DEVICE FOR BUNDLING PARTICULARLY LOGGING WASTE The present invention relates to a device for bundling particularly logging waste, which device is intended to be attached, for example, to a forestry machine, and which device includes -a frame structure with attachment members for attaching the device to the forestry machine, -an essentially horizontal feed table arranged at one end of the frame structure, onto which the logging waste is arranged to be fed by means of the loader of the forestry machine, -opposing feed rollers arranged essentially horizontally after the feed table, -pressing members after the feed rollers, for compressing the logging waste into a smaller volume and thus for forming a bundle, which pressing members include at least two sequentially arranged sets of rollers, of which the opposing rollers of the first set of rollers are arranged to compress the logging waste in one direction, and the also opposing rollers of the second set of rollers are arranged to compress the logging waste in an essentially transverse direction in relation to the rollers of the first set of rollers, -binding devices for the compressed bundle, which are located after the pressing members, -cutting members for cutting the compressed and bound bundle to the desired length, and -a support trough at the other end of the frame structure for supporting the bundle during binding and cutting.

Swedish patent 511 379 discloses a device, by means of which logging waste can be formed into bundles. Bundles are considerably easier to handle than loose logging waste and take up very much less space. The device includes a feed table, onto which the logging waste is loaded, for example, by means of the loader of a forestry machine. The device itself too is intended to be attached to a forestry machine. From the feed table, the

logging waste is moved forwards by means of horizontal feed rollers, by means of which the logging waste is first pushed through a kind of draw ring. The actual compression takes place by means of a grab in the device, which compresses the bundle.

The grab is also arranged to move in the direction of travel of the bundle. Thus, the bundle is also pulled by the grab. The movement of the bundle stops, however, when the grab opens to change its grip and moves back to its starting point. During this return movement, the feed rollers are also stopped. Thus, the device operates in stages. In connection with the grab, a binding device is also fitted, by means of which a cord is wrapped around the bundle. Finally, the bundle is cut with a chain saw.

Due to the small size of the feed table, logging waste must be carried and fed by means of the loader, which slows the bundling. In addition, the operation in stages reduces the efficiency of the disclosed device. The operation in stages also causes peaks in the power consumption of the device, when the stopped bundle begins to be pulled again. The power required by the device comes from the forestry machine, so that the peaks in power consumption have a detrimental effect on the forestry machine and particularly on the operation of its loader. In addition to the stoppages, the bundle is also stopped during binding and cutting. In practice, the device is permanently attached to the forestry machine, so that the forestry machine cannot be used to do anything other than bundle logging waste. All in all, such a combination is inefficient and the device has a detrimental effect on the operation of the forestry machine.

US patent number 4633776 discloses a kind of bundling device, in which branchwood is compressed into a bundle by means of two sequential sets of rollers. However, the small and closely spaced rollers have a low feed and movement power. In addition, the device is intended to feed a chipper, so that if it is

desired to bind and cut a bundle, separate devices must be used to do so. It is also impossible to attach the device to a forestry machine.

The invention is intended to achieve an entirely new type of device for bundling particularly logging waste, which is more powerful and versatile than previously and which is also easier to use and by means of which the defects of the state of the art disclosed above are eliminated. The characteristic features of the invention are stated in the accompanying Claims. The device according to the invention is arranged to operate continuously, thus achieving both good efficiency and an even consumption of power. The continuous operation is achieved by means of new kinds of pressing members, by means of which the logging waste is effectively compressed. The pressing members are, nevertheless, simple in construction and durable. In addition, the compaction achieved by means of the pressing members cannot loosen, as the binding also operates continuously and rapidly. The operation of the device is also improved by a new kind of feed table and cutting members. In addition, the device according to the invention also operates independently, so that it can be used separately from the forestry machine.

In the following, the invention is described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings showing some embodiments of the invention, in which Figure la shows a side view of the device according to the invention installed on a forestry machine, Figure 1b shows an axonometric view of the device according to the invention detached from the forestry machine, as well as a finished bundle, Figure 2a shows a side view of a diagram of the principle of the device according to the invention, Figure 2b shows a top view of the device of Figure 2a,

Figure 3 shows a rear view of the device according to the invention, Figure 4a shows a side view of a diagram of the principle of a second application of the device according to the invention, Figure 4b shows a top view of the device of Figure 4a.

Figure 1 shows the device 10 according to the invention attached to a forestry machine 11. However, the operation of the device no way depends of the type of forestry machine, though the forestry machine must have a suitable place to attach the device. In the device 10, there is a turntable 12' forming an attachment member 12, by means of which the device can be rotated from one side to the other, according to each working situation. Logging waste is fed to the device 10 by means of the loader 13 of the forestry machine 11. For feeding, a feed table 14, which according to Figure la can be raised from the operating position to a vertical transportation position, is fitted to the frame structure 20 of the device 10.

