Feed roller for a harvester head and harvester head

Abstract

The invention concerns a feed roller (10) for a harvester head (12), which includes an attachment element (14) comprising attachment means (16) for attaching the feed roller (10) to a feed motor (18), a circular support structure (20) configured to surround the attachment element (14) in the radial direction of the feed roller (10), which support structure (20) is configured to form a support surface (24) on its outer circumference (25) for supporting the feed roller (10) against a tree (26), wherein the support structure (20) has a wave-like shape so that said support surface (24) constitutes an alternating structure in the direction of the axis of rotation of the feed roller (10) and a substantially continuous structure around the feed roller (10), and feeding teeth (28) formed in the support surface (24) for increasing the friction between the feed roller (10) and the tree (26). The invention also relates to a harvester head.

Description

[0001] FEED ROLLER FOR A HARVESTER HEAD AND HARVESTER HEAD

[0002] The invention relates to a feed roller for a harvester head, which includes

[0003] - an attachment element comprising attachment means for attaching the feed roller to a feed motor,

[0004] - a circular support structure configured to surround the attachment collar in the radial direction of the feed roller, which support structure is configured to form a support surface for supporting the feed roller against a tree, and

[0005] - feeding teeth formed in the support surface for increasing the friction between the feed roller and the tree.

[0006] The invention also relates to a harvester head.

[0007] EP 3576912 Al, which is known from the prior art, discloses a feed roller for a harvester head, wherein the feed roller includes an attachment collar, a support structure surrounding the attachment collar, and gripping elements which are welded obliquely to the support structure and on which feeding teeth are formed. The successive gripping elements form the support surface of the feed roller by means of which the feed roller is supported against a tree to be fed.

[0008] This structure is problematic, however, due to its high production costs, as each feed roller comprises around twenty gripping elements that need to be individually welded. The welding of the gripping elements is a laborious process that requires expertise. Moreover, the individually welded gripping elements form an intermittent and discontinuous structure, which causes vibrations during the operation of the feed roller. The vibrations during the operation of the feed roller also increase with a distance between the gripping elements, which makes the support surface intermittent. An object of the invention is to provide a feed roller that is more economical to manufacture and that causes less vibration than a feed roller of the prior art. There is less adhesion of debris to the structures of the feed roller in a feed roller according to the invention than in feed rollers according to the prior art, and a removal of debris is easier. Moreover, a good adhesion to the tree is achieved with the feed roller according to the invention without needless damage to the surface of the tree. The characteristic features of the invention are indicated in the attached patent claim 1. A further object of the invention is to provide a harvester head that is better in terms of its productivity and operability, that is easier to maintain, quieter, simpler, and lighter than the harvester heads of the prior art. The characteristic features of the invention are indicated in the attached patent claim 14.

[0009] The object of a feed roller according to the invention can be achieved with a feed roller for a harvester head, which includes an attachment element comprising attachment means for attaching the feed roller to a feed motor, a circular support structure configured to surround the attachment element in the radial direction of the feed roller, which support structure is configured to form a support surface for supporting the feed roller against a tree, and feeding teeth formed in the support surface for increasing the friction between the feed roller and the tree. The support structure has a wave-like shape so that the support surface constitutes an alternating structure in the direction of the axis of rotation of the feed roller and a substantially continuous structure around the feed roller .

[0010] The feed roller according to the invention is an essentially monolithic structure that can be manufactured by casting without welding. The support surface formed by the wave-like or wave-shaped support structure is an essentially monolithic structure that can be manufactured as one piece. Moreover, the wave-like structure of the support structure comprises a large amount of open surface for removing the bark that adheres to the feed roller. The feed roller thus effectively remains clean and consequently in good working order. A further advantage of the structure according to the invention is the very high symmetry in terms of a circularity, so that the feed roller is essentially constantly in contact with the tree to be fed, whereby a vibration during feeding is reduced and an adhesion to the tree remains good at all times.

