FBR Summer 2023 - Flipbook - Page 13
Equipment
Industry
Review
News
IHC
improves
delimbing
quality
T
he correct setting of the
delimbing knives pressure is
a basic requirement for good
and precise harvester head
operation. Determining the correct
settings is based on a number of
variables, such as tree size, tree species
and felling conditions, so finding the
correct settings requires experience and
expertise.
The Intelligent Harvester Head
Control (IHC) option developed by
John Deere partially automates these
settings and makes the operator’s work
easier. A sensor in the harvester head
measures the force with which the tree
is pressed against the harvester head
and adjusts the compression pressure
of the upper delimbing knives for the
best possible result.
The force control of the delimbing
knives keeps the compression optimal
in all conditions. The correct settings
ensure good measuring accuracy
and delimbing quality, as well as low
fuel consumption. IHC also improves
productivity and the durability of the
harvester head.
When the customer takes delivery of
the machine, it is pre-configured with
basic, tree-specific delimbing knife
settings, which the operator can also
modify.
With the IHC option, the
TimberMatic control system has a
menu that is used to define the IHC
system’s target levels for the contact
force between the harvester head
and the specific type of tree; based
on these target levels, IHC adjusts the
compression force. As a starting point,
the force levels are set to neutral,
which IHC then automatically increases
or decreases based on the feeding
situation.
The operator no longer has to
constantly adjust the harvester
head settings as tree characteristics
or conditions change because IHC
adjusts the compression pressure
of the delimbing knives as needed.
The operator is left to monitor the
harvester head operation and adjust
the appropriate force levels of IHC as
necessary.
The IHC option is available with
John Deere’s H212 and H423 harvester
heads.
More information:
www.deere.com
Summer 2023 Forest Bioenergy Review
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