CA2004262C - Apparatus for stacking bolts - Google Patents

Abstract

The stacker comprises a receiving bin adapted to position bolts close to the ground in an orientation that is perpendicular to the direction of advance of the stacker.
The bin has side walls that closely confine the two ends of the bolts. A reciprocating plunger at the base of the bin biases the bolts rearwardly through an aperture into a stacking bin that trails the receiving bin. The stacking bin is open at the rear and at the bottom. Its parallel side walls closely confine the ends of the bolts collecting therein. The bolts biased rearwardly by the plunger are forced into the base of the stack in the stacking bin. The combination of the resistance of the ground-engaging stack, the confinement by the side walls, and the forced introduction of bolts into the base of the stack, induces a "boiling up" action of the bolts at the front end of the stack whereby they self-align themselves into a parallel state. When the bins are moved ahead, they leave behind an elongated stack of bolts.

Description

200~262 1 FIELD OF THE lNV~N'l'ION

2 The present invention relates to apparatus for

3 stacking short logs or bolts in the form of a lineal stack

4 several bolts in height. In another aspect, the invention relates to apparatus for de-limbing a cut tree, cutting it 6 into short logs, and then stacking it as aforesaid.

7 BACKGROUND OF THE lNV ~:N'l'ION
8 The invention has been developed in connection with g processing aspen trees and stacking the produced short logs (called "bolts") in logging operations conducted in Northern 11 Alberta. The conventional steps practiced and the equipment 12 used in that operation will now shortly be described, to 13 identify some of the shortcomings that the present invention 14 solves. However, in so doing it is to be understood that the 15 invention is not to be limited in application to processing 16 aspen.
17 In connection with such logging, the trees are cut 18 and then skidded to the side of the logging road. Here they 19 are placed with their butt ends at the road edge and their 20 stems extending generally perpendicularly from the road. A
21 machine, referred to as a de-limber, comes along and grasps 22 each tree with two annular sets of arms. The outermost arms 23 have de-limbing knives on their edges and are carried by a 24 telescoping boom. The innermost arms are carried by the 25 machine and are stationary. The outermost arms grasp the 26 tree, part way up its stem, and place the butt into the 27 innermost arms, which firmly grasp the butt. The outermost 28 arms are then partially loosened and are stroked up the tree 2 ~

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1 by the boom. It may require two or more strokes of the boom 2 to de-limb the stem to a pre-determined diameter. The 3 outermost arms are then further closed, to cut off the 4 r~m~i n ing unscraped tree top. The outermost arms are then moved back partway along the stem, the innermost arms are 6 released and the stem is dropped to the ground.
7 At this stage, the de-limbed stems may be loaded 8 onto a truck and sent to the mill for further processing. Or g alternatively, they may be further processed at the logging site by cutting them into 8 foot long bolts.
11 The bolt-forming step in the field involves use of 12 a second machine, referred to as a ''slasherll. The slasher has an arm that picks up the de-limbed stem with a grapple, rotates it through 90 so that it is aligned with the road, and then advances the stem longitudinally until its end 16 contacts a butt plate. A cutting element, spaced 8 feet from the butt plate, then moves into engagement with the stem and 18 cuts it to form a bolt. The bolt drops into a "basket". The 19 advancement and cutting process is then repeated. Once the basket is filled with bolts, the slasher arm is actuated to 21 pick up the logs in the basket, rotate them through 90, and 22 then place them in piles on the road edge, ready to be 23 loaded on a truck.
24 From the foregoing, it will be noted that the conventional system involves a significant number of machine 26 movements, such as:
27 _ picking up the tree from the skidded tree 28 pile;

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1 - two-way travel of the tree stem during de-2 limbing;
3 - laying the de-limbed stem down in a separate 4 pile;
- picking up the de-limbed stem with the slasher 6 and rotating it 90 to align it with the 7 slasher; and 8 - positioning the basket load of bolts at the 9 side of the road.
It is a preferred objective of the present 1l invention to provide apparatus and processing steps which 12 simplify the operations of de-limbing and cutting the trees 13 to form bolts and assembling the bolts in a stacked condition 14 amenable for loading onto trucks.
It is the main objective to provide a novel system 1 6 for stacking bolts.

