Mills lose throughput at the infeed before they lose it anywhere else. Surge piles stall debarker lines. Gaps starve scanner feeds. The infeed rarely gets the engineering attention it deserves, and batch transfer — moving groups of logs from a deck to a continuous infeed system — is usually the weakest link.
The Linden Log Pusher Batch Feeder was built to fix that. It’s a single machine that meters batches of logs in a controlled stroke, matched to the acceptance rate of whatever comes next: a debarker, a chipper line or a log singulator.
What a Log Pusher Batch Feeder Actually Does
The name describes the function. The machine pushes a batch of logs — not one log at a time — from a deck or surge pile into the downstream system. Each stroke advances multiple logs in a single, measured movement. The log pusher is a heavy duty machine that can withstand impacts and break up log piles, taking the load off downstream equipment and extending life of capital equipment.
This is different from singulation equipment like step feeders or log ladders, which are designed to separate and present logs individually. The log pusher handles the upstream problem: getting volume off the deck and into the feed zone at a rate that matches the line.
Most mills target a steady loading window instead of maximum burst speed because stable flow protects downstream equipment. For example, a line that handles 18 to 24 logs per minute often produces better recovery and fewer stops than a line that swings between 10 and 30 logs per minute.
Where it fits in the mill layout:
- Between log decks and debarker infeed lines
- At surge pile discharge points requiring controlled flow
- Feeding chipper lines that need consistent volume
- Any transfer where bulk accumulation creates feeding problems
How the Machine Is Built
The Linden Log Pusher Batch Feeder uses a two-step, full-face HD step design powered by an electric drive and torque tube. The balanced electric drive provides efficient, consistent stroke force without the maintenance overhead of hydraulics.
Key design features:
- Heavy-duty steps — move multiple logs per stroke
- Extreme impact resistance, low maintenance
- Electric drive torque tube — balanced design, smooth operation
- Reinforced steel frame — built for high-shock, continuous-use conditions
- Self-cleaning design — reduces bark and debris buildup in the steps
- Handles any log length; diameters to 36″ and larger
- Optional batch control sensors — for automated flow regulation and PLC integration
The frame is designed to absorb the shock loads that come with real log mixes: frozen bark, butt flare, short bolts, and dense hardwood. Light structure is a common failure point on batch-transfer equipment. Ours isn’t.
Sizing and Setup
The right configuration depends on log diameter range, species density, deck geometry, and the target feed rate of the downstream machine. We ask for that information before we finalize anything.
What drives the design:
- Minimum, average, and maximum log diameter
- Log length range
- Downstream machine acceptance rate (logs per minute or feet per minute)
- Loader dump frequency and surge volume
- Any known problem logs: crotches, heavy sweep, frozen loads
The machine is available in a double-acting configuration, with up to 77″ stroke.
Controls, sensors, and automation that actually help
Simple controls often outperform complicated logic because operators can diagnose problems faster and maintenance teams can restore production with less delay. The control package should react quickly, yet it should remain easy to understand on a night shift.
Useful control features:
- Variable frequency drives for smooth acceleration and deceleration
- Photo eyes or radar sensors that confirm log presence
- Interlocks that prevent the feeder from releasing into a blocked transfer
- Manual jog functions for cleanup and troubleshooting
- Clear HMI screens with fault history and cycle counts
If the line stops 6 times per shift for 4 minutes each, the mill loses 24 minutes of production. On a line that averages 20 logs per minute, that equals about 480 missed log opportunities in one day across two shifts. Controls that prevent only one-third of those stops can pay back quickly.
Many mills improve these control points as part of a broader sawmill infeed system upgrade for higher output, especially when old equipment still has solid structure but weak coordination.
Common Infeed Problems This Machine Solves
Most mills that contact us about infeed performance are dealing with one or more of these:
- Surge piles that overwhelm the debarker infeed after the loader dumps
- Gaps in the infeed caused by uncontrolled deck discharge
- Manual intervention by the loader operator to manage the flow
- Downstream equipment running in stop-start cycles instead of a steady state
- Transfer points that jam because logs arrive in bunches
- Log singulators incur damage and wear from log impact
The log pusher addresses these at the source. Controlled stroke timing and adjustable cycle rate let the machine match the discharge pace to downstream demand. Optional sensors close the loop automatically.
Integration with Other Linden Equipment
The log pusher is often one component in a larger infeed system. In mills where logs need to be singulated after batch transfer, it feeds into a step feeders or log ladder.
Linden designs these systems as a whole, not as a collection of standalone machines. Transfer geometry and control coordination between machines are all part of what we engineer when a project involves multiple pieces.
What to Ask Before You Buy
If you’re evaluating batch transfer equipment, a few questions matter more than the spec sheet:
- Is machine geometry matched to log size and feed requirements?
- Is the drive sized for peak load, not just average load?
- How does the machine handle bark buildup and debris in cold conditions?
- What does maintenance access look like during production?
- Can controls integrate with your existing PLC and downstream equipment?
We’ve been building infeed equipment for sawmills for over 50 years. If you’re troubleshooting an infeed problem or planning an upgrade, we’re straightforward to talk to. Contact us at sales@linfab.com or (250) 561-1181.
Frequently asked questions
A log pusher batch feeds logs in controlled increments so the next process or machine receives a steady supply instead of random surges.
Frequent starvation, bunching, rollback, stalled transfers, and heavy loader correction usually show that the deck, pusher, or feeder lacks proper capacity or timing.
Many mills see steadier flow and a 10% to 25% lift in effective infeed performance after they correct timing, transfer geometry, and equipment matching.
Control matters more because stable release and clean transfers usually deliver higher effective output than burst speed.
Ask how the design handles your full log range, peak surge load, transfer points, control logic, maintenance access, and downstream machine rate.
