Abstract: A layboy includes an upper belt section with a plurality of transversely spaced upper belts that extend in a longitudinal direction such that bottom portions of the upper belts lie in a first plane that defines an upper boundary of a transport path through the layboy and a lower belt section having a plurality of transversely spaced lower belts that extend in the longitudinal direction such that top portions of the lower belts lie in a second plane that defines an upper boundary of the transport path. The bottom portion of one of the top belts and/or the top portion of one of the bottom belts extends away from the transport path to define a gap in the transport path at which scrap moving through the layboy can fall out of the transport path.

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 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 front end conveyor includes a frame having a first side and a second side, a lower deck and an upper deck. The lower deck includes a plurality of sheet supports, and upper portions of the sheet supports lie in a first plane. The upper deck includes a plurality of sheet guides, and the plurality of sheet supports and the plurality of sheet guides define therebetween a sheet transport path for moving sheets in a sheet transport direction toward the downstream end of the front end conveyor. A transverse scrap conveyor is mounted below the lower deck to carry scrap in a direction perpendicular to the sheet transport direction. The transverse scrap conveyor is secured to and supported by the frame such that the transverse scrap conveyor is movable with the frame as a unit.

Abstract: A front end conveyor include a lower deck having a plurality of lower sheet supports, an upstream upper deck having an upstream end at the upstream end of the front end conveyor, a downstream end and a plurality of first upper sheet guides and a downstream upper deck having an upstream end, a downstream end at the downstream end of the front end conveyor, and a plurality of second upper sheet guides. The lower sheet supports and the upper sheet guides define a sheet transport path for moving sheets of material though the conveyor. The downstream end of the upstream upper deck and the upstream end of the downstream upper deck are independently pivotably mounted to the frame such that the upstream end of the upstream upper deck and the downstream end of the downstream upper deck shiftable toward and away from the lower deck.

Abstract: A front end conveyor includes a frame having a first side and a second side, a lower deck including a plurality of sheet supports and an upper deck including a plurality of sheet guides. Upper portions of the sheet supports lie in a first plane, and the plurality of sheet supports and the plurality of sheet guides define therebetween a sheet transport path for moving sheets in a sheet transport direction toward the downstream end of the front end conveyor. At least one helical brush is positioned at the sheet transport path and is configured to engage scrap material on the plurality of sheets. The conveyor also includes a drive configured to rotate the helical brush.

Abstract: A front end conveyor includes a frame having a first side and a second side, a lower deck having a plurality of sheet supports and an upper deck having a plurality of sheet guides. Upper portions of the sheet supports lie in a first plane. The plurality of sheet supports and the plurality of sheet guides define therebetween a sheet transport path for moving sheets in a sheet transport direction toward the downstream end of the front end conveyor, and the front end system includes at least one blower directed at the sheet transport path and configured to dislodge scrap material from the sheets.

Abstract: A front end conveyor has an upstream end and a downstream end, a lower deck including a plurality of primary sheet supports and an upper deck including a plurality of sheet guides. Upper portions of the primary sheet supports lie in a first plane and the sheet supports and sheet guides define a sheet transport path for moving sheets in a sheet transport direction. A pivotable sheet support extends from an upstream end of the lower deck and has at least one surface lying in a second plane. The pivotable sheet support is pivotable from a first position in which the second plane forms a first angle with the first plane and a second position in which the second plane forms a second angle with the first plane, the second angle being different than the first angle.

Abstract: A front end conveyor includes a frame having a first side and a second side, a lower deck and an upper deck. The lower deck includes a plurality of sheet supports, and upper portions of the sheet supports lie in a first plane. The upper deck includes a plurality of sheet guides that define with the sheet supports a sheet transport path through the front end conveyor. A chad wall extends transversely to the sheet transport direction and has a top edge located below the sheet transport path and a front surface facing in the upstream direction and a plurality of fingers projecting from the front surface in the upstream direction. The top edge of the chad wall is positioned relative to the sheet transport path such that hanging chads depending from the sheets will impact the chad wall.

Abstract: A vehicle assessment analyzer is in communication with a vehicle, via the vehicle network computer and the vehicle communication bus. The vehicle assessment analyzer obtains the vehicle VIN from the vehicle and transmits the VIN to a vehicle assessment analytics server. The vehicle assessment analytics server then determines assessment readings to be performed on the vehicle, such as individual electronic sensors therein, to generate an overall vehicle assessment as compared to other vehicles of similar make, model, etc. These assessment readings are sent to the vehicle assessment analyzer which obtains the associated data and transmits the data back to the server for generation of the overall vehicle assessment. The assessment readings may query the vehicle network computer via standard assessment readings, and heightened assessment readings, and may also query the vehicle communications bus directly thereby obtaining any desired electronic information available from the vehicle.

Abstract: A layboy includes an upper belt section with a plurality of transversely spaced upper belts that extend in a longitudinal direction such that bottom portions of the upper belts lie in a first plane that defines an upper boundary of a transport path through the layboy and a lower belt section having a plurality of transversely spaced lower belts that extend in the longitudinal direction such that top portions of the lower belts lie in a second plane that defines an upper boundary of the transport path. The bottom portion of one of the top belts and/or the top portion of one of the bottom belts extends away from the transport path to define a gap in the transport path at which scrap moving through the layboy can fall out of the transport path.

Abstract: A layboy includes an upper belt section with a plurality of transversely spaced upper belts that extend in a longitudinal direction such that bottom portions of the upper belts lie in a first plane that defines an upper boundary of a transport path through the layboy and a lower belt section having a plurality of transversely spaced lower belts that extend in the longitudinal direction such that top portions of the lower belts lie in a second plane that defines an upper boundary of the transport path. The bottom portion of one of the top belts and/or the top portion of one of the bottom belts extends away from the transport path to define a gap in the transport path at which scrap moving through the layboy can fall out of the transport path.

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 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 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 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 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.

Abstract: A sheet stacking system includes a conveyor for carrying sheets from a conveyor intake end to a conveyor discharge end and a hopper at the discharge end for receiving the sheets and guiding them as they fall in a cascade path onto a platform. The hopper has a backstop facing the discharge end of the conveyor and a first accumulator that includes a carrier and a support extending from the carrier through the backstop. The support is configured to rotate from a retracted position to an extended position relative to the backstop, and the carrier is movable linearly and vertically relative to the backstop with the support in the extended position from a raised location with the support outside the cascade path to a lowered location with the support in the cascade path.

Abstract: A layboy includes an upper belt section with a plurality of transversely spaced upper belts that extend in a longitudinal direction such that bottom portions of the upper belts lie in a first plane that defines an upper boundary of a transport path through the layboy and a lower belt section having a plurality of transversely spaced lower belts that extend in the longitudinal direction such that top portions of the lower belts lie in a second plane that defines an upper boundary of the transport path. The bottom portion of one of the top belts and/or the top portion of one of the bottom belts extends away from the transport path to define a gap in the transport path at which scrap moving through the layboy can fall out of the transport path.