Machine for splitting wood and method and use of the machine

Abstract

The invention relates to a machine for splitting wood comprising a support plate, a splitting means comprising first and second splitting elements positioned laterally on either side of the ends of the plate, and a bidirectional pusher capable of pushing a first segment in a first direction through the first splitting element and of pushing a second segment during a return movement of the pusher in a second direction opposite to the first direction through the second splitting element so as to form split wood.

Description

[0001] MACHINE FOR SPLITTING WOOD AND METHOD AND USE OF THE MACHINE

[0002] Technical field

[0003] The present invention relates to the field of wood cutting. More particularly, the present invention relates to a machine for splitting wood (splitter), in particular firewood.

[0004] The present invention also relates to a method for splitting wood.

[0005] The present invention also relates to a use of the wood splitting machine according to the present invention to obtain firewood.

[0006] Prior art

[0007] Splitting wood, such as logs or sections of wood, has been around since humans began burning wood for fire. Until recently, logs were split either by hand using an axe or with a pneumatic or hydraulic log splitter. The first log splitters were one-way log splitters, where a log was placed near a wedge and a pusher (ram) pushed the log against the wedge, thus splitting the log. However, these log splitting devices were slow and did not lend themselves to the required production methods and quantities, as each log required only one stroke of the ram, and the ram had to be returned to its original position. In an effort to increase production, in recent history, two-way wood splitting machines / devices were invented to speed up the log splitting process.

[0008] In this context, document FR2989915 describes a bidirectional wood splitting machine comprising a table for receiving a log of wood (section of wood) provided, at each end, with a member for holding the log in position, a wedge capable of moving in translation in two directions in a direction parallel to the greatest length of the table, the wedge being provided with two opposing blades for splitting the log in the direction of the wood fibers when the log is held between the holding members. Although boasting the merits of its technology, the machine according to this document requires the movement of a wedge in a bidirectional manner in a slot in the receiving table. This is not very flexible and the slot in the receiving table can quickly become clogged with wood cutting waste, regularly requiring manual operation to clear the machine. This makes the machine inefficient for large production volumes.In addition, the logs may move when using the machine according to this document, which makes the cutting inaccurate. The machine according to this document is therefore not practical for splitting logs accurately, especially for splitting a series of several logs with different diameters.

[0009] There is therefore still a need for a wood splitting machine that allows for high industrial production while being easy to use, robust and requiring little maintenance or downtime during operation of the machine, and while being flexible to allow for the precise splitting of a succession of sections of logs.

[0010] Objectives of the invention

[0011] The present invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of the state of the art, in particular those described above.

[0012] In particular, the present invention proposes to provide a machine for splitting wood allowing high industrial production while being simple allowing easy industrialization.

[0013] The present invention also proposes to provide a wood splitting machine which is easy to use and robust requiring little maintenance or downtime during operation of the machine.

[0014] The present invention also proposes to provide a flexible wood splitting machine to enable a succession of logs to be split accurately.

[0015] Summary of the invention

[0016] To achieve these objectives, the present invention provides a wood splitting machine comprising:

[0017] - a support tray designed to receive a series of sections of wood to be split,

[0018] - a splitting means comprising a first and a second splitting element, each splitting element being positioned laterally on either side of the ends of the plate,

[0019] - a bidirectional pusher, the pusher being capable of pushing a first section of the series of sections of wood to be split in a first direction through said first splitting element and of pushing a second section of the series of sections of wood to be split during a return movement of the pusher in a second direction opposite to the first direction through the second splitting element so as to form split wood.

[0020] Indeed, the machine for splitting wood according to the invention comprises a support plate for receiving a section of wood to be split between two splitting elements positioned at the ends of the plate. The machine also comprises a bidirectional pusher which makes it possible to push successively, with each forward movement and with each return movement of the pusher, a section of wood to be split through the splitting elements. The arrangement of these elements around the bidirectional pusher makes it possible to obtain a high production of split wood because there is no empty movement of the pusher, each movement of the pusher makes it possible to push a section of wood through a splitting element.In addition, the splitting waste is evacuated by the pusher, which makes it possible to scrape the waste and evacuate the waste at the ends of the plate and not on a central slot at the base of the plate, which makes the implementation of the machine according to the invention very robust requiring little maintenance or shutdown during its implementation. This makes it possible to obtain a relatively simple machine, comprising few mechanical elements, which facilitates its industrialization while being easy to use.

