Self-sharpening tool bit

Abstract

The barking machine tool bit can be used in a barking machine to remove barks from logs passing through the barking machine. The peeler bit may include a self-sharpening bit due to the use of a wear material to form one or more wear material layers to provide a self-sharpening effect. In use, due to the effect of the self-sharpening tool, the portion of the self-sharpening tool bit of the peeler tool at the first cutting edge of the wear material may deteriorate exposing the second cutting edge. This self-sharpening characteristic of the abrading material allows the barking machine tool bit to remove barks from logs passing through the barking machine in a more consistent manner over a longer period of time during the service life of the barking machine tool bit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to self-sharpening debarker bits that can be used for debarking logs. Background Art

[0002] Generally, debarker cutter heads are constructed and configured to remove bark from logs during a log processing method. For example, the wear material of the debarker cutter head includes sharp edges or cutting edges that remove (e.g., cut or scrape) bark from the log as the log passes through the debarker apparatus or system to expose wood within the log that was previously covered by the bark. Over time, the sharp edges of the wear material erode as the debarker cutter head is repeatedly used to remove bark from a large number of logs. This erosion eventually causes the wear material of the debarker cutter head to be no longer usable, such that the debarker cutter head with the wear material needs to be sharpened or replaced with a new debarker cutter head with an unused sharp edge so that bark can be effectively removed from the log as the log passes through the debarker apparatus or system. Such erosion of wear material may include breaking or cracking of the wear material or portions of the peeler cutter head, rupture of the wear material or portions of the peeler cutter head, or other similar or like types of failures that may result from continued use of the peeler cutter head including the wear material. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The present disclosure relates to embodiments of a peeler cutter head including a base component and a self-sharpening wear material coupled to the base component. The wear material can be formed on the base component using an additive manufacturing process (e.g., 3D printing) such that the wear material includes one or more layers of one or more materials stacked one upon another to form the wear material on the base component.

[0004] For example, the present disclosure relates to at least some embodiments of a debarker cutter head that can be used in a debarker to remove bark from a log passing through the debarker. The debarker cutter head can include a self-sharpening wear material having a cutting edge that is the result of an additive cutting material (e.g., a 3D printable cutting material) used to form one or more layers of the self-sharpening wear material on a base component. As the self-sharpening wear material of the debarker cutter head is used, the self-sharpening wear material degrades and erodes, causing a portion of the self-sharpening wear material at the first cutting edge to break off, thereby exposing the second cutting edge. This self-sharpening characteristic of the self-sharpening wear material allows for more consistent removal of bark from the log over the useful life of the self-sharpening wear material because the self-sharpening wear material is sharpened while in use, resulting in more consistent and efficient removal of bark from the log passing through the debarker over the useful life of the self-sharpening wear material of the debarker cutter head.

[0005] In at least one embodiment, a debarker cutter head of the present disclosure may include a base component and a layer of additive wear material, the additive wear material being an additive cutting material comprising a carbide material on the base component. The additive wear material layer comprises a self-sharpening cutting edge spaced apart from the base component. The self-sharpening cutting edge of the additive wear material may be self-sharpening in that a first portion of the self-sharpening cutting edge may break off after being eroded over a period of use, thereby forming a new second portion of the self-sharpening cutting edge. The new second portion of the self-sharpening cutting edge is sharp enough to continue removing bark from a log passing through a debarker using a debarker cutter head with an additive wear material layer, the additive wear material layer comprising the first portion of the self-sharpening cutting edge of the wear material and the new second portion of the self-sharpening cutting edge, respectively. Alternatively, in at least one embodiment, the first cutting edge of the wear material may be completely removed, exposing a new and complete second cutting edge to replace the previously existing first cutting edge of the self-sharpening wear material. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] To better understand the embodiments, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings by way of example. In the drawings, unless the context indicates otherwise, identical reference numerals denote identical or similar elements or actions. The sizes and relative proportions of the elements in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, some of these elements may be enlarged and positioned to improve the legibility of the drawings.

[0007] Figure 1A is a perspective view of an example of a peeler head.

[0008] Figure 1B Yes Figure 1A Shown is a perspective view of an example of a debarker cutter head after the debarker cutter head has reached the end of its useful life.

[0009] Figure 1C Yes Figure 1A Shown is a side view of an example of a debarker cutter head after the debarker cutter head has reached the end of its useful life.

[0010] Figure 2A is a perspective view of an embodiment of a debarker head of the present disclosure.

[0011] Figure 2B Yes Figure 2A A right side view of an embodiment of a debarker head is shown.

[0012] Figure 2C Yes Figure 2A A left side view of an embodiment of a debarker head is shown.

[0013] Figure 2D Yes Figure 2AA perspective view of an embodiment of a debarker head is shown without one or more layers of material present.

[0014] Figure 2E Yes Figures 2A-2C A side view of an alternative embodiment of a debarker head is shown.

[0015] Figure 3A is a perspective view of an embodiment of a debarker head of the present disclosure.

[0016] Figure 3B Yes Figure 3A A front side view of an embodiment of a debarker head is shown.

[0017] Figure 3C Yes Figure 3A A perspective view of an embodiment of a debarker head is shown without one or more layers of material present.

[0018] Figure 4A is a perspective view of an embodiment of a debarker head of the present disclosure.

[0019] Figure 4B Yes Figure 4A A front side view of an embodiment of a debarker head is shown.

[0020] Figure 4C Yes Figure 4A A rear side view of an embodiment of a debarker head is shown.

[0021] Figure 4D Yes Figure 4A A right side view of an embodiment of a debarker head is shown.

[0022] Figure 4E Yes Figure 4A A left side view of an embodiment of a debarker head is shown.

[0023] Figure 4F Yes Figure 4A A perspective view of an embodiment of a debarker head is shown without one or more layers of material present.

[0024] Figure 5 is a flow chart relating to a method of using at least one embodiment of the peeler head of the present disclosure.

[0025] Figure 6A This disclosure is as Figures 2A-2D The illustrated embodiment of a debarker cutter head is a top plan view after use in a debarker.

[0026] Figure 6B This disclosure is as Figures 2A-2D The illustrated embodiment of a debarker cutter head is a top plan view after use in a debarker.

[0027] Figure 6C This disclosure is as Figures 2A-2D The illustrated embodiment of a debarker cutter head is a top plan view after use in a debarker.

[0028] Figure 7 is a top plan view of an embodiment of a debarker head of the present disclosure.

[0029] Figure 8A is a side view of an embodiment of a peeler head of the present disclosure.

[0030] Figure 8B This disclosure is as Figure 8A An enlarged side view of an alternative embodiment of a debarker head is shown.

[0031] Figure 8C This disclosure is as Figure 8A An enlarged side view of an alternative embodiment of a debarker head is shown.

[0032] Figure 9 is a flow chart of a method of manufacturing at least one embodiment of a peeler cutter head of the present disclosure.

[0033] Figure 10 is a flow chart of a method of manufacturing at least one embodiment of a peeler cutter head of the present disclosure.

[0034] Figure 11 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a debarker head of the present disclosure.

[0035] Figure 12 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a debarker head of the present disclosure.

[0036] Figure 13 is a front view of one or more debarker heads of the present disclosure installed in a debarker. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] In the following description, certain specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the present disclosure. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures associated with the peeler and peeler cutter head are not described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0038] Throughout this specification and the appended claims, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" and variations such as "include" and "comprising" should be construed in an open, inclusive sense, ie, "including, but not limited to."

[0039] The use of ordinal numbers (such as first, second, third, etc.) does not necessarily imply a sense of order but may simply distinguish multiple instances of an action or similar structure or material.

[0040] Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearances of the phrase "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in multiple places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

[0041] The terms "left," "right," "top," "bottom," "upper," or "lower" are used only for the purpose of discussing the orientation of components in the following discussion of the drawings in the present disclosure. These terms do not limit possible positions of components that are explicitly disclosed, implicitly disclosed, or inherently disclosed in the present disclosure.

[0042] As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

[0043] Although various embodiments of the peeling machine cutter head are shown and described, it is readily understood that the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto. In various embodiments, the structures, devices, methods, etc. described herein can be implemented or otherwise used in any suitable type or form of peeling machine cutter head.

[0044] Generally, debarker cutter heads include a wear material that is made from a single, continuous sheet of material that is relatively hard. For example, the wear material of a debarker cutter head may be a hard carbide material that is hard enough to cut or remove bark from a log as the log passes through a debarker using the debarker cutter head. Over time, the cutting edges of the wear material and the wear material of the debarker cutter head itself may erode and become dull. For example, in at least some cases, portions of the wear material may break off (e.g., sheared off due to crack propagation in the cutter head), which results in the wear material of the debarker cutter head no longer being able to adequately remove bark from the log as the log passes through the debarker. Because the wear material is made from a single, continuous sheet of material, the portions of the wear material that break off are unpredictable, resulting in less consistent removal of bark from the log over time during the useful life of a debarker cutter head having a wear material made from a single, continuous sheet of material. Once the wear material reaches the end of its useful life due to such erosion or degradation in use, the peeler cutter head can be discarded and a new peeler cutter head installed in the peeler. Alternatively, the wear material of the peeler cutter head's cutting edge can be sharpened, or the eroded wear material on the peeler cutter head's base component can be removed so that new wear material can be formed on the peeler cutter head's base component to form a new, sharp cutting edge (e.g., the peeler cutter head's base component can be reused).

