NZ703157B - Perforated rotating attraction drum for leaf removal from plants and the leaf stripping heads provided with such a drum - Google Patents
Perforated rotating attraction drum for leaf removal from plants and the leaf stripping heads provided with such a drumInfo
- Publication number
- NZ703157B NZ703157B NZ703157A NZ70315714A NZ703157B NZ 703157 B NZ703157 B NZ 703157B NZ 703157 A NZ703157 A NZ 703157A NZ 70315714 A NZ70315714 A NZ 70315714A NZ 703157 B NZ703157 B NZ 703157B
- Authority
- NZ
- New Zealand
- Prior art keywords
- rings
- perforated rotating
- attraction drum
- rotating attraction
- drum
- Prior art date
Links
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- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 18
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 18
- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 claims description 19
- 230000000903 blocking Effects 0.000 claims description 7
- 230000001419 dependent Effects 0.000 claims 8
- 235000021028 berry Nutrition 0.000 description 36
- 241000219095 Vitis Species 0.000 description 20
- 235000014787 Vitis vinifera Nutrition 0.000 description 20
- 235000009754 grape Nutrition 0.000 description 20
- 235000012333 grape Nutrition 0.000 description 20
- 230000035939 shock Effects 0.000 description 16
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 9
- 241000219094 Vitaceae Species 0.000 description 7
- 235000021021 grapes Nutrition 0.000 description 7
- 230000002829 reduced Effects 0.000 description 7
- 238000003306 harvesting Methods 0.000 description 6
- 230000005070 ripening Effects 0.000 description 6
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Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01B—SOIL WORKING IN AGRICULTURE OR FORESTRY; PARTS, DETAILS, OR ACCESSORIES OF AGRICULTURAL MACHINES OR IMPLEMENTS, IN GENERAL
- A01B41/00—Thinning machines
- A01B41/04—Thinning machines with rotating tools
-
- 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
- A01G17/00—Cultivation of hops, vines, fruit trees, or like trees
- A01G17/02—Cultivation of hops or vines
-
- 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
- A01G17/00—Cultivation of hops, vines, fruit trees, or like trees
- A01G17/02—Cultivation of hops or vines
- A01G17/023—Machines for priming and/or preliminary pruning of vines, i.e. removing shoots and/or buds
-
- 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
- A01G17/00—Cultivation of hops, vines, fruit trees, or like trees
- A01G17/02—Cultivation of hops or vines
- A01G17/026—Machines for removing leaves of vines
Abstract
Perforated rotating attraction drum of a general cylindrical shape and featuring openings, this drum being fitted for being mounted on a leaf-stripping head of the leaves of a foliage wall such as a row of vine-stock, characterized in that it features the superposition of a plurality of rings (5) presenting an outside cylindrical surface, and of a plurality of annular openings (6) made between two successive rings, these openings allowing the passage of a suction air flow across and towards the inside of the perforated rotating attraction drum featuring, internally, means of rigid assembly of the plurality of stacked rings and a coupling means to a motorization for its rotational drive. esenting an outside cylindrical surface, and of a plurality of annular openings (6) made between two successive rings, these openings allowing the passage of a suction air flow across and towards the inside of the perforated rotating attraction drum featuring, internally, means of rigid assembly of the plurality of stacked rings and a coupling means to a motorization for its rotational drive.
Description
PERFORATED ROTATING ATTRACTION DRUM
FOR LEAF REMOVAL FROM PLANTS AND
THE LEAF STRIPPING HEADS PROVIDED WITH SUCH A DRUM
Technical Field
The present invention concerns the field of leaf stripping of trees and shrubs. In
particular, it applies to the manufacture of leaf-stripping heads suitable for fitting out
leaf-stripping machines for shrubs and shrubby trees and, more specifically, machines
for thinning foliage growing on vine-stock.
Its subject is a perforated rotating attraction drum intended to be mounted on such
machines working on the leaf-stripping principle of plastering the leaves on said
perforated rotating attraction drum through at least one suction air flow.
Background Art
Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification is not an admission that
such prior art is widely known or forms part of the common general knowledge in the
field.
It is known that in the specific area of vine-stock, it is very important, even crucial, to
reduce the quantity of leaves present in the fruit-bearing area of the vine-stock, and to
do this several times each season, during the entire ripening phase of the grapes, in
order to promote or obtain the following objectives:
- aerating of the grapes in order to limit the appearance of grey mould and other
diseases, and accelerating their drying;
- sun exposure of the grapes to accelerate and improve their maturation,
particularly their colouring (thicker skin of the grapes);
- improving the quality of the grape berries;
- penetration of plant protective treatments to improve their efficiency;
- leaf-thinning or manual harvesting thanks to better visibility of the grapes and a
significantly shortened labour time;
- if applicable, facilitate mechanical harvesting through limiting green waste
during the harvest and juice losses due to the suction of the leaves;
- careful handling of the grapes regardless of their degree of ripening.
Leaf-stripping on vine-stock has been done manually for many years and if this is
sometimes still the case, it is at present generally done mechanically with machines
designed for this purpose. Most of these machines nowadays use the principle of a
perforated rotating attraction drum featuring or generating openings positioned directly
on the foliage. Through these openings a low pressure is created by means of an air
flow thereby plastering the leaves of the foliage on said perforated rotating attraction
drum in order to direct them towards cutting or leaf-stripping means.
