Meinan Machinery Works, Inc.

Kazuhito Mawatari

Masaru Koike

Yukinobu Kuno

Nobuyuki Moriyama

Katsuya Matsumoto

Fumihiro Mizutani

An apparatus for centering a log to allow an optimum yield axis and a maximum radius of rotation of the log to be calculated more accurately than conventionally possible. The angle of rotation of a log M is detected by a rotation angle detector that is engaged with a preliminary axis c about which the log M is rotated. A contour of the log for calculating the optimum yield axis of the log and a contour for calculating the maximum radius of rotation of the log are measured separately. The contour for calculating the optimum yield axis is measured in a fixed-point manner by measuring the log at a plurality of certain measurement points with beam reflection scanners. The contour for calculating the maximum radius of rotation is measured in a comprehensive manner using swing-angle detectors engaged with contact-swinging detection members provided individually in the plural measurement sections.

Method and apparatus for centering a log

A method for locating an optimum peeling axis of a log and a maximum radius point on peripheral surface of the log with respect to the located optimum peeling axis and an apparatus for practicing the method are disclosed. A plurality of swingable members are provided, each member having a contact surface which is swingable in contact with the peripheral surface of the log thereby to follows the peripheral profile of the log while it is being rotated about its preliminary axis. Angular positions of the contact surfaces are measured with respect to a reference position at a number of angularly spaced positions of the log. On the basis of the measured angular positions of the contact surfaces, radial distances of the log from a plurality of predetermined locations on the optimum peeling axis to selected contact surfaces are computed for comparison such radial distances. The distance having the greatest value is regarded as the maximum radius point of the log.

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Aichi, Japan

Kazuhito Mawatari