[0045] The present disclosure relates to at least some embodiments of a debarker cutter head that can be used in a debarker to remove bark from a log passing through the debarker. The debarker cutter head can include a self-sharpening cutting edge due to an additive, self-sharpening wear material (e.g., a 3D printable wear material or a 3D printable cutting material) used to form one or more layers of the self-sharpening wear material. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the self-sharpening cutting edge can include one or more layers of self-sharpening wear material stacked on one another. When the self-sharpening wear material of the debarker cutter head is used, the self-sharpening wear material deteriorates, degrades, and erodes in a predictable and expected manner such that when a debarker cutter head having the self-sharpening wear material is used to remove bark from a log, a portion of the self-sharpening wear material at the first cutting edge breaks off, thereby exposing a second cutting edge. This self-sharpening property of the self-sharpening wear material of the debarker cutter head of the present disclosure can allow the self-sharpening debarker cutter head to be more consistent in removing bark from logs over the useful life of the self-sharpening debarker cutter head relative to a debarker cutter head including a single, continuous sheet of wear material as described above. In other words, due to the self-sharpening property of the wear material of the self-sharpening debarker cutter head, the self-sharpening debarker cutter head can be used to remove bark from logs passing through the debarker in a consistent and predictable manner for an extended period of time.

[0046] Figure 1Ais a perspective view of an example of a peeler cutter head 100 that includes a base member 102 and a wear material 104 on the base member 102. The wear material 104 is located on a surface 106 of the base member 102, and the wear material 104 can be coupled to the base member 102 by a brazed connection at the surface 106 of the base member 102. In other words, the brazed connection attaches the wear material 104 to the base member 102. Figure 1A As shown, the wear material 104 is made of a single, continuous sheet of material. For example, the wear material 104 can be made of a carbide-based material or a metal carbide matrix material, such as a tungsten carbide material. The wear material 104 includes a cutting edge 108 that is sharp enough to remove bark from a log as the log passes through a debarker to which the debarker head 100 is installed.

[0047] The debarker head 100 includes one or more openings 110. The one or more openings 110 can extend through the base member 102 and can be threaded so that the debarker head 100 can be mounted within a debarker using threaded fasteners.

[0048] Figure 1B is a perspective view of an example of a debarker cutter head 100 after use within a debarker to remove bark from a log as the log passes through the debarker. Figure 1B As can be readily seen in FIG. 1 , a significant portion of the wear material 104 has been broken (e.g., sheared or snapped off). Figure 1B Failures of the type shown may be the result of cracks that develop within the cutter head 104 and propagate until the cracks within the wear material 104 become large enough to break off a significant portion of the wear material 104, resulting in the cutting edge 108 no longer being sufficient to remove bark from the log. Once the significant portion of the wear material 104 breaks off where the cutting edge 108 previously existed, the wear material 104 is no longer usable and must be replaced with new wear material 104 or a new debarker cutter head 100. This type of failure typically occurs suddenly, making it catastrophic, and there is no warning of this type of failure, which can result in inefficient debarking of logs passing through the debarker.

[0049] Figure 1C is a perspective view of an example of a debarker cutter head 100 after use within a debarker to remove bark from a log as the log passes through the debarker. Figure 1C, the dashed line 112 represents the cutting edge 108 when the wear material 104 of the debarker cutter head 100 is sharp and new. However, after the wear material 104 of the debarker cutter head 100 is used within a debarker to remove bark from logs, the wear material 104 erodes and degrades over time until enough of the wear material 104 is removed, resulting in a smooth or curved end 114 where the cutting edge 108 previously existed. Once the wear material 104 has eroded or degraded such that the wear material 104 is no longer able to effectively and adequately remove bark from the logs, the debarker cutter head 100 can be removed from the debarker and replaced with a new, sharp debarker cutter head 100. Alternatively, the peeler cutter head 100 can be removed from the peeler and the wear material 104 can be sharpened, or the worn and eroded wear material 104 can be removed from the base member 102 and replaced with a new single, continuous sheet of wear material 104 having a new, sharp cutting edge 108. This type of erosion and degradation occurs over time until the wear material 104 of the peeler cutter 100 reaches the end of its useful life, at which point the peeler cutter head 100 is replaced with a new, sharp peeler cutter head 100, is resharpened, or the worn and eroded wear material 104 is replaced with a new single, continuous sheet of wear material 104 having a new, sharp cutting edge 108.

[0050] like Figures 1A-1C The wear material 104 shown may be Figure 1B The wear material typically has a shorter useful life than the "self-sharpening" debarker cutter head of the present disclosure, as discussed in further detail herein, due to catastrophic failure as shown, or due to erosion and degradation caused by normal wear and tear. For example, the "self-sharpening" debarker cutter head of the present disclosure may be able to wear away more of the "self-sharpening" wear material while remaining sharp to continuously remove bark from logs passing through the debarker. This "self-sharpening" effect increases the time between maintenance (e.g., re-sharpening or rebuilding of the "self-sharpening" wear material) of the "self-sharpening" debarker cutter head of the present disclosure or replacement of the "self-sharpening" debarker cutter head of the present disclosure.

[0051] Figure 2A 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a peeling machine cutter head 200 according to the present disclosure. Figure 2A As shown, the peeler head 200 includes a base member 202 and a wear material 204. The wear material 204 is located on a surface 206 of the base member 202, and the wear material 204 includes a cutting edge 208. Figure 1A The wear material 104 of the peeler head 100 is shown as Figure 2AThe illustrated wear material 204 includes a plurality of layers 210. In some embodiments, each respective layer in the plurality of layers 210 can be made of a first material. In some embodiments, a first respective layer in the plurality of layers 210 can be made of a first material, and a second respective layer in the plurality of layers 210 can be made of a second material different from the first material. When the plurality of layers 210 includes first respective layers of a first material and second respective layers of a second material, the first respective layers and the second respective layers can be staggered such that each of the first respective layers is adjacent to only one or more of the second respective layers, and vice versa. When the plurality of layers includes first respective layers of a first material and second respective layers of a second material, the first material can be harder than the second material so that the first material can be more easily able to remove bark from the log, while the second material can be more deformable and softer to reduce the risk of complete catastrophic failure (e.g., Figure 1B ). The second material, which is softer than the first material, can allow the first and second corresponding layers to erode away in a predictable manner such that after the cutting edge 208 of one of the first corresponding layers of the first material degrades, a new cutting edge begins to be exposed. The new cutting edge can be the edge of the next layer in the first corresponding layer because the second corresponding layer adjacent to the previous first corresponding layer with the cutting edge 208 can degrade and be removed quickly to expose the new cutting edge of the next layer in the first corresponding layer, thereby exposing the new cutting edge of the next layer in the first corresponding layer. Controlling the degradation of the wear material 204 by interleaving one or more layers of different materials as described above can allow the wear material 204 to degrade in a predictable manner as described above, such that the debarker head 200 having the wear material 204 can more consistently remove bark from logs passing through the debarker over a longer period of time relative to the debarker head 100 including a single, continuous sheet of wear material 104.

[0052] The first material and the second material in the plurality of layers 210 of wear material 204 can be additive cutting materials (e.g., 3D printable cutting materials or 3D printable wear materials) that are compatible with an additive manufacturing process, such as a 3D printing process, to form the wear material 204 on the base component 202. For example, the first material can be a first carbide-based material that is relatively harder than the second material, which can be a second carbide-based material that is softer than the first carbide-based material.

[0053] The wear material 204 includes a plurality of micro-ridges 212. Respective micro-ridges in the plurality of micro-ridges are located adjacent to corresponding layers in the plurality of layers 210. The plurality of micro-ridges 210 separate corresponding layers in the plurality of layers 210 from each other. The micro-ridges 212 may be referred to as micro-lines, micro-lines, or some other type of reference to the micro-ridges 212. The micro-ridges 212 may serve as stress concentrators along which the wear material 204 may fail, causing corresponding portions of the cutting edge 208 of the wear material 204 to fracture or shear in a predictable manner. Over time, the fracture, shearing, erosion, wear, or degradation of these corresponding portions of the cutting edge 208 may cause the cutting edge 208 to be gradually removed from the wear material 204, thereby creating a self-sharpening effect by exposing a new cutting edge of the wear material 204. In other words, when the wear material 204 is used within a debarker to remove bark from logs passing through the debarker, the fracturing, shearing, erosion, wear, or degradation of corresponding portions of the wear material 204 may result in the removal of cutting edges, thereby exposing or forming new cutting edges of the wear material 204, which may be referred to as a self-sharpening effect. In view of the above discussion, the plurality of micro-ridges 212 may be positioned and formed as a result of utilizing additive manufacturing technology (e.g., 3D printing manufacturing technology) or some other manufacturing technology that allows the wear material 204 to be formed using additive cutting materials (e.g., 3D printing compatible cutting materials). When multiple layers of additive cutting material are used to form the wear material 204, some of the plurality of micro-ridges 212 may be present within the additive cutting material of the wear material 204. For example, when the additive cutting material is discharged to form one or more layers of additive cutting material on the base component 202 to form the wear material 204 of the debarker cutter head 200, the plurality of micro-ridges 212 may be formed as the additive cutting material is printed onto the base component 202. Although this self-sharpening effect is for Figures 2A-2D While the embodiment of the wear material 204 of the peeler cutter head 200 shown is discussed, it will be readily appreciated that this self-sharpening effect is readily applicable to the wear materials of other embodiments of peeler cutter heads of the present disclosure and other embodiments of peelers within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0054] A plurality of micro-ridges 212 may be present on respective surfaces 214a, 214b, 214c, 214d, and 214e. These respective surfaces 214a, 214b, 214c, 214d, and 214e may be exposed surfaces of the additive material of the wear material 204. These respective surfaces 214a, 214b, 214c, 214d, and 214e may be referred to as surfaces of the wear material 204, or may be referred to as wear surfaces and sidewalls, respectively. The first surface 214a is a first inclined surface extending from the base component 202 to the cutting edge 208 of the wear material 204, where the first surface 214a intersects the second surface 214b, which is also an inclined surface. The third surface 214c is transverse to the first and second surfaces 214a, 214b. For example, the third surface 214c may be a sidewall surface extending from the base component 202 to the second surface 214b. The fourth surface 214d may be a flat surface located between the second surface 214b and the end of the base component 202 opposite the cutting edge 208 of the wear material 204. The fifth surface 214e (see FIG. Figure 2C ) are respectively transverse to the first surface 214a, the second surface 214b and the fourth surface 214d, for example, the fifth surface 214e can be a sidewall surface.