It is to be noted that the suction at the foliage level does not only lead to an attraction
of the leaves but also to the suction of other objects in the vicinity of the perforated
rotating attraction drum such as grape bunches. The leaf-stripping operation is in fact
performed during the ripening phase of these bunches and may begin as soon as
these berries have a diameter measured in millimetres, up to harvesting time when
they present a diameter, depending on the vine-plants, in the order of 10 to 20 mm.
These grape bunches are of course very fragile. During a first stage of their growth
they have a diameter smaller than 5 mm, resembling small, fairly hard balls and are
not very susceptible to being damaged by shocks, but they may become detached
from the bunch during these shocks. During a second stage, the berries continue to
grow and begin to become softer a phase during which they become more and more
susceptible to blows and injuries by such shocks, facilitating the appearance of
diseases which they will then propagate to the berry and even to adjacent berries. It is
clear that the creation of shocks on the grape bunches has adverse effects and leads
1. a reduced quantity of healthy berries;
2. significant phyto-pathological risks to the vineyard;
3. increased consumption of plant-protective products.
Therefore, if mechanical leaf-stripping is done without particular precautions, the
beneficial effects may be largely offset by the disadvantages described above.
Such machines are described and shown in particular in the following documents of
the state of the art: EP-1.657.975, FR-2.897.752, WO-01/87047, FR-2.417.932, and
FR-2.808.964.
The subject of the document EP-1.657.975 is a leaf-stripping device comprising a
housing the proximal end of which is positioned facing the foliage and its distal end
features a turbine sucking up the leaves of said foliage by creating a vacuum
generated by the air flow if the turbine at the proximal end, said leaves being then
grabbed by two drums of a general cylindrical shape driven by a counter-rotating
movement, which is to say each rotating in a direction opposite to that of the other roll,
in order to exert, through pinching, a sufficient stripping force on said leaves. The
lateral surface of the first drum presents, from top to bottom, a profile in the form of
notches, constituted by an alternation of ribs and superimposed grooves, whereas the
lateral surface of the second drum presents a straight line profile. At the level of the
opposing parts of the first and second drum, the grooves of the first drum associated
with the cylindrical surface of the second drum generate superimposed grooves of
reduced dimensions allowing the circulation of an air flow in the direction of the turbine
and ensuring the plastering of the leaves, by suction, on the first drum. The rapid
counter-rotating movement of the two drums guides the leaves plastered on the first
drum to be pinched and then stripped off.
According to the machine described in the document EP-1.657.975, the openings thus
created are reduced and are not sufficient to plaster the leaves over the entire part of
the first drum situated opposite to the foliage wall. Furthermore, suction of the leaves
of the foliage wall is hindered by the presence of the drums which form a screen to the
suction air flow of said leaves channelled into the superimposed openings made
between the two drums, which requires a significant suction force to compensate for
the losses of suction and generates a high cost for energy. In addition, with such a
device, the grape bunches in the process of ripening during this leaf-stripping stage,
may be sucked up or damaged through said openings because these, to allow the
passage of an air flow capable of sucking up the leaves of the foliage wall, are by
necessity sufficiently large to be of a size greater than a not yet ripe grape berry as
one might encounter during the leaf-stripping period. The turbulences created by the
air flow in the openings lead to vibrations of the berry in the opening and the berry will
inevitably sustain shocks at the contact with the walls of the opening. A reduction of
the size of the openings in order to avoid the suction of these berries would, on the
one hand considerably diminish the size of the openings and consequently the suction
effect on the foliage leaves, and on the other hand, would facilitate the clogging of said
openings with dust and small waste generated by the movement of the machine along
the rows in the vineyard. Thus, under the operating conditions of the machine which is
the subject of this document, many grape berries may be ripped off or damaged by the
shocks in the openings.
The subject of document FR-2.897.752 is a leaf-stripping machine comprising a head
provided with two counter-rotating drums, namely a first rotating, perforated attraction
drum featuring openings constituted by a plurality of holes made in the lateral surface
if said first drum, and a second drum without openings and cooperating with said first
rotating, perforated attraction drum. The two drums have profiles that are essentially
rectilinear, the first rotating, perforated attraction drum being associated with means of
suction at one of its ends, generating an air flow at its inside capable of generating a
vacuum at the level of its openings thereby enabling it to suck up the leaves of the
foliage wall with which it is in contact. The leaves are then pinched between the two
counter-rotating drums and are stripped from their branches.
However, with a machine of the type described in document FR-2.897.752, the grape
berries in the process of ripening at this stage of the leaf-stripping may be sucked up
or damaged through said openings because these, in order to allow the passage of an
air flow capable of sucking up the leaves of the foliage wall, are in effect sufficiently
large to be greater than a not yet ripe grape berry as one might encounter during the
leaf-stripping period. Furthermore, while observing the operation of a cross section of
the rotating perforated attraction drum at one of its openings while the machine is in
operation, one understands that a grape berry coming into contact with a full portion of
its cylindrical surface is going to be suddenly sucked up by the air flow at the portion of
the cylindrical surface of the rotating, perforated attraction drum presenting an
opening, then is going to return on a new full portion of its cylindrical surface. The
grape berry will then penetrate, fully or partially, into the inside of the opening and may
then be ripped off or at least sustain a shock and may be damaged when it contacts
again the full cylindrical portion. Furthermore, taking into account the significant
rotating speed of the rotating perforated attraction drum (in the range of 1000 rpm) this
berry may thus be subject to be shocked and also damaged repeatedly at one
opening, or even at a plurality of openings present on the cross section of the rotating
perforated attraction drum at the level of the berry. A reduction of the size if the
openings in order to avoid the suction of these berries would lead on the one hand to
considerably reducing the size of the openings and consequently the suction effect on
the foliage leaves, and on the other hand, would facilitate the clogging of said
openings of reduced size with dust and small waste generated by the movement of the
machine along the rows in the vineyard, but would not prevent even light shocks when
the berries pass at the level of the openings. Thus, under the operating conditions of
the machine which is the subject of this document, many grape berries may be ripped
off or damaged by the shocks in the openings.
