US 7,320,349 B2
Tree harvester
Michael C. Gatz, Chillicothe, Ill. (US)
Assigned to Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, Ill. (US)
Filed on Dec. 18, 2003, as Appl. No. 10/740,148.
Prior Publication US 2005/0133115 A1, Jun. 23, 2005
Int. Cl. A01G 23/08 (2006.01); B23Q 15/20 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 144—335  [144/356; 144/391; 144/4.1] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for operating a tree harvesting machine including a tree harvesting tool and a controller, wherein the method is performed by the controller, the method comprising:
identifying a tree to be harvested;
generating one or more tree position signals indicative of a position of the tree, wherein generating one or more tree position signals includes generating a signal indicative of a direction of the location of the tree with respect to the tree harvesting machine;
generating one or more tree harvesting tool position signals indicative of a position of the tree harvesting tool;
determining the position of the tree relative to the tree harvesting tool;
prompting an operator to provide a trigger signal when the controller has determined the position of the tree relative to the tree harvesting tool;
receiving the trigger signal;
executing an automatic positioning sequence in response to the trigger signal;
automatically generating a tool control signal; and
controlling movement of the tree harvesting tool toward the tree with the tool control signal as a function of the one or more tree position signals and the one or more tree harvesting tool position signals.