The present invention relates to a device for tree handling, which includes

- a carrier,

- an assembly rotatably fitted to the carrier, which includes at least two frame parts equipped with tree handling means, and

- operating-device means for creating a pulse action movement between the frame parts.

The invention also relates to a corresponding method.

Various types of pulse harvester are previously known. In them, a delimbing movement is created by the backwards and forwards movement of a frame part by suitably alternating the grips of the delimbing and gripping jaws of the device.

A very generally used construction in pulse harvesters is a telescopic frame. One such is disclosed in FI patent 121295 B. The first part of the device goes inside the second part. Generally, a hydraulic cylinder is installed inside the said first part. The stroke of the cylinder is mainly the length of one movement . There also exist pulse delimbing devices operated by means of various types of lever arm, of which the Kockums GP 822 processor is one example.

Usually there are delimbing blades at the front end of the harvester, which also act as gripping jaws. In the delimbing position, a fixed blade can be against the upper surface of the tree trunk, and two moving blades at the sides . At the end next to the harvester's cutting device there are typically gripping jaws. The jaws are formed of two arms. In addition, at the points of the arms there are gripping brushes in the frame of the machine, which ensure a firm grip on the tree during the W

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delimbing stage. This is the most usual construction and it is also simple.

In practice all pulse felling machines, which are arranged to 5 act as loader multi-purpose machines, have a telescopic construction. As such, such a construction simple, cheap, and reliable in operation. However, its weaknesses are excessive wear in the pulse cylinder and the telescopic part. In addition, the stroke of the pulse cannot be increased greatly0 due to buckling. In practice, its maximum length is in the Order of one metre.

Further, the delimbing speed of known pulse harvesters based on a telescopic boom remains relatively small, because their5 cylinder speed cannot be increased due to, for example, wear. The periodic pulse movement also 'shakes' the base machine at high speeds. Due to the long structure of the device, the cutting of the tree top is also difficult. Due to the slow feed, the tree has time to bend downwards and may strike the0 ground.

In addition, in known pulse harvesters, there are also problems in the gripping jaws formed of the delimbing blades at the front of the device. Particularly with trees with many branches sufficient grip is not obtained by compressing the blades. For this reason gripping brushes are added to the delimbing blades. However, these have the drawbacks of poorer delimbing quality and the bark detaching from the surface of the tree. The invention is intended to create a device and method for tree handling, which are efficient in operation. The characteristic features of the device according to the invention are stated in Claim 1 and those of the method in Claim 15. In the device according to the invention, the travel of the operating-device arrangement moving the tree through the device, relative to the delimbing movement, has been made relatively small. In addition, the invention also permits the tree to be moved during both directions of motion of the operating-device arrangement. This makes the operation of the device smoother.

According to one embodiment, also the cutting of the tree top can take place in a separate simple manner while saving time. On account of the longer stroke and the cutting of the top, the output of the device is greater. In addition, the device is able to feed easily several tree trunks at a time, so that its output approaches that of continuous-feed (roller, crawler- track) harvesters.

According to one embodiment, it is also easy to install collector elements in the device. They can even be arranged in several different ways. According to a first embodiment, the collector elements can be at the point of front blade, as a separate package (Finnish patent application 20120047), or in the middle part of the frame at the felling-head' s attachment point. According to one embodiment, also the gripping jaws pivoted can act as collector jaws. Other additional advantages achieved by means of the device and method according to the invention are stated in the description portion while their specific features are stated in the accompanying Claims.

The device and method according to the invention, which are not restricted to the embodiment examined in the following, are described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Figure 1 shows a side view of one example of an application of the device, seen in the delimbing position, Figure 2 shows a cross-section A-A of the device of

Figure 1,

Figure 3 shows a cross-section B-B of the device of

Figure 1,

Figure 4 shows an example of the handling means the first frame part,

Figure 5 shows a schematic cross-section C-C of the handling means shown in Figure 4,

Figure 6 shows a second example of the handling means of the first frame part, and

Figure 7 shows a side view of the handling means of

Figure 6.

