organizacion mundial de la propiedad intelectual

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ORIGINAL :
OMPI
IngH!s
FECHA: 20 de mayo de 1977
ORGANIZACION MUNDIAL DE LA PROPIEDAD INTELECTUAL
GINEBRA
ORGANISMO SUECO
COMITE ESTATAL DE
DE DESARROLLO INTERNACIONAL
CIENCIA Y TECNICA
(SIDA)
REPUBLICA DE CUBA
TALLER DE LA HABANA SOBRE
INFORMACION DE DOCUMENTOS DE PATENTES
La Habana, 23 de mayo a 3 de junio de 1977
TEMA PRINCIPAL I:
INTRODUCCION GENE~ SOBRE LA UTILIDAD DE LOS DOCUMENTOS
DE PATENTES COMO FUENTE DE INFORMACION TECNOLOGICA
Los documentos de patentes como fuente de informaci6n tecnol6gica
Preparado por la Oficina de Patentes de Suecia
Presentado por el Sr. s. Sivborg,
Miembro del Tribunal de Apelaci6n,
Oficina de Patentes de Suecia, Estocolmo
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IN DICE
Parrafos
1 a 5
INTRODUCCION
Ventajas de los documentos de patentes como fuente
de inforrnaci6n tecnol6gica
6
L!mites de la utilidad de los documentos de patentes
como fuente de inforrnaci6n
7
Los usuaries de la informaci6n tecnica y sus necesidades
Las oficinas de patentes
8
Las empresas industriales
9
Instituciones de investigaci6n
(publicas o privadas)
y
desarrollo
10
Universidades
11
Profesionales de patentes e inventores privados
12
Gobiernos
13
Servicios basados en documentos de patentes
14 a 17
ANEXO . I
Copia de Patente de los Estados Unidos de America N2 3.465.794
ANEXO II:
Reivindicaci6n original de los Estados Unidos de America,
solicitud N2 529.302
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pagina 3
LOS DOCUMENTOS DE PATENTES COMO FUENTE DE INFORMACION TECNOLOGICA
INTRODUCCION
1.
Una patente otorga un derecho exclusive a su titular para explotar la invenci6n para la que se concede la patente. Concede la patente algun tipo de oficina
de propiedad industrial. Hay dos razones para conceder patentes:
a)
La primera es que un inventor merece que se le otorgue, como remuneraci6n,
un derecho exclusive a explotar su invenci6n.
b)
La segunda es que el desarrollo tecnol6gico se acelera mediante el intercambia de experiencias. Este intercambio de experiencias se logra cuando se publica una invenci6n.
2.
En algunos paises s6lo se concede una patente despues de que una oficina de
propiedad industrial ha exarninado la solicitud y solo en la medida en que, sabre
la base de ese examen, se compruebe que la invenci6n reivindicada es realmente
nueva y "representa un avance inventive", es decir, que es sustancialmente original. En esos paises, hay con frecuencia una diferencia sustancial entre el
contenido y el ~bito de la solicitud y los de la patente, ya que el exarnen fuerza
a menudo al solicitante a aclarar y limitar sus reivindicaciones y su descripci6n
originales. En otros pa!ses, se concede la patente sin -o casi sin- exarnen de la
solicitud en cuanto a la originalidad de la invenci6n reivindicada.
3.
Cuando se concede una patente, las oficinas de propiedad industrial de la
mayor!a de los paises que tienen esas oficinas publica un docurnento de patente,
lo que significa que se hacen capias de ella y se venden a cualquier persona que
desee adquirirlas. En algunos paises, las solicitudes se publican de ordinaria
dentro de los 18 meses despues de haber sido registradas (o, si se han registrado
solicitudes para la misma invenci6n en otros paises, dentro de los 18 meses a
partir del primer registro).
4,
La especificaci6n de la patente, es decir, el docurnento concedido y la solicitud de la patente, que es la base para la misma, son redactadas en principia por
el solicitante. Muchas solicitudes contienen dibujos para explicar mejor la invenci6n. La mayoria de las leyes de patentes requieren que la solicitud contenga
"reivindicaciones" y una "descripci6n". Las reivindicaciones declaran en lenguaje
concise lo esencial de la invencion, es decir, los elementos que la distinguen de
lo que ya es conocido. Mas exactamente, las reivindicaciones declaran la nueva
materia para la que el solicitante desea protecci6n. La des.cripci6n explica la
invenci6n (las reivindicaciones) indicando el "estado de la tecnica", es decir,
lo que ya era conocido antes de hacerse la invenci6n, describiendo el avance de
conocimiento que representa la invenci6n y dando informacion adicional, que es
Gtil en el momenta de decidir si la invencion es realmente nueva. Generalmente
se requiere que la solicitud sea suficientemente clara y completa para que una
persona especializada en la esfera de la industria a la que se refiere pueda,
sabre la base de la solicitud, producir el ingenio o realizar el proceso en ella
descrito ("ejecutar la invencion"). En el anexo I se muestra una patente de los
Estados Unidos y en el anexo II las reivindicaciones de la solicitud correspondiente, Por estos anexos puede verse que la reivindicacion principal se ha limitado considerablemente y algunas reivindicaciones se han cancelado en la patente.
