Adjustable break bundle breaker

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021308898-A1
Application number	US-202117220973-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 2, 2021
Priority date	Apr 6, 2020
Publication date	Oct 7, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A bundle breaker has upstream and downstream breaking supports and first and second platens located above the breaking supports that are configured to be raised and lowered by actuators to selectively clamp a log between the platens and the breaking supports. A third actuator applies a shifting force to the downstream breaking support to shift an input end of the downstream breaking support relative to an output end of the upstream breaking support to break a second portion of the log from a first portion of the log. A controller controls the first actuator and the second actuator and the third actuator. Also, the controller is configured to stop or reduce the application of the shifting force in response to a determination that the second portion of the log has broken off the first portion of the log.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A bundle breaker comprising:
an upstream breaking support having an input end and an output end, a first platen located above the upstream breaking support, a first actuator operably connected to the first platen and configured to shift the first platen toward a raised position above the upstream breaking support and toward a lowered position above the upstream breaking support to selectively clamp a first portion of a log between the first platen and the upstream breaking support, a downstream breaking support having an input end and an output end, a second platen located above the downstream breaking support, a second actuator operably connected to the second platen and configured to shift the second platen toward a raised position above the downstream breaking support and toward a lowered position above the downstream breaking support to selectively clamp a second portion of the log between the second platen and the downstream breaking support, a third actuator configured to apply a shifting force to the downstream breaking support to shift the input end of the downstream breaking support relative to the output end of the upstream breaking support from a first position toward a second position to break the second portion of the log from the first portion of the log, and a controller configured to control the first actuator and the second actuator and the third actuator, wherein the controller is configured to stop or reduce the application of the shifting force in response to a determination that the second portion of the log has broken off the first portion of the log.

2 . The bundle breaker according to claim 1 ,
wherein the downstream breaking support comprises a downstream breaking conveyor.

3 . The bundle breaker according to claim 2 , wherein the upstream breaking support comprises an upstream breaking conveyor.

4 . The bundle breaker according to claim 1 ,
wherein the third actuator comprises a servo motor.

5 . The bundle breaker according to claim 1 ,
wherein the determination that the second portion of the log has broken off the first portion of the log is based on a signal indicating a torque produced by the third actuator.

6 . The bundle breaker according to claim 1 ,
wherein the determination that the second portion of the log has broken off the first portion of the log is based on a signal indicating a current or a voltage of the third actuator.

7 . The bundle breaker according to claim 1 ,
including a sensor configured to detect that the second portion of the log has broken off the first portion of the log and to send a signal to the controller to indicate that the second portion of the log has broken off the first portion of the log.

8 . The bundle breaker according to claim 7 ,
wherein the sensor is an optical sensor.

9 . The bundle breaker according to claim 7 ,
wherein the sensor is a vibration sensor.

10 . The bundle breaker according to claim 7 ,
wherein the sensor is a vibration sensor or an acceleration sensor.

11 . The bundle breaker according to claim 7 ,
wherein the sensor comprises a sensor of a 2-D sensing system.

12 . A method comprising:
providing a bundle breaker according to claim 1 , positioning a log on the bundle breaker such that a first bundle of the log is supported by the downstream breaking support and a second bundle of the log is supported by the upstream breaking support, controlling the first actuator to shift the first platen toward the lowered position of the first platen, controlling the second actuator to shift the second platen toward the lowered position of the second platen, controlling the third actuator to apply the shifting force to the downstream breaking support, and stopping or reducing the application of the shifting force in response to the determination that the second portion of the log has broken off the first portion of the log.

13 . A method comprising:
providing a bundle breaker according to claim 7 , positioning a log on the bundle breaker such that a first bundle of the log is supported by the downstream breaking support and a second bundle of the log is supported by the upstream breaking support, controlling the first actuator to shift the first platen toward the lowered position of the first platen, controlling the second actuator to shift the second platen toward the lowered position of the second platen, controlling the third actuator to apply the shifting force to the downstream breaking support, and stopping or reducing the application of the shifting force in response to the signal.

14 . The bundle breaker according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first platen includes at least one air bladder configured to be compressed by the first platen clamping the first portion of the log between first platen and the upstream breaking support.

15 . A bundle breaker comprising:
an upstream breaking support having an input end and an output end, a first platen located above the upstream breaking support, a first actuator operably connected to the first platen and configured to shift the first platen toward a raised position above the upstream breaking support and toward a lowered position above the upstream breaking support to selectively clamp a first portion of a log between the first platen and the upstream breaking support, a downstream breaking support having an input end and an output end, a second platen located above the downstream breaking support, a second actuator operably connected to the second platen and configured to shift the second platen toward a raised position above the downstream breaking support and toward a lowered position above the downstream breaking support to selectively clamp a second portion of the log between the second platen and the downstream breaking support, a third actuator configured to apply a shifting force to the downstream breaking support to shift the input end of the downstream breaking support relative to the output end of the upstream breaking support from a first position toward a second position to break the second portion of the log from the first portion of the log, a controller configured to control the first actuator and the second actuator and the third actuator, and a sensor configured to produce a signal indicative of a torque produced by the third actuator or a speed of the third actuator, wherein the controller is configured to stop the application of the shifting force in response to a predetermined change in the signal.

16 . The bundle breaker according to claim 15 ,
wherein the downstream breaking support comprises a downstream breaking conveyor.

17 . The bundle breaker according to claim 16 , wherein the upstream breaking support comprises an upstream breaking conveyor.

18 . The bundle breaker according to claim 15 ,
wherein the third actuator comprises a servo motor.

Assignees

• A G Stacker Inc

Inventors

• Allen Jr Clarence C
• Blosser Jerry
• STEMPIHAR Eric
• Senger Randall Donn
• Wunder Joseph

Classifications

• B26D5/007 Primary

  Control means comprising cameras, vision or image processing systems · CPC title

• B26D7/04

  providing adjustable clamping pressure · CPC title

• B26F2210/02

  of stacked sheets · CPC title

• B26D7/0625

  by endless conveyors, e.g. belts · CPC title

• B26F3/002 Primary

  Precutting and tensioning or breaking · CPC title