Pre-cutting processing equipment

Abstract

To provide a pre-cutting device capable of efficiently manufacturing large quantities of structural members. [Solution] The pre-cutting apparatus 10 includes an inspection device L2, which is a measuring means capable of measuring the dimensions of at least a portion of the areas processed by the processing device M on structural members after processing by the processing device M or on processed members before processing is completed, and a loading device K, which transports the structural members measured by the inspection device L2 to a state in which multiple structural members are stacked. The apparatus is configured to allow inspection of at least a portion of the areas processed by the processing device M on the structural members to be performed using the inspection device L2 before the structural members are stacked by the loading device K.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a precut processing apparatus capable of precut processing.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, various structural members are used in buildings such as houses, including rod-shaped members such as columns and beams, and plate-shaped members used as the base of roofs, wall surfaces, floorboards, etc. The various structural members are processed into appropriate sizes and shapes for each installation location by precut processing using a precut processing apparatus as needed, and then delivered to the construction site (see Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, there may still be room for improvement in the configuration for efficiently manufacturing a large amount of structural members using a precut processing apparatus.

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a precut processing apparatus capable of efficiently manufacturing a large amount of structural members.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To achieve this object, the precut processing apparatus according to claim 1 is provided with a processing apparatus for processing processed wood conveyed along a predetermined conveyance path, and is a precut processing apparatus configured to be able to execute inspection of the location where processing is performed by the processing apparatus. A measuring means capable of measuring the dimensions of at least a portion of the processed area on a structural member after processing has been performed on the processed wood by the processing device, or on a processed member before processing is complete, The system includes a loading means for transporting the structural members measured by the aforementioned measuring means to a stacked state of multiple structural members, The system is characterized in that, before the structural members are stacked by the loading means, the measuring means can be used to inspect at least a portion of the areas where processing has been performed by the processing device on the structural members or processed members before processing is completed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the pre-cutting apparatus described in claim 1, it is possible to detect situations where processing has not been properly carried out before the structural members are stacked by the loading means, and to take early action such as replacing the cutting tools or repairing malfunctions of the processing apparatus. Therefore, a large quantity of structural members can be manufactured efficiently. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Plan view of the pre-cutting machine. [Figure 2] An explanatory diagram showing the main operations of a pre-cutting machine. [Figure 3] A perspective view showing the support structure of the intermediate unit. [Figure 4] A right side view showing part of the rear unit. [Figure 5] A diagram illustrating areas that can be machined using a cutting tool on the second mounting section. [Figure 6] A diagram illustrating machining using the cutting tools for the first mounting section and the third mounting section. [Figure 7] A schematic plan view illustrating an example of a manufacturing process. [Figure 8] A schematic plan view illustrating an example of a manufacturing process. [Figure 9] A schematic plan view illustrating an example of a manufacturing process. [Figure 10] A schematic plan view illustrating an example of a manufacturing process. [Figure 11] Operational diagram of the end unit. [Figure 12] A diagram illustrating the inspection location after processing. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 is a plan view of the pre-cutting apparatus 10, and Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating the main operation of the pre-cutting apparatus 10 shown in Figure 1. Note that in Figure 1, some components, such as the upper part of the main frame F located above the processing apparatus M, are omitted, and rails installed to allow the processing apparatus M and the conveying apparatus T to move are shown with thick solid lines.

[0010] The pre-cutting apparatus 10 is capable of efficiently manufacturing a large quantity of structural members, has a compact overall design, and is configured to allow for suitable inspection before and after processing. The main overall configuration will be described below, followed by a description of the characteristic individual configurations.

[0011] The pre-cutting device 10 is a device capable of manufacturing structural members (parts) such as columns, beams, and framing materials used in building structures by cutting. For example, it is configured to enable the cutting of wood by utilizing processing data generated by drafting using CAD. Examples of wooden building structures include typical houses, as well as larger structures such as school buildings, gymnasiums, and welfare facilities.

[0012] As shown in Fig. 1, the precut processing device 10 includes a main body frame F, a processing device M, a conveying device T, a feeding device N, a stacking device K, inspection devices L1 and L2, a printing device P, and a control device S. In the following description, taking the conveying direction of the processed wood by the conveying device T as the X direction, the +X direction is the left side, the -X direction is the right side, the front-back direction intersecting the left-right direction is the Y direction, the +Y direction is the rear side, the -Y direction is the front side, the up-down direction is the Z direction, the +Z direction is the upper side, and the -Z direction is the lower side for explanation.

[0013] The precut processing device 10 is a device capable of processing processed wood, and can be configured by attaching a plurality of processing devices M to the main body frame F. As an example of the processing device M, four types, namely a circular saw unit 30, a front unit 40F, a rear unit 40R, and an end unit 50, are illustrated. The processing device M used in the precut processing device 10 is not limited to four, and may be three or less, or may be configured to include five or more. The front unit 40F and the rear unit 40R are processing devices M having a substantially symmetrical shape arranged on both sides around the conveying path C, and will also be described by referring to them as intermediate units 40.

[0014] Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the main operations of the processing device M and the conveying device T in the precut processing device 10. The circular saw unit 30, the front unit 40F, the rear unit 40R, and the end unit 50 are all installed so as to be movable in the left-right direction respectively.

[0015] A circular saw as a cutting tool is attached to the circular saw unit 30, and it performs chamfering processing to cut the tip portion of the processed wood to form a flat portion, or performs full-length cutting processing so that the processed wood becomes the full length as a structural member.

[0016] The front unit 40F and the rear unit 40R are equipped with cutting tools such as drills, jigs, routers, and cutters, and these tools are positioned to move in the front-to-back direction. The front unit 40F and the rear unit 40R are configured to efficiently process all four surfaces of a rod-shaped workpiece by dividing the processing tasks between two or three of the four surfaces (front, back, top, and bottom).

[0017] The end unit 50 is a device capable of processing the end faces of both ends of a rod-shaped piece of processed wood. It is equipped with cutting tools that can move left and right, including a mortise cutter for forming a tenon, a chamfer cutter for forming a chamfered portion at the tip of the tenon, and a boring drill capable of boring the end grain. When the tip of the processed wood (the end on the +X side) contacts and is positioned in the middle of the transport path C, processing is performed on the tip side (+X side) of the processed wood. After that, the stopper ST retracts from the transport path C, and the processed wood is transported downstream of the end unit 50 (+X side) before processing is performed on the rear end (-X side) of the processed wood.

[0018] The conveying device T can be configured to include an intake conveyor 21, an output conveyor 22, a plurality of clamp vises 23, a material gripper 24, a discharge support member 25, a discharge tray 26, and a stopper ST. The stopper ST is provided integrated with the clamp vises 23, and its plate-shaped portion moves into the conveying path C from below, thereby making contact with the leading edge of the processed wood.

[0019] The material gripper 24 functions as a transport means (traverser) that moves the processed wood from side to side while gripping the front and rear surfaces of the wood, and also functions as a core vise that positions the processed wood at its center in the front-to-back direction by gripping the front and rear surfaces. The material gripper 24 can be configured so that it is suspended from a rail installed on the upper part of the main frame F along the transport path C.

