EP2684657A1

EP2684657A1 - Firewood processor

Info

Publication number: EP2684657A1
Application number: EP13397524.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ismo Hallapuro; Juha Autio
Original assignee: Regon AY
Current assignee: Regon AY
Priority date: 2012-07-11
Filing date: 2013-07-03
Publication date: 2014-01-15
Anticipated expiration: 2033-07-03
Also published as: FI20125790A; FI126314B; EP2684657B1

Abstract

Firewood processor (1) to be used for cutting and splitting a log, and comprising sawing means (8) for cutting the log (2), and a splitting table (6) that has means (4, 5, 7) for splitting the cut piece of wood by pushing it against a splitting blade (7). The processor (1) comprises a separate cutting table (3) extension (9) to hold and move the cut block of wood (2') onto the splitting table. The cutting table extension (9) comprises holding branches (11, 12) and an extension shaft (17) the free end of which is connected with an articulating joint (15) to the frame structure of the processor (1).

Description

The present invention concerns a firewood processor that both cuts and splits the log inserted into smaller pieces, firewood.
It is known that the wood burnt in fireplaces, firewood, is made from limbed logs with various types of firewood processors made for the purpose. The log used for the production of firewood is set on a feeding table from which the log is moved to be cut to a specific size. The cutting process is usually performed with a chainsaw that cuts the log with a downward motion. The cut log then drops to a splitting chute into a lengthwise position between the cutting cylinder and the cutting blade. The cut log splits when it is pressed against the splitting blade by the splitting cylinder. In the mentioned type of firewood processor, the feeding table, its frame and the cutting blade are positioned above the splitting chute so that the cut log moves to the splitting chute underneath by falling under gravity.
Malfunction in the mentioned firewood processor is often caused by a log which has fallen into the splitting chute but does not settle to the chute in the expected lengthwise position between the cutting blade and the cutting cylinder. A log that drops freely fairly often ends up in an inclined position and very often in a position perpendicular to the chute. When the splitting cylinder moves such an inclined or perpendicularly positioned log against the splitting blade, the firewood processor produces firewood of nonspecific shape and it often happens that as a diagonally positioned log is pressed against the splitting blade by the hydraulic cylinder, the capacity of the cylinder is exceeded and the log is jammed onto the splitting blade.
Removing the jammed log from the splitting blade is laborious, time consuming and a safety risk from the point of view of functionality of the firewood processor. Often, the reasons for security risks are caused by turning the safety equipment on/off, removing a jammed log from the splitting blade and also that the user overrides or removes the safety mechanisms designed to increase safety, to make the process of removing or straightening the jammed log quick and easy. In the above described operation of the processor, a malfunction is thus often caused by the uncontrolled movement, while falling freely, of the cut log into the splitting chute.
An object of the present invention is to achieve a firewood processor that is free from problems caused by the faulty position of the log, as described above.
The before mentioned, and other benefits and advantages of the invention, have been achieved as characterized in the enclosed claims.
The invention will be described in more detail as follows with reference to the enclosed schematic drawings that illustrate an advantageous embodiment of the invention on a principal level.

Figure 1 represents the invention from above;
Figure 2 represents the embodiment described in Figure 1 as seen from the side end view in the initial stage; and
Figure 3 represents the functioning of the method of operation represented in Figure 2 in the final stage.

