JPH0349527B2 - - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Industrial Field of Application) The present invention relates to a pruning method and a pruning machine, in which the pruning machine stops raising a tree for a predetermined period of time or more due to the cutting part being bitten by a branch, etc. In this case, the pruning machine is automatically lowered by itself.

(Background of the Invention) A pruning machine consists of a main body equipped with lifting wheels and a cutting part loaded on the main body, and uses a power part to drive the lifting wheels to move up and down trees. , the cutting part is adapted to cut the branches. However, if the cutting part is bitten into the branch being cut, it becomes impossible for the pruning machine to move up the tree, and the pruning machine stops at the top of the tree, making pruning work impossible. Furthermore, if the pruning machine stops raising trees for a long time in this way, not only is fuel wasted, but there is also the risk of a fire occurring due to overheating of the engine.

(Summary of the Invention) The present invention provides a method and apparatus for automatically lowering a tree by a pruning machine when the tree is stopped being raised by the pruning machine for a predetermined period of time or more due to the troubles described above. With the goal. For this purpose, the present invention provides an overload detection section for the cutting section,
When the cutting part is bitten by a branch and the tree cutting machine stops moving up the tree, this is detected by the above-mentioned overload detection part, and if a predetermined period of time (e.g. 3 to 10 seconds) has elapsed after the detection, For example, a pruning machine is configured to automatically lower a standing tree by itself.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1 is a side view of the pruning machine according to the present invention performing pruning work, and Fig. 2 is a side view showing the transmission mechanism, in which the main pruning machine A has an engine 1 as a power unit. , lifting wheels 2 driven by the engine 1, and a main body frame 3 surrounding the tree T.
A main body part B consisting of the following, and loaded on the main body part B,
The cutting section C is driven by the engine 1 mentioned above. The lifting wheels 2 are installed obliquely, and the pruning machine A moves up the tree T while rotating around the tree T in the direction of the arrow a in a circular motion, and cuts the branch t with the cutting part C. Reference numeral 5 denotes a frame, and a saw chain 6 is fitted along the outer periphery of the frame, and the frame 5 is erected slightly tilted forward in the direction of travel. Further, a recessed portion 5a is formed on the front surface of the central portion of the frame 5. The recessed portion 5a is formed to prevent both main surfaces of the frame 5 from coming into sliding contact with the surface to be cut of the branch t during cutting of the branch t, thereby preventing the frame 5 from interfering with the cutting operation. 7 is a sprocket for driving the saw chain 6, which is driven by the engine 1. 8 is a case in which gears and the like are stored, and 9 is a spring for supporting the frame 5.

A limit switch 10 serves as an overload detection section for the cutting section C, and is attached to the upper part of the case 8. Numeral 11 is a protrusion that protrudes from the lower part of the frame 5, and when the cutting part C hits a thick or hard branch and is pushed backward, the protrusion 11
The lever 10a of the limit switch 10 is
is turned on, and the limit switch 10 is turned on (see the chain line in FIG. 2).

Reference numeral 15 denotes a transmission section as a rotational direction changing section disposed in the case 8, which selectively meshes with bevel gears 17 and 18 attached to the same rotating shaft 16 and these bevel gears 17 and 18. bevel gear 1
It consists of 9 mag. The bevel gears 17 and 18 are arranged so as to be slidable in the lateral direction. Also, the bevel gear 17,
18 is driven by the engine 1 via transmission wheels 21, 21, etc. Further, the bevel gear 19 is connected to the wheel 2 and transmits rotation to the wheel 2. Further, the sprocket 7 is connected to the transmission wheels 21, 2.
It is driven by the engine 1 via the 0 etc.

12 is a control circuit, 13 is a solenoid, and a lever 14 is attached to the plunger 13a. The lever 14 is pivotally supported by a pin 23, and is constantly biased counterclockwise by a coil spring 24. The lower end of the lever 24 is pivotally attached to the end of the rotating shaft 16, and the bevel gear 17 is normally engaged with the bevel gear 19 by the bias of the coil spring 24, so that forward rotation is transmitted to the wheel 2. Branching machine A
moves up the tree T, but when the solenoid 13 is activated and the plunger 13a is retracted, the lever 1
4 rotates clockwise, the rotating shaft 16 slides to the left, the bevel gear 18 meshes with the bevel gear 19, and the wheel 2 rotates clockwise.
The reverse rotation is transmitted to the pruning machine A to lower the tree T. Next, the control circuit 12 will be explained with reference to FIG.

B1 is a power supply section connected to the limit switch 10, and further connected thereto is a delay circuit 30 as a delay section consisting of a variable resistor R1 and a capacitor 34.