Figure 1 shows a side view of one example of the device 10 for handling trees as a rough schematic diagram, examined when it is in the delimbing position when handling a tree 30. In the scope of the invention, tree handling can be understood very widely. A very typical series of handling operations is cutting, delimbing the branches, and cutting the delimbed trunk into pieces of regular length as the delimbing proceeds. Similarly, handling can also be individual operations or various combinations of them. It can be, for example, delimbing of the tree trunks, cutting performed in connection with delimbing, and/or the collection of one or more already delimbed tree trunks, for example, for the stacking or loading of trees. One or several trees can be handled at one time.

The device 10 includes a carrier 22. Through the carrier 22, the device 10 can be attached to a base machine (not shown) . By means of, for example, a grab rotator 25 fitted to the end of the carrier 22, which in this case has a curved shape, the device 10 can be attached to the base machine. The device's 10 control and hydraulic oil also comes from the base machine. Operating devices 23, for turning the device 10 between the felling position and the delimbing position, are connected to the carrier 22. In Figure 1, the device 10 is in the normal delimbing position, when the assembly 24 is mainly horizontal. The felling position is achieved by rotating the assembly 24 by the operating device 23 through about 90° in Figure 1. As a result of the rotation, the cutting device 20 is lowest in the 5 assembly 24 and the assembly 24 is mainly vertical.

The assembly 24 referred to above is rotatably fitted to the carrier 22. The assembly 24 can include at least two frame parts 16, 17, a first and a second frame part 16,.17, equipped 10 with tree-handling means 18.1, 18.2, 19 - 21, 36. In addition, the device 10 also includes operating-device means 15 in order to create the movement between the frame parts 16, 17 for a pulse action.

15 The assembly 24 includes a main frame 11 fitted to the carrier 22. In the case according to the embodiment, the main frame 11 is formed of two beams, as can be seen a little later from the cross-sectional Figures 2 and 3 of the device 10. The main frame 10 is fitted rotatably to the carrier 22.

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At least one of the frame .parts 16, 17 is connected to the main frame 11. The connection takes place by means of parallelogram suspension 26, 27. In the case according to the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the frame parts 16, 17 include a first frame 25 part 16 and a second frame part 17, both of which are now connected to the main frame 11 by means of their own parallelogram suspensions 26, 27.

The parallelogram suspension 26, 27 includes arms 12.3, 12.8, 30 12.1, 12.9 rotatably fitted by pivot points 12.2, 12.4, 12.5 to the frame parts 16, 17, and to the main frame 11. The pivot arms 12.1, 12.8, 12.3, 12.9 rotate, for example, around pins 12.2, 12.4, 12.5. As the arms 12.1, 12.8, 12.3, 12.9 are of the same length, they form together parallelograms. In both frame 35 parts 16, 17, there are pivot points 12.5 providing attachment for the arms 12.3, 12.8, 12.1, 12.9, two to a frame part. In 201

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the beams of the main frame 11, there are pivot points 12.2, 12.4 providing attachment for the arms 12.3, 12.8, 12.1, 12.9, four, two to each frame part 16, 17. In Figure 1, not all the pivot points of the main frame 11 and the frame parts 16, 17 have reference numbers.

