US3642041A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mobile tree-processing machine
Assignee: Abitibi Paper Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1968-05-07
•
Granted: 1972-02-15
•
Expires: 1988-05-07
Abstract
Abstract A mobile tree-processing machine which includes a platform pivotally mounted on a mobile undercarriage for slewing about a vertical axis and having one or more tree-processing units mounted thereon operative to delimb, debark and/or sever whole trees fed thereto by a boom-and-grapple assembly and propelled through the processing units by feed means consisting of driven feed rollers. The leading end of the processed tree, emerging from he last of the processing units, actuates a cutter mechanism severing selected lengths which are directed by a deflector assembly onto an off-feed conveyor assembly which conveys the processed logs in sequence from the machine, depositing such processed logs at a position removed from the machine onto a suitable supporting surface. The off-feed conveyor, in one instance, is attached to the platform on which the processing units are mounted, and in another instance is independently mounted on the undercarriage for pivotal movement about a vertical axis independent of pivotal movement of the processing assembly.
Inventors
- 👤 Douglas D Hamilton
- 👤 Joseph J R Boivin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 14:06
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G23/00; A01G23/02; A01G23/095; A01G23/097
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
A machine for processing trees comprising in combination: a. a first support; b. a second support pivotally mounted on said first support to pivot about a substantially vertical axis; c. tree-processing means, on said second support, including processing units to delimb, debark or sever a tree and having a discharge end from which a processed tree length is discharged and; d. a log-handling unit comprising a driven conveyor carried by said first support and pivotally arranged in relation thereto to pivot about a vertical axis to collect processed tree lengths discharged from the tree-processing means and convey the same to a selected location removed from said machine.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
107 words
A machine for processing trees comprising in combination: a. a first support; b. a second support pivotally mounted on said first support to pivot about a substantially vertical axis; c. tree-processing means, on said second support, including processing units to delimb, debark or sever a tree and having a discharge end from which a processed tree length is discharged and; d. a log-handling unit comprising a driven conveyor carried by said first support and pivotally arranged in relation thereto to pivot about a vertical axis to collect processed tree lengths discharged from the tree-processing means and convey the same to a selected location removed from said machine.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said first support comprises a movable carrier.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A machine as defined in claim 2 wherein carrier is a self-propelled mobile vehicle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
122 words
A machine as defined in claim 3 wherein said log-handling unit inclUdes a third frame secured to said machine and having a generally flat upper surface to receive processed logs discharged from the processing units, a fourth frame pivotally secured to said third frame for movement about a substantially horizontal axis and projecting laterally from the normal path followed by a tree during processing thereof, a driven conveyor extending longitudinally of said fourth frame and means to pivot said fourth frame about said horizontal axis selectively to raise and lower the end of the conveyor remote from the pivotal connection of the fourth frame to said third frame and thereby selectively vary the vertical position of the discharge end of the conveyor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
A machine as defined in claim 4 wherein said fourth frame comprises pivotally interconnected members effectively defining a parallelogram of selectively variable angular orientation and said conveyor comprises a pair of endless beltlike members disposed respectively adjacent respective ones of a pair of parallel members of said parallelogram and supported thereby.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A machine as defined in claim 5 including linkage means interrelating pivotal movement of said second and fourth frame about their respective vertical pivot axes in opposite directions with respect to one another.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A machine as defined in claim 4 including further means pivotally connecting said fourth frame to said third frame for selected pivotal movement about a vertical axis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A machine as defined in claim 3 including means pivotally mounting said log-handling unit on said second support for limited movement about a substantially vertical axis offset from the vertical pivot axis of said second support.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A processing machine as defined in claim 3 wherein said log-handling unit comprises in combination a conveyor and a log-deflecting means interposed between said conveyor and the processing means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A processing machine as defined in claim 9 wherein said conveyor extends in a direction projecting laterally from a path normally followed by a tree during processing thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
A processing machine as defined in claim 3 wherein said log-handling unit comprises in combination log-deflecting means and a driven conveyor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
A processing machine as defined in claim 11 further including at least one driven speedup roll located intermediate said processing means and the driven conveyor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
A processing machine as defined in claim 11 wherein said conveyor comprises at least one endless-beltlike member having a plurality of lugs projecting therefrom engaging trees conveyed by said conveyor to a selected location.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