B2 is a power supply section of the solenoid 13,
A thyristor 31 is connected to the solenoid 13, and a gate G of the thyristor 31 is connected between the variable resistor R1 and the capacitor . 32 is a switch section for canceling the conduction state of the thyristor 31. In addition to primary batteries, storage batteries charged by a generator driven by the engine 1 may be used as the power sources B1 and B2.

This apparatus has the above-mentioned configuration.Next, pruning work by the main pruning machine A will be explained.

The bevel gear 19 is always meshed with the bevel gear 17. When the engine 1 is started, its rotation is transmitted to the sprocket 7 via the transmission wheel 20 etc., and drives the saw chain 6. Further, the rotation of the engine 1 is transmitted to the wheels 2 via the transmission wheels 21, 21, the transmission section 15, etc., and the pruning machine A moves up the tree T in a spiral shape in the direction of the arrow a, and cuts the branches by the cutting section C. cutting is performed. If a thick or hard branch hits the cutting part C, the cutting part C cannot easily cut the branch. When the cutting portion C hits the branch t having a large cutting resistance, it is pushed by and slightly rotates clockwise against the spring force of the spring 9 (see the chain line in FIG. 2).

Then, the lever 10a is pushed by the protrusion 11 and closed, and the limit switch 10 is closed. Then, the capacitor 34 is gradually charged through the variable resistor R1, and when the + side of the capacitor 34 rises to a predetermined potential after a predetermined period of time (for example, 3 to 10 seconds), the thyristor 31 is turned on and the solenoid 13 is activated. The plunger 13a is retracted and the lever 14 is rotated clockwise (see the chain line in FIG. 2). Then, the rotating shaft 16 slides to the left, the bevel gear 17 separates from the bevel gear 19, and the bevel gear 18 meshes with the bevel gear 19. Then, the wheels 2 start rotating in the opposite direction, and the pruning machine A moves down the tree T. Branching machine A
Once it has descended to the ground, the switch section 32 is operated to return the thyristor 31 to the OFF state. Then, the solenoid 13 stops operating, the lever 14 rotates counterclockwise by the spring force of the spring 24, and the bevel gear 17 meshes with the bevel gear 19 again. In this way, according to this device, when the pruning machine A stops raising the tree for a predetermined period of time due to the cutting part C getting bitten by the branch T, the pruning machine A automatically removes the tree T by its own power.
can descend. Note that the set time can be freely changed by operating the variable resistor R1. Furthermore, if a variable capacitor is used as the capacitor 34, the set time can also be changed using this.

(Other Embodiments) FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the control circuit 12, in which 33 is a delay circuit consisting of a resistor R2 and a capacitor 34. Q is a transistor whose base is connected to the above resistor R2 and capacitor 3.
It is connected between 4.

In this configuration, when the cut portion C bites into the branch t and the limit switch 10 is closed as described above, the capacitor 34 is gradually charged through the resistor R2, and after a predetermined time, the transistor Q charges its base current. The solenoid 13 is activated and the bevel gear 19 is activated as in the above case.
The bevel gear 18 meshes with the pruning machine A, and the pruning machine A shifts from the movement of raising the tree to the movement of lowering the tree. When the cutting part C leaves the branch t, the cutting part C is tilted forward again by the spring force of the spring 9, the lever 10a is released from its pressed state, and the limit switch 10 is turned off. Transistor Q then turns off and solenoid 1
3 is also turned off, the bevel gear 17 meshes with the bevel gear 19 again, and the pruning machine A again moves up the tree T by its own power. In this embodiment, the lever 10
Even if the solenoid 13 is activated by turning on the pruning machine A, the pruning machine A does not descend to the ground, but after descending a little over the tree T, the solenoid 13 is turned off again and the bevel gear 17 meshes with the bevel gear 19. , the pruning machine A moves up the standing tree T.

In the above description, the reason why the delay circuits 30 and 33 are provided and the pruning machine A lowers the tree T after the set time has elapsed is as follows. That is, when a branch t hits the cutting part C, the cutting resistance prevents the cutting part C from moving forward, and the pruning machine A often stops moving up the tree. In such a case, there are cases in which the branch can be cut without difficulty in the next moment, and cases in which the cutting resistance of the branch is greater than the cutting ability of the cutting part C and, therefore, the branch cannot be cut no matter how long it takes. The above setting time (3 to 10 seconds) is
This is the time for determining whether the branch can be cut by the cutting part C. If the branch cannot be cut within the set time, it is determined that the branch cannot be cut by the cutting part C. Judgment, pruning machine A
This means lowering the standing tree. If such delay units 30 and 33 are not provided, even if the pruning machine A stops raising the tree for a very short time (within 3 seconds in this embodiment), the pruning machine A will move the tree up each time.
As a result, the pruning work efficiency will not improve at all. Therefore, the delay section 30,
By providing 33, even if an overload is detected by the overload detection section 10, the transmission section 15 is not activated immediately to lower the branch cutting machine A, and the branches are cut until the set time comes. I'm trying.