Sin embargo, en este caso no se han carnbiado la descripcion ni los dibujos.
5.
En este estudio se utilizara la expresion "documentos
para los docurnentos que constituyen patentes o solicitudes
veces tarnbien para los documentos relatives a certificados
de utilidad y otros documentos que normalmente se incluyen
queda de las principales oficinas de patentes.
de
de
de
en
patentes", no solo
patentes, sino a
inventor, modelos
los fondos de bus-
Ventajas de los docurnentos de patentes como fuente de informacion tecnologica
6.
Las ventajas de los docurnentos de patentes como fuente de informacion tecno16gica apareceran ser las siguientes:
a)
Los docurnentos de patentes llevan "simbolos de clasificaci6n". Para los
fines de mantener fondos de busqueda y realizar busquedas del estado de la tecnica,
las oficinas de patentes clasifican los documentos de patentes segun el campo, o
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pagina 4
campos, de tecnologia con el que se relaciona su contenido. Existe un nfirnero de
sistemas diferentes de clasificaci6n nacional. Se ha establecido una Clasificaci6n Internacional de Patentes (IPC) por un arreglo intergubernamental y es
aplicada en la actualidad por lo menos en 40 oficinas de patentes. Esta clasificaci6n permite la recuperaci6n de los docurnentos de patentes que pertenecen a un
campo determinado de la tecnologia.
b)
Los docurnentos de patentes !levan una fecha de la que se pueden sacar
conclusiones sabre la antigliedad de una invenci6n y la cuesti6n de si las invenciones que describen se hallan aun legalmente protegidas. Si ya no son legalmente
protegidas, pueden ser utilizadas sin el consentimiento del poseedor de la patente.
c)
Los docurnentos de patentes tienen una presentaci6n relativamente uniforrne
en lo que se refiere a la composici6n y a los datos bibliograficos, y frecuentemente tienen dibujos aclaratorios. Las reivindicaciones indican cual puede ser
la esencia de la invenci6n. Dado que la descripci6n debe ser tal que el especialista pueda realizar la invenci6n en base al docurnento de patente, la consulta de
docurnentos de patentes permite su realizaci6n, siempre en teoria, y a menudo en
la practica.
d)
Los docurnentos de patentes divulgan inforrnaci6n tecnol6gica porque describen las invenciones con arreglo a las exigencias de la ley de patentes aplicable y porque indican la novedad y la actividad inventiva reivindicadas mediante
referencia al estado actual de la tecnica. Son, por tanto, fuente de inforrnaci6n
no s6lo sabre lo que es nuevo (la invenci6n) sino tarnbien sabre lo que es conocido
y, en muchos casas, dan una resefia hist6rica, en forma resurnida, del progreso
tecnol6gico en el campo con el que se relacionan.
e)
Los docurnentos de patentes divulgan la inforrnaci6n antes que otras fuentes
docurnentales de informaci6n tecnol6gica, tales como revistas t€cnicas. Por lo
menos en algunos de los paises en lo que se hacen solicitudes de invenciones importantes, los docurnentos son rapidamente publicados (desde unos 3 meses despues
del registro de la solicitud en el pais, a 18 meses despues de la primera solicitud
en cualquier pais) • Esta publicaci6n de los docurnentos tiene como finalidad compensar el largo retraso en el examen de las solicitudes. El publico debe tener
acceso a las invenciones dentro de un plaza de tiempo razonable.
f)
Muchos docurnentos de patentes contienen un extracto. Los extractos dan
una idea general del contenido del docurnento en unos segundos o minutes y, en
cualquier caso, en mucho menos tiempo que el necesario leyendo todo el texto del
docurnento de patente.
g)
Los docurnentos de patentes que pertenecen a la misma familia*estan frecuenternente en varios idiomas diferentes. El lector puede elegir el docurnento que esta
en el idioma que le es m3s familiar.
h)
Los documentos de patentes indican el nornbre y la direcci6n del solicitante, del receptor de la patente y del inventor, o al menos uno o dos de ellos.