[0020] Here, the material gripper 24 can be configured by integrally providing two types of clamps: a fixed clamp and a movable clamp. The fixed clamp is a member that clamps the processed wood so that it cannot be moved. Plate-shaped clamp members are installed on both sides of the transport path C (+X direction side and -X direction side), and by moving towards the center and clamping the processed wood, it can be operated as a positioning tool to position the processed wood at the center of the transport path C.

[0021] A movable clamp is a component that can contact and position the processed wood, and can be composed of rollers installed in a direction that allows the processed wood to move along the transport path C. Movable clamps can be installed not only on both sides of the transport path C (+X direction side, -X direction side) but also on the upper side (+Z direction side). It is preferable to place the movable clamps on both sides of the transport path C relative to the fixed clamps, and it is preferable to install them in four locations so that they are located on both sides of the two fixed clamps. Furthermore, it is preferable to provide a moving mechanism on the fixed clamps so that the movable clamps can move between the side further away from the processed wood and the side closer to the processed wood relative to the fixed clamps.

[0022] The movable clamp can be used in situations where it is desired to position the workpiece at the center of the transport path C while allowing it to move along the transport path C during the processing of the workpiece. For example, it can be used when processing a long section of the workpiece in the longitudinal direction using an intermediate unit 40, and when processing is performed with a cutting tool while moving the material grip 24. For example, when forming a long groove-shaped section using a razor, one end of the material grip 24 can be moved while holding the workpiece with a fixed clamp, and the other end of the material grip 24 can be held using a movable clamp, allowing the workpiece to be positioned while still being able to move. In this case, by moving the gripping position, processing over even longer sections can be made possible.

[0023] Here, the intermediate unit 40 has numerous cutting tools attached to it, which tends to make it a large device in the left-right direction. This can lead to situations where machining using the cutting tools of the intermediate unit 40 is required at a machining position far from the clamp vise 23. In this case, the positioning function using the movable clamp can be used, which enables positioning closer to the machining position and allows for highly accurate machining.

[0024] Furthermore, the movable clamp can be used when bringing the processed wood into contact with the stopper ST. This prevents excessive load from being placed on the contact area between the material gripper 24 and the processed wood after the processed wood has come into contact with the stopper ST.

[0025] The intake conveyor 21 and the output conveyor 22 can be constructed by arranging multiple freely rotatable rollers and can be installed so as to protrude from the main frame F on both sides (+X direction, -X direction) along the direction of transport of the processed wood. The intake conveyor 21 functions as an intake section that forms an intake position for taking in processed wood before processing. The output conveyor 22 functions as an output section that supports structural members that have been processed from the processed wood.

[0026] As shown in Figure 2(B), the clamp vises 23 are installed at multiple locations separated in the left-right direction along the section from the intake conveyor 21 to the output conveyor 22 where the processed wood is transported. The clamp vises 23 can be installed to allow movement along the transport direction. For example, the clamp vise 23 with the stopper ST shown in Figure 2(A) and the clamp vises 23 downstream from it (+X direction) can be fixed, while the three clamp vises 23 on the right can be installed to allow movement in the left-right direction.

[0027] Here, as shown in Figure 1, a configuration can be used to make the clamp vise 23 movable by installing rails that run continuously from left to right on the main frame F, and supporting the clamp vise 23 with these rails. The circular saw unit 30, which includes the clamp vise 23 as part of it, can be configured to be movably supported using rails that are common to adjacent clamp vises 23, thereby allowing for a large range of movement of the circular saw unit 30 in the left-right direction.

[0028] As shown in Figure 2(C), the clamp vise 23 is configured to allow switching between a clamped state using a horizontal clamp vise and an unclamped state. This allows switching between a clamped state where the workpiece is held between the front and back sections and an unclamped state where the clamping in the front and back sections is released.

[0029] Furthermore, among the clamp vises 23, those configured as part of the circular saw unit 30 are limited to horizontal clamping only, while the other clamp vises 23 can be used as horizontal / upper clamp vises, which combine a horizontal clamp vise and an upper clamp vise.

[0030] As shown in Figure 2(C), the upper clamp vise is configured to allow switching between a clamped state and an unclamped state. This allows switching between a clamped state, where the workpiece is held between the upper and lower sections, and an unclamped state, where the clamping in the upper and lower sections is released.

[0031] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 2(C), the upper clamp vise is configured to move in the retraction direction, and when retracted, as shown in Figure 2(D), it moves diagonally upward away from the transport path C. By retracting the upper clamp vise, the material gripper 24 is used to clamp the side of the processed wood, and by moving the material gripper 24 with a servo motor, the processed wood can be transported past the installation position of the clamp vise 23.

[0032] The conveying device T is controlled by the control device S. Specifically, it conveys the wood to be processed to a position suitable for processing in one of the processing devices M, and after conveying the wood, it clamps the wood using a clamp vise 23. This prevents the wood from moving during each processing step, allowing for appropriate processing to be performed only where necessary.

[0033] Figure 2(E1) shows the support position in which the scrap material cut by the circular saw unit 30 is supported by the discharge support member 25. In the support position, the upper surface of the discharge support member 25 faces upward, and when the discharge position is taken, as shown in Figure 2(E2), the upper surface of the discharge support member 25 tilts and the scrap material falls diagonally downward. A discharge tray 26 is provided diagonally below the discharge support member 25, and the scrap material falls onto the discharge tray 26 before being transported to the collection passage via the discharge tray 26. As shown in Figure 2(A), the discharge support members 25 are provided on both the left and right sides of the circular saw, and can be configured to discharge scrap material from the front end of the processed wood and scrap material from the rear end separately.

[0034] The discharge support members 25 are installed on both the left and right sides of the cut surface where the processed wood is cut by the circular saw, and each is configured to operate independently. The scraps generated when the leading end (+X direction side) of the processed wood is cut are discharged by the operation of the left discharge support member 25, and the scraps generated when the rear end (-X direction side) of the processed wood is cut are discharged by the operation of the right discharge support member 25.

[0035] Here, by providing the circular saw unit 30 so as to be movable in the left-right direction, it is possible to set the circular saw unit 30 to move to an initial position set on the right end before discharging the scrap material. This makes it possible to form a small scrap material collection passage, and if the main frame F is configured to be surrounded by walls, the hole for installing the collection passage can be made small.

[0036] Next, the front unit 40F and rear unit 40R, which are attached to the main frame F, will be described in detail. The pre-cutting device 10 has a front unit 40F and a rear unit 40R, which are processing devices M (intermediate units 40) that process the processed lumber being transported along the transport path C, positioned on both sides of the transport path C. The front unit 40F and the rear unit 40R have substantially the same structure, including the support structure attached to the main frame F, and have the same configuration, so the rear unit 40R will be described mainly with reference to Figure 3. Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the support structure of the intermediate unit 40.

[0037] As shown in Figure 3, the rear unit 40R can be configured to include a mounting portion 41, a rotation mechanism 42, a front-rear / up-down moving member 43, and a left-right moving member 44. The front-rear / up-down moving member 43 and the left-right moving member 44 are movable parts supported by the main frame F, which acts as a support member.