[0011] In other words, the shape of the support structure alternates in the direction of the axis of rotation of the feed roller, so that that the support surface has at least substantially the shape of a strip and repeatedly changes its direction relative to the direction of the circumference of the feed roller. The support surface is thus an at least substantially continuous structure in the direction of the circumference of the feed roller.

[0012] In other words, the support structure comprises an outer circumference, and said outer circumference is the support surface for supporting the feed roller against a tree.

[0013] Preferably, the attachment element is an attachment collar. The use of an attachment collar is a common and simple way to attach a feed roller.

[0014] Alternatively, the attachment element can be, for example, a spline bushing or analogous structure by means of which the feed roller is attached to a rotary motor. Put yet another way, the support surface preferably alternates on either side of the plane of the attachment collar.

[0015] According to one embodiment, a length of the wave-like support surface once around the entire circumference and following the shape of the support surface can be 150 - 300%, preferably 200 - 250%, of the length of the circumference.

[0016] Preferably, the inner circumference of the support structure is connected to the attachment collar in the plane of the attachment collar and the at least substantially continuous outer circumference of the support structure alternately deviates from the plane of the attachment collar on either side of the plane of the attachment collar so as to form an alternating, strip-shaped support surface.

[0017] Preferably, the feed roller is a cast structure. By manufacturing by casting, the production of the feed roller does not require welding, which is a slow and labour-intensive process. The structure of the feed roller according to the invention can be cast using only a lower mould and an upper mould without the use of cores, which produce weak angles in the structure of the feed roller.

[0018] In this context, casting should be understood broadly so as to comprise both a casting produced using a mould-casting technique as well as a cast-iron piece formed by 3D printing as an alternative method of realization.

[0019] According to one embodiment, in a feed roller according to the invention, the surface area of the support surface is 10 - 50%, preferably 20 - 30%, of the surface area of an imaginary feed roller of the same end-to-end dimensions, namely width in the direction of the axis of rotation and diameter, and is entirely continuous over the entire circumference and width of the feed roller. In other words, the feed roller according to the invention contains 50 - 90% of open space compared to a maximum support surface of the same end-to-end dimensions. With the feed roller according to the invention, a very large vacant surface area and thereby a considerable lightness is achieved for the same end-to-end dimensions of the feed roller.

[0020] Preferably, the cast feed roller is made of austempered ductile iron. This has a lower density than commonly used steel, so that the feed roller is lighter than a feed roller of the prior art. A lightness of the feed roller is important in harvester heads, which are suspended from the end of a boom assembly. Even a small saving in the weight of the feed roller significantly reduces the forces that act on the boom assembly, especially when operating at a maximum extension of the boom assembly .

[0021] Alternatively, the feed roller can be made by forging, wherein a blank is heated and pressed against dies to produce a desired shape. However, forging requires steel as material, which has a higher density and material cost than cast iron.

[0022] The monolithic, at least substantially continuous, preferably entirely continuous, support surface can be formed by plate sections. As a monolithic structure, the support structure is rigid and consequently durable. Moreover, a continuous support structure forms a continuous support surface, which increases the symmetry of the feed roller and thereby reduces vibrations during the operation of the feed roller.

[0023] Preferably, the feeding teeth are essentially parallel to the axis of rotation of the feed roller. The teeth thereby effectively transmit the force from the feed roller to a tree to be moved by means of the feed rollers.

[0024] Preferably, the support structure is at an angle relative to the plane of the attachment collar over at least a part of the diameter of the feed roller in order to increase the width of the feed roller in the radial direction of the feed roller. The width of the feed roller thus increases as one moves in the radial direction of the feed roller from the attachment collar towards the support surface. The width of the feed roller at the support surface is thus large enough to prevent the feed roller from exerting too much surface pressure on a tree, which could damage trees being fed.

[0025] A width of the feed roller in the longitudinal direction of the axis of rotation can be 50 - 400 mm, preferably 100 - 200 mm. This is a feed-roller size that is quite commonly employed in harvester heads.

