Patent Description:
This disclosure is directed to an accumulator for a processing line. Such a processing line is known from e.g. <CIT>. More in particular, the accumulator is configured to transfer logs of convolutely wound web material between upstream and downstream sections of a processing line. The processing line may include a winding machine for winding the web material into logs upstream of the accumulator, and a saw for cutting logs into rolls for consumer end use downstream of the accumulator. Accordingly, in one configuration, the accumulator allows for receiving logs from the winding equipment, then storing the logs, and then transferring the logs in a desired timing and sequence as needed by the saw operations. in another configuration, the accumulator may be used to receive, store and timely deliver the logs to other equipment.

More in particular, the disclosure is directed to an accumulator with a loader and transfer conveyor. The transfer conveyor is adapted and configured to transfer a log from the main accumulator to the loader one log at a time which assists in maintaining the quality of the log. Further, the loader is adapted and configured to deliver the log to downstream processing equipment in a more direct manner that also assists in maintaining the quality of the log.

<FIG> show an overview of processing lines <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM> and the transfer systems <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM> described herein. The processing lines <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM> process logs <NUM> of convolutely wound web material and the transfer systems <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM> transfer the logs from upstream processing equipment <NUM> to downstream processing equipment <NUM>. For instance, the processing line may include an unwinder that transfers web material from a parent roll to a rewinder that converts the web material into logs. The processing line may include a saw cutting operation that converts the logs into rolls for consumer end use. The processing line may further include a packaging line for packaging the rolls for consumer sale. The transfer system <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM> may be disposed at any point in the line where there is a need to queue logs for further processing. In that regard, the transfer system <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM> receives logs from upstream processing equipment <NUM>, temporarily stores the logs, and then delivers logs to downstream processing equipment <NUM>, as needed. The transfer system <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM> may include an input feeder <NUM> which receives the logs from the upstream processing equipment <NUM> and loads the logs to a main accumulator <NUM>, for instance, as shown in <FIG>. The input feeder <NUM> is conventional. For example and not in any limiting sense, the input feeder may be a table that a log rolls down. The input feeder may be a table, with driven belts positioned above the table; the driven belts assist in moving a log along the table. The input feeder may be a paddle device similar to that shown in <FIG>. The main accumulator <NUM> is adapted and configured to store the logs. The main accumulator <NUM> is conventional, and by way of example and not in any limiting sense, the accumulator may be of the type shown in <CIT>, <CIT>, and/or <CIT>, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein.

As further described below, the transfer system <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM> may include one or more transfer conveyors <NUM>,<NUM>. The transfer conveyor may be a paddle style rotary conveyor as shown in <FIG> and <FIG> ('<NUM>'), <FIG> ('<NUM>'),6B (' <NUM>' ') and <FIG> ('<NUM>' '), and <FIG> ('<NUM>'). By way of example and not in any limiting sense, the transfer conveyor may be a belt driven conveyor, a robotic arm conveyor, a paddle pusher style conveyor, or other similar device configured to achieve conveyance of the log from the main accumulator to the loader. For illustrative purposes only, in the examples described herein, the transfer conveyor <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>',<NUM> is a paddle style conveyor that is adapted and configured to transfer the log from the main accumulator to a loader <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>. The loader <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM> is adapted and configured to transfer the log to the downstream processing equipment <NUM>. <FIG> show two loaders <NUM>,<NUM>. <FIG> shows one loader <NUM>. One or more loaders may be provided.

