FI109962B - Branch removal or debarking device for timber, comprises two movable parts which open and close around the tree trunk under their own weight - Google Patents

Abstract

The position of the branch or bark removal blades is controlled using an arrangement comprising two parts (3a, 3c) which can be moved in an opening and closing manner around the tree trunk. The second part (3c) is heavy enough for it to close under its own weight and follow the closing movement of the first part (3a), so that when this first part opens under its own weight, it will cause the second part to open.

Description

109962 Arrangement for controlling the position of the pruning blades

The present invention relates to an arrangement according to the preamble of claim 1 for processing tree trunks in a pruning or debarking apparatus.

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For harvesting the tree trunks, a harvester head is used, the function of which is to grasp the growing tree vertically, to cut the tree and fell it to process, typically prun and cut to a certain length. The head is usually attached to the end of a work machine 10 such as a boom on a harvester moving on the ground by means of wheels or rollers. Some harvester heads are also used to handle the tree trunk for loading and debarking the tree trunk, for example by means of rotating mill rollers. The harvester head comprises the necessary actuator means, usually hydraulic cylinders and hydraulic motors, for controlling the head position and various functions. The head, also referred to as pruning and debarking equipment in the following description, also has pruning means rotatable with respect to the trunk structure, usually in pairs on different sides of the tree trunk. The pruning members comprise pruning blades for pruning the branches while the tree trunk is supported and transported through the equipment. The feeders, usually also in pairs on different sides of the tree trunk, typically comprise a hydraulic motor driven wheel or drive roll which presses against the frame and pulls it past the pruning blades. . and through the hardware. Also, cutting means, such as a chain saw, are disposed on the head for cutting the tree trunk.

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One known pruning apparatus is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,600,198

4,606,385, the apparatus comprising two pairs of pruning members disposed about a tree trunk to prune it on all sides. However, the apparatus of the US publication is not intended to be hung on a harvester and the kar-30 sealing members do not support the full weight of the tree trunk. Each pair has a · ···. The pruning unit is equipped with its own actuator or power unit. with the force of which each organ closes itself around the tree trunk and '· * opens. Usually, the actuator is a separate cylinder driven by pressure medium and providing linear movement, which acts on the articulation of the member and provides the required torque to change the position of the pruning member and maintain the force effect. Often, each pair of pruners located on different sides of the tree trunk is connected to the same 2 109962 actuators. The required pressure medium circuit controls the pressure medium fed to the actuators.

The problem with the above solution is that each pruning band, or at least each pair, must be controlled by its own actuators and often also by separate pressure medium circuits. This results in a complicated, heavy structure that increases the weight of the harvester head that is hung especially on the end of the boom and makes it difficult to handle the boom and harvester head.

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Finnish Patent Publication 94227 discloses an apparatus at a harvester head comprising a first pair of pruning members for supporting the tree trunk during pruning and pruning the side and underside of the tree trunk, and a second smaller pruning member pair for complementing the pruning top. The head also has a stationary, fixed pruning member which serves to prune the upper surface of the tree trunk which rests against the harvester head. In the apparatus, each member of the first pair is coupled by means of a synchronization means to a member of the second pair which is on the same side of the tree trunk. The synchronization means is arranged to synchronize the movement of the coupled movable members. The actuators of the first pair also open and close the second pair, the synchronization means. . through.

• · * · · / 25 However, the problem with the apparatus presented is precisely the interconnection of the pruning members, which prevents the pruning members from being rotated separately or operating independently. A particular problem with pruning is that the opening of the second pruning member by the impact of the knots always causes the other pruning member 30 to open through the synchronization means. The synchronization device can be arranged in the other direction: ···. flexible but flexible enough to organize. ···. sufficient when at the same time sufficient clamping force and synchronization of movements are required. The coupling also does not sufficiently take into account: '* i longitudinal variations in the thickness of the tree trunk or non-round trunks.

!!!.! It is an object of the present invention to overcome the above disadvantages. By means of the invention, at least partially independent pruning members 3 109962 are achieved, the joints and actuators of which at the same time take up as little space at the harvester head as possible. To achieve these purposes, the arrangement of the invention is characterized by what is set forth in the characterizing part of claim 1 of the appended claims.

The central principle of the invention is that the second pruning member by its own force both closes and follows the closing first pruning member, which in turn, when opened by its own force, also opens the second pruning member. In operation, a separate, mechanical buffer and response arrangement is used. The second pruning body tends to close by its own power, but at the same time, the first pruning body when it closes limits it. However, with the arrangement, the force exerted by each pruning member on the tree trunk can be independently controlled. The arrangement allows for greater flexibility of the frame members than prior art couplings, making the apparatus well suited for handling wood frames of different sizes and shapes.

