Tree processing system

Abstract

A tree processing system may comprise a tree processing head and a controller. The tree processing head may include a header frame, a motor, a saw bar, an arm, an actuator and a sensor. The motor is coupled to the header frame and the saw bar is coupled to the motor. The saw bar cuts a tree when the saw bar is driven by the motor. The actuator is coupled to the saw bar and is used to move the saw bar from a home position to a first position and to a second position. The controller is coupled to the sensor and is used to determine whether the second position is reached. When the second position is reached, the controller transmits a resting signal to the tree processing head to perform a resting operation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tree processing system, comprising:
 a tree processing head, comprising:
 a header frame; 
 a motor coupled to the header frame; 
 a saw bar coupled to the motor, the saw bar configured for cutting a tree when the saw bar is driven by the motor; 
 an arm pivotally coupled to the header frame and configured to secure the tree; 
 an actuator coupled to the saw bar and configured to move the saw bar from a home position to a first position and to a second position, the first position and the second position defining a cutting zone therebetween; 
 a sensor configured to detect a hydraulic pressure of at least one of the motor and the actuator; and 
   a controller coupled to the sensor and configured to determine whether the second position is reached based upon a decrease of the hydraulic pressure detected by the sensor, and when the second position is reached, the controller transmits a resting signal to the tree processing head to perform a resting operation.   
     
     
         2 . The tree processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the resting operation includes returning the saw bar to the home position. 
     
     
         3 . The tree processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the resting operation includes slowing a speed of the motor. 
     
     
         4 . The tree processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to receive a data of a second pressure threshold, and when a cutting operation is performed and the hydraulic pressure decreases to or below the second pressure threshold, the second position is reached. 
     
     
         5 . The tree processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the saw bar is coupled to the header frame, and the actuator is configured to swing the saw bar from the home position to the first position and to the second position about an axis. 
     
     
         6 . The tree processing of  claim 1 , wherein the tree processing head is a felling head or grapple saw head. 
     
     
         7 . A tree processing system, comprising:
 a tree processing head, comprising:
 a header frame; 
 a motor coupled to the header frame; 
 a saw bar coupled to the motor, the saw bar configured for cutting a tree when the saw bar is driven by the motor; 
 an arm apparatus pivotally coupled to the header frame and configured to secure the tree when the arm apparatus pivots to engage the tree; 
 an actuator coupled to the saw bar and configured to move the saw bar from a home position to a first position and to a second position, the first position and the second position defining a cutting zone therebetween; 
 an arm position sensor configured to detect a position of the arm apparatus and to transmit a first signal indicative of the position of the arm apparatus; 
 a saw bar position sensor configured to detect a position of the saw bar and to transmit a second signal indicative of the position of the saw bar; and 
   a controller configured to receive the first signal and the second signal, the controller configured to determine whether the second position is reached based upon the first signal and the second signal, and when the second position is reached, the controller transmits a resting signal to the tree processing head to perform a resting operation.   
     
     
         8 . The tree processing system of  claim 7 , wherein the controller is configured to calculate a position of the tree and a girth of the tree based on the first signal. 
     
     
         9 . The tree processing system of  claim 8 , wherein the saw bar is positioned on a plane, and the tree includes a cross-sectional boundary on the plane, and the cross-section boundary is calculated by the controller based on the position of the tree and the girth of the tree, the second position is reached when the saw bar has moved through the cross-sectional boundary. 
     
     
         10 . The tree processing system of  claim 8 , wherein the saw bar is positioned on a plane, and the tree includes a cross-sectional boundary on the plane, and the cross-section boundary is calculated by the controller based on the position of the tree and the girth of the tree, the first position is reached when the saw bar and the cross-sectional boundary start an overlap on the plane. 
     
     
         11 . The tree processing system of  claim 7 , wherein the resting operation includes returning the saw bar to the home position. 
     
     
         12 . The tree processing system of  claim 7 , wherein the resting operation includes slowing a speed of the motor. 
     
     
         13 . The tree processing system of  claim 7 , wherein the saw bar is coupled to the header frame via a pivot point, and the actuator is configured to swing the saw bar from the home position to the first position and to the second position about the pivot point. 
     
     
         14 . The tree processing system of  claim 7 , wherein the tree processing head is a felling head or a grapple saw head. 
     
     
         15 . A method for a tree processing head to harvest a tree, comprising:
 initiating a cutting operation on a tree, the cutting operation including powering a cutting chain of a saw bar driven by a motor;   securing the tree;   moving the saw bar via an actuator, the saw bar configured to be moved from a home position to a first position and to a second position, and the first position and the second position defining a cutting zone;   detecting a hydraulic pressure of at least one of the motor and the actuator by a sensor;   determining whether the second position is reached based upon a decrease of the hydraulic pressure by a controller; and   transmitting a resting signal to the tree processing head to perform a resting operation.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the resting operation includes returning the saw bar to the home position. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the resting operation includes slowing a speed of the motor. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising receiving a data of a second pressure threshold, and determining the second position being reached when the cutting operation is performed and the hydraulic pressure decreases to or below the second pressure threshold. 
     
     
         19 . A method for a tree processing head to harvest a tree, comprising:
 initiating a cutting operation on a tree, the cutting operation including powering a cutting chain of a saw bar driven by a motor;   securing the tree by an arm apparatus pivotally coupled to a header frame of the tree processing head;   detecting a position of the arm apparatus to transmit a first signal by an arm position sensor;   moving the saw bar, which is configured to be moved from a home position to a first position and to a second position, the first position and the second position defining a cutting zone therebetween;   detecting a position of the saw bar to transmit a second signal by a saw bar position sensor;   determining whether the second position is reached based upon the first signal and the second signal; and   transmitting a resting signal to the tree processing head to perform a resting operation.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising calculating a position of the tree and a girth of the tree based on the first signal. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising calculating a cross-sectional boundary of the tree on a plane based on the position of the tree and the girth of the tree, the saw bar being moveable on the plane, and determining whether the second position is reached when the saw bar has moved through the cross-sectional boundary. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising calculating a cross-sectional boundary of the tree on a plane based on the position of the tree and the girth of the tree, the saw bar being moveable on the plane, and determining whether the first position is reached when the saw bar and the cross-sectional boundary start an overlap on the plane.