Methods and apparatus for orienting power saws in a sawing system

摘要

A sawing system is provided having a material conveyor for moving lengths of wood stock through the sawing system. According to one aspect of the invention, the material conveyor is preferably inclined upward from a frontal loading end to facilitate the loading of wood stock. The material conveyor is also preferably adjustable to accommodate different lengths of wood stock. According to another aspect of the invention, the sawing system has at least first and second power saws on one side of the material conveyor and at least third and fourth power saws on the opposite side of the material conveyor. Each of the four power saws is supported for independent angular movement of its saw blade about a pivot axis that is offset from the plane of the saw blade and parallel to the direction of the movement of the lengths of wood stock on the material conveyor. At least one of the first and second power saws is supported for horizontal movement relative to the material conveyor. At least one of the third and fourth power saws is supported for horizontal movement relative to the material conveyor. The pivot axis of each of the first and third power saws is positioned above the conveying plane of the material conveyor form making top angled cuts in the lengths of wood stock moved on the material conveyor. According to a further aspect of the invention, an algorithm is provided for computing a position of the power saws to make desired angled cuts in the ends of the lengths of wood stock.