Disclosure of Invention
Therefore the present invention provides a perforated rotating attraction drum of a
general cylindrical shape and featuring openings, this drum being able to be mounted
on a leaf-stripping head of a leaf-stripping machine adapted to remove at least some
of the leaves of a foliage wall, characterized in that it includes a stack of rings
presenting an exterior cylindrical surface, and a plurality of annular openings, each
made between two successive rings, these openings allowing the passage of a suction
air flow across and towards the inside of the perforated rotating attraction drum, said
perforated rotating attraction drum featuring, internally, means for rigid assembly of the
stack of rings and a coupling means to a motor means for rotational drive of the
perforated rotating attraction drum.
In a preferred embodiment, said foliage wall is a row of vine stock.
Preferably at each end of the stack of rings is provided an end ring presenting an
outside diameter identical to the outside diameter of the other rings of the stack.
In a preferred embodiment, the means for rigid assembly of the stack of rings include:
at least two assembly humps located away from the periphery of the rings and
connected to the inside wall of said rings, said humps featuring hump bores having
axes parallel to the axis of the rings; and
rigid rods passing through the hump bores of said stack of rings, said rigid rods
featuring at their end blocking means to complete the assembly of the stack of rings.
Preferably said blocking means is a screw-nut system. More preferably at least the
ends of each rigid rod are threaded, and said screw-nut system includes a locknut.
Preferably the means of coupling to a motor means includes:
a central sleeve attached to the inside wall of each end ring through radial
cross bars; and
an axial coupling shaft passing through each central sleeve and connected in
rotation to the central sleeves by means of rigid connection, said axial coupling shaft
being adapted for direct or indirect coupling to the motor means.
More preferably said means of rigid connection are locking screws.
In a preferred embodiment, the annular openings separating the rings have a height
between 2 mm and 5 mm, preferably 3 mm.
In a preferred embodiment, the assembly humps are located an equal angular
distance from each other on a concentric circle with a diameter smaller than that of the
rings. Preferably each ring has three assembly humps.
Preferably the assembly humps have a height greater than the thickness of the rings,
such that when the rings are stacked on the rigid rods, the annular openings between
two adjacent rings are defined.
In a preferred embodiment, an upper end of the assembly humps extends from an
upper face of the rings and a lower end of the assembly humps extend from a lower
face of the rings by an identical distance. Preferably said identical distance is in the
order of 1.5 mm.
Preferably the upper end of each assembly hump of a ring features a countersink
whereas the lower end of each assembly hump features a shoulder, so that the hump
at the lower end of one ring can fit into the countersink at the upper end of the
adjacent end at the time of stacking.
Preferably the perforated rotating attraction drum includes inserted means in the stack
between two rings allowing to increase the height of the openings by the thickness of
said means. More preferably the adjustment of the inserted means are washers of
equal thickness located in each countersink of the upper end of the assembly humps
of a ring.
In a preferred embodiment, each end ring includes:
at least two assembly humps located away from the periphery of the rings and
connected to the inside wall of said rings, said humps featuring hump bores having
axes parallel to the axis of the rings; and
wherein said rigid rods pass through said hump bores of the end rings as well
as the hump bores of the other rings in the stack.
Preferably the assembly humps are located an equal angular distance from each other
on a concentric circle with a diameter smaller than that of the end rings. More
preferably each end ring has three assembly humps.
The present invention further provides a leaf-stripping head characterized in that it
includes:
a perforated rotating attraction drum as described above;
at least one means of suction allowing generation of an air flow across the
openings of said perforated rotating attraction drum to ensure an attraction force of the
leaves of the foliage wall facing said drum; and
a second counter-rotating drum presenting an outside lateral wall of general
cylindrical shape and mounted opposite the stack of rings of the perforated rotating
attraction drum, so as to ensure the nipping of the leaves plastered on the latter.
Preferably the or each means of suction is constituted by a suction turbine installed
above an upper end of the perforated rotating attraction drum and/or below a lower
end of the perforated rotating attraction drum, so as to generate, inside the internal
vacuum of said perforated rotating attraction drum, a suction air flow from one at least
of said upper end and lower end, this suction air flow allowing nipping and plastering of
the leaves against the lateral cylindrical surface of the perforated rotating attraction
drum located opposite the foliage wall.
In a preferred embodiment, the air flow is generated through a front area of the lateral
surface of the perforated rotating attraction drum. Preferably the air flow is generated
through the circle arc portions of the openings located in the front area.
Preferably the leaf-stripping head includes a screen fastened to said leaf-stripping
head, by means of fastening elements, facing the portions of the openings located
opposite the non-functional suction areas.
In a preferred embodiment, the leaf-stripping head includes cleaning means extending
towards the inside of the perforated rotating attraction drum beyond the lateral wall of
the perforated rotating attraction drum. Preferably the cleaning means consist of a
plurality of superposed blades fastened rigidly on the screen and shaped so they can
engage themselves in the openings of the perforated rotating attraction drum so they
can continuously clean said openings, during the rotation of said perforated rotating
attraction drum.
