Delimbing device

Abstract

The invention relates to a delimbing device (1) for delimbing a tree (B) in a feed direction (V), having a receiving space (2) provided for receiving a section of a tree trunk (S) and a sawing device (3) provided for arranging around the tree trunk (S), which sawing device has a plurality of rotatably mounted saw bodies (5) connected to at least one saw drive unit (4), which saw bodies (5) are arranged around the receiving space (2), wherein a milling device (6) provided for arrangement around the tree trunk (S) is provided behind the sawing device (3) with respect to the feed direction (V), which milling device has a plurality of rotatably mounted milling bodies (8) connected to at least one milling drive unit (7), which milling bodies (8) are arranged around the receiving space (2).

Description

[0001] De-limbing device

[0002] The invention relates to a delimbing device for delimbing a tree in a feed direction, with a receiving space provided for receiving a section of a tree trunk and a sawing device provided for arrangement around the tree trunk, which sawing device has a plurality of rotatably mounted saw bodies connected to at least one saw drive unit, which saw bodies are arranged around the receiving space.

[0003] Devices for mechanically delimbing a tree, which move or are moved along a standing tree trunk, are known.

[0004] US 8,517,066 B1 discloses a self-climbing device for delimbing a tree, having a rotatable cutting part with a plurality of cutting tools. The cutting tool can be mounted on a pivoting arm, which can be moved towards the tree with the aid of an actuator. The actuator can be fluid-operated, for example a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder. The cutting tool can be a rotating saw blade or a chainsaw. To delimb a tree, the cutting part is moved helically along the tree trunk.

[0005] A disadvantage of the known delimbing devices is that, due to their helical rotation around the tree trunk, they have a low feed rate, which makes the delimbing process time-consuming and less economical. However, with delimbing devices that have individual cutting tools and move in a straight line along a tree trunk, branch stumps can remain.

[0006] It is an object of the invention to provide a delimbing device as stated at the outset which avoids or at least reduces the disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, the delimbing device should be suitable for the most efficient and reliable mechanical delimbing of trees with different trunk diameters. In particular, no branch stumps should remain on the tree trunk and yet the tree bark should not be damaged during delimbing. Furthermore, the delimbing device should be able to be easily attached to the trunk of a tree and quickly remove even thick branches and numerous branches protruding from the tree trunk in a single pass along the tree trunk, preferably without further manual intervention by an operator.

[0007] This object is achieved by a delimbing device according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are specified in the dependent claims.

[0008] The invention is characterized in that, with regard to the feed direction, a milling device is provided behind the sawing device for arrangement around the tree trunk, said milling device having a plurality of rotatably mounted milling bodies connected to at least one milling drive unit, which milling bodies are arranged around the receiving space. The delimbing device thus serves to delimb a tree in a feed direction, i.e. the delimbing device is guided along the tree trunk in the feed direction during a delimbing process. The feed direction is in particular a longitudinal direction of the tree trunk oriented from the roots to the tree tip and following the trunk profile. The delimbing device has a receiving space provided for receiving a section of a tree trunk. Thus, at least part of the delimbing device can be arranged around the tree trunk in the operating state.The receiving space can preferably be substantially cylindrical or truncated cone-shaped. The delimbing device also has a sawing device designed to be arranged around the tree trunk. The sawing device, which can be arranged around the tree trunk, is designed to saw off the branches located in the cutting area of ​​the sawing device while the delimbing device is fed along the tree trunk. For this purpose, the sawing device has a plurality of rotatably mounted saw bodies which are connected to at least one saw drive unit and which engage the branches while the delimbing device is fed along the tree trunk. The saw bodies can be driven by a common saw drive unit when the delimbing device is in operation, or at least one saw body or all of the saw bodies can be driven individually by their own saw drive unit.In order to be able to reliably separate the branches from the part of the tree trunk held in the receiving space, the saw bodies are arranged around the receiving space. In particular, the saw bodies can be arranged evenly in the circumferential direction around the tree trunk or around the receiving space. The sawing device preferably has at least three, particularly preferably four saw bodies. Since the saw bodies generally run in a flat surface, but the tree trunk has an approximately round circumference, branch stumps can remain on the tree trunk after the sawing process, which also have to be removed for further processing of the tree trunk. For this purpose, a milling device is provided for arrangement around the tree trunk behind the sawing device in relation to the feed direction.The milling device, which can be arranged around the tree trunk, is designed to mill off the branch stumps left on the tree trunk during the sawing process as the delimbing device advances along the tree trunk. For this purpose, the milling device has a plurality of rotatably mounted milling bodies connected to at least one milling drive unit, which engage with the branch stumps as the delimbing device advances along the tree trunk. The milling bodies can be driven by a common milling drive unit when the delimbing device is in operation, or at least one milling body or all of the milling bodies can be driven individually by their own milling drive unit. In particular, the milling drive unit can also be the sawing drive unit. In order to be able to reliably mill off the branch stumps from the tree trunk received in the receiving space, the milling bodies are arranged around the receiving space.In particular, the milling bodies can be arranged uniformly in the circumferential direction around the tree trunk or around the receiving space. The milling device preferably has at least three, particularly preferably four, milling bodies. The number of milling bodies can be greater or smaller, but preferably equal to the number of saw bodies.