<FIG> provide a non-limiting example of a process flow for the processing lines <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, two transfer conveyors <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>' and two loaders <NUM>,<NUM> are provided. The transfer conveyors <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>' work together with a dedicated loader <NUM>,<NUM> to deliver logs to the downstream processing equipment <NUM>. When logs are being transferred from the main accumulator to both of the loaders <NUM>,<NUM>, the transfer conveyors <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>' transfer logs from the main accumulator to the loaders on a one-to-one basis, which may be simultaneous if the distance between the transfer conveyors is equal to an integer multiple of the distance between buckets in the main accumulator. When logs are being transferred to only one loader, for example when the log saw connected to that loader is operational but the log saw connected to another loader is not operational, one transfer conveyor works independently of the other to transfer logs from the main accumulator to a loader. In <FIG>, a single transfer conveyor <NUM> is provided. The single transfer conveyor is configured to deliver logs to either the first loader <NUM> or the second loader <NUM>, as needed. The transfer conveyor <NUM> may selectively deliver the logs to the first or second loader <NUM>,<NUM>. In the alternative, the transfer conveyor <NUM> may alternatingly deliver the logs to the first and second loader <NUM>,<NUM>. In one configuration, the transfer conveyor <NUM> moves in a first direction (for instance, a first rotary direction) to transfer the logs from the main accumulator <NUM> to the first loader <NUM>, and in a second direction opposite the first direction to transfer the logs from the main accumulator <NUM> to the second loader <NUM>. In <FIG>, a single transfer conveyor <NUM> transfers the logs to a single loader <NUM>. The loader <NUM> is adapted and configured to selectively transfer the logs to the downstream processing equipment <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the accumulator <NUM> has a frame <NUM>, and top guide wheels <NUM> are arranged adjacent a top member of the frame and bottom guide wheels <NUM> are arranged adjacent to a bottom member of the frame. intermediate guide wheels <NUM> are provided on first and second carriages <NUM>,<NUM> that are vertically movable between uprights of the frame <NUM> between the top and bottom members of the frame. In the alternative, a single carriage may be provided. An endless loop <NUM> extends around the guide wheels. The endless loop has a plurality of main accumulator buckets <NUM> with a generally v-shaped cross-section for supporting the logs <NUM> as they are received from the input feeder <NUM> and conveyed through the main accumulator <NUM> to the transfer conveyor(s) <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>',<NUM>. The generally v-shaped cross-section of the bucket for supporting the logs may have the form of fingers intermittently spaced along an axis of the bucket as shown in <FIG>. In the drawing, only some of the buckets are shown for ease of illustration. The main accumulator buckets <NUM> may be evenly spaced along the endless loop <NUM>. The main accumulator buckets <NUM> are pivotally connected to the endless loop <NUM> so as to allow the logs <NUM> to be conveyed in the accumulator around the guide wheels <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM> and to allow the buckets to pivot as necessary to receive a log from the input feeder <NUM> and to transfer a log to the transfer conveyor(s) <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>',<NUM>.

On an input zone <NUM> of the main accumulator, the input feeder <NUM> may be provided. The input feeder <NUM> is adapted and configured to receive a log <NUM> from the upstream processing equipment <NUM> and transfer the log to one of the main accumulator buckets <NUM>. For instance, the input feeder <NUM> may be configured to rotate to allow a log <NUM> to roll into a transport vane of the input feeder, and through continued rotation of the transport vane, to allow the log to roll out of the transport vane to a main accumulator bucket <NUM>. The input feeder <NUM> may pause in its rotation, for example, at an angle of about <NUM>-<NUM> degrees, so that a further log <NUM> would stop against an edge of the transport vane of the input feeder, thus preventing more than one log from rolling into the transport vane. The input feeder pausing in its rotation in this manner helps to compensate for a varying rate of logs arriving from the upstream processing equipment <NUM>. The main accumulator bucket <NUM> may be stationary as it receives a log from the transport vane of the input feeder, the main accumulator bucket <NUM> may be in motion along the path of the endless loop as it receives a log from the transport vane of the input feeder, or the main accumulator bucket <NUM> may be configured to pivot relative to the endless loop <NUM> as the bucket passes adjacent the input feeder <NUM> to allow the bucket to receive the log from the transport vane of the input feeder. The endless loop <NUM> may then convey the log <NUM> in the main accumulator bucket <NUM> upwards and through the accumulator to the transfer conveyor(s) <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>',<NUM>. The input feeder <NUM> may be configured to sense the passage of the main accumulator bucket <NUM> and to initiate the transfer of the log from the input feeder to the main accumulator bucket with a seamless transition. The speed of rotation of the input feeder <NUM> and/or the speed of the endless loop <NUM> may be controlled as needed to enable the transfer of the log from the input feeder to the main accumulator bucket <NUM> with a seamless transition.

