FR2570325A1 - Automatic machine for the production of irrigation pipes and the fitting of micropipes onto irrigation pipes - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a machine capable of automatically producing complex pipes for irrigation. This machine consists of two parts: - the first part automatically producing the secondary capillary pipes 12; - the second part producing complex irrigation pipes consisting of a primary feed pipe 9 and the previous secondary capillary pipes fitted at regular intervals. The machine, according to the invention, permits the manufacture of pipes intended for watering (sprinkling), drop by drop, especially for market-gardening plants under protective cover.

Description

 The present invention relates to a machine capable of automatically making complex pipes for irrigation consisting of a primary supply pipe in which are nested, at regular intervals, secondary capillary pipes distributing the water drop by drop.

Currently, there is no machine to perform
This work consists in: - punching the primary supply pipe at regular intervals; - connecting a microtube and a split spike via a sleeve 3- to fit the capillary pipe, thus obtained, into the holes of the supply pipe.

This operation is long, tedious and often poorly executed either because the drilling is poorly done, or because the wrong introduction of the microtube causes untimely water leakage that can damage crops.

The machine according to the invention is, on the one hand, faster and therefore more economical, because it is automated, and, on the other hand, safer because the holes are punched in a regular manner at the same time. room and microtubes are also introduced regularly and well determined, thus avoiding any water leakage
For this purpose, the machine uses compressed air as power source and cam controllers controlling the opening of valves according to an interchangeable pre-established program.

It mainly involves two types of modules - the first, consisting of two jaws, one fixed and the other mobile, with a spacer spring, whose mobile is actuated by a piston controlled by compressed air: it serves for clamping and moving pipes and spikes; - the second, consisting of a part identical to the previous one, and another containing a counter-piston that pre-positions the previous (tandem assembly): it serves for clamping, moving pipes and spades, and to their extraction.

The machine consists of two parts - the first one automatically making capillary tubes consisting of a microtube and a split spike interconnected by a tubular sleeve - the second automatically assembling complex irrigation pipes consisting of a pipe primary feed and previous secondary capillary tubes nested at regular intervals and intended to distribute the water drip. The spades are planted a few hundred centimeters in the ground to ensure optimal exchange.

 The present invention is now described in more detail with the aid of the accompanying drawings in which - Figure 1 is the diagram of the first part of the machine for connecting the microtube and the split spike via Figure 2 is an embodiment of the second part of the machine for fitting into the feed pipe, the capillary pipes obtained in the second part.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the block (I) in FIG. 1 consists of - (A): power supply unit and the length of the sleeve sleeve (1) consisting of
~ (Al): enclosure containing a piston (5)
~ (A2): movable jaw
. (A3): fixed jaw
NB: in the rest position the jaws are slightly separated, thanks to a spring, to let through the plastic sheath (1) from which the sleeves will be made - (B): enclosure containing a piston (5) and a return spring , intended to ensure the movement back and forth of the block (A) which corresponds to the length of the desired sleeve a few centimeters in practice - (C): clamping block now the sheath (1) when moving from (A) to the right (according to figure) and during its bucking; it consists of three parts (C1), (C2) and (C3) as the block (A) - (D): cutting unit consists of an enclosure containing a piston at the end of which is mounted a blade- to cut the sheath when the block (E) is in front of the sheath (1) - (E): transport block of the sleeves of the cutting station at the interlocking station consisting of two jaws (El) and (E2) maintained, thanks with a spring, in the separated position when they are at rest - (F): block ensuring, thanks to a piston (5), the displacement of (E) of the cutting station at the nesting station; - (G): block ensuring, thanks to the piston (5) of (G1), the displacement of (E) of the interlocking station at the cutting station (G2) ensures the control of the piston (5) of (G1) and the passage of the piston of <G3) -which preposition the piston (5) of (G1) of
such that in the working position the maintenance of the sleeve between the jaws (E1) and (E2) is ensured during the interlocking; (G2) and (G3) are mounted in tandem and the displacement of the piston (G3) is a few millimeters in practice to allow the release of the sleeve mounted from the jaws of (E) - (H): clamping block and moving the split hairpin (3) to fit on one side of the sleeve held by (E); it is made up of
. (H1): fixed jaw
. (H2): movable jaw (with opening spring between
both)
<H3): enclosure containing the piston (5) clamping
. (H4): ensures the control of the (H3) piston and the passage
approach piston of (H5) - (J): enclosure containing a piston (5) intended to ensure the displacement of the block (H) to (E) to fit the split capillary tube; a spring (8) allows the return - (K): clamping block and displacement of the capillary microtube (2) to fit it on the other side of the sleeve held by (E); it is entirely symmetrical with the block (H) - (L): ensures, like (J), the displacement of (K) 7 - (M): fully pneumatic programmer whose program, which is in the form of cams, is interchangeable; the compressed air unit is not shown in the drawing.

The block (I) also involves the following elements - (1): plastic sheath in which the sleeves will be cut - (2): capillary microtube coming to fit on one side of the sleeve - (3): split capillary spike coming from on the other side of sleeve 7 - (4): pressure nozzles for the control of all pistons (5) 7 - (6): guide rods for movable jaws or moving parts 7 - (7): pressure inlet nozzles for the control of the approach pistons of the blocks (H5), (G3) and (K5) 7 - (8): return springs of the blocks (H) and ( K).

