Bundle breaker with servo-motor control

A bundle breaker comprising:

• an upstream breaking conveyor having an input end and an output end,
• a first platen located above the upstream breaking conveyor,
• a first actuator operably connected to the first platen and configured to shift the first platen toward a raised position above the upstream breaking conveyor and toward a lowered position above the upstream breaking conveyor to selectively clamp a first portion of a log between the first platen and the upstream breaking conveyor,
• a downstream breaking conveyor having an input end and an output end,
• a second platen located above the downstream breaking conveyor,
• a second actuator operably connected to the second platen and configured to shift the second platen toward a raised position above the downstream breaking conveyor and toward a lowered position above the downstream breaking conveyor to selectively clamp a second portion of the log between the second platen and the downstream breaking conveyor,
• a third actuator configured to apply a shifting force to the downstream breaking conveyor to shift the input end of the downstream breaking conveyor relative to the output end of the upstream breaking conveyor from a first position toward a second position to break the second portion of the log from the first portion of the log,
• a controller configured to control the first actuator and the second actuator and the third actuator, and
• a 2-D sensing system configured to determine a surface area of an object supported by the upstream breaking conveyor or of an object supported by the downstream breaking conveyor,
• wherein the first actuator and/or the second actuator comprises at least one servo motor,
• wherein the controller is configured to detect a torque of the at least one servo motor and to stop a shifting of the first platen toward the lowered position of the first platen in response to the torque exceeding a predetermined level or in response to the torque changing at a rate greater than a predetermined rate or to stop a shifting of the second platen toward the lowered position of the second platen in response to the torque exceeding the predetermined level or the torque changing at a rate greater than the predetermined rate, and
• wherein the predetermined level or the predetermined rate is based on the surface area of the object supported by the downstream breaking conveyor and/or the surface area of the object supported by the upstream breaking conveyor.