US 12,263,616 B2
Apparatus for peeling logs
Jöst Frank, Brunico (IT); and Federico Giudiceandrea, Bressanone (IT)
Assigned to MICROTEC S.R.L., Bressanone (IT)
Filed by MICROTEC S.R.L., Bressanone (IT)
Filed on Jul. 29, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/876,717.
Claims priority of application No. 102021000021089 (IT), filed on Aug. 4, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0041296 A1, Feb. 9, 2023
Int. Cl. B27L 5/02 (2006.01); G01N 23/046 (2018.01); G01N 33/46 (2006.01)
CPC B27L 5/02 (2013.01) [G01N 23/046 (2013.01); G01N 33/46 (2013.01)] 36 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. Apparatus for peeling logs (5) comprising:
a cutting station (3) wherein a cutting device (6) is present configured to perform, in use, a spiral cut of the log (5) while the log (5) is rotated about a first rotation axis (7);
a loading station (2) at which, in use, the apparatus receives each log (5) to be peeled; and
a device (4) for transferring logs (5) from the loading station (2) to the cutting station (3);
wherein:
the cutting station (3), the loading station (2) and the device (4), in use, interact with each other to position the log (5) in the cutting station (3);
the loading station (2) includes an axial rotation device (10) configured to rotate the log (5) about a second rotation axis (11);
the loading station (2) comprises a radiographic examination device (19), comprising an x-ray emission unit (20) and an x-ray detection unit (21), which is configured to generate, in use, radiographic scans of the log (5);
the apparatus further comprises an electronic unit that is connected to the radiographic examination device (19) to command its activation and receive digital-format data from it relating to each radiographic scan generated by it, as well as to the axial rotation device (10) of the log (5) to control its operation;
and wherein:
the electronic unit is programmed to use said digital-format data to control a transfer of the log (5) from the loading station (2) to the cutting station (3) and/or to control the operation of the cutting station (3);
the loading station (2) defines an examination space (22) within which, in use, the log (5) placed at the loading station (2) is located, and wherein the x-ray emission unit (20) and the x-ray detection unit (21) face each other and are positioned on opposite sides of the examination space (22) and of the second axis of rotation (11);
the radiographic examination device (19) is configured in such a way that each radiographic scan affects an entire width of the examination space (22) perpendicular to the second rotation axis (11) and only part of an entire length of the examination space (22) along the second rotation axis (11); and
the radiographic examination device (19) is movable relative to the examination space (22), parallel to the second axis of rotation (11), between a first end position at which each radiographic scan affects a first end portion of the examination space (22) and a second end position at which each radiographic scan affects a second end portion of the examination space (22) opposite the first end portion.