Collection of lumber pieces from the ground

Abstract

An apparatus for picking lumber pieces from the ground for example for removing support lumber used during laying of a pipe line comprises a tracked vehicle to which is attached a frame carrying a transport conveyer along the side of the vehicle inclined forwardly and downwardly toward the ground. A picking assembly is provided at the front of the conveyor and alongside the vehicle for lifting the pieces. This includes a front picking roller and a movable outer side blade which is inclined outwardly to the outer side of the picking roller and can be pivoted inwardly to close around the front of the picking roller to squeeze the lumber pieces to force them onto the conveyor.

1 . Apparatus for collecting elongate pieces comprising; 
 a frame arranged for attachment to a vehicle for moving in a direction of working movement across the ground between stacks on the ground of the elongate to be collected;    a picking assembly on the frame for lifting the elongate pieces from the ground;    a transport conveyer on the frame having a forward end for receiving the elongate pieces from the picking assembly and arranged to transport the elongate pieces rearwardly from the picking assembly;    the picking assembly comprising a first and a second side wall each on a respective first and second side of the forward end of the conveyer and extending generally forwardly therefrom for receiving the elongate pieces in front of the forward end;    at least the second of the side walls being pivotal about a substantially upright axis at the second side of the forward end from a first collecting position extending forwardly and outwardly of the second side to a second confining position extending forwardly and inwardly of the second side;    the second side wall including a first portion which, in the first collecting position, extends forwardly and outwardly and a second portion which extends from a forward end of the first portion generally forwardly;    the first portion forming an inclined blade which is inclined from its bottom edge upwardly and rearwardly.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the first portion is arranged such that the bottom edge thereof in the confining position projects to a position inwardly of the respective side of the transport conveyer such that the pieces can be squeezed by the side walls when moved to the confining position to a width less than that of the transport conveyer and can be released when moved out of the confining position to travel along the transport conveyer.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the side walls are arranged such that in the confining position a forward end of the second side wall is closely adjacent a forward end of the first side wall so as to fully enclose and squeeze the collected pieces.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the first side wall includes a continuous belt having an inwardly facing inner run which stands substantially vertically upwardly and moves horizontally along the first side wall, the belt having a belt drive operable for moving the inner run both forwardly and rearwardly for aligning the pieces generally along the conveyer.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus according to  claim 4  wherein the first side wall is fixed in position extending generally forwardly of the direction of movement.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the picking assembly includes a spiked picking roller rotatable about an axis across the forward end of the conveyer.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus according to  claim 6  wherein the picking assembly includes a row of parallel spiked picking rollers each in front of another and each rotatable about a respective axis across the forward end of the conveyer.  
   
   
       8 . Apparatus for collecting elongate pieces comprising; 
 a frame arranged for attachment to a vehicle for moving in a direction of working movement across the ground between stacks on the ground of the elongate to be collected;    a picking assembly on the frame for lifting the elongate pieces from the ground;    a transport conveyer on the frame having a forward end for receiving the elongate pieces from the picking assembly and arranged to transport the elongate pieces rearwardly from the picking assembly;    the picking assembly comprising a first and a second side wall each on a respective first and second side of the forward end of the conveyer and extending generally forwardly therefrom for receiving the elongate pieces in front of the forward end;    at least the second of the side walls being pivotal about a substantially upright axis at the second side of the forward end from a first collecting position extending forwardly and outwardly of the second side to a second confining position extending forwardly and inwardly of the second side;    the side walls being arranged such that in the confining position a forward end of the second side wall is closely adjacent a forward end of the first side wall so as to fully enclose and squeeze the collected pieces;    at least the second side including a portion thereof which is arranged such that a bottom edge thereof in the confining position projects to a position inwardly of the respective side of the transport conveyer such that the pieces can be squeezed by the side walls when moved to the confining position to a width less than that of the transport conveyer and can be released when moved out of the confining position to travel along the transport conveyer.    
   
   
       9 . The apparatus according to  claim 8  wherein the first side wall includes a continuous belt having an inwardly facing inner run which stands substantially vertically upwardly and moves horizontally along the first side wall, the belt having a belt drive operable for moving the inner run both forwardly and rearwardly for aligning the pieces generally along the conveyer.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein the first side wall is fixed in position extending generally forwardly of the direction of movement.