LASER TRIMMING DEVICE AND METHOD

Abstract

A cutting apparatus including a plurality of laser beams for cutting vegetation. The apparatus comprises a housing including an electrically powered laser cutting device which is positioned centrally within the housing. The laser cutting device generates at least one laser beam that is directed outwards from the housing wherein the laser is absorbed by a plate attached to a metal guide at the end of the effective cutting length of the laser.

Claims

1. An apparatus for cutting vegetation, the apparatus controlled by a user for movement along vegetation, said apparatus comprising: a housing connected to a laser generating unit, a metal guide with a first and second end, wherein the first end of the metal guide is attached directly to the housing unit, the metal guide extends horizontally from the housing unit, and the second end of the metal guide is attached to a metal plater wherein the metal plate has a laser absorbing material on it, and wherein the laser generating unit produces lasers outward from the housing along the metal guide from the first end to the second end wherein the laser if of sufficient power, energy and strength to cut through vegetation that a user desires to be removed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] FIG. 1 is a picture of the housing unit, lasers, guide and laser absorbing plate.

[0020] FIG. 2 shows the interlocks necessary to safely operate the apparatus in one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] In accordance with the present invention, there are provided both an apparatus for improved cutting of vegetation, and a method for operating the apparatus. The cutting apparatus is movable by a user at various speeds along vegetation for cutting the vegetation with a laser cutting means that is adjustable to project focused laser beams outwards for cutting and trimming vegetation. The method is using the laser generating device as trimmer to remove vegetation in a desired geometric pattern.

[0022] As seen in FIG. 1, the improved cutting apparatus includes a housing, 70, having a laser generation device (not shown and interior to the housing unit), guide lines, 80, attached to the housing unit, 70, control systems to control the laser beam, 10, and an end piece, 20, attached to the guide lines, 80, to absorb the laser beams, 10. Further, the device has a port, 60, wherein an electrical cord can be plugged into the device to allow it to be powered by an external power source.

[0023] The currently disclosed device is similar to the popular hedge trimmers in use today. The only difference instead of using metal blades that get dull, broken, or rust the current apparatus is using lasers. The laser will be more effective in cutting through tree branches and bushes and is better than its metal blade counterpart. The Laser Hedge Cutter does not need any replacement blades and will run off electricity or battery.

[0024] A control system is installed on the housing unit. In general, there will be a plurality of control switches. As seen in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, in one embodiment there will be three (3) safety switches, 30, 40, and 50, to that must be activated to turn on the device. This will force the user to user both hands when using this device. The main handle will have a thumb switch, 50, and a trigger, 40. And the other 3.sup.rd switch, 30, will be where the other hand will have to activate it.

[0025] The concern that a user will injure themselves with the device will be high, but if the user must use both hands to operate the device, then this risk is minimized. Further the device will have a metal rod, or guide wires, with lasers on both sides of the metal or guide wires that will cut anything that breaks the beam. The device can be used with both right or left-handed people.

[0026] As previously mentioned in one embodiment there are three triggers. The first rigger must be pulled and is the first of three that must be activated to start the device. The second trigger will be located at the top of the handle which must be pushed forward to active the device. The third trigger will be a button and will force the user to use the other hand to activate and be able to turn the device on. This will make sure both hands are not in the area of the lasers which will cause injury.

[0027] The device will use a high energy laser cutting beam. These beams will be on both sides of a metal rod or guide wire which will be used to cut bushes or tree branches.

[0028] In the current embodiment, there are multiple switches and interlocks on the hand guard, and on the opposite side of the handle there is a switch lock, while the power cables for the switch and the lock are inside the handle to ensure safety.

[0029] The laser system located in the head of the apparatus consists of a collimator, a filter and a focusing lens. The optical system makes it possible to obtain the output beam with the assumed wavelength and to focus it appropriately.

[0030] Preferably, the band of the fiber laser is in the range from that is standard for lasers used to cut, trim, or otherwise impact vegetation.

[0031] Preferably, the semiconductor laser pump system has an output power that is standard for lasers used to cut, trim, or otherwise impact vegetation.

[0032] Cutting with a laser pruner according to the invention, which uses a laser, is an alternative to cutting with secateurs equipped with mechanical blades with a hydraulic or pneumatic drive. The geometry of the laser beam does not threaten the environment, and at the same time has a surface power density sufficient to cut wood. The maximum cutting thickness of the secateurs can be adjusted as desired by the user.