 The operation of the block (I) described above is as follows: the plastic sheath (1), carried by a unwinder (not shown in FIG. 1), is positioned in (H) via (A) which is moves, in a tight position, from right to left, while (C) is in the rest position 2- (A) goes out and returns to the right after (C) is tightened so that (D) can cut the sheath (1-) 3- (E) then moves, by means of (F), into the position opposite the stations (2) and (3) and goes into the standby position; 4- The microtube (2), carried by an unwinder (not shown in FIG. 1), is positioned manually or automatically against (E). The split capillary spikes (3), contained in a magazine not shown in FIG. are positioned manually or automatically against (E) 7 6- The interlocking of (2) and (3) in the sleeve (1) is ensured either automatically or manually by double push button for safety reasons: 7- The pressure is then removed from (H5), (G3) and (K5) in order to release the microtube mounted with its split spade, through an automatic device, which will place it on the block (II), and the cycle begins again.

 Two blocks (I) can be mounted on either side of the block (II) for better capillary tube feeding of the block (II).

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the block (II), FIG. 2, consists of - (P) and (Q): clamping jaws of the primary supply pipe (9):
. (P) is fixed
. (Q) is integral with the movable block (T) of lengthening
of the pipe (9), they are controlled by the nozzles (4); - (R) and (S): symmetrical blocks for punching the pipe (9), in the high position, and for guiding and interlocking the capillary pipes (12) in (9) in the low position
. the nozzles (10) control the rise of (R) or (S),
. the nozzles (11) control the advance of (R1) or (S1) por
the punching machine and the capillary hose
lair (nesting),
. the nozzles (13) control the approach piston for the
guide the capillary tubes,
. the nozzles (14) control the tightening of the capillary tube
for the nesting operation; - (T): movable block controlled by the double-acting piston (U), carrying the jaw (Q) and the stop (15) for positioning the capillary tube before interlocking:
the nozzle (16) allows the release of the stop (15),
. the nozzle (17) allows, jaw (Q) closed, to advance
connect the hose (9) to an adjustable stop (19) (from 30 to
100 cm for example): it is she who determines the space
between the capillary hoses,
the nozzle (18) returns the block (T) to its initial position.

 The operation of the block (II) described above is as follows: a key belonging to the pneumatic control unit, not resting felt in the drawing, makes it possible to put all the circuits in the open air and to freely position the pipe (9 ); 2- the pressure in (4) allows the locking of the jaws (P) and (Q); 3- the pressure in (10) positions (R) -and (s) in high position 4- the pressure in (11) allows the punching of the pipe (9), the return of (S1) and (R1) is ensured by return springs 7 5- venting of (10) causing the descent of (R) and (S) ~ 6-pressure in (13) and manual or automatic approach of the capillary hoses (12) and put to length through at the stop (15); 7- pressure at (14) for clamping the capillaries and at (16) for release of the stop <-15); 8- pressure at (11) for the interlocking of the capillaries and maintaining the pressure 7 9- (13) and (14) in the open air to release the capillaries by return spring 7 10- (11) to the free air and return of (S1) and (R1) by return spring 7 11- unblocking of (P); Pressure in (17) for setting the length of the tube; 13- tightening (P) 7 14- loosening of (Q) - 15- return of (T) by pressing (18) 16- tightening of (Q) ~ and the cycle continues.

When the microtubes are placed, the system is in the waiting position. To release it, it is necessary to press, for security reasons, simultaneously on two push buttons.

 The complex irrigation pipe obtained at the block outlet (II) and wound on a spool therefore consists of - a primary supply pipe (9); - Secondary capillary tubes (12) nested at regular intervals, the whole can be placed on a reel, not shown in Figure 2, and ready for use.

Its characteristics are as follows - the supply pipe (9) can be of different lengths: in practice from 30 to 80 meters - the spacing of the capillary-pipes is also adjustable in practice from 30 to 100 centimeters; the penetration of the microtube into the pipe (9) is of the order of a few millimeters; - The sleeve used to connect the microtube to the split spade is of the order of one centimeter 7 - the spade is a few centimeters; - the microtube of a few tens of centimeters.

 It is understood that the scope of the invention is not limited to the example or embodiments that have been described, any variant, considered equivalent, can not change the scope.

 The machine, according to the invention, allows the automatic manufacture of pipes for watering, drop by drop, mainly garden crops under shelter.

Claims (9)

 1-machine for making irrigation pipes constituted by a primary supply pipe on which are nested secondary capillary pipes for watering, drip, crops, characterized in that it comprises at least two main blocks: the first having specific means for automatically making capillary pipes constituted by a microtube and a split spade interconnected by a tubular sleeve; the second also having specific means for automatically fitting, at regular intervals, the preceding capillary pipes in a primary supply pipe.  2- machine, according to claim 1, characterized in that the supply of the sheath (1), is continuous, thanks to two blocks macho ires clamping (A) and (C), moving one relative to the other of a length equal to the length of the sleeve that is desired to cut.  3- machine, according to claim 1, characterized in that, once positioned in the jaw block (E), the sheath (1) is cut by the device (D) and then is placed in the interlocking position by the displacement of (E).  4- machine, according to claim 1, characterized in that the microtube (2) and the spike (3) are fed, by jaw clamping devices (K) and (H), opposite the tubular sleeve, contained in block (E), to be nested automatically.  5- machine, according to claim 4, characterized in that the supply of the microtube (2) and the spike (3) can be performed by an automatic means.  6. Machine, according to claim 1, characterized in that the feed pipe (9) of the block (II) moves in a well defined amount by a piston (U) double-acting and two blocks jaws (P) and (Q) with separate commands.  7- machine, according to claim 1, characterized in that the blocks (R) and (P) perform symmetrically, in the high position, the punching operations in the pipe (9), and in p # osition low, the operations d interlocking the capillary pipes in the corresponding holes.  8- machine, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the finished product is wound on a reel for marketing.  9- machine, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the blocks (I) and (II) are controlled by a cam programmer for the distribution of compressed air, from the central, on different workstations, in a well-defined order.