WO2002013597A1

WO2002013597A1 - A device and a method for timber harvesting

Info

Publication number: WO2002013597A1
Application number: PCT/SE2001/001761
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bengt Sörvik
Original assignee: Soervik Bengt
Priority date: 2000-08-15
Filing date: 2001-08-15
Publication date: 2002-02-21
Also published as: AU2001282763A1; SE0002915D0; SE0002915L; EP1324650A1; SE520298C2

Abstract

A method and a system comprising forest harvesting by means of a harvesting machine (1) comprising a vehicle (2) and a harvesting arrangement (3) mounted thereon, the position of the growth location of a tree being determined in connection with the felling of the tree by the harvesting machine (1), and this position information being stored in a database. In connection with the felling, the end surface or a part of the end surface of a piece of timber (44) obtained from the tree is detected or reproduced by a detection/reproduction device (12). The digital reproduction, or information identifying the piece of timber, obtained via the detection/reproduction device is stored in a database in such a manner that this reproduction/information is associated to the stored position information that indicates the growth location of the tree from which the piece of timber is obtained. The invention also relates to an arrangement (3) for forest harvesting comprising a detection/reproduction device (12).

Description

A device and a method for timber harvesting

FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART

The present invention relates to a method for forest harvesting according to the preamble of the subsequent claims 1 and 4, a system for forestry according to the preamble of the subsequent claims 10 and 11 , and an arrangement for forest harvesting according to the preamble of the subsequent claim 13.

From WO 99/23873 A1 is previously known a system for making possible a rational forest harvesting and planning thereof. According to one aspect of this system, the forest harvesting is carried out by means of a harvesting machine comprising a vehicle and a harvesting arrangement mounted thereon, the vehicle being provided with a computer arrangement adapted to register quality and/or size concerning harvested pieces of timber. In connection to the felling of a tree, the position of the harvesting machine is determined, for instance by means of a GPS- equipment, and a piece of timber obtained from the tree is marked by a marking device with this position information or a code, by means of which the piece of timber is associatable to the position information, the position information or the code being used for association with quality and/or size data concerning the pieces of timber in question. In this way, it will be possible to treat the wood raw material as products having an identity of origin. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is in a wide sense to further develop the basic principles of treating the wood raw material as products having an identity of origin presented in WO 99/23873 A1.

According to a first aspect, the invention aims at creating conditions for a rational identification of individual pieces of timber so that an individual piece of timber in a simple manner can be associated to position information concerning the growth location of the tree from which the piece of timber is obtained.

According to a second aspect, the invention aims at creating conditions for a simplified obtaining of information concerning quality, size etc of an individual piece of timber, which information in a simply manner is associatable to position information or a code applied to the piece of timber, which position information/code is related to the growth location of the tree from which the piece of timber is obtained.

The first aspect of the invention is achieved by the method and system more closely defined in the subsequent claims 1 and 10, respectively. According to this inventional aspect, an individual piece of timber is identified by a digital reproduction of its end surface or by information obtained via detection of the end surface or via analysis and/or processing of the digital reproduction, the reproduction/information being stored in a data base in such a manner that it is associated to position information indi- eating the growth location of the tree from which the piece of timber is obtained. In this way, a piece of timber can be provided with an identity of origin without any mark in the form of position information or code related to the growth location having to be applied on the piece of timber, which is very advanta- geous since relatively complicated equipment is required for such a marking operation. In this description and in the claims, the term detection refers to registration of radiation emitted or reflected from the end surface of the piece of timber for the purpose of generating a pa- rameter characteristic for the piece of timber. For instance, the ability of the end surface to absorb radiation of a certain wavelength can be registered, in which case the characteristic parameter is an absorption coefficient. Consequently, the detection device refers to a device for registration of radiation emitted or reflected from the end surface of the piece of timber. The regis- trated radiation is then analysed in a suitable manner so as to obtain the parameter characteristic for the piece of timber.

The second aspect of the invention is achieved by the method and system more closely defined In the subsequent claims 4 and 1 1 , respectively. The detection or reproduction makes it possible to obtain, in a rapid and simple way, information concerning quality, diameter, bark thickness etc. of the piece of timber that has been position determined and marked. As a complement or an alternative, the digital reproduction can be stored for later production, by analysis and/or processing, of desired information concerning the piece of timber that has been position determined and marked.

The invention also relates to an arrangement for forest harvesting according to claim 13, which arrangement comprises a device for detecting or digitally reproducing the end surface or a part of the end surface of a piece of timber cross-cut by the cutting means, the device being mounted on a appliance adapted to move the device from a first position, in which the device, as seen in radial direction in relation to a piece of timber held by the gripping members, is located outside the piece of timber, to a second position, in which the device is located directly in front of said end surface. In this way, it will be possible to de- tect/reproduce the end surface of a piece of timber immediately after it has been cut-off from the rest of the log. An advantage with this arrangement of the detection/reproduction device is that the detection/reproduction of the end surface of the piece of timber can be carried out during the period of time during which the piece of timber is lifted by the harvesting arrangement from a vertical to a horizontal position, whereby the detection/reproduction operation can be carried out without deterioration of the harvesting capacity of the harvesting arrangement.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will appear from the de- pendent claims and the subsequent description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference to the enclosed drawings, a more specific de- scription of embodiment examples of the invention will follow hereinbelow.

