ES2356969B1 - CONTROL DEVICE OF A FOREST HEAD. - Google Patents

Abstract

Control device of a forest head. # The present invention aims at a control device of a forest head that allows different measurements to be made when approaching a tree on which different operations are performed. # The control device is capable of Carry out the tree head distance measurement and allow the approximation speed to be adjusted automatically and programmatically by acting on control mechanisms.

Description

or buses

Control device of a forest head.

Object of the invention

The present invention has as its object a control device of a forest head that allows different measurements to be made during the approach to a tree on which different operations are carried out.

The control device is capable of measuring the tree head distance and allows the approximation speed to be adapted automatically and programmably by acting on control mechanisms. Background of the invention

The heads used in forest machinery are well known in the state of the art to allow different operations on different trees for the collection of their fruits by vibration, or cutting or attachment thereof.

Among the above is the Spanish patent with publication number ES224 9070 relating to an integral system of collection of tree products, which has a support chassis with one axle, two, or one axle and one freewheel, and a structure mobile on which the inverted fan or umbrella is placed and the vibrator, and whose movement is performed perpendicular to the march until reaching the trunk of the tree.

However, in the previous system, it is not known by the operator of the tractor or vehicle that carries the vibrator the distance that separates it at any time from the trunk of the tree on which it will perform the vibration operation, nor is it known, once it is arranged to drive the vibrating clamps the diameter of the tree.

These operations increase the exhaustion or physical fatigue of the operator by having to accurately determine the position of the head relative to the trunk of the tree.

Due to the above, it is probable that the operator does not place the vibrator in the proper position to make the tree trunk vibrate, or that the vibrating clamps do not open sufficiently, and may cause irreparable damage to the tree.

The present invention solves all the above drawbacks by providing a forest head control device that allows different measurements to be made during the approach to a tree on which subsequent operations are performed. Description of the invention

The present invention relates to a control device of a forest head that is supported by a tractor or a vehicle intended for forestry tasks.

The control device has a programmable automatic controller that controls a set of sensors placed in the head that approaches the tree.

These sensors, placed in different places of the head, as in the clamps in case of a vibrator, in the head itself in case it is intended for cutting or attachment, or in arms attached to the tractor or vehicle and supporting the head, determine the position, at all times, of the same, with respect to the tree to which they approach.

The controller stores in a microprocessor the data that is collected by the sensors and that

Once the controller receives the data from the sensors, it establishes the position of the spindle with respect to the tree and sends signals to actuators that allow the spindle to be placed in the position required for the operation being carried out, which can be cut , attachment or vibration.

Likewise, the control device allows the different sensors to be controlled once the operation has been performed on the tree, that is, in operations in which it is necessary to manipulate the tree once the first operation has been carried out by the head.

In summary, the invention refers to a forest head control device characterized in that it has a programmable automatic controller that controls sensors placed in a head that approaches a tree that determine the relative position between the head and the tree, and sends a signal to some actuators that face the head with the tree. Description of the drawings

The present specification is complemented with a set of drawings, illustrative of the preferred and never limiting example of the invention.

Figure 1 shows a side view of the tractor

or vehicle intended for forestry tasks where the head control device is integrated.

Figure 2 shows a plan view of the clamp of the head that operates on the tree. Figure 3 represents a diagram of the different elements of the head control device.

Preferred Embodiment of the Invention

The present invention relates to a control device that governs a head, which in a first preferred embodiment is a cutting head (1), supported by a tractor (2) or a vehicle intended for forestry tasks.

The control device has a controller

(3) programmable automatic that controls a set of sensors (4) placed in the cutting head (1) that approaches a tree (5), fed by a power supply (3.1).

The cutting head (1) has a distance sensor (4.1) that detects the position of the cutting head (1) with respect to the shaft (5) at all times and two angle sensors (4.2) that are placed in tweezers (1.1) of the cutting head (1) and that determine the opening angle that they must present (1.1) to face the tree (5).

The programmable automatic controller (3) stores in a microprocessor (3.2) the data that is collected by the sensors (4.1, 4.2) and sent to it (3.2) through a set of ports

(3.3) series or buses (3.4) CAN present in the programmable automatic controller (3) that allow a set of analog inputs of the distance and angle signals of the sensors (4.1, 4.2) to be coupled, in addition to a series of inputs and digital signal outputs that allow input and output of device parameters.

Once the programmable automatic controller (3) has received the sensor data (4.1, 4.2), it establishes the position of the cutting head (1) with respect to the shaft (5) and sends signals to some hydraulic actuators (6) present in the cutting head (1) that allow it to be placed in the position required for the cutting operation.