(Other Embodiments) The present invention allows the main body to move up and down directly over standing trees,
This can also be applied to a vertically lifting type pruning machine that cuts branches using a cutting part that rotates around the main body. Next, an example of this will be explained with reference to Figs. 5 to 11. do.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the pruning machine in an exploded state, and the pruning machine L has a main body part M for lifting and lowering that is detachably set on a standing tree, and a main body part M that is detachably attached to the main body part M. It consists of a rotating part N. The main body M is
It is equipped with a large number of lifting wheels w that rotate along the height direction of the tree, and when each wheel w is rotated by an engine 41 serving as a power unit loaded on the rotating part N, the main body M moves up and down the tree. rise vertically along the The rotating part N is detachably attached to the main body M, and rotates around the main body M when the main body M vertically ascends the tree. Cut branches that protrude from the surface of the tree from their roots. Reference numeral 44 is a cover plate which is detachably mounted on the rotating part N, and is cut by the cutting part 43 when the main branch cutting machine L cuts branches while climbing the tree. This prevents branches falling to the ground from falling into the rotating part N and the main body part M and causing these failures.

The main branching machine L uses each wheel w of the main body M and the cutting part 43 of the rotating part N by an engine 41 on the side of the rotating part N.
The machine slowly moves vertically up the tree to cut branches, and when the predetermined cutting operation is completed, it descends vertically along the tree. 8
1 is a gasoline tank, 82 is a rising height setting section, 8
3 is a case in which gears etc. are stored, 84 is an oil tank, and 85 is a cutting part 43 that controls the rotation of the engine 41.
A timing belt 86 for transmitting the signal to the main shaft is provided.

Figure 6 shows the main body M set on a standing tree T,
It is a perspective view of a state in which it is removed from a standing tree T,
The main body M includes annular frames F1, F2, F
3 as the main frame, and various parts described below are attached to each frame F1 to F3.
G1 is a large floating gear disposed at the top of the main body M, and teeth are formed on its outer and inner circumferential surfaces.When the pruning machine L moves up the tree T, the engine 41 arrow X with the tree T as the center
direction and transmits forward rotation to each wheel w. Further, when the pruning machine L moves down the tree T, it rotates in the direction of arrow Y, and each wheel w rotates in the opposite direction. G2 is a fixed large gear located directly below the floating large gear G1, and has teeth formed on its outer peripheral surface.

The large gear G2, like the above large gear G1,
It does not rotate in any direction, but is fixed to the frame. When the main body M moves up the tree T, the rotating part N cuts the branch T using the cutting part 43 while rotating along the large gear G2. This serves as a rotational guide orbit. G3 is located directly above frame F3, and is a standing tree T.
It is a large interlocking gear with an arc shape surrounding it. The large gear G3 has the function of pressing the three elevating wheel parts W to which the wheels w are attached by the cam 65 urged by the spring S, and pressing them against the surface of the tree T in conjunction with each other. It is something. The main body part M is a standing tree T
In the state set to , the tree T is located at the center of each frame F1 to F3 and each gear G1 to G3.

The frame F1 is composed of a main frame F1a and a sub-frame F1b, and when setting the main body M on the tree T or removing it from the tree T,
The sub-frame F1b is opened as shown in FIG. Further, an opening/closing plate 45 is attached to the frames F2, F3, and when the main body M is set on or removed from the standing tree T, the opening/closing plate 45 is attached to the sixth opening/closing plate 45.
Open as shown. The opening/closing plate 45 also serves as a connecting member between the frames F2 and F3, and is made by reinforcing and solidifying the frames F2 and F3.
This prevents F3 from being twisted or deformed.