[0038] The mounting section 41 is a part to which a cutting tool capable of processing wood can be attached, and functions as the head part for processing the wood. The mounting section 41 incorporates a mechanism for rotating the cutting tool at high speed in order to perform cutting, and the cutting tool rotates due to a driving force such as a motor. The rear unit 40R is shown as an example in which three mounting sections 41 are provided, specifically a first mounting section 41a that can be attached to two types of cutting tools, a second mounting section 41b that can be attached to four types of cutting tools, and a third mounting section 41c that can be attached to a rotatable cutting tool. Note that the number of mounting sections 41 is not limited to three; there can be four or more, or two or fewer.

[0039] The rotation mechanism 42 is a mechanism that enables the mounting portion 41 to rotate (swivel), and can be composed of a rotation mechanism 42a provided on the first mounting portion 41a and a rotation mechanism 42b provided on the second mounting portion 41b. The rotation mechanism 42 is connected to the mounting portion 41 and can move (rotate) the positions of multiple cutting tools around the left-right direction (X direction) along the transport path C. The rotation mechanism 42 can be composed of a combination of a drive source such as a motor and an operating mechanism that rotatably supports the mounting portion 41.

[0040] The rotating mechanism 42 allows the cutting tool to rotate, thereby changing (switching) the cutting tool used to process the wood. Furthermore, processing can be performed not only on the rear side (+Y direction side) where the rear unit 40R is located, but also on the top side (+Z direction side) and bottom side (-Z direction side) of the wood by changing the orientation of the cutting tool provided on the rear unit 40R.

[0041] As shown in Figure 3(B), the forward / backward and vertically moving member 43 has a rotation mechanism 42 provided at one end (the central end of the main frame F). Furthermore, as shown in Figure 2(A) in a top view, the forward / backward and vertically moving member 43 is configured to move in the direction of intersection (Y direction) that intersects the transport path C.

[0042] The left-right moving member 44 is a member that supports the front-rear and up-down moving member 43 so that it can move in the up-down direction. It is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape that is continuous in the up-down direction and is configured to allow movement in the transport direction (X direction) along the transport path C. As shown in Figure 3(B), the left-right moving member 44 is attached to the main frame F and supported so that it can move in the transport direction.

[0043] The operating mechanisms of the left-right moving member 44 supported by the main frame F, and the operating mechanisms of the front-rear and up-down moving member 43 supported by the left-right moving member 44, are generally operated by installing rails on each member as shown by dotted lines and thick solid lines in Figure 3(B), installing movable connecting parts on each member relative to the rails, and using servo motors and ball screws, etc., so a detailed explanation will be omitted.

[0044] As shown in Figure 3(A), the main frame F comprises a lower component 61, an upper component 62, and an upper-lower connecting component 63. The lower component 61 is the part that supports the left-right moving member 44 so that it can move below the range of movement in which the front-rear and up-down moving member 43 can move in the vertical direction relative to the left-right moving member 44, and illustrates the case where it is installed away from the floor surface by the legs. The upper component 62 is the part that supports the left-right moving member 44 so that it can move above the range of movement of the front-rear and up-down moving member 43. The upper-lower connecting component 63 is the part that integrates with the lower component 61 so that the upper component 62 is positioned above it.

[0045] The main frame F is constructed by integrating a lower component 61 and an upper component 62, which are positioned on both sides of the transport path C. Specifically, two lower components 61, two upper components 62, and two upper-lower connecting components 63 are provided, spaced apart in the front-rear direction (Y direction) from the rear unit 40R and the front unit 40F, respectively. The two lower components 61, two upper components 62, and two upper-lower connecting components 63 are integrated by being connected to both ends of a front-rear connecting component 64 that is continuous in the front-rear direction. As a result, the front unit 40F and the rear unit 40R can be positioned on both sides of the transport path C for processed timber and supported by the main frame F, which serves as a common support member.

[0046] The lower component 61, the upper component 62, the upper and lower connecting portion 63, and the front and rear connecting portion 64 can be constructed using metal members formed in a rod shape with a substantially constant cross-sectional shape, and the connecting portions can be integrated by welding or bolting. Furthermore, the main frame F can be constructed in other shapes, such as by providing a hole-like portion in a box-shaped main frame, as long as the portion corresponding to the movable section is open.

[0047] The front-to-back and up-and-down moving member 43 is configured to move in three directions: vertically (Z direction), in the transport direction (X direction), and in the intersecting direction (Y direction) within the space formed between the lower component 61 and the upper component 62. Therefore, the lower component 61 and the upper component 62 can be positioned close to the transport path C that transports the processed wood. As a result, the centers of gravity of the front-to-back and up-and-down moving member 43 and the left-to-right moving member 44 can be located close to the lower component 61 and the upper component 62 in the front-to-back direction. Consequently, the front-to-back and up-and-down moving member 43 and the left-to-right moving member 44, which are movable parts of the rear unit 40R, can be supported by the main frame F in a balanced manner without using a large base like that of conventional wood processing equipment. Therefore, the main frame F can be made small, making it easier to configure the pre-cut processing equipment 10 to be compact.

[0048] Furthermore, the front unit 40F and the rear unit 40R can be positioned on either side of the transport path C for processed timber and supported by a common support member, the main frame F. Therefore, the weight of the front unit 40F and the weight of the rear unit 40R are balanced around the main frame F, resulting in a well-balanced weight distribution between the front and rear. Consequently, a large base can be eliminated, allowing the pre-cutting device 10 to be made more compact.

[0049] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, the left-right moving member 44 of the front unit 40F is attached to the front side of the lower component 61 and upper component 62 of the main frame F, and is installed so that the left-right moving member 44 protrudes outward (towards the -Y direction) from the main frame F. As a result, even if the front-rear and up-down moving member 43 moves significantly toward the center of the main frame F when processing wood, the left-right moving member 44 will be positioned on the opposite side to maintain balance. The rear unit 40R has a similar structure, which also allows the intermediate unit 40 to be supported in a balanced manner by the main frame F, making it easier to set high-speed movement and sudden stops for the intermediate unit 40.

[0050] Furthermore, the support structure of the front unit 40F and the rear unit 40R is not limited to the processing device M in which multiple cutting tools are attached to the mounting part 41, but can also be applied to processing devices that have a cutting tool stocker for storing multiple cutting tools and in which the cutting tools attached to the mounting part can be replaced. The mounting part 41 can also be configured to rotate not only in the X direction but also in other directions such as the Y direction and Z direction with the rotation center. In addition, the support structure of the front unit 40F and the rear unit 40R can be applied to various processing devices for columns, horizontal members, and framing members, and can also be applied to processing devices that process plate-shaped members such as plywood and insulation materials. Moreover, it is not necessarily required to provide two intermediate units 40 in the pre-cut processing device 10, and it is also possible to configure it by providing an intermediate unit 40 on only one side of the transport path C.

[0051] Next, the configuration of the cutting tools attached to the front unit 40F and the rear unit 40R will be explained, mainly with reference to Figure 4. Figure 4 shows the rear unit 40R as viewed from the -X direction side (right side).

[0052] The rear unit 40R is provided with three mounting sections 41a to 41c that can move and rotate. Each of the three mounting sections 41a to 41c can move independently in the forward / backward direction (Y direction) and also in the up / down direction (Z direction). This allows for the selection of any of the cutting tools that can be attached to the three mounting sections 41a to 41c to be used as cutting tools for processing wood.

