Apparatus for debarking trees

A debarking apparatus comprising;

• a debarking station wherein bark removing apparatus removes bark from tree stems passed through the station,
• a channel member provided in the apparatus occupies a substantial portion of the area beneath the debarking station, said channel member extending in a direction crossway to the movement of logs through the station and extending a substantial distance in both directions beyond the debarking station, said channel member having an open top and closed sides and bottom in the area of the debarking station, and terminating at one end in a bark emitting opening that is remote from said debarking station;
• a plunger slidably mounted in the channel member between a first position that is withdrawn from the area of the debarking station and at an end of the channel member opposite to the bark emitting opening, and a second position wherein the plunger resides in the debarking station, said plunger having a front face and upper surface that mates with the dimensions of the channel member, said upper surface closing the open top of the channel member when residing in said second position;
• and
• actuating means actuating movement of said plunger between said first and second positions to thereby open the channel member to bark pieces being removed from the tree stems while the plunger member is in the first position, with movement to the second position pushing the bark material residing within the channel member toward the bark emitting opening.