In addition, each of the large gears G1 and G2 is also connected to the main gear G1.
a, G2a and sub gears G1b, G2b, one end of the sub gears G1b, G2b is connected to the main gear G.
It is rotatably attached to one end of G2a and G2a. However, when the main body M is set on a standing tree T,
When removing the tree T from the tree T, as shown in FIG.
After securing an opening through which the material can be passed, passing the standing tree T through the opening and positioning the standing tree T at the center of the main body M,
As shown in FIG. 5, the sub frame F1b and the opening/closing plate 4
and close the sub gears G1b and G2b. 46,4
7, 48, 49, and 50 are stops.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, a transmission mechanism for rotating the wheels w in the normal direction, that is, in the direction of rising trees will be explained.

g7 is a gear, and the rotation of the engine 41 is transmitted via belts 51, 53 and reduction gears 52, 54. 55 is its rotation axis. A gear g9 is located on the left side of the gear g7, and a gear g10 that meshes with the large fixed gear G2 is attached to the upper part of the rotating shaft 56. A gear g11 is located on the right side of the gear g7, and a gear g12 that meshes with the large gear G1 is attached to the upper part of the rotating shaft 57. g8 is a movable gear attached to the rotating member 59, and when the main pruning machine L moves up the tree T, it meshes with gear g7 and gear g9 as shown in FIG.
The rotation is transmitted to gears g9 and g10.

An electromagnetic clutch 71 is attached to the rotating shaft 57, and a normally closed limit switch 70 and a control circuit 72 are connected to the electromagnetic clutch 71. FIG. 11 shows the control circuit 72, which has the same configuration as that in FIG. 4. Reference numerals 73 and 74 indicate manual power switches that operate in conjunction with each other.

g13 is a gear attached to the rotating shaft 57, and a stopper 58 is removably engaged with the gear g13. In Figure 7, g1 is the large gear G
1, and its rotation is transmitted to each wheel w of the lifting wheel portion W via bevel gears g2, g3, chain 60, etc. Reference numeral 43 denotes the cutting section described above, which is driven by the engine 41 via a timing belt 85.

When the pruning machine L moves up the tree T, the electromagnetic clutch 71 is on, and the stopper 58 engages with the gear g13 to prevent rotation of the gear g13 (see FIG. 8). In this state, engine 4
1 rotation is transmitted to gear g10. gear g10
rotates, the rotating part N moves around the large gear G2
However, since gear g13 is prevented from rotating, gear g12 coaxial with gear g13 is also prevented from rotating, and large gear G1 that engages with gear g12 is pulled by gear g12. and rotate in the X direction. Then gear g meshes with large gear G1.
1 rotates, its rotating gears g2, g3, chain 6
0 etc., the wheel w rotates forward, and the pruning machine L moves up the tree T, and at that time, the large gear G
The branch t protruding from the tree T is cut by the cutting part 43 of the rotating part N that rotates around the tree T. When the pruning machine L reaches the height set by the rising height setting section 82, the stopper 58 separates from the gear g13 (see FIG. 9), and the gears g13 and g12 become free. Then, the pruning machine L moves down the tree T due to its own weight. At this time, the large gear G1 rotates in the direction of the arrow Y.

FIG. 10 shows details of the cutting part 43, which is erected on a pedestal 63. 6
4 is a frame of the cutting part 43, and the upright part 64
a, and a sloped portion 64b that is connected to the upper part of the upright portion 64a and protrudes slightly upwardly toward the front. 42 is a saw chain, which is adjusted to rollers 66, 66 and a sprocket 67 attached to a frame 64;
is driven by the engine 41, the saw chain 4
2 rotates along rollers 66, 66. Reference numeral 70 denotes the limit switch as a displacement detecting section disposed at the rear of the frame 64, and when the saw chain 42 bites into the branch t and the frame 64 is pushed by it and displaced backward due to its own elastic deformation, etc. (see chain line), the lever 70a is turned on and the limit switch 70 is turned off.

In the above configuration, when the branch cutting machine L cuts the branch t while climbing the tree T, if the cutting part 43 is bitten by a branch t having a large cutting resistance such as a thick branch or a hard branch, the above-mentioned problem occurs. The cutting part 43 is pushed by this and is displaced rearward. Then, the lever 70a is turned on and the limit switch 70 is turned off. The capacitor 34 is previously charged through the variable resistor R1, so even after the limit switch 70 is turned off, the transistor Q remains on for a while due to the discharge current flowing through the resistor R3, and therefore the electromagnetic clutch is turned off. 71 is a predetermined time (for example, 5
(seconds), the pruning machine L continues to try to move up the tree T. However, as the discharge current decreases, the electromagnetic clutch 71 is finally turned off, the gear g12 becomes free, and the pruning machine L descends the tree T by its own weight.