In the drawings:

Fig 1 is a schematical view illustrating a preferred embodiment of a system for forestry according to the invention,

Fig 2 is a schematical lateral view illustrating a conventional arrangement for forest harvesting as seen in its position for vertical holding of a piece of timber,

Fig 3 is a schematical front view of an arrangement according to fig 1 as seen in the position when the piece of timber has been turned to a horizontal position,

Fig 4 is a schematical planar view illustrating the location of a detection/reproduction device of an arrangement according to a first embodiment of the invention, Fig 5 is a schematical view illustrating the arrangement according to fig 4 as seen from the side,

Fig 6 is a schematical planar view illustrating the location of a detection/reproduction device of an arrangement according to a second embodiment of the invention,

Fig 7 is a schematical view illustrating the arrangement according to fig 6 as seen from the side,

Fig 8 is a schematical perspective view of the movement appliance shown in fig θ and 7,

Fig 9 is a schematical perspective view of a preferred em- bodiment of a marking device included in an arrangement,

Fig 10 is a schematical view of a marking device having the character of a punch,

Fig 1 1 is a schematical perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the reproduction device included in an arrangement according to the invention, and

Fig 12 is a cut lateral view illustrating an alternative embodiment of a reproduction device included in an arrangement according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Fig 1 schematically illustrates a system for forestry according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. The system comprises a harvesting machine 1 intended for forest harvesting, which harvesting machine comprises a vehicle 2 and a harvesting ar- rangement 3 mounted. The harvesting arrangement 3 is carried by the vehicle via a crane 4 and is here a so-called one grip harvesting arrangement, i.e. an arrangement adapted to grip a standing tree, cut it, lay the tree down to the position according to fig 3 and then by means of feeding means drive the log through the arrangement while simultaneously branching the log. The log may be cross-cut into individual pieces of timber by means of the cutting device. It is emphasised in this respect that the present invention is just as well applicable to cases in which there is a desire to refrain from branching of the log, i.e. where it is only cross-cut into pieces of timber. However, the invention is also applicable to a so-called full log handling, i.e. where the harvesting arrangement is utilised so as to cut the tree off and fell it, but after which no cross-cutting of the log into smaller pieces is carried out. In such a case, the expression "piece of timber" used in the claims is intended to cover also the log as a whole. The harvesting arrangement may if so desired be provided with branching means so as to relieve the log from branches by driving the log through the arrangement also in full log handling.

A position determining device, generally denoted by 5, capable of determining the position of the harvesting machine by means of external, wirelessly receivable signals is arranged on the harvesting machine. It is preferred that the position determining device operates according to the GPS-system (GPS = Global Positioning System). This is a satellite based positioning system creating conditions for a very high accuracy with respect to position determination. The satellite signals are in the reality disturbed. The disturbances are in the practise corrected by means of signals emitted from a ground station. These signals are re- ceived by the position determining device and may together with the satellite signals result in the very high position determining accuracy aimed at.

Fig 1 illustrates a variant where the position determining device comprises two position determining units 6 and 6', respectively, preferably in the form of GPS-units. As can be seen, the unit 6 is arranged on the vehicle cabin, whereas the unit 6' is located on the crane 4. The presence of two such position determining units, which suitably are connected to a computer arrangement 7 located in the harvesting machine and capable of a evaluating signals from the units 6 and 6' for position determining purposes, implies that the direction of the crane always can be determined, also during movement. This embodiment also has a distance meter 8 for measuring the distance between the tree that is to be felled and a part 9 of the crane 4 that is solely turn- ably moveable with respect to the vehicle 2. With the aid of these components 6-8, the distance and the direction of the arrangement 3 from the unit 6 can at the felling occasion be determined with very high accuracy and thereby the position of a felled tree, i.e. its growth location, can be determined.

By this way of registering the position of the harvesting arrangement in connection with the felling of a tree, the position of the growth location of the tree is consequently obtained with a very high accuracy. In case a lower accuracy in the position of the growth location of the tree can be accepted by the user of the system, it can be sufficient to only determine the position of the vehicle 2 included in the harvesting machine 1 and use this position determination as a rough estimation of the growth location of a felled tree. Within the scope of the inventional idea, also other ways and components than the above-mentioned can be used for determination of the position of the harvesting machine or the harvesting arrangement. If so desired, the position determining device can also be arranged separate from the harvesting machine itself. Besides, the harvesting machine can of course have other configurations than what is shown in fig 1 .

