CONTROL OF PLANTS

Abstract

The disclosure relates to the control of plants by means of electrical energy and the mechanical removal of parts of the plants. The disclosure relates to a method and a device for the control of undesired plants by electrical and mechanical means.

Claims

1. A device comprising a collecting electrode, wherein the collecting electrode is configured to be brought into contact with the ground, a contact electrode, wherein the contact electrode is configured to be brought to a defined height above the ground, wherein the contact electrode is attached to the device in a frontal region of the device, a voltage source for the application of a voltage between the contact electrode and the collecting electrode and a removal tool that is located behind the contact electrode, wherein the device is configured to be moved over the ground, and when the device moves in such a way the contact electrode comes into contact with plants that are growing in the ground, wherein when such contact occurs an electrical current flows between the contact electrode and the collecting electrode through parts of the plants, and the parts of the plants that are located above the ground are removed by the removal tool after the flow of current.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the removal tool is a cutting tool that is configured to separate plant parts above the ground from plant parts in the ground.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the removal tool is implemented as a blade or an arrangement of blades.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the removal tool functions simultaneously as the collecting electrode.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the collecting electrode is implemented as a sliding contact, plough or wheel.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the removal tool is implemented as a rotating wire brush.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising a collecting container to accommodate separated plant parts.

8. The device claim 7, further comprising a collector tool for conveying separated plant parts into the collecting container.

9. The device of claim 1, comprising one or a plurality of distance sensors for ascertaining a vertical distance of the contact electrode above the ground, a vertical distance of the removal tool above the ground, a vertical distance of the collecting electrode above the ground and/or a horizontal distance of the contact electrode from the collecting electrode.

10. The device of claim 1, comprising one or a plurality of plant sensors for ascertaining a growth height of the plants and/or one or a plurality of contact sensors for ascertaining a contact of the contact electrode with a plant.

11. The device of claim 1, comprising a control unit that is configured to adjust a vertical distance between the contact electrode and the ground, a vertical distance between the removal tool and the ground, a vertical distance of the collecting electrode from the ground, and/or a horizontal distance between the collecting electrode and the contact electrode to a defined value and/or to hold them at a defined value during a movement of the device over the ground.

12. A method comprising: providing a device comprising a collecting electrode, wherein the collecting electrode is implemented in such a way that it is in contact with a ground, a contact electrode, wherein the contact electrode is implemented in such a way that it is located at a defined height above the ground, a voltage source with which a voltage is applied between the contact electrode and the collecting electrode, and a removal tool, moving the device over the ground in a direction of an unwanted plant, wherein the contact electrode is located, in the sense of the movement direction, in front of the removal tool, and thereby: bringing the unwanted plant in the ground into contact with the contact electrode, wherein an electrical current flows between the contact electrode and the collecting electrode through the plant, following the flow of current: removing parts of the plant that are located above the ground with the removal tool.

13. The method of claim 12, removing parts of the plant that are located above the ground with the removal tool comprises: separating the parts of the plant that are located above the ground from parts of the plant that are located in the ground, and conveying the separated parts into a collecting container.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the removal tool functions simultaneously as the collecting electrode.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising: identifying an unwanted plant before moving the device over the ground in the direction of the unwanted plant and/or ascertaining a growth height of the unwanted plant and setting a defined vertical distance of the contact electrode above the ground and/or setting a defined vertical distance of the removal tool above the ground and/or setting a defined horizontal distance of the contact electrode from the collecting electrode and/or setting a level of the voltage between the contact electrode and the collecting electrode and/or setting a frequency of an alternating voltage between the contact electrode and the collecting electrode setting a speed of the device over the ground depending on the ascertained growth height and/or depending on the identified plant and/or ascertaining a contact of the contact electrode with the unwanted plant, and applying the voltage between the contact electrode and the collecting electrode on contact of the contact electrode with the unwanted plant.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0115] The invention is described in more detail below with reference to figures, by way of example only, without wishing to restrict the invention to the features and feature combinations illustrated in the figures.

[0116] FIG. 1 shows schematically an embodiment of the device; and

[0117] FIG. 2 shows schematically a further embodiment of the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0118] FIG. 1 shows schematically an embodiment of the device according to the invention. The device is implemented as a vehicle (10). The vehicle (10) moves in the movement direction (R) towards a plant (20) that is growing in the ground (30). In the frontal region of the vehicle (10) a contact electrode (11) is attached at a defined vertical distance A above the ground (30). A collecting electrode (12) is in contact with the ground (30). An electrical voltage can be applied between the contact electrode (11) and the collecting electrode (12) by a voltage source (13). If the vehicle (10) moves in the movement direction (R) towards the plant (20) the contact electrode touches the plant (20). If there is a voltage between the contact electrode (11) and the collecting electrode (12) at the moment of this contact, an electrical current flows between the contact electrode (11) and the collecting electrode (12) through plant parts (21) above the ground (30), through plant parts (22) in the ground (30) and through parts of the ground (30). The plant (20) is weakened or destroyed by the current. A removal tool (14) is located, in the sense of the movement direction (R) of the vehicle, behind the contact electrode (11). If the vehicle moves further in the movement direction (R), the plant (20) comes into contact with the removal tool (14). The plant parts (21) above the ground (30) are removed by the removal tool (14). The plant parts (22) in the ground (30) can remain in the ground (30).

[0119] FIG. 2 shows schematically a further embodiment of the device according to the invention. The device is implemented as a vehicle (10). The vehicle (10) moves in the movement direction (R) towards a plant (20) that is growing in the ground (30). A contact electrode (11) is attached in the frontal region of the vehicle (10) having a defined vertical distance A above the ground. A rotating wire brush is attached in the rear region of the vehicle (10), and functions simultaneously as the collecting electrode (12) and as the removal tool (14). The rotating wire brush is in contact with the ground (30). An electrical voltage is applied between the contact electrode (11) and the wire brush by a voltage source (13). If the vehicle (10) moves towards the plant (20) in the movement direction (R), the plant (20) comes into contact with the contact electrode (11). On contact, an electrical current flows between the contact electrode (11) and the wire brush, flowing through plant parts (21) above the ground (30), through plant parts (22) in the ground (30), and through a part of the ground (30). As the device moves further in the movement direction (R), the plant (20) comes into contact with the rotating wire brush, and is captured and torn apart by it.