A significant advantage of a simple embodiment of the invention 20 is that the second member need only be closed by its own force, which can be provided, for example, by means of a continuously operating torsion spring or the like. The torsion spring can be integrated into the joint of the second member to save space and reduce joints, particularly with respect to the prior art, which has a plurality of articulated link arms! / 25 to move organs. The arrangement allows for the opening of a retractable second member, usually a smaller pruning blade, independently of the first member provided with a bumper. The first member is usually a pruning blade supporting the tree trunk. The arrangement allows the second member to open more extensively during pruning-30 nanos from the impact force. Said response is, at its simplest, a plate-like cam that rotates with the member when attached to it.

The arrangement can be arranged such that the buffer and the stopper / members against the tree trunk are not in contact and the carrier is not supported by: ···: 35 resistors. The contact occurs only after a certain amount of the first organ is opened by the club and the second organ opens with it. The opening position can be adjusted, for example, by changing the angle of the bumper or stop and shaping.

4 109962 The support plate provided by the arrangement can be used to prevent, for example, knots from getting between the buffer and the stop when the plate-like buffer and stop slide along or in the vicinity of the plate. The bearing plate of the second member can also easily be provided with a bearing plate to form an integrated and easy to install arrangement. The rotating bumper can be easily fitted to the first member or to its joint.

The following description illustrates the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a pruning apparatus in which the arrangement according to the invention is applied; Fig. 2 is an arrangement according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; and Figure 20 is an exploded view of the arrangement of Figure 2.

.V. Figure 1 illustrates a descrambling apparatus according to a preferred embodiment in which the invention is applied. The pruning apparatus 1 comprises • · · 25 a frame structure or frame 2. For coupling the apparatus 1 to a work machine known per se, such as a harvester boom, the apparatus 1 comprises securing and rotating members 2b, such as a rotator, for rotating the frame 2 The body 2 is suspended by means of a tilting arm 2a arranged to rotate body 2 around a substantially horizontal (direction X) axis of rotation. The bridge arm 2a is pivotally attached to the body 2 and in the pattern 1 the body 2 is in an upright position.

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The apparatus 1 further comprises a curved first pruning member 3a and '·: ·' 35 as a pair of pruning members 3b rotatably secured to the body 2 by means of joints 5a and 5b. The pruning members 4a and 4b are provided. to prune the tree trunk. Feeding means, such as traction rollers or traction sheaves 6a and 6b of Fig. 1, are positioned on opposite sides of the tree trunk against its surface and pull the tree trunk past the pruning blades 4a and 4b to cut off the branches. The drive wheels 6a and 6b are secured to the frame 2 by means of support arms and joints 7a and 7b. In the pruning, the tree trunk is moved substantially 5 horizontally and longitudinally.

The apparatus 1 further comprises cutting means 8 for cutting up a standing tree trunk. The cutting means 8, preferably a chain saw moving by a cylinder, also cuts the tree trunk into portions 10 of a certain length, supported by the pruning members 3a and 3b and supported against the body 2. The chain saw, in which the saw chain rotates the saw flange, is placed in a guard in the saw box 8a, where the saw motor is also located. To support the tree trunk, the pruning members 3a and 3b are at least partially closed on different sides of the trunk. The frame 2 comprises one or more support rollers or a plate-like surface along which the wood frame slides. The pruning members 3a and 3b are shaped to curve the pruning branches on both side and underside of the tree trunk. The apparatus 1 further comprises a pair of support members 3e and 3f for supporting and supporting the tree frame during pruning and sawing. Body 3e may also be completely absent, often body 3f. In order to prune the upper surface of the tree trunk, an additional fixed pruning blade 4e is provided on the front of the frame structure 2 against which the tree trunk rests. The additional pruning knife 4e may also be movable, so that it presses against the tree trunk L. '; by spring force or actuator. The pruning apparatus 1 can also be fitted with grapple means for loading and moving the tree trunks. The grapple means usually comprise a pair of jaws arranged on opposite sides of the tree trunk, which act as support members 3e, 3f for handling the tree trunks. The apparatus 1 may also be provided with barking means, such as peeling rollers, on the pivoting support arms, for removing the bark of the wood core 30 gon.

In pruning, the tree trunk is moved substantially horizontally by the device t /. through building 1. Simultaneously, the members 3a and 3b support or push the tree frame towards the frame 2. The weight of the wood frame tends to open • · 35 in particular the members 3a and 3b, whereby the actuator means maintains: a torque force that holds the members 3a and 3b in the desired position | ·: · * · To compensate for shocks and body weight.