[0026] A diameter of the feed roller can be 150 - 700 mm, preferably 250 - 500 mm. This is a feed-roller size that is quite commonly employed in harvester heads.

[0027] A material thickness of the feed roller is 10 - 30 mm at the attachment collar and 10 - 50 mm at the part of the support structure. A greater material thickness of the support structure forms a larger surface area of the support surface and thereby a wider feeding tooth on the feed roller. Preferably, the material thickness at the attachment collar is thicker than the support structure.

[0028] In a preferred embodiment, the support structure includes plate sections arranged around the circumference of the attachment collar, which plate sections are successively connected or joined to at least one adjacent plate section, thus forming a support surface, wherein the orientation of the successive plate sections of the support surface is alternating in the direction of the axis of rotation of the feed roller.

[0029] Alternatively, the support structure can be formed from curved plate sections in different wave shapes.

[0030] In one embodiment, the shape of the support structure is a sine wave. In a second embodiment, the shape is a triangular wave or a sawtooth wave.

[0031] In a third embodiment, every other side of a wave is essentially parallel to the axis and the other side is sloping or S-shaped.

[0032] In this context, a wave-like shape is understood as comprising both symmetrical and asymmetrical shapes, as well as both periodic and aperiodic shapes that deviate from a uniform structure. These shapes are preferably alternating in at least some kind of cycle.

[0033] In other words, the orientation of the successive plate sections is alternating, and the plate sections form, at the opposite ends of the plate sections relative to the attachment collar, a support surface that is at least substantially continuous in the direction of the circumference of the feed roller and alternating in the transverse direction of the feed roller .

[0034] Preferably, the plate sections form a monolithic and at least substantially continuous, preferably entirely continuous, support surface. A continuous support surface minimizes a vibration of the feed roller. The feed roller can have 8 - 30, preferably 16 - 24, successive plate sections belonging to the support structure. By means of sufficiently large number of plate sections, it is possible to increase the contact surface of the feed roller with the tree without increasing the width of the feed roller.

[0035] Preferably, the feed roller includes two edges which are at a distance from each other in the direction of the axis of rotation of the feed roller and, at at least one edge, the segments of the support surface that extend up to the edge include a portion that is inclined relative to the axis of rotation as well as an edge tooth formed on the inclined portion. The edge teeth optimize the feeding of small trees and prevent small trees from getting stuck between the feed roller and the motor. More specifically, the edge teeth also provide a gripping surface on the side of the feed roller, so that any small trees that end up between the feed roller and the motor can be fed forward .

[0036] Preferably, the edge teeth are formed at points of the support surface that are preferably closest to the ridge of two plate sections at one edge of the feed roller. The feed roller is widest at these points and the feeding tooth reaches all the way to the edge of the feed roller, which allows small trees to be moved on the side of the feed roller.

[0037] According to one embodiment, edge teeth can be formed on both edges of the feed roller. This allows the feed roller to be mounted in either direction or switched half way through the service life of the feed roller to compensate for wear.

[0038] Preferably, the feeding teeth are machined. By means of machining, it is possible to make the feeding teeth sharp enough without welding. Preferably, the feeding teeth are ridges that are essentially parallel to the axis of rotation of the feed roller. It is thereby possible to limit an indentation of the feeding teeth in the tree and to distribute the load over a larger area in order to improve the durability of the feeding teeth.

[0039] Preferably, the attachment means are openings formed in the attachment element. Alternatively, the attachment means can also be bolts or threaded pins in cases where the feed motor- includes openings for pins.

[0040] According to one embodiment, the plate sections are at an angle to the plane formed by the attachment collar, so that a width in the direction of the axis of rotation of the feed roller increases as one moves radially from the centre of the feed roller towards the circular support surface formed on the outer edge. This angle a can be 10 - 45°, preferably 15 - 25°, so that a sufficient width for the feed roller is achieved with a structure that is still durable.