Thus, the transportation and storage length of the device is advantageously short.

The operating principle of the device is clearly shown in Figures 2a and 2b. At the beginning of the device, there is a feed table 14, from which the logging waste that has been lifted onto it is fed forward by means of horizontally set feed rollers 15 and 15'. The feed rollers 15 and 15'have large spikes, to improve the feed efficiency. In addition, the upper feed roller 15 is arranged to be able to be moved vertically, to ensure an even feed and to prevent overloading of the feed rollers. The feed conveyor 16 in the feed table 14 also differs from the prior art. In this case, the feed conveyor 16 is a twin-chain drag conveyor. Thanks to the feed conveyor, the logging waste need not be lifted and pushed towards the feed rollers by a loader, but can instead be lowered directly onto the feed table. To permit it to be turned upwards, there are

suitable pivots (not shown) between the feed table 14 and the frame structure 20.

After the feed rollers 15 and 15', the construction of the device is of an entirely new kind. According to the invention, the press members 17 comprise at least two sequentially arranged sets of rollers 17'and 17". The rollers 18 and 18' that are set opposite each other in the first set of rollers 17'are arranged to compress the logging waste in one direction. Correspondingly, the rollers 19 and 19'of the second set of rollers 17"are also set opposite each other and are arranged to compress the logging waste in a direction that is essentially transverse to the first pair of rollers 18 and 18'. Thus, the logging waste is compressed effectively from different directions in sequential stages. In addition, the logging waste cannot move backwards between the compression stages, so that the finished bundle becomes tightly packed.

Although its operation incorporates a form of stages, the device nevertheless operates continuously. In addition, the second set of rollers 17"forms a throat that narrows in the direction of travel of the logging waste, thus achieving effective compression while maintaining a good drive capacity in the said set of rollers 17".

According to Figures 2a and 2b, the rollers 18 and 18'of the first set of rollers 17'are arranged essentially vertically, so that they compress the logging waste laterally. The rollers 18 and 18', which are equipped with traction ribs, also push the logging waste effectively forward. Figure 2b also shows the sides 21 of the frame structure 20, which together with the rollers 18 and 18'guide the logging waste. In practice, the first rollers are arranged in openings in the sides 21. To prevent the compression slackening, the end parts 21'of the sides after the first rollers are essentially level with the said rollers 18 and 18'. Thus, the sides of the throat formed by the second set of rollers 17"are formed by the end parts

21'of the sides of the frame structure 20 that are parallel to the rollers 18 and 18'of the said first set of rollers 17'.

After the first rollers 18 and 18', the second rollers 19 and 19'immediately take hold of the logging waste and compress it vertically. Powerful compression and reliable forward movement of the logging waste are achieved by arranging the second rollers 19 and 19'to form crawler tracks. In addition, the crawler tracks extend from the first set of rollers 17'to the binding devices 22, thus preventing the logging waste from becoming caught inside the device. After the second rollers 19 and 19', there is a short, permanently fitted compression opening 23, which determines the final size of the bundle.

Immediately after the compression opening 23, there are binding devices 22, so that the bundle being formed cannot fall apart before binding.

The sets of rollers can also be in a different sequence. The positioning of the rollers can also vary. This is shown in Figures 4a and 4b, in which the second set of rollers 17"is the first one in the direction of travel of the bundle, while its rollers are also vertical. The same reference numbers are used for components that are functionally similar.

The binding devices 22 arranged after the compression devices 17 are of a new kind. In this case, the principal component of the binding devices 22 is a feed ring 26, through which the bundle travels. The holder 27 in the feed ring 26 feeds a cord around the bundle, after which the binding head 28 that forms part of the binding devices 22 ties off the loop that has been formed and simultaneously cuts the cord. The end of the cord remains, however, attached to the binding head 28 and at the next binding point the feed ring 26 make a rotation in the opposite direction, while simultaneously feeding more cord. In other words, with every second rotation the feed ring 26 rotates in the opposite direction, while the balls of cord remain in place in a box (not shown) placed in the device.

Thanks to the new kind of binding device, binding is rapid and reliable while using as little cord as possible. During binding, the bundle moves forward normally, or at most its speed is slightly reduced.