A machine as defined in claim 3 further including in combination therewith at least one roller located between the processing means and said conveyor, said roller facilitating transfer of the processed trees discharged from the processing unit to a conveyor portion of the log-handling unit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
A machine as defined in claim 14 wherein said roller is driven.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
62 words
A machine as defined in claim 3 wherein said driven conveyor is pivotally mounted to move about a horizontal axis and means to controllably pivot the same about said horizontal axis selectively to vary the position of said discharge end. 17 A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein on said first support and said conveyor pivot about a common vertical axis.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
A machine as defined in claim 1 including means pivotally mounting said log-handling unit on said first support for movement about a substantially vertical axis, said pivot axis being common to the vertical pivot axis of said second support and movable irrespective of pivotal movement of said second support.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
71 words
A machine as defined in claim 1 including means pivotally mounting said log-handling unit on said first support for movement about a substantially vertical axis, said pivot axis being common to the vertical pivot axis of said second support, said log-handling unit including a log discharge end and means effecting pivotal movement of said discharge end iN response to pivotal movement of said second support and in a direction opposite thereto.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
50 words
A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said tree-processing means comprises at least two processing units adapted to perform different-processing operations on a tree, said processing units being spaced longitudinally relative to one another along the path a tree follows in passing through the processing units during processing thereof.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
40 words
A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said tree-processing means comprises at least a delimber and a shear spaced longitudinally relative to one another along the path a tree follows in passing through the processing units during processing thereof.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
47 words
A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said tree-severing device comprises a shear slidably mounted on said second support and means selectively moving said shear along a path followed by the tree being processed whereby the tree may be severed while moving continuously along said path.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said processing means comprise processing units secured to a subframe pivotally mounted on said second support to pivot about a substantially horizontal axis.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
34 words
A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said processing means comprise processing units individually secured to common rigid members pivotally mounted on said second support for limited movement about a substantially horizontal axis.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
73 words
A processing machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said log-handling unit comprises in combination a conveyor and a log-deflecting means interposed between said conveyor and the processing means wherein said tree-processing means comprises at least two processing units adapted to perform different processing operations on a tree, said processing units being spaced longitudinally relative to one another along the path a tree follows in passing through the processing units during processing thereof.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
48 words
A processing machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said log-handling unit comprises in combination a conveyor and a log-deflecting means interposed between said conveyor and the processing means, said machine further including at least one driven speedup roll located intermediate said processing means and the driven conveyor.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
42 words
A processing machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said conveyor consists of a pair of endless-beltlike members disposed in substantially spaced-parallel relationship and each having a plurality of lugs projecting therefrom engaging trees conveyed by said conveyor to the selected location.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
A processing machine as defined in claim 27 wherein said endless-beltlike members consist of link chains.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
50 words
A processing machine as defined in claim 27 wherein the lugs on one endless-chainlike member are connected to respective ones of the lugs on the other of the endless-chainlike members to provide, in effect, a series of paddle wheels engageable with the processed trees being conveyed to a selected location.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
36 words
A processing machine as defined in claim 2 including a boom-and-grapple assembly mounted thereon selectively to engage a selected prefelled tree from a plurality of prefelled trees and introduce said selected tree to said processing units.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
29 words
A processing machine as defined in claim 30 including at least one set of feed rolls selectively to feed in sequence trees to be processed through said processing means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
A machine as defined in claim 1 including log-measuring means effecting actuation of the tree-severing device to sever a tree being processed into selected lengths.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
121 words
A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said log-handling unit comprises: a. a first frame assembly having a log-receiving upper surface; b. a conveyor assembly pivotally secured to said frame for movement about a substantially horizontal axis, said conveyor assembly extending laterally from said frame and comprising at least one driven member having spaced-apart log-engaging members movable to propel a log away from said frame and discharge such log at a selected location; c. deflector means disposed normally in the path of a log discharged into the log-handling unit to shift such log laterally toward the conveyor assembly; and d. means selectively to pivot said conveyor about its pivot axis to raise and lower the discharge end of the conveyor.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