[0055] In such Figure 2A In the illustrated embodiment of the debarker cutter head 200, the plurality of micro-ridges 212 along the first surface 214a and the second surface 214b are substantially parallel to the cutting edge 208 of the abrasive material 204. For example, this orientation of the plurality of micro-ridges 212 can further promote the self-sharpening effect described herein. For example, as the cutting edge 208 removes bark from a log passing through a debarker having the debarker cutter head 200 installed, cracks can predictably propagate along corresponding micro-ridges of the plurality of micro-ridges 212 that are closer to the cutting edge 208, such that if the portion between the cutting edge 208 and the corresponding micro-ridge closer to the cutting edge 208 breaks or shears from the abrasive material 204, a new cutting edge is formed. This self-sharpening effect by forming new cutting edges as the wear material 204 is used can extend the useful life of the debarker head 200, increase the time before the debarker head 200 reaches the end of its useful life, and increase the consistency with which the debarker head 200 is able to remove bark from the log during the useful life of the debarker head 200. Figure 2A In the illustrated embodiment, the plurality of micro-ridges 212 along the first surface 214a and the second surface 214b are substantially parallel to the cutting edge 208. In some alternative embodiments, the plurality of micro-ridges 212 may be transverse to the cutting edge 208 (e.g., see the disclosure of Figure 7). Orienting the plurality of micro-ridges 212 in different manners relative to the cutting edge 208 can promote different types of breaking, shearing, erosion, wear, or degradation of portions of the wear material 204, such that different self-sharpening effects can be promoted and selected for specific types of debarker cutters that may have different applications (e.g., removing bark from different types of logs harvested from different types of trees). For example, when the debarker cutter head 200 is removing bark from a first type of wood, the plurality of micro-ridges 212 can be oriented transverse to the cutting edge 208, and alternatively, when the debarker cutter head 200 is removing bark from a second type of wood, the plurality of micro-ridges 212 can be oriented parallel to the cutting edge 208. In other words, the orientation of the plurality of micro-ridges 212 can be selected and determined to optimize the self-sharpening effect of the debarker cutter head 200 during use, thereby increasing the service life of the wear material 204 of the debarker cutter head 200. In other words, the orientation of the plurality of micro-ridges 212 can be formed into any desired orientation to promote or increase the life of the wear material 204 through the "self-sharpening" effect as described herein. Although the orientation of the plurality of microridges 212 is relative to Figures 2A-2D The embodiment of the wear material 204 of the peeler cutter head 200 is discussed, but it is readily understood that the orientation of the plurality of micro-ridges 212 is readily applicable to the embodiments of the present disclosure. Figures 3A-4D and Figure 7 The cutter heads 204 of other embodiments of debarker tools 300, 400, 600 are shown, as well as other embodiments of debarker tools within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0056] The base member 202 of the peeler head 200 includes one or more openings 215. The one or more openings 215 are similar to those described above with respect to the Figures 1A-1B The debarker cutter head 100 shown may be the same or similar to the one or more openings 110 discussed above with respect to the debarker cutter head 100. For example, one or more openings 215 may be threaded such that threaded fasteners (e.g., bolts, screws and washers, or some other suitable type of fasteners) may be used to securely mount the debarker cutter head 200 within a debarker for use in removing bark from a log passing through a debarker with the debarker cutter head 200 installed. In some alternative embodiments, one or more openings may not be threaded, but a different type of fastener (e.g., nuts and bolts) may be used to securely mount the debarker cutter head 200 within a debarker for use in removing bark from a log passing through a debarker with the debarker cutter head 200 installed. In view of the above discussion, any type of suitable fastener or mounting structure, component, or technique may be used to mount or install the debarker cutter head 200 within a debarker for use in removing bark from a log passing through a debarker with the debarker cutter head 200 installed. In some embodiments, there may be only one opening, rather than multiple openings as described above. Figure 2ATwo openings 215 are shown. In other words, there may be any number of one or more openings 215 so that any suitable type of fasteners may be used to mount the various embodiments of the debarker cutter head 200 within a debarker. In some embodiments, the debarker cutter head 215 may not have one or more openings, but instead may be capable of being mounted to a debarker in some other suitable manner known in the debarker industry.

[0057] In an alternative embodiment of the peeler cutter head 200 , the stepped structure 216 of the base member 202 may not be present, and the multiple layers 210 of wear material 204 may be replaced by a single layer. The single layer of wear material 204 on the base member 202 may include multiple micro-ridges 212 .

[0058] Figure 2B It involves Figure 2A The right side view of the peeling machine cutter head 200 is shown. Figure 2B As shown, the base component 202 includes a stepped structure 216 on which the wear material 204 resides. The stepped structure 216 may include one or more step surfaces 218 and one or more raised surfaces 220. The stepped structure 216 may be present such that an amount of additive material is present adjacent the cutting edge 208 of the wear material 204 to increase the useful life of the wear material 204 of the peeler cutter head 200. For example, since there is more additive material of the wear material 204 adjacent the cutting edge 208, the period of time during which the cutter head 204 completely degrades or erodes to the point where the peeler cutter head 200 needs to be replaced may be increased. The stepped structure 216 may cause the additive material of the cutter head 204 to be more securely attached to the base component 202, thereby reducing the risk of catastrophic failure of the wear material 204 (similar to the embodiments of the present disclosure). Figure 1B For example, when the stepped structure 216 is present, the additive material of the wear material 204 can be more securely attached to the base component 202 because the attachment surface area between the additive material of the wear material 204 and the base component 202 near the cutting edge 208 is increased relative to when the stepped structure 216 is not present. In some embodiments, the additive material of the wear material 204 can be formed on the stepped structure 216 using a 3D additive material printing process or some other process or technique that allows the wear material 204 to be positioned on the stepped structure 216.

[0059] Figure 2C It involves Figure 2A and Figure 2B The left side view of the peeling machine cutter head 200 is shown. Figure 2C As shown, the wear material 204 includes an edge 222 of the wear material 204 surrounding the base member 202 of the peeler head 200 (see FIG. Figure 2D) and located on the side wall 224 of the debarker cutter head 200. This portion 221 can be referred to as a wraparound portion. The portion 221 of the wear material 204 that wraps around the edge 222 and is located on the side wall 224 of the base member 202 can be a leading edge or guide portion of the debarker cutter head 200 that is used when one or more logs pass through the debarker to be debarked (e.g., see the disclosure of the present invention). Figure 13 ) initially contacts one or more logs. The portion 221 of the wear material 204 that wraps around the edge 222 and is present on the sidewall 224 of the base member 202 provides wear resistance to the leading edge of the debarker cutter head 200, thereby increasing the service life of the debarker cutter head 200.

[0060] Figure 2D FIG is a perspective view of the base member 202 without the wear material 204 on the base member 202. Figure 2D As shown, the base member 202 includes a first surface 226 extending from the stepped structure 216 to a second surface 228 that is transverse to the first inclined surface 226. The first surface 226 and the second surface 228 of the base member 202 of the peeler head 200 may be inclined surfaces. Figures 2A-2C As shown, the additively cut material of the wear material 204 is formed on the first surface 226 and the second surface 228 of the base component 202 , respectively.

[0061] Figure 2E This disclosure Figures 2A-2C A side view of an alternative embodiment of the peeler cutter head 200 is shown. In the alternative embodiment of the peeler cutter head 200, the plurality of layers 210 includes four layers. Each of the four layers of the plurality of layers 210 is separated from an adjacent layer of the four layers by a micro-ridge of the plurality of micro-ridges 212. Each of the plurality of layers 210 corresponds to one of the four steps of the stepped structure 216. Although in this alternative embodiment, the plurality of layers 210 includes four layers, it will be readily appreciated that the number of the plurality of layers 210 can be selected such that the plurality of layers 210 includes more than four layers or includes less than four layers. Although in this alternative embodiment, the stepped structure 216 includes four steps, it will be readily appreciated that the number of steps of the stepped structure 216 can be selected such that the stepped structure 216 includes more than four steps or includes less than four steps.

[0062] Figure 3A is an alternative embodiment of the peeling machine cutter head 300 of the present disclosure. Figure 3A As shown, the peeling machine head 300 includes the Figures 2A-2D The peeling machine head 200 shown has many features that are the same or similar. Figures 3A-3C The features of the peeler head 300 shown are similar to those of Figures 2A-2D The same or similar features of the peeling machine cutter head 200 shown have the same or similar reference numerals. For the sake of simplicity or brevity of this disclosure, the focus of the following discussion will be on the following: Figures 3A-3C The peeling machine head 300 shown is relatively Figures 2A-2D Different or additional features of the debarker head 200 are shown and discussed in detail in the present disclosure as follows.

[0063] Different from Figures 2A-2D The embodiment of the peeling machine head 200 shown in FIG. Figure 3A The illustrated peeler cutter head 300 includes a plurality of grooves 302 in which the additive cutting material of the wear material 204 resides. The plurality of grooves 302 are provided to increase the surface area of ​​the additive cutting material of the wear material 204 of the base component 202, thereby more firmly and securely attaching the additive cutting material of the wear material 204 to the base component 202. The plurality of grooves 302 can allow the wear material 204, which is harder and more brittle relative to the base component 202, to be positioned within the plurality of grooves 302 such that the harder and more brittle wear material 204 will provide greater resistance to wear and abrasion, while the softer material of the base component 202 will absorb impact energy more readily than the harder and more brittle wear material 204. In other words, the harder and more brittle wear material 204 will not wear as quickly as the softer material of the base component 202.