[0033] When cutting wood, a slight charring of the cut wood surface occurs and the wound cells are closed. This phenomenon protects the tree against the ingress of bacterial and fungal pathogens. Thanks to this, there is no need to spray the orchard after cutting the orchard to protect it against diseases caused by pathogens penetrating through the wounds formed during cutting. This is an additional advantage of the pruning shears according to the invention, as it allows to reduce the amount of chemicals used in orchard production.

[0034] The laser according to the invention can be supplied from a current generator with a power depending on the power of the laser used. Alternatively, the power supply can come from an direct source such as a power cord, extension cord, portable generators, or other similar system or method.

[0035] A control means is positioned proximate to the housing with the laser cutting means being controlled by the control means for the strength, number of laser beams, and intensity of the laser beams. Electrical power is provided to the laser cutting means by a power means being detachably connected to the housing, an extension cord, or with the power means preferably being a rechargeable battery and/or a gasoline powered electrical generator.

[0036] The control means includes an electrical interface positioned proximate to the upper surface of the housing, with the electrical interface providing user control of the movement, width, height, strength and intensity of the laser beam generator, providing user control of the intensity of the rotatable laser beam. A plurality of laser beams can be generated simultaneously by the laser beam generator or by separate laser beam generators with user manipulated controls being positioned proximate the position of the user in relation to the transport means.

[0037] The laser cutting means of the apparatus operates with reduced noise due to a lack of traditional blades and operates with a reduced number of moving mechanical parts thereby reducing maintenance requirements.

[0038] The at least one laser beam is transmitted generally from the end section of laser beam generator along the metal rod or guide wire from the housing unit. Further the apparatus may include a laser adjustment means which includes an adjustment means known to those skilled in the art for adjustments of the intensity, strength, and effective length of the at least one laser beam transmitted in the direction away from the apparatus.

[0039] The at least one laser beam is generated by the laser beam generator which is continuously active in strength, intensity, height, width, and energy to act in a means to cut vegetation, while being controlled by the user during vegetation cutting operations. The at least one laser beam can be directed outward from the housing unit to the vegetation. A plurality of light absorbing materials are positioned against the end piece of the apparatus, as seen in FIG. 1.

[0040] The at least one laser beam configuration can include alternative embodiments, including a second embodiment having at least two laser beam generators, or a third embodiment having three laser beam generators at a plurality of angles.

[0041] The apparatus, as previous mentioned, may have a system control means that is positioned on the apparatus and may either be attached on the surface of the apparatus or attached on user operated control arms. The laser cutting means is controlled by electronic circuitry within, and/or connectable to, the system control means which measures ground speed of the transport mean, the directions of the laser beam(s), and other operating parameters of the laser beam generator. The user is able to override the circuitry to adjust the height, intensity, width, or strength of the at least one laser beam as the cutting apparatus is transported across the vegetation to be cut. The system control means can include a ground speed indicator and electrical circuitry that is known to those skilled in the art to adjust the height, intensity, width, or strength of the laser beams in proportion to changes in the ground speed of the cutting apparatus.

[0042] Electrical power can be provided to the laser cutting means by an electrical power means being detachably connected to the housing, with the electrical power means being a plurality of rechargeable batteries, and/or an electrical generator operated by a power generation means. The electrical generator provides electrical power sufficient to operate the laser beam generator. For a plurality of batteries provided, the batteries may be rechargeable batteries known to those skilled in the art.

[0043] The control means can include controls having a plurality of electrical and mechanical interfaces positioned proximate to the user operating position for each alternative embodiment. The electrical and mechanical interfaces provide user control of the intensity, energy and effective height of each laser

[0044] Electrical circuitry known to those skilled in the art can automatically increase the intensity of the laser beam generator as the ground speed of the transport means increases to increase the cutting strength of the laser beams in proportion to the speed of travel across the surface covered by vegetation.

[0045] A number of associated electronic and mechanical components known to those skilled in the art are not illustrated but can be incorporated without interfering with the objects and advantages of the present invention. An electrical generator can be sized appropriately to provide sufficient power to operate a plurality of laser beam generators in separate housings each having a plurality of laser beams projected outwards within each housing

[0046] While a preferred embodiment is shown and described, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the disclosure, but rather it is intended to cover all modification and alternate methods falling within the spirit and the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. One skilled in the art will recognize variations and associated alternative embodiments. The foregoing description should not be limited to the description of the embodiment of the invention contained herein.