The logs <NUM> disposed in the main accumulator buckets <NUM> may be conveyed from the input zone <NUM> of the main accumulator to an output zone <NUM> of the main accumulator. The rate of conveyance may be controlled to maintain a sufficient number of logs in queue in the accumulator while delivering the logs to downstream processing equipment <NUM> at an acceptable rate. The first and second carriage <NUM>,<NUM> may be adjusted as necessary to maintain the rate of storage and delivery of logs to the downstream processing equipment. For instance, when the rate of logs arriving to the input zone <NUM> of the main accumulator is greater than the rate of logs leaving from the output zone <NUM> of the main accumulator, one or both of the carriages <NUM>,<NUM> may be raised, thereby increasing the number of full buckets and reducing the number of empty buckets. The opposite occurs when the rate of logs leaving the output zone <NUM> increases in relation to the rate of logs arriving to the input zone <NUM>. A distance sensor, for example a laser, may be provided to detect an absolute height position of the carriage, which can be used to calculate the percentage full of the accumulator.

At the output zone <NUM>, the transfer conveyor(s) <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>',<NUM> may be provided. The transfer conveyor <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>',<NUM> may a rotary paddle style conveyor as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. The transfer conveyor may be motor driven and include one or more transfer vanes <NUM>,<NUM> that move with the main accumulator endless loop <NUM> and main accumulator bucket <NUM> to transfer the log <NUM> from the main accumulator bucket to the loader <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>.

In one example as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the transfer conveyor <NUM> is coupled to a specific loader <NUM>,<NUM> (e.g., as shown by example in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>). The transfer conveyor <NUM> is configured to allow the log to roll out of the main accumulator bucket <NUM> along a first transfer vane <NUM> to a second transfer vane <NUM> that functions as a stop, and upon rotation of the paddle of the transfer conveyor (clockwise in <FIG>), the transfer conveyor is configured to allow the log to roll along the second portion of the transfer vane to the loader <NUM>,<NUM>. The transfer conveyor <NUM> may include a ramp portion <NUM> to transition from the main accumulator to the transfer vane <NUM>,<NUM> and a ramp portion <NUM> from the transfer vane to the loader. The main accumulator <NUM> may also have a ramp portion <NUM> that cooperates with the main accumulator bucket <NUM> to allow the log to be removed from the bucket to the transfer paddle <NUM>. As best shown in <FIG>, the ramp portion <NUM> (and ramp portions <NUM>,<NUM> not shown in <FIG>) may interdigitate with fingers of the main accumulator bucket <NUM> so as to remove a log from the bucket as the bucket advances past the ramp portions. The ramp portions <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM> may be fixed in place so that a log is stripped from every bucket that advances past the ramp portions. The main accumulator bucket <NUM> may also be caused to pivot to release a log from the bucket to the transfer conveyor <NUM>.

In the alternative or in addition, the ramp portions may be adapted and configured to allow some logs to remain in the accumulator buckets and to strip other logs from the accumulator buckets as the buckets advance past the ramp portions, for example, by pivoting or sliding the ramp portions to a first position in which logs remain in the main accumulator bucket <NUM>, and to a second position in which logs are stripped from the main accumulator bucket. In an example as shown in <FIG>,<FIG> and <FIG>, the transfer conveyor <NUM>,<NUM>' has ramp portions 92a that are rotatable. In one configuration, the ramp portions 92a may rotate to a position generally transverse to the path of the main accumulator bucket <NUM> so that the ramp portions may strip the log from the main accumulator bucket to the transfer conveyor <NUM>,<NUM>' for delivery to the loader <NUM>. In a second configuration, the ramp portions 92a may rotate to a position generally away from the path of the main accumulator bucket so that the ramp portions do not interfere with the log from the main accumulator bucket and allow it pass to the transfer conveyor <NUM> for delivery to the second loader <NUM>. In the alternative, or in addition to, the main accumulator bucket <NUM> may also be caused to pivot to release a log from the bucket to the transfer conveyor <NUM>,<NUM>'. In <FIG>, the ramp portions <NUM> and <NUM> are also rotatable in one position to assist in delivering the log to the first loader <NUM> and rotatable to another position to allow the log to pass to the transfer conveyor <NUM> for delivery to the second loader <NUM>.