[0021] According to the present invention, the term "piece of wood to be split" means any elongated segment of tree trunks or branches, whether the segment is debarked or not, such as, for example, wooden logs.

[0022] Other embodiments of the wood splitting machine according to the present invention are indicated in the appended claims.

[0023] The present invention also relates to a method for splitting wood, in particular firewood, comprising the following steps: a. positioning a first section of a series of wood sections on a support plate, b. a first movement in a first direction of a pusher capable of pushing the first section through a first splitting element to form split wood, c. positioning a second section of the series of wood sections on the support plate, d. a second movement of the pusher in a second direction opposite to the first direction so as to push the second section through a second splitting element to form split wood, e. a repetition of steps a to d so as to split all the sections of the series of sections.

[0024] Other embodiments of the method for splitting wood, particularly firewood, according to the present invention are indicated in the appended claims.

[0025] The present invention also relates to the use of the wood splitting machine according to the present invention for splitting firewood.

[0026] Other embodiments of the use of the machine for splitting wood, in particular firewood, according to the present invention are indicated in the appended claims.

[0027] Detailed description of the invention

[0028] Other characteristics, details and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description given below, without limitation and with reference to the drawings and examples.

[0029] Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a first embodiment of the wood splitting machine according to the present invention.

[0030] Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a second embodiment of the wood splitting machine according to the present invention.

[0031] Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a third embodiment of the wood splitting machine according to the present invention.

[0032] In the figures, identical or similar elements bear the same references.

[0033] In this description and the claims, it is clearly understood that the terms "a", "an" or "the" mean "at least one" and are not to be limited to "a single one", unless explicitly stated otherwise. Furthermore, when a range of values ​​is stated, the ends are included. Finally, all integral and sub-range values ​​within a numerical range / range are expressly included as if explicitly written.

[0034] Figure 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the machine for splitting wood, in particular firewood, according to the present invention in which the machine 1 comprises: a support plate 4 arranged to receive a series of sections of wood to be split,

[0035] - a splitting means comprising a first and a second splitting element 2, each splitting element 2 being positioned laterally on either side of the ends of the plate 4,

[0036] - a bidirectional pusher 3, the pusher 3 being capable of pushing a first section of the series of sections of wood to be split in a first direction through the first splitting element 2 and of pushing a second section of the series of sections of wood to be split during a return movement of the pusher 3 in a second direction opposite to the first direction through the second splitting element 2 so as to form split wood.

[0037] In addition, the pusher 3 has a shape complementary to the base of the plate 4 and is capable of sliding on the base of the plate 4, the pusher 3 further comprises connecting means, arranged to operatively connect the pusher 3 to a transport means comprising:

[0038] (i) a guide means attached laterally to the plate, along a length of the plate, the guide means being capable of guiding the movement of the pusher 3 in the first and second directions, and

[0039] (ii) a power transmission means 5 capable of moving the connecting means of the pusher 3 in the first and second directions, along the guide means.

[0040] Indeed, the bidirectional pusher 3 operatively connected to a transport means by connecting means, in which the transport means comprises a guide means and a power transmission means arranged to guide and slide the pusher bidirectionally on the base of the plate makes it possible to obtain a precise push and therefore a precise splitting of the sections of wood to be split.

[0041] Preferably, the power transmission means 5 is a hydraulic means or a pneumatic means. Advantageously, the power transmission means is a hydraulic cylinder.

[0042] Advantageously, the first and second splitting elements 2 are splitting grids in which each splitting grid has a series of splitting patterns. Indeed, the presence of a series of splitting patterns makes it possible to directly split sections of wood into a predefined number of pieces which can vary from one section of wood to be split to another. Preferably, the first splitting element is a first splitting grid and the second splitting element is a second splitting grid. More preferably, the first and second splitting grids are identical.