The operating-device means 15 for creating movement between the frame parts 16, 17 are now arranged to affect the parallelogram suspensions 26, 27 and, in the case according to the embodiment, particularly their arms 12.8, 12.1. One way to arrange the operating-device means 15 moving the frame parts 16, 17 is to fit them between the inner arm 12.8 of the parallelogram suspension 26 on the first frame part 16 side and the outer arm 12.1 of the parallelogram suspension 27 on the second frame part 17 side, when the assembly 24 is examined longitudinally. By means of such an arrangement advantages are obtained in terms of the force alignment and also of the length of movement, because a suitable length is obtained for the cylinder 15. The operating-device means 15 can include at least one medium-activated cylinder 15. When the cylinder 15 operates through the pins 12.6, 12.7 fitted to the arms 12.8, 12.1, the frame part 17 of the device's 10 rear and the frame part 16 of the front move backwards and forwards relative to each other. The device 10 can include, in addition, means 14 for synchronizing the movements of the frame parts 16, 17. According to one embodiment, the means for synchronizing the movements of the frame parts 16, 17 include a rod arrangement 14. The rod arrangement 14 can also be fitted between the parallelogram suspensions 26, 27 and particularly between their arms 12.8, 12.9. In the case according to the embodiment, the rod arrangement 14 is fitted between the inner arms 12.8, 12.9 of the parallelogram suspensions 26, 27, i.e. those that are closest to each other. In particular, the rod arrangement 14 can be pivoted rotatably to a pivot point 12.6 formed by a pin on the inner arm 12.8 of the parallelogram suspension 26. On the side of the second frame part 17, the rod arrangement 14 is pivoted rotatably to an extension 13 of the inner arm 12.9 of the parallelogram suspension 27, in which there is a lug for the rod 14. The pivot-arm extension 13 rotates around a pin fitted for it to the main frame 11, which can be in common with the arm 12.9 of the parallelogram suspension 27. The extension 13 is on the opposite side of the main frame 11 relative to the parallelogram suspensions 26, 27. The synchronization-rod arrangement 14 is a simple way to make the parallelograms 26, 27 move simultaneously smoothly. Further, the device 10 includes an operating apparatus 23 for rotating the device 10 between the felling and the delimbing positions. The operating apparatus can include at least one medium-activated cylinder 23. The cylinder 23 can be fitted rotatably between the carrier 22 and the main frame 11. The main frame 11 can include lugs 29 fitted to the side of the parallelogram suspensions 26, 27, more generally an attachment- point arrangement, to which a pivot point 32 (Figure 3) is fitted for the carrier 22.

The device 10 thus has two ends, an entry end at the right-hand side of Figure 1 in the direction of travel of the tree 30, and an exit end at the left-hand side. According to the embodiment, a delimbing-blade arrangement 18.1, 18.2, 36 is fitted to the entry-end frame-part 16 in the device 10. In addition, at the first end there can also be a cutting device 21, for cutting the top of the tree 30. In the delimbing-blade arrangement there can be rotating delimbing blades 18.1, 18.2 and a fixed front blade 36. Correspondingly, gripping aws 19 and a second cutting device 20 (for example, a saw) are fitted to the exit- end frame part 17 for the vertical cutting of the tree and cutting it into regular lengths. In addition, a cutting device 21 is marked between the front blade 36 and the blade 18.2 in Figure 1.

In Figure 1, there is a tree 30 being handled in the device 10. The delimbing movement is achieved, when the cylinder 15 is short and the second frame part's 17 gripping jaws 19 grip the tree 30 firmly. At the same time, the delimbing blades 18.1, 18.2 of the first frame part 16 are suitably loose for the delimbing of the tree 30. When the cylinder 15 lengthens, the tree 30 moves through the blades 18.2, 18.1, pulled by the second frame part 17. At the same time, the first frame part 16 delimbing the tree 30 also moves in the opposite direction to the direction of movement of the second frame part 17. Once the movement of the cylinder 15 has stopped, the frame parts 16, 17 are in a position farthest from each other. Then the gripping jaws 19 of the second frame part 17 are opened slightly and the delimbing blades 18.2, 18.1 of the first frame part 16 in turn close, taking the tree 30 in a firm grip. Now when the cylinder 15 shortens, the tree 30 slides through the gripping jaws 19, pushed by the first frame part 16. At the same time, the second frame part 17 also moves towards the approaching first frame part 16 pushing the tree 30. Thus, the movement of the tree 30 continues even during the return movement of the cylinder 15. This has the significant advantage over telescopic-framed pulse devices that now the tree 30 moves during both movements of the cylinder 15. Thus, the operation of the device 10 is smoother and more efficient.