In a further example, as shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, the transfer conveyor <NUM> is coupled to two loaders. The transfer paddle <NUM> may be configured to operate in two directions. The first direction may be as described above relative to the transfer paddle <NUM> in <FIG> (with clockwise rotation) which directs the log to the first loader <NUM>. The second direction may include allowing the log <NUM> to roll out of the main accumulator bucket <NUM> along a first transfer vane <NUM> to a second transfer vane <NUM> that function as a stop, and upon rotation of the transfer paddle (counter-clockwise in <FIG>), the transfer paddle is configured to allow the log to roll back on the first transfer vane <NUM> to a chute <NUM> which directs the log to the second loader <NUM>. The chute may contain a conveyor to control the motion of the log along the chute during delivery from the transfer paddle <NUM> to the second loader <NUM>.

In the described configurations with either one or two transfer conveyors <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>',<NUM>, as the main accumulator bucket <NUM> passes adjacent to the transfer paddle, ramp portions <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM> may release the log <NUM> (e.g., vis-à-vis stripping and/or pivoting) from the main accumulator bucket to the first transfer vane <NUM> of the transfer paddle. The transfer conveyor <NUM>,<NUM> may be configured to sense the presence of a log at the second transfer vane <NUM> and to rotate and initiate the transfer of the log from the main accumulator bucket to the transfer conveyor with a seamless transition. The speed of rotation of the transfer conveyor <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>',<NUM> and/or the speed of the endless loop <NUM> may be controlled as needed to enable the transfer of the log from the main accumulator bucket <NUM> to the transfer conveyor with a seamless transition. The movement of the transfer conveyor <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>',<NUM>, the movement of the endless loop <NUM>, and the movement of the input feeder <NUM> may be independent of each other. The speed of rotation of the transfer conveyor(s) <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>',<NUM> may be controlled to satisfy downstream processing requirements for delivery of logs, and the speed of rotation of the input feeder <NUM> may be controlled based upon production rates of the upstream section of the processing line. The rate of advancement of the endless loop <NUM> of the main accumulator may be a function of both downstream processing requirements for delivery of logs and production rates of the upstream section of the processing line.

As shown in the drawings, the transfer conveyor <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>',<NUM> is disposed between the output zone <NUM> of the main accumulator and the loader <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>. Depending upon the desired configuration, one or more transfer conveyors may be provided. In <FIG>, two transfer conveyors <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>' are provided and a loader <NUM>,<NUM> is associated with each transfer paddle. Accordingly, the first transfer conveyor <NUM>,<NUM>' may be adapted and configured to receive a log from a main accumulator bucket <NUM> in the manner described above, and the second transfer conveyor <NUM> may be adapted and configured to receive another log from another main accumulator bucket <NUM> in the manner described above. The first transfer conveyor <NUM>,<NUM>' may be provided with the ramp portions 92a that are movable between an open position and a closed position, while the second transfer conveyor <NUM> may be provided with ramp portions <NUM> that are fixed in place. The system may be configured to allow the first and second transfer paddles <NUM>,<NUM>',<NUM> to receive logs on a one-to-one basis from the main accumulator buckets <NUM> when both loaders have capacity to receive logs. When both loaders <NUM>,<NUM> have capacity to receive logs, actuators associated with the ramp portions 92a,<NUM> of the first transfer paddle <NUM>,<NUM>' may move the ramp portions 92a,<NUM> to an open position, allowing the logs that pass by to remain in the main accumulator buckets <NUM> as the buckets advance past the first transfer conveyor <NUM>,<NUM>'. When all of the buckets between the transfer conveyors <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>' contain logs, the actuators associated with the ramp portions 92a,<NUM> of the first transfer conveyor <NUM>,<NUM>' move the ramp portions 92a,<NUM> to a closed position, and the accumulator buckets <NUM> continue to advance until a number of logs equal to the number of logs between the transfer conveyors has been transferred to each loader <NUM>,<NUM>. The system may be configured to allow only the first transfer paddle <NUM>,<NUM>' to receive logs when only the first loader <NUM> has capacity to receive logs, and to allow only the second transfer paddle <NUM> to receive logs when only the second loader <NUM> has capacity to receive logs. The first loader <NUM> may receive logs up until the loader carriage <NUM> reaches a full position. A distance sensor, for example a laser, may be provided to detect an absolute height position of the loader carriage <NUM>, which can be used to calculate the percentage full of the loader accumulator. The second loader <NUM> may receive logs until the addition of the logs in the buckets between the transfer conveyors <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>' causes the loader carriage <NUM> to reach its full position. This prevents the system from stopping the feeding of logs to both loaders, which is undesirable, and prevents logs from returning to the accumulator infeed zone, which is undesirable as it creates a risk that the accumulator will attempt to load a log into a bucket which already contains a log.