[0064] Different from Figure 1A and Figure 1B The debarker cutter head 100 shown includes a cutter head 104 formed from a single, continuous sheet of material, such as Figure 3A The wear material 204 shown is made of multiple layers 210 and is formed using additive manufacturing technology (e.g., a 3D printing process compatible with printing additive cutting materials). Using an additive manufacturing process to form the wear material 204 of the additive cutting material allows the additive cutting material to be formed in the multiple grooves 302. Due to reasons of precision and machining cost, using a process similar to Figure 1A and Figure 1B This is difficult and expensive to accomplish with the single, continuous sheet of material of the illustrated cutter head 104 .

[0065] Figure 3B Yes Figure 3A The front side view of the peeling machine cutter head 300 is shown. Figure 3B As shown, each of the plurality of grooves 302 includes a first portion 304 and a second portion 306 in a stacked configuration, e.g., as shown in FIG. Figure 3B Second portion 306 is shown stacked on first portion 304 .

[0066] Figure 3Cis a perspective view of the base member 202 of the peeler cutter head 300 without the wear material 204 on the base member 202 of the peeler cutter head 300. For example, Figure 3C As shown, the first portion 304 may be a first semi-cylinder having a first radius, and the second portion 306 may be a second semi-cylinder having a second radius greater than the first radius stacked on the first portion 304. However, in some alternative embodiments, the plurality of grooves 302 may have some other shapes or sizes so that the surface area between the base component 202 and the additive cutting material is increased to more firmly and securely attach the additive cutting material of the wear material 204 to the base component 202, as shown. Figures 3A-3C As shown. Figure 3C As shown, a plurality of grooves 302 are present at a surface 305 of the base member 202 of the peeler cutter head 300. Similar to the first surface 226 of the base member 202 of the peeler cutter head 200, the surface 305 of the base member 202 of the peeler cutter head 300 may be an inclined surface.

[0067] Figure 4A FIG is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a peeler head 400. Figure 4A As shown, the peeling machine head 400 includes the Figures 2A-2D and Figures 3A-3C The peeling machine knives 200 and 300 shown have many features that are the same or similar. Figures 4A-4D The features of the peeler head 400 shown are similar to those of Figures 2A-2D and Figures 3A-3C The same or similar features of the peeling machine knives 200, 300 are provided with the same or similar reference numerals. For the sake of simplicity and brevity of this disclosure, the focus of the following discussion will be on the following: Figures 4A-4D The peeling machine head 400 shown is relatively Figures 2A-2D and Figures 3A-3C Different or additional features of the debarker knives 200, 300 are shown and discussed in detail in the present disclosure as follows.

[0068] Like Figures 2A-2D and Figures 3A-3C The peeler knives 200, 300 shown differ in that the base member 202 is more parallelepiped-like in shape, as shown in FIG. Figures 4A-4E The peeling machine head 400 shown includes the following components: Figures 2A-2D and Figures 3A-3C The debarker knives 200 , 300 are shown with a base member 402 that is more of a cubical shape.

[0069] Similar to the cutter head 204 of the peeler cutter 200, 300, the wear material 404 is made of an additive cutting material. Similar to the cutter head 204 of the peeler cutter 200, 300 of the present disclosure, the wear material 404 includes a plurality of layers 210 and a plurality of micro-ridges 212. However, unlike Figures 2A-2C and Figure 3A as well as Figure 3B The additive cutting materials shown are different, e.g. Figure 4A The additively cut material is shown to be present at each edge of the base component 402. In other words, as Figure 4A As shown, the additive cutting material forming the wear material 404 is present at each edge of the base component 402. For example, the wear material 404 includes a first surrounding portion 406 that surrounds a first edge 407 of the base component 402 (see FIG. Figure 4E ) surrounds and extends to the first sidewall surface 410 of the base member 402 (see Figure 4E ), and a second surrounding portion 408 surrounding a second edge 409 (see Figure 4E ) surrounds and extends to the second sidewall surface 412 (see Figure 4E ). The first surrounding portion 406 is opposite the second surrounding portion 408, the first edge 407 is opposite the second edge 409, and the first sidewall surface 410 is opposite the second sidewall surface 412. Unlike the cutter head 204 of the peeler cutters 200 and 300, which both include the cutting edge 208, the wear material 404 includes a first cutting edge 414 and a second cutting edge 416 opposite the first cutting edge 414.

[0070] Unlike the base members 202 of the peeler knives 200 and 300, which both include a pair of one or more openings 215, the peeler cutter head 400 includes only one of the one or more openings 215. However, in some alternative embodiments, the base member 402 of the peeler cutter head 400 may include a pair of one or more openings 215, more similar to the respective Figures 2A-2D and Figures 3A-3C The base member 202 of the peeler cutter 200, 300 is shown. The base member 402 includes a plurality of grooves 418 similar to the plurality of grooves 302, wherein the plurality of grooves 418 can allow for the use of a harder and more brittle wear material 404 in the same or similar manner as previously discussed herein with respect to the plurality of grooves 302. However, unlike the plurality of grooves 302, which include a first portion 304 (e.g., a first semi-cylinder) and a second portion 306 (e.g., a second semi-cylinder), the plurality of grooves 418 only include semi-cylinders, and the grooves 418 do not include a plurality of grooves 418 as in the embodiment of the present invention. Figures 3A-3C The plurality of grooves 302 shown are pairs of half cylinders of different sizes stacked on top of each other.

[0071] Figure 4B Yes Figure 4A A front side view of a debarker head 400 is shown. Figure 4C Yes Figure 4A A rear side view of the peeler cutter head 400 is shown. Although the plurality of grooves 418 are present near the first cutting edge 414, in this embodiment of the peeler cutter head 400, a plurality of grooves similar to the plurality of grooves 418 are not present at the rear side of the base component 402 of the peeler cutter head 400 and are not present near the second cutting edge 416. In some alternative embodiments, a plurality of corresponding grooves similar to the plurality of grooves 418 may be present at the rear side of the base component 402, and the plurality of corresponding grooves increase the attachment surface area of ​​the additive cutting material of the wear material 404 near the second cutting edge 416 to correspondingly more firmly and securely attach the additive cutting material of the wear material 404 to the base component 402 near the second cutting edge 416.

[0072] Figure 4D Yes Figure 4A The right side view of the peeling machine cutter head 400 is shown. Figure 4E As shown, the second surrounding portion 408 extends from the first cutting edge 414 to the second cutting edge 416 .

[0073] Figure 4E Yes Figure 4A The left side view of the peeling machine cutter head 400 is shown. Figure 4D As shown, the first surround portion 406 extends from the first cutting edge 414 to the second cutting edge 416 , and the first surround portion 406 is located at an opposite side of the base component 402 relative to the second surround portion 408 .

[0074] Figure 4F FIG is a perspective view of the base member 402 without the wear material 404 on the base member 402. Figure 4F As shown, the base member 402 includes a first surface 420 and a second surface 422 located at an opposite side of the base member 402 relative to the first surface 420. A plurality of grooves 418 extend into the first surface 420. Although Figure 4F This is not present in the illustrated embodiment of the base member 402 of the peeler head 400 , but in some alternative embodiments, the base member 402 includes a plurality of corresponding grooves extending into the second surface 422 and being otherwise identical or similar to the plurality of grooves 418 .

[0075] Figure 55 is a flow chart diagram 500 of a method of utilizing an embodiment of a debarker knife 200, 300, 400, as well as other embodiments of debarker knives within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the following discussion of the method in the flow chart diagram can be readily applied to the debarker knives 200, 300, 400 of the present disclosure, or any of the debarker knives within the scope of the present disclosure, for simplicity and brevity of the present disclosure, the following discussion will focus on the method in the flow chart diagram 500 when the debarker cutter head 200 is being used to remove bark from a log passing through a debarker.

[0076] In a first step 502 of the flow chart 500, the debarker cutter head 200 is installed in the debarker. However, if the debarker cutter head 200 is already installed in the debarker, the first step 502 may not be necessary.

[0077] After the first step 502 of the flowchart 500 (the debarker cutter head 200 is installed in the debarker), in a second step 504, the debarker is opened so that the log is then inserted into the debarker and then passes through the debarker. As the log passes through the debarker, the debarker cutter head 200 installed in the debarker removes bark from the log to expose the wood of the tree suitable for processing into lumber and / or sawn timber. For example, the debarker cutter head 200 can be mounted at the end of one arm of a debarker ring, which rapidly rotates around the log as the log passes through the rotating debarker ring, causing the debarker cutter head 200 to come into contact with the bark of the log and remove the bark from the log by cutting or scraping the bark from the log. In another example, the debarker cutter head 200 can be installed in a batch debarking system.

[0078] During the second step 504, the log passes through the debarker ring or batch debarking system and the debarker cutter head 200 removes bark from the log, and in the third step 506, the cutting edge 208 of the wear material 204 of the debarker cutter head 200 degrades and erodes as the cutting edge 208 of the wear material 204 of the debarker cutter head 200 removes more and more bark from the corresponding log passing through the debarker and through the rotating debarker ring. Although the cutting edge of the wear material 204 is degraded and eroded in the third step 506 performed in conjunction with the second step 504, as the wear material 204 is worn and eroded, the wear material 204 self-sharpenes because when a portion of the wear material 204 breaks or shears off at the cutting edge 208, a new cutting edge that is sharper than the previously existing cutting edge 208 is exposed, so that the wear material 204 continues to remove bark from the corresponding log passing through the debarker for a longer period of time, thereby increasing the service life of the wear material 204 of the debarker cutter head 200. As previously described, this can be referred to as a self-sharpening effect, and this self-sharpening effect is caused by the plurality of micro-ridges 212 between the plurality of layers 210 as previously described herein.