3 EN 2356969A1 4

Likewise, the control device receives information from the sensors (4.1, 4.2) once it has made the cut on the tree (5) to place the trunk in a horizontal position and proceed to peel the bark of the tree taking it towards some blades (not shown) present in the tractor (2) or vehicle intended for forestry tasks.

In a second preferred embodiment, the head (1) is of the vibratory type, also supported by a tractor (2) or a vehicle intended for forestry tasks.

In this example, once the diameter of the shaft (5) has been determined by two angle sensors (4.2) that are placed in pliers (1.1) of the head

(1) vibration, is stored in the microprocessor

(3.2) of the programmable automatic controller (3) that establishes the frequency and vibration power that the vibration head (1) must exert on the shaft (5).

Variations in materials, shape, size and arrangement of the component elements, described in a non-limiting manner, do not alter the essentiality of this invention, being sufficient to proceed to its reproduction by an expert.

5 EN 2356969A1 6

Claims (7)

one.

Forest head control device characterized in that it has a programmable automatic controller (3) that receives data from sensors (4.1, 4.2) placed in a head (1) that approaches a tree (5) that determines the relative position between the spindle (1) and the shaft (5), and sends a signal to actuators (6) that face the spindle (1) with the shaft (5).

2.

Forest head control device according to claim 1 characterized in that the controller

(3) programmable automatic stores in a microprocessor (3.2) the data that is collected by the sensors (4.1, 4.2), which are sent to it (3.2) through a set of serial ports (3.3) or buses (3.4) CAN. 3. Forest head control device according to claim 1 characterized in that it controls a cutting head (1) having a distance sensor (4.1) that detects the position of the cutting head (1) with respect to the tree (5) at all times and two angle sensors (4.2) that are placed in tweezers (1.1) of the cutting head (1) and that determine the opening angle they must have (1.1) to face the shaft (5).

Four.

Forest head control device according to claim 2 characterized in that the set of serial ports (3.3) or CAN buses (3.4) present in the programmable automatic controller (3) allow coupling a set of analog inputs of the distance and angle signals of the sensors (4.1, 4.2).

5.

Forest head control device according to claim 2 characterized in that it controls a vibrating head (1), so that once the diameter of the tree (5) has been determined by two sensors

(4.2) of angle that are placed in tweezers (1.1) of the vibration head (1), stores the diameter of the shaft (5) in the microprocessor (3.2) of the programmable automatic controller (3), establishing the frequency and power of vibration that the vibration head (1) must exert on the shaft (5). ES 2 356 969 A1 ES 2 356 969 A1 SPANISH OFFICE OF THE PATENTS AND BRAND Application no .: 200900223 SPAIN Date of submission of the application: 27.01.2009 Priority Date: REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE 51 Int. Cl.: A01G23 / 02 (2006.01) A01D46 / 26 (2006.01) RELEVANT DOCUMENTS

Category

Documents cited Claims Affected

X

US 6658834 B1 (MAY DONALD P) 09.12.2003, column 2, line 50 - column 5, line 14; figures. one

Y

2

TO

3-5

Y

JARQUE GARCÍA, R .; Design and programming of a communication system based on CAN-BUS, 2005 [recovered on 03/30/2011]. Recovered from the Internet: <URL: http: //bibing.us.es/proyectos/buscar/comunicacion/en/titulo/and/can-bus/en/titulo/limitado_a/ itodos / entre / 1970 / y / 2011/1 > 2

TO

WO 2006092469 A1 (PONSSE OYJ et al.) 08.09.2006, paragraphs 22-31; figures. 1,3,5

TO

WO 0015026 A1 (TIMBERJACK OY et al.) 23.03.2000, page 15, line 29 - page 19, line 37; Figures 1-3. 1,3,5

TO

WO 2006128786 A1 (JOHN DEERE FORESTRY OY et al.) 07.12.2006, page 2, lines 27-36; page 13, lines 8-25; figures 5.6. 1,2,4

Category of the documents cited X: of particular relevance Y: of particular relevance combined with other / s of the same category A: reflects the state of the art O: refers to unwritten disclosure P: published between the priority date and the date of priority submission of the application E: previous document, but published after the date of submission of the application

This report has been prepared • for all claims • for claims no:

Date of realization of the report 30.03.2011

Examiner M. Lloris Meseguer Page 1/5

REPORT OF THE STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE Minimum documentation sought (classification system followed by classification symbols) A01G, A01D Electronic databases consulted during the search (name of the database and, if possible, terms of search used) INVENES, EPODOC, WPI  WRITTEN OPINION Date of Written Opinion: 30.03.2011 Statement

Novelty (Art. 6.1 LP 11/1986)

Claims 2-5 Claims 1 IF NOT

Inventive activity (Art. 8.1 LP11 / 1986)

Claims Claims 3-5 1, 2 IF NOT

The application is considered to comply with the industrial application requirement. This requirement was evaluated during the formal and technical examination phase of the application (Article 31.2 Law 11/1986).  Opinion Base.- This opinion has been made on the basis of the patent application as published.  WRITTEN OPINION 1. Documents considered.- The documents belonging to the state of the art taken into consideration for the realization of this opinion are listed below.

