US 12,011,844 B2
Adjustable break bundle breaker
Clarence C. Allen, Jr., Mt. Crawford, VA (US); Jerry Blosser, Crimora, VA (US); Eric Stempihar, Rockingham, VA (US); Randall Donn Senger, Mount Sidney, VA (US); and Joseph Wunder, Lexington, VA (US)
Assigned to A. G. STACKER INC., Weyers Cave, VA (US)
Filed by A. G. Stacker Inc., Weyers Cave, VA (US)
Filed on Apr. 2, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/220,973.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/005,632, filed on Apr. 6, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0308898 A1, Oct. 7, 2021
Int. Cl. B26F 3/00 (2006.01); B26D 5/00 (2006.01); B26D 5/08 (2006.01); B26D 7/06 (2006.01); B26D 7/18 (2006.01); B26D 7/32 (2006.01)
CPC B26F 3/002 (2013.01) [B26D 5/007 (2013.01); B26D 5/086 (2013.01); B26D 7/0625 (2013.01); B26D 7/0675 (2013.01); B26D 7/1827 (2013.01); B26D 7/32 (2013.01); B26F 2210/02 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
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 downstream breaking support and the second platen relative to the upstream breaking support from a first position toward a second position until the second portion of the log is broken from the first portion of the log,
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, and
a controller configured to control the first actuator, 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, and
wherein the sensor comprise a sensor of a 2-D sensing system.