Cutting and splitting machine

Abstract

A cutting and splitting machine for cutting sawlogs into individual pieces and splitting the sawlog pieces into chopped wood, comprising a machine housing; a splitting section having a splitting knife for splitting the sawlog pieces into chopped wood and arranged in the machine housing; a cutting section arranged in the machine housing; a feed table with a conveying means, wherein one part of the feed table is arranged and fixed inside the machine housing and constitutes an inner part of the feed table, and a second part of the feed table is arranged outside the machine housing and constitutes an outer part of the feed table, one end of which is fixed to the machine housing by a hinge; a hydraulic cylinder which is hinged at one end to the machine housing and hinged at a second end to the outer part of the feed table in such a way that the outer part of the feed table swivels up or down by an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the feed table under the action of the hydraulic cylinder.

Description

Field of Invention

[0001] The invention relates to a firewood processor according to the preamble of claim 1. Such a firewood processor is known from the document US4173237A.Prior Art

[0002] The firewood processor has a section for cutting sawlog into individual pieces and a section for splitting sawlog pieces into chopped wood. The sections are normally arranged side by side. Firewood processors with two different layouts for the cutting section and the splitting section are known from the prior art. In a horizontal variant of the processor, the sections are arranged side by side in a horizontal direction. A circular saw cuts a piece of a sawlog to a predetermined length in the cutting section, a push hatch then rolls the cut sawlog piece into the splitting section where a splitting knife splits the sawlog piece into chopped wood. In a vertical variant of the processor, the sections are arranged on top of each other in a vertical direction. A circular saw cuts a piece of a sawlog to a predetermined length in the cutting section, a retaining hatch retracts to allow the cut sawlog piece to fall, under the force of gravity, into the splitting section where a splitting knife splits the sawlog piece into chopped wood. When cutting sawlog, the circular saw always moves perpendicularly to the sawlog. The firewood processor is usually equipped with a feed table on which a piece of sawlog is conveyed, which is then conveyed to the firewood processor via a conveying means in the form of conveyor rollers, a rubber belt or a chain conveyor with which the feed table is equipped, to be cut. The feed table is usually equipped on one of the longitudinal sides with side stops in the form of a wall or restraining rollers, which prevent a piece of sawlog from falling off the feed table and at the same time guide it into the firewood processor. The feed table may be tilted slightly in the direction of said stops. The feed table is usually connected to the frame of the firewood processor via hinges so that it can be swiveled upwards from a horizontal to a vertical position, making the firewood processor easier to transport and taking up less space when not in use.

[0003] When using the firewood processor, it sometimes happens that a piece of sawlog entering, or that has already partly entered, the processor gets stuck on the feed table, as the sawlog may be twisted and the piece of sawlog may lose contact with the feed rollers on the feed table. In such a case, the processor operator has to intervene and manually push the piece of sawlog into the firewood processor.Technical Problem

[0004] The technical problem is how to configure a firewood processor having a feed table that will allow the sawlog jam on the feed table to be eliminated without the operator having to physically interfere with the firewood processor.Solution to the Technical Problem

[0005] The technical problem is solved by a firewood processor that comprises: a processor housing, a splitting section provided with a splitting knife for splitting pieces of sawlog into chopped wood and arranged in the processor housing, a cutting section arranged in the processor housing, a feed table with a conveying means which in use feeds the sawlogs into the cutting section, said table being a two-part table, with an inner part arranged and fixed inside the processor housing and an outer part arranged outside the processor housing and hinged at one end to the processor housing, a hydraulic cylinder hinged at one end to the processor housing and hinged at a second end to the feed table in such a way that the outer part of the feed table can swivel up or down by the action of the hydraulic cylinder.

[0006] The advantage of the firewood processor according to the invention is that the operator of the processor does not have to physically intervene on the feed table to move individual pieces of sawlogs when sawlogs are jammed on the feed table.

[0007] While the outer part of the feed table is lifted / lowered, the conveying means does not stop, so as soon as a piece of sawlog comes into contact with it again, the piece is immediately conveyed forward into the firewood processor.

[0008] A further, and not negligible, advantage is that this reduces the possibility of injury to the operator, as the operator does not have to reach between individual pieces of the sawlogs.

[0009] The firewood processor of the invention will be described hereinbelow in more detail by way of an embodiment and a drawing representing in Figure 1: A firewood processor with a feed table

[0010] The firewood processor 1 comprises: a processor housing 2, a splitting section 3 with a splitting knife for splitting pieces of sawlog into chopped wood and arranged in the processor housing 2, a cutting section 4 arranged in the processor housing 2, a feed table 5 with a conveying means which in use feeds the sawlogs into the cutting section, wherein one part of the feed table 5 is arranged and fixed inside the processor housing 2 and constitutes an inner part 51 of the feed table, and a second part of the feed table is arranged outside the processor housing 2 and constitutes an outer part 52 of the feed table. The outer part 52 of the feed table is fixed at one end to the processor housing 2 by means of a hinge 7 which allows the outer part 52 of the feed table to swivel up or down with respect to the longitudinal axis of the feed table 5, lateral movement of the outer part 52 with respect to the longitudinal direction being prevented.

