AU643543B2 - Method and apparatus for stripping canes - Google Patents

Description

40914 PJW:RJR:LL 6 4 3 5 4 3 P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

0 JEREMY BRIAN HARMAN SActual Inventor: 35 JEREMY BRIAN HARMAN as Address for Service: 0* 0 PKE1315 dated 20th July 1990 including the best method of performing it known to me: Invention Title: PK1315 dated 20th July 1990 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 2 This invention relates to the removing of canes from wires upon which vines have been grown.

The invention relates specifically to vines grown on a trellis including posts with wires supported by the posts. The invention can be used with trellis systems where the wires can be easily detached from the posts. It can also be used with trellis systems where the wires are not easily detached from the posts. An example of this arrangement is with vines grown for the production of sultanas.

Grape vines grown for the production of sultanas are often grown on a Ttrellis. The T-trellis arrangement comprises a row of grape vine stumps extending upwardly from the ground, and in line with the vine stumps and interspersed between them are posts. A substantially horizontal cross-bar is 1 5 supported at a longitudinal middle by an uppermost part of the post, so that it extends approximately equidistant to either side of the post. Close to both ends of the cross-bar are apertures each supporting a wire. Thus two parallel wires are supported along the length of a row. As the canes of the upright stump of each of the vines grows, it is wrapped around the wires so that the 2 0 canes are supported by the wires. The weight of the cane generally bears down on the wires which are supported by the cross bars. Recently for ease of manufacture the apertures in the cross bars have taken the form of upwardly open slots into which the wires can fit from above.

2 5 The difficulty that is encountered is on pruning, the canes are cut in close proximity of the upright stump, but the cut canes are tangled around the wires.

"The tangled canes must then be removed from the wires manually, however, this process is quite laborious and time consuming. It is to be understood however that the apparatus and method of this invention is not limited to vines 3 0 grown on the T-trellis described above but is equally applicable to any vines grown on wires so supported by posts.

It is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus and a method for pruning canes from the wire of a trellis during or after pruning.

9 o999 In one form the invention could be said to reside in an apparatus for removing canes from a wire supported by a plurality of upright posts spaced apart in a row, the said apparatus comprising a cutting head, locating means to locate and retain the cutting head with respect to the wire so as to allow for slidable movement of the cutting head longitudinally along the wire, and cutting means in the cutting head for severing canes from the wire and drive means adapted to drive said cutting means.

In one form the wire is supported by said posts so as to be readily detachable therefrom, and the said apparatus being adapted to be moved longitudinally relative to the row so that said wire is detached from said posts. Alternatively, the wire is supported by said posts so as not to be readily detachable therefrom, and the said apparatus being adapted to be moved laterally relative to the row so as to repeatedly capture and release the said wire.

In one form the cross-bars are adapted to support the wires so as to be readily detachable therefrom, and the said apparatus being adapted to be moved longitudinally relative to the row so that said wire is detached from said crossbars. Alternatively, the cross-bars are adapted to support the wires so as not to be readily detachable therefrom, and the said apparatus being adapted to be moved longitudinally relative to the row and lifted at intervals so as to repeatedly locate and release the said wire.

Thus the difficulty of damage to the vine stump is avoided by the detaching the 2 5 wire from the post and therefore away from the vine stump, so that the cutting means does not cut or otherwise damage the vine stump.

The further difficulty of damage to the support by the cutting means or the greater damage that could be done to the cutting means by the support is also 30 avoided.

The apparatus can be used on a trellis where the wire is supported within an upwardly facing slot, so that the wire is detachable by simply lifting the wire upwardly from the slot, and thus the apparatus is adapted to be lifted. The apparatus is further adapted to relocate the wire within the upwardly facing slot.

o? AL/i ze I 1 4 Preferably the means to locate the wire is behind the cutting means with respect to the direction of the cutting means travel o during operation of the apparatus.

