A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HARVESTING CONES FROM TREES, PARTICULARLY FROM PINE AND SPRUCE TREES

Abstract: A method and device for harvesting cones from trees, such as pine and spruce, during tree-felling operations. Subsequent to felling the tree it is placed in a drum-shaped cone-picking means (6), the trunk of the tree (4) lying substantially on the axis of the drum and the drum covering a part of the crown of the tree. The crown of the tree is then drawn through the drum by means of feed rollers (5). The inner surface of the drum is provided with rows of rods (18) which when contacting the branches of the tree causes the cones to be loosened therefrom. The cones thus removed are collected in a receptacle (19) located beneath the drum.

Description: A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HARVESTING CONES FROM TREES PARTICULARLY FROM PINE AND SPRUCE TREES The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for harvesting cones from trees such as pine and spruce trees. Normally cones are harvested manually in the clear- felled area, in which the crowns of the trees are left after a tree-felling operation. Attempts have also been made to pick cones manually from standing trees, in which a workman is lifted t'o the height of the crown of the tree by means of a crane. This method is extremely 'risky, however. In other known methods there are used devices which shake the trees so as to cause the cones to fall t ' o the ground, from where they are collected manually. The trees are shaken either from a helicopter or from the ground. One disadvantage with ' these known methods is that they are time consuming and expensive, which causes the seed obtained from the cones to be excessively dear. Because of the high price of the seed, the general tendency is to be economical when sowing said seed, which results in a poor regrowτh cycle. The object of the invention is to provide a method and an apparatus with which cones can be harvested in a less expensive and simpler manner and by which cones can be gathered in a more rational manner than with known methods. These objects are realized by the fact that in accordance with the invention τhe cones are picked purely mechanically and preferably in conjunction with a tree-felling operation. The characterizing features of the invention are set forth in the accompanying claims. The apparatus according to the invention will now be described in dετail with reference to the accompanying drawings , in which Figure 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of the apparatus incorporated in a τree-felling apparatus, and Figure 2 is an end view of τhe drum-shaped picking head of the apparatus. In Figure 1 there is shown a cone-picking arrangement 1, hereinafter called the cone picker, which is coupled to a tree-felling apparatus 2 by means of a pivoted arm 3, a felled tree -4* being placed in the cone picker and gripped by two feed rollers 5 arranged therein. The picking head or drum 6 of the cone picker is manouvered into the desired position by means of two hydraulic-piston-cylinder devices 7 and 8. Figure 2 illustrates the cone picker in an end view. The tree is placed in the drum 6, which is mounted on a frame structure 9 and comprises three walls 10, 11 and 12. The walls 11 and 12 are pivotally 'mounted on pins 13 and 14 respectively, said walls being illustrated in their out¬ wardly swung * positions in chain lines 11', 12'. As will be seen from the Figures, the walls form a circular- cylindrical drum when occupying their closed position. The third wall 10 is stationarily arranged and is welded to the frame structure 9 via stays 15. Pivoting of the walls 11 and 12 between their outwardly swung or open position and their closed position is controlled by means of two hydraulic piston-cylinder devices 16 and 17 respectively. The walls 10, 11 and 12 are provided on their inner sur¬ faces with rows of rods 18 of equal length and at equal spacing therebetween. The rods 18 may be made of steel or a plastics material and are preferably covered with a rubber material. In Figure 2 only one row of rods 18 is shown around the periphery of the drum, although it will be understood that any number of rows can be arranged, three such rows being indicated in Figure 1. The rods in separate rows may also be displaceably arranged in the peripheral direction relative to the rods of an adjacent row. On the undersurface of the stationary wall 10 there is arranged a receptacle 19 into which the cones fall from the drum through openings 20 (Figure 1). The mode of operation of the apparatus according to the invention is as follows: Subsequent to felling a tree 4 by means of the tree- feller 2 the tree is placed in the drum 6, the walls 11 and 12 of which are open in the manner shown in chain lines 11' and 12' of Figure 2. The tree is placed in a manner such that the drum encircles the crown of the tree, as illu- strated in Figure 1. The walls 11 and 12 are then closed by means of the hydraulic piston-cylinders 16 and 17. It is not necessary for the walls to be completely closed. The extent to which the walls are closed is determined by the size of the crown of the tree. The crown of the tree is then drawn through the drum 6, downwardly as seen in Figure 1, by means of the feed rollers 5. The rods 18 when coming into contact with the branches of the tree move along the tops of the branches and loosen the cones growing thereon. The cones fall down into the receptacle 19 on the stationary wall 10 through the openings 20. Although the illustrated and described drum 6 is of circular-cylindrical shape, it may also have a certain conicicity. Further, the walls need not be made in a single piece as with the illustrated embodiment, but may comprise, for example, a bed of rods 18 joined together in a manner such as to form a wall unit. Further, the drum 6 need not have a circular cross section, but may be given any suitable shape.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A method of harvesting cones from trees such as pine and spruce, characterized in that the tree is first felled and then placed in a device which encloses a part of the tree, whereafter the crown of the tree is drawn through said device in a manner to cause the cones to loosen from said crown, whereafter said cones are collected in said device. 2. A device for loosening cones from the branches of trees in accordance with the method of claim 1, characterized by a drum (6) having an openable and close- able outer surface and being open at both ends thereof and having means (16,17) for opening and closing said surface which is intended to receive and enclose at least part of the crown of the tree ( ). 3. A device according to claim 2, characterized in that the drum (6) is provided on the inner surface thereof with rows of rod-shaped elements (18) arranged to contact the branches of said tree in a manner to loosen the cones therefrom. 4. A device according to claim 2 or claim 3, characterized in that the drum (16) comprises a fixed part (10) and two pivotable walls (11,12) on a respective side of said fixed part, said walls being pivotable towards and away from each other about a respective axis (13,14) for closing and opening the outer surface of the drum. 5. A device according to claim 3 or claim 4, characterized in that the rod-like elements (15) are made of steel and covered with a rubber material.

Inventors: LOENNELID ELIS
Applicants: LOENNELID ELIS
Application year: 1981
Main classification: A01D46
IPC codes: A01D46, A01G23