[0009] The delimbing device is thus designed to saw off the branches, in particular all branches, from the tree trunk with the sawing device during its movement along a tree trunk and to mill off the branch stumps remaining after the sawing process with the milling device arranged behind the sawing device.

[0010] When reference is made in the course of the description to location and direction specifications such as "top", "bottom", "front", "back" or "side", these specifications refer to the intended use of the delimbing device, in which it surrounds a tree trunk. The term "vertical" means in the direction of gravity, from "top" to "bottom", or vice versa. If the delimbing device is to be used in a different position, the location and direction specifications must be transferred accordingly.

[0011] The longitudinal direction or the longitudinal extension and the thickness of the tree trunk can, of course, vary depending on the distance above the ground at which the tree is rooted. Therefore, in this description, the information on the longitudinal direction, longitudinal extension, and thickness of the tree trunk are generally to be considered at those variable positions on the tree trunk at which the delimbing device is arranged at the time of observation.

[0012] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the sawing device and the milling device are mounted on a preferably openable frame, which is particularly designed to encompass at least half the circumference of the tree trunk. Thus, when the frame is open, the sawing device and the milling device can be easily arranged around the tree trunk, whereupon the frame is closed. When the frame, in the closed state, encompasses at least half the circumference of the tree trunk, the frame is reliably arranged on the tree trunk without slipping sideways. The frame can be elastic and closed in its rest position, wherein the frame is expanded for arrangement around the tree trunk. However, the frame particularly preferably has a joint for opening the frame. In addition, a lock can be provided on the frame, with which the frame can be reliably closed.The frame can be designed in various ways, for example as a ring, polygon, cylinder or generally tubular with a round or square cross-section.

[0013] If the milling bodies are arranged offset in relation to the saw bodies in a circumferential direction of the receiving space and in particular if the milling bodies are arranged centrally or evenly distributed between adjacent saw bodies in the circumferential direction of the receiving space, the branch stumps can be removed particularly efficiently. The branch stumps will only extend slightly from the tree trunk in the region of the axis of rotation of the generally flat saw bodies, but will become longer with increasing distance from the axis of rotation. Due to the circumferentially offset arrangement of the milling bodies in relation to the saw bodies, the milling bodies can mill off the remaining longer branch stumps as completely as possible. In the case of a single milling body between two adjacent saw bodies, the milling body is preferably arranged in the middle between the saw bodies.If a plurality of milling bodies are provided between two adjacent saw bodies, the plurality of milling bodies are preferably arranged at equal angular distances from one another between the saw bodies.

[0014] If at least two saw bodies are arranged vertically offset relative to one another in the feed direction and / or at least two milling bodies are arranged vertically offset relative to one another in the feed direction, a collision of the saw bodies and / or milling bodies that are vertically offset relative to one another can be avoided, even if they have comparatively large dimensions, for example a diameter or a longitudinal extension at least equal to the diameter of the tree trunk. Therefore, adjacent saw bodies and / or adjacent milling bodies are preferably arranged vertically offset relative to one another in the feed direction.

[0015] It is particularly advantageous if the saw bodies, which are offset in height relative to one another, intersect in a view in the feed direction to form a continuous cutting line and / or if the milling bodies, which are offset in height relative to one another, intersect in a view in the feed direction to form a continuous milling surface. The cutting line and / or milling surface, which is partially or completely continuous in the circumferential direction, ensures complete removal of the branches and / or branch stumps from the tree trunk in the area of ​​the continuous cutting line and / or milling surface.

[0016] To ensure a suitable distance between the saw and / or milling heads and the tree trunk, allowing branches and / or stumps to be removed as close as possible to the tree trunk without damaging the tree bark, the saw and / or milling heads can be positioned so that they can be adjusted toward and away from the receiving area. This allows a suitable distance from the tree trunk to be set even with varying trunk thicknesses or generally for trees of different thicknesses.