The apparatus can be lifted by an external source such as a forklift mounted on a tractor, however, it is to be understood that the apparatus can include a lifting means to raise or lower the cutting means and means to locate the wire as well as the guide means.

Preferably the cutting means include pairs of blades rotatable about and extending from an axle, said blades spaced apart and adapted to straddle the wire, one of said blades on one side of the wire and a second of said blades on the other side of the wire, said drive means being couped to said axle and adapted to effect a rotation of said axle. Alternatively the cutting means may take the form of a rotory saw blade adapted to be aligned with the locating means.

Preferably the pair of blades converge together from an outer end, so that at the outer end of each of the blades are spaced apart further than at an inner end.

Preferably at the inner end of the pair of blades are so spaced apart to provide a close fit around said one of the wires. This ensures that an effective amount of cane is cut from the wire, the tapering minimizing damage to the outer end 25 of the blades, and the wire.

•I

Preferably the locating means is aligned with the pair of blades so as to align S-the wire to the inner end of the blades proximal to the axle from which the blades extend.

o The locating means can include a substantially downwardly facing V-shaped slot defined within a body, and including a closure means to close off an area within an upper portion of the V-shaped slot, said closure means adapted to support said one of the wires.

Preferably the closure means is a bolt, adapted to be slid through apertures through said body on either side of the V shaped slot.

1 0 Preferably the locating means and the cutting means are pivotable with respect to support means and said lifting means.

vo gig• In another broad form the invention could be said to reside in a method of woe*:removing cane from a wire supported by a plurality of upright posts spaced 4 0 1 5 apart in a row, the wire extending along the row, and anchored at either end, 0 the method including the steps of locating a cutting means on a wire, and the **step of cutting cane from the wire, by means of an apparatus of any of the above embodiments.

In one preferred form the invention could be said to reside in a method of removing cane from a wire of a trellis of the type comprising a plurality of upright posts spaced apart in a row, the wire extending along the row, and anchored at either end, and each of said posts at an uppermost part adapted to so support the wire as to be readily detachable, the method including the steps of locating a cutting means on a wire, and the step of cutting cane from the wire, by means of an apparatus of any of the above embodiments.

0 In one preferred form the step of cutting cane off a vine stump prior to cutting the cane off the wire is included in the method.

For a better understanding of this invention, it will now be described with reference to one embodiment which shall be described with the assistance of drawings. It will be appreciated that the invention can be applied to trellis systems other than that described below. Further, it will be appreciated that the invention can be exhibited in a number of embodiments beyond the one described below. For example, the invention would be exhibited by an apparatus incorporating two or more of the apparatuses described below with 6 necessary changes so allowing two or more wires to be stripped of cane.

FIGURE 1 is a sketch of the a typical trellis system to which the invention is applicable; FIGURE 2 is a sketch of a grape vine stump and canes supported by a trellis of the type illustrated in FIGURE 1; FIGURE 3 is a sketch of an apparatus exhibiting the invention in use; FIGURES 4(a) and are sketches of the side view of the embodiment, FIGURE 4 with a side guard removed to show the blades; to FIGURE 5 is a sketch of the rear view of the embodiment; .room 1FIGURE 6 is a sketch of the front view of the embodiment; and FIGURE 7 is a sketch of the locating means.

20 Referring to Figure 1, the trellis 1 is of a type known as a "T-trellis." The trellis ,goo° 1 includes post, for example, 2 and 3. Each post is adapted to support a cross-bar 4 which in turn is adapted to support two wires 5 and 6 in a spaced apart fashion. In some trellis forms the wires 5 and 6 rest in upwardly facing slots in the cross-bar 4. In other forms the wires 5 and 6 pass through holes in the cross-bar 4.

*000 °Grape vines, for example, are trained to the trellis 7 illustrated in Figure 2. The grape vine stumps, one being illustrated at 8, are substantially in line with the posts, for example 9 and 10, forming the trellis.

