THINNING DEVICE

Abstract

The present invention is relative to the agricultural sector and more specifically in the field of fruit growing.

In recent years, the agricultural sector has undergone significant developments, often due to the need to meet the demands of the production of products that can meet certain standards, including, for example, in fruit production, the size of the fruit produced, which is often recognized as a quality parameter, as well as the quantity and availability of the fruit itself, which should remain as constant as possible over the years.

In particular in the sector it is known that it is important in this sense the thinning out of flowers and/or small fruits that is carried out. One purpose of this invention is to describe an innovative device suitable for the purpose.

Claims

1. A device (1) for thinning in fruit growing comprising at least one support (3) to which is connected a tube (2) to which are connected one or more flexible elements/whips (6) and said support (3) is connected by means, such as at least one plate (10) to an operating machine such as a tractor, characterized by the fact that said tube (2) is connected to at least one air compressor to supply at least air with variable pressure and/or flow rate to said tube (2), said tube (2) being crossed by said flow of air flowing in said one or more flexible elements (6), said flexible elements /whips (6) being hollow and able to move when crossed by said flow of air, the movement of the whips being modulated by compressed air, the whips (6) having random oscillatory movement by striking the parts to be thinned such as flowers and/or small fruits with modulated force depending on the pressure and/or flow rate of the air flow delivered.

2. A device (1) for thinning in fruit growing according to claim 1, in which the tube (2) can remain fixed, for a more superficial thinning, or can rotate to allow greater penetration of the flexible elements (6) into the plant.

3. A device (1) for thinning in fruit growing as claimed in claim 2, in which said hollow flexible elements (6) comprise one or more sections, such as at least one wider section (7), and at least one narrower section (8), made of the same or different materials, and thicknesses and internal cavities of the same or different shape and section, to modulate the oscillation of the element according to requirements.

4. A device (1) for thinning in fruit growing as claimed in 2, in which said one or more tubes (2) can be of any section.

5. A device (1) for thinning in fruit growing as claimed in claim 4, in which on the surface of said at least one tube (2) are connected in one or a plurality of points one or more hollow flexible elements (6).

6. A device (1) for thinning in fruit growing as claimed in claim 5, in which said flexible elements (6) comprise a single stem (7) with a constant section or a single stem with a variable section (7,8) or one or more bifurcated (8′,8″), trifurcated (8′,8″,8″), quadrifurcated (8′,8″,8″,8″) or similar, therefore they comprise one or more appendices (8) branching off from the central stem (7) and/or with different sections.

7. A device (1) for thinning in fruit growing as claimed in claim 6, in which one or more of the said flexible elements/whips (6) and/or appendices (7,8,8′,8″, etc.) have any length, even different from each other.

8. A device (1) for thinning in fruit growing as claimed in claim 1, which comprises a set of central tubes (2″,2″,2″,2n), with power supply also differentiated between them, from time to time some or all the tubes of the set can be fed with blown air one to feed only the tubes (2n) that are near to the plants and optimize energy consumption.

9. A device (1) for thinning in fruit growing as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hollow elements/whips (6) have a random oscillatory movement, more pronounced and faster at the farthest end of the tube and a slower and less wide oscillatory movement near the connection with the tube to the advantage of a vigorous processing in the inner part of the plant, more dense and intricate.

10. A device (1) for thinning in fruit growing as claimed in claim 1, wherein said device comprises a number of adjustments: adjustment of the feed speed of the operating machine, with low feed rate, more intense thinning, with a higher rate having less thinning, flow regulation and/or pressure of compressed air to change the peripheral speed and frequency of movement of the whip(s) (6).

11. A device (1) for thinning in fruit growing as claimed in claim 1, in which at least one tube (2) is rotating by effect of a motor, for example hydraulic (15).

12. A device (1) for thinning in fruit growing as claimed in claim 11, where said device is powered by electric and/or hydraulic and/or pneumatic motors.

13. A device (1) for thinning in fruit growing as claimed in claim 12, in which said device comprises electrically steerable mini-motors (401) applied on an elastic support (400) connected directly to the distal part of the tube (2), the axis of the rotor of said mini-motors (401) being equipped with a mandrel (403) to which are fixed said flexible elements (6), also said elastic whips (405), which may or may not be hollow.

14. A device (1) for thinning in fruit growing as claimed in claim 12, in which the rotation speed of the electric motors can be adjusted individually or in groups with special potentiometers.

