from the side product 4 by a sawing gap 5. In this case, the sawing gap 5 lies in a horizontally extending sawing gap plane 6, which is shown as an aid.

[0062] The sawn timber package 2 shown in FIG. 1 is conveyed along a feed direction 7 by means of a conveying device (not shown), the main product 3 being guided laterally by means of four cylindrical rollers 8. For greater clarity, only one cylindrical roller 8 is provided with a reference sign.

[0063] As a result of the feed motion, the sawn timber package 2 reaches the apparatus 1, which comprises four separating means designed as conical rollers 9. The conical rollers 9 are arranged in an axially symmetrical manner with respect to the sides of the sawn timber package 2, based on the feed direction 7. For greater clarity, not all the cylindrical rollers 9 are provided with a reference sign.

[0064] The conical rollers 9 are each of frustoconical design and each have an axis of rotation 10, about which they are mounted so as to rotate freely. Furthermore, the conical rollers 9 each have a base surface 11 and a lateral surface 12, which enclose an acute angle of approximately 45° and are delimited by a circumferential separating edge 13.

[0065] The conical rollers 9 are solid and produced from steel and have a correspondingly high mechanical rigidity. During the feed motion of the sawn timber package 2, the conical rollers serve to separate the side product 4 from the main product 3. For this purpose, in each case one conical roller 9 penetrates with its circumferential separating edge 13 into the sawing gap 5 of the sawn timber package 2. In this case, the side product 4 slides along the base surfaces 10 of the conical rollers 9 transversely to the feed direction 7, while the main product 3 rolls on the lateral surfaces 12 and is conveyed further in the feed direction 7. The positions and orientations of the conical rollers 9 with respect to the sawn timber package 2 are explained in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4.

[0066] FIG. 2 shows the apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 in a front view. As has already been described with reference to FIG. 1, the conical rollers 9 each have a lateral surface 12 and a circumferential separating edge 13. In FIG. 2, the base surfaces of the conical rollers 9 shown face into the plane of the drawing and are therefore not visible.

[0067] The feed motion of the sawn timber package 2 takes place along the feed direction 7, which, according to FIG. 2, is directed out of the plane of the drawing and is oriented orthogonally to a plane of inclination 14 inserted as an aid. The respective axes of rotation 10 of the conical rollers 9 are set at an angle and each enclose an acute angle of inclination 15 with the sawing gap plane 6 in the plane of inclination 14.

[0068] The angle of inclination 15 is selected as a function of the geometry of the conical rollers 9 and corresponds to the acute angle between the base surface and the lateral surface 12 of the conical rollers 9. This has the effect that, during the separation process, the main product 3 in each case rests on or against the lateral surfaces 12 along a profile line and rolls on the conical rollers 9 via the latter. In an alternative embodiment, the angle of inclination set can be smaller, with the result that the main product 3 rolls on the separating edges 13 of the conical rollers 9 in each case via a point contact.

[0069] FIG. 3 shows the apparatus 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in plan view. According to FIG. 3, the visible base surfaces 11 of the conical rollers 9 face out of the plane of the drawing, which extends parallel to the sawing gap plane 6. As can be seen from FIG. 3, the conical rollers 9 are also mounted in such a way that their respective axes of rotation 10 enclose an acute angle of incidence 16 (or camber) with the plane of inclination 14 in the sawing gap plane 6. This arrangement has the effect that the base surfaces 11 of the conical rollers 9 are turned counter to the feed direction 7 in accordance with the angle of incidence 16. As a result, the base surfaces 11 each form a sliding plane for the side product 3, on which the side product 3 slides off from the main product 4.

[0070] FIG. 4 shows the apparatus 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 in a side view. As can be seen from FIG. 4, the conical rollers 9 are mounted in such a way that their axes of rotation 10 enclose an acute tilting angle 18 in the plane of the drawing, which extends parallel to the tilting plane 17 inserted as an aid, and with the plane of inclination 14.

[0071] The conical rollers 9 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 are mounted adjustably in a manner not shown. For this purpose, the apparatus 1 has a total of four positioning devices, one of which is shown in different views in FIGS. 5 to 8.

[0072] FIG. 5 shows a positioning device 19 with a holder 20, on which a conical roller 9 is mounted in a freely rotatable manner. In a manner not shown here, the conical roller 9 has, along its axis of rotation 10, a bore which accommodates rolling bearings that permit free rotation of the conical roller 9 relative to the holder 20 and about the axis of rotation 10. In an alternative embodiment, a drive for the conical roller 9 can be arranged on the holder 20 in order to positively impart rotation to the latter.

[0073] The positioning device 19 likewise has a fastening element 21, which serves to fix the positioning device 19 in a fixed location, for example on a machine frame. In order to allow displacement of the conical roller 9, the holder 20 is mounted by means of a guide 22 so as to be adjustable with respect to the fastening element 21. Furthermore, a hydraulic linear actuator 23 is arranged between the holder 20 and the fastening element 21. In this case, the linear actuator 23 has an adjustment axis which corresponds to the guidance axis of the guide 22. By means of suitable control of the linear actuator 23, automated adjustment of the holder 20 and of the conical roller 9 arranged thereon with respect to the fastening element 21 is thus possible. This is advantageous if the positioning device 19 with the conical roller 9 arranged thereon is used in apparatuses which serve to separate sawn timber packages of greatly varying dimensions. This is because adjusting the conical roller 9 also adjusts its separating edge 13, thus enabling it to be adapted to the position of a sawing gap in a sawn timber package.

[0074] FIG. 6 shows the positioning device 19 shown in FIG. 5 in a front view. In an intended installation position of the positioning device 19, the feed direction 7 of a sawn timber package to be separated points into the plane of the drawing.