[0079] After the second step 504 and the third step 506, in a fourth step 508, if it is determined that the debarker cutter head 200 is no longer able to adequately remove bark from a corresponding log passing through the debarker due to deterioration of the debarker cutter head 200 to the extent that the debarker cutter head 200 is no longer able to self-sharpen during use, the debarker is shut down and the debarker cutter head 200 is replaced with a new debarker cutter head 200. In other words, once the wear material 204 has deteriorated beyond a certain extent, the wear material 204 may no longer be able to sufficiently self-sharpen such that the debarker cutter head 200 can easily remove bark from a corresponding log passing through the debarker. In view of the above discussion, the service life of a peeler cutter head 200 having a wear material 204 including a plurality of layers 210 and a plurality of micro-ridges 212 formed by additive manufacturing technology (e.g., 3D printing technology) is greater than the service life of a peeler cutter head 100 including a cutter head 104 composed of a single, continuous sheet of material that is attached as a single sheet to the base member 102 of the peeler cutter head 100. The self-sharpening effect of the wear material 204 can reduce the downtime of the peeler because the wear material 204 can be sharpened less frequently, thereby correspondingly reducing the number of times the peeler must be stopped during the service life of the wear material 204.

[0080] After the peeling machine cutter head 200 has been replaced with a new peeling machine cutter head 200, the peeling machine is turned back on, as shown in FIG. Figure 5 In other words, step 504 is performed relative to the new peeling machine cutter head 200. Steps 504, 506, and 508 are repeated repeatedly when the old peeling machine cutter head 200 is replaced by the new peeling machine cutter head 200.

[0081] Figure 6A FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a debarker knife 200 after being used to remove bark from a corresponding log passing through the debarker within a debarker. Figure 6A As shown, the debarker cutter head 200 includes a cutting edge 208 that is largely intact after a period of use. However, at location 510, corresponding portions of the wear material 204 located at, near, or adjacent to the cutting edge 208 have been broken (e.g., sheared, flaked, eroded, etc.) during use of the debarker cutter head 200 to remove bark from corresponding logs passing through the debarker. Although some portions of the cutting edge 208 have been broken, eroded, worn, or degraded at location 510, a new, relatively straight and sharp cutting edge 512 has been formed by the breaking, erosion, wear, or deterioration of these portions of the wear material 204 at location 510, respectively. For example, due to Figure 1B100, which does not cause catastrophic failure due to shearing or breaking of a larger portion of the cutter head 104 shown in FIG, 2 , a smaller portion of the wear material 204 of the peeler cutter head 200 breaks off in a predictable manner over time, thereby causing the self-sharpening effect discussed in the present disclosure. Although a catastrophic event may occur with the wear material 204, the likelihood of a catastrophic event with respect to the wear material 204 of the peeler cutter head 200 is less than the likelihood of a catastrophic event with respect to the cutter head 104 of the peeler cutter head 100. Unlike the cutter head 104 of the peeler cutter head 100, which does not self-sharpen during use, the wear material 204 of the peeler cutter head 200 self-sharpenes in a controlled and predictable manner.

[0082] Figure 6B FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a debarker knife 200 after being used to remove bark from a corresponding log passing through the debarker within a debarker. Figure 6B As shown, the debarker cutter head 200 includes a cutting edge 208 that is largely intact after a period of use. However, at location 510, a corresponding portion of the wear material 204 at, near, or adjacent to the cutting edge 208 has broken (e.g., sheared, flaked, etc.) during use of the debarker cutter head 200 to remove bark from a corresponding log passing through the debarker. Although the corresponding portion of the cutting edge 208 has broken at location 510, a new, relatively straight and sharp cutting edge 512 has been formed by the breaking, shearing, erosion, wear, or degradation of the corresponding portion of the wear material 204 at location 510, respectively. For example, due to Figure 1B 100, which does not cause catastrophic failure due to shearing or breaking of a larger portion of the cutter head 104 shown in FIG, 2 , a smaller portion of the wear material 204 of the peeler cutter head 200 breaks off in a predictable manner over time, thereby causing the self-sharpening effect discussed in the present disclosure. Although a catastrophic event may occur with the wear material 204, the likelihood of a catastrophic event with respect to the wear material 204 of the peeler cutter head 200 is less than the likelihood of a catastrophic event with respect to the cutter head 104 of the peeler cutter head 100. Unlike the cutter head 104 of the peeler cutter head 100, which does not self-sharpen during use, the wear material 204 of the peeler cutter head 200 self-sharpenes in a controlled and predictable manner.

[0083] Figure 6C FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a debarker knife 200 after being used to remove bark from a corresponding log passing through the debarker within a debarker. Figure 6CAs shown, the debarker cutter head 200 no longer has the cutting edge 208 after a period of use. However, at location 510, a corresponding portion of the wear material 204 at, near, or adjacent to the cutting edge 208 has broken (e.g., sheared, flaked, etc.) during use of the debarker cutter head 200 to remove bark from a corresponding log passing through the debarker. Although the cutting edge 208 has been completely or fully broken at location 510, a new relatively straight and sharp cutting edge 512 has been completely and fully formed to replace the cutting edge 208 due to the corresponding portion of the wear material 204 at location 510 breaking, shearing, deteriorating, wearing, or deteriorating, respectively. Although the new relatively straight and sharp cutting edge 512 may include some serrations, the new relatively straight and sharp cutting edge 512 is straight enough and sharp enough to continue to be used to remove bark from one or more logs passing through the debarker. For example, due to Figure 1B Unlike the catastrophic failure of the larger portion of the cutter head 104 shown in FIG, which shears or breaks off, smaller portions of the wear material 204 of the peeler cutter head 200 break off or break off in a predictable manner over time, thereby causing the self-sharpening effect discussed in the present disclosure. In other words, in the example Figure 6C In the illustrated embodiment, the cutting edge 208 has been completely replaced with a completely new, relatively straight and sharp cutting edge 512. Although a catastrophic event may occur with the wear material 204, the likelihood of such an event occurring with respect to the wear material 204 of the peeler cutter head 200 is less than the likelihood of such an event occurring with respect to the cutter head 104 of the peeler cutter head 100. Unlike the cutter head 104 of the peeler cutter head 100, which does not self-sharpen during use, the wear material 204 of the peeler cutter head 200 self-sharpenes in a controlled and predictable manner.

[0084] Figure 7 FIG is a top plan view of an embodiment of a peeler head 514 of the present disclosure. Figure 7 As shown, the peeling machine head 514 includes multiple Figures 2A-2D The same or similar features as those shown in the peeler head 514. Figure 7 The features of the peeler head 514 shown are similar to those of Figures 2A-2D The same or similar features of the peeling machine cutter head 200 are provided with the same or similar reference numerals. For the sake of simplicity and brevity of this disclosure, the focus of the following discussion will be on the following: Figure 7 The peeler head 514 is shown relative to the Figures 2A-2D Different or additional features of the debarker head 200 are shown and discussed in detail in the present disclosure as follows.

[0085] The peeler head 514 includes a plurality of layers 210 and a plurality of micro-ridges 212. However, unlike Figures 2A-2DThe illustrated embodiment of the peeler cutter head 200 differs in that a plurality of layers 210 and a plurality of micro-ridges 212 extend from the cutting edge 208 of the abrasive material 204 and are transverse to the cutting edge 208. Figure 6B , the debarker cutter head 200 is shown in FIG, the debarker cutter head 514 includes a cutting edge 208 that is largely intact after a period of use. However, at location 510, a corresponding portion of the wear material 204 at, near, or adjacent to the cutting edge 208 has broken (e.g., sheared, peeled off, etc.) during use of the debarker cutter 514 to remove bark from a corresponding log passing through the debarker. Although the corresponding portion of the cutting edge 208 has broken at location 510, a new, relatively straight and sharp cutting edge 512 has been formed by the breaking, shearing, erosion, wear, or degradation of the corresponding portion of the wear material 204 at location 510, respectively. For example, due to Figure 1B 100, which does not cause catastrophic failure due to shearing or breaking of a larger portion of the cutter head 104 shown in FIG, 5, a smaller portion of the wear material 204 of the peeler cutter head 514 breaks off in a predictable manner over time, thereby causing the self-sharpening effect discussed in the present disclosure. Although a catastrophic event may occur with the wear material 204, the likelihood of a catastrophic event with respect to the wear material 204 of the peeler cutter head 514 is less than the likelihood of a catastrophic event with respect to the cutter head 104 of the peeler cutter head 100. Unlike the cutter head 104 of the peeler cutter head 100, which does not self-sharpen during use, the wear material 204 of the peeler cutter head 514 self-sharpenes in a controlled and predictable manner.

[0086] Figure 8A1 is an alternative embodiment of a peeler cutter head 600 that includes a cavity 602 in a base member 604. The cavity 602 is located at a front end 606 of the base member 604. The front end 606 of the base member 604 can be referred to as the end of the base member 604. Wear material 608 on the base member 604 covers the cavity 602 and the front end 606 of the base member 604. The wear material 608 includes a cutting edge 610 located on the front end 606 of the base member 604. The cavity 602 is present to promote breaking, shearing, erosion, wear, or degradation of the front end 606 of the base member 604 after use, after the front end 606 of the base member 604 has eroded sufficiently to cause the remainder of the front end 606 to break away from the base member 604, thereby causing a portion of the wear material 608, including the cutting edge 610, to also break away, thereby exposing a new cutting edge of the wear material 608. For example, when the debarker cutter head 600 is installed in a debarker, the leading end portion 606 degrades and erodes over time because the base member 604 may be made of a softer material than the wear material 608. As the debarker cutter head 600 is used to remove bark from corresponding logs passing through the debarker, the leading end portion 606 of the base member 604 degrades and erodes over time, with the leading end portion 606 of the base member 604 becoming smaller and smaller over time until the remaining portion of the leading end portion 606 of the base member 604 fractures (e.g., shears, peels off, breaks off, etc.), which causes the portion of the wear material 608 including the cutting edge 610 that previously overlapped the leading end portion 606 to also fracture (e.g., shears, peels off, breaks off, etc.). The fracturing, shearing, erosion, wear, or degradation of the portion of the wear material 608 bearing the cutting edge 610 results in the formation or exposure of a new, sharp cutting edge that is sharp enough to remove bark from a corresponding log passing through the debarker. This self-sharpening effect, further facilitated and controlled in a predictable manner by providing the cavity 602 at the front end 606 of the base member 604, can be used alone or in combination with the plurality of layers 210 and the plurality of micro-ridges 212 when the wear material 608 is made of an additive cutting material to further facilitate and control the self-sharpening effect in a predictable manner. Facilitating and controlling the self-sharpening effect through the presence of the cavity 602 can further increase the useful life of the wear material 608 of the debarker cutter head 600.