In the configuration of <FIG>, one transfer conveyor <NUM> is provided with the first and second loaders <NUM>,<NUM>. The transfer conveyor <NUM> may be adapted and configured to receive a log from a main accumulator bucket and alternate conveying logs to the first and second loaders <NUM>,<NUM> in the manner described above. The system may be configured to remove a log from a main accumulator bucket by advancing the bucket past stationary ramp portions as described above in connection with <FIG>. In the alternative, the system may be configured to remove a log from a main accumulator bucket by pivoting the bucket. For instance, the system may be configured to pivot a lead main accumulator bucket toward the transfer conveyor so the transfer conveyor may convey the lead log to transfer to the first loader, and to pivot a subsequent main accumulator bucket (e.g., the next in line after the lead main accumulator bucket) toward the transfer conveyor so the transfer conveyor may transfer the subsequent log to the second loader. In the alternative, the system may be configured to pivot a sequence of main accumulator buckets (one or more in a line) toward the transfer conveyor so the transfer conveyor may convey that series of logs to one of the two loaders and thereafter pivot another sequence of main accumulator buckets (one or more in a line) toward the transfer conveyor so the transfer conveyor may convey that series of logs to the other of the two loaders.

In the configuration of <FIG>, one transfer conveyor <NUM> is provided with one loader <NUM>. The transfer conveyor <NUM> may be configured to receive a log from a main accumulator bucket <NUM> in the manner described above in connection with <FIG>, and transfer the log to the loader <NUM>. The system may be configured to pivot a lead main accumulator bucket toward the transfer conveyor to transfer a log to the loader, and to pivot a subsequent main accumulator bucket (e.g., the next in line after the lead main accumulator bucket) toward the transfer paddle to transfer the subsequent log to the loader.

Referring to the embodiment of the loaders <NUM>,<NUM> shown in <FIG>, each loader may have a plurality of guide wheels <NUM> about which an endless loop <NUM> is directed. The loader endless loop <NUM> may have a plurality of loader buckets <NUM>, which may be evenly spaced along the loader endless loop. The loader buckets <NUM> may have a generally v-shaped cross-section for supporting the logs as they are received from the transfer paddle <NUM>,<NUM> and conveyed through the loader. The generally v-shaped cross-section of the bucket for supporting the logs may have the form of fingers intermittently spaced along an axis of the bucket as shown in <FIG>. In the embodiment of the loaders shown in <FIG>, the loader <NUM>,<NUM> also has intermediate guide wheels <NUM> that are provided on a loader carriage <NUM> that is movable within the framework of the loader. In the drawings, only some of the loader buckets are shown for ease of illustration, and on the loader on the left in the drawings, the loader carriage position is shown in phantom in multiple locations within the frame of the loader. The loader buckets <NUM> may be pivotally connected to the loader endless loop <NUM> so as to allow the logs <NUM> to be conveyed from the transfer conveyor <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>' around the guide wheels <NUM>,<NUM> of the loader and to pivot the loader buckets as needed to transfer the logs from the loader to downstream processing equipment <NUM>.