[0041] According to one embodiment, the feed roller includes 8 - 30 successive plate sections, so that an angle p between two plate sections in a pattern of the support surface can be 30 - 60°, preferably 40 - 50° . Preferably, the support structure forms a support surface on the feed roller, which support surface is circular when viewed along the axis of rotation A of the feed roller .

[0042] Preferably, the support surface is circular and its diameter is constant except at the points of the feeding teeth at which the diameter is greater by the length of the feeding tooth. In other words, the support surface is annular. According to one embodiment, the attachment element is a circular disc the diameter of which is 30 - 60% of the diameter of the entire feed roller. The attachment element is thus easy to manufacture and does not cause vibrations when it rotates.

[0043] According to one embodiment, the width of the feed roller in the direction of the axis of rotation (A) can be 20 - 50%, preferably 30 - 35%, of the diameter of the feed roller. This allows the weight of the feed roller to be kept moderate, which is important in harvester heads, which are suspended by means of a crane far from the work machine.

[0044] According to one embodiment, the feeding teeth are formed on the support surface in such a manner that 1 - 5, preferably 2 - 5, feeding teeth are in contact with the tree at the same time .

[0045] The object of a harvester head according to the invention can be achieved with a harvester head which includes a frame and feeding means attached in an articulated manner to the frame for feeding a tree, wherein the feeding means includes feedingroller arms, feed motors and a feed roller according to any one of the embodiments of the invention described in the foregoing connected to each feed motor. The harvester head further includes delimbing knives and cutting means.

[0046] It is understood in this context that a harvester head can be a so-called single-grip harvester head, which both fells and processes a tree, although a harvester head can also be conceived as an implement suspended from the end of a boom assembly which only processes trees that have already been felled.

[0047] Preferably, each feed roller is rotated by one feed motor only. The invention, which is not limited to the embodiments described in the following, is explained in more detail with reference to the attached figures, wherein

[0048] Figure 1 schematically shows in a side view a forestry machine that includes a harvester head according to the invention, which comprises feed rollers according to the invention,

[0049] Figure 2 shows an axonometric view of a harvester head and feed rollers according to the invention,

[0050] Figure 3 shows a harvester head according to the invention viewed from the direction of suspension,

[0051] Figure 4a shows an axonometric view of a feed roller according to the invention on its own,

[0052] Figure 4b shows the feed roller of Figure 4a in a view parallel to the axis of rotation,

[0053] Figure 4c shows the feed roller of Figure 4a in a view perpendicular to the axis of rotation,

[0054] Figure 4d shows the section A-A indicated in Figure 4b,

[0055] Figures 5a - 5d schematically show alternative wave-like shapes of the support surface.

[0056] Figure 1 shows an example of a preferable operating environment of a harvester head 12 according to the invention and of a feed roller 10 according to the invention in connection with a forestry machine 100. Preferably, the harvester head 12 is used for felling and processing trees 26, in connection with which the feed rollers 10 on the harvester head 12 grip a tree 26 and move the tree through the harvester head after the felling of the tree. Alternatively, the feed rollers 10 can move the harvester head 12 along the trunk of a tree 26 while the tree is rooted in the ground.

[0057] Feed rollers are also used generally elsewhere in the processing of trees, for example in the sawmill and pulp sectors, but it is understood that feed rollers used in these operating environments are not suitable for use with harvester heads due to their large size and mass. As shown in Figure 1, in forest machines 100, the harvester head 12 is suspended from the end of a boom assembly (crane) 46, so that the stresses acting on the boom assembly 46 are greater the greater the mass of the harvester head 12, and are compounded in particular when the boom assembly 46 is operated at its maximum extension.