[0017] For example, the saw bodies and / or milling bodies, which are arranged so as to be adjustable towards and away from the receiving space, can be connected to at least one feeler wheel, which is arranged so as to be adjustable towards and away from the receiving space. The feeler wheel is preferably pre-tensioned towards the receiving space, in particular into the receiving space. The feeler wheel is expediently arranged for contact with the tree trunk in order to sense the outer contour of the tree trunk. The position of the feeler wheel, in particular of a rotating shaft of the feeler wheel, can be transmitted to the saw bodies and / or milling bodies via articulated connecting rods in order to position them at a suitable distance from the tree trunk. Advantageously, the feeler wheel is provided behind the saw bodies and milling bodies in relation to the feed direction.It is also advantageous if each saw body and each milling body or each pair consisting of a saw body and a milling body is connected to its own feeler wheel. If at least two feeler wheels are arranged one behind the other in relation to the feed direction, a substantially conical shape of the tree trunk in its longitudinal direction can be detected by a different position of the two feeler wheels towards and away from the receiving space. The detected conical shape can be transferred to the saw body via a further connecting rod, which is connected to the two feeler wheels and to the saw body, in order to pivot the latter, in particular to pivot it into a position in which a main plane of the saw body is parallel to the tree surface.It is particularly advantageous if at least one saw body is mounted on a pivotably mounted saw holding arm and at least one milling body is mounted on a pivotably mounted milling holding arm. In this way, the position of the at least one saw body, preferably of all saw bodies, and the position of the at least one milling body, preferably of all milling bodies, in relation to the receiving space and thus the distance to the part of the tree trunk received in the receiving space can be changed. In particular, the saw holding arm and the milling holding arm can be designed so that they can be pivoted towards and away from the receiving space. For this purpose, the saw holding arm and the milling holding arm can be mounted on a joint.

[0018] For particularly flexible positioning of the saw body and the milling body, it can be provided that the saw holding arm is pivotally connected to the milling holding arm and preferably a saw holding arm adjusting device, in particular a motor, particularly preferably a servo motor, is provided that connects the saw holding arm and the milling holding arm. The saw holding arm can be pivotally connected to the milling holding arm via a joint. By means of the saw holding arm adjusting device, the position, in particular the angle, of the saw holding arm in relation to the milling holding arm can be adjusted and maintained until the next position change is carried out. The saw holding arm adjusting device can be operated pneumatically, hydraulically or electrically and is preferably an electric motor, particularly preferably a servo motor. As is known, servo motors enable the angular position and the rotational speed of their motor shaft to be adjusted.

[0019] For particularly flexible positioning of the saw body in relation to the saw holding arm, it can be provided that the saw body mounted on the saw holding arm is pivotally mounted on the saw holding arm and preferably a saw body adjusting device, in particular a motor, particularly preferably a servo motor, is provided that connects the saw body and the saw holding arm. The saw body can be pivotally connected to the saw holding arm via a joint. By means of the saw body adjusting device, the position, in particular the angle, of the saw body in relation to the saw holding arm can be set and maintained until the next position change is carried out. In particular, the saw body can be aligned at a fixed angle, in particular substantially parallel, to the surface of the tree trunk opposite the saw body via the joint and the saw body adjusting device.The saw body adjustment device can be operated pneumatically, hydraulically or electrically and is preferably an electric motor.

[0020] The positioning of the milling body with respect to the receiving space can be made even easier by the milling holding arm being pivotably mounted on the frame and preferably by providing a milling holding arm adjusting device, in particular a motor, particularly preferably a servomotor, connecting the milling holding arm and the frame. The milling holding arm can be pivotally connected to the frame via a joint. By means of the milling holding arm adjusting device, the position, in particular the angle, of the milling holding arm with respect to a main plane of the frame can be set and maintained until the next position change is carried out. The milling holding arm adjusting device can be operated pneumatically, hydraulically or electrically and is preferably an electric motor.

[0021] Preferably, a control unit can be provided which is designed to set a predefined distance, in particular a predefined minimum distance, between the saw body and / or the milling body and the tree trunk. The control unit can be connected to the saw holding arm adjusting device and / or the saw body adjusting device and / or the milling holding arm adjusting device. The control unit can have or be connected to a distance detector which measures at least the distance of a saw body or a milling body from the part of the tree trunk received in the receiving space. Depending on the at least one measured distance to the tree trunk, the control unit can control the saw holding arm adjusting device and / or the saw body adjusting device and / or the milling holding arm adjusting device to maintain the distance, in particular the minimum distance. The distance to the tree trunk can be adjusted continuously.A particularly simple and cost-effective embodiment can provide for the saw bodies to be circular saw blades or saw chains. The saw chains can be mounted in a rotating manner on a stationary saw chain carrier or fixedly on a self-rotating saw chain carrier. If the saw chain carrier is a disk on which the saw chain is arranged, the disk, together with the saw chain, can form a cutting disk as the saw body.

