Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
  • A01G9/00—Cultivation in receptacles, forcing-frames or greenhouses; Edging for beds, lawn or the like
  • A01G9/12—Supports for plants; Trellis for strawberries or the like
  • A01G9/126—Wirespool supports

Definitions

• the device according to the invention serves just as in convention ⁇ al culture systems for hanging the tomato plant by means of a thread.
• This hanging thread hangs vertically and is trained round the plant during the growth of the plant.
• the fibrous structure of the thread creates sufficient resistance. The plant remains suspended on the thread without the latter constricting the plant.
• the invention has for its object to obviate the above- stated drawbacks by providing a device of the type de ⁇ scribed in the preamble, which is distinguished in that a detachable locking means is arranged for locking the running wheel relative to the support body.
• the locking means consists of a gear wheel connected to the running wheel and a ratchet falling into the toothing, which ratchet is connected to the support and provided with a control lever.
• the ratchet By rotating the control lever relative to the support body the ratchet can be taken out of the toothing of the gear wheel, whereby the running wheel can be shifted along the hanging element.
• the running wheel is itself embodied as a gear wheel, the toothing of which runs along the underside of the horizontal element.
• the locking means consists of a drum connected to the running wheel, an inner part connected to the support and spread- able in the drum, an eccentric or the like coupled to a control lever for spreading and pressing the inner part against the inside of the drum.
• the running wheel rolls along on top of the thread and the wheel periphery is provided with a V- shaped cross-section. A considerable grip is hereby obtained and no displacement will occur.
• the invention further relates to an assembly of more than one device according to the invention, wherein the levers of the devices on a horizontal element are con ⁇ nected to a common pulling element, so that all the devices are operated simultaneously.
• Operation can be embodied in accordance with an auto- matic control system.
• the invention finally relates to a rail-like horizon ⁇ tal element which can be manufactured starting from a flat strip which is formed into a profile.
• fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of the device according to the invention
• fig. 2 shows a side view of the device of fig. 1
• fig. 3 shows a front view of the device of fig. 1
• fig. 4 is a perspective view corresponding with fig. 1 of a second embodiment of the device according to the invention
• fig. 5 is a side view of the device of fig. 4
• fig. 6 shows a front view of the device of fig. 4
• fig. 7a to g show different stages in the making of a horizontal support element which is formed from a flat strip into a profile.
• the embodiment of the device according to the inven- tion shown in figures 1-3 comprises a support body 1, a reel 2 rotatably mounted thereon, in addition to a run ⁇ ning wheel 3 which is fixedly connected to reel 2 and provided along the periphery with a toothing 4.
• a lever 5 On the underside of support body 1 is arranged a lever 5 which can be displaced pivotally relative to support body 1 via a connecting piece 6.
• a ratchet 7 Arranged on the part of the lever adjacent the pivoting part 6 is a ratchet 7, the outer end of which falls into the toothing 4 of gear wheel 3.
• Around the reel 2 is wound a guiding thread, the free end of which extends downward along a protrusion 9 ar ⁇ ranged on lever 5.
• lever 5 Arranged on the bottom end of lever 5 is an eye 10 against which a stop 11 on a control thread 12 can strike.
• the control thread 12 is guided through the eye 10.
• the horizontally running leg 13 of support body 1 is guided along a horizontal element 14 which is further elucidated below with reference to fig. 7.
• the horizontal element 14 is suspended by means of a suspending rod 15 on a support construction (not shown) .
• the horizontal leg 13 will shift in the direction of the arrow PI along the horizontal ele ⁇ ment 14, which is further elucidated below.
• a ratchet 7 which engages obliquely in the teeth 4 of running wheel 3.
• the ratchet 7 is released via a spring-mounted lever action at the position of a pivot piece 6.
• the sliding is itself provided by the weight of the plant. This pulls via its hanging thread on the reel 2 which in turn is coupled to the drive wheel 3.
• This drive wheel engages with a toothing into the suspen ⁇ sion rail 14 and pushes off against this rail, whereby a sideways displacement is effected.