Each year the canes 11 of the grape vine 8 are trained about the wires 12 and 13. After harvesting, the canes are pruned in the proximity of the grape vine stump. Traditionally the canes are manually cut off the wires 12 and 13 which is a time consuming process. The next years growth of canes are again trained to the wires 12 and 13.

With the invention, after harvest, the canes are cut from the main grape vine stump 8 but not manually from the wires 12 and 13. This cutting is done by an apparatus exhibiting the invention. In Figure 3 a tractor 14 is illustrated. To this tractor a forklift means 15 is mounted. To the forklift 15 is secured support means 16. To the support means 16 is pivotally mounted the cane cutting apparatus 17 the subject of this disclosure. The cane cutting apparatus 17 is pivotally mounted centrally to the support means 16 and at the rear end also to the support means 16. By being pivotally mounted the apparatus 17 substantially aligns itself to the wire 18 being stripped of cane allowing some 1 0 tolerance in alignment of the tractor 15 relative to the wire 18. It will be appreciated that by this means minor variations in tractor 15 heading are compensated for by the apparatus 17.

In Figure 3 the apparatus is illustrated stripping a wire of a trellis system in S• 1 5 which the wires rest in slots in the cross-bars. In this case, as illustrated, the S° wire 18 is located and held within the apparatus 17, as discussed below. The apparatus 17 is then lifted clear of the cross-bars and the grape vine stumps and moved along the trellis.

Alternatively, for trellis systems where the wires passes through holes in the S cross-bars the apparatus 17, during the cane cutting operation, is repeatedly o°I. lowered onto a wire after a cross-bar and lifted off the wire before the next cross-bar. If desired, this lifting and lowering operation can be done within the So,. vicinity of the grape vine stumps.

Now referring to Figures 4 and and Figures 5 and 6, it can be seen that 0eI* 0 the apparatus 17 includes a frame of two side panels 19 and 20 spaced apart and fixed together by bolts 21, 22 and 23. Through the apparatus 17 passes the wire 24.

To the rear of the apparatus is a pivot mount 25 adapted to allow a pivotal mount to the supporting means 26. The direction of travel is illustrated by arrow 27.

A motor 28 is adapted to turn an axle 29. Mounted to the axle 29 is a disc To the disc 30 is mounted to pairs of blades 31 and 32. Each pair of blades are adapted to straddle wire 33 in close proximity so as to cut canes 34 from the wire 33.

8 In Figure 6 the shape of the individual blades of each pair of blades 31 and 32 can be seen. This arrangement in conjunction with the shape of the locating means 34 limits the risk of damaging the wire 35. As can be seen the locating means is of an inverted shape and is mounted to the frame between sides 19 and Illustrated in Figure 5 is a sliding bolt 37 arrangement to locate the wire 36 within the locating means 34. The bolt 37 is shaped and adapted to slide 1 0 through a hole in side 19 into a hocle 36. To fasten the bolt 37 in place the bolt 37 is rotated and into the gap between the side 19 and the fastener 38.

°Figure 5 also illustrates the apparatus 17 with a cover 39 covering the blades and extending between sides 19 and 20. So clarity this is not shown in Figure 1 5 6. The cover 39 prevents bits of cane being thrown out the upper portion of the apparatus 17 and so adds a measure of safety to the use of the apparatus 17.

The apparatus 17 is mounted to the supporting means 26 by pivot 25 at the rear. At the motor 28 the apparatus 17 is mounted to supporting mears 26 by °a further pivot The motor 28 can be any small power motor suitable for the application. As so such it can for example be an electric motor, a petrol motor of the type used for lawn mowers, or an hydraulic motor. In the example depicted in the Figures the motor 28 is an hydraulic motor fed from the hydraulic system of the tractor 14. Fluid is past through pipes 41 and 42.

In Figure 7 the locating means 43 is illustrated. As can be seen it is of an inverted shape and a wire 44 can be captured by bolt passing through hole into hole 46. The locating means guides the wire into its uppermost portion. This is dimensioned smaller than the distance between the blades so that the wire is not cut by the blades. This protects the wire and the blades.