[0087] The cavity 602 may be present in a similar location of the corresponding base member 202, 402 in other embodiments of the peeler cutter 200, 300, 400, 514 of the present disclosure or in some other embodiments of peeler cutters within the scope of the present disclosure. As described above, the cavity 602 may be present to promote breaking (e.g., shearing, flaking, erosion, wear, degradation, etc.) of the corresponding end of the corresponding base member 202, 402 and increase the likelihood of breaking the portion of the corresponding wear material 204, 404 that overlaps the corresponding end of the corresponding base member 202, 402, thereby removing the cutting edge 208, 414, 416 and exposing a new, sharp cutting edge when the corresponding peeler cutter head 200, 300, 400, 514 is in use, so that a self-sharpening effect occurs when the corresponding peeler cutter head 200, 300, 400, 514 is in use.

[0088] It is readily understood that the cavity 602 may be present in various embodiments of the peeler knives 200, 300, 400, 514, and 600 of the present disclosure to help further induce the sharpening effect as discussed in the present disclosure in a predictable manner. This may help, for example, further increase the service life of the various embodiments of the peeler knives 200, 300, 400, 514, and 600, respectively, in the third step 506 of the method in the flowchart 500 of the present disclosure.

[0089] In various embodiments of the peeler cutter 200, 300, 400, 514, 600, a plurality of cavities similar to cavity 602 may be provided, spaced in increasing amounts from respective ends of the respective base members 202, 402, 604, to further promote and control the self-sharpening effect in a predictable manner, thereby increasing the useful life of the peeler cutter 200, 300, 400, 514, 600 of the present disclosure. For example, providing a plurality of cavities may further increase the predictability of the self-sharpening effect, thereby increasing the useful life of the peeler cutter 200, 300, 400, 514, 600 relative to the peeler cutter head 100.

[0090] Figure 8B yes Figure 8A An enlarged side view of an alternative embodiment of a peeler head 600 is shown. Figure 8A The peeler cutter 600 shown in FIG is different. Figure 8B The peeler head 600 shown in FIG. 6 includes a recess 612 at an exterior surface of the base member 604. The recess 612 extends into the base member 604 and terminates within the base member 604 before reaching the exterior surface of the base member 604 on which the wear material 608 resides. The recess 612 is adjacent to the front end 606 of the base member 604 and is void or empty. Similar to FIG. Figure 6AThe cavity 602 provided as shown, in order to further promote and control the self-sharpening effect in a predictable manner, provides a recess 612 as an alternative to the cavity 602, further promoting and controlling the self-sharpening effect in the same or similar manner as the cavity 602 previously discussed herein.

[0091] Figure 8C yes Figure 8B An enlarged side view of an alternative embodiment of a peeler head 600 is shown. Figure 8B The peeler head 600 shown is different. Figure 8C The illustrated peeler head 600 includes a recess 614, however, the recess 614 is located at the exterior surface of the base member 604 on which the wear material 608 resides. Figure 8C As shown, the recess 614 is filled with wear material 608, rather than Figure 8B The recess 612 shown is vacant or empty. Figure 6A The cavity 602 and recess 612 are shown arranged, and in order to further promote and control the self-sharpening effect in a predictable manner, a recess 614 is provided as an alternative to the cavity 602 and recess 612 to further promote and control the self-sharpening effect in the same or similar manner as the cavity 602 and recess 612 previously discussed herein.

[0092] Figure 9 700 is a flow chart of a method of manufacturing the peeling machine cutter head 200, 300, 400, 514 of the present disclosure. For the sake of simplicity and brevity of the present disclosure, the flow chart 700 will be discussed in detail. Figures 2A-2D However, it will be readily appreciated that the following discussion can be readily applied to utilize the manufacturing method of flowchart 700 to form other embodiments of the disclosed peeler knives 300, 400 and other embodiments of peeler knives within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0093] In the first step 702 of the method in flowchart 700, a base component 202 is positioned or placed within an additive manufacturing tool. The additive manufacturing tool may be a direct energy deposition device, such as a 3D printer. The direct energy deposition device may be constructed and configured to form or print one or more layers 210 of additive cutting material on the base component to form a tool tip. For example, the additive cutting material may be in the form of a powdered material discharged from a nozzle. As the powdered additive cutting material is discharged from the nozzle, a laser is focused on the powdered material and energy is applied to the powdered material, causing the powdered material to melt into a semi-liquid or liquid state and deposited on the base component 202 to form the wear material 204. For example, when the powdered material melts into a semi-liquid or liquid state, beads of molten material may be formed, which are subsequently deposited on the base component 202 to form the wear material 204. These beads of molten material may drip onto the base component 202 in rapid succession to form the wear material 204 including the corresponding layers 210 and micro-ridges 212. In other words, by exposing the powdered additive cutting material discharged from the nozzle to the laser, a bead stream is formed and deposited on the base component 202 to form the wear material 204. As the bead stream is formed, the nozzle is moved over and along the base component 202 to form the wear material 204.

[0094] In some embodiments, a first powdered additive cutting material and a second powdered additive cutting material, each different from the other, can be sequentially discharged from the nozzle. For example, the first powdered additive cutting material can initially be discharged through the nozzle and exposed to a laser to form a first bead of molten material from the first powdered additive cutting material, at which point the first bead is deposited on the base component 202. Shortly after the first bead is formed from the first powdered additive cutting material, the second powdered additive cutting material is discharged through the nozzle and exposed to a laser to form a second bead of molten material from the second powdered additive cutting material, at which point the second bead is deposited on the base component 202. A third bead of the first powdered additive cutting material can then be formed, followed by a fourth bead of the second powdered additive cutting material, and so on. In other words, the stream of beads of molten material includes beads from the corresponding beads formed from the first powdered additive cutting material and beads from the corresponding beads formed from the second powdered additive cutting material interleaved. For example, such staggering can result in a first bead of the first powdered additive cutting material being deposited on the base component 202, followed by a second bead of the second powdered additive cutting material being deposited on the base component 202, followed by a third bead of the first powdered additive cutting material being deposited on the base component 202, followed by a fourth bead of the second powdered additive cutting material being deposited on the base component 202, and so on, until the wear material 204 is formed. In other words, forming the wear material 204 with staggered beads of the first and second additive cutting materials sequentially deposited on the base component 202 can further promote the self-sharpening effect of the wear material 204 occurring in a predictable and controlled manner, which can be further promoted or controlled based on the selection of the first and second powdered additive cutting materials. In some alternative embodiments, more than two different powdered additive cutting materials can be used, for example, three different powdered additive cutting materials can be used, four different powdered additive cutting materials can be used, or some other number of different types of powdered additive cutting materials can be used.

[0095] In some alternative embodiments, the direct energy deposition device may include a first nozzle and a second nozzle. For example, the first nozzle may first discharge a first powdered additive cutting material, and then the second nozzle may discharge a second powdered additive cutting material shortly thereafter. This process may be repeated over and over again to interleave the beads of the first powdered additive cutting material and the second powdered additive cutting material as previously described herein.

[0096] In some alternative embodiments, the additive manufacturing tool may be a different type than a direct energy deposition device, such that the additive cutting material may be deposited on the base component 202 in some other manner to form the multiple layers of the wear material 204 .

[0097] After the first step 702 in which the base component 202 is positioned or placed within an additive manufacturing tool (e.g., a direct energy deposition device), in a second step 704, the additive manufacturing tool (e.g., the direct energy deposition device) is activated so that the nozzle discharges the powdered additive cutting material and the laser melts the powdered additive cutting material into a semi-liquid or liquid state and deposits it on the base component 202. The nozzle of the additive manufacturing tool moves along the base component 202 to form a plurality of layers 210 of the additive cutting material on the base component 202, while forming a plurality of micro-ridges 212 between layers in the plurality of layers 210. For example, when the nozzle moves along the base component 202 to deposit the semi-liquid or liquid state additive cutting material on the base component 202, each of the plurality of layers 210 is formed with a width W (see FIG. 2 ). Figure 2A ), the width may correspond to or be proportional to the diameter of the nozzle through which the powdered additive cutting material is discharged to be melted into a semi-liquid or liquid state by the laser shortly thereafter. For example, as the diameter of the nozzle increases, the width W between adjacent micro-ridges in the plurality of micro-ridges 212 and the plurality of layers 210 increases, and conversely, as the diameter of the nozzle decreases, the width W between adjacent micro-ridges in the plurality of micro-ridges 212 and the plurality of layers 210 decreases. The width W may be 1 millimeter (mm), 2 mm, 3 mm, or may have some other dimensions.