[0022] It is also advantageous if the milling bodies are milling drums, particularly with a milling surface curved inward toward a rotational axis of the milling drums. The milling drums can be robust and cost-effective and adapted to the respective tree species. A milling surface curved inward toward a rotational axis of the milling drum allows for a smaller distance between the milling surface and the tree surface opposite the milling surface across the entire milling surface, thus enabling a more efficient milling process.

[0023] According to a further preferred embodiment, a climbing device connected to the sawing device and the milling device, in particular mounted on the frame, can be provided for arrangement on the tree trunk. The climbing device serves for the mechanical transport of the delimbing device arranged around a tree trunk along the tree trunk, preferably from bottom to top. The climbing device is expediently arranged below the sawing device and below the milling device, for example also below the frame, in order to push the saw bodies and milling bodies arranged above them upwards along the tree trunk.

[0024] It is particularly advantageous if the climbing device has at least two rotatably mounted rotating bodies, preferably a wheel or a roller, with a running surface that is circular in the circumferential direction and a climbing drive unit which is connected to at least one of the rotating bodies, wherein the rotating bodies are arranged to receive the tree trunk between the rotating bodies when the climbing device is arranged on the tree trunk and to bear against the tree trunk via the running surfaces of at least two of the rotating bodies, wherein the axes of rotation of the rotating bodies are arranged at an angle of 90 degrees to the feed direction, wherein preferably at least one rotating body is prestressed against the tree trunk via a prestressing element. The climbing device can thus travel along the tree trunk by means of the rotating bodies, in particular wheels or rollers, for which purpose at least one rotating body is connected to the climbing drive unit.The climbing drive unit can have a drive motor, for example an electric motor, a hydraulic motor, a pneumatic motor or an internal combustion engine. In particular, the saw drive unit, the milling drive unit and the climbing drive unit can have common components, for example a common drive motor. In order to set different speeds of the saw drive unit, the milling drive unit and the climbing drive unit, transmission devices can be provided which can also be connected to the common drive motor. In order to be able to travel along the tree trunk, the rotating bodies are arranged so that, when the climbing device is arranged on the tree trunk, the tree trunk is received between the rotating bodies and thereby clamped, so that at least two of the rotating bodies rest directly or indirectly on the tree trunk via their running surfaces.If only two rotating bodies are provided, they are arranged opposite one another on the tree trunk. If at least three rotating bodies are provided in the circumferential direction of the tree trunk, these are preferably arranged at equal angular intervals around the tree trunk or around the receiving space. So that the climbing device moves as directly as possible, i.e. following the longitudinal extent of the tree trunk and not in a spiral shape along the tree trunk, the axes of rotation of the rotating bodies are preferably arranged at an angle of 90 degrees to the feed direction. To ensure reliable engagement of the rotating bodies on the tree trunk, at least one rotating body is preferably pre-tensioned against the tree trunk, i.e. in the direction of the receiving space, via a pre-tensioning element. The pre-tensioning element can be a helical spring, for example. The climbing device can also have rotating bodies at different heights, for example rotating bodies arranged one above the other.In addition, the climbing device can comprise a chain or track, e.g., made of metal or plastic, which is driven by the rotating bodies and rests against the tree trunk. In particular, two rotating bodies arranged one above the other can be connected to each other via the chain or track, with the running surfaces of the rotating bodies then resting against the tree trunk via this chain or track.

[0025] According to a particularly simple embodiment, the climbing device can be designed without the climbing drive unit, in which case the delimbing device, i.e. at least the sawing device, the milling device and preferably also the rotatably mounted rotating bodies, are moved along the tree trunk by an external telescopic arm or a crane arm.

[0026] If the climbing device has two rollers with a running surface curved inwards towards a rotation axis of the rollers as a rotating body, the climbing device can be effectively protected against slipping sideways off the tree trunk, even if only two rollers are provided.