Once the tree 30 has been run to its minimum dimension at the delimbing blades 36, 18.2, 18.1, it can be cut by the top- cutting device 21 in the first frame part 16. This creates a significant saving in time, because the tree 30 need not be run to the second frame part's 16 cutting device 20 to cut the tree top . The path of movement of the pivot arms 12.1, 12.3, 12.8, 12.9 of the parallelogram suspensions 26, 27 can be, for example, +35°, more generally 20° - 50°. The length of the delimbing movement created by the device 10 can be, for example, about three times the length of the pivot arms 12.1, 12.3, 12.8, 12.9. The movement of the cylinder 15 relative to the stroke creating it can be, for example, as little as 40 %.

For control, positioning information (attitude of the pulse cylinder 15) and the length can be obtained from the rotational movement of the pivot arms 12.1, 12.3, 12.8, 12.9, for example, by means of a rotating pulse sensor.

Figure 2 shows a cross-section A-A of the device 10 shown in Figure 1. The arm part 12.1 of the parallelogram rotates on a pin acting as a pivot point 12.4 between the two beams of the main frame 11. According to one embodiment, all the arms of the parallelogram suspensions 26, 27 can be made from metal plate, thus obtaining a light, but rigid assembly 24. The lower end of part 12.1 rotates with the aid of a pin forming a pivot point 12.5 in the frame part 17. The arms 12.3. 12.8, 12.1, 12.9 are arranged to be attached inside the frame parts 16, 17. The structure of the frame part 17 can be an upwardly opening U profile. The gripping jaws 19 rotate through pins 28 acting as pivot points, by means of cylinders 19.1. The tree 30 being handled is now visible at right angles to its direction of travel. The cutting device 20 is also shown and is, for example, a chain saw. Figure 3 shows a cross-section B-B of the device 10 shown in Figure 1. The beams of the main frame 11 are connected by a transverse tubular beam 31, which is attached to the main frame's 11 beams, for example, by a plate-metal structure 34. The tubular beam 31 holds the frame 11 together through the plate frame 34. For its part, this structural solution also permits lightness in the device 10, without, however, stiffness suffering .

The carrier 22 is attached to the tubular beam 31 by bearings. The lugs 33 of the operating cylinders 23 of the carrier 22 can also be seen in Figure 3. Further, the structure of the entry- end frame part 16 can also be an upwardly opening U profile. Figure 3 also shows the delimbing blades 18.1, 18.2 (moving) and the fixed front blade 36. The cylinder 15 for moving the frame parts 16, 17 and the attachment of the. equalization rods 14 to the arm 12.8 by the pin 12.6 are visible in Figure 3. The rotatably pivoted attachment of the delimbing blades 18.2, 18.1 is by means of pins 28'. Figure 4 shows an example of the handling means 18.1, 18; 2, .36 of the first frame part 16, and also shows the tree-top cutting device 21. A shaft 35 parallel to the tree 30 being handled is installed in the entry-side frame part 16 of the device 10. A knife 21, for example, is attached to the front end of the shaft 35. The shaft 35 is rotated from its rear end by either crank-and-cylinder operation or by pinion rack operation. When the knife 21 turns towards the tree 30,. the tree 30 is supported against the front blade 18.2. Seen longitudinally, the knife 21 and one edge of the blade 18.2 run by a gap of, for example, about 12 - 10 mm.

In the attachment of the front blade 36 there can be a gap, so that the knife 21 is able to turn, for example through about 140° - 170°. At the same time, the knife 21 cuts the tree top (diameter, for example, 3 cm - 12 cm) . The return movement takes place in the opposite direction. The cutting is facilitated by the large gripping force in the blade 18.2 at the moment of cutting. It makes the tree 30 bend against the front blade 36. Figure 5 shows the operation of the cutting device 21 schematically, in the direction of cross-section C-C of Figure 4. As can be seen from the figure, a force breaking the tree is formed by the blades 18.2, 18.1, and the front blade 36 at the points D, E, and F. The shapes of the blades can be as shown in the figure, according to the cutting geometry. The distance S between the blade 18.1 and the knife 21 can be, for example, about 2 - 10 mm, and when the blade 18.2 must be serviced on account of delimbing, the cutting point will remain in good condition. Figure 5 also shows the crank and cylinder 38 at the end of the shaft 35. These can be replaced with a pinion rack and cylinder.