[0053] The first mounting section 41a is shown as an example in which two routers, acting as cutting tools, are mounted so that they face in two opposite directions. The two types of cutting tools mounted on the first mounting section 41a can be rotated around the transport direction (X direction) along the transport path C by a rotation mechanism 42 that can be operated by a motor or hydraulics, and each cutting tool is configured to be rotatable for cutting. This allows for the selection of the cutting tool to be used to process the wood, and the rear unit 40R can be used to process three surfaces of the wood: the rear, top, and bottom. The front unit 40F can also be used to process three surfaces of the wood: the front, top, and bottom. Thus, four surfaces of the wood (front, back, top, and bottom) can be processed using the two types of cutting tools.

[0054] Four types of blades are mounted on the second mounting section 41b so as to protrude radially in four directions: the front-to-back direction and the up-and-down direction, with the left-to-right direction (X direction) as the central axis. An example of the four types of blades is shown where jigs and awls of different sizes are provided.

[0055] The four types of cutting tools attached to the second mounting section 41b can also be rotated around the transport direction (X direction) along the transport path C by a rotation mechanism 42 that can be operated by a motor or hydraulics, and each cutting tool is configured to be rotatable. As a result, similar to the cutting tools on the first mounting section 41a, the cutting tool used to process the wood can be changed by rotating the second mounting section 41b, and cutting can be performed on three of the four directions of the wood, including the vertical and horizontal directions, using the four types of cutting tools.

[0056] The cutter attached to the third mounting section 41c is a cutting tool that enables groove-shaped machining with a flat surface by rotating. The third mounting section 41c allows the cutter to rotate with the conveying direction (X direction) as the pivot point. By rotating the cutter, arc-shaped cutting with thickness becomes possible, and by moving the cutter while rotating it, groove-shaped machining with a flat surface can be performed.

[0057] The rear unit 40R is provided with three forward / backward and vertically movable members 43. Specifically, a first movable body 43a with a first mounting portion 41a on one end, a second movable body 43b with a second mounting portion 41b on one end, and a third movable body 43c with a third mounting portion 41c on one end are provided as forward / backward and vertically movable members 43. The rear unit 40R can also be configured to have two or fewer movable bodies as forward / backward and vertically movable members 43, or it can be configured to have four or more movable bodies.

[0058] Thus, the two moving bodies 43a and 43b, which serve as the front-rear and up-down moving members 43, are equipped with a rotation mechanism 42 at one end, and are configured to move in the direction of intersection (Y direction) that intersects the transport path C when viewed from above (see Figure 2(A)). In addition, the left-right moving member 44 is configured to support the front-rear and up-down moving members 43 so that they can move in the up-down direction.

[0059] Furthermore, the first mounting section 41a and the second mounting section 41b provided on the two movable bodies 43a and 43b are both configured to allow two or more cutting tools to be attached to two or more sides, and the two or more cutting tools can be rotated with the transport direction (X direction) along the transport path C as the pivot point. By rotating the mounting section 41, it is possible to change the cutting tool used to process the wood, and cutting can be performed on each surface of the wood facing at least two of the four directions, including the vertical and horizontal directions. For this reason, cutting can be performed by switching between multiple types of cutting tools without having to move to the cutting tool stock section and attach a different cutting tool to the head section, and a large quantity of structural members can be manufactured efficiently.

[0060] The third mobile body 43c is attached to the second mobile body 43b so as to be movable relative to it. Specifically, the third mobile body 43c is attached to the second mobile body 43b via a moving mechanism that is movable in the same direction as the intersecting direction (Y direction) that intersects the transport path C.

[0061] The third mobile unit 43c can be configured with a different cutting tool than the four types of cutting tools attached to the first mobile unit 43a, and also different from the two types of cutting tools attached to the second mobile unit 43b. The third mobile unit 43c can be fitted with a larger cutter than the cutting tools attached to the other two mobile units 43a and 43b. This makes it possible to rotate the larger cutting tool efficiently and perform cutting operations. In addition, another mobile unit can be attached to the first mobile unit 43a in a relatively movable manner, and a rear unit 40R can be formed including another cutting tool.

[0062] Next, a method for suitably processing wood using the front unit 40F and the rear unit 40R will be described with reference to Figures 5 and 6. Figure 5 is an example of the processing area of ​​wood using a cutting tool attached to the second mounting part 41b, with Figure 5(A) showing the case using a small drill bit and Figure 5(B) showing the case using a large rabbet. The types and combinations of cutting tools are just examples, and other cutting tools can also be used.

[0063] Four types of cutting tools are attached to the second mounting section 41b: two types of drills and two types of jigs. The four types of cutting tools attached to the second mounting section 41b can be configured to rotate in the same direction when viewed from the tip side of each cutting tool, by setting up a rotating mechanism such as a gear built into the second mounting section 41b so that they all rotate simultaneously.

[0064] A drill bit can be constructed from a cutting tool that combines a cylindrical shaft with a larger diameter seating surface. Drill bits can be categorized into several types based on differences in the outer diameter of the shaft, the size of the seating surface, and the material being processed (e.g., wood or metal).

[0065] A rabbet is a disc-shaped cutting tool that moves along the longitudinal direction of the workpiece along the transport path C, performing cutting operations to create stepped sections over a certain distance. Multiple types of rabbetts can be included, such as those with different outer diameters or thicknesses.

[0066] As shown in Figure 5(A), the processing can be configured such that the top and rear surfaces of the processed wood are processed using the drill bit of the rear unit 40R, and the front and bottom surfaces are processed using the drill bit of the front unit 40F. The processing location can be set as part of the control of the control device S. This eliminates the need to change the orientation of the processed wood to perform processing, allowing for efficient processing of all four surfaces.

[0067] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5(B), the jigging tool, as a cutting tool, can be configured so that the processing areas are divided between the front unit 40F and the rear unit 40R, different from those of an awl. Specifically, the front unit 40F processes the front surface and the rear unit 40R processes the rear surface, a setting common to both awls. On the other hand, the top and bottom surfaces can be configured so that the front portion is processed by the front unit 40F and the rear portion is processed by the rear unit 40R. By dividing the processing areas in this way, even when using a small cutting tool, it is possible to process all four sides of the wood using the front unit 40F and the rear unit 40R.

[0068] Figure 6(A) is an example of the processing locations on a piece of wood using a router attached to the first mounting section 41a. The settings for the router's processing locations can be the same as those for the drill attached to the second mounting section 41b, and the settings can be configured so that the rear unit 40R processes the rear and top surfaces, and the front unit 40F processes the front and bottom surfaces.

[0069] Two types of routers can be attached to the first mounting section 41a as two types of cutting tools. The routers can form holes corresponding to the outer diameter of the router and drill holes to a depth corresponding to the length of the cutting tool. The two types of routers can be a combination of a router with a thick shaft for insertion and a router with a thin shaft for through-drilling.

[0070] As shown in Figure 6(A), the two types of cutting tools attached to the first mounting section 41a can be configured to rotate in opposite directions when viewed from the tip side of each cutting tool, or to rotate simultaneously. In this case, a simple motor mechanism that rotates a common axis can be used as the cutting tool rotation mechanism built into the first mounting section 41a, thereby facilitating high-speed cutting.