[0058] Figure 2 shows a harvester head 12 according to the invention in an axionometric view. The basic parts of the harvester head 12 are a frame 35, feeding means 48 for feeding and gripping a tree, delimbing knives 36 and cutting means 54. The feeding means 48 includes feed-roller arms 50 attached in an articulated manner to the frame 35, on which feed-roller arms 50 feed rollers 10 according to the invention, each driven by a feed motor 18, are mounted in bearings, as shown in Figure 3. The feed-roller arms 50 are preferably operated by means of cylinder actuators (not shown) in order to move the feed rollers 10 towards the tree. The coupling of the feed roller 10 with the feed motor 18 is shown in more detail in Figure 3 and explained later on. A top feed roller, which is designated by the reference number 38 and which helps to feed the trees, is illustrated in the figure. The feed roller according to the invention can also be used as a top feed roller, but in this case two feed rollers are typically provided side by side. When a feed roller 10 according to the invention is used, the harvester head can be implemented without means for cleaning the feed roller, the purpose of which is to remove wood material sticking to the feed roller from the feed roller. The support surface of the feed roller 10 according to the invention has quite a considerable proportion of open surface area, which renders the removal of bark from the feed roller more efficient and enables a use of the feed rollers without cleaning means, for example without a cleaning comb.

[0059] As shown in Figure 3, the feed roller 10 is attached to the hub of a feed motor 18, for example by means of bolts 56, which are shown in Figure 2. Each feed roller 10 is rotated by one feed motor 18.

[0060] Figures 4a - 4d show the structure of a feed roller 10 according to the invention, which is illustrated in a detached state, in more detail. According to a preferred embodiment, the entire feed roller is a cast structure, which is most preferably manufactured using austempered ductile iron or ADI. A yield strength of the ADI can be, for example, 800 - 1600 MPa, preferably 1000 - 1400 MPa. ADI has a lower density than steel, which helps to reduce the weight of the feed roller 10.

[0061] The basic parts of the feed roller 10 include an attachment element 14, which is preferably an attachment collar 15, a support structure 20, and feeding teeth 28 located on a support surface 24 formed on the support structure 20. An exceptional feature of the structure is the shape and design of the support structure 20 and the support surface 24 formed by the support structure 20. In the preferred embodiment shown in Figures 4a - 4d, the support structure 20 is formed by successively connected, straight or curved plate sections 30, which successive plate sections 30 are alternating in their orientation, thus forming a see-sawing, so-called "zigzag" pattern. A zigzag pattern is a strip-shaped line ornament pattern formed by a line that repeatedly changes direction at a given angle, wherein the line is formed by the plate sections 30. The plate sections 30 are preferably at an angle to the plane formed by the attachment collar 14, so that the width of the feed roller 10 in the direction of the axis of rotation A increases as one moves radially from the centre of the feed roller towards the circular support surface 24 formed on the outer edge. This angle a, which is shown in Figure 4d, can be 10 - 45°, preferably 15 - 25°, so that a sufficient width for the feed roller 10 is achieved with a structure that is still durable. Making the angle too great increases the stresses acting between the support structure 20 and the attachment collar 14, which can reduce the durability of the feed roller. The width of the feed roller 10 consists in the distance between the ridges 33, in particular successive ridges 33, formed between adjacent plate sections 30, in the width direction of the feed roller 10.

[0062] According to one embodiment, the angle a is different on different sides of the plane of the attachment collar of the feed roller, i.e. the attachment element is arranged eccentrically in the direction of the axis of rotation between the edges of the feed roller. In other words, the attachment element has a certain asymmetry, i.e. is offset from the centreline of the feed roller, so that the angle a is greater on one side of the feed roller than on the other.

[0063] The attachment collar 14 is a preferably flat and circular part of the feed roller 10, in the middle of which an opening 40 is formed. The purpose of the opening is to receive the hub of the power output shaft of the feed motor, to which the feed roller 10 is preferably attached via the openings 42, preferably using the openings 42 as attachment means 16 and separate bolts 56, as shown in Figure 2. The openings 42 are arranged to correspond to a corresponding attachment or hole distribution of the employed feed motor. The attachment collar 14 is preferably circular as shown in the figures, although in principle it can also be some other shape. The portion of the attachment collar can constitute 5 - 15% of the radius of the feed roller.