The present invention has the aim to provide solutions to the problems following from
the disadvantages of the devices of the state of the technique by proposing a
perforated rotating attraction drum featuring openings capable of functioning for
example on machines of the state of the art cited above and allowing to ensure optimal
leaf-stripping quality by performing suction and plastering of the leaves over the
portion of said perforated rotating attraction drum opposite the foliage wall, while
avoiding the generation, in these openings, of shocks on the grape berries resulting in
damages or loss of grape berries, leading to major phyto-pathological risks in the
vineyard, an over-consumption of plant-protective treatments and limiting the harvest
of healthy grapes.
According to the invention, the goal has been achieved by producing a perforated
rotating attraction drum that can be mounted on a leaf-stripping head working on
foliage wall of a row of vine-stock, said leaf-stripping head featuring driving means for
providing the rotation of said perforated rotating attraction drum, as well as the means
for generating an air flow creating a vacuum in said openings to plaster the leaves of
the foliage wall on the surface of said perforated rotating attraction drum when it is
positioned opposite said foliage wall, this perforated rotating attraction drum being
primarily remarkable in that it consists of the superposition of a plurality of rings
presenting an external cylindrical surface and a plurality of ring-shaped openings
made between two successive rings, these openings allow the passage of a suction
air flow through and towards the inside of the perforated rotating attraction drum
featuring, internally, rigid assembly means for the plurality of stacked rings and a
coupling mechanism to a motorization for its rotating drive.
According to an advantageous implementation, the means for rigid assembly of the
rings comprise, on the one hand, assembly humps positioned at a distance from the
periphery of the rings and connected to the inside wall of said rings, said humps
featuring axial bores parallel to the axis of the rings and, on the other hand, rigid rods
traversing the bores of the humps of said superposed rings.
According to another implementation, the means for coupling the drum to a
motorization capable of performing the rotating drive of the drum, comprises, on the
one hand, a central sleeve attached to the inside wall of each end ring, for example
through radial struts, and, on the other hand, an axial coupling shaft traversing the
bores of each central sleeve and linked in rotation on the latter by means such as pins
or locking screws, said shaft being fitted so as to permit the coupling, directly or
indirectly, to the motorization of the rotating drive of the drums in a manner known as
such, for example, the axial shafts of each drum being linked by pinions, one of these
pinions being connected to the pinion coupled to a hydraulic motor.
In this manner, a perforated rotating attraction drum can easily work together with a
cylindrical counter-rotating drum inside a machine comprising a leaf-stripping head
such as described in the state of the art to ensure the pinching and stripping of the
leaves of the foliage wall that have previously been plastered by the suction force on
the perforated rotating attraction drum.
On such a perforated rotating attraction drum one can just as well generate an air flow
across the openings in an axis perpendicular to the axis of the perforated rotating
attraction drum, for example by creating this air flow through a turbine positioned at the
rear or the assembly constituted by the two drums opposite the foliage wall, or more
advantageously, by creating this air flow through the openings and towards the interior
of the perforated rotating attraction drum by positioning for example the air inlet of a
turbine sucking the inside air of the perforated rotating attraction drum at the level of
one or even of its two perforated end rings. And in an even more advantageous
manner, it is desirable to channel this air flow at the level of the portion of the
perforated rotating attraction drum opposite the foliage wall by positioning a screen
such as for instance a metal plate in the shape of a circle arc opposite the of surface of
the perforated rotating attraction drum on which [surface] the openings have no
functional action with respect to the foliage wall.
One understands also that the annular openings present a reduced height in order to
avoid damaging the grape berries inside the foliage wall and which could be sucked up
at said openings. The berry is in this case accompanied to the surface of the opening
while maintaining at least a partial contact with at least one of the surfaces of the rings
positioned on either side of this opening and preventing in this way said berry from
penetrating into this opening and sustaining there any shock. In this way, the surface
of the berry opposite the opening is very small and limits thereby the efforts of
attraction of said berry on this opening, the berry being thus less susceptible to the
suction at the opening and able to detach itself quickly from it without any damage
when it is previously brought into contact with it. On the other hand, a leaf having in
effect a large surface opposite the perforated rotating attraction drum will be submitted
to attraction efforts on the latter at several openings, facilitating its holding on the
surface of said perforated rotating attraction drum.
Of course, in case of very early leaf-stripping, it is then possible that the size of the
berries is sufficiently small to enter into the opening, but the attraction efforts on said
berry are then very weak, the shocks it could sustain there are not harmful at this
stage for the quality of the berry at the time of harvest and it is also sufficiently light to
avoid being ripped off too easily and above all, the growth of the berries is very rapid
and it will not find itself in the same situation during the next leaf-stripping operation.
According to one implementation, the annular openings separating the rings have a
height between 2 mm and 5 mm, and, preferably, a height of 3 mm.
Advantageously, each ring has a minimum of two, preferably three humps featuring
bores the axes of which are parallel to the axis of the ring and positioned preferably at
equal angular distance from each other on a concentric circle of a diameter smaller
than that of the ring. Thus, each ring presents a significant perforated internal surface
to facilitate the circulation of the air flow inside the perforated rotating attraction drum
and to limit load losses.
According to another characteristic disposition, the humps have a height greater than
the thickness of the rings, so that during the stacking of the rings on the rigid rods, an
annular opening is automatically made between two adjacent rings.