[0071] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6(B), when performing cutting to create a constant step from one end of the processed wood (the left end in Figure 6(B)) to the opposite end (the right end in Figure 6(B)), the first mounting part 41a can be rotated 180 degrees midway through the cutting process using one router, and then the remaining portion can be cut from the opposite end (the left end in Figure 6(B)). This reduces the amount of burrs generated during cutting, and since the mechanism of the two cutting tools rotating in opposite directions as the rotation mechanism of the first mounting part 41a can be utilized, it is not necessary to stop the rotation of the cutting tools, reverse the direction of rotation, and restart the rotation, and processing can be performed with reduced burr generation without reducing the rotation speed of the cutting tools. In addition, by pre-cutting the right end while holding down the wood fibers with the right rotation of the router, it is possible to prevent burrs that would be generated when the cutting tool is withdrawn if processing is done using only the left rotation of the router.

[0072] Figure 6(C) illustrates the processing locations of the woodworking material using a cutter attached to the third mounting section 41c. The settings for the cutter's processing locations can be the same as those for the drill attached to the second mounting section 41b, allowing for settings where the rear unit 40R is used to process the rear and top surfaces, and the front unit 40F is used to process the front and bottom surfaces. The cutter is configured such that, as shown in Figure 4, the third movable body 43c is positioned below the second movable body 43b, with the cutter protruding downwards (-Z direction) and forwards (-Y direction), making it easy to process the top and rear surfaces of the woodworking material. On the other hand, as shown in Figure 3, the third movable body 43c is positioned above the second movable body 43b, with the cutter protruding upwards (+Z direction) and backwards (+Y direction), making it easy to process the bottom and front surfaces of the woodworking material.

[0073] Next, referring mainly to Figures 7 onward, we will explain the inspection of the processed lumber before processing, the processing steps for the processed lumber, and the inspection of the structural members manufactured after processing is complete. Figures 7 to 10 are schematic plan views showing an example of the processing steps using the pre-cut processing device 10. In the explanation of the processing steps, we will use the example of processing column members that are installed vertically in a house, and the processing is carried out with the leading end of the processed lumber in the transport direction positioned on the lower side of the house and the rear end in the transport direction positioned on the upper side, and we will explain using the example of a case where a lower tenon is formed on the leading end in the transport direction and an upper tenon is formed on the rear end in the transport direction. Also, in Figures 7 to 10, the processed lumber has a mesh-like pattern.

[0074] Figure 7(A) shows the situation when the processing of processed lumber begins. The processed lumber is positioned in a ready position, lined up next to the input device N, ready for processing. The processed lumber is transported one by one to the intake position of the intake conveyor 21 (the position shown by the dashed line in Figure 7(A)), and from the intake position, it proceeds in the transport direction (+X direction) along the transport path C.

[0075] Before processing by the processing device M, an inspection is performed to ensure that the processed lumber is correct. While pre-processing inspections can also be performed after the lumber is transported to the intake conveyor 21, if any abnormalities in the size or other characteristics of the processed lumber are detected after it has been transported to the intake conveyor 21, it is likely that the pre-cutting processing device 10 will need to be temporarily stopped. For this reason, an inspection device L1 is installed to perform an inspection of the processed lumber before it is transported to the intake conveyor 21 (intake section), which is capable of supporting the processed lumber before processing by the processing device M.

[0076] The inspection device L1 is installed at the location where the processed wood is positioned just before being placed on the intake conveyor 21, and the inspection is performed with this location of the processed wood as the measurement position R. The inspection device L1 can be set to measure the horizontal (front-to-back) width and vertical height of the processed wood as cross-sectional size, thereby determining whether the cross-sectional size is suitable for processing. As for the inspection method, a device that can measure dimensions by mechanically moving a measuring member and contacting the front, back, or top surface of the processed wood can be used, a device that can measure dimensions with a laser can be used, and the total length can also be measured.

[0077] The inspection device L1 is configured to communicate with the control device S, and if the pre-processing inspection determines that the wood is suitable for processing, it transfers the wood to the intake conveyor 21. On the other hand, if the pre-processing inspection determines that the wood is unsuitable for processing, the control device S can perform special control corresponding to the detection of unsuitable wood. Special control may include displaying information indicating a warning in response to an abnormal situation on a display screen configured as part of the control device S (for example, displaying the words "Material dimensions abnormal!" on a red background), or using the communication function of the control device S to notify a factory worker's smartphone of the abnormality, or illuminating a warning lamp on the pre-cutting device 10 to indicate the abnormality, or outputting a warning sound to indicate the abnormality.

[0078] Thus, the pre-cutting apparatus 10 is configured to perform inspections of processed lumber before processing by the processing apparatus M. The input device N is capable of transferring processed lumber from a preparation position where multiple pieces of processed lumber are prepared to an intake conveyor 21 which serves as an intake unit. The processing lumber is configured to be transferred from the preparation position to the intake unit via a measurement position R set between the intake conveyor 21 and the preparation position. At the measurement position R upstream of the intake unit, the processing lumber is inspected using the inspection device L1. Therefore, one inspected piece of processed lumber can be transferred to the intake conveyor 21, and then the next piece of processed lumber can be inspected to determine if it is suitable for manufacturing structural members. Thus, even when processing lumber unsuitable for processing is being replaced or the processing order is being changed, it is easier to continue processing using the processed lumber already transferred to the intake conveyor 21. Consequently, the opportunities to stop the processing apparatus M are reduced, and a large quantity of structural members can be manufactured efficiently.

[0079] Furthermore, the transfer means for transferring processed wood to the intake conveyor 21 only needs to be capable of transferring processed wood from a preparation position where multiple pieces of processed wood are prepared to the intake conveyor 21, and it is sufficient that the processed wood can be transferred to the intake conveyor 21 via a measurement position R set between the intake conveyor 21 and the preparation position. The measurement position R can be set so that it is a position where one piece of processed wood is placed on a measuring platform, spaced apart from the processed wood at the preparation position.

[0080] For example, the input device N can be configured using multiple fixed rails that slope downwards toward the intake conveyor 21, a movable rail, and a stopper (see Figure 1). In this case, one of the multiple processed timbers supported by the fixed rails, the one closest to the intake conveyor 21, can be lifted by the movable rail and transported to the measurement position R, where an inspection can be performed, and then the timber can be transported from the measurement position R back to the intake conveyor 21 using the movable rail and the stopper.

[0081] Furthermore, the measurement position R does not necessarily have to be set as a position where the processed wood is stationary when measurement is performed. For example, the width of the processed wood can be measured based on the amount of movement of the processed wood in the horizontal direction, and the measurement position R can be set to include a certain range of movement.

[0082] As shown in Figure 7(B), the processed lumber transported to the intake conveyor 21 is transported to the installation position of the circular saw unit 30, where the tip is cut. By cutting the tip with a circular saw, a surface finish perpendicular to the direction of transport can be achieved.

[0083] Once the tip is cut, the processed wood is transported to a position where it contacts the stopper ST, as shown in Figure 7(C), and the circular saw unit 30 performs a full-length cut to achieve the total length of the structural member after processing. The circular saw unit 30 is capable of moving left and right along the transport path C, and the relative position between the stopper ST and the movable range of the circular saw unit 30 is set to a length range that is commonly used as the total length of a structural member. For example, when performing pre-cut processing of column material used in a typical wooden house, the shortest length Lmin can be set to 2m and the longest length Lmax to 3m, and the circular saw unit 30 can be configured to enable cutting within this length range. This makes it possible to efficiently perform full-length cuts, which are commonly used for column material installed vertically in houses.