[0027] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to preferred embodiments, to which it is not intended to be limited. The drawings show:

[0028] Fig. 1 shows a delimbing device according to the invention with a sawing device, a milling device and a climbing device, in a perspective view;

[0029] Fig. 2A is a symbolic representation of a tree with branches to be removed and four saw bodies of the delimbing device arranged around the tree trunk, in a cross-sectional view;

[0030] Fig. 2B shows the tree from Fig. 2A after the branches have been sawn off, with branch stumps remaining after the sawing process;

[0031] Fig. 2C is a symbolic representation of the tree from Fig. 2B with the branch stumps to be removed and four cutter bodies of the delimbing device arranged around the tree trunk, in a cross-sectional view;

[0032] Fig. 3 shows a climbing device with rollers mounted on the frame, connected to the sawing device and the milling device; Fig. 4 shows a climbing device with tracks mounted on the frame, connected to the sawing device and the milling device;

[0033] Fig. 5 shows a rotating body of the climbing device, wherein an axis of rotation of the rotating body is arranged at an angle of 90 degrees to the feed direction;

[0034] Fig. 6 shows part of a mechanical control device for positioning a saw body and a milling body with respect to a tree trunk, in a simplified representation;

[0035] Fig. 7A shows an example of a rotating body with a wavy surface; and

[0036] Fig . 7B another example of a rotating body with a wavy surface .

[0037] It should be noted that Figures 1 to 7 are not necessarily drawn to scale.

[0038] Fig. 1 symbolically shows a delimbing device 1 for delimbing a tree B in a feed direction V. The delimbing device 1 has a receiving space 2 provided for receiving a section of a tree trunk S and a sawing device 3 provided for arrangement around the tree trunk S. The sawing device 3 has a plurality of rotatably mounted saw bodies 5 connected to at least one saw drive unit 4. The saw bodies 5 are arranged around the receiving space 2. The saw bodies are shown as circular saw blades 5a, but can also be saw chains 5b, in particular cutting disks with saw chains. With regard to the feed direction V, behind the sawing device 3 there is a milling device 6 provided for arrangement around the tree trunk S, which milling device has a plurality of rotatably mounted milling bodies 8 connected to at least one milling drive unit 7. The milling bodies 8 are also arranged around the receiving space 2.The milling bodies 8 are shown as milling rollers 8a, which in particular have a milling surface 8f curved inwards towards a rotational axis 8d of the milling rollers 8a, see for example Fig. 20. For a stable construction of the delimbing device 1, in the example according to Fig. 1, the sawing device 3 and the milling device 6 are mounted on a preferably openable and reclosable frame 9. The frame 9 can have a joint for this purpose (not shown in Fig. 1). The frame 9 is in particular designed to encompass at least half the circumference of the tree trunk S.

[0039] In the example according to Fig. 1, the individual milling bodies 8 are arranged one behind the other in the feed direction V with respect to the individual saw bodies 5, i.e. they are not offset from one another laterally in the circumferential direction U of the tree trunk S. Thus, the centers of the milling bodies 8 in the feed direction V reach those points on the tree trunk S at which the axes of rotation of the saw bodies 5 were previously present. The branch stumps T can nevertheless be reliably milled off the tree trunk S due to the curved shape of the milling bodies 8.

[0040] In the example according to Fig. 3, however, the milling bodies 8 are arranged offset with respect to the saw bodies 5 in a circumferential direction U of the receiving space 2. In particular, the milling bodies 8 are arranged centrally between adjacent saw bodies 5 in the circumferential direction U of the receiving space 2. If a plurality of milling bodies 8 were provided between adjacent saw bodies 5, the milling bodies 8 would preferably be arranged evenly distributed between the adjacent saw bodies 5. The arrangement offset in the circumferential direction U enables the branch stumps T to be milled off particularly carefully or completely. In Fig. 3, holding arms for the saw bodies 5 have been omitted for the sake of clarity.

[0041] 1 and 3 further show that at least two front saw bodies 5v are arranged at a height offset in the feed direction V with respect to two rear saw bodies 5h. In addition, in this example, two front milling bodies 8v are arranged at a height offset in the feed direction V with respect to two rear milling bodies 8h. The height offset arrangement of the saw bodies 5v, 5h and / or the milling bodies 8v, 8h prevents collisions between adjacent saw bodies 5 and / or milling bodies 8. Figures 2A to 2C schematically show individual steps of a delimbing process. In Fig. 2A, a tree trunk S with branches A projecting therefrom is shown in a sectional view transverse to a longitudinal extent L of the tree trunk S. The branches A are to be removed. For this purpose, a section of the tree trunk S is received in the receiving space 2 of the delimbing device 1 and the sawing device 3 is arranged around the tree trunk S (the milling device 6 is shown in Fig.2A not shown for the sake of clarity). In particular, the saw bodies 5, in the example according to Fig. 2A four saw bodies 5, are arranged around the receiving space 2. According to Fig. 2A the diameter of the saw bodies 5 is greater than the diameter of the tree trunk S. If adjacent saw bodies 5 are arranged at a height offset from one another, a collision of the saw bodies 5 can nevertheless be avoided, even if the branches A are sawn off as close as possible to the tree trunk S. For example, the shortest branch stumps T remaining after sawing are at most 1 cm to 5 cm long. It can also be seen that the saw bodies 5 which are offset in height with respect to one another cross one another in a view in the feed direction V in order to form a continuous cutting line.