17 SUM~lARY OF THE INVENTION
18 In a first aspect of the invention, there is 19 provided a movable apparatus for stacking bolts to form an elongated linear stack. The apparatus, termed a "stacker", 21 is adapted to be moved along a windrow of trees that are in 22 the process of being converted into bolts. The stacker is 23 operative to receive these bolts and stack them in an 24 orientation such that they are transverse to the longitudinal axis of the stack to be created. The formed stack issues 26 from the open rear end of the ongoing stacker and is left on 27 the ground in the form of an elongated, linear stack, one 28 bolt in width and several bolts in height.

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1 The stacker comprises means, such as a receiving 2 bin or hopper, that function to position one or more received 3 bolts adjacent to ground surface in an orientation that is 4 generally perpendicular to the direction of advance of the stacker. Means, such as a plunger, are provided to bias the 6 so-positioned bolts rearwardly, while preserving their 7 orientation. The stacker further comprises means, such as a 8 stacking bin, for collecting the bolts and depositing them on 9 the ground in the form of a stack. Preferably, the stacking lo bin is open-bottomed (at least at its rear end) and has an 11 open rear end. It comprises a front wall and a pair of 12 spaced, rearwardly extending, parallel side walls. The side 13 walls are spaced apart a distance that is just greater than the length of the bolts, so the walls are operative to confine the bolts at their ends. The front wall has an inlet 16 located adjacent ground surface. The inlet communicates with 17 the hopper and is adapted to enable entry of the bolts, 18 biased by the plunger, into the stacking bin chamber.
19 The following features of the stacker will be noted:
21 - Except when first beginning, the bolts being 22 biased into the stacking bin encounter a stack 23 of bolts already in the bin chamber. This 24 stack of bolts has frictional contact with the ground surface. Thus, the newly entering 26 bolts encounter resistance and have to be 27 driven with some force into the stack;

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_ 1 - The bolts in the stacking bin are closely 2 confined at each of their ends by the side 3 walls of the bin; and 4 - The bolts being introduced into the bin are entering at or adjacent to ground surface (or 6 at the base of the stack).
7 The result of combining these features is that the entry of 8 new bolts into the stack in the bin induces a "boiling up"
9 action of the bolts. The bolts, which otherwise would have a lo tendency to ~jack-straw~, self-align themselves in the 1l boiling-up action and form a generally uniform and neat stack 12 of parallel members having each of their ends generally in a 13 common vertical plane.
In a second aspect of the invention, a novel processing assembly is combined with the stacker to yield a 16 novel bolt-forming and stacking assembly. The processing 17 assembly comprises:
18 _ A conventional articulated arm and grapple 19 (known as a "knuckle boom log loader"), which is adapted to reach out and grasp one or more 21 of the tree stems by their butt ends and drag 22 them inwardly to position the butt ends over a 23 processing head, at which point the grapple 24 may then be opened to drop the butt ends into engagement with the processing head; and 26 - A processing head that is mounted on a 27 pivoting and rotating support, so that the 28 head may align itself with the one or more 29 stems being processed. The head is adapted to ~004Z62 -1- engage and longitudinally advance the stem;
2 simultaneously de-limb it; terminate 3 advancement when the proper bolt length 4 extends past a cutting element; and pivot the cutting element through the advanced stem to 6 cut and form the bolts. More particularly, 7 the processing head comprises: a pair of 8 driven rolls that clamp onto the dropped stem g and advance it axially; de-limbing means that encircle the advancing stem and ~crape off the 11 branches; a cutting element, such as a 12 pivoting chain saw or circular saw, that is 13 adapted to sever the stem; and means for 4 interrupting the advance of the stem when the desired length has passed the saw, whereby the 16 rolls are stopped and the saw is pivoted to 17 cut and form the bolts, which drop into the 18 hopper.
19 It will be noted that the bolt-forming and stacking assembly is characterized by the following advantages:
21 - The tree stem is handled only once, by 22 advancing it longitudinally;
23 _ The stem is de-limbed and cut into bolts in 24 the course of the single longitudinal movement of the stem;
26 - The bolts remain aligned with the travel of 27 the stem, so no re-orientation is involved;
28 ~ The processing of stems does not involve the 29 grapple arm, so the operator may use the ~004262 1 latter to pick up a second set of stems as the 2 first set is being processed; and 3 - The stack of bolts issue from the rear end of 4 the stacker as it moves ahead, without any requirement for machine movements (such as 6 lifting and rotating baskets of bolts, as is 7 the case in the prior art).
8 Broadly stated, the invention is an apparatus for 9 stacking de-limbed logs to form a linear stack, comprising:
means for receiving the bolts and positioning them adjacent 11 ground surface in generally perpendicular relation to the 12 longitudinal axis of the stack to be created; means for 13 biasing the bolts rearwardly out of the positioning means 14 while maint~ining their orientation; and means for collecting the bolts, as they are biased out of the positioning means, 16 and depositing them on the ground in the form of a stack as 17 aforesaid, said collecting means being positioned 18 contiguously and rearwardly of the positioning means whereby 19 the bolts being biased are forced into the base of the stack being collected, said collecting means being adapted to 21 confine the bolts therein at their ends.

