Abstract: A load former includes a frame, a loading zone bounded on a first end by a stop wall having a stop surface lying in a plane and a rear wall at a rear side of the frame, and a cookie sheet slidably supported by the frame for travel along a path perpendicular to the plane. The path includes portions on first and second sides of the plane, and a portion of the cookie sheet in the second portion of the path defines a bottom of the loading zone. A platform extends over the first portion of the path, and a top wall is vertically spaced from the platform to define a storage space between the top wall and the platform. The storage space has a front opening so that it is accessible from the front of the load former.

Abstract: A bundle breaker has downstream and upstream breaking supports, first and second platens located over the respective breaking supports and first and second actuators to move the platens to selectively clamp portions of a log against the breaking supports. A third actuator shifts the downstream breaking support relative to the upstream breaking support from a first position to a second position to break a bundle from the log. A scrap chute is mounted below a junction of the upstream and downstream breaking support to catch scrap material falling between the upstream support and the downstream breaking support. Each time the downstream breaking conveyor is shifted to the second position, scrap in the chute is jolted and is shifted toward a discharge opening of the scrap chute and, optionally, into a scrap drawer.

Abstract: A bundle breaker includes first and second platens located above upstream and downstream breaking supports and first and second actuators configured to move the platens to selectively clamp logs between the platens and the breaking supports. A third actuator moves the second breaking support relative to the first breaking support to break bundles off the log. A foam sheet is attached to the bottom of each of the first and second platens and is configured to be compressed when the logs are clamped. The bottom surfaces of the foam sheets are preferably at least partially coated with an elastomeric coating or at least partially covered by an elastomeric sheet.

Abstract: A load former includes a frame, a loading zone bounded on a first end by a stop wall having a stop surface lying in a plane and a rear wall at a rear side of the frame, and a cookie sheet slidably supported by the frame for travel along a path perpendicular to the plane. The path includes portions on first and second sides of the plane, and a portion of the cookie sheet in the second portion of the path defines a bottom of the loading zone. A platform extends over the first portion of the path, and a top wall is vertically spaced from the platform to define a storage space between the top wall and the platform. The storage space has a front opening so that it is accessible from the front of the load former.

Abstract: A bundle breaker includes upstream and downstream breaking supports, platens over the breaking supports and actuators for moving the platens toward and away from the breaking supports. Each of the platens includes a plurality of air bladders each having a bottom contact surface facing one of the breaking supports. The actuators move the platens to selectively clamp a log between the bottom contact surfaces of the air bladders and the breaking supports. A third actuator shifts an input end of the downstream breaking support relative to an output end of the upstream breaking support from a first position to a second position to break a first portion of the log from a second portion of the log.

Abstract: A lockout device for selectively blocking linear movement of a movable frame member relative to a fixed frame member includes a lock tab pivotably mountable to the fixed frame member and having a contact surface configured to slidably engage a slide surface of the movable frame member when the lock tab has a first orientation, the movable frame member including a stop surface at one end of the slide surface, a holder for releasably holding the lock tab in a second orientation with the contact surface spaced from the slide surface, and a body mountable to the movable frame member and configured such that movement of the movable frame member in a first direction causes the body pivot the lock tab into the second orientation and movement of the movable member in a second direction causes the body to pivot the lock tab into the first orientation.

Abstract: A bundle breaker including first and second platen assemblies mounted above upstream and downstream breaking supports with first and second actuators for moving the platen assemblies toward and away from the breaking supports and a third actuator for moving the downstream breaking support to perform a breaking operation. The first platen assembly and/or the second platen assembly each includes an upper platen assembly and a lower platen assembly supported by the upper platen assembly, the upper platen assembly including an upper platen and a support for the upper platen and the lower platen assembly including a lower platen supported for movement relative to the upper platen in the vertical direction and relative to the upper platen in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A bundle breaker has upstream and downstream breaking supports each having an input end and an output end. A first platen is located above the upstream breaking support, and a second platen is located above the downstream breaking support, and each platen has an actuator for moving the respective platen toward and away from the breaking supports to selectively clamp a log between the platens and the breaking supports. A third actuator is 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. The first actuator and/or the second actuator and/or the third actuator includes at least one servo motor.

Abstract: A bundle breaker has upstream and downstream breaking supports each having an input end and an output end. A first platen is located above the upstream breaking support, and a second platen is located above the downstream breaking support, and each platen has an actuator for moving the respective platen toward and away from the breaking supports to selectively clamp a log between the platens and the breaking supports. A third actuator is 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. The first actuator and/or the second actuator and/or the third actuator includes at least one servo motor.

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.

Abstract: A bundle breaker includes upstream and downstream breaking supports, platens over the breaking supports and actuators for moving the platens toward and away from the breaking supports. Each of the platens includes a plurality of air bladders each having a bottom contact surface facing one of the breaking supports. The actuators move the platens to selectively clamp a log between the bottom contact surfaces of the air bladders and the breaking supports. A third actuator shifts an input end of the downstream breaking support relative to an output end of the upstream breaking support from a first position to a second position to break a first portion of the log from a second portion of the log.

Abstract: A bundle breaker includes an upstream breaking section and a downstream breaking section and a platen over each breaking section for clamping a log to the respective breaking section. First and second actuators are configured to move the first and second platens, and a third actuator is configured to move the downstream breaking section relative to the upstream breaking section to break a bundle from a log. An input conveyor is located at the input end of the upstream breaking section and has a first portion that is foldable relative to a second portion to create a gap in the bundle breaker through which a worker can pass.

Abstract: A load former includes a frame including a stop wall, a cookie sheet having a top surface parallel to a plane and being movable between an extended position a retracted position relative to the stop wall, and a first platform shiftable between raised and lowered positions relative to the plane. The first platform is positioned relative to the frame such that when the cookie sheet is in the extended position a first portion of the cookie sheet directly overlies the upper surface of the platform and when the cookie sheet in the retracted position no portion of the cookie sheet directly overlies the platform. Also a lift having a lift support and a second platform, the lift being movable relative to the plane and the lift platform begin extendable and retractable relative to the first platform.

Abstract: A load former includes a loading zone, a stacking zone adjacent to the loading zone, a platform in the stacking zone, a first drive configured to raise and to lower the platform, and a cookie sheet having a first portion and a second portion adjacent to the first portion. The cookie sheet is shiftable from a first position in which the first portion of the cookie sheet forms a floor of the loading zone and the second portion of the cookie sheet is not located in the loading zone or in the stacking zone and a second position in which the first portion of the cookie sheet extends directly above the platform in the stacking zone and the second portion of the cookie sheet forms the floor of the loading zone. A second drive shifts the cookie sheet between the first position and the second position.