[0098] The thickness of the plurality of layers 210 may depend on how the direct energy deposition apparatus is controlled to form the plurality of layers 210. For example, the thickness of the plurality of layers 210 may be controlled based on the power of the laser applied to the powdered additive cutting material, the flow rate of the powdered additive cutting material from the nozzle, the feed rate of the powdered additive cutting material from the nozzle, the movement speed of the nozzle, or some other suitable parameter of the direct energy deposition apparatus that can be controlled to form the plurality of layers 210.

[0099] The nozzle of the direct energy deposition device is programmed to form a plurality of layers 210 and a plurality of micro-ridges 212 along a path such as Figures 2A-2C As shown, the plurality of micro-ridges 212 along the first surface 214a and the second surface 214b are substantially parallel to the cutting edge 208 of the abrasive material 204. In some alternative embodiments, the nozzle of the direct energy deposition device is programmed to form a path different from the path of the direct energy deposition device. Figures 2A-2CThe plurality of layers 210 and the plurality of micro-ridges 212 are shown such that the plurality of layers 210 and the plurality of micro-ridges 212 are transverse to the cutting edge 208 of the abrasive material 204. In other words, the plurality of layers 210 and the plurality of micro-ridges 212 can be at any number of various angles relative to the cutting edge 208. For example, the plurality of layers 210 and the plurality of micro-ridges 212 can each be at an angle of 30 degrees, 40 degrees, 60 degrees, 90 degrees (e.g., perpendicular or orthogonal), or at any other transverse angle relative to the cutting edge 208.

[0100] Although the plurality of layers 210 may become a single, continuous material of additive cutting material, each layer in the plurality of layers 210 is defined by the plurality of microridges 212. For example, each layer in the plurality of layers 210 is defined and distinguished from an adjacent layer in the plurality of layers 210 by one of the plurality of microridges 212.

[0101] like Figure 7 The manufacturing method of flowchart 700 provides geometric freedom to form embodiments of the peeler cutters 200, 300, 400, 514, 600 of the present disclosure. For example, by forming the plurality of layers 210 using an additive manufacturing tool (e.g., a direct energy deposition device), the plurality of layers 210 can be formed to have any orientation or width preferred for forming the tool heads 204, 404 of the present disclosure. This geometric freedom in manufacturing the tool heads 204, 404 can allow some of the plurality of layers 210 to be formed in the plurality of grooves 302, 418, respectively.

[0102] This geometric freedom of the cutter head 204, 404 can allow for cutter heads of different sizes and shapes. For example, although the cutter heads 204, 404 of the present disclosure are shown as having an L-shaped, square, or rectangular profile, the base member 202, 402 of the present disclosure can be annular, curved, or rounded, so that the cutter head 204, 404 can be annular, curved, or rounded, so that the cutting edge 208, 414, 416 can also be annular, curved, or rounded accordingly. In other words, this geometric freedom allows various embodiments of peeler tools within the scope of the present disclosure to have sizes and shapes that are different from the peeler tools 200, 300, 400, 514, 600 of the present disclosure.

[0103] Figure 10 Is to manufacture the disclosed Figures 8A-8C Flowchart 800 of the method of the peeling machine cutter head 600 is shown. Figure 9Unlike the manufacturing method shown in flowchart 700, the manufacturing method in flowchart 800 includes forming a cavity 602 in base member 604 at or near the front end 606 of base member 604. When base member 604 is formed from a metal material, such as stainless steel, an alloy material, or some other suitable type of metal material that can be used to form base member 604, cavity 602 can be formed during a molding technique. Base members 202, 402 can be made from a metal material, such as stainless steel, an alloy material, or some other suitable type of metal material that can be used to form base members 202, 402. In some alternative embodiments, base members 202, 402 can be made from a composite material, a ceramic material, or some other suitable material that can be used to form alternative variations of base members 202, 402, respectively. Alternatively, the cavity 602 may be formed using a drilling technique or some other type of manufacturing technique that can be used to form the cavity 602 at or near the front end 606 of the base member 604 of the peeler head 600. After the first step 802 (forming the cavity 602 in the base member 604 in the first step), the corresponding steps 702, 704 of the manufacturing method of the flowchart 700 are performed successively to form the peeler head 600 as shown in FIG. Figures 8A-8C The wear material 608 of the peeler head 600 is shown. In some alternative embodiments, the plurality of cavities can be formed in the base member 604 such that the plurality of cavities are spaced apart from the front end 606 by varying amounts or increments. In other words, each successive cavity in the plurality of cavities formed in the base member 604 can be further away from the front end 606 relative to the previous cavity in the plurality of cavities. The plurality of cavities can be similar in size and shape to the Figures 8A-8C Cavity 602 is shown. Figure 10 The manufacturing method described in can be applied to the base components 202, 402 of the peeler tools 200, 300, 400, 514 to form alternative embodiments of the peeler tools 200, 300, 400, 514 including a cavity 602 or multiple cavities 602, wherein the multiple cavities are incrementally spaced from the corresponding ends of the base components 202, 402 of the corresponding peeler tools 200, 300, 400, 514.

[0104] Figure 11 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a debarker head of the present disclosure. Figure 11 The peeler cutter head on the upper left and the peeler cutter head on the upper right are the same or similar to the peeler cutter head 200 discussed herein. However, unlike the peeler cutter head 200, these alternative embodiments of the peeler cutter head may have a slightly different structural shape than the peeler cutter head 200 and may be used as described in the following examples. Figure 11 As can be easily seen in FIG, it comprises only one opening 215. Figure 11The illustrated opening 215 includes a hexagonal portion that can receive a head or nut for securing the debarker bit within the debarker.

[0105] Figure 12 This disclosure Figures 4A-4E A perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a peeler head 400 is shown. Figures 4A-4E The peeler head 400 shown is different. Figure 12 The illustrated alternative embodiment of the peeler head 400 does not include the plurality of grooves 418 and Figure 12 The illustrated peeler cutter head 400 includes a third cutting edge 424 and a fourth cutting edge 426 that are opposed to each other. The third cutting edge 424 is a cutting edge of a corresponding portion of the wear material 404 that exists in place of the first surrounding portion 406, and the fourth cutting edge 426 is a cutting edge of a corresponding portion of the wear material 404 that exists in place of the second surrounding portion 408. The corresponding portions of the wear material 404 where the third cutting edge 424 and the fourth cutting edge 426 are located can have the same or similar structures as the corresponding portions of the wear material 404 including the first cutting edge 414 and the second cutting edge 416, respectively.

[0106] In some embodiments, corresponding grooves may exist at corresponding edges of base component 806 located below first cutting edge 414. In some embodiments, corresponding grooves may exist at corresponding edges of base component 806 located below second cutting edge 416. In some embodiments, corresponding grooves may exist at corresponding edges of base component 806 located below third cutting edge 424. In some embodiments, corresponding grooves may exist at corresponding edges of base component 806 located below fourth cutting edge 426. In some embodiments, corresponding grooves may exist at all corresponding edges of base component 806 located below corresponding cutting edges 414, 416, 424, 426, or at any combination of corresponding edges of base component 806. The corresponding grooves may be the same or similar to the plurality of grooves 302 or the plurality of grooves 418. In some embodiments, the corresponding grooves may have different sizes and shapes than the plurality of grooves 302 and 418, respectively.

[0107] In some embodiments, a corresponding stepped structure may exist at a corresponding edge of the base component 806 located below the first cutting edge 414. In some embodiments, a corresponding stepped structure may exist at a corresponding edge of the base component 806 located below the second cutting edge 416. In some embodiments, a corresponding stepped structure may exist at a corresponding edge of the base component 806 located below the third cutting edge 424. In some embodiments, a corresponding stepped structure may exist at a corresponding edge of the base component 806 located below the fourth cutting edge 426. In some embodiments, each of the plurality of corresponding stepped structures may exist at a corresponding one of all corresponding edges of the base component 806 located below the corresponding cutting edges 414, 416, 424, 426, or at any combination of corresponding edges of the base component 806. One or more corresponding stepped structures may be the same as or similar to stepped structure 216. In some embodiments, one or more corresponding stepped structures may have a different size and shape than stepped structure 216.

[0108] In view of the above discussion, corresponding grooves that are the same as or similar to the plurality of grooves 302, 418 can be positioned at any corresponding edge or side of the base member 202, 402, 604, 806 in any combination (e.g., two pluralities of grooves at two opposing edges of the base member, two pluralities of grooves at two adjacent edges of the base member, three pluralities of grooves at three edges of the base member, four pluralities of grooves at four edges of the base member, etc.). In view of the above discussion, corresponding stepped structures 216 can be positioned at any corresponding edge of the base member 202, 402, 604, 806 (e.g., two pluralities of grooves at two opposing edges, two pluralities of grooves at two adjacent edges of the base member, three pluralities of grooves at three edges of the base member, four pluralities of grooves at four edges of the base member, etc.).

[0109] Figure 13 2 is a front side view of one or more peeling machine heads 200 installed in the peeling machine 900. Figure 13 As shown, each of the peeler cutter heads 200 can be mounted on a corresponding arm of the peeler ring of the peeler 900. The peeler cutter heads 200 can be mounted using fasteners passing through one or more openings 215 to secure the peeler cutter heads 200 to a corresponding one of the peeler arms of the peeler 900.

[0110] In view of the above discussion of the various embodiments of the peeler tools 200, 300, 400, 514, 600 of the present disclosure, it will be readily understood that alternative embodiments of peeler tools of varying sizes and shapes may be formed utilizing the manufacturing methods shown in flowcharts 700, 800 to have structures and features similar to those peeler tools 200, 300, 400, 514, 600 discussed in detail in the present disclosure.