From the above it will be appreciated that the invention provides a means to strip cane from a wire. it will be appreciated that there are many embodiments that a person skilled in the art could conceive incorporating the invention.

Whilst the apparatus is depicted as a tool to be mounted to a tractor it will be 9 appreciated that a specially built machine could be manufactured.

Whilst the preferred embodiment described herein utilises two pivot support means it will be appreciated that other arrangements can be envisaged. For example, the apparatus could be pivotally supported by a single support arm preferably at the rear of the apparatus with respect to the direction of travel during operation.

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Claims (7)

1. An apparatus for removing canes from a wire, the wire being of a type supported by a plurality of upright posts spaced apart in a row, the said apparatus comprising a cutting head, locating means to locate and retain the cutting head with respect to the wire so as to allow for sliding movement of the cutting head longitudinally along the wire, and cutting means in the cutting head for severing canes from the wire and drive means adapted to drive sad cutting means.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1 characterised by the locating means being behind the cutting means with respect to the direction of travel of the apparatus during operation of the apparatus, and the cutting means including at least one blade rotatable with and extending from an axle, said drive means 1 5 being coupled to said axle and adapted to effect a rotation of said axle and hence the blades.

3. An apparatus as in claim 2 characterised by the cutting means including a pair of blades rotatable with and extending from the axle, said blades spaced apart and adapted to straddle the wire, one of said blades on one side of the wire and a second of said blades on the other side of the wire, and wherein the pair of blades converge together from an outer end, so that at the outer end of each of the pair of blades are spaced apart further than at an inner end, the inner end of the blades being so spaced apart to provide a close fit around the wire, and the locating means being aligned with the pair of blades so as to align the wire to the inner end of the blades proximal to the axle from which the blades extend. ooeom

4. An apparatus as in any one of the preceding claims characterised 3 0 by the locating means including a substantially downwardly facing V-shaped slot defined within a body on the cutting head.

9. o* S An apparatus as in claim 4 characterised by the locating means including a closure means to close off an area within an upper portion of the V-shaped slot, and said closure means being adapted to support the wire. 99 A. 99o 9 o o 'I J. 11 6. An apparatus as in claim 5 characterised by the closure means being a bolt, adapted to be slid through apertures through said body on either side of the V-shaped slot. 7. An apparatus as in any one of the preceding claims characterised by the cutter head incorporating the locating means and the cutting means being pivotable with respect to a support means adapted to support the cutter head. 8. A method of removing cane from a wire supported by a plurality of uprigvi posts spaced apart in a row, the wire extending along the row, and anchored at either end, the method including the steps of locating a cutting means on a wire, and the step of cutting cane from the wire, by means of an 1 5 apparatus as defined in any one of claims 1 to 7. 9. A method of removing cane from a wire of a trellis of the type comprising a plurality of upright posts spaced apart in a row, the wire extending along the row, and anchored at either end, and each of said posts at an uppermost part adapted to so support the wire as to be readily detachable, the method including the steps of locating a cutting means on a wire, and the step of ciatting cane from the wire, by means of an apparatus as defined in any one of claims 1 to 7.

10. A method as in either of the last two preceding claims including the step of cutting cane off a vine stump prior to cutting the cane off the wire.

11. An apparatus for removing cane off from a wire of a trellis substantially as disclosed herein with reference to the accompanying 30 drawings. Dated this 13th day of September 1993 S* JEREMY BRIAN HARMAN 3 5 By his Patent Attorneys COLLISON CO. a'0 0:00 zz 6,4 ABSTRACT An apparatus and method of cutting cane from a wire of a trellis is disclosed. The apparatus includes wire locating means adapted to locate and align a wire from which cane is to be cut with blades. The blades are adapted to straddle the wire in close proximity and are caused to rotate by drive means. The method includes the steps of pruning the canes from vine stumps and using the apparatus to cut the cane from the wire. *00* 0 0SO B O 00 0 0. e 0 00' O