23 Figures l - 7 are schematic side sectional views 24 showing the operation of the stacker;
Figure 8 is a perspective view of the stacker, 26 showing the hopper and stacking bin;
27 Figure 9 is a side sectional view of the stacker, 28 taken along the line A--A of Figure 7;

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1 Figure 10 is a top plan view of the bolt-forming 2 and stacking assembly;
3 Figure 11 is a side view of the assembly of Figure 4 9;
Figure 12 is an end view showing the kicker 6 assembly;
7 Figure 13 is an end view showing the de-limbing 8 assembly;
g Figure 14 is a top plan view showing the roll assembly;
11 Figure 15 is a side view showing the roll assembly;
12 Figure 16 is an end view showing the cutting assembly;
14 Figure 17 is a side view showing the processing head; and 16 Figure 18 is a top plan view showing the processing 17 head.

19 The illustrated bolt-forming and stacking assembly 1 comprises a tractor 2, a grapple arm 3 mounted on the rear 21 end of the tractor, a hopper 4 and stacking bin 5 which are 22 carried by a wheel-supported skid frame 6 that is hitched to 23 the tractor 2, and a processing head 7 carried by the front 24 end of the skid frame 6. These components form a unitary assembly that may be moved along a logging road or the like.
26 The tractor 2 has a conventional motor and 27 hydraulic system for powering and controlling the components.
28 It is within the ordinary skill of the art to design and ~00~6~

l provide these systems. Therefore they will not be described 2 herein, as they do not go to the essence of the invention.
3 However, the disclosure does indicate the functions to be 4 carried out and the operational and sequential features that are involved.
6 As stated, the tractor 2 carries a conventional 7 grapple arm 3. This arm is mounted on a turntable 8, for 8 rotation about a vertical axis. It can also be extended or g contracted and raised or lowered, as required. At its outer end, the arm carries a conventional log-loading grapple 9.
ll The arm is equipped with actuating cylinders and control l2 circuits (not shown), whereby the operator may control the arm from the cab 10. The arm may be used to reach outwardly to the edge of the logging road, grasp one or more butt ends of the trees extending therefrom, lift the grasped butt(s), l6 drag the trees inwardly so that the butt ends overlie the processing head 7, and drop the grasped ends so that they l8 engage the processing head 7.
l9 The skid frame 6 is suspended at its front end from the tractor 2 by a pivoting linkage assembly 11. More 2l particularly, links 12 are pivotally connected to each of the 22 tractor and skid frame, to enable the front end of the skid 23 frame to be raised or lowered. A hydraulic cylinder 13 24 interconnects the tractor hitch 14 with the skid frame and, when actuated, the cylinder is operative to raise or lower 26 the skid frame. At its rear end, the skid frame is pivotally 27 interconnected with the rear wheels 15 by a link assembly 16.
28 A hydraulic cylinder 17 is pivotally connected between the 29 skid frame and link assembly 15 and functions to raise or xoo~