A so-called cross-cutting computer is in fig 1 denoted by 10. The computer arrangement as a whole on the harvesting machine 1 is denoted by 7. In addition to the cross-cutting computer 10, the computer arrangement comprises a further computer 1 1 adapted to generate, on the basis of information obtained from the components 6-8, a position information corresponding to the actual position of the harvesting arrangement. Position information related to the place of origin of a piece of timber, i.e. the growth location of the tree from which the piece of timber is obtained, is stored in a database, for instance in the computer 11 .

The harvesting machine 1 is provided with a device, schematically indicated at 12, for detecting or digitally reproducing the end surface, or where appropriate a part of this end surface, of a piece of timber cut off by the harvesting arrangement. A possible design of this device and a movement appliance for carrying and positioning this in relation to the other parts of the arrangement 3 will be more closely described in connection with fig 4-12. From the device 12, the signals that have been picked up are transferred to a computer, for instance the computer 1 1 .

The device 12 can for instance comprise an image recording unit, such as a video camera or a scanner, for generation of a digital reproduction. The device 12 can also be based on so- called NIR-technique (NIR = "Near Infrared Spectroscopy").

According to the first inventional aspect, the detection or the digital reproduction is used as a "fingerprint" for the piece of timber in question, for the purpose of making an identification of the piece of timber possible. Preferably, this identification is based on the fact that the annual rings of each individual end surface constitute a unique pattern. In this connection, it is possible to store the digital reproduction in its entirety in a database for utilisation in a later piece of timber identification. Alternatively, the reproduction can first be processed by image analysis and/or image processing, for instance in the computer 1 1 , so as to obtain information by means of which the piece of timber in question can be identified, which information is stored in a data- base for utilisation at a later identification occasion. The device 12 can for instance also be adapted to generate a parameter characteristic for a piece of timber by detecting the distance and thickness of the annual rings, in which case the annual ring pattern for instance is read like a bar code. The device 12 could also be adapted to detect the chemical constitution of the mate- rial in the end surface. The reproduction/information identifying the piece of timber is stored in the database in such a manner that it is associated to the stored position information that indicates the growth location of the tree from which the piece of timber is obtained. In this way, it will be possible, at a later stage during the treating and movement of the piece of timber, to identify a certain piece of timber and obtain information about its place of origin.

The later identification, for instance at a sawmill or anywhere else in the transportation chain, is carried out by once again reproducing the end surface of the piece of timber by means of a detection/reproduction device, the reproduction or information obtained via the detection/reproαuction device being compared with stored reproductions/informations for determination of the identity of the piece of timber. In connection with the felling, the piece of timber whose end surface has been detected or reproduced should be provided with some kind of simple mark, for instance a colour mark, indicating that the piece of timber has been identified at the felling by detection or reproduction of one of its end surfaces. Said mark is also to indicate which one of the end surfaces of the piece of timber that has been subjected to detection/reproduction so that the later performed identification will relate to the correct end surface. By the later determination of the identity of the piece of timber, information can be obtained about the place of origin of the piece of timber. In connection with the felling, information concerning the quality, size, seller, buyer etc. of the piece of timber can also be stored associated to the piece of timber, in which case also such information can be obtained at the later identification of the piece of timber. The reproduction/information identifying the piece of timber can also be utilised in order to follow the movement of the piece of timber from the felling to the final customer.

The digital reproduction can also be utilised in order to obtain, by image analysis and/or image processing, for instance in the computer 1 1 , information concerning quality, size etc. of the piece of timber in question. From the reproduction it is for instance possible to obtain annual ring information for calculation of the growth conditions of the tree and the piece of timber in question. Annual ring analysis can also be used in order to estimate, for instance via statistical calculations, the quality of the piece of timber. Furthermore, calculations for percentual deduction for bark can be performed based on the reproduction, and rot damages, compression wood etc. can also be registered. Also cutting cracks can be registered by image analysis of the digital reproductions. If a scanner with the capability of catching near infrared wavelengths, but also other wavelengths and fluorescent light, is used for the detection, chemical properties of the piece of timber can also be registered, such as for instance moisture content, hard wood content, fiber content etc. Information obtained in this manner can be stored in a database, for instance in the computer 11 , associated to the reproduction/information identifying the piece of timber, and is thereby accessible for desired purposes.

According to the second inventional aspect, the detection/reproduction is utilised in order to obtain information concerning quality, size etc, in the above indicated manner, this information being stored in a database, for instance in the com- puter 1 1 , in such a manner that this information is associated to a mark applied on the piece of timber, by means of which mark the place of origin of the piece of timber can be determined. It is of course also possible in the initial stage to only store the reproduction itself in the database associated to the mark for later generation of data characteristic for the piece of timber by analysis and/or processing of the reproduction. Said mark has the form of a position information indicating the place of origin or a code, by means of which the piece of timber is associatable to the stored position information. In this case, a marking device, schematically indicated at 13, is arranged on the harvest- ing machine for application of said mark on the piece of timber. The marking device 13 can for instance be adapted to apply said mark in any of the ways described in the above mentioned WO 99/23873 A1 . The system further comprises a computer arrangement, for instance the previously mentioned computer ar- rangement 7, which is adapted to control the marking device 13 to mark the piece of timber, on the basis of position information obtained from the position determining device 5, with said mark, preferably in the form of a code. This code is by the computer arrangement 7 related to the digital reproduction and/or to in- formation obtained from this. The code can by the computer arrangement also be related to data characteristic for the piece of timber, concerning for instance quality and size, determined by the cross-cutting computer 10 in connection with the felling. Said reproduction and/or information and/or data is stored by the computer arrangement 7. In the example shown in fig 1 , said control and storage is handled by the computer 1 1 included in the computer arrangement 7.