109962

By opening the members 3a and 3b, as well as the members 3e and 3f, the tree trunk falls and leaves the plant 1.

Fig. 2 shows an arrangement according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. The members 3a and 3c are in their closed position around the tree trunk S. In the figure, the pruning apparatus and arrangement are shown only to the extent necessary for the invention. The first pruning member 3a rotates in the body by means of a joint 5a to which a movable buffer 100a is also attached to the joint 5a. The bar 100a rotates with the member 3a and the rotation angles 10 correspond to each other. The bumper 100a is a plate-like body substantially transverse to its axis-straight, which in turn slides against the side surface 200a. The bar 100a is a cam-like lever, for example a triangular shape with a rounded tip and fixed on one side to the member 3a. The stop 200a is also a cam-15-like lever with a rounded tip and secured to the joint 5a on the shaft. The sides 100a and the stop 200a are in contact with one another on the side surfaces that transmit motion and force. It will be appreciated that, to accomplish this function, the bumper 100a may also have a bearing pin or crank attached to the end of the shaft, or may be secured elsewhere to the member 3a. Sopvim-20 min attachment is to the joint 5a. In the arrangement, the buffer 100a is arranged to pivot about the same axial axis with the member 3a. The pruning apparatus comprises a second pruning member 3c fitted with a pruning blade 4c which rotates with respect to the body by means of a joint 5c to which the movable stop 200a is also attached. The response 200a is also a plate-: ·. ·! 25, which is substantially transverse to its direction of rotation, having a side surface which slides along the bumper 100a. It will be appreciated that the stop 200a may also be a bearing pin or a crank attached to the end of the shaft, or otherwise attached to the member 3c, to effect such action. Most preferably, however, the attachment is in accordance with Figure 4. In the Jär-30 arrangement, the stop 200a is arranged to rotate with the member 3c about the same axis. Said pin may slide or roll along the side surface in contact.

* t · i * *

Referring to Figure 2, the operation is arranged such that the stop 200a depresses 35 against the bumper 100a, since the second member 3c is arranged to close (rotate clockwise) by its own force. Body 3c is not organized: ··! designed to support the tree trunk during pruning. In this case, the required force is also reduced, the structures are lighter and the member 3c may open independently, for example by impact. This is accomplished by means of a cylindrical torsion spring fitted to the pivot joint 5c, which continuously maintains the force closing the member 3c. In the embodiment shown, the actuators 5 for opening are not required to be provided in the member 3c. The first member 3a opens (rotates anticlockwise) by its own force, for example by means of actuators, and through the bumper 100a, the second member 3c is also opened while the first member 3a is opened. The second member 3c, on the other hand, closes by its own force as the member 3a closes, but now the closing control bag 100a acts as a stopper 10 when the member 3a closes. Such a situation is shown in Fig. 3. As the members 3a and 3c close around the tree trunk S for pruning, the arrangement can also be adapted so that the member 3c first rests against the tree trunk S and independently presses it with its own force. In this case, the buffer 100a and the stop 200a may also be detached from each other and the rotational movement from the contact, whereupon the closing member 3a is rotated further by itself. Such a situation is illustrated in Fig. 2. The stop 200a may also be supported at all times by the buffer 100a, whereby the member 3a can be held at a desired distance from the tree trunk S, for example during pruning. The members 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d rotate substantially parallel to its axial lines.

The pruning apparatus usually comprises both a first pruning member pair, v. 3a, 3b and a second pruning member pair 3c, 3d, wherein the arrangement according to the invention is preferably located between the members 3a and 3c and the members 3b and 3d. As shown in Figure 2, the pruning apparatus also has a correspondingly movable stop 100b and a joint 5b movable stop 200b. It is clear that the pruning apparatus may comprise only element 3c or 3d, whereby the pruning apparatus has only one arrangement. In the barking apparatus, the pruning members 3c, 3d are replaced by a peeling member 30 in contact with the tree trunk. In the pruning apparatus of Figure 2, the arrangement is preferably arranged on substantially the same side of the tree trunk; S adjacent organs. The arrangement is then made simple and light. The arrangement is also more reliable and easier to adjust; · · * to adjust the position of the tree trunk.

Fig. 3 shows the arrangement of Fig. 2 when the members 3a and 3c; ·. · Open position. By actuating the actuator 3a, the opening 100a also pushes the stop 200a. The stop 200a is arranged such that its rotation also causes the body 3c to twist and open. Thus, the force of the member 3a also opens the member 3c. By means of a torsion spring arranged in the joint 5c, it is possible to continuously move the member 3c to the closed position (clockwise), but the force of the member 5 3a moves the member 3c to the opened position (anticlockwise). In this case, the member 3c need not be opened by its own force.