22 words
A log-handling unit as defined in claim 33 wherein said conveyor is laterally offset from the log-receiving upper surface of the frame.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
41 words
A log-handling unit as defined in claim 33 wherein said deflector includes at least one member having a portion overlying the log-receiving upper surface of the frame, said portion of the member sloping downwardly in a direction toward the conveyor assembly.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
42 words
A log-handling unit as defined in claim 33 wherein said deflector comprises a further conveyor disposed in end-to-end relation with the first-mentioned conveyor, said further conveyor having spaced-apart log-engaging members movable to propel a log from said frame onto said first-mentioned conveyor.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
25 words
A log-handling unit as defined in claim 33, further including a hopper assembly secured to said frame and extending vertically above said log-receiving upper surface.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
19 words
A log-handling unit as defined in claim 33, including means to detachably secure the same to a processing machine.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
25 words
A log-handling unit as defined in claim 33 wherein said conveyor consists of at least one endless-beltlike member having a plurality of lugs projecting therefrom.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
42 words
A log-handling unit as defined in claim 33 wherein said frame comprises a rigid longitudinally extending member and said conveyor consists of two or more generally parallel spaced-apart endless-beltlike members extending in a direction substantially normal to the length of said frame.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
119 words
A method of logging comprising: a. maneuvering a vehicle having processing units and an off-feed conveyor mounted thereon into an area of felled trees; b. rotating the processing units and off-feed conveyor assembly about respective vertical axes to position the same for handling of trees located in proximity of the vehicle; c. feeding said trees in successive relation to the processing units mounted on said vehicle; d. processing said trees in said successive relation; e. discharging the processed trees from the last of the processing units in the form of whole logs having discrete lengths; and f. conveying said logs successively from said machine and depositing the same in stacked relation at a selected location removed from said machine.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
119 words
A method of logging comprising: a. maneuvering a vehicle having processing units and an off-feed conveyor mounted thereon into an area of felled trees; b. rotating the processing units and off-feed conveyor assembly about respective vertical axes to position the same for handling of trees located in proximity of the vehicle; c. feeding said trees in successive relation to the processing units mounted on said vehicle; d. processing said trees in said successive relation; e. discharging the processed trees from the last of the processing units in the form of whole logs having discrete lengths; and f. conveying said logs successively from said machine and depositing the same in stacked relation at a selected location removed from said machine.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as defined in claim 41 including the step of continuously moving a tree along a selected path during processing thereof.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
162 words
A method of processing trees comprising: a. positioning a processing plant having one or more processing units and an off-feed conveyor thereon and a concentration of full trees in a selected relative position with respect to one another; b. rotating the processing units and off-feed conveyor assembly about respective vertical axes to position the same for handling of trees located in proximity of the vehicle; c. extending a boom and grapple outwardly from said processing plant; d. selecting and grasping an individual tree in said concentration of trees; e. retracting said boom and grapple along with the tree in a direction toward the processing plant; f. introducing the tree to a processing unit of said plant; g. processing said tree and discharging the same from the last of the processing units in the form of whole logs having discrete lengths; and h. conveying and stacking said logs in parallel relationship with respect to one another at a position removed from said machine.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
162 words
A method of processing trees comprising: a. positioning a processing plant having one or more processing units and an off-feed conveyor thereon and a concentration of full trees in a selected relative position with respect to one another; b. rotating the processing units and off-feed conveyor assembly about respective vertical axes to position the same for handling of trees located in proximity of the vehicle; c. extending a boom and grapple outwardly from said processing plant; d. selecting and grasping an individual tree in said concentration of trees; e. retracting said boom and grapple along with the tree in a direction toward the processing plant; f. introducing the tree to a processing unit of said plant; g. processing said tree and discharging the same from the last of the processing units in the form of whole logs having discrete lengths; and h. conveying and stacking said logs in parallel relationship with respect to one another at a position removed from said machine.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2233219A
Cited
US2418726A
Cited
US2484689A
Cited
US2780253A
Cited
US2699877A
Cited
US2785715A
Cited
US2821220A
Cited
US2792860A
Cited
US2934112A
Cited
US2891589A
Cited
US2916064A
Cited
SU119034A1
Cited
US3029848A
Cited
US3140736A
Cited
US3236274A
Cited
US3329184A
Cited
US3356116A
Cited
US3288313A
Cited
US3351107A
Cited
US3385331A
Cited
US3398774A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-02-14 | 1975-08-16 | 1976-02-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-14 | 1979-08-16 | 1980-02-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-14 | 1983-08-16 | 1984-02-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |