Abstract: A feller-buncher includes a first axle having a number of first wheels attached thereto and a second axle having a number of second wheels attached thereto. The feller-buncher also includes a first hydraulic motor operable to rotate the first axle and a second hydraulic motor operable to rotate the second axle. The feller-buncher also includes a first hydraulic pump operable to supply pressurized hydraulic fluid. Yet further, the feller-buncher includes a first flow sharing valve fluidly coupled to each of the first hydraulic pump, the first hydraulic motor, and the second hydraulic motor. The first flow sharing valve is configured to distribute the pressurized hydraulic fluid from the first hydraulic pump evenly between the first hydraulic motor and the second hydraulic motor, whereby the first axle and the second axle are driven at a substantially equal speed relative to one another. A method of operating a feller-buncher is also disclosed.

Abstract: A feller-buncher includes a work tool having a hydraulically powered blade. The feller-buncher also includes a first axle having a number of first wheels attached thereto and a first hydraulic motor operable to rotate the first axle. The feller-buncher also includes a first hydraulic pump operable to supply pressurized hydraulic fluid to the first hydraulic motor and a second hydraulic pump operable to supply pressurized hydraulic fluid to both the work tool and the first hydraulic motor. Yet further, the feller-buncher includes a load sensing circuit for sensing a load on the work tool when the work tool is contacting a tree. The first hydraulic pump is configured to adjust hydraulic fluid flow to the first hydraulic motor based on the load on the work tool sensed by the load sensing circuit. A method for operating a feller-buncher is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for felling and bunching trees is disclosed. The apparatus includes a front frame and a front axle supported by the front frame. The apparatus further includes a number of front wheels mounted on the front axle and a work tool supported by the front frame. The work tool has a blade for felling trees and a number of work arms which are movable to secure the trees within the work tool. The apparatus further includes a front hydraulic motor operable to rotate the front axle. The front hydraulic motor is supported by the front frame. The apparatus yet further includes a first hydraulic pump operable to supply pressurized hydraulic fluid to the front motor. The apparatus still further includes a rear frame which is pivotably coupled to the front frame, a rear axle supported by the rear frame, and a number of rear wheels mounted on the rear axle. The apparatus still further includes a rear hydraulic motor operable to rotate the rear axle. The rear hydraulic motor being supported by the rear frame.

Abstract: An apparatus for felling and bunching trees is disclosed. The apparatus includes a frame and a yoke pivotably connected to the frame. The apparatus further includes a tool support pivotably connected to the yoke at a pivot axis and a cutting tool supported by the tool support. The cutting tool has a leading edge LE which is advanced toward the trees during a felling operation. The cutting tool further has a trailing edge TE which lags behind the leading edge LE when the leading edge LE is advanced toward the trees during the felling operation. The apparatus yet further includes a tilt cylinder positioned between the frame and the tool support. The tilt cylinder is movable between an extended tilt position and a retracted tilt position. The leading edge LE is moved closer to the ground when the tilt cylinder is moved from the retracted tilt position to the extended tilt position.

Abstract: An electronic component lead cutting and outwardly clinching mechanism for cutting the component leads that extend from the underside of a printed circuit board and for outwardly clinching the portions of the leads remaining after the cutting to the underside of the printed circuit board. The severed scrap portions of the leads fall into a scrap discharge chute to be carried away from the cutting and clinching mechanism. A lead detector is incorporated into the mechanism to detect the presence or absence of the leads during the shearing action.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for individually selecting a number of dual in-line (DIP) components and sequentially inserting them into a printed circuit board. The apparatus has a basic mode of operation, under a program control, and comprises a shuttle assembly and a component insertion assembly. In operation, the shuttle assembly transfers a component from a selected one of a plurality of magazines to an unload station. At the unload station, the shuttle assembly loads the insertion assembly which rotates to a vertical position for insertion of the component in a printed circuit board. The printed circuit board is mounted on an X-Y positioning system controlled by a tape reader or a computer which also determines the automatic sequencing of the shuttle assembly.

Abstract: Two or four lead DIP components are stored in a generally vertical, adjustable chute for gravity feed during lateral removal of a single component by a coacting shuttle tooling clamp arm from the bottom of the supply. Individual component removal is facilitated by a spring biased plunger for blocking removal of the bottom-most component until the coacting clamp arm raises the plunger against the action of the spring biasing.

Abstract: DIP components are released from storage in a generally vertical chute when a spring-biased first finger blocking the chute exit is pivoted away. A second finger presses laterally on a prong of the second lowest stored component and limits dispensing to a single component for each actuation of the first finger.

Abstract: An apparatus for sequentially feeding non-axial lead electrical components in their manufacturing strips from a magazine to a forming station where they are removed, bent into a substantially axial lead configuration and taped between two pairs of continuous ribbons of tape. The leads are straightened while in the manufacturing strip by being placed under tension.

Abstract: An apparatus for sequentially feeding non-axial lead electrical components in their manufacturing strips from a magazine to a forming station where they are removed, bent into a substantially axial lead configuration and taped between two pairs of continuous ribbons of tape. The leads are straightened while in the manufacturing strip by being placed under tension.