Patent ID: 6896019

Claim:
A log positioning and conveying apparatus defining an upstream end and a downstream end, and a longitudinal axis extending between said upstream and downstream ends, for positioning a log defining a peripheral surface according to a predetermined downstream position, said log positioning and conveying apparatus comprising: an open frame; at least two rollers rotatably carried by said frame and defining respective rotational axes arranged transversally to and in a spaced-apart fashion along said longitudinal axis of said log positioning and conveying apparatus; first selectively powered roller actuators carried by said frame and allowing said rollers to be selectively independently displaced in a first direction transversal to said longitudinal axis; second selectively powered roller actuators carried by said frame and allowing said rollers to be selectively independently displaced in a second direction transversal to said longitudinal axis and transversal to said first direction; and third selectively powered roller actuators carried by said frame and capable of selectively rotating said rollers about their respective rotational axes; wherein each said roller can be controlled by a corresponding one of said third roller actuators to be rotated for conveying a log along said longitudinal axis towards said downstream end, and by corresponding ones of said first and second actuators to be displaced along said first and second directions respectively for engaging the peripheral surface of the log and gradually correcting the position of the log for positioning the log according to its predetermined downstream position as it is being conveyed towards said downstream end, whereby a dynamic log channel is defined on a load-bearing surface of said rollers for supporting the log in said log channel.