[0042] In Fig. 2B, the branches A have already been severed from the tree trunk S using the sawing device 3. Due to the flat design of the saw bodies 5, branch stumps T remain on the tree trunk S, which are then milled off using the milling device 6.

[0043] Fig. 2C shows the milling device 6 arranged around the tree trunk S in relation to the branch stumps T (the sawing device 3 is not shown in Fig. 2C for the sake of clarity). In particular, the milling bodies 8, in the example according to Fig. 2C four milling bodies 8, are arranged around the receiving space 2. The milling bodies 8 mill off the remaining branch stumps T at a minimum distance from the tree trunk S. The minimum distance of the milling bodies 8 from the tree trunk S can be, for example, 2 mm to 5 mm in order not to damage the tree bark. At least when the length of the milling bodies 8 in the direction of their axis of rotation 8d is greater than the diameter of the tree trunk S, adjacent milling bodies 8 are preferably arranged at a height offset from one another. In this way, a collision of the milling bodies 8 can be avoided, even if the branch stumps T are milled as close as possible to the tree trunk S, in particular at the minimum distance.The milling bodies 8, which are offset in height relative to one another, can intersect in a view in the feed direction V to form a continuous milling surface. For the sake of clarity, the milling bodies 8 are shown in Fig. 2C.

[0044] 1, the saw bodies 5 and / or the milling bodies 8 are arranged so as to be adjustable towards the receiving space 2 and away from the receiving space 2, see also Fig. 6. By adjusting the saw bodies 5 and / or the milling bodies 8 away from the receiving space 2, a section of the tree trunk S can be introduced into the receiving space 2 easily without jamming. To remove the branches A, the saw bodies 5 and the milling bodies 8 are adjusted towards the receiving space 2 and therefore towards the tree trunk S. The adjustability of the saw bodies 5 and / or the milling bodies 8 also makes it possible to maintain a suitable distance between the saw bodies 5 and / or the milling bodies 8 and the tree trunk S during the removal of the branches A. This distance can be adjusted by a control unit 10 of the delimbing device 1. For this purpose, the control unit 10 can be connected to a distance detector 11, see Fig.3 , which measures a distance of the saw body 5 and / or the milling body 8 from the tree trunk S . In Fig . 3 , for the sake of clarity, only a single distance detector 11 is shown . Of course, each saw body 5 and each milling body 8 can be assigned a distance detector 11 . In the example according to Fig . 6 , the adjustment of the distance of the saw body 5 and the milling body 8 from the tree trunk S is carried out by a mechanical control device 22 of the delimbing device 1 .

[0045] For the adjustment of the saw bodies 5 and the milling bodies 8, in the example according to Fig. 1, each saw body 5 is mounted on a pivotably mounted saw holding arm 12 and each milling body 8 is mounted on a pivotably mounted milling holding arm 13, see also Fig. 6. In particular, the saw holding arm 12 is pivotally connected to the milling holding arm 13, wherein a saw holding arm adjustment device 14 (only symbolically shown) connecting the saw holding arm 12 and the milling holding arm 13, in particular a motor 14a (saw holding arm adjustment motor 14a), particularly preferably a servo motor 14b (saw holding arm adjustment servo motor 14b), is provided.Furthermore, it can be seen that the saw body 5 mounted on the saw holding arm 12 is pivotably mounted on the saw holding arm 12 and a saw body adjustment device 15 (only symbolically shown) connecting the saw body 5 and the saw holding arm 12, in particular a motor 15a (saw body adjustment motor 15a), particularly preferably a servo motor 15b (saw body adjustment servo motor 15b), is provided. It can also be seen that the milling holding arm 13 is pivotally mounted on the frame 9 and that a milling holding arm adjustment device 16 (shown only symbolically) connecting the milling holding arm 13 and the frame 9, in particular a motor 16a (milling holding arm adjustment motor 16a), particularly preferably a servo motor 16b (milling holding arm adjustment servo motor 16b), is provided. In Fig.3, the control unit 10 shown is also connected to the milling holding arm adjustment device 16 in order to adjust the distance of the milling body 8 from the tree trunk S to a desired distance depending on measured values ​​of the distance detector 11.