[0075] Analogously to the explanations with respect to FIGS. 1 to 4, the conical roller 9 is set at an angle in such a way that the axis of rotation 10 encloses an acute angle of inclination 15 in the plane of the drawing with the sawing gap plane 6 shown here. The lower profile line on the lateral surface 12 of the conical roller 9 extends substantially horizontally and thus parallel to the sawing gap plane (not shown). Thus, if a sawn timber package is moved along the feed direction 7, the separating edge 13 penetrates into the sawing gap of the sawn timber package in the manner already explained, wherein the conical roller 9 rolls on the main product in the region of the horizontally extending profile line. The side product slides over the base surface 11 and is directed away from the main product transversely to the feed direction 7.

[0076] FIG. 7 shows the positioning device 19 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 in plan view. For better comprehension of the intended installation position of the positioning device 19, the feed direction 7 of a sawn timber package is again shown. As already explained with reference to FIG. 3, the conical roller 9 is set at an angle in such a way that its axis of rotation 10 encloses an acute angle of incidence 16 (or camber) in the plane of the drawing with the plane of inclination 14, shown here as an aid.

[0077] FIG. 8 shows the positioning device 19 illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 7 in a side view. The conical roller 8 is set at an angle in such a way that its axis of rotation 10 forms an acute tilting angle 17 with the plane of inclination 14 in the plane of the drawing, as already explained with reference to FIG. 4.

[0078] FIG. 9 shows the apparatus 1 according to FIGS. 1 to 4, the four conical rollers 9 of which are each mounted on a positioning device 19 in a manner corresponding to FIGS. 5 to 8. For greater clarity, just one positioning device 19 and components arranged therein are provided with reference signs.

[0079] In the exemplary embodiment shown, a camera system (not shown) determines the structure and the geometry of the sawn timber package 2 before the separation step and transmits the data obtained during this process to an evaluation and control unit. The information collected contains both the external dimensions of the sawn timber package and the position and the dimensions and the profile of the sawing gap 6 within the sawn timber package 2. This information is used in the evaluation and control unit to control the linear actuators 23 in order to adjust the conical rollers 9 in such a way that their respective separating edges are adapted to the position of the sawing gap 5. Alternatively, the dimension of the sawn timber package and the position of the saw cuts can also be obtained from a cutting solution obtained by calculation on the basis of an optical measurement of the tree trunk and/or from a setting of the preceding sawing apparatus resulting therefrom.

[0080] Additionally or alternatively, the conveying device can also comprise a centring unit which is configured to adjust the sawn timber package 2 in the plane of inclination 14 (not shown here) and to adapt the position of the sawing gap 5 to the positions of the separating edges of the conical rollers 9.

[0081] FIG. 10 shows an apparatus 1 which has the same components as the apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 9. In contrast to the arrangement shown in FIG. 9, the positioning devices 19, which are arranged in pairs above or below the sawn timber package 2, are mounted in a horizontally adjustable manner on a horizontally extending guide 24. In each case one hydraulic linear actuator 25 is provided to move one of the positioning devices 19 and the conical rollers 9 mounted thereon along the guide 24. As a result, the conical rollers 9 and the positions of their respective separating edges 13 can be adapted not only to a vertical position of the sawing gap 5 but additionally also to a width dimension of the sawn timber package 2. FIG. 11 shows the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 10 in a rear view.

[0082] FIGS. 12 to 15 show a second exemplary embodiment of an apparatus 1 for separating a sawn timber package 2 obtained from a log. This is of substantially the same construction as the apparatus 1 shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 but differs from it in the installation position of the conical rollers 9. The axes of rotation of the conical rollers 9 extend orthogonally through the sawing gap plane 6.

[0083] FIG. 13 shows the apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 12 with one of the total of four conical rollers 9. As explained above, the axis of rotation 10 of the conical roller 9 extends orthogonally with respect to the sawing gap plane 6. During the separation process, the base surface of the conical roller 9 rests flat on the main product 3, while the side product 4 is deflected from the main product 3 via the lateral surface 12. In an alternative embodiment, the axis of rotation 10 can be tilted by a tilting angle in the plane of the drawing, with the result that the base surface does not rest over its entire surface on the main product. Instead, the base surface encloses with the sawing gap plane an acute angle which corresponds to the tilting angle and is open in the feed direction 7.

[0084] The sections shown in FIG. 13 are shown in FIGS. 13 and 15. Section B-B corresponds to the illustration in FIG. 14, while section C-C corresponds to the illustration in FIG. 15.

[0085] FIG. 14 shows that, during the separation process, the conical rollers 9 bear with their respective base surfaces against the main product 3, while the side product 4 is deflected via the lateral surface 12 transversely with respect to the feed direction 7. By means of the actuators 23 and 25, a vertical or a horizontal movement of the conical rollers 9 is possible in order to adapt the positions of the separating edges 13 to the position of the sawing gap 5.

[0086] The mounting of the conical rollers 9 is shown by means of the sectional illustration shown in FIG. 15. In the manner already described, the conical rollers each have a bore, in which rolling bearings 26 are accommodated. The rolling bearings serve to support the conical rollers 9 in a freely rotatable manner, wherein the axes of rotation 10 extend orthogonally to the sawing gap plane 6.

[0087] FIG. 16 shows one of the positioning devices shown in FIGS. 10 to 15. The positioning device 19 is constructed substantially identically to the positioning device according to FIG. 5. However, in the manner already explained, the conical roller 9 shown in FIG. 16 is arranged in such a way that the base surface faces away from the holder 9 and, in an intended installation position, is turned towards the main product during the separation process.