ESta5 indicaciones permiten a un licenciatario potencial contactar a las personas
concernidas para ver en que condiciones podria ser autorizado a explotar la
invenci6n.
i)
Los docurnentos de patentes que pertenecen a una determinada subdivisi6n
de la clasificaci6n contienen un surninistro altamente concentrado de informaci6n
en general tecnicamente avanzada sabre el campo tecnol6gico respective.
j)
Los docurnentos de patentes a menudo contienen inforrnaci6n que no seria
divulaada a traves de articulos o revistas, ya que dicha informaci6n es s6lo divulga a en consideraci6n a la protecci6n legal que la patente confiere.
k)
Los docurnentos de patentes a menudo divulgan no s6lo conceptos relatives
a la utilidad general de la invenci6n, sino generalmente tarnbien inforrnaci6n detallada sabre la posibilidad de su aplicaci6n practica en la industria.
*
Los docurnentos de patentes publicados en diferentes paises, pero relatives a
la misma invenci6n, se conocen en general como familia de patentes.
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pagina 5
i)
La mayor parte del alto coste de procesado y clasificacion de los documentos de patentes contenidos en los fondos de bfisqueda y el mantenimiento al dia
del sistema de clasificacion es soportado directamente por las oficinas de patentes
que publican gran cantidad de documentos de patentes; otros usuaries tienen acceso
al sistema de documentacion de patentes sin incurrir, ademas de sus costas como
usuaries, en el costa de mantenimiento, desarrollo y clasificacion de la base de
informacion,
Limites de la utilidad de los docurnentos de patentes como fuente de informacion
7.
Las ventajas anteriormente mencionadas son generalmente reales, perc no
siempre existen.
a)
Aunque una oficina examinadora haya concedido una patente, esto no es
una garantia de que la invencion es absolutamente nueva. Mas aun, la cuestion de
si la invencion es tal que, en la practica, sea economicamente conveniente utilizarla solo puede resolverse, sabre todo si la invencion o la esfera tecnica a que
se refiere es muy compleja, con gran experiencia en la esfera tecnica de que se
trate.
Incluso expertos altamente especializados pueden cometer errores al juzgar
esta cuestion. Es clara que la informacion puramente tecnologica contenida en los
docurnentos de patentes con frecuencia tiene que ser complementada con informacion
de otra indole (comercial o economica, por ejemplo).
b)
Aunque los docurnentos de patentes deben estar, y de ordinaria estan,
escritos de tal forma que permitan la ejecucion de la invencion basandose solo
en ellos, con frecuencia sera mas barato y mas rapido, en la practica, ejecutarla
con la cooperacion del inventor (por ejemplo, adquiriendo sus conocimientos tecnicos y sus planes mediante un contrato celebrado con el) que sin dicha cooperacion.
c)
En la mayor!a de las esferas de la tecnologia, practicamente todas las
invenciones importantes son objeto de solicitudes de patentes, perc en algunas
esferas no siempre es asi. La tecnologia nuclear, por ejemplo, no puede protegerse con patentes en algunos paises. Ademas, la nueva tecnologia no siempre es
suficientemente inventiva para que sea patentable.
d)
Una coleccion completa de las solicitudes y patentes publicadas por las
principales oficinas de patentes desde 1920 contiene unos 12 millones de docurnentos,
muchos de los cuales se refieren a invenciones de escasa o solo transitoria importancia tecnologica.
e)
Es clara que los docurnentos de patentes son utilizados primordialmente
por las oficinas de patentes para efectuar busquedas de novedad. Sin embargo,
hoy en dia, los docurnentos de patentes se utilizan tambien para otros fines, por
ejemplo para obtener informacion tecnologica. Como existen . pocas estadisticas
en esta esfera, hay que averiguar si son adecuados los sistemas de obtencion de
informacion existentes, o si se pueden introducir nuevas sistemas sin una modificacion importante y costosa de los sistemas existentes de recepcion y almacenarniento.
Los usuaries de la informacion tecnica y sus necesidades
B.
En las oficinas de patentes, los examinadores utilizan los docurnentos de
patentes para determinar la originalidad y evaluar el avance inventive (incluida
la evaluacion del avance tecnico y los resultados utiles o utilidad) de las solicitudes de patentes. Las oficinas de patentes realizan tambien busquedas del
estado de la tecnica, por ejemplo la Oficina de Patentes de Austria, sabre la
base de sus fondos clasificados.
9.
Las empresas industriales utilizan los ficheros de las oficinas de patentes
o sus propios ficheros de documentos de patentes:
a)
para identificar y localizar las tecnologias que podrian introducirse,
o los posibles proveedores (inventores, usuaries, propietarios, etc.) de esas
tecnolog!as;
b)
para la evaluacion comparativa y la seleccion entre las diversas tecnologias posibles;
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pagina 6
c)
para la aplicacion industrial de las tecnologias seleccionadas;
d)
para informacion sabre las actividades de investigacion y desarrollo de
los competidores, y guia al adoptar decisiones sabre inversiones en las actividades de investigacion y desarrollo del usuario, y en su direccion.