The figure 1 represents thus a firewood processor 1 according to the invention as seen directly from above. Several details have been left out for the sake of clarity and for being conventional. A tree, log or a block of wood that needs to be cut or split has been marked in the drawings with the reference number 2. It will be fed onto the cutting table 3 that has suitable common means for holding the log in place. The said means can be of any type. To feed the log 2 smoothly in a lengthwise position to be cut, the cutting table can be provided for example with rollers, usually having an axis direction perpendicular to the direction of feeding.
The splitting table is marked with reference number 6. The table is usually chute-like so the piece of wood moving onto it usually settles lengthwise on the bottom. The splitting blade 7 is located at the end of the chute. The sawn piece of wood 2' is pressed against the splitting blade by an essentially plate-like part 5 usually equipped with a hydraulic cylinder. The range of motion of the splitting cylinder does not reach all the way up to the splitting blade 7, but far enough to create space to the chute 6 for the next log to be moved for sawing.
In a conventional solution, firewood is made so that the log is fed into cutting position onto the cutting table 3, sawn usually with a chainsaw 8 at which time the sawn piece falls along a suitable wall to the splitting chute 6 where it will be split with the movement of the splitting cylinder, and which motion will be repeated in a suitable cycle.
As mentioned previously, the problems with the conventional solution are associated with the sawn piece of wood not settling nicely on the bottom of the splitting chute 6 but instead, due to its erroneous position, causing malfunctions which require correction and can be dangerous.
A solution provided by the invention is as follows. The sawn piece of wood, block 2', instead of falling to the splitting chute 6 right after being cut, now remains in position supported by extension 9 of the cutting table. The extension 9 consists of two branches 11, 12, that are positioned at an oblique or right angle to each other. The shaft 17 of the first branch 11 is provided with an articulating joint 15 at its lower end and attached to the lower parts of the frame of the processor. The distal end of the other branch 12, which holds the sawn piece of wood along with branch 11, is attached to the frame of the processor 14 via a joint 13.
When the extension 9 of the cutting table is moved upwards from the situation in Figure 1, this movement being naturally from left to right in Figure 2, the shaft 17 turns around the joint 15, but the branch 12, that is fixed to the frame via the joint 13, remains in position and while the shaft 17 turns further, the branch 12 slides in respect to the branch 11 while its supporting section shortens. This leads to the situation illustrated by Figure 3, where the sawn block of wood 2' has moved onto the splitting table/chute 6. The transition takes place either very close to the edge of the chute 6 or a small distance away from it, depending on the diameter of the log.
As described in the procedure above, the transit distance of the sawn log from the position of being supported by the cutting board extension 9 into the splitting chute 6 is very short, and the probability of the log settling in an incorrect position for the splitting procedure is minimal.
In Figures 2 and 3 is shown one way of achieving a sawing motion by using a shaft 10 and joint 16, but it is to be understood that there are various different ways of achieving this and examples regarding other implementations can be found in large numbers. Thus, the chainsaw 8 is essentially upright and moves from left to right into the sawing position in Figure 2 when shaft 10 is turned around the pivot point 16 towards the log to be sawn.
According to the invention, an alternative method for achieving the automated movement of the sawn log to the splitting chute that is based on turning motion has been shown. Obviously, there are several other ways of doing so. One method that comes to mind is to use tilting of the extension of the cutting table by for example supporting it to a longitudinal axle, so that pushing extension 9 into a position next to the splitting table would cause the chute, which forms the extension, to tilt and the cut log to move onto the splitting table.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the sawing motion initiates a chain of movements, as a result of which the sawn block 2' automatically moves into the splitting chute 6. According to this embodiment of the invention, a roller 18 attached to the frame of the sawing means 8 moves so it touches the surface of the branch 12 at the point when the log has been already sawed for some time. With the help of the pressure exerted on the branch 12, the roller 18 causes the shaft 17 and its extension, branch 11, to push towards the splitting chute 6. When the sawing process is completed i.e. the block 2' has separated, only a small motion is needed to move the block 2' to the splitting chute. Consequently, the whole process is automated and also fast due to steps occurring simultaneously. However, it has to be noted that the arrangement that uses the roller 18 is not the only way to produce the movement in question. For example slip surfaces or joints can be used to aid the process.

Claims

Firewood processor (1) to be used for cutting and splitting a log, and comprising sawing means (8) for cutting the log (2), and a splitting table (6) that has means (4, 5, 7) for splitting a cut piece of wood by pushing it against a splitting blade (7), characterized in that the processor (1) comprises a separate cutting table (3) extension (9) to hold and move the cut block of wood (2') onto the splitting table.
A firewood processor according to claim 1, characterized in that the cutting table extension (9) comprises holding branches (11, 12) and an extension shaft (17), the free end of which has been connected by an articulating joint (15) to the frame structure of the processor (1).
A firewood processor according to claim 1, characterized in that one (12) of the holding branches (11, 12) is attached in a fixed manner to the frame structure of the processor with a joint (13), so the turning of the extension shaft (17) towards the splitting table (6) causes the branch (12) to pull back from supporting the cut block of wood (2') and allows the block (2') to move onto the splitting table (6).
A firewood processor according to claim 1, characterized in that also the sawing means (8) has been attached to the frame structure of the processor via a shaft (10) turnable around a joint (16).
A firewood processor according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the extension of the cutting board (9) is of a type that turns around/tips over the longitudinal axis of the sawed log (2).
A firewood processor according to claim 4, characterized in that the sawing means (8) comprises an essentially vertical chainsaw that performs the sawing procedure with the motion of the turning shaft (10).
A firewood processor according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame structure of the sawing means (8) is associated with a mechanism that moves the sawn block of wood (2') by the transition of the branches (11, 12) to the splitting chute (6) as the sawing motion proceeds.
A firewood processor according to claim 7, characterized in that the mechanism to move the branches (11, 12) along with the sawing motion is based on a roller mechanism (18) that leans on the branch (12).