[0064] The feed roller can have 8 - 30, preferably 16 - 24, successive plate sections 30 belonging to the support structure 20. The greater the number of plate sections, the denser the zigzag pattern of the support surface 24 of the feed roller 10 is and the more the support surface 24 is in contact with the tree at any one moment. A denser pattern reduces a vibration during the operation of the feed roller, but also reduces a cleanability, as the angle between the plate sections is reduced and the pattern thereby contains a large number of acute angles which collect bark. A pattern that is too dense can also complicate a castability and increases the weight of the feed roller. For example, in the embodiment of Figures 4a - 4d, the feed roller 10 includes 20 successive plate sections 30, so that an angle p between two plate sections 30 in a pattern of the support surface can be 30° - 60°, preferably 40° - 50°, as shown in Figure 4c. Preferably, the support structure 20 forms a support surface 24 on the feed roller, which support surface 24 is circular when viewed along the axis of rotation A of the feed roller 10. Preferably, the support surface, which runs in the zigzag pattern formed by the plate sections, is dimensioned so that the feed roller is in constant contact with the tree at the site of 1 - 5 feeding teeth at any one time.

[0065] Preferably, feeding teeth 28 are formed in the support surface 24 in order to improve the contact between the feed roller and the tree. The feeding teeth can also be part of the cast structure and can be machined in order to obtain a sufficient sharpness. Alternatively, the feeding teeth can also be studs that can be attached separately by means of threads.

[0066] The feeding teeth 28 are preferably continuous ridges over the width of the feed roller that have been sharpened to a suitable curvature with respect to the angle of the tooth, wherein R is preferably less than 0.001 - 0.0005. Preferably, the feeding teeth are parallel to the axis of rotation of the feed roller, so that an optimal power transmission to the tree is achieved when the feed roller rotates. A spacing between the feeding teeth can be, for example, 1 - 3 cm. The width of an individual feeding tooth 28 in the direction of the axis of rotation of the feed roller is equal to the width of the support structure at this point. The penetration of the feeding tooth is important so that the feeding tooth goes through the bark of the tree to the surface of the trunk, but not too deep into the tree so that the tree is not damaged. A design and sharpness of the feeding teeth can be as in the prior art.

[0067] Preferably, as shown in Figure 4c, the support surface 24 includes at least one bevelled portion 37, which is formed in the support surface 24 at a point that extends up to the edge 32 of the feed roller 10. An edge 32 can be defined as the part of the feed roller 10 that would be in contact with a plane if the feed roller were placed alone on the plane with the axis of rotation A of the feed roller 10 perpendicular to the plane. An edge tooth 34 is formed on the bevelled portion 37, wherein the longitudinal orientation of the edge tooth 34 is at an angle of 10° - 50°, preferably 20° - 40°, relative to the other feeding teeth 28. In the example shown in Figures 4a - 4d, the feeding teeth 34 are at the ridge 33 between two plate sections 30. In other words, the edge 32 of the feed roller 10 is "bevelled" . The edge teeth 34 can thus effectively transmit force to a small tree 26 located on the side of the feed roller 10, between the feed roller 10 and the feed motor 18, as shown in Figure 3, which could otherwise get stuck between the feed roller 10 and the feed motor 18.

[0068] Figures 5a - 5d show some examples of alternative shapes - illustrated roughly and arranged in a plane - of the support surface 24 of the feed roller. As shown in the figures, the support surface 24 can alternate in many different ways. It is also possible to use other shapes.

[0069] According to one embodiment, openings can be formed in the support structure in order to make the feed roller lighter. Openings do not weaken the structure of the feed roller significantly .