According to an advantageous implementation, the upper and lower ends of the
humps extend over the upper and lower faces of the rings over an identical distance,
for example in the order of 1.5 mm. In this way, when two rings are superposed, an
annular opening of a height in the order of 3 mm is made between two adjacent rings.
According to an advantageous implementation, the upper end of each hump of a ring
features a countersink whereas its lower end features a shoulder so that the hump at
the lower end of a ring can fit into the hump at the upper end of the next ring during
stacking. In this way, and combined with the assembly on rigid rods, this system
reinforces the final rigidity of the perforated rotating attraction drum.
According to an advantageous implementation, the perforated rotating attraction drum
features also inserts in the stacking between two rings so that the height of the
thickness of said means can be increased. This characteristic has the advantage that
the height of the openings can be adjusted depending on the vineyards worked, the
leaf-stripping period or the condition of the vegetation at the time of leaf-stripping.
Another, not insignificant advantage is that drum with different heights can be
produced while using the same rings.
According to an advantageous implementation, the height adjustment is obtained by
using washers of equal thickness between them positioned in each countersink of the
upper end of the humps of a ring.
According to one implementation, the stacking of rings of the perforated rotating
attraction drum is terminated, at each of its ends by an end ring presenting an outside
diameter identical to the outside diameter of the stacking rings, each end ring is
provided with assembly humps featuring bores fitted for receiving the rigid rods of the
ring stacking, the stiffening of the assembly being achieved by blocking means which
are constituted, for example, by screw-nut systems, preferably locknuts which are
screwed on to the threaded ends of the rigid rods.
The invention also concerns a leaf-stripping head which is remarkable in that
comprised:
- a perforated rotating attraction drum featuring one or several of the
aforementioned characteristics;
- at least one means of suction for creating an air flow across the openings of
said perforated rotating attraction drum, to ensure an effort of attraction of the leaves
of the foliage wall facing said drum; and
- a second counter-rotating drum presenting an external lateral wall of a
generally cylindrical shape and mounted opposite the stack of rings of the perforated
rotating attraction drum, so as to ensure the pinching of the leaves plastered on the
latter.
According to an advantageous implementation, the suction device or each suction
device is constituted by a suction turbine installed above the upper end of the
perforated rotating attraction drum and/or below the low end of the latter, so as to
generate, inside the interior vacuum of said perforated rotating attraction drum, a
suction air flow beginning at one at least of said ends, this suction air flow allowing to
grab and to hold the leaves against the lateral cylindrical surface of the perforated
rotating attraction drum positioned opposite the foliage wall.
According to another advantageous implementation, the suction air flow is essentially
generated over a front area of the lateral surface of the perforated rotating attraction
drum, and more precisely over the circle arc portions of the openings placed in this
area. It extends towards the back after the passage of counter-rotating roll to
accompany the leaves on the perforated rotating attraction drum and prevent that they
do not stick to the wall of the counter-rotating roll.
According to a preferred implementation, the leaf-stripping head features a screen that
is fastened to said leaf-stripping head, by fasteners, opposite the portions of the
openings located opposite the non-functional suction areas. By non-functional area is
meant an area where the leaves are no longer held by suction on the perforated
rotating attraction drum. This area begins shortly after the pinching of the leaves with
the counter-rotating drum and thus allows stripping the leaves from the perforated
rotating attraction drum but without enabling them to be drawn and stuck to the
counter-rotating drum.
According to another example of implementation, the leaf-stripping head comprises
cleaning means extending towards the inside of the perforated rotating attraction drum
beyond the lateral wall of the latter.
According to another preferred example of implementation, these cleaning means
consist of a plurality of superposed blades fixed rigidly on the screen and shaped so
they engage in the openings so that they can continually clean said openings when the
perforated rotating attraction drum is in rotation.
The invention also refers to leaf-stripping machines equipped with a leaf-stripping
head featuring one or several of the technical characteristics above.
Brief Description of Drawings
The invention will be better understood, thanks to the description below which refers to
a preferred implementation, given as a non-limiting example and explained with
reference to the attached schematic drawings in which:
Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an example of leaf-stripping head
incorporating the perforated rotating attraction drum in accordance with
the invention.
Figure 2 shows a front view of the perforated rotating attraction drum according
to the invention mounted on its rotating shaft.
Figure 3 shows a cross section view along the plane A-A of figure 2.
Figure 4 shows a perspective view of one of the rings constituting the stacking of
the perforated rotating attraction drum.
Figure 5 is a detail view, at enlarged scale and in section of a ring along line B-B
of figure 3.
Figure 6A is a detail view in longitudinal section analogue to figure 5 showing a
first implementation of the assembly of two superposed rings.
Figure 6B is a detail view in longitudinal section analogue to figure 5 showing a
second implementation of the assembly of two superposed rings.
Figure 7 shows a perspective view of one of the two end rings.
Figure 8 is a cutaway drawing in perspective of the leaf-stripping head of figure 1
seen from the side opposite the foliage wall showing the location of the
two counter-rotating rolls as well as the screen of the perforated rotating
attraction drum featuring the cleaning elements for the openings.
Figure 9 shows the structure of the cleaning elements of the perforated rotating
attraction drum coupled to the screen of said perforated rotating
attraction drum shown in figure 6 along the same plane A-A of figure 2.
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
Reference to said drawings is made to describe an interesting but by no means
limiting example of implementation of a perforated rotating attraction drum for the leaf-
stripping of plants and the leaf-stripping heads equipped with such a drum.
