EP4056340A1

EP4056340A1 - Cutting and splitting machine

Info

Publication number: EP4056340A1
Application number: EP22159070.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Marko POLAK
Original assignee: Uniforest doo
Current assignee: Uniforest doo
Priority date: 2021-03-12
Filing date: 2022-02-28
Publication date: 2022-09-14
Anticipated expiration: 2042-02-28
Also published as: SI26174A2; EP4056340B1; SI4056340T1; FI4056340T3

Abstract

The invention relates to a cutting splitting machine for cutting sawlog and splitting them into chopped wood, comprising a housing (2) with an attachment piece (3) having a rectangular through hole (4), a splitting section (5) with a splitting knife (6), a cutting section (7) with a circular saw blade (8), and a circular saw guide mechanism which guides the saw horizontally from an initial position (A) to a final position (B) of the circular saw and backwards, wherein the circular saw in its initial position protrudes at least partially from the housing through the through hole (4) in the attachment piece, a folding cover (9) that fits the rectangular through hole (4) and can receive a part of the circular saw, wherein the folding cover (9) is connected to the machine housing by two hinges (10) which are linearly guided in guides (11) arranged on the machine housing so that the folding cover can be linearly moved from the transport position (C) of the folding cover, in which the folding cover is positioned adjacent to the machine housing, in the direction of travel of the circular saw, to a position in which it is distant from the machine housing and can then be pivoted about its hinges to the operating position (D) of the folding cover, in which it can receive the circular saw in its initial position (A). An advantage of the machine according to the invention is that, despite the horizontal layout of the cutting and splitting sections, the machine has a small width which allows transportation on narrow paths. The machine allows a simultaneous operation of the cutting and splitting sections. A further advantage is the machine's low centre of gravity, which ensures greater stability during transport.

Description

Field of Invention

The invention relates to a cutting and splitting machine for cutting sawlog into individual pieces and splitting sawlog pieces into shopped wood.

Prior art

The cutting and splitting machine has a section for cutting sawlog into individual pieces and a section for splitting sawlog pieces into chopped wood. The sections are normally arranged side by side. Cutting and splitting machines with two different layouts for the cutting section and the splitting section are known from the prior art. In a horizontal variant of the machine, the sections are arranged side by side in a horizontal direction. A circular saw cuts a piece of a sawlog to a predetermined length in the cutting section, a push hatch then rolls the cut sawlog piece into the splitting section where a splitting knife splits the sawlog piece into chopped wood. In a vertical variant of the machine, the sections are arranged on top of each other in a vertical direction. A circular saw cuts a piece of a sawlog to a predetermined length in the cutting section, a retaining hatch retracts to allow the cut sawlog piece to fall, under the force of gravity, into the splitting section where a splitting knife splits the sawlog piece into chopped wood. When cutting sawlog, the circular saw always moves perpendicularly to the sawlog. The length of travel of the circular saw is equal to or greater than the maximum nominal diameter of the sawlog. In both variants of the machine, the circular saw can, in principle, move either in horizontal or vertical direction, or at an angle between horizontal and vertical direction. The circular saw must be protected at all times, both for safety at work and for the proper discharge of sawdust generated during the cutting process. There are two types of guards: fixed (immovable), usually mounted on the frame of the machine, and movable, which moves with the circular saw during the cutting process. If a movable guard is used in horizontal cutting and splitting machines, the feed area must also be protected for safety reasons.
In cutting and splitting machines provided with a circular saw for cutting large dimensions of sawlog (over 40 cm), the movement and dimensions of the circular saw also significantly increase the external dimensions of the cutting and splitting machine.
Cutting and splitting machines are often used where trees are felled, i.e. in the forest. Logging roads are generally gravel roads, narrow and uneven. A disadvantage of horizontal cutting and splitting machines is the large width of the machine, i.e. the dimension of the machine, that is transverse to the direction of travel, which poses a problem in transporting it. While the width of the machine is not a problem in vertical cutting and splitting machines, the problem is the significantly increased dimensions of the machine in the vertical direction, which affects the higher centre of gravity of the machine and reduces its stability. In addition, vertical cutting and splitting machines require a platform for the machine operator to climb on to operate and monitor the operation, and a significantly higher sawlog feeder is required than in the case of the horizontal variant of the machine. A good compromise between the requirement for a small height and a small width of the machine seems to be a horizontal cutting and splitting machine with a vertical movement of the circular saw, but such a configuration prevents the simultaneous operation of the cutting section and the splitting section, as the circular saw at least partially encroaches on the splitting area during its working stroke.

Technical problem

The technical problem is how to configure a cutting and splitting machine with a relatively small width and a relatively low centre of gravity, which is suitable for transport on narrow and uneven logging roads, and which will allow efficient operation, i.e. will allow a simultaneous operation of the cutting and splitting sections.