In case the end surface is reproduced, the device 12 is suitably adapted to reproduce the end surface, or the part of this, after the mark has been applied on the end surface, whereby the reproduction will comprise also the mark in question.

In the example shown in fig 1 , the computer 1 1 and possibly also the cross-cutting computer 10 are arranged to communicate wirelessly via a transmitter/receiver 14 connected to an antenna 15, with a transmitter/receiver 16, which also has an antenna 17 and which is connected to a base computer 19 included in a second computer arrangement 18. Consequently, data are wirelessly transferable to the base computer from the computer 1 1 on the harvesting machine. Data received by the base com- puter 19 are stored in one or more databases belonging to one or more second computer arrangements 18. Such second computer arrangements 18 may be distributed in a suitable number over the country. An operating centre 20 is indicated as con- nected to the base computer 19. Thus, the operating centre 20 may receive, from the base computer, data required for evaluation and control purposes. 21 denotes a forest planning unit, i.e. a unit intended to feed, to the base computer 19, forest maps, harvesting plans etc. These may then be delivered to the har- vesting machine wirelessly and may be used for guiding the driver of the harvesting machine, for instance via a viewing screen 22 or so that the harvesting machine is automatically controlled depending upon data received. Thus, these data should in the latter case be so accurate that the harvesting ma- chine with guidance thereof may be moved automatically in the terrain and be caused to automatically harvest trees, which in the harvesting plan have been decided to be harvested. In fig 1 , it is also indicated how a satellite 23 can be utilised in order to achieve communication between the base computer 19 and the computer arrangement 7 on the harvesting machine.

Fig 1 also illustrates schematically a sawmill 24 having reproduction devices 25, 26. The sawmill 24 is intended to comprise a third computer arrangement 27 with a computer 28. This re- ceives information obtained from the reproduction devices 25, 26 and transmits this information further to the base computer 19, possibly via a wireless connection 29. Accordingly, the base computer 19 obtains from the saw mill 24 information about the timber reaching the saw mill and the properties thereof so that data stored in the base computer 19 can be supplemented and corrected, respectively. This implies that there are possibilities to, for instance, compare the harvesting plan with the timber gain actually obtained in the saw mill so that weak links in the production chain may be identified. The computer 28 in the sawmill 24 may be connected to a marking device 30 and a sorting device 31 . Boards or groups of boards resulting in the saw mill may by the marking device be provided with a mark in the form of a code which is associatable to data concerning location of growth for trees, from which the boards derive, quality and size information etc. The sorting device 31 connected to the computer 28 is intended to be controlled by the computer 28 so that boards deriving from a certain tree or a certain group of trees are brought together to a package or other board gathering so that conditions are provided to mark this gathering with a code as just described.

An arrangement for forest harvesting, a so-called harvester head, generally denoted with 3, is illustrated in fig 2. This arrangement is intended to be included in a harvesting machine, which further comprises a base vehicle carrying the arrange- ment 3 by means of a crane. The arrangement 3 is here a so- called one grip harvesting arrangement, i.e. an arrangement adapted to grip a standing tree by gripping members 40, cut the tree by a cutting device 41 , lay the tree down to the position according to fig 3 and then by feeding means drive the log through the arrangement 3 while simultaneously branching the log by branching members 43, which are here arranged on the gripping members 40. In the example illustrated, the arrangement comprises feeding means consisting of two rotatably driven feeding rolls 42 adapted to come into engagement with the tree on op- posite sides thereof. By means of the cutting device 41 , the log may be cross-cut into individual pieces of timber. In this respect, it is emphasised that the present invention is just as well applicable to cases in which there is a desire refrain from branching the log, i.e. where it is only cross-cut into pieces of timber. However, the invention also embraces arrangement for so-called full log handling, i.e. where the harvesting arrangement is utilised to cut the tree off and fell it, but after which no cross-cutting of the log into smaller pieces is carried out. The expression "piece of timber" used in the claims is in such a case intended to also cover the log as a whole. The harvesting arrangement may if so desired be provided with branching members so as to re- Neve the log from branches by driving the log through the arrangement also in full log handling. In fig 2, the arrangement 3 is shown with a cross-cut log 44, indicated with broken line, held by the gripping members 40 with the log extending in vertical di- rection. In fig 3, the arrangement 3 and a log 44 held therein is shown after the arrangement has laid the log down to horizontal position. The manoeuvring from vertical to horizontal position is carried out by means of a power member 45 in the form of a hydraulic cylinder, which is adapted to turn the part 3 of the ar- rangement in which the log 44 is held in relation to the other part 3b of the arrangement. The arrangement 3 is, with respect to the parts described so far, of conventional design.

