HARVESTING METHOD AND APPARATUS

Abstract: A harvesting method and apparatus, where in the top of a vehicle (1) mounted pivoting boom (2) the means (3, 4) are fixed for felling, gripping, shifting and processing a tree. In the method, felling of a tree and shifting it over to processing unit (3) is carried out by a felling head (4), mounted in the top of separate lifting/reaching arms (5, 6) working independent of the processing function, and the felling head (4) and the processing unit (3) are working simultaneously in different working stages.

Description: HARVESTING METHOD AND APPARATUS The invention relates to a harvesting method according to patent claim 1 and to an apparatus according to patent claim 5, by means of which even a tree of less value can be efficiently, harvested. Previously known are processors attached to the head of a movable boom and developed for harvesting, comprising the necessary equipment for felling, mechanical delimbing, measuring and crosscutting. Such a boom fixed to a mobile vehicle and the processor in its head are most usually driven along a random route in the the wood and carry out harvesting in the wood lot to the stage of clear cutting, harvesting all trees that have any sales value. With above equipment harvesting can be done leaving also some stand of forest untouched. In order to operate the complete equipment requires so much space that it cannot be used for thinning of small and medium size trees. By a vehicle like this one has to get to within 7 meters of the tree to be felled and, in addition, there must be space for the felled tree and space for possible shifting it over toward the vehicle as well as processing space. Upon harvesting by thinning the equipment must have a wide reach range, preferrable so much that one must not turn off the vehicle path, and so much speed that harvesting of trees of small value would be profitable, and versatility, so that the tree to be thinned out could be processed already in the wood with regard to its use. By means of the inventional solution above mentioned disadvantaged are avoided and a decisive improvment is achieved with reference to former methods and apparatus. The invention is characterized in what is presented in the patent claims. The advantage of the method is utilization of the full capacity of apparatus and driving motor, because in the apparatus processing is switched on automatic function as soon as the tree butt arrives att the processing unit. At the same time the machine operator can steer the felling head to the next tree, fell it and bring it with the butt ahead to the processing unit, while the former tree is still being processed. The apparatus can be used by full capacity uninterruptedly. In most cases, the vehicle can be kept in the vechicle path, because in using the method the reach range is made rather wide. Likewise, by this method the harvested trees get to the side of the path already delimbed, possibly crosscut or even debarked, since tree processing takes place toward the vehicle path. From the same path the trees can be collected onto a trailer in using a loader. The distance between vehicle paths can be 25 metres or more. By the method also delimbed masses of branches, leaves and needles remain evenly in the terrain increasing the nutritive content of the forest. In the following the invention is disclosed with reference to the enclosed drawing, where Fig. 1 is a side view of the apparatus in working position. Fig. 2 is a side view of the processing unit. Figure 1 shows a pivoting 2 boom mounted in an agricultural tractor 1, where in the top of the boom the processing unit 3 is fixed suspended by a slewing gear 9. From processing unit 3 extends further boom arms 5,6 in the top of which a felling head 4 is fixed. The added mass of the processing unit 3 with boom 5,6 and felling head 4 is within the limits of boom 2 lifting capacity and thus this combined unit can be lifted by boom 2 to aimed spots among the threes which are to be thinned. Processing unit 3 has a base or adjustable outriggers 8 and is always let down to the ground for processing and felling head operation. The base may have supporting wheels or have the form of a sled for wintertime operation. By means of felling head 4 and extension arms 5.6 the trees 10 to be thinned out are picked up and their the butt is placed into the feeding opening in the processing unit, where tree 10 is shifted further by rolls 17. The processing unit 3 includes automatic functions and need not be particularly controlled. Accordingly, the operator can at the same time steer extension arms 5,6 and select and pick up the next tree with felling head 4. Felling head 4 has a frame 21 including guides for felling the tree in the proper direction, grapple arms 20 for gripping the tree and a chain saw 19 for tree cut-off. The felling head is also well fitted for dragging tree 10 towards processing unit 3, since there is no need to dimension its boom to carry larger trees at least not at the extreme limits of its reach. The felling head function can be controlled also by a camera 13 which is arraned in the processing unit 3 and the operator has a monitor in the vehicle. A great distance between vehicle 3 and felling head 4 often distracts direct observation, whereby the use of camera is advantageous. Felling head 4 can also be furnished with a picking device, whereby it can pick several trees into grapple 20 in keeping the felling head vertical during picking and conveying several small trees at a time. Likewise, felling head 4 can be furnished with a separate sawing device to make room for bringing the felling head to the tree to be harvested, i.e. it clears out small trees out of the way. The processing unit 3 contains prior known delimbing blades 7, which in this case are movable also lengthwise. Unit 3 also has adjustable outriggers 8 or suporting wheels, by means of which it can be stabilized into rough terrain or by means of which it can also be moved or turned. Arm 5 extending from the unit frame is articulated also to pivot horizontally upon unit 3 frame, whereby it can be directed to the next tree without turning unit 3 before accomplishment of the former tree processing. In figure 2 a processing unit 3 is shown in detail suspended in boom 2 by a slewing gear 9. The unit upper body 11 can be turned with respect to the lower body 12 and along with upper body 11 the extension arms 5.6 moving felling head 8 are turned horizontally. The bottom section of body 12 can be advantage¬ ously placed on the ground and for possible sliding in the terrain. To body 12 outriggers 8, adjustable in height, or wheels are fixed, by means of which the unit stability can be increased, the unit direction or position corrected or the unit moved. As processing devices in the unit there are delimbing blades, by means of which motion lengthwise is possible. There are rotatable rolls 17 are in body 12 feeding the delimbed tree with the butt ahead through the debarkning drum 16 and out from the unit. By this method tree delivery occurs advantageously along the vehicle path and in the reach of a conventional loader. Further, theres is in unit 3 a cut-off saw 15 for making the dimension timber of tree upon need. Tree length measuring is arranged in any prior way, e.g. by a disc rotating against the tree. In unit 3 or 11 a camera 13 is placed transmitting the image of the felling head 4 operation area to the vehicle. An intermediate processing unit 3 placed between vehicle 1 and felling head 4 according to the invention, can be made into a unit that contains different tree processing means. In addition to the presented debarking device 16 and cut off device 15, well applicable as processing means are a chipping device, a carving device and a surface treatment device, by means which, for instance, some protective agent can be sprayed on the tree surface. The invention is not restricted to the enclosed embodiment but several modifications are possible within the limits of the inventional concept determined by the patent claims.