Solution to the technical problem

The technical problem is solved with a cutting and splitting machine comprising:

a housing of the machine with an attachment piece having a rectangular through hole,
a splitting section provided with a splitting knife for splitting pieces of sawlog into chopped wood and arranged in the housing,
a cutting section arranged in the housing and further comprising a circular saw for cutting sawlog into pieces and a circular saw guide mechanism which guides the circular saw substantially horizontally from the initial position of the circular saw to the final position, i.e. the transport position of the circular saw, and back again, wherein the circular saw, in the initial position of the circular saw, protrudes at least partially out of the housing through a rectangular through hole in the attachment piece,
a folding cover having a rectangular cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the direction of guidance of the circular saw, so as to substantially geometrically fit the rectangular through hole in the attachment piece and to receive a part of the circular saw which protrudes from the housing in the initial position of the circular saw, wherein the folding cover is connected to the machine housing by two hinges which are linearly guided in folding cover guides arranged on the machine housing so that the folding cover can be linearly moved from the transport position of the folding cover, in which the folding cover is positioned adjacent to the machine housing, in the direction of travel of the circular saw, to a position in which it is distant from the machine housing and can then be pivoted about its hinges to the operating position of the folding cover, in which it can receive the circular saw in its initial position, the folding cover being provided with first fastening means for fixing the folding cover in its transport position and second fastening means for fixing the folding cover in its operating position.

When transporting the cutting and splitting machine, the circular saw is locked in the position corresponding to its final position. Locking the circular saw in the end position is important from a safety point of view, but is not the subject of the invention. It can be implemented in different ways depending on the design of the machine. If the machine is equipped with electronic controls, locking can easily be done electronically. If the machine is not electronically controlled, the locking of the circular saw is also done mechanically. An example of such locking is described below. The folding cover, with its longitudinal dimension, is positioned adjacent to the housing of the splitting machine when the machine is ready to be transported, thus ensuring a reduced width of the cutting and splitting machine during transport.
An advantage of the cutting and splitting machine according to the invention is that, despite the horizontal layout of the cutting and splitting sections, the cutting and splitting machine has a relatively small width due to the folding cover, which allows transportation on narrow paths. The machine allows efficient operation, i.e. it allows a simultaneous operation of the cutting and splitting sections. A further advantage of the cutting and splitting machine according to the invention is that, due to the horizontal layout of its cutting and splitting sections the machine has a low centre of gravity, which provides greater stability of the cutting and splitting machine during transport, and a relatively low machine height, which enables the operator of the machine to operate and control the machine from the ground.

Figure 1: Cutting and splitting machine with a circular saw in initial position
Figure 2: Cutting and splitting machine with a circular saw in final position
Figure 3: Cutting and splitting machine with a folding cover in transport position
Figure 4: Cutting and splitting machine with a folding cover in transport position - top view
Figure 5: Cutting and splitting machine with a folding cover in distant position - top view
Figure 6: Cutting and splitting machine with a folding cover in distant position in distant position
Figure 7: Circular saw locking mechanism - detail
Figure 8: Mechanism for locking the circular saw in a locked position - detail
Figure 9: Folding cover lock mechanism - detail
Figure 10: Cutting and splitting machine with a folding cover in operating position

The invention is described in more detail in the following.
The technical problem is solved with a cutting and splitting machine 1 comprising:

a housing 2 of the machine with an attachment piece 3 having a rectangular through hole 4,
a splitting section 5 provided with a splitting knife 6 for splitting pieces of sawlog into chopped wood and arranged in the housing,
a cutting section 7 arranged in the housing and further comprising a circular saw 8 for cutting sawlog into pieces and a circular saw guide mechanism which guides the circular saw substantially horizontally from the initial position A of the circular saw to the final position B, i.e. the transport position of the circular saw, and back again, wherein the circular saw, in the initial position of the circular saw, protrudes at least partially out of the housing through a rectangular through hole in the attachment piece,
a folding cover 9 having a rectangular cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the direction of guidance of the circular saw, so as to substantially geometrically fit the rectangular through hole 4 in the attachment piece and to receive a part of the circular saw which protrudes from the housing in the initial position of the circular saw, wherein the folding cover 9 is connected to the machine housing by two hinges 10 which are linearly guided in folding cover guides 11 arranged on the machine housing so that the folding cover can be linearly moved from the transport position C of the folding cover, in which the folding cover is positioned adjacent to the machine housing, in the direction of travel of the circular saw, to a distant position C' in which it is distant from the machine housing and can then be pivoted about its hinges to the operating position D of the folding cover, in which it can receive the circular saw in its initial position A, the folding cover 9 being provided with first fastening means 12 for fixing the folding cover in its transport position C and second fastening means 13 for fixing the folding cover in its operating position D.