[0070] It is clear to the person skilled in the art that the feed roller according to the invention can also be dimensioned in a manner that deviates from the dimensions described in the present application. An optimal dimensioning of the feed roller depends on the application, i.e. on the species, diameter and mass of the trees to be processed, a performance, size and dimensions of the harvester head, etc. The present invention is consequently not limited to any particular width or diameter or material thickness of the roller. It is also understood that the material thickness is not necessarily constant even in the plate sections of the structure, but can be lightened or reinforced in order to optimize mass and strength, especially when this does not increase the costs of manufacturing with a casting technique.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A feed roller (10) for a harvester head (12) , which includes- an attachment element (14) comprising attachment means (16) for attaching the feed roller (10) to a feed motor (18) ,- a circular support structure (20) configured to surround the attachment element (14) in radial direction of the feed roller (10) , which support structure (20) is configured to form a support surface (24) on its outer circumference (25) for supporting the feed roller (10) against a tree (26) , and- feeding teeth (28) formed in the support surface (24) for increasing the friction between the feed roller (10) and the tree (26) , characterized in that the support structure (20) has a wave-like shape so that the support surface (24) constitutes an alternating structure in direction of an axis of rotation of the feed roller (10) and a substantially continuous structure around the feed roller (10) .

2. The feed roller according to claim 1, characterized in that the attachment element (14) is an attachment collar (15) .

3. The feed roller according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the feed roller (10) is a cast structure.

4. The feed roller according to claim 3, characterized in that the feed roller (10) is made of austempered ductile iron .

5. The feed roller (11) according to any one of claims 1 - 4, characterized in that the feeding teeth (28) are essentially parallel to the axis of rotation of the feed roller6. The feed roller according to any one of claims 2 - 5, characterized in that the support structure (20) is at an angle relative to a plane of the attachment collar (14) over at least a part of the diameter of the feed roller (10) in order to increase width of the feed roller (10) in radial direction of the feed roller (10) .

7. The feed roller according to any of claims 1 - 6, characterized in that the width of the feed roller (10) in the longitudinal direction of the axis of rotation is 50 - 400 mm, preferably 100 - 200 mm.

8. The feed roller according to any one of claims 1 - 7, characterized in that a material thickness of the feed roller (10) is 10 - 30 mm at the attachment collar (14) and 10 - 50 mm at the support structure (20) .

9. The feed roller according to any one of claims 1 - 8, characterized in that the support structure (20) includes plate sections (30) arranged around circumference of the attachment collar (14) , which plate sections (30) are successively connected to at least one adjacent plate section (30) , thus forming the support surface (24) , wherein orientation of the successive plate sections (30) of the support surface (24) is alternating in the direction of the axis of rotation of the feed roller (10) .

10. The feed roller according to claim 9, characterized in that the plate sections (30) form a monolithic and at least substantially continuous, preferably entirely continuous, support surface (24) .

11. The feed roller according to any one of claims 1 - 10, characterized in that the feed roller (10) includes two edges (32) which are at a distance from each other in the direction of the axis of rotation (A) of the feed roller (10) and, at at least one edge (32) , segments of the support surface (24) that extend up to the edge (32) include a portion (37) that is inclined relative to the axis of rotation (A) as well as an edge tooth (34) formed on the inclined portion (37) .

12. The feed roller according to claims 9 and 11, characterized in that the edge teeth (34) are formed at points of the support surface (24) that are closest to a ridge (33) between two plate sections (30) at one edge (32) of the feed roller (10) .

13. The feed roller according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the edge teeth (34) can be formed on both edges (32) of the feed roller (10) .

14. A harvester head (12) which includes a frame (35) ,- feeding means (48) attached in an articulated manner to the frame (35) for feeding a tree, wherein the feeding means (48) includes feed-roller arms (50) , feed motors (18) and a feed roller (10) connected to each feed motor (18) ,- delimbing knives (36) , cutting means (54) , characterized in that the feed rollers (10) are feed rollers (10) according to any one of claims 1 - 13.

15. The harvester head according to claim 14, characterized in that each feed roller (10) is rotated by one feed motor (18) only .

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