The Pinnacle log singulator is robust and made to order.
Ask a seasoned sawmiller about value-adding at the mill, and the immediate answer is, “it starts in the log yard”. From the gate to the infeed, the purpose of the logyard is to kickstart the process of recovering costs through efficient log handling, scaling, sorting and generating data for optimal wetmill operations.
“The key to minimising costs and recovering the highest value is log yard efficiency,” says Neil Murray, managing director of Pinnacle Systems Automation (Pinnacle-SA). The company is a South African manufacturer and supplier of sawmilling machines, equipment and systems solutions.
“Scanning and sorting logs into different dimension classes produces data that improves the overall efficiency of the sawmill,” Murray advises.
“Analysis of the data provides records and trends of log distribution by size and volume processed through the log yard and entering the wetmill. It allows the wetmill manager to select the ideal cutting pattern for a batch of logs.”
Pinnacle-SA designs and manufactures the E-Tallyman scanner and sorter. The company has installed 15 modern E-Tallyman systems at Bracken Timbers (x3), Limpopo Lumber, Weather Board (x2), AP Green (x2), Northern Timbers (x3), and Tekwani Normandien, Evergreen Sawmills and Rance Timbers (x2).
The Pinnacle log sorter un-bundles and singulates logs and feeds them into the scanner on the infeed of the log-haul conveyor.
The scanner uses beam arrays to measure multiple log diameters at any required position while recording the length of the logs. It scans each log twice and classifies and allocates them to bins according to lengths or diameters. The number of bins is customer specified and determined by the number of classes needed.
The scanner’s software collects data on the volume of logs processed over time, length and diameter. The operator can view the process live, and the information is stored locally and automatically emailed from the scanner at the end of a shift.
It can also live-stream to an SQL server for data classification, protection, monitoring, reporting and alerts. An added benefit is remote viewing of production figures. Notably, the data is automatically backed-up to internal storage during a power outage.
The E-Tallyman inline log scanner and sorter system designed and manufactured by Pinnacle-SA
A log rotator is installed after the scanner when butt logs need to be orientated before entering the primary sawing machine. The rotator does quick work of repositioning by turning the logs left or right to present them either big-end or small-end on the infeed.
“Our customers all say the upgrades to their logyards produce cost savings and increases value per volume. Automated sorting improves resource allocation by reducing materials handling, improves recovery through optimised cutting patterns and increases productivity,” comments Murray.