[0084] Once the tip of the workpiece is positioned by the stopper ST, the circular saw unit 30 performs a full-length cut. The circular saw unit 30 can be controlled to move towards a position corresponding to a full-length cut as the workpiece is moving towards the stopper ST.

[0085] Once the entire length has been cut, as shown in Figure 7(D), the processed timber is separated into a front portion to be used as a structural member and a rear portion to be used as scrap material. The rear portion, which is used as scrap material, is placed on the discharge support member 25, and even in this state, processing can be carried out on the front portion and intermediate portions of the processed timber.

[0086] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 7(D), after the leading edge of the processed wood comes into contact with the stopper ST, the stopper ST retracts from the transport path C. This allows the cutting of the leading edge of the processed wood to be performed by the end unit 50. The end unit 50 may include a tenon cutter capable of forming a tenon on the column material, thereby forming a tenon on the leading edge of the processed wood. At this time, the tenon processing using the end unit 50 and the overall cutting using the circular saw unit 30 can be performed simultaneously, including the time when the cutting processes are performed at the same time. The intermediate unit 40 can also be processed simultaneously with the circular saw unit 30, and can also be processed simultaneously with the end unit 50.

[0087] In the pre-cutting apparatus 10, two or more processing devices M are configured to operate independently under the control of the control device S. Therefore, processing is not limited to using multiple of the three components: the end unit 50, the intermediate unit 40, and the circular saw unit 30. Simultaneous processing can also be performed on the front unit 40F and the rear unit 40R, which function as the intermediate unit 40. Control of inspection by inspection devices L1 and L2 and printing by printing device P can also be performed while other devices are operating, provided that it is feasible. This shortens the processing time until structural members are manufactured and enables the efficient production of a large number of structural members.

[0088] Here, the pre-cutting apparatus 10 includes a mortise cutter as a cutting tool that enables cutting to change the shape of the processed wood, with its tip positioned at a predetermined position in contact with a stopper ST; a circular saw as a cutting tool that enables cutting the processed wood with its tip positioned at the stopper ST to change the total length in the longitudinal direction to the length of a structural member set within a predetermined length range; a circular saw unit 30 as a moving means that enables the circular saw to move toward the transport direction along the transport path C; and a control device S that controls the operation of the circular saw unit 30 and the circular saw to perform control to cut the processed wood so that it becomes the length of a structural member set to different lengths within a predetermined length range from Lmin to Lmax. The predetermined length range can be set to a certain range of lengths that are frequently cut as the total length, thereby enabling the efficient manufacture of structural members.

[0089] Furthermore, it is preferable that the circular saw unit 30 is configured to allow the cutting blade to move within a movable section of at least 300 mm in the transport direction along the transport path C, and that the control device S is configured to control the movement of the circular saw unit 30 and the rotation of the circular saw so that structural members set to different lengths of at least 300 mm can be processed. It is even more preferable that the movable section be set to 500 mm or more, and preferably to 700 mm or more. In addition, it is preferable that the length of the structural member includes at least a portion of the length range between 2 m and 3 m.

[0090] Furthermore, between the end unit 50, which is a cutting processing unit equipped with a mortise cutter capable of forming tenons in column materials, and the circular saw unit 30, which is a full-length processing unit equipped with a cutting blade and a moving mechanism, is an intermediate unit 40, which is a multi-processing unit capable of changing the shape of the processed wood using two or more types of cutting blades. This allows the circular saw unit 30 to perform processing to a length set within a predetermined length range while being positioned by the stopper ST, and by arranging other processing devices M in the space between the end unit 50 and the circular saw unit 30, it is possible to efficiently perform various types of processing while keeping the pre-cut processing device 10 compact.

[0091] Next, we will describe the process after the processing of the wood has been completed. Once processing of one piece of wood is complete, the processing device M returns to its initial position, as shown in Figure 8(A). The end unit 50 moves backward so that the tenon cutter is moved out of the transport path C and the wood can move forward. The intermediate unit 40 returns to its initial position, which is the center position in the left-right direction. The circular saw unit 30 returns to its initial position on the right end, and the discharge support member 25 moves so that the scrap material is transported via the discharge tray 26 to the collection passage shown by the dashed line.

[0092] Here, the timing for the processing device M to return to its initial position can be at the timing when each processing device M has finished processing, and does not need to be simultaneous. For example, if the circular saw unit 30 has finished processing first, it may return to its initial position and discharge the scrap material even if the intermediate unit 40 is still processing, and control may be included to advance the surface finishing process on the next piece of wood if possible. Furthermore, the processing device M does not necessarily need to return to its initial position after processing; it may be configured to move directly to the position where the next processing will be performed after processing.

[0093] Furthermore, regarding the operation of the circular saw unit 30, if the rear portion of the scrap material is longer than a certain length (for example, 20 cm or more), the scrap material can be continuously supported in the transport path C, and after the structural member for which processing of the processed wood has been completed is advanced to the removal conveyor 22, the scrap material can also be discharged via the removal conveyor 22. If it is possible to manufacture another structural member from the rear portion of the scrap material, the other structural member can be manufactured immediately after processing the front portion.

[0094] When the end unit 50 returns to its initial position, the processed wood moves toward the removal conveyor 22. In this case, as shown in Figure 8(B), an inspection of the processed portion can be performed at the location where the inspection device L2 is installed. The post-processing inspection by the inspection device L2 may be performed on the structural member after all processing is complete, or it may be performed partially on the processed wood before processing is complete (during processing before it becomes a structural member), thereby performing multiple inspections. Figures 8 and 9 illustrate an example where the end on the leading side in the transport direction is inspected during processing, and the end on the trailing side is inspected after processing is complete.

[0095] Furthermore, Figure 8(B) illustrates a situation where, while the front piece of processed wood is undergoing inspection, the circular saw unit 30 performs surface finishing on the tip of the next piece of processed wood. In this way, even while the front piece of processed wood is undergoing inspection, if other processing devices M are capable of performing other processing, the structural members can be manufactured efficiently by proceeding with other processing.

[0096] After the inspection of the leading edge by the inspection device L2, the front processed wood piece continues to move toward the removal conveyor 22, as shown in Figure 8(C), and then, as shown in Figure 9(A), it moves to a position where mortise processing can be performed on the rear end, at which point the end unit 50 performs the mortise processing on the rear end. Once the mortise processing on the rear end is complete, the front processed wood piece continues to move toward the transport direction (+X direction), as shown in Figure 9(B).

[0097] Figure 9(C) illustrates a situation in which the processing of the rear end of a structural member, which has been completed by mortise and tenon processing on the rear end, is being inspected to see if the processing on the rear end has been properly performed. If there are no abnormalities in the inspection of the rear end using the post-processing inspection device L2, the structural members are transported to a position where they are stacked in a package ready for transport to the construction site by the loading device K, as shown in Figure 9(D). Once a large number of structural members are stacked in a packaged form by the loading device K, they are packaged and transported to the construction site. Various general loading devices can be used as the loading device K, such as a device that can transport structural members using suction parts that can move in three directions: up and down, left and right, and front and back.

