Design and Control of Log Feeding Function in a Single-Grip Harvester

The feeding function that is used to move, measure and to delimb the log is the most energy consuming function of a modern single-grip harvester used in cut-to-length method.

Most important properties of this feeding function are energy efficiency and sufficient working parameters like achievable feeding force, feeding speed and positioning accuracy.

This paper deals with the basic requirements and restrictions of different hydraulic implementations of the feeding function. Aspects to engineering a hydraulic system that performs these requirements without damaging the log are given. Different control methods are also discussed as regards energy consumption, positioning accuracy and total productivity of the function.

This paper is a part of a research project which aim is to create the feeding device for demanding conditions. Most important goal of this paper is to determine and discuss the problems of the today's feeding device in a harvester head as well as the requirements set for the coming solutions.