Importance

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Abstract

A boom mountable tree processing head that incorporates a number of improvements, one of which is the ability to process more than one tree at a time. To do this, there is an accumulator type grapple arrangement and/or the trees are longitudinally offset for processing so that their diameters are essentially the same where they are gripped by the tree feed means. The accumulator grapple disclosed has two sets of grapples spaced apart from one another longitudinally along the processor with the arms of one grapple set being longer than that of the other. The grapple with the shorter arms also serves to press the tree against an improved endless conveyor type drive that propels the trees endwise for processing. Another improvement is the endless drive that includes two spaced apart driven endless chains located respectively on opposite sides of the feed path and interconnected by a plurality of somewhat resiliently flexible shoes. The processing head is hydraulically operated. There is an improved mounting that includes a rotary coupling on the processing head that has a rotor with hydraulic lines connected thereto. The rotor turns in response to pivoting of the processing head on the end of the boom. The processing head is suspended from the boom by a link having a hydraulic rotary actuator like pivot joint to damp oscillatory movement of the processing head.

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First Claim