According to another embodiment, the delimbing and gripping jaws described in the following can also be used in the device 10. However, it should be noted that this construction can equally well be used in other pulse-feed tree-handling devices, without in any way being restricted to the principle of the device 10 disclosed in the present application. Such a jaw arrangement, permits effective delimbing and a firm grip in a pulse-feed harvester head.

By means of the delimbing and gripping jaws, more generally by the arrangement, shown in Figures 6 and 7, good delimbing is created during the delimbing movement and, in addition, also a good grip on the tree during the return movement. Figure 6 shows an example of the delimbing and gripping jaws as part of the front end of a pulse harvester, in the case referred to the example above in the first frame part 16. Figure 6 shows the parts of the device 100 in the direction of travel of the tree 30. The tree 30 being handled rests on delimbing blades 18.1, 18.2. These blades are able to delimb the sides and lower surface of the tree 30 as the tree 30 moves relative to the blades 18.1, 18.2. The upper surface of the tree 30 is delimbed by the blade 41. The blade 41 is arranged to move linearly relative to the tree 30. One way to implement this is to arrange the blade 41 to move, for example, with the aid of runners 42 vertically while the spring 47 presses the blade 36 against the tree 30. Figure 7 shows a side view of the construction according to Figure 6. The moving blades 18.1, 18.2 are operated by the hydraulic cylinder 18. Figure 7 also shows the gripping brush 49, more generally the gripping shapes. The location of the brush 49 in the frame 16 is in the operating area of the moving blades 18.1, 18.2. The gripping brush 49 can be formed of, for example, a slightly curving piece conforming to the upper surface of the tree 30 and about 100-mm long. Naturally, the surface of the side next to the tree 30 is given an aggressive shape, to create a good grip.

The following describes the operation of the device 100 depicted in Figures 6 and 7. In Figure 7, the upper surface of the tree 30 is in contact with the gripping brush 49 and the blade 41 which is arranged to move vertically. When the moving blades 18.1, 18.2 are compressed more, the tree 30 rises and at the same time the gripping brush 49 is pressed inside the surface of the tree 30. Because the spring 47 of the blade 41 is arranged to be relatively weak relative to the compressive force of the gripping blades 18.1, 18.2, the blade 41 rises up in the runners 42. In this way, a powerful grip between the tree 30 and the frame 16 of the device 100 is created to obtain the return movement. The vertical movement of the blade 41 can be, for example, about 30 - 50 mm. During delimbing, the grip with the blades 18.1, 18.2 is slightly slackened, when the brush 49 no longer touches the tree 30. As the blade 41 is now able to move downwards, good delimbing is also achieved. Naturally, in the second frame part 17 too, i.e. in the rear end of the device 10 in the direction of travel of the tree 30, it is possible to use instead of the normal gripping jaws the delimbing and gripping jaws 100 shown in Figures 6 and 7. This helps to delimb the lower branches of trees in certain kinds of forest.

In addition to the device 10, the invention also relates to a method for handling a tree 30. In the method, the tree 30 is moved and delimbed with the aid of the operating device arrangement 15 in the device 10. The operating device arrangement 15 has two directions of movement. In the first direction of movement, the tree 30 is at least delimbed and in the second direction of movement the tree 30 is at least moved forward in the device 10. The tree 30 is moved forward in the device 10 also in the delimbing direction. This accelerates the handling of the tree 30 and also makes the operation of the device 10 smoother.

It must be understood that the above description and the related figures are only intended to illustrate the device and method according to the present invention. The invention is thus in no way restricted to only the embodiments disclosed or stated in the Claims, but many different variations and adaptations of the invention, which are possible within the scope on the inventive idea defined in the accompanying Claims, will be obvious to one skilled in the art.