[0043] Preferably, the machine 1 for splitting wood comprises a movement means 6 arranged to carry out a relative movement of the support plate 4 with respect to the splitting grids 2 so as to bring each section of the series of sections to be split facing a splitting pattern. Indeed, the movement means 6 makes it possible to position each section of wood to be split facing a particular splitting pattern, which makes it possible to precisely split a succession of sections of wood to be split, of logs of wood, which may have different sizes and diameters from one section of wood to another.

[0044] Preferably, the moving means 6 is in the form of a variable height platform. Preferably, the variable height platform comprises hydraulic means arranged to move the platform vertically relative to the ground. Indeed, a variable height platform comprising hydraulic means makes it possible to move the platform vertically relative to the ground using a single hydraulic part. This simplifies the machine according to the invention by minimizing the number of mechanical elements useful for its implementation.

[0045] Advantageously, the series of splitting patterns are arranged along the height of the splitting grids 2.

[0046] Preferably, the series of splitting patterns comprises a plurality of splitting patterns wherein each splitting pattern is adapted to split a section of wood to be split into a different number of pieces of split wood.

[0047] Preferably, the series of splitting patterns comprises several splitting patterns, wherein each splitting pattern is capable of splitting a section of wood to be split into a number of split wood sections (wood chips) of between 2 and 64, more preferably between 2 and 32, even more preferably between 2 and 16, advantageously between 2 and 8, such as 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.

[0048] Preferably, the series of splitting patterns comprises a first splitting pattern arranged to split a section of wood to be split into 2 pieces, a second splitting pattern arranged to split a section of wood to be split into 4 pieces, a third splitting pattern arranged to split a section of wood to be split into 6 pieces and / or a fourth splitting pattern arranged to split a section of wood to be split into 8 pieces. Preferably, for each splitting pattern, the volume of the split pieces of wood are substantially equal. Preferably, in the series of splitting patterns the second splitting pattern comprises two blades positioned crosswise relative to each other so as to split a section of wood from the series of sections of wood to be split into four pieces, and the third splitting pattern comprises three blades positioned crosswise so as to split a section of wood from the series of sections of wood to be split into six pieces.

[0049] Preferably, the splitting patterns of the series of splitting patterns are arranged continuously over the height of the splitting grids so as to optimize the succession of the splitting patterns over a minimum height of the splitting grids.

[0050] Preferably, the second splitting pattern comprises two blades positioned at 90° to each other. Preferably, the third splitting pattern comprises three blades positioned at 60° to each other. Indeed, this makes it possible to have split sections of wood (4 sections or 6 sections) having homogeneous dimensions.

[0051] Figure 2 illustrates a second advantageous embodiment of the wood splitting machine according to the present invention in which the machine further comprises an upstream conveyor 7 capable of bringing the series of sections of wood to be split onto the plate 4. Indeed, the upstream conveyor makes it possible to have a splitting machine allowing continuous processing of sections of wood to be cut 8 while being compact.

[0052] Figure 3 illustrates a third advantageous embodiment of the machine for splitting wood according to the present invention in which the machine further comprises an upstream cutting system 9 comprising a first blade 9', and preferably a second blade 9", arranged to cut a piece of wood 8 so as to form the series of sections of wood to be split in which each section of wood to be split has a predetermined length. In Figures 2 and 3, the direction of the arrow indicates the direction of advancement of the piece of wood (log of wood) to be cut 8 on the conveyor 7.

[0053] Preferably, the machine according to the present invention comprises a control system operatively connected to the conveyor 7, to the upstream cutting system 9, and to a detection system so that, in operational mode: the conveyor 7 moves the piece of wood (log of wood) to be cut 8 towards the upstream cutting system 9, the detection system measures the length of the piece of wood to be cut 8, the control system triggers the first blade 9' of the upstream cutting system 9 when the detection system measures a predetermined length of the piece of wood to be cut 8 so as to form a section of wood to be split having the predetermined length, optionally, and preferably, the control system triggers the second blade 9" of the upstream cutting system 9 when the detection system measures a remaining length of the piece of wood to be cut 8 less than the predetermined length so as to form a piece of wood to be removed.

[0054] Preferably, the conveyor 7 of the machine according to the invention comprises a system for collecting the wood waste to be removed so as to prevent the wood waste to be removed from being brought onto the support plate 4.