[0111] In view of the above discussion, various embodiments of the self-sharpening wear material 204, 404, 608 of the peeler cutters 200, 300, 400, 514, 600 of the present disclosure have increased service life relative to a peeler cutter head 100 comprising a cutter head 104 attached as a single, continuous sheet that does not include multiple layers or multiple micro-ridges similar to the multiple layers 210 and multiple micro-ridges 212 shown in multiple embodiments of the peeler cutters 200, 300, 400, 514, 600 of the present disclosure. Since the self-sharpening characteristics of the peeling machine knives 200, 300, 400, 514, 600 of the present invention increase the service life, the replacement cost and maintenance cost of the peeling machine will be reduced because the peeling machine knives 200, 300, 400, 514, 600 need to be replaced less frequently, thereby reducing the number of replacement peeling machine knives 200, 300, 400, 514, 600 that need to be purchased regularly.

[0112] Embodiments of the present disclosure of a peeler bit can be summarized as including a base component and a layer of additive cutting material comprising a carbide material disposed on the base component, the layer of additive cutting material including a self-sharpening cutting edge spaced apart from the base component.

[0113] The additive cutting material layer may be one additive cutting material layer among a plurality of additive cutting material layers stacked on each other and on the base component.

[0114] The layer of additive cutting material may be a single layer of additive cutting material present on the base component.

[0115] At least a first layer of the plurality of layers may be made of a first material, and at least a second layer of the plurality of layers may be made of a second material, the first material being different from the second material.

[0116] The base component may include one or more recesses; and the layer of additive cutting material may be located within the one or more recesses.

[0117] The base component may include a stepped structure; and the additive cutting material may be located on the stepped structure of the base component.

[0118] The base member may include one or more openings extending into the base member.

[0119] One or more openings may be threaded openings.

[0120] The base component may include one or more cavities within the base component covered by a layer of additive cutting material.

[0121] The one or more cavities may be spaced apart from an edge of the base component where the layer of additive cutting material is located.

[0122] One embodiment of the method of the present disclosure can be summarized as including: removing bark from one or more logs by passing the one or more logs through a debarker, and removing bark from the one or more logs with a debarker tool including a cutter head made of additive cutting material; and fracturing, eroding, or wearing away a portion of the additive cutting material of a first cutting edge of the cutter head to form a second cutting edge of the additive cutting material of the cutter head.

[0123] The method may further include continuing to remove bark from one or more logs passing through the debarker with the cutter head including the first and second cutting edges after fracturing, eroding, or wearing away the portion of the additive cutting material of the first cutting edge to form the second cutting edge.

[0124] The method may further include fracturing, eroding, or wearing away a portion of a base component of the peeler tool to fracture the portion of the additive cutting material at the first cutting edge, thereby exposing the second cutting edge.

[0125] Fracture, erode, or wear the portion of the base component may also include eroding the base component toward a fracture cavity within the base component such that the portion of the additive cutting material of the first cutting edge fractures from the tool tip.

[0126] The method may further include replacing the debarker knife at the end of its useful life.

[0127] An embodiment of the method disclosed herein can be summarized as including: forming a base component of a peeler tool, including forming one or more grooves at the edge of the base component; and forming a cutter head of the peeler tool on the base component of the peeler tool by printing one or more layers of additive cutting material on the base component of the peeler tool.

[0128] Forming one or more grooves at an edge of the base component may include forming a first portion and a second portion of the groove in a stacked configuration.

[0129] Printing one or more layers of additive cutting material on a base component of the peeler tool may also include filling one or more grooves at an edge of the base component with the one or more layers of additive cutting material.

[0130] Forming the base component may include forming one or more cavities within the base component.

[0131] Printing one or more layers of additive cutting material on the base component of the peeler tool may also include covering one or more cavities within the base component with the one or more layers of additive cutting material.

[0132] Printing one or more layers of additive cutting material may also include printing a first layer of a first cutting material and printing a second layer of a second cutting material different from the first cutting material.

[0133] Embodiments of the presently disclosed peeler tool can be summarized as including a base component and a wear material layer comprising a carbide material on the base component, the wear material layer including a self-sharpening cutting edge spaced apart from the base component.

[0134] The wear material layer may be one of a plurality of wear material layers stacked upon each other and upon a base component.

[0135] At least a first layer of the plurality of layers may be made of a first material, and at least a second layer of the plurality of layers may be made of a second material, and the first material may be different from the second material.

[0136] The base component may include one or more grooves; and the wear material layer may be located within the one or more grooves.

[0137] The base component may include a stepped structure; and the wear material may be located on the stepped structure of the base component.

[0138] The base member may include one or more openings extending into the base member.

[0139] The wear material may be an additive wear material.

[0140] The base component may include one or more cavities within the base component that may be covered by a layer of wear material.

[0141] The one or more cavities may be spaced from an edge of the base component where the layer of wear material may be present.

[0142] One embodiment of the method of the present disclosure can be summarized as including: removing bark from one or more logs by passing the one or more logs through a debarker, and removing bark from the one or more logs with a debarker cutter including a cutter head made of abrasive material; and fracturing, eroding, or wearing away a portion of the abrasive material of a first cutting edge of the cutter head to form a second cutting edge of the abrasive material of the cutter head.

[0143] The method may further include continuing to remove bark from one or more logs passing through the debarker with the cutter head including the first and second cutting edges after fracturing, eroding, or wearing away the portion of wear material of the first cutting edge to form the second cutting edge.

[0144] The method may further include breaking, eroding, or wearing away a portion of a base component of the debarker knife such that the portion of wear material breaks away at the first cutting edge, thereby exposing the second cutting edge.

[0145] Fracture, erode, or wear the portion of the base component may also include eroding the base component toward a fracture cavity in the base component such that the portion of the wear material of the first cutting edge breaks away from the tool tip.

[0146] The method may further include replacing the debarker knife at the end of its useful life.

[0147] An embodiment of the method disclosed herein can be summarized as including: forming a base component of a peeler tool, including forming one or more grooves at the edge of the base component; and forming a cutter head of the peeler tool on the base component of the peeler tool by printing one or more layers of wear material on the base component of the peeler tool.

[0148] Forming one or more grooves at an edge of the base component may include forming a first portion and a second portion of the groove in a stacked configuration.

[0149] Printing one or more layers of wear material on the base component of the debarker tool may also include filling one or more grooves at an edge of the base component with the one or more layers of wear material.

[0150] Forming the base component may include forming one or more cavities within the base component.

[0151] Printing one or more layers of wear material on the base component of the debarker tool may also include covering one or more cavities within the base component with the one or more layers of wear material.

[0152] Printing one or more layers of wear material may also include printing a first layer of a first cutting material and printing a second layer of a second cutting material different from the first cutting material.

[0153] The various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. Aspects of the embodiments can be modified, if necessary, to employ concepts of the various patents, applications, and publications to provide further embodiments.

[0154] These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in light of the above detailed description. Generally, in the appended claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and claims, but should be construed to include all possible embodiments and the full scope of equivalents of such claims. Therefore, the claims are not limited by this disclosure.

Claims

1. A peeling machine tool, comprising: Base components; as well as a wear material layer, the wear material layer comprising a carbide material and being located on the base component, the wear material layer comprising: A self-sharpening cutting edge is spaced apart from the base member.

2. The peeling machine tool according to claim 1, wherein: The wear material layer is one layer of a plurality of wear material layers stacked on each other and on the base component.

3. The peeling machine tool according to claim 2, wherein: At least a first layer of the plurality of layers is made of a first material, and at least a second layer of the plurality of layers is made of a second material, the first material being different from the second material.

4. The peeling machine tool according to claim 1, wherein: The base member includes one or more recesses; and The wear material layer is located within the one or more grooves.

5. The peeling machine tool according to claim 1, wherein: The base member includes a stepped structure; and The wear material is located on the stepped structure of the base component.

6. The peeling machine tool according to claim 1, wherein: The base member includes one or more openings extending into the base member.

7. The peeling machine tool according to claim 1, wherein: The wear material is an additive wear material.

8. The peeling machine tool according to claim 1, wherein: The base component includes one or more cavities within the base component covered by the wear material layer.

9. The peeling machine tool according to claim 8, wherein: The one or more cavities are spaced apart from an edge of the base component where the layer of wear material is present.

10. A method comprising: removing bark from the one or more logs by passing the one or more logs through a debarker, and removing the bark from the one or more logs with a debarker cutter including a cutter head made of an abrasive material; as well as A portion of the wear material of the first cutting edge of the tool head is fractured, sheared, eroded, degraded or worn away to form a second cutting edge of the wear material of the tool head.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising: After the portion of the wear material of the first cutting edge is broken, sheared, eroded, degraded or worn to form the second cutting edge, bark is continued to be removed from the one or more logs passing through the debarker with the cutter head including the first cutting edge and the second cutting edge.

12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising: A portion of a base component of the debarker tool is fractured, sheared, eroded, degraded or worn so that the portion of the wear material fractures at the first cutting edge, thereby exposing the second cutting edge.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein: Fracture, shear, erode, degrade or wear the portion of the base component further comprises eroding the base component towards a fracture cavity in the base component such that the portion of the wear material of the first cutting edge breaks away from the tool bit.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising replacing the debarker knife at the end of its useful life.

15. A method comprising: forming a base member for a peeler tool, including forming one or more grooves at an edge of the base member; as well as The cutter head of the peeler tool is formed on a base component of the peeler tool by printing one or more layers of wear material on the base component of the peeler tool.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein: Forming one or more grooves at an edge of the base component includes forming a first portion and a second portion of a groove in a stacked configuration.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein: Printing one or more layers of wear material on a base component of the debarker tool further comprises filling the one or more grooves at an edge of the base component with the one or more layers of wear material.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein: Forming the base member includes forming one or more cavities within the base member.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein: Printing one or more layers of wear material on the base component of the debarker tool also includes covering the one or more cavities within the base component with the one or more layers of wear material.

20. The method according to claim 15, wherein: Printing the one or more layers of wear material also includes printing a first layer of a first cutting material and printing a second layer of a second cutting material different from the first cutting material.

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