l lower the rear end of the skid frame, as required. A pair of 2 stabilizer legs 18, actuated by cylinders 18a, are mounted to 3 the two sides of the skid frame at its front end, for 4 stabilizing the frame when the apparatus is working. In summary, means are provided for lowering the skid frame 6 to 6 the ground and stabilizing it. The skid frame and stabilizer 7 legs can also be raised, to enable the assembly 1 to move 8 along the road.
9 Suitable hydraulic circuits (not shown) are provided for controlling the cylinders 13, 17, 18a from the ll cab 10.
12 The processing head 7 is mounted on a transverse support beam 19 which, in turn, is mounted on the front end l4 of the skid frame 6 by a gimbal joint 20. The gimbal joint 20 enables the head 7 to rotate in a horizontal plane and to l6 pivot in a vertical plane, within limits dictated by the l7 stops 21. As a result, the head 3 may swivel and pivot as l8 required to align itself with the tree stem being processed.
lg More particularly, the gimbal joint 20 comprises a turntable 22 mounted on the skid frame 6. The turntable 22 21 carries a pair of upstanding, spaced apart lugs 23. A wrist 22 pin 24 is supported by the lugs 23 and is free to pivot. The 23 main support beam 19 of the processor head is mounted on the 24 wrist pin 24.
The processing head 7 comprises a linear array of 26 components carried by the support beam 19 and adapted to 27 engage the tree stem being processed, advance it 28 longitudinally, de-limb it as it advances, cut it into de-29 limbed bolts of pre-determined length, and discard the ~0(~26~

1 undesired small diameter end of the stem. These components 2 perform their functions during a single pass or advancement 3 of the stem.
4 More particularly, at its outermost end, the head 7 comprises a kicker arm assembly 25 adapted to eject the tree 6 top upward and away from the assembly 1. Having reference to 7 Figures 16 and 17, the kicker arm assembly 25 includes a pair 8 of kicker arms 25a, which are pivotally mounted on a 9 rotatable pivot shaft 26 carried by a housing 27 secured to the main support beam lg. A hydraulic cylinder 28 is 11 pivotally connected between the housing 27 and a lug 29 12 connected with the pivot shaft 26. Extension of the cylinder 13 28 will cause the kicker arms 25 to rotate upwardly about the 14 shaft 26, to throw the tree top away.
The head 7 further has a de-limbing assembly 30 16 mounted on the main support beam 19. The de-limbing assembly comprises a pair of de-limbing plates 31 having knife edges 18 arranged in the form of a shallow V. The plates 31 support 19 the tree stem from below as it is being advanced. A first upstanding curved de-limbing arm 32, having a knife edge, is 21 pivotally mounted on the rod 33 of a hydraulic cylinder 34, 22 which is pivotally mounted to a plate 35 secured to the main 23 support beam 19. A link 36 is pivotally connected between 24 the first de-limbing arm 32 and a second similar de-limbing arm 37. Extension of the rod 33 will cause the de-limbing 26 arms 32, 37 to move together and rotate into close engagement 27 with the tree stem being processed.

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l Inwardly of the de-limbing assembly 30, the head 7 2 has a feed roll assembly 40 mounted on the support beam 19.
3 The feed roll assembly 40 comprises a pair of vertical 4 studded rolls 41, each rotatably mounted in a carrier frame