15. A device (1) for thinning in fruit growing as claimed in claim 12, in which one or more electric and/or hydraulic motor(s) is/are directly connected to said tube (2) equipped with supports (421) attached to said tube, to said supports (421) are hinged arms (420) by means of a mobile hook (430), this allowing an oscillatory movement of the arms (420) on a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the tube (2), the support (421) being equipped with a spring or elastic system (422) able to bring the hook or mobile part (430) of the support (421) always in the central position, the arm (420) including within it means (423) to transfer the movement to one or more spindles (403) connected to said arms (420), to said spindles being fixed the whips (405) in various possible inclinations.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0040] These and other advantages obtained by virtue of the innovative thinning device described by the present invention will be better exposed with reference to the description of some particularly preferred forms of realization of the present invention, which have representative and not limiting purposes of the same:

[0041] in FIG. 1—subdivided in FIG. 1a rear view, 1b side view, 1c front view, 1d plan view—it is represented a first example of a preferred form of realization of said device for floral thinning;

[0042] in FIG. 2—subdivided into FIG. 2a rear view, 2b side view, 2c front view, 2d plan view—it is represented a second example of a preferred form of realization of said device for floral thinning;

[0043] in FIG. 3—subdivided in FIG. 3a rear view, 3b side view, 3c front view, 3d plan view—it is represented a third example of a preferred form of realization of said device for the floral thinning 1;

[0044] in FIG. 4—divided into FIG. 4a rear view, 4b side view, 4c front view, 4d plan view—it is represented a fourth example of a preferred form of realization of said device for floral thinning 1;

[0045] in FIG. 5—subdivided in FIG. 5a rear view, 5b side view, 5c front view, 5d plan view—it is represented a fifth example of a preferred form of realization of said device for the floral thinning 1;

[0046] in FIG. 6—it is represented a further example of a preferred form of realization;

[0047] and in FIG. 7—another example of a preferred form of realization is represented.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0048] In FIG. 1 it is represented—here and below for all FIGS. 1a, b, c, d reference will be made to the general FIG. 1—a first example of a particularly preferred form of realization of said device for thinning in fruit growing, in particular suitable for floral thinning 1 (and/or of small fruits in some forms of realization) comprising at least a support 3 that supports at least a tube 2 of any section by means of connections 11; at least one compressed air supply medium is further included in said at least one tube, so that said tube is crossed by compressed air by means of a connection 5 e.g. to an external compressor (not shown here). This device includes at least a flange 10 for mechanically connecting this device to an operating machine (e.g. a tractor not shown here); in said device 1 the tube 2 in this form of construction remains fixed with respect to the support 3. To said tube 2 are connected preferably on the part opposite the flange 10 one or more flexible elements 6 that are also hollow and therefore able to make the compressed air coming from tube 1 flow inside them. These flexible elements 6 can be realized in one or more sections of different diameter,—and in more different forms, provided they are hollow—in this specific case is represented (FIG. 1d) a larger section, that is a larger diameter 7 and a minor diameter section 8, that is smaller.

[0049] During the processing or during the thinning of a cultivation row, the device for thinning floral 1 is moved facing the elements 6 towards the plants to be thinned, the compressed air from tube 2 flowing towards the elements 6 will set them in motion causing a stronger oscillation at the ends and a lesser oscillation near the point of connection with tube 2, this oscillation thanks to the contact of elements 6 with the plant will produce a slight shaking of the leaves which in turn will determine the thinning of flowers and/or small fruits. Advantageously, the shaking will be much more delicate and respectful of current culture than what was achieved with prior art means.

[0050] In FIG. 2 it is represented a variant in the flexible elements 6—with reference to the FIG. 2 it is intended also here for simplicity all the FIGS. 2a, b, c, d—in fact in this embodiment example there are a plurality of appendices 8″, 8″, 8″ relative to the same flexible element 6. For example, the appendices can be branched from a point 7 of greater/larger section.

[0051] This variant allows to intensify the work of the flexible elements 6 and to make it more precise and effective by virtue of a larger area beaten by the appendages, this also allows a further possible adjustment of the thinning capacity of the device 1 object of this invention.

[0052] In FIG. 3—with reference to FIG. 3, all FIGS. 3a, b, c, d are intended here for simplicity—in this example the device for floral thinning 1 includes at least a rotating tube 2 virtue of a motor for example a hydraulic motor 15; in this case the flexible elements 6 are arranged on the whole surface of the tube 2. During the advancement of the tractor along the row, the flexible elements 6 are not simply dragged on the branches but are more directly inserted between the vegetation. Namely, in addition to making compressed air flow in the flexible elements 6 as already described above, the tube 2 is rotated with a speed suitable to allow the insertion of flexible elements 6 between the branches of the plants (simulating an effect similar to a toothed wheel on a rack) so as to allow a deeper processing of the plant and succeeding in thinning the flowers and/or small fruits even in the parts less accessible this is due to the greater penetration of the appendices 8 of smaller diameter into the vegetation, all to the advantage of a more precise and complete processing. Note that the flexible elements 6 may include at least one appendix 8 or more of one as described above. (The number of appendices being variable at will, as well as the number of flexible elements and in any variant of construction also more than 2 tubes can be conceived, made as the one described above.)