Fig. 4 is a more detailed exploded view of the configuration of the assembly 10 of Figs. 2 and 3. Figure 4 illustrates, by way of illustration, only one of the arrangements and the pruning apparatus only to the extent necessary for the invention. The second arrangement may correspond to that shown in Figure 4. The bearing plate 300, which may also be integrated into the frame, is provided with a shaft 20 157 substantially perpendicular to its first end, around which another structure is disposed. The shaft 207 is fitted with a cylindrical bearing sleeve 201 within which a torsion spring 202 is mounted on the axial axis of the member 3c. The spring 202 engages at its first end with the housing 201 and at its second end with the mounting lid 203, whereby the ends of the wire-like spring 202 engage the eccentric holes. The lid 203 20, in turn, is secured to the member 3c, preferably by screw mounting, whereby the rotation of the member 3c causes the spring 202 to be tightened and resisted. By rotating the mounting position of the cover 203, the spring force can be roughly adjusted. The spring force and pre-tensioning can be fine-tuned by the holes 204 in which the ends of the spring 202 sits.

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The member 3c forms a rigid, integrated structure comprising a pivoting body 205 disposed about the housing 201. A cylindrical sliding plate 206 is provided for bearing between the sleeve 201 and the pivot body 205 by locking the cover 203 with a fastening at one end 30 of the shaft 207. Pushing 100a is; · * ·; arranged to rotate with the member 3a and the joint 5a. The figure shows ·. they also have lugs 9 to which one end of the actuator / device for moving the member 3a and the joint 5a, usually a pressure medium cylinder, is attached. The auxiliary pruning blade 4e is also attached with its support to the support plate 300.

• 35 The buffers and stops are arranged to move close to the support plate in a substantially parallel plane, thereby preventing e.g. getting branches between them, which would disrupt the operation.

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Further, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that, although the invention has been illustrated in the foregoing description by means of a preferred pruning apparatus, the invention may be applied to other pruning and debarking equipment within the scope of the claims.

Claims (12)

109962 10 Patte looked at the order: An arrangement for treating tree trunks 5 in a pruning or debarking apparatus, comprising at least a first movable and closing movable member (3a), and at least a second opening and closing movable member (3c) arranged to close to the tree trunk (3a). S) for pruning or debarking, characterized in that the second member (3c) is arranged by its own force to both close and simultaneously follow the closing first member (3a), while the first member (3a) also delimits the second member (3c). closure that allows the second member (3c) to open independently, and that the first member (3a), when opened by its own force, is arranged to open the second member (3c) as well. An arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the arrangement comprises a buffer (100a) movable with the first member (3a) and a stop (200a) movable with the second member (3c) arranged to press against said bumper (100a) when the second member (3c) tends to close, and through which buffer (100a) the first member (3a) is also arranged to open the second member (3c) when the first member (3a) is opened. Arrangement according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the second member (3c) is arranged to continuously seek its closed position. . ···. An arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it is arranged to allow the second member (3c) to open independently of the first member (3a). Arrangement according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the apparatus further comprises controlled actuator means ·: · 35 for opening and closing the first member (3a) on its own. power. I »» 11 109962 Arrangement according to one of Claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the buffer (100a) is arranged to pivot about a common axis with the first member (3a). Arrangement according to one of Claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the stop (200a) is arranged to pivot about a common axis with the second member (3c). Arrangement according to one of Claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the arrangement further comprises a torsion spring (202) for closing the second member (3c) by its own force, which torsion spring is arranged to pivot about a common axis with the other member (3c). Arrangement according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the buffer (100a) and the stop (200a) are arranged to be movable against or in the vicinity of the support plate (300). Arrangement according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it is arranged between the first member (3a) and the second member (3c) located on the same side of the tree trunk (S). Arrangement according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the buffer (100a) is arranged to guide the stop (200a) by means of sliding or rolling surfaces facing each other. 25 An arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that said pruning or stripping apparatus comprises at least:. * ·. - feed means (6a, 6b) rotatable with respect to the frame structure (2), I "30, for feeding the wood frame (S) through the apparatus (1), - actuator means for positioning the feed means (6a, 6b) and wood frame (S) ) for controlling the clamping force, - for supporting the tilting arm (2a) rotating with respect to the frame structure (2) · · · 35 - for actuating means for controlling the mutual position of the tilting arm (2a) and the equipment, ···. (8) for cutting the tree trunk