5 42. Each carrier frame 42 is pivotally secured to one end of

6 an actuating hydraulic cylinder 43. The two carrier frames

7 42 are joined by a pivotally mounted equalizer link assembly

8 44. Extension and contraction of the roll cylinder 43,

9 coupled with the action of the equalizer link assembly 44 and the pivot connections involved, will cause the two rolls 41 ll to open and close proportionately and equally. A drive motor l2 45 powers each roll 41.
13 Inwardly of the feed roll assembly 40, the 14 processor head 3 comprises a cutting assembly 50 which can be actuated to cut through the tree stem being processed. The 16 cutting assembly 50 shown comprises a circular saw 51 mounted 7 on and driven by the shaft 52 of a hydraulic motor 53. The 18 motor 53 and saw 51 are mounted on a pivoting arm 54 lg supported by the main support beam 19. A hydraulic cylinder 20 55 is pivotally connected between the support beam 19 and arm 21 54, for swinging the saw 51 into cutting engagement with the 22 tree stem.
23 A photo cell assembly 60 is provided to sense the 24 innermost end of the advancing stem. The photo cell assembly 25 60 is connected with means (not shown) operative to actuate 26 the cutting assembly 50 and temporarily stop the rolls 41.
27 Suitable hydraulic circuits (not shown) are 28 provided for actuating the kicker arm assembly 25, de-limbing 29 assembly 30 and roll assembly 40 from the cab 10.

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1 Turning now to the stacker 70, it comprises a 2 hopper 4 and stacking bin 5.
3 The hopper 4 is generally rectangular and open-4 topped. It is positioned below and contiguous to the processing head 7, so that the bolts 71 drop into it as they 6 are cut. The side walls 72 of the hopper are spaced apart 7 so that the bolts 71 are loosely confined at their ends.
8 Typically, the spacing of the side walls can be 9 feet for 8 g foot long bolts. The upper ends of the hopper front and side walls 73, 72 are inwardly sloping so that they are adapted to 11 centralize the bolt in the hopper chamber 74. The hopper is 12 reinforced and contained by the skid frame 6. A reject 13 bucket 100 is pivotally mounted to one of the side walls 72.
The bucket 100 can be rotated inwardly by a hydraulically actuated cylinder (not shown) to a position at the base of 16 the inwardly sloping front wall 73 of the hopper. There it 17 can intercept a deformed or otherwise defective bolt and 18 throw it away from assembly 1.
19 In operation, the hopper 4 is adapted to receive and position the bolts 71 adjacent the ground surface on 21 which the skid frame 6 rests. When so positioned, the bolts 22 are oriented generally perpendicularly to the longitudinal 23 axis of the stack that is to be formed.
24 A broad-faced plunger 75 is centrally positioned at the base of the hopper chamber 74. The plunger 75 is 26 actuated by the rod end of a hydraulic cylinder 101.
27 In operation, the plunger 75 functions to bias 28 rearwardly any bolts 71 present in the hopper chamber 74.
29 The confining hopper side walls 72 and the broad face 77 of 2004Zfi~

1 the plunger 75 cooperate to maintain the orientation of the 2 bolts.
3 The stacking bin 5 is contiguous to and rearward of 4 the hopper 4. They share a common wall 78. The stacking bin 5 iæ also rectangular in configuration, having parallel side 6 walls 79. The side walls 79 are spaced apart sufficiently so 7 that they loosely confine the bolts 71. The bin 5 is open-8 ended at the rear and open-bottomed. (Note that, while the 9 drawings show the stacking bin 5 open throughout its height at the rear and open-bottomed throughout most of its length, 1l it is only necessary that the stack 80 formed in the chamber 12 81 of the stacking bin 5 be able to pass out the rear of the 13 bin and make contact with the ground as it leaves. So the 14 bin can have a floor along most of its length and a rear end wall extending part way down from its upper edge.) 16 The front wall 78 of the stacking bin 5 forms an aperture 82 at its lower end. The aperture 82 extends the 18 width of the stacking bin 5, so that it is adapted to enable 19 entry therethrough of the bolts being biased rearwardly. A
hinged, segmented, one-way closure 83 permits the bolts to 21 move from the hopper chamber 74 into the stacking bin chamber 22 81, but prevents them returning in the other direction.
23 From the foregoing, it will be noted that the 24 stacking bin 5 is adapted to collect the bolts being biased rearwardly and to form them into a stack 80, at least the 26 rear part of which is in frictional engagement with the 27 ground surface. When the stacking bin 5 is moved ahead, the 28 stack 80 is left deposited on the ground and joins other Z0042fi;~
-1 bolts already deposited there to form an elongated lineal 2 stack.
3 In the operation of the assembly, the grapple arm 3 4 grasps a tree stem and drops its butt end into the gap between the drive rolls 40. The de-limbing assembly 30 is 6 activated to bring the knife arms 32, 37 and knife plates 31 7 into pressing engagement with the stem. The rolls 40 are 8 also clamped onto the stem and then activated to advance the 9 stem end toward the photo cell assembly 60. When the assembly 60 senses that the stem has reached it, the drive 11 rolls 40 are stopped and the cutting assembly 50 is activated 12 to cut through the stem and form a bolt 71. Some deformed 13 bolts are discarded by the reject bucket 100. The remaining 14 bolts drop into the hopper chamber 74 and are guided to 15 assume a position, at the base of the chamber 74, in which 16 they are generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of 17 the stack 80 to be formed. The plunger 75 then is activated 18 to bias the bolts rearwardly out of the hopper 5 and force 19 them into the base of the stack 80 already in the bin chamber 20 81. The bolts so biased cause a "boiling up" of bolts within 21 the bin chamber 81. The combination of confining the bolts 22 at their ends, providing resistance to their entry into the 23 stack by having it in frictional contact with the ground, and 24 injecting the bolts into the base of the stack, induces a 25 boiling up of the bolts, at the front end of the stack, that 26 causes them to maintain a parallel alignment. Returning to 27 the stem being processed, when the small diameter top end is 28 reached, the kicker arm assembly 25 is activated to discard 29 it.