[0098] If a processing abnormality is detected during post-processing inspection, the control device S can perform control actions corresponding to the processing abnormality. For example, the control device S may include control to display a warning message (for example, the text "Anomaly in mortise width processing dimension!") on a display screen configured as part of the control device S, or it may communicate the occurrence of an abnormality to a smartphone carried by a factory worker, or it may illuminate a warning lamp on the pre-cut processing device 10 to indicate the occurrence of an abnormality, or output a warning sound to indicate the occurrence of an abnormality.

[0099] While the processing and inspection of the front piece of wood are being carried out, processing of the rear piece of wood proceeds simultaneously. As shown in Figure 9(A), the rear piece of wood moves toward the stopper ST, and preparations for mortise processing are made on the leading edge in the direction of movement. Then, as shown in Figure 9(B), mortise processing is performed by the end unit 50 and the full length is cut by the circular saw unit 30. After that, as shown in Figure 9(C), the end unit 50 and the circular saw unit 30 return to their initial positions, and processing and post-processing inspection are carried out on the rear end, similar to the previous piece of wood.

[0100] Figure 10(A) illustrates a case where, when the tip is positioned with the stopper ST, the total length of the processed wood is shorter than the range set to be cut by the circular saw unit 30. In this case, the lower tenon of the processed wood is processed with the end unit 50, and then the processed wood is moved backward in the opposite direction to the transport direction (-X direction), allowing the circular saw unit 30 to cut the entire length of the short structural member.

[0101] Furthermore, when controlling the movement of processed lumber in a backward direction, it is possible that the rear end of the processed lumber (the right side in Figure 10(A)) may return to the intake position of the intake conveyor 21. For this reason, as shown in Figure 10(A), the control of the control device S can be configured so that the next piece of processed lumber is not transported onto the intake conveyor 21 but remains waiting at the measurement position R.

[0102] Here, the control device S can include a control that, when it is necessary to return the processed wood in the opposite direction to the transport direction, determines in advance whether it is possible to place the next piece of processed wood on the intake position of the intake conveyor 21, based on various processing-related information such as the total length of the processed wood before processing and the amount of movement required in the return direction. This allows the intake conveyor 21 to transport the next piece of processed wood and prepare for processing only if the situation is such that placing the next piece of processed wood on the intake conveyor 21 will not cause contact with the piece of processed wood that has already been processed.

[0103] Figure 10(B) illustrates a case where, in a position where the intermediate unit 40 cannot perform machining on the tip end of the workpiece (left side of Figure 10(B)), machining can be performed on that end by moving the workpiece backward away from the stopper ST. In this case, clamping is not performed at the location where the stopper ST is provided, and the tip end of the workpiece is cantilevered by a single clamp vise 23. This makes it possible to perform machining on the tip end of the workpiece.

[0104] Figure 10(C) illustrates a case where, in a position where the intermediate unit 40 cannot perform processing on the rear end of the workpiece (right side of Figure 10(C)), cutting can be performed by advancing the workpiece. In this case, the clamp at the location where the stopper ST is provided is temporarily unclamped, the workpiece is advanced, and then the rear end of the workpiece is clamped in a cantilevered manner, thereby enabling cutting to be performed on the rear end of the workpiece as well.

[0105] Next, the end unit 50 will be described with reference to Figure 11. As shown in Figures 11(A) and 11(B), the end unit 50 has a first mounting part 51a and a second mounting part 51b, which are mounting parts 51 to which a cutting tool capable of processing wood can be attached. The first mounting part 51a is fitted with a mortise cutter that can move relative to the wood being processed, and the second mounting part 51b is fitted with a boring drill for end grain. Figures 11(A) and 11(B) illustrate a state in which the mortise cutter is positioned below the transport path C through which the wood being processed is transported. The mortise cutter moves above this height position to form a tenon in the wood being processed.

[0106] A mortise cutter can be constructed by combining a cylindrical cutter, which is positioned at the tip and capable of cutting with a cylindrical outer surface shape, with a chamfering cutter that is formed with a larger diameter from the tip side for chamfering. The boring drill for end grain is formed in a long-shank shape and can be constructed by attaching two types of boring drills.

[0107] The first mounting portion 51a and the second mounting portion 51b are configured to be integrally movable in the vertical direction and are mounted on the front and rear of the vertically movable member 52. The vertically movable member 52 is supported so as to be movable in the vertical direction by the front / rear / left / right movable member 53. The front / rear / left / right movable member 53 is supported by a base portion 54 and is configured to be movable in the front / rear direction. The base portion 54 is mounted on a rail of the main frame F and is configured to be movable in the left / right direction.

[0108] Both the first mounting section 51a and the second mounting section 51b can move up and down, left and right, and forward and backward. This allows for the formation of tenons using a mortise cutter on the end faces of the processed wood at the front and rear ends in the direction of transport, and for the formation of round holes using a boring drill. Furthermore, the second mounting section 51b of the end unit 50, to which the boring drill is attached, is configured to rotate more than 180 degrees relative to the first mounting section 51a, to which the mortise cutter is attached, allowing for processing of both the front and rear ends of the processed wood with either of the two types of boring drills.

[0109] Figure 11(C) illustrates the situation in which cutting is being performed on the end unit 50 using a boring drill. Similar to mortise and tenon joints, by rotating the boring drill while moving the end unit 50, it is possible to cut a round hole perpendicular to the end faces of the processed wood at the leading and trailing ends in the direction of transport. By processing the end grain using a boring drill, it becomes possible to attach metal joint members using metal fitting methods to the joints of structural members. Figure 11(D) illustrates the situation in which the end unit 50 has returned to its initial position and the processed wood has progressed.

[0110] Here, the second mounting section 51b is configured to allow mounting of two boring drills as cutting tools, so that they protrude in opposite directions from each other. One boring drill attached to the second mounting section 51b can be used to machine the workpiece positioned by the stopper ST as a predetermined machining position. This allows switching between a continuous horizontal machining position (position in Figure 11(C)) and a retracted position (positions in Figures 11(A) and 11(B)) which is rotated approximately 90 degrees relative to the machining position. In the retracted position, the tip of one boring drill does not protrude in the left-right direction, and the boring drill is positioned vertically, so that the boring drill is retracted away from the machining position of the workpiece. As a result, when machining workpieces using the tenon cutter of the end unit 50 (for example, the situation in Figure 7(D)), the boring drill does not protrude in the left-right direction (X direction), making it easier to avoid contact between the boring drill and the workpiece, other machining equipment M, clamp vise 23, etc.

[0111] Furthermore, the mortise cutter needs to move in a large circular motion around the cross-section of the processed wood to perform the processing. As a result, if the boring drill maintains its processing position, it becomes necessary to consider a design layout that ensures sufficient clearance from other processing devices M, and the length of the boring drill is also limited. In contrast, by making the second mounting part 51b to which the boring drill is attached rotatable relative to the first mounting part 51a, the boring drill can assume a retracted position, making it possible to integrate the mortise cutter and the boring drill, and also making the end unit 50 smaller. Therefore, various functions can be added to the end unit 50 as a processing device M, it is possible to easily position the processed wood and other devices close to the movable range of the end unit 50, and it is possible to easily make the pre-cut processing device 10 smaller. In other words, it is possible to easily install an end unit 50 that can process with multiple types of blades, and it is possible to efficiently manufacture a large quantity of structural members by switching between multiple types of blades.