!~2E~E~~!9~~§_g~-!~Y~2E!S~~!§~_y_g~§~;;9±±9_JEQ~1!~~§_Q_E;!y2g2§l
10. Las instituciones publicas o privadas de investigacion y desarrollo pueden
utilizar la informacion de patentes:
a)
para planificar la investigacion y el desarrollo;
b)
para un conocimiento actualizado del desarrollo tecnologico;
c)
como material de referencia para bibliotecas tecnicas, etc.
11. Las universidades y las escuelas tecnicas pueden encontrar en los documentos
de patentes informacion tecnica util:
a)
para la investigacion basica y aplicada;
b)
como fuente para preparar material de ensefianza.
12. Es evidente que los abogados, los buscadores de patentes y los inventores
privados utilizan intensamente la informacion de patentes para fines de procedimiento de patentes (por ejemplo, al considerar si deben solicitar una patente,
al negociar con la oficina de patentes, o al impugnar la validez de las solicitudes de patentes de los competidores) •
13. Varies gobiernos han establecido, o tienen proyecto de establecer, instituciones que tienen a su disposicion colecciones muy extensas de patentes para:
a)
la toma de decisiones tecnologicas necesarias al formular y ejecutar
planes nacionales, por ejemplo para la ciencia y la tecnologia, el uso de los
recursos naturales o la industrializacion, y para
b)
examinar los acuerdos para la adquisici6n de tecnologia.
Servicios basados en documentos de patentes
14. Despues de identificar las necesidades de los usuaries, pueden concebirse
servicios para satisfacer esas necesidades dentro de las posibilidades que ofrece
el empleo de la documentacion de patentes como fuente de informacion tecnologica.
En principia, esos servicios pueden incluir:
a)
el suministro de documentos de patentes o capias de los mismos (en papel
o en microformato) ya sea para consulta en lo que respecta a cuestiones particulares o para el establecimiento y mantenimiento de colecciones locales para su
consulta in situ; esas colecciones locales podrian limitarse a determinadas esferas de tecnologia y a determinados idiomas;
b)
la difusi6n selectiva de informacion, por ejemplo breves descripciones
de interes, servicios de extractos, servicios de datos bibliograficos, etc.;
c)
respuestas a preguntas concretas formuladas por el ~uario a colecciones
centralizadas (mundiales o regionales) de documentos de patentes o ficheros de
datos bibliograficos; en el primer caso (colecciones de documentos), esas preguntas podrian adoptar la forma de solicitudes de busquedas del estado de la tecnica;
en el ultimo caso (fondos de datos bibliograficos), tendrian que limitarse a
solicitudes de listas de documentos o de informacion del tipo de los datos bibliograficos (por ejemplo, nombres de inventores o de solicitantes), y la respuesta no
contendra en si misma informacion tecnologica sino que dara una indicacion de las
posibles fuentes de dicha informacion.
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pagina 7
15. El establecimiento de servicios eficaces basados en colecciones de documentos
de patentes para los usuaries de los palses en desarrollo requiere una capacitaci6n
adecuada no s6lo del personal encargado de mantener las colecciones y proporcionar
los servicios, sino tambien de los usuaries de la informaci6n.
16. Adem~s de los fondos de busqueda utilizados en su trabajo cotidiano, algunas
oficinas de patentes mantienen juegos de fondos distintos tambien clasificados,
perc posiblemente limitados a los documentos de patentes de un n6mero menor de
paises, a efectos de busquedas realizadas por el publico. Otras oficinas de
patentes no mantienen fondos de busqueda publicos distintos, perc incluyen en
las funciones de su personal examinador la tarea de utilizar sus fondos de trabajo
para asesorar al publico.
17. Algunas oficinas realizan tambien busquedas del estado de la tecnica sabre
la base de solicitudes especiales. Estas busquedas, que no se basan en una
solicitud de patente, se denominan con frecuencia "busquedas aisladas".
[Siguen anexos]
•
•
•
•
•
•
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ANNEX I/ANEXO I
United States Patent Office
2
1
3,465,794
BAND MILL
Thomas A. McLauchlan and Eugene W. Arnold, Longview, Wash., assignors to Weyerhaeuser Company,
5
Tacoma, Wash., a corporation of Washington
Filed Feb. 23, 1966, Ser. No. 529,302
Int. Cl. B27b 13 I 12
7 Claims
U.S. Cl. 143-17
10
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A band saw apparatus having an improved supporting
bearing structure which reduces vibration of the saw
blade, allows a decrease in the overall height of the ap- 15
paratus, reduces the tensioning reaction time, and reduces
the unsupported length of the band saw. The improved
bearing structure comprises a non-rotatable, curvilinear
support having a low friction surface material over which
the saw blade is trained, the saw blade being maintained 20
substantially out of contact with the surface material by
a fluid film distributed under pressure over the surface
material through fluid passageways.
25
The present invention concerns band mills and, in particular, a brand mill with an improved band saw support
structure.