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1 The scope of the invention is set forth in the 2 claims now following.

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Claims (18)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN
EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS
FOLLOWS:

1. Apparatus for stacking de-limbed logs to form a linear stack, comprising:
means for receiving the bolts and positioning them adjacent ground surface in generally perpendicular relation to the longitudinal axis of the stack to be created;
means for biasing the bolts rearwardly out of the positioning means while maintaining their orientation; and means for collecting the bolts, as they are biased out of the positioning means, and depositing them on the ground in the form of a stack as aforesaid, said collecting means being positioned contiguously and rearwardly of the receiving means whereby the bolts being biased are forced into the base of the stack being collected, said collecting means being adapted to confine the bolts therein at their ends.

2. Apparatus for stacking de-limbed bolts to form a linear stack, comprising:
means for receiving the bolts and positioning them adjacent ground surface in generally perpendicular relation to the longitudinal axis of the stack being created;
means for biasing the bolts rearwardly out of the positioning means while maintaining their orientation; and an open-bottomed bin having a front wall and parallel, rearwardly extending side walls terminating to form an open rear end, said bin being positioned contiguously and rearwardly of the receiving means, said front wall having an aperture adapted to enable entry therethrough of the biased bolts into the bin chamber, whereby the bolts being biased are forced into the base of the stack collecting in the bin, said side walls being spaced so as to confine each bolt at its ends.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 or 2 comprising:
means, associated with the receiving means, for intercepting and discarding defective bolts as they enter the receiving means.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 comprising:
means, associated with the bin front wall, for enabling entry of bolts into the bin through the aperture and preventing return of bolts through the aperture.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 comprising:
means, associated with the receiving means, for intercepting and discarding defective bolts as they enter the receiving means; and means, associated with the bin front wall, for enabling entry of bolts into the bin through the aperture and preventing return of bolts through the aperture.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claims 1 or 2 wherein:
the means for biasing comprises a hydraulically powered plunger.

7. The apparatus as set forth in claims 1 or 2 comprising:
means, associated with the receiving means, for intercepting and discarding defective bolts as they enter the receiving means; and the means for biasing comprises a hydraulically powered plunger.

8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 comprising:
means, associated with the bin front wall, for enabling entry of bolts into the bin through the aperture and preventing return of bolts through the aperture;
means, associated with the receiving means, for intercepting and discarding defective bolts as they enter the receiving means; and the means for biasing comprises a hydraulically powered plunger.