The cutting members 29 are also of a new kind. According to the invention, the support trough 30 and the cutting members 29 are combined to form a structure that can be moved on guides 31 in the direction of travel of the bundle. In this case, the cutting members 29 comprise a chain saw 32 and retaining claws 33, by means of which the bundle is pressed against the support trough during cutting. Because the structure moves, the bundle can be cut while it is moving. After cutting, the retaining claws 33 rise upwards and the structure returns to its original position next to the binding devices 22. The cutting is extremely reliable, because the claw components 34 and 34'of the retaining claws are arranged on both sides of the chain saw. In addition, during cutting the bundle is held firmly against the support trough 30, in which, in addition, a gap 35 is arranged in the support trough for the chain saw 32.

Figure 3 shows a rear view of the device in partial cross- section. In practice, the feed table 14 comprises two parts 14' and 14", the aforesaid feed conveyor 16 being in the first part 14'. In addition, the sides 24 of the first part 14'can be turned to overlap on top of the feed conveyor 16, allowing the feed table 14 to be raised to the transportation position (Figure la). There are also pivots (not shown) between the first part 14'and the second part 14"of the feed table, so that, when the first part 14'is vertical, the second part 14" can be turned horizontally (Figure la) on top of the device 10.

In addition, before the feed rollers 15 and 15'there are fixed guides 25, which guide and pre-compress the logging waste.

After the feed rollers 15 and 15', the first rollers 18 and 18' compress laterally, after which the final compression is achieved by means of the crawler tracks 19 and 19'formed by

the second set of rollers. In Figure 3, the feed rollers 15 and 15'are in partial cross-section, but the spikes are not shown.

In practice, the greatest friction against the sides is precisely during the final stage of the compression. If necessary, the drive power can be increased or the friction reduced by arranging auxiliary feed rollers in the final parts 21'of the sides. Alternatively, the sides can be surfaced with plastic, which has low friction with logging waste.

Most of the operations of the device are achieved by means of hydraulic motors. Hydraulic motors are easy to control and do not cause large output peaks, particularly in a continuous- operation device. The device according to the invention has, however, its own engine, to which a hydraulic unit is connected. Both the engine and the auxiliary and control devices of the hydraulic unit are fitted to the frame structure of the device, so that the device forms a totality that is independent of the forestry machine. The device can then also be operated when detached from the forestry machine.. For this purpose the device 10 also includes hydraulic support legs 38, on which the device can be operated or stored when not in use.

The installation and operation of the device is also facilitated by a quick-release attachment 39 fitted to the attachment member 12. The quick-release attachment device is formed by simple catches 39', which press onto the chassis beam 40 of the forestry machine. The device can then be easily moved longitudinally on the forestry machine 11, in the same way as bunks 41 (Figure la). The attachment member 39 also has a tilt adjustment, which allows the device to be set to a suitable position.

In practice, the bundle made by the device is 3000 mm long. Due to the sequential compression and compression openings set at right angles to each other, the bundle forms a square cross- section, which facilitates the handling of the bundles.

Usually, the cross-sectional dimensions of the bundle are about

500 * 500 mm. A finished bundle is shown in Figure lb. The logging waste to be bundled at the felling site usually comprises branches, tops, and small thinning. Logging waste is also referred to as wastewood.

One device that makes bundles of the aforesaid size has a diesel engine with a nominal output of 48 kW. The diesel engine is connected to a hydraulic pump with an output of 140 1/min.

The hydraulic pump drives all of the device's hydraulic motors and cylinders. The figures do not show the control and regulator systems of the engine or the hydraulic devices. In addition, electric valves and pressure sensors, for example, are used in the device and are connected to the device's control logic. Thus, only a thin cable need be run from the device's power distribution cabinet to the forestry machine, by means of which the device can be controlled if necessary.

Control is mainly only required when starting and stopping the device and in cases of malfunction. Otherwise, the operation of the device is regulated according to the amount of logging waste being fed and to the control logic. For example, the rotation speed of the feed rollers are regulated to feed the logging waste in a steady flow to the pressing members. The length of the bundle and the interval between the binding points can also be adjusted as desired in individual cases.

Figure 2b shows the power distribution cabinet 42 and engine 36 on one side of the device with the fuel tank 43 on top of it.

The hydraulic pump 37 is connected directly to the engine 36.

On the other side is an oil tank 43'and other auxiliary devices. Figure 2b also shows one of the motors 43 that rotate the second set of rollers 17". To save installation space, the hydraulic motors of the feed rollers and the first set of rollers are, for example, set inside the rollers.

The device according to the invention is more powerful than previously and has a simple and durable construction. The device operates independently, so that its operation does not depend on the forestry. machine or its model. By means of the device, tightly-packed bundles are produced, which are durably bound, even if natural-fibre twine is used.