In <FIG>, each loader <NUM>,<NUM> has an input zone <NUM> adjacent to the transfer conveyor <NUM>,<NUM> and a discharge <NUM>. In the examples provided, the discharge <NUM> is aligned with lanes of a conveyor <NUM> of a log saw. In particular, the discharge <NUM> is suspended above the lanes of the conveyor <NUM> of the log saw. In the alternative, the loader discharge <NUM> may be aligned with other downstream processing equipment. A loader bucket <NUM> may pass through the discharge <NUM> and align with a lane of the conveyor <NUM> of the log saw. The control system may be configured to enable the loader bucket <NUM> to pivot sufficiently to allow a log in a loader bucket to drop from the bucket into the lane of the conveyor <NUM> of the log saw when the bucket is in position above the lane of the log saw. As shown in <FIG>, four conveyor lanes are provided for the conveyor <NUM> of the log saw. Four actuators may be positioned laterally across the discharge <NUM>, one for each lane. Each actuator may be configured to pivot the bucket and release the log to a lane of the log saw conveyor <NUM> as the bucket passes through the discharge and aligns with the desired lane of the log saw. In an example, a bucket may pass through the discharge to position <NUM>, which is aligned with lane <NUM> of the log saw conveyor. Actuator <NUM> may be activated to pivot the bucket at position <NUM> to enable the log to be released from the bucket and to be received in lane <NUM> of the log saw conveyor. A similar scheme may be used for the remaining lanes. Accordingly, the system may be configured to allow selective placement of logs in a desired lane of the conveyor of the log saw. By way of example, if a log is required for lane <NUM>, the loader endless loop may convey a log in a loader bucket through the loader discharge to position <NUM> at which point actuator <NUM> would engage the bucket and cause the log to be released from the bucket into lane <NUM>.

Depending upon downstream requirements for the delivery of logs, the loader carriage <NUM> may move as necessary to allow a number of logs to be stored in queue within the loader <NUM>,<NUM>. This allows greater operational flexibility for matching downstream requirements and further enables the accumulator to be decoupled from the loader to allow better sequencing of the delivery of logs to downstream processing equipment. For instance, when the rate of logs arriving to loader <NUM>,<NUM> is greater than the rate of logs leaving from the loader, the carriage <NUM> may be raised, thereby increasing the number of full buckets and reducing the number of empty buckets. The opposite occurs when the rate of logs leaving the loader <NUM>,<NUM> increases in relation to the rate of logs arriving to the loader.

In the embodiment of <FIG>, the loader <NUM> has a plurality of guide wheels <NUM> about which an endless loop <NUM> is directed. The loader endless loop <NUM> may have a plurality of the loader buckets <NUM>, which may be evenly spaced along the loader endless loop. The loader buckets <NUM> may have a generally v-shaped cross-section for supporting the logs as they are received from the transfer paddle <NUM> and conveyed through the loader. The generally v-shaped cross-section of the bucket for supporting the logs may have the form of fingers intermittently spaced along an axis of the bucket as shown in <FIG>. In <FIG>, only some of the loader buckets are shown for ease of illustration. The loader buckets <NUM> may be pivotally connected to the loader endless loop <NUM> so as to allow the logs to be conveyed from the transfer conveyor <NUM>,<NUM>' around the guide wheels <NUM> of the loader, and to pivot the buckets as needed to transfer the logs from the loader bucket to an accumulation zone <NUM> disposed between a discharge <NUM> of the loader <NUM> and a saw.