9. A bolt forming and stacking assembly for processing cut trees to form an elongated, linear stack of bolts, said trees lieing with their axes generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the stack to be created, comprising:
means for grasping the butt end of a tree and advancing the stem longitudinally;
means for de-limbing and cutting the advancing stem to form bolts of substantially equal length;
means for receiving the de-limbed bolts, as they are produced, and positioning them adjacent ground surface in generally perpendicular relation to the longitudinal axis of the stack being created;
means for biasing the bolts rearwardly out of the positioning means while maintaining their orientation; and means for collecting the bolts, as they are biased out of the positioning means, and depositing them on the ground in the form of a stack as aforesaid, said collecting means being positioned contiguously and rearwardly of the receiving means whereby the bolts being biased are forced into the base of the stack being collected, said collecting means being adapted to confine the bolts therein at their ends.

10. A bolt forming and stacking assembly for processing cut trees to form an elongated, linear stack of bolts, said trees lieing with their axes generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the stack to be created, comprising:
means for grasping the butt end of a tree and advancing the stem longitudinally;
means for de-limbing and cutting the advancing stem to form bolts of substantially equal length;
means for receiving the bolts and positioning them adjacent ground surface in generally perpendicular relation to the longitudinal axis of the stack being created;
means for biasing the bolts rearwardly out of the positioning means while maintaining their orientation; and an open-bottomed bin having a front wall and parallel, rearwardly extending side walls terminating to form an open rear end, said bin being positioned contiguously and rearwardly of the receiving means, said front wall having an aperture adapted to enable entry therethrough of the biased bolts into the bin chamber, whereby the bolts being biased are forced into the base of the stack collecting in the bin, said side walls being spaced so as to confine each bolt at its ends.

11. The apparatus as set forth in claims 9 or 10 comprising;
means, associated with the receiving means, for intercepting and discarding defective bolts as they enter the receiving means.

12. The apparatus as set forth in claim 10 comprising:
means, associated with the bin front wall, for enabling entry of bolts into the bin through the aperture and preventing return of bolts through the aperture.

13. The apparatus as set forth in claim 10 comprising:
means, associated with the receiving means, for intercepting and discarding defective bolts as they enter the receiving means; and means, associated with the bin front wall, for enabling entry of bolts into the bin through the aperture and preventing return of bolts through the aperture.

14. The apparatus as set forth in claims 9 or 10 wherein:
the means for biasing comprises a hydraulically powered plunger.

15. The apparatus as set forth in claims 9 or 10 comprising:
means, associated with the receiving means, for intercepting and discarding defective bolts as they enter the receiving means; and the means for biasing comprises a hydraulically powered plunger.

16. The apparatus as set forth in claim 10 comprising:
means, associated with the bin front wall, for enabling entry of bolts into the bin through the aperture and preventing return of bolts through the aperture;

means, associated with the receiving means, for intercepting and discarding defective bolts as they enter the receiving means; and the means for biasing comprises a hydraulically powered plunger.

17. A bolt forming and stacking assembly for processing cut trees to form an elongated, linear stack of bolts, said trees lieing with their axes generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the stack to be created, comprising:
means for grasping the butt end of a tree and advancing the stem longitudinally;
means for de-limbing and cutting the advancing stem to form bolts of substantially equal length;
an open-top bin for receiving the bolts and positioning them adjacent ground surface in generally perpendicular relation to the longitudinal axis of the stack being created;
a plunger, positioned at the base of the receiving bin, for biasing the bolts rearwardly out of the bin, while maintaining their orientation; and an open-bottomed stacking bin having a front wall forming the rear wall of the hopper, said stacking bin having parallel, rearwardly extending side walls terminating to form an open rear end, said common wall having an aperture adapted to enable entry therethrough of the biased bolts into the stacking bin chamber, whereby the bolts being biased are forced into the base of the stack collecting in the stacking bin, said side walls being spaced so as to confine each bolt at its ends;
said receiving bin having means at its upper end for intercepting and discarding defective bolts as they enter the hopper.

18. The apparatus as set forth in claim 17 comprising:
means, associated with the stacking bin front wall, for enabling entry of bolts into the bin through the aperture and preventing return of bolts through the aperture.