While the use of continuous band saws to cut materials
such as lumber and logs has been known for several years,
the basic band mill machine for supporting, guiding and
driving the band saw has not been changed in its configuration to any significant degree for a number of years.
A characteristic band mill includes a lower band wheel
which supports and drives the continuous band saw and
an upper band wheel which supports the upper end of the
band saw, performing the function of an idler wheel being driven solely by frictional engagement of the band
saw therewith. Such a typical band mill is shown and described in the U.S. patent to Mater, No. 3,158,184, which
issued Nov. 24, 1964.
As the upper band wheel of the typical band mill rotates, it induces certain vibrations into the band saw.
These vibrations cause the saw to produce rough and uneven cut surfaces in the material being cut. In addition,
vibrations cause wear and induce slippage and misalignment of the parts making up the band mill.
Once a cutting load is applied to the band saw by its
engagement of the material being cut, there is a deceleration of the band caused by the additional load. As a result of this deceleration and due to the moment of inertia
of the idler band wheel, a loss of tension is experienced
in the band saw above the material being cut. Consequently, the band saw has a tendency to distort laterally
until the slack in the band is taken up by means of a
tensioning device. The overall result of this variation in
lateral alignment of the band is that the material is cut
in a zigzag line until the band tension is restored. This
results either in an unusable portion of material or a
lessening in thickness of usable material. Since the idler
wheel must be dsplaced away from the driven wheel to
reduce the slack in the band saw, it is necessary that the
mechanism for accomplishing such displacement be of a
large enough size to overcome the mass of the idler wheel
for such movement. Since the idler wheel and driven
wheel must be aligned in the vertical plane for proper
operation of the band saw, the minimum distance between the centers of the two wheels is the sum of their
respective radii. Thus, the typical band mill configuration
limits the minimum unsupported distance of the band saw
in the area where the cuting operation takes place.
3,465,794
Patented Sept. 9, 1969
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
It is the object of the present invention to provide a
band mill apparatus which has an improved band saw
supporting means which reduces the vibration of the band
saw, eliminates the rotational moment of inertia of an
idler wheel and its resulting snaking action on the band
saw, decreases the overall height of the band mill, reduces
the unsupported length of the band saw, and reduces the
tensioning reaction time, thus resulting in greater accuracy
in cutting, smoother cut surfaces, reduced kerf and improved effectiveness in band mill operation.
It is a further object of this invention to provide an
improved support bearing for use in a band mill.
It is still a further object of this invention to provide
a multiple band mill system which permits close alignment between the cutting faces of adjacent band saws in
the system.
These and other related features, objects and advantages
of the present invention will become more fully apparent
as the following description is read in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a band mill constructed in accordance with the present invention, with
some parts omitted for clarity;
FIGURE 2 is a front elevation of the band mill of
FIGURE 1, with some parts omitted for clarity;
FIGURE 3 is a side elevation of another form of the
present invention;
FIGURE 4 is a partial section taken partially along
line 4-4 of FIGURE 1;
FIGURE 5 is a partial section taken substantially
along line 5-5 of FIGURE 3;
FIGURE 6 is a layout of a portion of the band support
surface constructed in accordance with the present invention;
FIGURE 7 is a side elevation of still another form of
the present invention;
FIGURE 8 is a side elevation of a system using four
of the band mills of FIGURE 7, with some parts omitted
for clarity;
FIGURE 9 is a plan view of the assembly of FIGURE
8; and
FIGURE 10 is a partial section taken substantially
along line 10-10 of FIGURE 8.
Referring to the drawings with more detail, there is
seen in FIGURES 1 and 2 the general arrangement of the
band .mill 1. The basic components of the band mill 1
are the band saw 3, the drive wheel 7, the band support
15, the band tensioning system 20, and the saw table 27.
The band saw 3 includes teeth 4 and is supported by
drive wheel 7 and band support 15. The drive wheel 7
is mounted on axle 8 and is rotated by means of a suitable
motor 9 which is supported on base 10. The band support
15 is novel in that it is keyed to axle 16 by means of key
17 in a manner so that the band support 15 is not permitted to rotate. The axle 16 is suitably supported and is
movable relative to drive wheel axle 8 by means of a
tensioning system 20. Conventional pretensioning counterweights or spring means may be provided to place a sufficient tension on the band saw 3 for proper operation. A
suitable tensioning system is disclosed in the aforementioned patent to Mater. It may include vertical guides 21
and axle supports 22 which, through the operation lifting
means 23, vertically positions the band support axle 16
relative to the drive wheel axle 8 to take up any slack
that might develop in the band saw 3.
A . saw table 27 may be provided with suitable infeed
and offbearing feed conveyors (not shown) to provide
support for the material being sawn by the band mill 1.
Suitable backup bearings 28 may be placed near the back
edge of the band 3 adjacent the saw table 27 to further
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, .