[0112] Furthermore, the intermediate unit 40 is configured such that the first mounting section 41a, to which two types of routers are attached, is rotatable relative to the second mounting section 41b, to which four types of cutting tools are attached, and also rotatable relative to the third mounting section 41c, to which one type of cutting tool is attached. This allows the unit to assume a position where two types of cutting tools face horizontally and can perform cutting operations (for example, the position of the front unit 40F in Figure 7(D)) and a retracted position where two types of cutting tools face vertically (for example, the position of the front unit 40F in Figure 7(A)). This allows the three mounting sections 41a to 41c of the intermediate unit 40 to be placed close together, and also allows the intermediate unit 40 to be made more compact. Furthermore, it is preferable to control the second mounting section 41b, to which four types of blades are attached, so that one of the four blades, which protrudes the least from the pivot center of the second mounting section 41b, takes a retracted position facing the side closer to the transport path C, thereby achieving the same effect as the end unit 50 and the first mounting section 51a.

[0113] Next, the post-processing inspection will be explained with reference to Figure 12. Figure 12 is an example of the inspection location after processing. Figures 12(A) and 12(B) show an example of the shape of the joint formed at the end of a column member, and Figures 12(C) and 12(D) show an example of the shape of the joint formed at the end of a horizontal member.

[0114] As shown in Figure 12(A), for the tenon of the column material, the width W1 and height H1 of the tenon portion, which is formed smaller than the cross-sectional size of the column material, can be measured, as can the width dimension and the center position (center position relative to the outer diameter of the cross-sectional size). In addition, the amount of protrusion (length in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper) at the position indicated by the circle can also be measured. The inspection device L2 that performs inspection after processing can be configured to use a laser, for example. The areas indicated by the dotted line can be measured by irradiation with a laser moving in the horizontal direction, and the areas indicated by the solid line can be measured by irradiation with a laser moving in the vertical direction.

[0115] As a specific measurement method using a laser, for example, by irradiating the two measurement positions indicated by circles in Figure 12(A) with a laser whose irradiation range gradually expands, the width W1 and protrusion amount of the tenon can be measured, the boundary portion of the tenon can be identified, and it can be confirmed whether the center position of the tenon is within the allowable range relative to the ideal position set as a structural member. Similarly, by irradiating laser light at another measurement position, it is possible to confirm the vertical width H1 of the tenon, the protrusion amount, and the center position in the vertical direction. That is, when measuring the width W1 of the tenon, it is preferable to confirm the center position in the width direction of the tenon, and when measuring the vertical width H1, it is preferable to confirm the center position in the vertical direction of the tenon. Furthermore, other shaped parts such as holes formed with a drill or dovetail joints can also be measured by irradiating them with a laser to confirm the size of the processed part, the protrusion amount, the depth, the center position, etc.

[0116] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 12(B), for the round holes for metal fittings formed in the column material, the width W2a to W2d and the height H2a to H2d of each round hole can be measured, including the width dimension and the center position (the center position relative to the outer diameter of the cross-sectional size), and the depth of the hole at each position indicated by the circle can also be measured.

[0117] Furthermore, in Figures 12(C) and 12(D), the dimensions of the dovetail joint and the seat joint formed at the end of the horizontal member, specifically the vertical widths H3a, H3b, H4a, and H4b of the seat joint, as well as the width dimensions and center positions of the horizontal widths W3, W4 and vertical widths H3c, H4c of the dovetail joint, can be measured. Additionally, the amount of protrusion and depth at each position indicated by the circles can also be measured.

[0118] Here, the measurement target shown in Figure 12 is just one example, and other shapes can be similarly measured. Furthermore, as part of post-processing inspection, not only the joints at the ends but also other post-processing shapes such as steps and hole shapes in the middle of the structural member can be included in the inspection. The entire length of the structural member can also be included in the inspection. In other words, after processing the wood of a structural member by the processing device M, an inspection can be performed using the inspection device L2 to measure the dimensions of at least a portion of the parts processed by the processing device M.

[0119] Furthermore, the inspection device L2 may be provided in two or more locations, not just one. For example, in addition to the inspection device L2 that inspects the area where processing has been performed on the end grain, an inspection device may be provided that inspects the total length of the processed wood after the length has been changed by the circular saw. Alternatively, as an inspection device for inspecting the total length, a laser-based inspection device may be installed on the intake conveyor 21 at a position close to the circular saw unit 30. This device may be configured to measure the length of the processed wood before processing is complete by irradiating the rear end of the processed wood, which is positioned with its tip in contact with the stopper ST, with a laser.

[0120] Thus, the pre-cutting apparatus 10 can be configured to include an inspection device L2, which is a measuring means capable of measuring the dimensions of at least a portion of the areas processed by the processing device M on structural members after processing by the processing device M or on processed members before processing is complete. Furthermore, the pre-cutting apparatus 10 can be configured to allow the inspection device L2 to be used to inspect at least a portion of the areas processed by the processing device M on the structural members before the structural members are stacked by the loading device K, by transporting the structural members that have been measured by the inspection device L2. This makes it possible to detect situations where processing has not been properly carried out before the structural members are stacked by the loading device K, and to take early action such as replacing the cutting tools or servicing any malfunctions in the processing device M. As a result, high-quality structural members can be manufactured efficiently.

[0121] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and it can be easily inferred that various improvements and modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it may be implemented with modifications as described below, in which case each of the configurations described below may be applied to the above embodiments, or a combination of the multiple configurations described below may be applied to the above embodiments.

[0122] For example, the pre-cutting apparatus 10 does not necessarily have to have the configuration described above, and some of its components may be different. For example, the circular saw unit 30, the intermediate unit 40, or the end unit 50 may be omitted, or another processing device M may be added, or at least one of the two inspection devices L1 and L2 may be omitted, or another inspection device may be included in the configuration. Furthermore, the pre-cutting apparatus 10 may be included as part of a manufacturing line that includes other processing machines, for example, the input device N and loading device K may be shared with another processing machine to increase production capacity.

[0123] Furthermore, the pre-cutting device 10 may be configured to process and inspect not only column members but also other structural members such as horizontal members and framing members. The pre-cutting device 10 may also be used as a device to process plate-shaped members instead of rod-shaped members. [Industrial applicability]

[0124] This invention can be used as a pre-cutting processing device installed in a pre-cutting factory. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0125] 10: Pre-cutting device, M: Processing device, 21: Intake conveyor (intake section), 30: Circular saw unit (processing device), 40: Intermediate unit (processing device), 50: End unit (processing device), C: Conveyor path, K: Loading device (loading means), L2: Inspection device (measurement means)

Claims

[Claim 1] A pre-cutting apparatus is provided, which includes a processing device for processing processed lumber that is transported along a predetermined transport route, and is configured to perform inspections of the parts that have been processed by the processing device, A measuring means capable of measuring the dimensions of at least a portion of the processed area on a structural member after processing has been performed on the processed wood by the processing device, or on a processed member before processing is complete, The system includes a loading means for transporting the structural members measured by the aforementioned measuring means to a stacked state of multiple structural members, A pre-cutting apparatus characterized in that, before the structural members are stacked by the loading means, the measuring means is configured to allow inspection of at least a portion of the areas where processing has been performed by the processing apparatus on the structural members or processed members before processing is completed.

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