[0055] More preferably, the predetermined length of the piece of wood to be split is between 20 cm and 70 cm. Advantageously, the predetermined length is between 25 cm and 50 cm.

[0056] Preferably, the detection system of the wood splitting machine according to the invention is also capable of measuring the diameter of each piece of wood in the series of pieces of wood, the detection system being in operational connection with the control means and with the support plate 4 so that, in operational mode: the detection system successively measures the diameter of each piece of the series of pieces of wood to be split, the control means adapts the height of the support plate 4 as a function of the diameter measured by the detection system successively for each piece of wood in the series of pieces of wood to be split so that the center of the cross-section of each piece is substantially at the same height as the center of a splitting pattern in the series of splitting patterns.

[0057] Preferably, when the detection system measures a diameter of a section of wood to be split less than a first threshold, the control means raises or lowers the support plate so that the center of the cross-section of the section of wood to be split faces the center of the first splitting pattern for splitting a section of wood to be split into 2 pieces.

[0058] Preferably, when the detection system measures a diameter of a section of wood to be split greater than a second threshold, the control means raises or lowers the support plate so that the center of the cross-section of the section of wood to be split faces the center of the second splitting pattern for splitting a section of wood to be split into 4 pieces.

[0059] Preferably, the first threshold is lower than the second threshold. Preferably, when the detection system measures a diameter of a section of wood to be split between 8 cm and 18 cm, the control means raises or lowers the support plate so that the center of the cross-section of the section of wood to be split is facing the center of the first splitting pattern for splitting a section of wood to be split into 2 pieces.

[0060] Preferably, when the detection system measures a diameter of a section of wood to be split between 12 cm and 24 cm, more preferably between 18 cm and 24 cm, the control means raises or lowers the support plate so that the center of the cross-section of the section of wood to be split faces the center of the second splitting pattern for splitting a section of wood to be split into 4 pieces.

[0061] Preferably, when the detection system measures a diameter of a section of wood to be split between 20 cm and 35 cm, more preferably between 24 cm and 35 cm, the control means raises or lowers the support plate so that the center of the cross-section of the section of wood to be split faces the center of the third splitting pattern for splitting a section of wood to be split into 6 pieces.

[0062] Preferably, the detection system comprises at least one detector, more preferably at least one optical detector, advantageously at least one optical detector and / or at least one measuring wheel.

[0063] Preferably, the machine according to the invention also comprises a means for locating the pusher along the first direction and the second direction. Preferably, the pusher locating means is operatively connected to the upstream cutting system 9 such that the pusher locating means detects the position of the pusher along the first and second directions and triggers the upstream cutting system 9 when the position of the pusher passes a first threshold position in the first direction and / or passes a second threshold position in the second direction. Indeed, this makes it possible to synchronize the upstream cutting of the sections of wood to be split with the back and forth movement of the pusher in the first and second directions, which increases the splitting rate and accelerates the production of split sections of wood.

[0064] Preferably, the pusher locating means is operatively connected to the upstream cutting system 9 and the conveyor 7 so as to continuously cut wood logs so as to form sections of wood to be split and to continuously split the sections of wood to be split so as to form split sections of wood. Preferably, the control means is an electronic control means, preferably an electronic control means on a printed circuit, more preferably an electronic card or an industrial programmable controller.

[0065] Preferably, in the method for splitting wood, in particular firewood, according to the present invention, the first and second movements of the pusher are movements guided by a guide means operatively connected to the pusher and in that the cutting waste is discharged at the ends of the support plate through the first and second splitting elements.

[0066] Preferably, in the method for splitting wood, in particular firewood according to the present invention, the first movement and the second movement of the pusher are horizontal movements relative to the ground.

[0067] Preferably, in the method for splitting wood according to the invention, the first movement in a first direction of the pusher or the second movement of the pusher in the second direction, corresponding to a forward or return movement, is carried out 8 to 15 times per minute.

[0068] Preferably, the diameter of each section of the series of sections of wood to be split is between 8 cm and 35 cm.