The arrangement according to the invention is provided with a device 12 of above-mentioned type, for detection or generation of a digital reproduction of the end surface or a part thereof of a piece of timber 44 cross-cut by the cutting device 41 . The device 12 is mounted on an appliance 46 adapted to move the device 12 from a first retracted position, which is illustrated with con- tinuous line in fig 4 or 5, to a second protruded position, which is illustrated with broken line in said figures. In the first position, the device 12 is, as seen in relation to a piece of timber 44 held by the gripping members 40, located radially outside the piece of timber 44. With the expression "radially outside the piece of timber" is here and in the claims intended a position straight out from the envelop surface of the piece of timber (see fig 7) as well as a position radially outside and imaginary extension of the piece of timber (see fig 5). In the latter case (fig 5), the device 12 is thus located below the piece of timber 44 as seen in the longitudinal direction of the piece of timber. The device 12 is intended to be located in this first position between the time instants when the detection/reproduction is performed. In the second position, the device 12 is located directly in front of the end surface 47 of the end of the piece of timber 44 that has been cross-cut by the cutting device 41. In this second position, a detection/reproduction of said end surface 47, or a part thereof, of the piece of timber 44 can thus be performed by the device 12. The device 12 is intended to be located in the second position only during the short lapse of time required for performing the detection/reproduction, and it is after the performance of this intended to return to the first position. When the device 12 is located in the first position, it is protected from contact with a log that is gripped by the gripping members 40 and thereafter crosscut by the cutting device 41 , and in this position the device 12 is consequently also protected from contact with a piece of timber 40 that is fed forward by the feeding means 42. It is realised that the device 12 also has to be arranged in such a way that it in said first position goes free from the cutting device 41 when this performs the cross-cutting. Directly after the cross-cutting has been performed, the device 12 is pushed forward to said second position by the movement appliance 46, whereupon the reproduction is performed and the device 12 is returned to the first retracted position. The movement of the device 12 from the first to the second position, the performance of the detection/reproduction and the returnal of the device 12 to the first position is intended to take place during a very short lapse of time so that the normal working operations of the arrangement will not be affected, whereby its capacity will not be deteriorated.

In the shown embodiments, the cutting device 41 of the arrangement consists of a pivotally arranged saw sword having a surrounding chain. Other cutting devices may of course be possible within the scope of the invention. The device 12 is preferably arranged in the protective box 48 that accommodates and protects the cutting device 41. In the shown embodiments, the saw sword constituting the cutting device 41 is in a conventional manner arranged in a so-called saw box 48, which is intended to protect the saw sword and its driving equipment from impacts against the ground when the arrangement 3 is applied on a log for cross-cutting thereof. In fig 4-8, the device 12 and its movement appliance 45 are shown arranged in said saw box 47. The shown saw box 48 is mounted on the part 3 of the framework construction 49 of the arrangement that is turnable by the power member 45.

In fig 4 and 5, a first alternative of the appliance 46 for movement of the device 12 between the first and the second position is shown. The movement appliance 46 here comprises a telescopic arm 50, which in one of its ends is fixed in the saw box 48 and in its other end carries the device 12. The telescopic arm 50 is adapted to displace the device 12 in a plane essentially parallel with the end surface 47 of the piece of timber. In the embodiment shown in fig 4 and 5, the movement appliance 46 is arranged in such a manner that the device 12 in its first position is located at a level below the cutting device 41 so that the de- vice goes free from the cutting device when this performs its cross-cutting movement.

In fig 6-8, a movement appliance 46 according to a second alternative is shown. The movement appliance 46 here comprises two telescopic arms 31 , 32. A first telescopic arm 51 carries the reproduction device 12 at its outer end and is adapted to displace the device 12 in a plane essentially parallel with the end surface 47 of the piece of timber. A second telescopic arm 52 is fixed to the inner end of the first telescopic arm 51 and is adapted to move the device 12 together with the first arm 51 essentially in the longitudinal direction of the piece of timber. In fig 6 and 7, the device 12 is shown in continuous line in said first position and in broken line in the previous mentioned second position. In its first position, the device 12 is located at a level above the plane in which the cutting device 41 performs its cross-cutting movement. The device 12 and its movement appliance 46 are also in the alternative shown in fig 6 and 7 arranged in the saw box 48 of a harvesting arrangement 3 provided with a saw sword. Compared with the saw box 48 shown in fig 5, the saw box 48 according to fig 7 has a heightened section for accommodating the second telescopic arm 52. In fig 6 and 7, a measuring roll for measuring the length of the piece of timber is furthermore schematically indicated at 53.