Annex I, page 2/Anexo I, pag1na
2
3,465,794
4
3
increase stability of the band saw 3 and to provide a
positive safety guard to prevent the band 3 from leaving
the band support 15.
A low friction surface 30 is provided on the curvilinear
portion of the band support 15 which is in contact with
the band saw 3. A suitable low friction surface 30 can
be provided by means of a fluid film 31 which is established by a fluid 36, such as water, being supplied to the
surface of band support 15 through fluid nozzles 32, conduits 31, and a manifold 34 which receives the lubricating
fluid 36 through a supply conduit 35. The excess lubricating fluid 36 may be caught by drip pans 37 so that it does
not interfere with the drive system of the band mill.
The operation of the first version of the improved band
mill 1 is relatively straightforward. The drive motor 9
rotates the drive axle 8 to cause the drive wheel 7 to
rotate in the direction shown by the arrow and thus moves
the band saw 3 so that it transits across the low friction
surface 30 of the band support 15 which is held so that
it will not rotate as the band saw 3 passes over it. As
material is fed to the moving band saw 3, it is cut by
means of the teeth 4. Since the band support 15 is not
rotating, there is no moment of inertia, characteristic of
the idler wheel in previously known band mills. To counteract the slack caused by the deceleration of the band
saw 3 due to the initial cutting load, the tensioning system 20 acts quickly by moving the band support 15 away
from the drive wheel 7. The passage of the band saw 3
across the low friction surface 30 of the band support 15
is virtually free of vibration.
Referring now to the modified band mill 40 as shown
in FIGURE 3, there is seen that the band saw 43 may be
reduced in length due to the reduction of the distance between the drive wheel 7 and the half-wheel band support
45. The tensioning system 50 may be of a similar construction to the tensioning system 20 shown in FIGURES
1 and 2. Similarly, the low friction curvilinear surface 55
.may be provided with a fluid film 56 which is supplied
by a fluid 36 through supply conduit 57 to manifold 58
and individual conduits 59 to the individual nozzles 60. It
should be noted that one of the major features of the
modified band mill 40 is the reduction of the unsupported
distance d between the half-wheel band support 45 and
the surface of the drive wheel 7. Another important feature of this modification is the reduction of the overall
mass of the band support 45 which provides even quicker
reaction time by means of the tensioning system 50. In
all other respects the modified band mill 40 operates in
a similar manner to the band mill 1, shown in FIGURES
1 and 2.
Referring now to FIGURE 4, there is shown a crosssection of the band support 15 along lines 4-4 in FJGURE 1. While the construction details of the band support can be varied, FIGURE 4 shows one design which
has operated successfully. This includes the provision of
edge guide 18 on one side of the band support 15 extending above its surface to provide a positive means for
retaining the band saw 3. Between the band saw 3 and
the band support 15 is the fluid film 31 which results
from the pumping of a lubricating fluid 36 through the
nozzle 32 to an opening which is defined by a low friction
surface 38 which is in direct contact with the band support 15. Neoprene has been found to be an acceptable
low friction surface material.
When the band mill has been shut down and then
started again, the saw 3 is in direct contact with the low
friction surface 38 until the fluid film 31 is established.
1t should be noted that when a band saw is used which
has teeth on both sides, a positive edge guide such as 18
cannot be used.
The low friction fluid lubrication can be accomplished
by a full-pressure system that pumps a lubricating fluid,
such as water, between the moving band saw and the low
friction bearing surface. While water is a very suitable
lubricant for band saw utilization, other working bands
5
10
15
20
25
30
33
40
~;;
50
55
60
65
70
73
and extreme weather and speed conditions might require
lubricating fluids having different physical properties than
water.
An alternate construction for the band support is the
half-wheel support 45 shown in FIGURE 5, which is a
section view through lines ~5 of FIGURE 3. Here the
low friction surface 55 is provided between the band saw
43 and the half-wheel band support 45 by means of a
fluid film 56. The fluid film 56 results from the pumping
of lubricating fluid 36 through the nozzle 60 into the
vessel formed by the low friction surfacing material 62
which is ·separated from the surface of the half-wheel
band support 45 by suitable shims 61. The cross-section
of the surface of the shims 61 is designed to stabilize and
control the lateral position of the band saw 43. As shown,
the slightly concave bed has been found to work satisfactorily. The edge of the band saw 43 remote from the
saw teeth 44 may be guided along the edge guide 46
which is secured by suitable means to the half-wheel band
support 45.
FIGURE 6 shows a layout of a portion of the low
friction surface 55 with part of the band saw 43 removed.
As shown, the low friction surface material 62 has been
partially cut away in areas adjacent to the individual
nozzles 60 to form tapered herringbone vessels 63. The
function of the vessels 63 is to distribute the lubricating
fluid 36 across the width of the low friction surface 55
as the band saw 43 moves in the direction shown by the
arrow to form fluid film 56.