Claims: PATENT CLAIMS 1. A harvesting method with a processing unit (3) that is fixed in the top of a vehicle (1) mounted pivoting boom (2) and provided with the equipment (4) for felling, gripping, shifting and processing the tree, characterized in that in the method felling of the tree and shifting it over to the processing unit (3) is carried out by a felling head (4), mounted in the top of separate lifting/reaching arms 5,6 working independent of the processing function, and that the felling head (4) and processing unit (3) are working simultaneously in different working stages. 2. A method according to patent claim 1 characterized in that by means of extension arms (5,6) and felling head (4) the trees to be felled are picked up around the processing unit (3). 3. A method according to patent claims 1 and 2 characterized in that processing of tree (10) is carried out automatically by processing unit (3). 4. A method according to any of the above patent claims 1-3 characterized in that felling head (4) operation is surveilled and controlled by camera monitoring from vehicle (1). 5. An apparatus for harvesting comprised of a vehicle (1) mounted pivoting boom (2), a processing unit (3) fixed in the boom top that is furnished with the equipment at least for felling (4), shifting (5,6) and processing a tree (10), characterized in that in the processing unit (3), regardless of its simultaneous processing, lifting/reaching arms (5,6) are fixed suspended by which there is a felling head (4) including equipment for felling (19) and gripping (20) the tree. 6. An apparatus according to patent claim 5 characterized in that the processing unit (3) has a base or outriggers (8) for fitting it in working position in the terrain and that the direction of the arms (5,6) extending from unit (3) can be turned horisontally with respect to unit (3). 7. An apparatus according patent claims 5 and 6 characterized in that the processing unit ( 3 ) includes the program and equipment for tree (10) processing automatically in processing unit (3). 8. An apparatus according to any of the above patent claims 5 - 7 characterized in that the processing unit (3) is in its working position turnable in different directions by means of outriggers (8) an/or slewing gear (9). 9. An apparatus according to any of the above patent claims 5 - 8 characterized in that the controls of the actuators of felling head (4) and extension arms 5,6) are in vehicle (1). 10. An apparatus according to any of the above patent claims 5 - 9 characterized in that as tree processing means the processing unit (3) has one or several devices selected from the group of delimbing, debarking, carving, chipping and cut¬ off means.

Inventors: AHONEN ANTTI, AHONEN, ANTTI
Applicants: AHONEN ANTTI, HALLINTOKOLMIO OY, AHONEN, ANTTI
Application year: 1995
Main classification: A01G23
IPC codes: A01G23