Method of conveying tissue logs in a saw conveyor with independent lane control cutting and variable conveyor flight length
A method involves conveying tissue logs in a saw conveyor. The conveyor has independent lane control cutting and variable conveyor flight length. In one aspect of the method a first tissue log is received in a lane of a conveyor. With a first log advancement member, the first tissue log is advanced in the lane of the conveyor for cutting with a tissue log saw. A second tissue log is received in the lane of the conveyor when the first tissue log has advanced sufficiently in the lane to accommodate the second tissue log in the lane. With a second log advancement member, the second tissue log is advanced in the lane of the conveyor for cutting with the tissue log saw independently of the step of advancing the first tissue log in the lane. The conveyor may also have multiple lanes.
1. A method comprising:
receiving a first tissue log in a lane of a conveyor;
with a first log advancement member, advancing the first tissue log in the lane of the conveyor for cutting with a tissue log saw;
receiving a second tissue log in the lane of the conveyor when the first tissue log has advanced sufficiently in the lane to accommodate the second tissue log in the lane; and
with a second log advancement member, advancing the second tissue log in the lane of the conveyor for cutting with the tissue log saw independently of the step of advancing the first tissue log in the lane.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising engaging the second tissue log with the first log advancement member before cutting the second tissue log with the tissue log saw.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of advancing the first tissue log in the lane comprises stopping travel of the first tissue log in the lane as the saw moves a blade of the saw into the first lane to cut the first tissue log and restarting travel of the first tissue log in the lane as the blade completes cutting of the tissue log in the lane.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising advancing the second tissue log adjacent to the first tissue log.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising moving a blade of a tissue log saw in a direction of advancement of the conveyor during cutting of the first tissue log.
6. A method comprising:
receiving a lead tissue log in a first lane of a conveyor;
with a first lane lead log advancement member, advancing the lead tissue log in the first lane of the conveyor for cutting with a tissue log saw;
receiving a lead tissue log in a second lane of the conveyor, wherein the second lane is adjacent to the first lane;
with a second lane lead log advancement member, advancing the lead tissue log in the second lane of the conveyor for cutting with the tissue log saw;
receiving a successive tissue log in the first lane of the conveyor when the lead tissue log has advanced sufficiently in the first lane to accommodate the successive tissue log in the first lane;
with a first lane successive log advancement member, advancing the successive tissue log in the first lane of the conveyor for cutting with the tissue log saw independently of the step of advancing the lead tissue log in the first lane;
receiving a successive tissue log in the second lane of the conveyor when the lead tissue log in the second lane has advanced sufficiently in the second lane to accommodate the successive tissue log in the second lane; and
with a second lane successive log advancement member, advancing the successive tissue log in the second lane of the conveyor for cutting with the tissue log saw independently of the step of advancing the lead tissue log in the second lane.
7. The method of claim 6 further comprising cutting the lead tissue logs in the first and second lanes with a saw comprising a saw arm having a saw head with a rotary blade orbiting relative to the first and second lanes.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the step of advancing the lead tissue log in the first lane comprises stopping travel of the lead tissue log in the first lane as the saw arm moves the rotary blade into the first lane to cut the lead tissue log in the first lane.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of advancing the lead tissue log in the first lane comprises restarting travel of the lead tissue log in the first lane as the blade completes cutting of the lead tissue log in the first lane.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the step of advancing the lead tissue log in the second lane comprises stopping travel of the lead tissue log in the second lane as the saw arm moves the rotary blade into the second lane to cut the lead tissue log in the second lane.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the step of advancing the lead tissue log in the second lane comprises restarting travel of the lead tissue log in the second lane as the blade completes cutting of the lead tissue log in the second lane.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of advancing the lead tissue log in the first lane comprises stopping travel of the lead tissue log in the first lane as the saw arm moves the rotary blade into the first lane to cut the lead tissue log in the first lane.
13. The method of claim 7 , wherein the step of advancing the successive tissue log in the first lane includes advancing the successive tissue log adjacent to the lead tissue log of the first lane.
14. The method of claim 7 , wherein the step of advancing the lead tissue log in the second lane comprises stopping travel of the lead tissue log in the second lane as the saw arm moves the rotary blade into the second lane to cut the lead tissue log in the second lane.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the step of advancing the lead tissue log in the second lane comprises restarting travel of the lead tissue log in the second lane as the blade completes cutting of the lead tissue log in the second lane.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of advancing the lead tissue log in the first lane comprises stopping travel of the lead tissue log in the first lane as the saw arm moves the rotary blade into the first lane to cut the lead tissue log in the first lane.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the step of advancing the lead tissue log in the first lane comprises restarting travel of the lead tissue log in the first lane as the blade completes cutting of the lead tissue log in the first lane.
18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the step of advancing the successive tissue log in the second lane includes advancing the successive tissue log adjacent to the lead tissue log of the second lane.
19. The method of claim 6 wherein at least one of the steps of advancing the lead and successive tissue logs of the first lane and at least one of the steps of advancing the lead and successive tissue logs of the second lane includes synchronizing advancement of the respective lead and successive tissue log of the first lane with advancement of the respective lead and successive tissue log of the second lane, with advancement of the lead tissue logs of the first and second lanes being independent of advancement of the successive tissue logs of the first and second lanes.
20. The method of claim 7 wherein the blade of the saw moves in a direction of advancement of the conveyor during cutting of the lead logs in the first and second lanes.
21. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of cutting the lead logs in the first and second lanes includes constraining the respective logs on the periphery during cutting.
22. The method of claim 6 wherein at least one of the steps of advancing the lead and successive tissue logs of the first lane and at least one of the steps of advancing the lead and successive tissue logs of the second lane includes applying a drag force to the respective log during advancement.