The arms 50-52 included in the shown movement appliances 46 are preferably intended to be manoeuvred with the aid of hydraulic.

The movement appliance 46 included in the harvesting arrangement according to the invention can of course also be de- signed in other ways than here shown.

Fig 6-8 also show how a marking device, schematically indicated at 13, of previously mentioned type, can be carried by the movement appliance 46. This marking device 13 is in the same way as the device 12 arranged at the outer end of the first telescopic arm 51 .

A preferred embodiment of said marking device 13 is shown in fig 9. The reproduction device 12 has not been illustrated in this figure. This marking device 13 comprises a cylindrically shaped body 60, which at one of its ends is rotatably mounted on the arm 51 included in the movement appliance 46. The body shown in fig 9 is carried by the arm 51 only via one of its ends, but in order to enhance the stability it could also be suitable to let the body 60 be carried via both its ends. In the latter case, the arm 51 could for instance be provided with a fork-shaped section at its outer end, with the respective shank of the fork-shaped section being connected to a respective end of the body 60. A number of marking members are arranged in the body 60, one of which being schematically indicated at 61 . In the shown example, these marking members have the character of punching members, which are selectively moveable between active marking positions and inactive rest positions. The punching members are in the example intended to be in their active positions when they protrude from the envelop surface of the body, whereas they are inactive in their retracted positions. These punching members are thus intended to be pressed against the end of the piece of timber so that the presently active, i.e. protruding, marking members protrude into the end surface of the piece of timber and generate a mark consisting of a matrix of holes punched into the end of the piece of timber. In order to make possible an adequate reading of the matrix, the mark is suitably also provided with a reference mark. The movement of the marking member 61 between inactive and active position can for instance be carried out with the aid of electromagnetic or hy- draulic power members. The control of the marking member 61 is, as previously mentioned, intended to take place via a computer arrangement 7 arranged on the vehicle carrying the harvesting arrangement 3. The control information may be transferred to the marking device 13 via lines or via wireless signals. In the latter case, the marking device 13 is provided with a suitable means 62, schematically indicated in fig 8, for receiving control signals. This means 62 can also be used for transferring information from the device 12 to said computer arrangement 7. The signal transmission can for instance be carried out with the aid of blue tooth technique.

It is illustrated in fig 10 how the marking members 61 already indicated in fig 9 could be designed. The marking member 61 having the character of a punch, suitably has a tube-like front end, which upon pressing into the wood material of the piece of timber will receive a piece of wood. The punching member 61 has a lateral opening 63, through which wood material entering into the tube-like end of the punching member may exit. The punching member 61 is rotatably arranged above an axis in par- allel with the punching direction so that, accordingly, the wood material entering into the punching end of the punching member will be broken off from the piece of timber and can be made to exit through the opening 63. A cam-like protrusion member 64 is arranged for protruding the punching member 61 to its active position, and this protrusion member is adapted to protrude the punching member as well as to make it turn. The protrusion member is at its return movement turning the punching member back to its starting position. The protrusion member 64 may then also be arranged to forcedly retract the punching member, or alternatively (or as a compliment) a spring 65 indicated in fig 10 may serve for the returning movement.

It is possible to combine the punching member 61 in fig 10 with an ink marking, suitably by providing the punching member with an ink channel 66, through which marking ink is supplied from a source to the region of the front mouth of the punching member. Thus, the intention is that the hole resulting in the end of the piece of timber after punching shall be provided with ink so that it appears clearly. In this connection, different inks could be supplied via different punching members. Furthermore, the inks could be combined with different isotopes or be fluorescent so as to facilitate the reading.

In the variant illustrated in fig 8 and 10, the body 60 of the marking device has the character of a rotatable wheel. The marking members 61 are here radially movable, so that they may be brought to protrude through peripheral openings in the wheel. Accordingly, actuating members are arranged inside the wheel so that the marking members 61 selectively can be made to protrude and thereby give the piece of timber in question the intended mark. When the marking device 13 is located in said second position directly in front of the end of the piece of timber cross-cut by the cutting device 41 , the marking device 13 is with the aid of the movement appliance 46 pushed against the end surface of the piece of timber and is rolled over this surface with the aid of the movement appliance 46, the protruding marking members 61 penetrating into the end surface and achieving the intended marking. It is realised that the rolling movement of the variant illustrated in fig 6-8 is achieved by retraction or protrusion of the telescopic arm 51 . Furthermore, the force for press- ing the marking device is obtained by retraction of the telescopic arm 52. The marking device 13 is suitably provided with a return spring or the like, which achieves a return of the body 60 of the marking device to its initial rotational position in relation to the arm 51 carrying the marking device 13 after the marking device 13 has been rolled an intended distance over the end surface of the piece of timber and has been released from this end surface.