[0053] In FIG. 4—with reference to FIG. 4 it is intended also here for simplicity all FIGS. 4a, b, c, d it is represented a variant with respect to the representation of FIG. 3 in particular the flexible elements 6 having more than one appendix 8 are highlighted.

[0054] In FIG. 5—with reference to FIG. 5, all FIGS. 5a, b, c, d are also intended here for simplicity. Instead, a form of realization is represented in which the presence of more than one central tube 2 is highlighted, that is, a set of tubes is included: tubes 2″, 2″, 2″, 2n, having the main function of managing more economically the compressed air directed to the flexible elements 6. The possibility of having a set of tubes allows to feed from time to time only the flexible elements actually being processed on and within the plant/row. Basically, only the 2n tube and its respective connected flexible elements facing the row are supplied with compressed air, while the power supply is closed to those furthest from the plant and therefore not operational. This solution therefore saves on the power of the compressor that will have to supply the compressed air to device 1.

[0055] FIG. 6 shows an embodiment variant where, there are props or supports of elastic or semi-rigid material 400 connected to said tube 2, they are able to support at least a mini-engine 401 mounted on a swivel support 402. The rotor axis of the mini-engine(s) will be equipped with a spindle 403 to which 6 flexible elements are attached, which are defined here for convenience elastic whips 405, which in this case may or may not be hollow.

[0056] This variant allows a slow rotation of the tube 2 and therefore the consequent advantages already described above. The rotation speed of the electric motors can be adjusted individually or in groups with special potentiometers. The rotary movement of the whips 405, if deemed appropriate, can be modified into an alternative or even random translatory movement, with special guides attached to the stator of the motor.

[0057] In FIG. 7 is represented an embodiment variant in which the rotary movement is generated centrally by one or more electric and/or hydraulic motor/s connected directly to said tube 2, said motor transmits the motion mechanically to suitable means (such as for example a belt 423 connected in turn to pulleys connected to spindles 403) that are connected directly to the flexible elements 405.

[0058] The motion is transmitted through a longitudinal axis along the whole central tube 2, which will be equipped with supports 421 attached to said tube; to said supports 421 are hinged arms 420 by means of a mobile hook 430, this allows an oscillatory movement of the arms 420 on a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of tube 2. Support 421 will be equipped with a spring or elastic system 422 that will return the hook or moving part 430 of support 421 always in the central position. The arm 420 shall include inside means such as one or more pulleys (not visible here) and a belt 423 that transfers the movement to one or more spindles 403 connected to said arms 420, to said spindle(s) will be fixed the whips 405 in various possible inclinations. Also in this case, depending on the functioning of the motor (direction of rotation, speed, etc.) the whips may have different movements, but the system in this case will not be able to rotate and therefore will be more suitable for narrower forms of breeding.

[0059] The whips that will be fixed to the rotating spindle, will have shapes, sizes and characteristics so that their movement is as selective as possible and will hit the flowers in greater proportions than the leaves, or will be designed with materials, type of section and diameter of the same or different size suitable for the purpose.

[0060] In order to carry out a selective processing, in the case of rotary movement, the whips, if properly shaped, can generate a downward flow of air (e.g.: as in the case of the propellers of drones) so that the leaves with a larger surface are lowered more than the flowers and consequently have a lower chance of being affected by the whip.

[0061] In the case of different movements, the outer edge at the end of the whip, namely the one that impacts on the vegetation, should have alternately concave areas with a sharp surface and areas with convex and rounded surface. In this way the part of the whip that impacts with the vegetation will preferably cut the stems of the flowers and will tend instead to avoid the leaves.

[0062] It is understood that both possibilities, as well as the variants previously described, all have in common the aim of originating a whip motion that starts at the entire volume of the plant and then allows for a homogeneous processing of the same volume especially in the central part of the same, an objective that can not be pursued with a rotary movement that originates from the central tube and therefore external, as in this case the whips would preferably impact on the external surface of the branches of the plants.

[0063] It is to be noted that in each variant, depending on the opportunity, the motor(s) may be electric, hydraulic and/or pneumatic.

[0064] It is therefore clear that this innovative thinning device offers all the technical advantages described above in a very advantageous way.

[0065] Variants in materials in which the device is made, type of compressor, supply, assembly on agricultural machinery or other type of operating machine, number of tubes, mode of air supply, shape of appendices 6, number of appendices, the various diameters, energy supply, type of compressors, adjustment of movement modes, etc. are to be considered mere variants of the construction of the present invention that do not go in any case to restrict the scope of protection of the present invention, as better explained in the attached claims.