[0011] The feed table 5 comprises driven conveying means, which may be formed as a conveyor belt, a conveyor chain or conveying toothed rollers 8, as in the embodiment on Fig. 1, for conveying the pieces of sawlogs to be fed into the interior of the firewood processor for cutting and splitting. In the case of the conveying toothed rollers 8, the feed table 5 comprises at least two toothed rollers, preferably more than two, one conveying toothed roller 8 being coaxially arranged in the hinge 7.

[0012] The feed table 5 is usually equipped on one of the longitudinal sides with side stops 9 in the form of a wall or restraining rollers, which prevent a piece of sawlog from falling off the feed table and at the same time guide it into the firewood processor. The feed table 5 may be tilted slightly in the direction of said stops 9.

[0013] The firewood processor 1 further comprises a hydraulic cylinder 6, which is hinged at its one end 61 by means of a fixing eye 63 in a hinge 10 on the processor housing 2 and at its second end 62 by means of a fixing eye 63' hinged to the outer part 52 of the feed table in a hinge 11, such that the outer part 52 of the feed table swivels up or down with respect to the longitudinal axis of the feed table 5 as a result of the action of the hydraulic cylinder 6. The outer part 52 of the feed table swivels up or down relative to the longitudinal axis of the feed table 5 by an angle α of less than ± 45°, preferably less than ± 30°, due to the action of the hydraulic cylinder 6.

[0014] In the embodiment, as on Fig. 1, the hinge 11 is arranged on the underside of the outer part 52 of the feed table, i.e. on the side facing the ground during operation of the processor, however, the hinge 11 may also be arranged elsewhere on the outer part 52 of the feed table.

[0015] The hydraulic cylinder 6 is in fluid communication with the hydraulic valve, which is part of the hydraulic system of the processor. The hydraulic valve is manually controlled by the processor operator via a control lever that is part of the control panel. When the operator determines that a sawlog piece is not being conveyed forward towards the processor, he / she swivels the feed table up or down by means of the hydraulic cylinder 6 by an angle α such that the sawlog piece, due to the inclination of the feed table 5, is brought back into contact with the conveying toothed rollers 8, which move it forward. The size of the swivel angle α depends on the unevenness of the sawlog piece. While the outer part 52 of the feed table 5 is lifted / lowered, the conveying toothed rollers 8 do not need to be stopped but are only continuously driven and rotated so that as soon as a piece of sawlog comes into contact with them again, they grip it and convey it further into the firewood processor.

Claims

1. A firewood processor (1) for cutting sawlog into individual pieces and splitting sawlog pieces into chopped wood, comprising: a processor housing (2), a splitting section (3) provided with a splitting knife for splitting pieces of sawlog into chopped wood and arranged in the processor housing, a cutting section (4) arranged in the processor housing (2), a feed table (5) with a conveying means which in use feeds the sawlogs into the cutting section, wherein one part of the feed table (5) is arranged and fixed inside the processor housing (2) and constitutes an inner part (51) of the feed table, and a second part of the feed table (5) is arranged outside the processor housing (2) and constitutes an outer part (52) of the feed table, which is attached with one of its ends to the processor housing (2) by a hinge (7), characterized by comprising a hydraulic cylinder (6) which is hinged at its one end (61) on the processor housing (2) and is hinged at its second end (62) to the outer part (52) of the feed table, such that the outer part (52) of the feed table, under the action of the hydraulic cylinder (6), swivels up or down by an angle (α) with respect to the longitudinal axis of the feed table (5).

2. A firewood processor (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the feed table (5) comprises driven conveying means formed as at least two toothed rollers, preferably more than two, one conveying toothed roller (8) being coaxially arranged in the hinge (7).

3. The firewood processor according to any preceding claims, characterized in that the feed table (5) is equipped on one of the longitudinal sides with side stops (9) in the form of a wall or restraining rollers, wherein the feed table (5) is tilted slightly in the direction of said stops (9).

4. The firewood processor according to any preceding claims, characterized in that the outer part (52) of the feed table comprises a hinge (11) for receiving a second end (62) of the hydraulic cylinder (6).

5. The firewood processor according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the angle (α) is smaller than ±45°.

6. The firewood processor according to claim 5, characterized in that the angle (α) is smaller than ±30°.

7. The firewood processor according to any preceding claim, characterized in that a conveying toothed cylinder (8) is coaxially arranged in the hinge (7), said cylinder being part of the conveying means of the feed table (5).

8. The firewood processor according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the hydraulic cylinder (6) is in fluid communication with the hydraulic valve, which is part of the hydraulic system of the processor.

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