Apparatus and Method for Automated Blade Change for Tissue Saw

Abstract

A blade storage array is detachably mountable with a tissue log cutting saw. The saw has a cutting arm with a tool holder receptacle adapted and configured to hold a circular saw blade for the saw. The array has a plurality of storage units. Each storage unit is adapted and configured to store a circular saw blade for the saw. Each storage unit has a tool holder receptacle adapted and configured to hold a circular saw blade. Each storage unit is adapted and configured to move perpendicularly to the saw blade center axis.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A blade storage array for a tissue log cutting saw, the array having a plurality of storage units, each of the storage units being adapted and configured to store a circular saw blade for the tissue log cutting saw, the array having a memory configured to store a data structure, the data structure comprising a plurality of data items associated together as a storage unit profile, the data items of the storage unit profile comprising data representative of at least one of a blade diameter, a blade material, last saw cutting operational data, a last blade inspection, a last blade sharpening, a last blade run-time, a cumulative number of cuts, and a cumulative blade run-time, the data items of the storage unit profile being associated with at least one circular saw blade stored in the storage unit of the array, the array being configured to transmit the storage unit profile to the tissue log cutting saw. 
     
     
         2 . The array of  claim 1  wherein the array comprises a processor, the processor is configured to store the data structure in the memory, the processor is adapted and configured to be in communication with the saw via a network and exchange data relating to the storage unit profile with the tissue log cutting saw. 
     
     
         3 . The array of  claim 2  wherein in response to detection of the array being detachably mounted to a structure of the saw and in communication on the network with the tissue log cutting saw, the processor is further configured to automatically update the storage unit profile based on operational data generated by the tissue log cutting saw. 
     
     
         4 . The array of  claim 2  wherein, in response to detection of the array being detachably mounted to a structure of the saw and in communication on the network with the saw, the processor is further configured to automatically upload the storage unit profile to a processor associated with the tissue log cutting saw. 
     
     
         5 . The array of  claim 1  wherein each storage unit has a tool holder receptacle that is adapted and configured to releasably secure the circular saw blade in the storage unit in manner such that the circular saw blade defines a plane in the storage unit with the circular saw blades stored in the storage units within the array being aligned coaxially and in parallel planes that are axially spaced within the blade storage array, each storage unit being adapted and configured to reciprocate in a linear direction parallel to the plane of the circular saw blade in the storage unit, each storage unit being adapted and configured to reciprocate in the linear direction independently of another storage unit, each storage unit being adapted and configured to exchange the saw blade between the tissue log cutting saw and the storage unit when the blade storage array is detachably mounted to the tissue log cutting saw. 
     
     
         6 . The array of  claim 1  wherein the data structure comprising the plurality of data items associated together as the storage unit profile includes a storage unit profile for each circular saw blade stored in a respective storage unit. 
     
     
         7 . The array of  claim 1  wherein the array is adapted and configured to move in a direction generally parallel to the saw blade center axis. 
     
     
         8 . The array of  claim 1  wherein the array is adapted and configured to move without connection to the tissue log cutting saw. 
     
     
         9 . The array of  claim 1  wherein the array comprises a radio frequency identification device, the radio frequency identification device is adapted and configured to transmit the storage unit profile to the tissue log cutting saw. 
     
     
         10 . The array of  claim 9  wherein the radio frequency identification device is adapted and configured to receive data from the tissue log cutting saw to update the storage unit profile. 
     
     
         11 . The array of  claim 1  wherein the memory comprises a memory associated with each of the circular saw blades stored in the storage units. 
     
     
         12 . The array of  claim 11  wherein the memory associated with each of the circular saw blades comprises a radio frequency identification device. 
     
     
         13 . A method comprising:
 providing an array with a plurality of storage units, at least one of the storage units storing a circular saw blade for a tissue log cutting saw, the at least one storage unit being adapted and configured to exchange the circular saw blade with the tissue log cutting saw when the blade storage array is detachably mounted to the tissue log cutting saw, the array having a memory configured to store a data structure;   storing a data structure in the memory of the array, the data structure comprising a plurality of data items associated together as a storage unit profile, the data items of the storage unit profile comprising data representative of at least one of a blade diameter, a blade material, last saw cutting operational data, a last blade inspection, a last blade sharpening, a last blade run-time, a cumulative number of cuts, a cumulative blade run-time, the data items of the storage unit profile being associated with the circular saw blade stored in the at least one storage unit;   releasably mounting the array to a structure of the tissue log cutting saw; and   transmitting the storage unit profile to the tissue log cutting saw.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the array comprises a processor, the processor is configured to store the data structure in the memory; and wherein the step of transmitting the storage unit profile to the tissue log cutting saw includes placing the array in communication with the saw via a network and exchanging data relating to the storage unit profile with the tissue log cutting saw. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein in response to detection of the array being releasably mounted to the structure of the tissue log cutting saw and the array being on the network in communication with the tissue log cutting saw, automatically uploading data associated with the storage unit profile to a processor associated with the saw. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of storing the data structure in the memory of the array includes associating the data structure with a particular saw blade stored in a particular storage unit of the array. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising updating the storage unit profile based on operational data generated by the tissue log cutting saw. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of transmitting the storage unit profile to the saw includes configuring a radio frequency identification device to transmit the storage unit profile to the tissue log cutting saw. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising configuring the radio frequency identification device to receive operational data from the saw to update the storage unit profile. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 removing the array from the structure of the tissue log cutting saw;   providing a further array, the further array having a plurality of storage units, at least one of the storage units in the further array storing a circular saw blade for the tissue log cutting saw, the at least one storage unit being adapted and configured to exchange the circular saw blade with the tissue log cutting saw when the further blade storage array is detachably mounted to the tissue log cutting saw, the further array having memory configured to store a data structure;   storing a data structure in the memory of the further array, the data structure comprising a plurality of data items associated together as a storage unit profile, the storage unit profile data items comprising data representative of at least one of a blade diameter, a blade material, last saw cutting operational data, a last blade inspection, a last blade sharpening, a last blade run-time, a cumulate number of cuts, a cumulative blade run-time, the storage unit profile data being associated with at least one circular saw blade stored in the storage unit in the further array; and   releasably mounting the further array to the structure of the tissue log cutting saw; and   transmitting the storage unit profile of the further array to the tissue log cutting saw.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the step of transmitting the storage unit profile to the tissue log cutting saw includes automatically uploading data associated with the storage unit profile of the further array in response to detection of the further array being mounted to the structure of the saw. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising updating the storage unit profile of the further array based on operational data generated by the tissue log cutting saw.