In the description which follows and in the claims, the term 'attraction drum' designates
a cylinder comprising a perforated lateral wall to allow passage of a suction air flow for
grabbing the leaves of the foliage wall and to hold them against the external surface of
said perforated cylinder.
On Figure 1 is represented a preferred mode of utilization of the perforated rotating
attraction drum according to the invention showing a leaf-stripping head 1
incorporating said perforated rotating attraction drum 2 cooperating with a counter-
rotating drum 3 as well as means for the rotating drive of said perforated rotating
attraction drum 2 and means for generating an air flow capable of creating a vacuum
at the openings of said perforated rotating attraction drum according to an operating
mode similar to the state of the art described above. In effect, these different means
are known by the expert and are not represented on the figures, since they are not the
subject of the invention as such.
Figure 2 shows a preferred implementation of the perforated rotating attraction drum 2
of a general cylindrical shape and featuring annular openings 6, this perforated
rotating attraction drum being fit for being mounted on a leaf-stripping head 1 allowing
the elimination of a certain quantity of leaves of a foliage wall constituted by a row of
vine-stock. This head features means for motorization known as such to drive the
rotation of said perforated rotating attraction drum, as well as means also known as
such, allowing the creation of an air flow generating a vacuum in said openings 6 to
suck the leaves of the foliage wall on the surface of said perforated rotating attraction
drum 2 when it is positioned at the level of the surface of said foliage wall. This
perforated rotating attraction drum presents a lateral surface of a general cylindrical
shape extending between its two ends 2A, 2B, and it is primarily remarkable in that it is
constituted by a successive stack of cylindrical rings 5 of identical diameter and
separated by openings 6 of a general annular form. In other words, the perforated
rotating attraction drum 2 is constituted by an alternation of rings and annular
openings. These openings are shaped so as to prevent, during the suction operation
of the leaves, the shocks on the other components of this foliage wall such as the
grape berries which would be susceptible of regaining contact with the openings 6 of
said perforated rotating attraction drum 2.
Advantageously, the openings 6 are of low height, for example of a dimension of 3
mm, to present a weak suction surface and hence a limited effort or attraction effect on
the small objects related to the foliage wall other than the leaves, such as grape
berries in the process of ripening, and in the event the latter are being sucked up, to
accompany them without shocks until said objects are returned to the foliage wall by
their connection to it, such as for example the grape bunches.
Advantageously, the perforated rotating attraction drum 2 is constituted by a
successive assembly of rings 5, completed at each of its ends by an end ring 20,
stacked around a common rotating axis represented by the axial coupling shaft 4 at
the leaf-stripping head 1, as shown on figures 2, 3, 8, and 9. This perforated rotating
attraction drum features means of assembly 12, 13, and 7 of this stack of rings,
constituted in the preferred implementation shown in particular in figures 2, 3, 8, and 9
by three rigid thread rods at each of their ends traversing longitudinally the perforated
rotating attraction drum 2 from one end to the other, passing through the bores of the
humps 12 of each of the rings and positioned at equal angular distance from each
other, which is here at 120°. Blocking means 7 such as locknuts complete the rigidity
of the stack of rings and to suppress any play between the rings thus making it
possible to prevent any ill-timed movements of the ring walls which could generate
shocks to the grape berries in contact with the openings. The means of
assembly 12, 13, and in particular the humps 12 provided with a traversing bore, are
positioned nearby and set back from the periphery of the rings 5. In other words, said
humps are positioned at a distance and inside of the volume delimited by the
peripheral surface of the rings. This allows partly to sufficiently stiffen the stacking
assembly rotating at high speed (for example in the order of 1000 rpm), but above all
to define ring-shaped openings of large volume while maintaining a reduced thickness.
The air flow can then create its effects over almost the entire surface of the
openings 6, being disturbed only by the proximity of the humps 12.
Advantageously, the periphery of each ring 5 is constituted between two humps 12 of
a wall of a width P and the wall of the humps at proximity of the periphery of the ring 5
is distant from the latter by a width L greater than P to allow the passage of the
cleaning means 9 described below during the operation of the leaf-stripping head.
Advantageously, each hump 12 has a general cylindrical shape but that is truncated in
its part near the periphery of the ring 5 to allow the passage of the cleaning means 9
while also allowing positioning the axis of the rigid rods 13 as much as possible
towards the periphery of the rings 5.
The stacking means 12, 13 provide, among other things for positioning the rings 5 at a
predefined distance from each other so as to constitute the annular openings 6 of the
perforated rotating attraction drum 2.
The humps 12 have a height H greater than the thickness e of the rings 5.
Advantageously, the upper end 12a and the lower end 12b of the humps 12 extend
over the upper face 5a and the lower face 5b of the rings 5, for example over an
identical distance in the order of 1.5 mm (figure 5). In this way, when two rings 5 are
stacked, an annular opening 6 of a height in the order of 3 mm is automatically made
between these two adjacent rings.
According to another characteristic disposition of the invention, the upper end 12a of
the hump 12 of the upper face 5a of a ring 5 features a countersink and the lower
end 12b of the hump 12 of the lower face 5b of the ring 5 features a shoulder so that
the shoulder of the end 12b of a ring fits into the countersink of the end 12a of the
adjacent ring at the moment of stacking the rings on to the rigid rods 13. This
characteristic enhances the rigidity of the stack.
According to another characteristic disposition of the invention, the perforated rotating
attraction drum 2 also features means of thickness h1 to allow increasing the height of
the openings 6, that is to say the size of the intervals between two successive rings 5.
