Apparatus and method for moving logs within cutting-off machines

An apparatus for moving logs within cutting-off machines, the apparatus comprising:

• a cutting device for cutting uncut logs into rolls such that each of said rolls has an axial length and a radial length, said axial length being greater than said radial length;
• a platform comprising one or more longitudinal channels for receiving uncut logs;
• a pusher means movably mounted on said platform such that said pusher means moves between an initial position and an uncut log release position relative to said platform, wherein said platform is a fixed position relative to said pusher means, said pusher means engaging a back end of the uncut logs in said initial position and pushing each uncut log along one of said one or more longitudinal channels toward said cutting means such that said pusher means moves from said initial position to said uncut log release position in a first direction, said first direction being defined by said one or more longitudinal channels, said cutting means being located downstream of said pusher means;
• a clamping means for clamping at least one portion of the uncut logs received from said one or more longitudinal channels of said platform with said pusher means in said uncut log release position and for driving the uncut logs to said cutting means, said clamping means being disposed between said pusher means and said cutting means, said clamping means not being provided between the longitudinal channels, said pusher means moving from said uncut log release position to said initial position in a second direction with said clamping means clamping said at least one portion of the uncut logs such that said pusher means releases the uncut logs immediately upon clamping of said at least one portion of the uncut logs and said pusher means moves from said uncut log release position directly to said initial position immediately upon clamping of said at least one portion of the uncut logs, said second direction being defined by said one or more longitudinal channels, said first direction being opposite said second direction, wherein a portion of each of said longitudinal channels is located at an end portion of said platform, said end portion being located at an end portion height, said clamping means comprising a first belt and a second belt, said first belt being arranged at a position above said second belt, said first belt having a first belt portion, said first belt portion extending from a first position adjacent to said end portion of said platform to a second position located adjacent to said cutting device, said first position and said second position having a first height, said first height being greater than said end portion height, said second belt having a second belt portion, said second belt portion extending from another position adjacent to said end portion of said platform to yet another position located adjacent to said cutting device, said another position and said yet another position having a second height, said second height being less than said end portion height, said first position being located above said another position, said second position being located above said yet another position, said clamping means engaging each log on an upper side and a lower side thereof, wherein each log is a paper roll, the uncut logs being moved, relative to said platform and said one or more longitudinal channels, toward said cutting means via said pusher means and said clamping means, whereby a head portion of one uncut log is in contact with a tail portion of a preceding uncut log, wherein said pusher means reciprocates, relative to said platform and said one or more longitudinal channels, between said initial position and said uncut log release position in an exclusively horizontal and linear direction, said pusher means being in direct contact with the uncut logs as said pusher means moves the uncut logs in a direction of said clamping means from said initial position to said uncut log release position, said pusher means comprising a plurality of uncut log engaging surfaces, each of said plurality of uncut log engaging surfaces being located at a spaced location from another one of said plurality of uncut log engaging surfaces, each of said uncut log engaging surfaces being aligned with one of said longitudinal channels, each of said one or more longitudinal channels having a length that is greater than a length of each of the uncut logs.

An apparatus for moving logs within cutting-off machines, the apparatus comprising:

• a cutting device for cutting uncut logs;
• a platform comprising one or more longitudinal channels for receiving uncut logs, said platform having a platform end portion, said platform end portion being located at a platform end portion height;
• a pusher means movably mounted on said platform such that said pusher means moves between an initial position and an uncut log release position relative to said platform, wherein said platform is in a fixed position relative to said pusher means, said pusher means engaging a back end of the uncut logs in said initial position and pushing each uncut log along one of said one or more longitudinal channels toward said cutting means such that said pusher means moves from said initial position to said uncut log release position in a first direction, wherein said pusher means maintains contact with each of said uncut logs from said initial position to said uncut log release position, said pusher means maintaining contact with each of said uncut logs from said initial position to said uncut log release position, said first direction being defined by said one or more longitudinal channels, said cutting means being located downstream of said pusher means;
• a first clamping device, said first clamping device being located at a first clamping device height, said first clamping device height being greater than said platform end portion height;
• a second clamping device located opposite said first clamping device, wherein said first clamping device is located at a position above said second clamping device, said second clamping device having a second clamping device height, said second clamping device height being less than said platform end height, said first clamping device cooperating with said second clamping device to clamp at least one portion of the uncut logs received from said one or more longitudinal channels of said platform with said pusher means in said uncut log release position and to drive the uncut logs to said cutting means, said first clamping device and said second clamping device being disposed between said pusher means and said cutting means, said pusher means moving from said uncut log release position to said initial position in a second direction with said clamping means clamping said at least one portion of the uncut logs such that said pusher means releases the uncut logs in the uncut log position immediately upon clamping said at least one portion of the uncut logs and said pusher means moves from said uncut log release position directly to said initial position immediately upon clamping of said at least one portion of the uncut logs by said first clamping device and said second clamping device, said second direction being defined by said one or more longitudinal channels, said first direction being opposite said second direction, wherein a portion of each of said longitudinal channels is defined by said platform end portion, each of said longitudinal channels comprising a lowermost longitudinal channel portion, said first clamping device comprising a first belt, said second clamping device comprising a second belt, said first belt being arranged at a position above said second belt, said first belt having a first belt portion, said first belt portion extending from a first position adjacent to said platform end portion to a second position located adjacent to said cutting device, said first position and said second position having a first height, said first height being greater than said platform end portion height, said second belt having a second belt portion, said second belt portion extending from another position adjacent to said end of said platform end portion to yet another position located adjacent to said cutting device, said another position and said yet another position having a second height, said second height being less than said platform end portion height, said first position being located above said another position, said second position being located above said yet another position, said second belt portion being aligned with said lowermost longitudinal portion of each of said longitudinal channels;
• a cut log conveyor located downstream of said cutting means with respect to a moving direction of said uncut logs, said cut log conveyor comprising a cut log conveyor belt, wherein a portion of said cut log conveyor belt is aligned with said second belt portion and said lowermost longitudinal portion of each of said longitudinal channels, wherein said portion of the cut log conveyor belt, said second belt portion and said lowermost longitudinal portion of each of said longitudinal channels are located in a same horizontal plane, said first clamping device engaging each log on an upper side thereof and said second clamping device engages each log on a lower side thereof, wherein each log is a paper roll, the uncut logs being moved toward said cutting means via said pusher means, said first clamping device and said second clamping device, whereby a head portion of one uncut log is in contact with a tail portion of a preceding uncut log, said pusher means reciprocating between said initial position and said uncut log release position, relative to said platform and said one or more longitudinal channels, in an exclusively linear and horizontal direction, said pusher means being in direct contact with the uncut logs as said pusher means moves the uncut logs in a direction of said clamping means from said initial position to said uncut log release position, said pusher means comprising a plurality of uncut log engaging surfaces, each of said plurality of uncut log engaging surfaces being located at a spaced location from another one of said plurality of uncut log engaging surfaces, each of said uncut log engaging surfaces being aligned with one of said longitudinal channels.