In the embodiment of <FIG>, the loader has multiple accumulation zones <NUM> that align with conveyors <NUM> of downstream processing equipment. In particular, in <FIG>, the loader <NUM> is provided with first and second accumulation zones <NUM> that correspond with conveyors <NUM> of first and second log saws. The discharge <NUM> of the loader includes actuators for each accumulation zone <NUM>. The actuators are configured to sufficiently pivot a bucket <NUM> passing through the accumulation zone to allow the log in the loader bucket to drop from the bucket into a desired accumulation zone lane. The logs may then be released from the accumulation zone lane into a lane of the conveyor of the log saw. The release of a log from one accumulation zone lane into a lane of the conveyor of the log saw may be independent of the release of a log from another accumulation zone lane into another lane of another conveyor. As shown in the drawings, four accumulation zone lanes are provided for each accumulation zone <NUM>. Each accumulation zone lane corresponds to a conveyor lane for a log saw. Accordingly, four actuators may be positioned laterally across each accumulation zone <NUM>. Each actuator may be configured to pivot a bucket in a manner sufficient to release the log into a desired accumulation zone lane. The accumulation zone lane may be opened in order to drop the log from the accumulation zone lane into a corresponding lane of the log saw. In one example, a bucket may pass through the discharge to accumulation zone <NUM> in position <NUM> which is aligned with accumulation lane <NUM>. Actuator <NUM> may be activated to pivot the bucket to enable the log to be released from the bucket and to be received in accumulation zone lane <NUM>. Thereafter, the accumulation zone lane <NUM> may be opened to drop the log from the accumulation zone lane <NUM> into lane <NUM> of the logs saw. A similar scheme may be used for filling the remaining lanes in the accumulation zone for each accumulation zone in the discharge. The system may be configured to allow selective placement of a log in a desired lane of a specific accumulation zone and then into a desired lane of a log saw. By way of example, if a log is required for lane <NUM> of the accumulation zone <NUM>, the loader endless loop may convey a log in a bucket through the loader discharge to position <NUM> of the accumulation zone <NUM> at which point actuator <NUM> would actuate and cause the bucket to pivot and release the log from the bucket into lane <NUM> of accumulation zone <NUM>. Subsequently, lane <NUM> of the accumulation zone may be opened to drop the log from lane <NUM> of the accumulation zone into lane <NUM> of the log saw conveyor. To the extent the accumulation zone lane is filled, a loader bucket <NUM> may pass through the accumulation zone <NUM> and may be re-circulated through the loader as needed. In this regard, the loader of <FIG> need not include a movable carriage for accommodating any difference between filling and emptying the loader buckets, in distinction to the loaders of <FIG> and <FIG>.

Claim 1:
A processing line (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>) for processing a plurality of logs (<NUM>) of convolutely wound web material, the processing line (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>) having an upstream section (<NUM>) and a downstream section (<NUM>), the processing line being characterized by comprising:
a main accumulator (<NUM>) having an endless loop (<NUM>) with a plurality of main accumulator buckets (<NUM>), each bucket (<NUM>) in the plurality of main accumulator buckets (<NUM>) being adapted and configured to receive, hold, and release a log (<NUM>);
an input feeder (<NUM>) adapted and configured to receive a log (<NUM>) from the upstream section (<NUM>) of the processing line (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>) and convey the log (<NUM>) to a bucket (<NUM>) in the plurality of main accumulator buckets (<NUM>);
a loader (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>) being adapted and configured with a loader accumulator, the loader having an endless loop (<NUM>,<NUM>) with a plurality of loader buckets (<NUM>,<NUM>), each bucket (<NUM>,<NUM>) in the plurality of loader buckets (<NUM>,<NUM>) of the loader (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>) being adapted and configured to receive, hold, and release a log (<NUM>); and
a transfer conveyor (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>',<NUM>) disposed between the main accumulator (<NUM>) and the loader (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>), the transfer conveyor (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>',<NUM>) being adapted and configured to receive a log (<NUM>) from a main accumulator bucket (<NUM>) in the plurality of main accumulator buckets (<NUM>), the transfer conveyor (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>',<NUM>) being adapted and configured to convey a log (<NUM>) from a bucket (<NUM>) in the plurality of the main accumulator buckets (<NUM>) to a bucket (<NUM>,<NUM>) in the plurality of loader buckets (<NUM>,<NUM>) independently of the input feeder (<NUM>);
wherein the loader (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>) is adapted and configured to receive a log (<NUM>) into a bucket (<NUM>,<NUM>) in the plurality of loader buckets (<NUM>,<NUM>) from the transfer conveyor (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>',<NUM>); and
wherein the loader (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>) is adapted and configured to convey a log (<NUM>) in a bucket (<NUM>,<NUM>) in the plurality of loader buckets (<NUM>,<NUM>) to a discharge of the loader (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>), the discharge (<NUM>) of the loader (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>) is adapted and configured to discharge a log (<NUM>) from a bucket (<NUM>,<NUM>) of the plurality of loader buckets (<NUM>,<NUM>) to the downstream section (<NUM>) of the processing line (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>).