Accumulator for processing line and method of using same

A processing line transfer system for transferring a plurality of logs of convolutely wound web material in the processing line between a main accumulator and a first downstream section and between the main accumulator and a second downstream section, wherein the main accumulator has an endless loop with a plurality of main accumulator buckets, and each bucket in the plurality of main accumulator buckets is adapted and configured to receive, hold, and release a log, the processing line transfer system comprising:

• a first loader having an endless loop with a plurality of first loader buckets, each bucket in the plurality of first loader buckets being adapted and configured to receive, hold, and release a log;
• a second loader having an endless loop with a plurality of second loader buckets, each bucket in the plurality of second loader buckets being adapted and configured to receive, hold, and release a log;
• and
• a transfer conveyor adapted and configured to be coupled to the main accumulator, the transfer conveyor being adapted and configured to be coupled to at least one of the first and second loaders, the transfer conveyor being adapted and configured to convey a log from a bucket in the plurality of the main accumulator buckets to a bucket of the at least one of the plurality of first loader buckets and the plurality of second loader buckets;
• wherein each bucket in the at least one of the plurality of first loader buckets and second loader buckets is positionable on the corresponding first loader endless loop and second loader endless loop to receive a log from the transfer conveyor;
• wherein the first loader is adapted and configured to convey a log in a bucket in the plurality of first loader buckets to a discharge of the first loader, the discharge of the first loader is adapted and configured to discharge a log from a bucket of the plurality of first loader buckets to the first downstream section;
• wherein the second loader is adapted and configured to convey a log in a bucket in the plurality of second loader buckets to a discharge of the second loader, the discharge of the second loader is adapted and configured to discharge a log from a bucket of the plurality of second loader buckets to the second downstream section;
• and
• wherein the first loader discharge is adapted and configured to discharge a log from a bucket of the plurality of first loader buckets to the first downstream section independently of the second loader discharge discharging a log from a bucket of the plurality of second loader buckets to the second downstream section.

A method of transferring a plurality of logs of convolutely wound web material between an upstream section and a downstream section of a processing line, the method comprising:

• feeding a log from the upstream section of the processing line to a main accumulator wherein the main accumulator has an endless loop with a plurality of main accumulator buckets and each bucket in the plurality of main accumulator buckets is adapted and configured to receive, hold, and release a log, and the step of feeding includes conveying the log to a bucket in the plurality of main accumulator buckets;
• conveying the log in a bucket in the plurality of main accumulator buckets;
• transferring the log from the main accumulator to a loader, wherein the loader has a loader accumulator, the loader has an endless loop with a plurality of loader buckets and each bucket in the plurality of loader buckets is adapted and configured to receive, hold, and release a log, the step of transferring including conveying the log from a bucket in the plurality of the main accumulator buckets to a bucket in the plurality of loader buckets, wherein the step of conveying occurs independently of the step of feeding the log from the upstream section of the processing line to the main accumulator;
• and
• conveying the log in a bucket in the plurality of loader buckets to a discharge of the loader;
• and
• at the discharge, discharging the log from a bucket of the plurality of loader buckets to the downstream section of the processing line.

A method of transferring a plurality of logs of convolutely wound web material between an upstream section of a processing line and a downstream section of the processing line, the method comprising:

• feeding a log from the upstream section of the processing line to a main accumulator wherein the main accumulator has an endless loop with a plurality of main accumulator buckets and each bucket in the plurality of main accumulator buckets is adapted and configured to receive, hold, and release a log, and the step of feeding includes conveying the log to a bucket in the plurality of main accumulator buckets;
• conveying the log in a bucket in the plurality of main accumulator buckets;
• transferring the log from the main accumulator to one of first and second loaders wherein each of the first and second loaders has an endless loop with a plurality of loader buckets and each bucket in the plurality of first and second loader buckets of the respective first and second loaders is adapted and configured to receive, hold, and release a log, the step of transferring includes conveying the log from a bucket in the plurality of the main accumulator buckets to a bucket of the one of the plurality of the first and second loader buckets, wherein the step of conveying occurs independently of the step of feeding the log from the upstream section of the processing line to the main accumulator;
• and
• conveying the log in a bucket of the one of the plurality of the first and second loader buckets to a discharge of the respective first and second loader;
• and
• at the discharge of the respective first and second loader, discharging the log from a bucket of the one of the plurality of the first and second loader buckets to the downstream section of the processing line.