Tree harvesting apparatus

摘要

Tree harvester ( 10 ) is mounted on tractor ( 12 ) to enable continuously cutting and chipping of trees. The harvester ( 10 ) includes a rotary saw ( 14 ) for cutting a tree near ground level, transport means ( 16 ) adjacent the rotary saw ( 14 ) for gripping a tree cut by the rotary saw ( 14 ) and transporting the tree to and dropping the cut tree in a chipper ( 18 ) located at an end of the transport means ( 16 ) distant the rotary saw ( 14 ). The transport means ( 16 ) includes first and second opposed conveyors ( 46, 48 ) each provided with laterally extending fingers ( 50 ) so that a cut tree can be gripped by the fingers ( 50 ) of the opposed conveyors ( 46, 48 ) and subsequently transported therebetween to the chipper ( 18 ).