In the variant shown in fig 6-8, the detection/reproduction of the end surface 47 is intended to be carried out after the performance of the marking operation. After the performance of the marking operation, the telescopic arm 52 is thus protruded so that the device 12 together with the marking device 13 is retreated from the end surface 47. The arm 52 is protruded to a position where the device 12 is at a distance from the end surface suitable for the detection/reproduction, whereupon the de- tection/reproduction is carried out and the movement appliance 46 returns the device 12 and the marking device 13 to the previously mentioned first position.

Other marking techniques and marking devices than the ones here described are of course conceivable. A beneficial marking technique is based on the use of laser beam emitting members, which on the piece of timber applies the intended marking for instance in the form of a bar code or in any other way. Besides laser technique, other types of radiant energy can of course be used for the intended marking purposes. In case the marking technique implies that heat energy is emitted, the end section of the piece of timber can suitably be sprayed with water or the like so as to eliminate an eventual risk of fire.

The device 13 could also be adapted to emit a marking by stamping. This may be accomplished by marking members provided with a suitable surface for ink stamping, for instance of rubber or with a teflon coating. In this case, the marking members may either be provided with ink before they in the previ- ously described way are protruded through an opening in the body of the device or provided with ink via ink channels as previously described.

A possible design of a reproduction device 12 included in a har- vesting arrangement according to the invention is shown in fig 1 1 . The production device here comprises a lens arrangement 71 arranged in a casing 70, which lens arrangement, for instance via a not shown optical line, is connected to a not shown processing unit where the incident radiation is converted into a digital image. Said processing unit can for instance comprise CCD-cells and can for instance be arranged well protected in the vehicle 2 carrying the harvesting arrangement 3. The transmission from the lens arrangement to the processing unit could also be carried out with blue tooth technique. The lens arrange- ment 71 is arranged nearby an opening 72 arranged in the upper side of the casing, which opening 72 is so arranged that it can be covered by a displaceable disc 73. Said disc 73 may, as shown in fig 1 1 , be pivotally displaceable in relation to the casing 70, but it may of course also be linearly displaceable in rela- tion to the casing 70. It is also possible to let the casing be provided with an appliance designed like a camera shutter for covering the opening 72. The lens arrangement 70 is protected by the casing 70, and between the reproduction occasions the opening is covered by said disc 70 or "shutter". When a repro- duction is to be performed, the disc or "shutter" is moved away and uncover the opening 72 so that radiation can be received via the lens arrangement 71 . After performed reproduction, the opening is re-covered by the disc/"shutter". In order to facilitate the reproduction, for instance in case of bad light conditions, the harvesting arrangement is suitably provided with a lighting device 74, preferably mounted on the casing 70 as shown in fig 1 1 . Where appropriate, this lighting device 74 can also be adapted to emit fluorescent radiation or other radiation suitable with respect to the used reproduction technique. The casing 70 can also be provided with nozzles 75 for blowing compressed air, or any other suitable gas, for the purpose of cleaning the end surface of the piece of timber from chips and other things prior to the reproduction occasion. In the variant shown in fig 1 1 , such blowing nozzles are arranged on the upper side of the casing. As an alternative or a complement to such blowing nozzles 75, a blowing device 76, for instance in the form of nozzles, may be arranged to blow compressed air, or any other suitable gas, into the casing toward the lens arrangement 71 so as to clean this, as schematically shown in fig 12.

Also a device designed for detection of the end surface could be designed in accordance with what has been illustrated in fig 1 1 and 12, in which case the device 74 could be adapted to emit a radiation suitable with respect to the used detection technique.

It would also be possible to supplement the harvesting arrangement with a device, not shown, for generation by X-ray technique of information concerning the quality of a piece of timber held in the arrangement, in which case this information could be stored in a database and associated to the piece of timber by means of the previously mentioned position information or code. This information could for instance relate to the presence of mechanical defects in the wood, such as rot, compression wood, resin accumulations etc. The X-ray analysis could be carried out continuously during the feeding of the piece of timber through the harvesting arrangement.

It is emphasised that the invention is not only limited to the em- bodiments described above. It is generally pointed out that many modifications are offered for the man skilled in the art once the basic idea of the invention has been presented.

Claims

1. A method for forest harvesting by means of a harvesting machine (1 ) comprising a vehicle (2) and a harvesting ar- rangement (3) mounted thereon, the position of the growth location of a tree being determined in connection with the felling of the tree by the harvesting machine (1 ), and this position information being stored in a database, characterized in that the end surface or a part of the end surface of a piece of timber obtained from the tree is reproduced by a device (12) for generation of a digital reproduction or detected by a detection device (12), and that the digital reproductions or information identifying the piece of timber obtained via the detection/reproduction device (12) is stored in a database in such a manner that this reproduction/information is associated to the stored position information indicating the growth location of the tree from which the piece of timber is obtained.

2. A method according to claim 1 , characterized in that information about quality and/or size of the piece of timber is stored in a database, and that the piece of timber is associated to said information about quality and/or size by means of the digital reproduction or the information identifying the piece of timber.

3. A method according to claim 2, characterized in that information about quality and/or size of the piece of timber is obtained via the detection/reproduction device (12).

