INFEED SYSTEMS FOR CHIPPERS OR GRINDERS, AND CHIPPERS AND GRINDERS HAVING SAME

摘要

An infeed system of a chipper or grinder includes a feed roller, a motor for rotating the roller, a hydraulic cylinder for adjusting an amount of crush force applied by the roller, a sensor, and a controller in data communication with the sensor and the cylinder. In operation, the controller determines whether the material is being effectively moved to the processing portion and whether the amount of crush force is at a maximum or lowest setting. The controller causes the cylinder to: (a) decrease the amount of crush force when the material is being effectively moved to the processing portion and the amount of crush force applied is not at the lowest setting; and (b) increase the amount of crush force when the material is not being effectively moved to the processing portion and the amount of crush force is not at the maximum setting.