Patent ID: 11858164
Assignee: MEINAN MACHINERY WORKS, INC.
Field: Machine tools (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B  G  Y | IPC B

Claim 13:
14. A method for controlling a log feeding apparatus, the apparatus including a centering unit having first and second centering spindles that are capable of holding a log therebetween at the first and second end faces of the log in a longitudinal direction of the log, a transport unit having first and second clamping arms to hold the log therebetween, and first and second cutting spindles that are capable of holding the log therebetween, wherein the log fed to the centering unit is fed to first and second cutting spindles by the transport unit, the method comprising:
measuring a temporary diameter of the log and storing the measured temporary diameter;
feeding the log to the centering unit located at a receiving position;
holding the fed log between first and second centering spindles;
calculating a cutting axis center line of the log by rotating the first and second centering spindles, and positioning the log at a rotational angle corresponding to the calculated cutting axis center line;
moving the centering unit from the receiving position to a delivery position where the log is delivered from the first and second centering spindles to the first and second clamping arms, the delivery position being away from the receiving position by a distance equal to or greater than a maximum diameter of the log downstream in the direction of log transport;
calculating a safe distance that is equal to or greater than a value obtained by dividing by two the sum of the temporary diameter of the log currently held between the first and second centering spindles among the stored temporary diameters and a temporary diameter of a new log to be fed to the receiving position;
feeding the new log to receiving position based on the movement distance by which the centering unit has moved from the receiving position to the delivery position and also based on the safe distance;
when the centering unit has reached the delivery position, delivering the log from the first and second centering spindles to the first and second clamping arms; and
feeding the log from the first and second clamping arms to first and second cutting spindles.