JPH0312846B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (1) Industrial Application Field The present invention cuts a tree branch with a chainsaw while climbing along the tree trunk under its own power, and when it reaches a predetermined height, the tree branch is cut. This invention relates to a pruning machine equipped with a rising height detection device that can automatically detect the height based on the diameter and lower the pruning machine.

(2) Prior Art Conventional pruning machines are also capable of detecting the height of lift and switching the drive from raising to lowering.

Usually, a mechanical timer is used as the detection means.

The pruning machine is equipped with a timer setting dial, and the operator looks at the tree to be pruned and sets the height at which the tree should be pruned by operating the dial.

The pruning machine will rise along the tree for a set period of time, and after the set time has elapsed, a timer will switch the clutch and lower it.

However, with this timer method, if the trunk is wet from rain or has uneven surfaces, the wheels may slip and the machine may descend without being able to finish pruning to the target height. There is. On the other hand, there are times when you make a mistake in your estimation and end up over-pruning.

On the other hand, it is said that pruning workers determine the height to be pruned by estimating how old the tree is, and this is said to be done by looking at the diameter of the tree's trunk. Therefore, it is difficult to ensure perfection using the above timer method.

(3) Purpose The present invention was made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and includes a sensor that can detect the diameter of a tree trunk, which is installed in a pruning machine, and whose output reaches a predetermined value. In other words, when the pruning machine reaches the height of the desired trunk diameter, the pruning is finished, thereby solving the inconveniences that have conventionally occurred.

(4) A pruning machine that can cut tree branches using a chain saw while rising under its own power along the trunks of the constituent trees, and automatically descending when it reaches a predetermined height. As a means of detection, a sensor capable of detecting changes in the diameter of the tree trunk, such as a potentiometer, and an actuator to operate the sensor are used, the potentiometer is fixed to the pruning machine, and the actuator is brought into contact with the tree trunk. I'll let it happen.

Then, as the pruning machine rises, the trunk diameter becomes smaller, and this is detected by a potentiometer via an actuator.

Then, the trunk diameter at the height to be pruned can be set in advance, and when the detected value of the potentiometer measured via the actuator matches this set value, the driving direction of the pruning machine can be changed, e.g. This is intended to cause the drive wheels to rotate in reverse.

(5) Effects According to the present invention, the pruning machine can be raised until a predetermined trunk diameter is reached using the sensor installed in the pruning machine.

Therefore, irrespective of wheel slippage, operator error in timer settings, etc., pruning can always be performed to the desired height for the tree. In addition, since the height of pruning is determined by the trunk diameter, it is easy for pruning workers to get used to it, and it is very easy to handle.

(6) Embodiments Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

1 and 2 show a pruning machine according to the invention.

This pruning machine has a main arm 10 and a winding arm 1.
2 constitutes a circular frame that can surround a tree trunk 14 with a spring 13, a driving wheel 16 with a constant lead angle is attached to the main arm 10, an idler wheel 18 is attached to the wrapping arm 12, These wheels 1
6 and 18 elastically hold the outer periphery of the trunk 14. Further, in the figure, reference numeral 20 denotes a prime mover, and this power is reduced in speed within a transmission case 22 and transmitted to a chain saw 24 erected above through a drive wheel 16 and arms 10 and 12.

When this pruning machine is attached to the trunk 14 and the prime mover 20 is started, the drive wheel 16 rotates and the trunk 14 is rotated.
While climbing in a spiral along the
This will cut off the branches that are on the way up.

Next, FIG. 3 shows the power transmission mechanism of the pruning machine, and this mechanism outputs the power of the prime mover 20 via the centrifugal clutch 26 or directly, and operates the chain saw 24 linked to the output shaft 28. It is composed of a transmission path A for a chain saw, and a transmission path B for forward and reverse rotation of driving wheels, through which power is transmitted to the driving wheels 16 that are linked to the output shaft 28.

The chain saw transmission path A transmits power from the output shaft 28 led into the case 22 to a drive shaft 32 via a known centrifugal clutch or torque limiter 30, and projects the drive shaft 32 outside the case 22. A sprocket 34 for operating the chain saw 24 is fitted to the part.

The drive wheel forward/reverse transmission path B is connected to the output shaft 28.
The gear 36 fixed to the transmission shaft 38 and the gear 40 fixed to the transmission shaft 38 are constantly meshed to transmit power.
The gear 42 of the shaft 44 meshes with the gear 46 of the shaft 44 to reduce speed, and the gear 48 fixed to the shaft 44 is connected to the drive axle 5.
The sprocket 54, which is also fixed to the shaft 44, is engaged with the gear 52 loosely fitted to the axle 5.
A chain 58 connects the sprocket 56 loosely fitted to the sprocket 58, and an electromagnetic clutch 60 is interposed between the axle 50, the gear 52, and the sprocket 56 to engage and disengage the gear 52 or the sprocket 56 and the axle 50. 50 is intended to be switched between forward rotation, reverse rotation, or neutral rotation.

Here, the electromagnetic clutch 60 is actuated by a rising height detection device as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 4, 62 is a sensor capable of detecting changes in the diameter of the trunk, specifically a potentiometer. The sensor 62 has a main body 64 fixed to the main frame 10 of the pruning machine as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and a detection arm 66.
protrudes from the main body 64 and contacts the trunk 14.
Therefore, the change in the trunk diameter that changes as the pruning machine rises is reflected in the potentiometer 6 as a change in resistance value.
This can be captured by 2.

Further, 68 is a rising height setting device, specifically a potentiometer similar to a sensor. This is equipped with a dial consisting of a knob 70 and a scale 72 as shown in FIG. 5, and the pointer of the knob 70 is set along the scale 72 carved as the trunk diameter.

The resistance values of both potentiometers 62 and 68 are determined by a controller 76 driven by a battery 74.
When the pruning machine moves up and the detected value of the potentiometer 62 matches the set value of the potentiometer 68, the controller 76 captures this and operates the electromagnetic clutch 60, and the This means that the power from the sprocket 56 is switched to the power from the sprocket 56 side.

Note that 78 is an engine stop switch, which is turned off by the controller 76 when the sensor 62 detects the maximum diameter of the trunk when it was originally installed, that is, when the pruning machine has reached its lowest point.

In this way, the tree is pruned to the desired height of the trunk diameter, eliminating the problem of excessive or insufficient pruning height caused by wetness or unevenness of the trunk as in the past, and ensuring proper pruning at all times. .

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a front view of the pruning machine according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a plan view, Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the power transmission path, and Fig. 4 is a front view of the pruning machine according to the present invention.
The figure is a block diagram of the rising height detecting device, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a dial used in the rising height detecting device. 14... Trunk diameter, 60... Electromagnetic clutch, 62
...Sensor, 64...Sensor body, 66...Sensor detection arm, 68...Rise height setting device, 7
0...knob, 72...scale, 76...controller.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Means for detecting the predetermined height in a pruning machine that can cut tree branches with a chainsaw while ascending under its own power along the tree trunk, and automatically lowers when it reaches a predetermined height. In this method, a sensor capable of detecting changes in the diameter of the trunk is used, the main body of the sensor is fixed at a predetermined position on the pruning machine, and the detection arm of the sensor is protruded to a position where it can come into contact with the trunk, and the pruning machine is A lift height setting device is provided that can input the position at which the machine moves from ascending to descending using the diameter of the trunk, and a match between the detection value of the sensor and the setting value of the ascending height setting device is detected. A pruning machine equipped with a rising height detection device, characterized in that the pruning machine is provided with means for switching the driving direction of the pruning machine.