GB2435390A

GB2435390A - Defoliating apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2435390A
Application number: GB0703611A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Willi Stockmayer; Andreas Stockmayer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-02-24
Filing date: 2007-02-23
Publication date: 2007-08-29
Anticipated expiration: 2027-02-23
Also published as: DE202006003135U1; CH700588B1; FR2897752A1; GB2435390B; FR2897752B3; GB0703611D0; AT9553U1

Abstract

The present invention relates to defoliating apparatus comprising a perforated first roller 1 and a contra-rotating second roller 2, the axes of which are arranged parallel and the rollers being spaced from one another by a gap, and the interior of the perforated first roller 1 being provided with a fan attached to the end. The second roller is preferably grooved. A roller brush may be connected to the first and second rollers. The apparatus may be mounted on a vehicle, and have spray nozzles which can apply a liquid.

Description

Defoliating apparatus The present invention relates to a defoliating

apparatus which is used in particular to remove foliage, i.e. leaves, at least partly, preferably at a given time. This has the particular advantage that it increases the amount of sunlight to which berries may be exposed and the use of sprays can also be reduced.

There can be improved airflow around the grapes and they can dry off more quickly.

The following references are mentioned as prior art International Patent Applications (PCT)WO 01/98047, WO 2005/922985, French Patent Applications 2368 215; 2380 084; 2 816 802 and 2417 932 and German Utility Model 202004013 531.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention can achieve the following advantageous features: -the work does not damage the grapes -highspeedoftravel(4-6km/h) -no wear on the rollers thanks to the spur gear drive (no contact pressure) -low weight (about 60 kg) -compact construction -no leaves are conveyed through the fan -highest quality of defoliation.

According to the present invention, there is provided defoliating apparatus comprising a perforated first roller and a contra-rotating second roller, the axes of which are arranged parallel and the rollers being spaced from one another by a gap, and the interior of the perforated first roller being provided with a fan attached to the end.

In use, the leaves can be sucked in by means of the perforated first roller and carried to the second roller by the rotation. The second roller is preferably a plastic roller.

The contra-rotating second roller is preferably non-perforated.

Optionally, the contra-rotating second roller is grooved.

S

Preferably, the fan is a radial fan.

The defoliating apparatus is particularly useful for vines.

The leaves are caught at the point of contact of the two rollers and stripped off, the leaves being removed whole, in particular, some of them still with their stem attached, and in a manner which does not damage the grapes.

The leaves are not conveyed through the fan but rather air is sucked in and discharged again.

According to a preferred embodiment, a roller brush is provided which is in contact with both the first roller and the second roller, this brush serving to carry all the leaves outwards between the two rollers and continuously clean the roller.

Advantageously, there is no shredding of the leaves.

According to a preferred embodiment, the radial suction fan, the intake side of which is connected to the inside of the perforated first roller either directly or through an elbow or through a flexible hose, generates a suction effect (reduced pressure) inside the first roller, which can be varied by means of the diameter of the holes, the nature of the countersinking of the holes and the setting of the holes.

The perforated first roller is preferably covered at the back. This covering may take various forms and increases the suction effect by a multiple.

S

The contra-rotating second roller can be a perforated roller of smaller diameter in which a suction effect (reduced pressure) is also produced, thus further increasing the effectiveness of the apparatus.

An apparatus may be mounted on the defoliator, which enables the defoliating process to be combined with a spraying operation by the use of spray nozzles.

The exhaust air (air pressure) from the fan provided may be used to act upon the spray nozzles coupled with the spray liquid. The spray liquid is fed in.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the defoliating apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows the schematic arrangement of the perforated first roller with a radial fan attached at the end; and Figure 3 shows a schematic top view of the roller arrangement.

Reference numeral 1 designates the perforated first roller, 2 a non-perforated, contra-rotating second roller, 3 the roller brush, 4 a radial fan and 5 a guard plate.

Reference numeral 6 denotes thickened zones of the non-perforated second roller 2, which are all arranged at the same levels as the perforations 7 in the perforated first roller 1.

The unit comprising the defoliating apparatus including a guard plate is preferably arranged on a support frame which can preferably be mounted, for example by screwing, on the front end of a vehicle, such as a tractor, for

example. V *

According to another preferred embodiment, the support frame is mowned to be pivotable through 1800 together with the defoliating unit, so that the unit is mounted on either the left-hand side or right-hand side of the vehicle, as desired, with the result that wasted journeys between the rows of vines may be advantageously avoided. V a

List of Reference Numerals Reference numeral I denotes the perforated first roller Reference numeral 2 denotes the contra-rotating non-perforated second roller Reference numeral 3 denotes the roller brush Reference numeral 4 denotes the radial fan Reference numeral 5 denotes the guard plate Reference numeral 6 denotes the thickened zones of the non-perforate4 second roller 2 Reference numeral 7 denotes the perforations in the perforated first roller 1 Reference numeral 8 denotes the direction of flow of the ambient air Reference numeral 9 denotes the direction of flow of the air sucked in through the radial fan. F j

Claims

Claims 1. Defoliating apparatus comprising a perforated first roller

and a contra-rotating second roller, the axes of which are arranged parallel and the rollers being spaced from one another by a gap, and the interior of the perforated first roller being provided with a fan attached to the end.

2. Defoliating apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the contra-rotating second roller is non-perforited.

3. Defoliating apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the contra-rotating second roller is grooved.

4. Defoliating apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 -3, wherein the fan is a radial fan.

5. Defoliating apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 or 4, where claim 4 is dependent on claim 1 only, wherein the contra-rotating second roller is constructed as a perforated roller with a smaller diameter than the first roller.

6. Defoliating apparatus as claimed in any of claims I -5, wherein a roller brush, operatively connected to the first and second rollers, is provided.

7. Defoliating apparatus as claimed in claim. 6, wherein the axis of the roller brush is arranged parallel to the axes of the first and second rollers.

8. Defoliating apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 -7, wherein the second roller is a plastics roller.

9. Defoliating apparatus as claimed in any of claims I -8, wherein the perforated first roller is at least partly provided with a cover.

V I

10. DefoliatIng apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 -9, wherein the defoliating unit is mounted on a support frame.

11. Defoliating apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the support frame can be mounted on a vehicle.

12. Defoliating apparatus as claimed in claim 10 or 11, wherein the defoliating apparatus can be pivoted through 180 .

10. 13. Defoliating apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 -12, wherein the rollers can be motor-driven.

14. Defoliating apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the rollers can be driven by a hydraulic motor.

15. Defoliating apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 -14, wherein the housing is coupled, wth respect to its exhaust air outlet, to spray nozzles which serve to apply spray liquid.