The circular saw 8 performs a working stroke in which a piece of a sawlog is cut by moving from the initial position A to the final position B. In a reciprocal, non-working stroke, the circular saw returns from the final position B to the initial position A.
The circular saw guide mechanism may be formed by linear circular saw guides or by an arm, one end of which is hinged in the machine housing and the other end of which is pivotally mounted to the circular saw.
Substantially horizontal guiding of the circular saw means that the circular saw is guided in a linear guide oriented in an essentially horizontal direction, or the circular saw is hinged by means of the arm so that it moves in a circular arc, the bowstring of which is oriented in an essentially horizontal direction.
The longer side of the folding cover, which is opposite the side with the two hinges, is provided with an extension 14 so that the extension covers the rectangular through hole 4 in the attachment piece of the housing in the transport position C of the folding cover, thereby preventing interference with the circular saw area. In the operating position D of the folding cover, the extension 14 abuts the longer side of the attachment piece of the machine housing, thus ensuring an axial alignment of the folding cover 9 with the attachment piece 3 of the housing in the direction of guidance of the circular saw.
The folding cover 9, with its longitudinal dimension, is positioned adjacent to the housing of the splitting machine when the machine is ready to be transported, thus ensuring a reduced width of the cutting and splitting machine during transport. Before starting work, the first fastening means 12 of the folding cover are released, the folding cover is moved linearly in the linear guide 11 to assume a position distant from the machine housing, is then rotated around the hinges 10 by substantially 90° to the working position D of the folding cover, in which it is axially aligned with the attachment piece 3 of the housing, and is fixed in that position by the second fastening means 13. The circular saw 8 is then unlocked to allow its movement from the circular saw final position B to its initial position A and backwards. The circular saw is thus protected at all times while the machine is running, i.e. the access of the machine user to the circular saw is prevented. After completion of the work, the procedure is carried out in reverse order to return the cutting and splitting machine back to a position suitable for transport.
The following describes an example of locking the circular saw 8 in its final position B for a mechanically operated cutting and splitting machine, where the reciprocating motion of the circular saw is carried out by means of a hydraulic cylinder acting unilaterally, which carries out a working stroke of the circular saw, while the reciprocate stroke is carried out by means of a spring. Locking is carried out by means of a dedicated wrench 20, one end of which is adapted to engage a lever arm 21, which is concealed in the machine housing and accessible through a slot 22 in the machine housing. The lever arm is then moved to the closed position, resulting in a valve 23 of the hydraulic cylinder being closed and a latch 24 of the machine cover being simultaneously moved, thereby locking a machine cover 25 so that it cannot be opened. By pulling the sawlog-cutting control lever, the circular saw is moved by the hydraulic cylinder to the final position B, where it remains due to the closed hydraulic valve. The drive of the circular saw rotation must be switched off. The dedicated wrench 20 is to be removed from the lever arm. The folding cover 9, which is locked in its operating position D, is then unlocked by means of the same dedicated wrench, the other end of which is adapted for locking or unlocking the folding lid, thereby releasing the folding cover and allowing it to be moved to its transport position C, in which it is fixed by means of the first fastening means 12. The lock 26 of the folding cover is configured in such a way that the dedicated wrench cannot be removed from the lock when the folding cover is unlocked.

Claims

A cutting and splitting machine (1) comprising:
a machine housing (2),

a splitting section (5) provided with a splitting knife (6) for splitting pieces of sawlog into chopped wood and arranged in the housing,

a cutting section (7) arranged in the housing and further comprising a circular saw (8) for cutting sawlog into pieces and a circular saw guide mechanism which guides the circular saw substantially horizontally from the initial position (A) of the circular saw to the final position (B), i.e. the transport position of the circular saw, and back again,

characterised in that the housing has an attachment piece (3) with a rectangular through hole (4) through which the circular saw protrudes at least partially from the housing in the initial position (A) of the circular saw, and that the cutting and splitting machine further comprises a folding cover (9) having a rectangular cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the direction of guidance of the circular saw, so as to substantially geometrically fit the rectangular through hole (4) in the attachment piece and to receive a part of the circular saw which protrudes from the housing in the initial position of the circular saw, wherein the folding cover (9) is connected to the machine housing by two hinges (10) which are linearly guided in folding cover guides (11) arranged on the machine housing so that the folding cover can be linearly moved from the transport position (C) of the folding cover, in which the folding cover is positioned adjacent to the machine housing, in the direction of travel of the circular saw, to a position in which it is distant from the machine housing and can then be pivoted about its hinges to the operating position (D) of the folding cover, in which it can receive the circular saw in its initial position (A), the folding cover (9) being provided with first fastening means (12) for fixing the folding cover in its transport position (C) and second fastening means (13) for fixing the folding cover in its operating position (D).
The cutting and splitting machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the longer side of the folding cover, which is opposite the side with the two hinges, is provided with an extension (14) so that the extension covers the rectangular through hole (4) in the attachment piece of the housing in the transport position (C) of the folding cover, and so that in the operating position (D) of the folding cover the extension (14) abuts the longer side of the attachment piece of the machine housing.
The cutting and splitting machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by being provided with locking means for locking the circular saw in its final position (B).
The cutting and splitting machine according to claim 3, characterized in that the locking means are electronic locking means.
The cutting and splitting machine according to claim 3, characterized in that the locking means are mechanical locking means.