Thus, the height of the opening 6 finds itself increased by the thickness h1 of said
means. This characteristic has the advantage of allowing adjustment of the height of
the openings depending on the vineyards being treated, on the leaf-stripping period or
the condition of the vegetation at the time of leaf-stripping, but also of being able to
manufacture different leaf-stripping drums with different opening thicknesses while still
using the same rings.
According to an advantageous implementation, the adjustment means for the opening
height are constituted by washers 11 of a thickness h1 placed between two adjacent
rings 5.
According to a preferred example of implementation as shown in figure 6B, the height
adjusting washers 11 are inserted into the countersinks of each of the upper ends 12a
of the humps 12 of a ring 5.
According to another example of implementation, this height difference could be
obtained with different rings 5 of same thickness e presenting humps 12 of different
heights so that the stack of two successive rings would create openings 6 of different
heights.
The ends 2A, 2B of the perforated rotating attraction drum 2 are constituted by end
rings 20 (figure 7) presenting an outside diameter identical to the outside diameter of
the intermediary rings 5. These end rings are also provided with assembly humps 17.
These end rings 20 are fastened by means of rigid rods 13 traversing the hump
alignments 1717, the stiffening of the assembly is achieved by blocking means 7,
which are, for example, constituted by screw-nut systems, preferably locknuts being
put on the threaded ends of the rigid assembly rods 13. This assemblage thus allows
fastening the structure of the perforated rotating attraction drum and ensures its rigidity
when it is in operation, preventing any relative distortions of the rings which could lead
to distortions of the openings which could result in shocks to the grape berries.
The perforated rotating attraction drum 2 is equipped with an axial shaft 4 fitted to
allow its coupling, directly or indirectly, to a motorization M for rotating drive. This
shaft passes through a central sleeve 14 with which the end rings 20 are equipped,
this central sleeve being rigidly connected, through radial cross-members 15, to the
humps 17 of the end rings, or to their internal wall. Means ensure the rigid connection
of the drive shaft 4 with the perforated rotating attraction drum 2. For example, these
means consists of screws (not shown) traversing radial bores 16 as well as the
sleeves 14 thereby joining the perforated rotating attraction drum solidly to the axial
shaft for its rotating drive.
The invention concerns also the leaf-stripping heads 1 comprising a perforated rotating
attraction drum 2 featuring all or part of the characteristics previously described, as
well as the machines equipped with such a leaf-stripping head.
In this case, the attraction device enabling the foliage of the vine-stocks to be
plastered against the lateral wall of the attraction roll constituted by a stack of rings 20-
-20 separated by annular openings 6, comprises at least one means of suction so as
to generate a sucking air flow inside the perforated rotating attraction drum 2.
This suction device or each suction device may be constituted by a suction turbine (not
shown in the figures) where the air inlet may be installed above the upper end 2A of
the perforated rotating attraction drum and/or below the low end 2B of the latter, so as
to generate, inside said perforated rotating attraction drum, a sucking air flow from at
least one of said ends 2A, 2B, this sucking air flow allowing the leaves to be grabbed
and plastered against the cylindrical lateral surface of the perforated rotating attraction
drum 2, through the openings 6. In this case, the internal portion of the perforated
rotating attraction drum and hence that of the stack of rings 5 is put into
communication with the air inlet of a channel connected to the main inlet of the suction
turbine.
As an alternative or as a complement, the suction air flow may be generated through
an area of the lateral surface of the perforated rotating attraction drum 2 to plaster the
grabbed leaves by the suction air flow, and more precisely through the circle arc
portions of the openings 6 positioned in this area.
A cutting device or nipping system may be associated with the perforated rotating
attraction drum 2 to cut or nip the leaves plastered against said roll before detaching
them from it.
According to an advantageous implementation, the leaf-stripping head comprises a
second counter-rotating drum 3. This counter-rotating drum presents an external
lateral cylindrical wall and it is mounted facing the external cylindrical surface of the
stack of rings 2020, so that it can nip and rip off the leaves plastered on the
perforated rotating attraction drum 2.
It features an axial drive shaft in rotation and its surface is preferably constituted by an
elastic material such as for example rubber or polyurethane in order to better nip the
leaves and absorb their varying thicknesses due to their ribs and leaf-stalks.
The leaf-stripping head 1 thus shaped may be suspended in a manner known as such
and at the grasp of the expert, on the chassis of a leaf-stripping machine.
The internal surface of the rings 5 may also comprise, between two stacking means 12
and by going in the direction of rotation R of the perforated rotating attraction drum, a
first concave surface P1, a cylindrical wall of width P and a second concave
surface P2 of a smaller radius than that of the concave surface P1. In effect, the
perforated rotating attraction drum 2 sucks up all the small pieces of trash, waste and
dust found in the foliage wall, but not connected to it, in proximity of the perforated
rotating attraction drum during the leaf-stripping operation. This garbage tends to
accumulate particularly on the surfaces where the air flow is reduced and often where
the turbulences generated by the air flow force it to stagnate locally and to stick to the
walls nearby. The advantage if a greater radius with a concave profile P1 is thus to
facilitate sufficient air speeds at this level to prevent the rapid clogging of the openings,
where clogging at the level of profile P2 is such that it is easily cleaned by the cleaning
means 9 of the rings 5.
