Bundle breaker improvement

• US 6,655,566 B1
• Filed: 08/28/2002
• Issued: 12/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Martin Family Trust
• Original Assignee: Martin Family Trust
• Inventors: Talken, Daniel J., Martin, Merrill D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoap, Allan N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alie, Ghassem
• Application Number:
  US10/229,891
• Time in Patent Office: 461 Days
• Field of Search: 225/101, 225/100, 225/102, 225/103, 225/10, 225/96.5, 225/93, 225/106, 225/1
• US Class Current: 225/101
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/1827 by tearing
• CPC Class Codes: B26F 3/002 Precutting and tensioning or breaking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 225/357 Relatively movable clamps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 225/364 Axial twisters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 225/371 Movable breaking tool

Abstract

An improvement in a bundle breaker having first and second adjacent but longitudinally spaced upper and lower clamping surfaces for breaking progressively a bundle of sheets along a weakened plane from a log. The improvement includes first and second compliance structures positioned between the first and second upper and lower clamping surfaces. The first and second compliance structures include a device for detecting the height of the log and a variation setting device for reducing the distance between the upper and lower clamping surface a selected increment after detecting the height of the log. The compliance structures preferably include fluid pressurized structures which not only detect the height of the highest log when a plurality of logs in side by side relation are broken simultaneously but also apply even pressures to all of the logs and bundles during clamping and breaking even though one or more may have different heights.

Claims

1. An improvement in a bundle breaker for separating bundles from a log having a generally planar top surface, said log including a plurality of sheets each having a generally planar top surface and each sheet is formed with at least one weakened line, said weakened lines are vertically aligned in said log forming a weakened plane in said log, said bundle breaker including a first conveyor for conveying said log and having an upstream end for receiving said log and a downstream end, and a second conveyor having an upstream end positioned immediately adjacent to said downstream end of said first conveyor providing a gap therebetween defining a bundle breaking plane, said bundle breaker including first clamp means mounted for vertical reciprocating movement above said first conveyor, and second clamp means mounted above said second conveyor for vertical reciprocating movement in relation to said second conveyor and said second conveyor and said second clamp means mounted for conjoint pivotal movement in relation to said bundle breaking plane for progressively breaking a bundle from said log along said weakened plane in said log, said improvement comprising:

a. a first compliance structure mounted on said first clamp means including,

(1) a first fluid pressurized structure having a first flexible member presenting a first engagement area for operative engagement with an upstream portion of said generally planar top surface of said log and on the upstream side of said weakened plane in said log; and

b. a second compliance structure mounted on said second clamp means including,

(1) a second fluid pressurized structure having a second flexible member presenting a second engagement area for operative engagement with a downstream portion of said generally planar top surface of said log and on the downstream side of said weakened plane in said log.

2. An improvement in a bundle breaker as defined in claim 1 wherein:

a. said first and second conveyors have a width sufficient to simultaneously transfer and support a plurality of logs in side by side relation; and

b. said first and second compliance structures have a width sufficient to simultaneously engage a plurality of logs in side by side relation.

3. An improvement in a bundle breaker as defined in claim 2 wherein:

a. said first and second compliance structures respectively having first and second fluid pressurized structures for engaging a plurality of logs in side by side relation with at least one log having a height greater than at least one other log.

4. An improvement in a bundle breaker as defined in claim 1 wherein:

a. said first and second flexible members have a width extending substantially the width of said logs and in close proximity to said weakened plane in said log.

5. An improvement in a bundle breaker as defined in claim 1 comprising:

a. said first and second fluid pressurized structures are each formed with a generally planar upper rigid wall affixed to said first and second clamp means, and a depending perimeter wall affixed to and extending downwardly from said generally planar upper rigid wall of said first and second fluid pressurized structures;

b. said first and second flexible members are joined to said respective perimeter walls in pressure sealing engagement therewith; and

c. said first and second engagement areas of said first and second flexible members each present a substantially planar unbroken surface area with infinite indentation flexibility upon the application of forces to any portion of said substantially planar unbroken surface area.

6. An improvement in a bundle breaker as defined in claim 1 or claim 2 comprising:

a. means for varying the pressure in each of said first and second fluid pressurized structures.

7. An improvement in a bundle breaker as defined in claim 1 or claim 2 comprising:

a. a plurality of first and second closely spaced rigid members operatively engaged by said first and second flexible members and having generally flat portions for engaging said logs.

8. An improvement in a bundle breaker as defined in claim 1 comprising:

a. said plurality of first and second rigid members extend generally in the longitudinal direction of said log.

9. An improvement in a bundle breaker as defined in claim 1 comprising:

a. first limiting means limiting the vertical movement of said first and second plurality of rigid members.

10. An improvement in a bundle breaker as defined in claim 1 comprising

a. second limiting means limiting the horizontal movement of said first and second plurality of rigid members.

11. An improvement in a bundle breaker as defined in claim 9 comprising:

a. said first limiting means including a generally planar rigid member having a strength sufficient to maintain a generally planar surface during maximum clamping force; and

b. a plurality of first c-shaped members arranged in parallel separated positions parallel to said rigid members;

c. a plurality of second c-shaped members interlocking with said first c-shaped members; and

d. each of said rigid members is individually attached to one of said second c-shaped members.

12. An improvement in a bundle breaker as defined in claim 5 comprising:

a. said generally planar upper rigid walls of said first and second fluid pressurized structures are each slidably affixed to said respective first and second clamp means for movement parallel to the direction of travel of said logs;

b. gear engagement means mounted respectively on said first and second fluid pressure structures; and

c. control means operatively engaging each of said gear engagement means for selectively separating said first and second pressurized structures relative to each other, and at right angles and relative to said bundle breaking plane, and along an axis parallel to the direction of movement of said logs.

13. An improvement in a bundle breaker as defined in claim 1 wherein:

a. said second conveyor and said second fluid pressurized structure each have a length to receive and hold at least two bundles broken successively from a single bundle before discharging at least one of said bundles from said second conveyor.

14. An improvement in a bundle breaker as defined in claim 2 wherein:

a. said second conveyor and said second fluid pressurized structure each have a length sufficient to receive and hold at least two or more rows of bundles broken successively from a plurality of logs in side by side relation before discharging at least one of said rows of bundles from said second conveyor.

15. An improvement in a bundle breaker as defined in claim 1 comprising:

a. means for transmitting a difference in air pressure in at least said first fluid pressurized structure to a computer means when said first fluid pressurized structure first contacts said log when said first clamp means is lowered.

16. An improvement in a bundle breaker for shearing progressively a bundle of sheets along a weakened plane from a log, said bundle breaker including first and second adjacent but longitudinally spaced upper and lower clamping surfaces, the improvement comprising:

a. first and second compliance structures positioned between said first and second, upper and lower clamping surfaces;

b. said first and second compliance structures including first and second detection means detecting the height of said log;

c. variation setting means reducing the distance between said upper and lower clamping surfaces a selected increment after detecting the height of said log.

17. An improvement in a bundle breaker as defined in claim 16 wherein:

a. said first and second compliance structures having a width substantially engaging the width of a plurality of logs in a row;

b. at least one of said logs in said row having a height greater than said other logs;

c. said detection means is capable of detecting said log having the greatest height; and

d. said variation setting means reducing the distance between said upper and lower clamping surfaces a selected increment after detecting said log of greatest height.