[0046] Fig. 6 shows symbolically a part of the mechanical control device 22 for positioning a saw body 5 and a milling body 8 in relation to a tree trunk S, in a simplified representation. For the sake of clarity, only one saw body 5 and only one milling body 8 are shown in Fig. 6. The mechanical control device 22 has a first feeler wheel 23 on a first feeler arm 24, which is pre-tensioned against the tree trunk S by a compression spring 25. The first feeler arm 24 is connected in an articulated manner to the milling holding arm 13 by means of a connecting rod 26, which is, for example, a saw holding arm adjusting device 14, and is connected to the saw holding arm 12 by means of a saw holding arm roller 27. The saw holding arm 12 is pre-tensioned away from the tree trunk S by means of a tension spring 28.When the tree trunk S tapers in the feed direction V, the first feeler arm 24 pivots further into the receiving space 2, as a result of which the connecting rod 26 moves towards the tree trunk S and the connecting rod 26 moves the saw body 5 towards the tree trunk S via the saw holding arm roller 27. In addition, the connecting rod 26 pivots the milling holding arm 13 which is articulated thereto and thus the milling body 8 towards the tree trunk S. In order to be able to additionally tilt the saw body 5 into a position parallel to the surface of the tree trunk S, a further connecting rod 29 is provided which connects the saw body 5 to a second feeler arm 31 via two feeler arm rollers 30. The second feeler arm 31 is arranged behind the first feeler arm 24, is pretensioned against the tree trunk S by a compression spring 32 and has a second feeler wheel 33 at the end.When the tree trunk S tapers in the feed direction V, the first feeler arm 24 pivots more towards the tree trunk S than the second feeler arm 31, whereby the end of the further connecting rod 29 connected to the saw body 5 pivots towards the tree trunk S. Since the saw body 5 is pivotally connected to the saw holding arm 12, the saw body 5 now also pivots into a position iW parallel to the surface of the tree trunk S.

[0047] Figures 1, 3 and 4 symbolically show a climbing device 17 which is connected to the sawing device 3 and the milling device 6 and mounted on the frame 9 for arrangement on the tree trunk S. In the example according to Figures 3 and 4, the climbing device 17 has two rotatably mounted rotating bodies 18, preferably a wheel 18a or a roller 18b, with a running surface which is circular in the circumferential direction. The rotating bodies 18 are only shown in a simplified manner. In the example shown, the climbing device 17 also has a climbing drive unit 19 which is connected to at least one of the rotating bodies 18. In the example according to Figure 1, a climbing drive unit 19 is assigned to each rotating body 18.The rotating bodies 18 are arranged so that, when the climbing device 17 is arranged on the tree trunk S, they receive the tree trunk S between the rotating bodies 18 and rest on the tree trunk S via the running surfaces of at least two of the rotating bodies 18, see Figs. 3 and 4. The axes of rotation 18d of the rotating bodies 18 are arranged at an angle a of 90 degrees to the feed direction V in order to be able to drive the delimbing device 1 forward in the longitudinal direction L of the tree trunk S, see also Fig. 5. In Fig. 5, a rotating body 18 is shown as a wheel 18a. For reliable contact with the tree trunk S, at least one rotating body 18 is pre-tensioned against the tree trunk S via a pre-tensioning element 20, see Fig. 3. The climbing device 17 has three rollers 18b in the example according to Fig. 1 and four rollers 18b in the example according to Fig. 3 two rollers 18b with a running surface curved inwards towards a rotation axis 18d of the rollers 18b as a rotating body 18.

[0048] Fig. 4 shows a climbing device 17 of a delimbing device 1, which has four rotating bodies 18, of which two rotating bodies 18 are arranged one above the other. The rotating bodies 18 arranged one above the other are surrounded by a chain or track 21, so that the rotating bodies 18 engage the tree trunk S via the chain or track 21. The chain or track 21 increases the contact surface and thus the grip of the climbing device.

[0049] 17 on the tree trunk S and thus increases the safety against the delimbing device 1 slipping off the tree trunk S . In addition to the greater adhesion to the tree trunk S, the chain or caterpillar 21 reduces the pressure of the climbing device 17 on the tree trunk S . In Fig . 4, dashed lines leading upwards from the frame 9 symbolize a connection to the sawing device 3 and milling device 6 (not shown in Fig . 4) mounted on the frame 9.

[0050] Fig. 7A shows another example of a rotating body 18 with a cylindrical envelope 36 of the running surface. The rotating body

[0051] 18 is at least partially made of rubber. In particular, at least one outer surface of the rotating body 18 is made of rubber. The rotating body 18 according to Fig. 7A is designed as a roller 18b, the outer surface of which has a plurality of elevations 34 and depressions 35 running in the axial direction of the roller 18b and a plurality of elevations 34 and depressions 35 running in the radial direction of the roller 18b. Thus, the roller 18b can have different diameters and, in particular, can have a wavy surface both in the axial direction and in the radial direction.