• This sideways dis ⁇ placement allows the drive wheel 3 to rotate, whereby reel 2 in turn rotates and the thread unwinds, whereby the plant comes to lie lower. Because the displacement PI of the reel takes place in the same direction, wherein pressure P2 is exerted on the locking lever, the locking lever will be moved clear of the hand pressing it (if the hand remains in the same position) , whereby the pressure decreases again and locking immediately takes place again. In this manner the sideways movement can be pre- cisely measured out so that the chance of the reel being completely unwound due to the weight of the tomato plant is zero, while only the spring force of the locking lever has to be overcome to displace the device. In principle it is possible to couple multiple devices with a control thread 12 to the locking lever and to move these simulta ⁇ neously. This can be carried out in groups or in a larger automated system.
• the embodiment shown in figures 4, 5 and 6 is provided with the same reference numerals for the same components as those in figure 1.
• the support body 1 supports a reel 2 which is rotatable relative thereto and to which a running wheel 3 is fixedly connected.
• the running wheel has a V-shaped cross-section on the periphery, which running wheel rolls along the upper side of the horizon- tal element 14, here in the form of a thread.
• This thread 14 is held horizontally at a height above the ground by means of a hanging element 19 which makes it possible for the running wheel 3 to run therealong.
• the support body 1 is extended downward with a leg 21 on the underside of which are arranged two cam-like elements 9, 9' , through which the hanging thread 8 is guided.
• the thread 8 is wound onto the reel 2 and can unwind therefrom during the displace ⁇ ment in the direction of the arrow PI so that a locking between reel 2 and support body 1 is released.
• the locking in this embodiment consists of a spreading element 22, the outer periphery 23 of which can clamp fixedly against the inner periphery of reel 2 as a result of an eccentric 24 which is rotatable on a pin 25.
• the eccentric is controlled by a control lever 5 which is provided on the underside with an eye 10, through which is guided a pull thread 12 which is provided on both sides of the eye 10 with a stop 11. It is noted that the thread 8 rests against a protrusion 26 of lever 5.
• the support body 1 is here also provided with a horizontal leg 13 which supports by means of a sliding piece 27 on the horizontal thread-like element 14.
• periphery of the running wheel is here also smaller than that of the reel, whereby more thread is released necessary for winding round the plant.
• the rail 14 along which the hook, to which the reel is fixed, slides can have various forms.
• a condition is that there is a clearance on the upper part relative to the fixing threads 15 between the rail and the roof of the greenhouse.
• Another condition is that sufficient resis ⁇ tance is possible between the point of engagement of the drive wheel of the reel and the rail. As the occasion arises, this may mean that the structure must be rough ⁇ ened or provided with a roughened layer.
• the proposed rail consists of a metal profile which can be rolled from a flat strip in six stages (fig. 7a- f) . If this offers advantages, the rail could be fabri- cated in situ in the greenhouse, so that the material is transported as a flat strip supplied in a roll. Fabricat ⁇ ing of the strip in situ saves handling costs and the number of welds can remain limited.
• the strip has dimen ⁇ sions such that the shade effect thereof does not differ much from a conventional thread or rod (fig. 7g) .
• the drive wheel 3 simultaneously functions for trans ⁇ port (pushing off against the rail) and for securing the ratchet 2 which engages in the drive wheel. After uncoupling of ratchet 2, unwinding and displace ⁇ ment takes place through the weight of the plant.
• the direction in which the unlocking mechanism is actuated is the same direction as the direction of move ⁇ ment of the reel.
• the form of the rail with a guiding above and a fric ⁇ tion below and the clearance created relative to the suspension.
• the rail can also be corrugated in the verti ⁇ cal part (body plate) to simplify the arrangement of bends.

Landscapes

• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Environmental Sciences (AREA)
• Supports For Plants (AREA)
• Breeding Of Plants And Reproduction By Means Of Culturing (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=26642236

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Families Citing this family (10)

Family Cites Families (5)

• 1995
  • 1995-11-22 NL NL1001718A patent/NL1001718C1/nl not_active IP Right Cessation
• 1996
  • 1996-03-22 EP EP96906096A patent/EP0814650A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1996-03-22 WO PCT/NL1996/000121 patent/WO1996029855A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1996-03-22 AU AU49576/96A patent/AU4957696A/en not_active Abandoned

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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