Patent ID: 8550232

Claim:
A method of processing logs on a conveyor comprising: providing a first track extending in a longitudinal direction and defining a first track surface; providing a second track extending in the longitudinal direction and defining a second track surface that is spaced apart from said first track in a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction; providing a frame extending in the longitudinal direction and supporting said first and second tracks in at least a generally parallel configuration; providing a plurality of log lugs constructed and arranged for supporting a log, each lug extending between said first and second tracks, each lug having a first support surface corresponding in shape to the first track surface and a second support surface corresponding in shape to the second track surface such that said lugs are configured to slide along said tracks in the longitudinal direction; providing first and second opposing pulleys supported by the frame; providing a continuous conveyor belt supported by the first and second opposing pulleys, the belt connecting the lugs in series; providing a drive device configured to drive at least one of the first and second pulleys and rotate the continuous conveyor belt to thereby move the lugs in the longitudinal direction and to slide the lugs along said track surfaces which transports the log in the longitudinal direction during use; providing a scanner constructed and arranged to scan the entire circumference of the log, the lugs constructed to hold the log above the belt so that the entire circumference of the log can be scanned; providing a log cutter for cutting logs on the conveyor: placing the log on the lugs so that the log is supported above the belt by at least two of the lugs; transporting the log by driving at least one of the pulleys with the drive device so that the continuous conveyor belt rotates to thereby move the lugs in the longitudinal direction and to slide the lugs along said track surfaces which transports the log in the longitudinal direction; scanning the external dimensions of the log as it is transported past the scanner; and cutting the log with the log cutter to a desired dimension at least partially based on the scanned dimensions.