[0069] Preferably, in the method for splitting wood, in particular firewood according to the present invention, before each step of moving the pusher, a step of measuring the diameter of each section is carried out, and for each section, a control means selects at least a first splitting pattern of the first and second splitting elements when the measured diameter of the section is less than a first threshold and selects at least a second splitting pattern of the first and second splitting elements when the measured diameter of the section is greater than a second threshold.

[0070] It is understood that the present invention is in no way limited to the embodiments described above and that many modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Machine for splitting wood (1) comprising: - a support plate (4) arranged to receive a series of sections of wood to be split, - a splitting means comprising a first and a second splitting element (2), each splitting element (2) being positioned laterally on either side of the ends of the plate (4), - a bidirectional pusher (3) capable of pushing a first section of the series of sections of wood to be split in a first direction through said first splitting element (2) and of pushing a second section of the series of sections of wood to be split during a return movement of said pusher (3) in a second direction opposite to the first direction through said second splitting element (2) so as to form split wood, wherein the first and second splitting elements (2) are splitting grids in which each splitting grid has a series of splitting patterns, wherein said series of splitting patterns is arranged over the height of said splitting grids.

2. Machine for splitting wood according to claim 1, wherein said pusher (3) has a shape complementary to the base of said plate (4) and which is capable of sliding on the base of said plate (4).

3. A wood splitting machine according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said pusher (3) comprises connecting means arranged to operatively connect said pusher (3) to a transport means comprising: (i) a guide means laterally fixed to said plate (4), over a length of said plate (4), said guide means being capable of guiding the movement of said pusher (3) in the first and second directions, and (ii) a power transmission means (5) capable of moving said connecting means of said pusher (3) in the first and second directions, along said guide means.

4. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a displacement means (6) arranged to effect a relative displacement of said support plate (4) with respect to said splitting elements (2).

5. A wood splitting machine according to claim 6, wherein the moving means (6) is in the form of a variable height tray.

6. A wood splitting machine according to any preceding claim, wherein the series of splitting patterns comprises a plurality of splitting patterns wherein each splitting pattern is adapted to split a section of wood to be split into a different number of pieces of split wood.

7. Machine for splitting wood according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an upstream conveyor (7) capable of bringing said series of sections of wood to be split onto said plate (4).

8. A wood splitting machine according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an upstream cutting system (9) comprising a first blade (9'), and preferably a second blade (9"), arranged to cut a piece of wood so as to form the series of sections of wood to be split in which each section of wood to be split has a predetermined length.

9. A wood splitting machine according to any preceding claim, further comprising a detection system capable of measuring the diameter of each piece of wood in the series of pieces of wood to be split and a control means in operative connection with the detection system and with the support plate (4) so ​​that, in operational mode: the detection system successively measures the diameter of each piece of the series of pieces of wood to be split, the control means adapts the height of the support plate (4) as a function of the diameter measured by the detection system successively for each piece of wood in the series of pieces of wood to be split so that the center of the cross-section of each piece is substantially at the same height as the center of a splitting pattern in the series of splitting patterns.

10. A method for splitting wood, in particular firewood, comprising the following steps: a. positioning a first section of a series of sections of wood on a support plate (4), b. first movement in a first direction of a pusher (3) capable of pushing the first section through a first splitting element (2) to form split wood, c. positioning a second section of the series of wood sections on the support plate (4), d. a second movement of the pusher (3) in a second direction opposite to the first direction so as to push the second section through a second splitting element (2) to form split wood, e. repeating steps a to d so as to split all the sections of the series of sections, wherein the first movement and the second movement of the pusher (3) are horizontal movements relative to the ground 1 1. A method for splitting wood according to claim 10, wherein the first and second movements of the pusher (3) are movements guided by a guide means operatively connected to the pusher (3) and in that the cutting waste is discharged at the ends of the support plate (4) through the first and second splitting elements.

12. Method for splitting wood according to claim 10 or claim 11, in which before each step of moving the pusher (3): a step of measuring the diameter of each section is carried out, and for each section, a control means selects at least a first splitting pattern of the first and second splitting elements (2) when the measured diameter of the section is less than a first threshold and selects at least a second splitting pattern of the first and second splitting elements (2) when the measured diameter of the section is greater than a second threshold.

13. Use of the wood splitting machine according to any one of claims 1 to 9 for splitting firewood.

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