Document

Publication or Identification Number publication date

D01

US 6658834 B1 (MAY DONALD P) 09.12.2003

D02

JARQUE GARCÍA, R .; Design and programming of a communication system based on CAN-BUS, 2005 [recovered on 03/30/2011]. Recovered from the Internet: <URL: http: //bibing.us.es/proyectos/buscar/comunicacion/en/titulo/and/canbus/en/titulo/limitado_a/itodos/entre/1970/y/2011/1>

2. Statement motivated according to articles 29.6 and 29.7 of the Regulations for the execution of Law 11/1986, of March 20, on Patents on novelty and inventive activity; quotes and explanations in support of this statement Of all the documents recovered from the state of the art, document D01 is considered to be the closest to the request being analyzed. The claims of the application are then compared with document D01. Claim 1 Document D01 describes a forest head control device that has a programmable automatic controller (74) that receives data from a sensor (50) placed in a head (22) that approximates a tree (60) that determines the relative position between the head (22) and the shaft (60), and sends a signal to actuators (124, 128) that face the head (22) with the shaft (60). Following the analysis of document D01, the features described in independent claim 1 are disclosed by said document, so claim 1 does not meet the requirement of novelty according to article 6.1 LP. Claim 2 The invention defined in claim 2 differs from document D01 in that it specifies that the data collected by the sensors is sent via a set of serial ports or CAN buses to the programmable automatic controller that stores them in a microprocessor. In this way, the data of the spindle sensors is sent via a set of serial ports or CAN buses. The objective technical problem thus solved by claim 2 is to transmit to the programmable automatic controller the data captured by the forest head through serial ports or CAN buses. Document D02 describes two microcontroller plates, one located in a head and another located in the cabin of a forest machine. The microcontroller plate of the forest head allows the transmission to the cabin of the data collected by sensors located in the head, through the CAN bus. The microcontroller board of the cabin acts as an interface between the CAN bus and a PLC, so that it transmits the data captured by the head sensors, which are sent through the CAN bus, to the PLC. Therefore, the objective technical problem mentioned above is solved in document D02. Accordingly, claim 2 lacks inventive activity according to article 8.1 LP. Claim 3 Document D01 indicates that the forest head has a distance sensor (50) that detects the relative position of the head (22) relative to the tree (60). Claim 3 of the application differs from document D01 in that it indicates that the forest head also has two angle sensors, placed in head clamps, which determine the opening angle that the clamps must have to face the tree. The objective technical problem thus solving claim 3 is to determine the relative position between the head and the shaft, in the programmable automatic controller, from the data captured by the angle and distance sensors placed in the head, to face the Head with the tree. None of the documents cited in the State of the Art Report, or any relevant combination thereof, reveals such a possibility. Therefore, claim 3 presents novelty and inventive activity as set forth in Articles 6.1 and 8.1 LP.  WRITTEN OPINION Claim 4 Document D02 indicates that through the CAN bus the signals in the PLC of a set of analog inputs of the distance signals of the sensors are received. However, it does not specify that these analog inputs also consist of angle signals from the sensors, as indicated in claim 4. The objective technical problem thus solving claim 4 is to determine the relative position between the head and the shaft, in the programmable automatic controller, based on the data captured by the angle and distance sensors placed in the head, to face the head with the tree. None of the documents cited in the State of the Art Report, or any relevant combination thereof, reveals such a possibility. Therefore, claim 4 presents novelty and inventive activity as set forth in Articles 6.1 and 8.1 LP. Claim 5 Document D01 indicates that the forest head control device controls a vibrating head. Claim 5 of the application differs from document D01 in that it indicates that the forest head control device determines the diameter of the tree from two angle sensors that are placed in a clamp of the vibration head, establishing the frequency and vibration power that the vibration head must exert on the tree. The objective technical problem thus solving claim 5 is to establish in the programmable automatic controller the frequency and vibration power that the head must exert on the shaft, depending on the detected diameter. None of the documents cited in the State of the Art Report, or any relevant combination thereof, reveals such a possibility. Therefore, claim 5 presents novelty and inventive activity as set forth in the Articles 6.1 and 8.1 LP.