4. A method for forest harvesting by means of a harvesting machine (1 ) comprising a vehicle (2) and a harvesting arrangement (3) mounted thereon, the position of the growth location of a tree being determined in connection with the felling of the tree by the harvesting machine (1 ), the harvesting machine being provided with a marking device (13) adapted to apply a mark on a piece of timber obtained from the tree and a computer arrangement (7) adapted to control the marking device (13) to mark the piece of timber, on the basis of the position information concerning the determined growth location of the tree, with the position information or a code, by means of which the piece of timber is associatable to said position information stored in a database, characterized in that the end surface or a part of the end surface of the piece of timber is reproduced by a device (12) for generation of a digital reproduction or detected by a detection device (12), and that the digital reproduction or information obtained via the detection/reproduction device (12) is stored in a database in such a manner that this reproduction/information is associated to the position infor- mation or the code.

A method according to claim 4, characterized in that information about quality and/or size of the piece of timber is stored in a database and that the piece of timber is associ- ated to said information about quality and/or size by means of the position information or the code.

A method according to claim 5, characterized in that the information about quality and/or size of the piece of timber is obtained via the detection/reproduction device (12).

A method according to any of claims 4-6, characterized in that the reproduction takes place after the piece of timber has been marked with the position information or the code, the digital reproduction being made to comprise said position information or code.

A method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the position is determined by means of a po- sition determining device (5) arranged on the harvesting machine (1 ) and capable of determining the position of the harvesting machine by means of external, wirelessly receivable signals.

A method according to claim 8, characterized in that the position information relates to the position of the harvesting arrangement (3) of the harvesting machine at the occasion of the felling.

A system for forestry including timber harvesting by means of a harvesting machine (1 ) comprising a vehicle (2) and a harvesting arrangement (3) mounted thereon, the system comprising a position determining device (5) capable of determining the position of the harvesting machine and means (7) for storing in a database position information, determined by the position determining device (5), concerning the growth location of a tree felled by the harvesting machine (1 ), characterized in that the harvesting machine (1 ) is provided with a device (12) for detecting or digitally reproducing the end surface or a part of the end surface of a piece of timber obtained from the tree, and that the system further comprises a computer arrangement (7) adapted to store the digital reproduction or information identifying the piece of timber obtained via said device (12), the computer arrangement (7) being adapted to store this reproduc- tion/information in such a manner that it is associated to the stored position information that indicates the growth location of the tree from which the piece of timber is obtained.

A system for forestry including timber harvesting by means of the harvesting machine (1 ) comprising a vehicle (2) and a harvesting arrangement (3) mounted thereon, the system comprising a position determining device (5) capable of determining the position of the harvesting machine, a marking device (13) adapted to apply a mark on a piece of timber obtained from a tree, and a computer arrangement

(7) adapted to control the marking device to mark the piece of timber, on the basis of a position information obtained from the position determining device, with the position information or a code, by means of which the piece of timber is associatable to said position information stored in a data- base, characterized in that the harvesting machine (1 ) further comprises a device (12) for detecting or digitally reproducing the end surface or a part of the end surface of the piece of timber, and that the system further comprises means (7) for storing in a database the digital reproduction or information obtained via said detection/reproduction device (12), said means (7) being adapted to store this reproduction/information in such a manner that it is associated to the position information or the code.

12. A system according to claim 10 or 1 1 , characterized in that the device (12) is arranged on the harvesting arrangement (3).

13. An arrangement for forest harvesting comprising gripping members (40) for holding a piece of timber and a cutting means (41 ) for cutting a piece of timber being held, characterized in that the arrangement (3) further comprises a device (12) for detecting or digitally reproducing the end surface or a part of the end surface of a piece of timber cross- cut by the cutting means (41 ), the device (12) being mounted on a appliance (46) adapted to move the device (12) from a first position, in which the device (12), as seen in radial direction in relation to a piece of timber held by the gripping members (40), is located outside the piece of tim- ber, to a second position, in which the device (12) is located directly in front of said end surface.

14. An arrangement according to claim 13, the cutting means (41 ) being arranged in a protective box (48) of the arrange- ment (3), characterized in that the device (12) is arranged in the protective box (48) that accommodates the cutting means (41 ).

15. An arrangement according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the movement appliance (46) comprises a telescopic arm (50, 51 ) adapted to move the device (12) essentially in the cross-direction of a piece of timber held by the gripping members (40).

16. An arrangement according to claim 15, characterized in that the telescopic arm (51 ) also carries a device (13) for applying a mark on the piece of timber.

17. An arrangement according to any of claims 13-16, charac- terized in that the reproduction device (12) comprises a lens arrangement (71 ) arranged in a casing (70), and that a blowing device (76) is arranged in the casing (70) for cleaning the lens arrangement (71 ).

18. An arrangement according to any of claims 13-17, characterized in that the arrangement (3) is provided with a device (74) for emitting radiation towards the end surface of the piece of timber.