To illustrate the feedom of design provided by the
low friction supports taking the place of rotating idler
wheels, FIGURE 7 shows a three-point support band mill
70. The band saw 73 is driven by conventional drive
wheel 7 which is mounted on drive axle 8. The band
saw 73 is suspended across the upper band support 75
and its low friction surface 76, and then down to the
lower band support 80 in contact with its low friction
surface 81. Low friction surface 76 for the upper band
support 75 is provided with a lubricating fluid 36, which
is supplied through conduits 77 from the manifold 78
and from the supply conduit 79. Likewise, the low friction surface 81 of the lower band support 80 is supplied
with lubricating fluid 36 through conduits 82 from the
manifold 83 and ultimately from the supply conduit 84.
The tensioning means 85 is mounted on frame 86 to
take up any slack that might develop in the band saw 73.
The material being cut by the band saw 73 is conveyed
upon the saw table 87 and the band saw 73 may be
provided with additional backup support by backup bearings 88 above and below the saw table 87. It should be
noted that the unsupported distance d' of the band saw
73 between the upper band support 75 and lower band
support 80 has been significantly reduced from that
generally known in the band mill art, thus providing a
significant increase in the stiffness of the band saw 73
in the cutting area.
The flexibility of design available when utilizing tht"
three-point support band mill 70 of FIGURE 7 is welt
illustrated in FIGURE 8 which shows a quad-band mi'l
assembly, utilizing four of the three-point support band
mills 70 to make four cuts at one time in a log. As shown,
a right forward band saw 91 is mounted· upon and driven
by drive wheel 93 and supported by upper support S5
and lower support 97. In the same vertical plane but
to the left is located left forward band saw 92 which is
mounted upon and driven by drive wheel 94 and additionally supported by upper support 96 and lower support 98. Spaced to the rear and positioned ari increment
toward the center of the sawing area of right forward
band saw 91 is right rear band saw 101 which is mounted
upon and driven by drive wheel 103 and additionally
supported by upper support 105 and lower support 107.
Jn the same vertical plane on the left side its the lefi rear
band saw 102 which is mounted upon and dtiven by drive
\\heel 104 and additionally supported by upper support
·.
·.
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Annex I, page 3/Anexo I, pagina 3
3,465,794
5
6
106 and lower support 108. All of these saws may be
moved relative to one another to cut various thicknesses
from the log 109 which is conveyed past the saws on log
table 110.
As shown in FIGURE 9, the right forward band saw
91 is positioned quite close to the right rear band saw 101
which assists in eliminating any parallel alignment variation between the right forward cut 111 and the right rear
cut 113. In a similar manner, the left forward band saw
92 is positioned close to left rear band saw 102 so as to
eliminate misalignment between the left forward cut 112
and the left rear cut 114. This is also shown on the side
elevation view illustrated in FIGURE 10. It has been
found that when combining two or more band saws to
make multiple cuts, it is advantageous to position the saws
as close together as is possible along the plane of the
cuts. By positioning the saws in this manner, as shown
in FIGURES 8 through 10, the material being cut is
given less opportunity to shift position before the successive saws can make their cuts. Because the band mills
made in accordance with the present invention are independent from large supporting wheels and axles, this
design is very well suited for use in making multiple cuts.
In one installation of a band mill having a design
substantially the same as that shown in FIGURES 1
and 2, a four-inch wide continuous band saw was operated successfully at a speed of approximately 10,000
f.p.m. The low friction surface was provided by means
of a water film which was pumped through the supply
conduit 35 at a pressure between 20 and 40 p.s.i. With
this installation, speeds as high as 18,000 f.p.m. have
been attained with a substantial reduction in the vibration
of the band and thus less kerf resulted than was the
case when the band support 15 was permitted to rotate
as an idler wheel in the manner of the conventional
band mill.
From the foregoing it is seen that all of the improved
designs of the band mill herein disclosed provide several
distinct advantages over conventional idler wheel band
mills. Most notable among these advantages is the significant reduction in the snaking of the band saw and
the resulting out-of-line cutting. This is accomplished
by the elimination of the rotating inertia of the upper
band idler wheel. A second major advantage is the
reduction of kerf width due to the reduction in the
vibration of the band, which, in addition, results in a
smoother cut surface. By using the band mill design
shown in FIGURES 3 to 10, there is a significant reduction in machine height, and an increase in band saw stiffness due to the reduction of unsupported distance for the
band. This additional stiffness .provides an additional reduction in out-of-line cutting. The reduction in weight
of the band supports permits the pretensioning devices
to attain faster reaction times, which again results in less
out-of-line cutting.
It is, therefore, seen that we have disclosed a significantly improved band mill apparatus which in operation
causes less vibration, increased accuracy, reduced kerf,
reduced overall height, and increased flexibility in arrangement and adjustment of multiple band mills.