[0052] Fig. 7B shows a rotating body 18 similar to the rotating body 18 from Fig. 7A with a wavy surface in the axial direction and in the radial direction, but with the difference that the envelope 36 of the running surface is curved inwards towards an axis of rotation 18d of the roller 18b.

[0053] The rotating bodies 18 according to Fig. 7A and 7B are characterized by particularly high adhesion to the tree trunk S. The feed rate achieved with the climbing device 17 is preferably more than 10 cm per second.

Claims

Patent claims:

1. Limbing device (1) for limbing a tree (B) in a feed direction (V), with a receiving space (2) provided for receiving a section of a tree trunk (S) and a sawing device (3) provided for arrangement around the tree trunk (S), which sawing device has a plurality of rotatably mounted saw bodies (5) connected to at least one saw drive unit (4), which saw bodies (5) are arranged around the receiving space (2), characterized in that with respect to the feed direction (V) behind the sawing device (3) there is provided a milling device (6) provided for arrangement around the tree trunk (S), which milling device has a plurality of rotatably mounted milling bodies (8) connected to at least one milling drive unit (7), which milling bodies (8) are arranged around the receiving space (2).

2. Delimbing device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the sawing device (3) and the milling device (6) are mounted on a preferably openable frame (9) which is particularly designed to encompass at least half of the circumference of the tree trunk (S).

3. Delimbing device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the milling bodies (8) are arranged offset with respect to the saw bodies (5) in a circumferential direction of the receiving space (2) and in particular the milling bodies (8) are arranged centrally or evenly distributed between adjacent saw bodies (5) in the circumferential direction of the receiving space (2).

4. Delimbing device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least two saw bodies (5) are arranged offset in height with respect to one another in the feed direction (V) and / or at least two milling bodies (8) are arranged offset in height with respect to one another in the feed direction (V).

5. Delimbing device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the saw bodies (5) which are offset in height relative to one another cross in a view in the feed direction (V) in order to form a continuous cutting line and / or the The milling bodies (8) which are offset in height relative to one another cross in a view in the feed direction (V) in order to form a continuous milling surface.

6. Delimbing device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the saw bodies (5) and / or the milling bodies (8) are arranged to be adjustable towards and away from the receiving space (2).

7. Delimbing device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that at least one saw body (5) is mounted on a pivotably mounted saw holding arm (12) and at least one milling body (8) is mounted on a pivotably mounted milling holding arm (13).

8. The delimbing device (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the saw holding arm (12) is pivotally connected to the milling holding arm (13) and preferably a saw holding arm adjusting device (14) connecting the saw holding arm (12) and the milling holding arm (13), in particular a motor (14a), particularly preferably a servo motor (14b), is provided.

9. Limbing device (1) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the saw body (5) mounted on the saw holding arm (12) is pivotally mounted on the saw holding arm (12) and preferably a saw body adjusting device (15) connecting the saw body (5) and the saw holding arm (12), in particular a motor (15a), particularly preferably a servo motor (15b), is provided.

10. Delimbing device (1) according to claim 2 and one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the milling holding arm (13) is pivotally mounted on the frame (9) and preferably a milling holding arm adjusting device (16) connecting the milling holding arm (13) and the frame (9), in particular a motor (16a), particularly preferably a servo motor (16b), is provided.

11. Delimbing device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the saw bodies (5) are circular saw blades (5a) or saw chains (5b).

12. Delimbing device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the milling bodies (8) are milling rollers (8a), in particular with a milling surface (8f) curved inwards towards a rotational axis (8d) of the milling rollers (8a).

13. Delimbing device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that a climbing device (17) connected to the sawing device (3) and the milling device (6), in particular mounted on the frame (9), is provided for arrangement on the tree trunk (S).

14. Limb removal device (1) according to claim 13, characterized in that the climbing device (17) has at least two rotatably mounted rotating bodies (18), preferably a wheel (18a) or a roller (18b), with a running surface that is circular in the circumferential direction and a climbing drive unit (19) which is connected to at least one of the rotating bodies (18), wherein the rotating bodies (18) are arranged, when the climbing device (17) is arranged on the tree trunk (S), to receive the tree trunk (S) between the rotating bodies (18) and to bear against the tree trunk (S) via the running surfaces of at least two of the rotating bodies (18), wherein axes of rotation (18d) of the rotating bodies (18) are arranged at an angle (α) of 90 degrees to the feed direction (V), wherein preferably at least one rotating body (18) is pretensioned against the tree trunk (S) via a pretensioning element (20).

15. Delimbing device (1) according to claim 14, characterized in that the climbing device (17) has two rollers (18b) with a running surface curved inwards towards a rotation axis (18d) of the rollers (18b) as a rotating body (18).

Images