(Other Embodiments) FIGS. 12 and 13 show still other embodiments of the present invention, in which the transmission section 15 is connected to the rotating shaft 55. The electrical circuit shown in FIG. 13 is similar to that shown in FIG. Normally, the bevel gear 17 meshes with the bevel gear 19, and the rotation of the engine 41 is transmitted to the wheel w via the gears g7 to g10, etc., and the wheel w rotates in the normal direction so that the pruning machine L moves the standing tree T. Rise. If the cutting part 43 is bitten by the branch t, the limit switch 1
When the lever 10a of 0 is turned on, the capacitor 34
is charged, and after a predetermined time, thyristor 3
1 is turned on, solenoid 13 is activated, lever 14 is rotated clockwise, and bevel gears 17 and 1 are turned on.
8 slides to the left, the bevel gear 18 meshes with the bevel gear 19, and the bevel gear 19 rotates in the opposite direction. Then, the rotation is transmitted to the wheels w via the gears g7 to g10 as described above, the wheels w rotate in the opposite direction, and the pruning machine L moves down the tree T.

(Other Embodiments) In the above embodiment, the levers 10 of the limit switches 10 and 70 are
a, 70a, but the lever 1
In order to more reliably throw in 0a and 70a, the frame 64 is elastically supported by a spring for elasticity, and when the branch t hits the saw chain 42, the frame 64 is displaced backward against the spring force. You can do it like this. FIG. 14 shows an example of this, in which the frame 64 is attached to a base 80 at its lower part so as to be rotatable about a shaft 89. 8
Reference numeral 7 denotes a rib protruding from the base 80 in order to define the limit of counterclockwise rotation of the frame 64.
90 is a support installed on the upper surface of the pedestal 80,
The limit switch 70 is attached to the upper part of the support column 90. Further, a spring 88 for supporting the bullet is disposed between the support column 90 and the frame 64.

In such a configuration, when the saw chain 42 is hit by the branch t, the frame 64 is pushed by the branch t and the spring 88
The lever 70a is rotated slightly clockwise about the shaft 89 against the spring force of , and the lever 70a is closed (see the chain line). If the frame 64 is elastically supported by the spring 88 and attached to the pedestal 80 so as to be rotatable about the shaft 89 in this way, when the branch t hits the saw chain 42, the lever 70a can be more reliably engaged. I can do it.

The present invention can be modified in various ways in addition to the above-mentioned embodiments, and the key point is to detect when the cutting part is bitten by a branch and the pruning machine is no longer able to raise the tree. A load detection section is provided, and when a predetermined period of time has elapsed after an overload has been detected by the overload detection section, the rotation direction changing section of the lifting wheel is activated to reversely rotate the wheel and remove the pruning. All you have to do is lower the plane.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, according to the present invention, if the pruning machine stops moving up the tree for a predetermined period of time due to the cutting part being bitten by a branch, etc., the pruning machine automatically operates on its own. It is possible to lower the standing tree. Therefore, if the pruning machine stops at the top of a tree due to a problem, there is no need to manually lower the pruning machine down the tree, and furthermore, there is no need to overheat the power part, causing a fire or wasting fuel. It has various effects such as being able to prevent.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The figure shows an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side view of the pruning machine, FIG. 2 is a side view of the transmission mechanism, FIGS. 3 and 4 are control circuit diagrams, and FIGS. 5 and 6 are perspective views of other embodiments of the present invention. 7th
The figure is a partial perspective view of the transmission system, Figures 8 and 9 are exploded views of the transmission system, Figure 10 is a side view of the cutting part, Figure 11 is a control circuit diagram, and Figure 12 is a further example of the present invention. A partial side view of the embodiment, FIG. 13 is a control circuit diagram,
FIG. 14 is a partial side view of still another embodiment. A, L...Pruning machine, B, M...Main body, C, 4
3... Cutting section, 1, 41... Engine as power section, 2, w... Lifting wheel, 10, 70... Overload detection section, 15, 71... Rotation direction changing section, 3
0,33...Delay part.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A pruning machine consisting of a main body equipped with lifting wheels and a cutting part loaded on the main body is used to remove the branches of a standing tree while lifting the tree by driving the power part. In the pruning method for cutting, an overload detection section detects an overload applied to the cutting section, and when a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the detection, the rotation direction changing section of the lifting wheel is activated to perform the pruning. A pruning method that uses a machine to lower the tree. 2. A pruning machine comprising a main body with lifting wheels and a cutting part loaded on the main body, the lifting wheels and the cutting part being driven by a power part. An overload detection section is provided, and a rotation direction changing section for the lifting wheel is provided in the transmission path from the power section to the lifting wheel, and the rotation direction changing section and the overload sensing section are connected to each other, and a delay section is provided. A pruning machine characterized by being connected through.