Having thus described our invention, what we claim
and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:
1. In a band saw apparatus having a frame, a drive
wheel mounted for rotary movement on said frame, a
curvilinear saw blade support means mounted on said
frame, a saw blade trained over said drive wheel and
said support means, said su!)port means being adjustable
for varying the distance between the drive wheel and
support means, said support means comprising a nonrotatable support member including a surface of low
friction material over which said saw blade is trained,
said saw blade maintained out of contact with said low
friction surface by a fluid film.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said non-rotatable support member includes fluid passageways open
to the surface over which said saw blade is trained.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 including means for delivering fluid under pressure through said fluid passageways.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said surface of
low friction material is contoured in a concave crosssection.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said surface of
low friction material includes a neoprene surface material
supported by said support means and defining tapered
herringbone vessels.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support
means includes two saw blade support members disposed
one above and one below the cutting area of said band
saw.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the distance between the point on said support means most remote from
said drive wheel and the point on said drive wheel most
remote from said support means is less than the sum
of the diameter of said support means and said drive
wheel.
References Cited
UNITED STATES PATENTS
5
1o
15
20
25
30
;;:;
40
41i
81,434
721,966
2,683,635
110
3,097,971
3,156,399
3,225,801
55
8/1868"' Thompson.
3/1903 Prescott et al. -------- 143-21
7/1954 Willcox.
7/1963 Carlisle et al.
11/1964 Wadey.
12/1965 Dunn et al. --------- 143-160
DONALD R. SCHRAN, Primary Examiner
.·
.·
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Annex I, page 4/Anexo I, pagina 4
\
Sept. 9, 1969
T.A.McLAUCHLAN ETAL
3,465,794
BAND MILL
Filed Feb. 23, 1966
3 Sheets-Sheet 1
43
J,\iVLVIURS
TIIOMAS A. f1CLA(JCI!L4tl
eUGENE W. ARNOLJ)
LJ~'!£~~
~~"$~
ATTOR/'IE.YS
HW/2
Annex I, page 5/Anexo I, pagina 5
Sept. 9, 1969
T.A.MCLAUCHLAN
3,465,794
ETA~
BAND MILL
Filed Feb . 23 , 1966
~
Sheets-Sheet 2
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8
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THOMAS A.
I : . \'L.\"i UF<S
/'1~AUCIILAN
~ W. AR!YOLD
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ATTORNEYS
HW/2
Annex I, page 6/Anexo I, pagina 6
Sept. 9, 1969
T.A.M~LAUCHLAN
ETAL
•
3,465,794
BAND MILL
3 Sheets-Sheet 3
Filed Feb. 23, 1966
•
•
10/
I ,'.'VL:NTORS
TIIOHAS A. MC'LAL/CIILA!i
"'Eg§Eijf W. ARtlalJ
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[Annex II follows/Sigue Anexo II]
HW/2
'.
ANNEX II/ANEXO II
What is claimed is :
1.
A band mill comprising:
a base, a drive wheel mounted
on said base, an endless band saw, nonrotating support means, said
drive wheel and said support means being positioned relative to
each other and spaced at a distance from each other for supporting
5
said band saw therebetween, said support means including a low
friction surface in sliding contact with said band saw.
2.
The band mill of Claim l wherein:
said low friction
surface includes a fluid film maintained between said band
s~w
and
said support means.
3.
The band mill of Claim 2 wherein:
said fluid film
is supported on a surface material which is contoured in a concave
cross-section.
4.
The band mill of Claim l including:
tensioning means
for moving said support means relative to said drive wheel.
5.
The band mill of Claim l wherein:
the distance
between the point on said support means most remote from said drive
wheel and the point on said drive wheel most remote from said support means is less than the sum of the diameter of said support
5
means and said drive wheel.
6.
The band mill of Claim l wherein: said low friction
surface is curvilinear.
7.
The band mill of Claim l wherein:
said support means
include two supports disposed one above and one below the cutting
area of said band saw.
8.
surface
The band mill of Claim l wherein:
in~ludes
said low friction
a neoprene surface material supported by said sup-
port means and defining tapered herringbone vessels.
•
HW/2
Annex II, page 2/Anexo II, pagina 2
9.
The band mill o·f Claim 8 wherein:
said vessels are
supplied a lubricating fluid under pressure to form a fluid film
between said band saw and said support means.
10.
A method for reducing the band saw vibration in a
band mill having a band saw supported by a drive wheel and other
support means comprising the following steps :
a) providing on
s a id other suppor t me a ns a low friction surface in sliding contact
5
with said band saw;
b) locking said other support means to
prevent its rota t ion .
11.
The method of
Clai~
10 wherein the sequence of the
steps is reversed .
[ End of Annex II a nd of d ocument ]