The rings 5 may be made of a metallic material such as aluminium or stainless steel,
but they may advantageously made of plastic material, preferably moulded, whereas
the end rings are preferably made of a light metallic material such as aluminium to
absorb efficiently the forces of the stacking. The rigid rods linked to the stacking
means 12 as well as the rotating drive shaft 4 of the perforated rotating attraction drum
will preferably be made of steel. This structure is thus simple to assemble and
lightweight, the perforated rotating attraction drum being in fact intended to operate at
rapid rotating speeds, for example in the order of 1000 rpm, to ensure efficacious leaf-
stripping.
Also, in the preferred implementation of the perforated rotating attraction drum
operating with one or two air flows, each linked to the ends 2A, 2B and to optimize the
energy related to the generation of the air flow(s) through the annular openings 6, it is
advantageous to limit the active portion of the latter to the area facing the foliage wall
corresponding essentially to the leaf plastering area. A screen 8 may therefore be
fastened on the leaf-stripping head 1 with appropriate fasteners 10 to be positioned
opposite the portions of openings 6 facing the non-functional suction areas and to
direct the suction of leaves primarily towards the foliage wall. What is meant by non-
functional area is an area where the leaves are no longer plastered by suction on the
perforated rotating attraction drum. This area begins shortly after the nipping of the
leaves with the counter-rotating drum and thus permits detaching the leaves from the
perforated rotating attraction drum without them being unable to be attracted and
plastered by the counter-rotating drum. It will also have the advantage of proceeding
to the detachment of the leaves after they have been stripped off by the counter-
rotating drums by suppressing the attraction force as soon as they reach the screen.
They can thus fall by gravity to the ground below the leaf-stripping head.
Advantageously, this screen 8 may integrate means for continuous cleaning 9 of the
rolls located across the openings 6 which are thus fixed relative to the leaf-stripping
head 1, and mobile relative to the perforated rotating attraction drum 2 and thus
relative to the cylindrical rings 5.
The cleaning means 9 are for example constituted by a plurality of superposed blades
fastened rigidly on the screen 8 connected to the machine and shaped to become
engaged in the openings 6 so as to be able to continually clean said openings. Their
end extends towards the inside of the openings of the perforated rotating attraction
drum, beyond the wall with a thickness P of the cylindrical rings 5 although without
touching the stacking means 12 of the rings positioned at a distance L from the
exterior cylindrical surface of the rings 5, at a distance greater than the thickness P of
the cylindrical wall of said rings. By the way, they have a thickness that is less than
the distance between two adjacent rings and they are for example constituted by a
steel sheet of 2 mm thickness to maintain sufficient operating play with the rings
between which they are located, thus avoiding a loss of too much energy by friction
with said rings while all the same providing continuous cleaning of the openings.
Claims (28)
1. Perforated rotating attraction drum of a general cylindrical shape and featuring openings, this drum being able to be mounted on a leaf-stripping head of a 5 leaf-stripping machine adapted to remove at least some of the leaves of a foliage wall, characterized in that it includes a stack of rings presenting an exterior cylindrical surface, and a plurality of annular openings, each made between two successive rings, these openings allowing the passage of a suction air flow across and towards the inside of the perforated rotating 10 attraction drum, said perforated rotating attraction drum featuring internal means for rigid assembly of the stack of rings and an internal coupling means to a motor means for rotational drive of the perforated rotating attraction drum.
2. Perforated rotating attraction drum according to claim 1, wherein said foliage 15 wall is a row of vine stock.
3. Perforated rotating attraction drum according to either one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that at each end of the stack of rings is provided an end ring presenting an outside diameter identical to the outside diameter of the other 20 rings of the stack.
4. Perforated rotating attraction drum according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means for rigid assembly of the stack of rings include: 25 at least two assembly humps located away from the periphery of the rings and connected to the inside wall of said rings, said humps featuring hump bores having axes parallel to the axis of the rings; and rigid rods passing through the hump bores of said stack of rings, said rigid rods featuring at their end blocking means to complete the assembly of 30 the stack of rings.
5. Perforated rotating attraction drum according to claim 4, wherein said blocking means is a screw-nut system.
6. Perforated rotating attraction drum according to claim 5, wherein at least the ends of each rigid rod are threaded, and said screw-nut system includes a locknut. 5
7. Perforated rotating attraction drum according to claim 3, or to any one of claims 4 to 6 when dependent on claim 3, characterized in that the means of coupling to a motor means includes: a central sleeve attached to the inside wall of each end ring through radial cross bars; and 10 an axial coupling shaft passing through each central sleeve and connected in rotation to the central sleeves by means of rigid connection, said axial coupling shaft being adapted for direct or indirect coupling to the motor means. 15
8. Perforated rotating attraction drum according to claim 7, wherein said means of rigid connection are locking screws.
9. Perforated rotating attraction drum according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the annular openings separating the rings have a 20 height between 2 mm and 5 mm.
10. Perforated rotating attraction drum according to claim 9, wherein the annular openings have a height of 3 mm. 25
11. Perforated rotating attraction drum according to claim 4, or any one of claims 5 to 10 when dependent on claim 4, characterized in that the assembly humps are located an equal angular distance from each other on a concentric circle with a diameter smaller than that of the rings. 30
12. Perforated rotating attraction drum according to claim 11, wherein each ring has three assembly humps.
13. Perforated rotating attraction drum according to claim 4, or any one of claims 5 to 12 when dependent on claim 4, characterized in that the assembly humps 35 have a height greater than the thickness of the rings, such that when the rings are stacked on the rigid rods, the annular openings between two adjacent rings are defined.
14. Perforated rotating attraction drum according to claim 4, or any one of claims 5 5 to 13 when dependent on claim 4, characterized in that an upper end of the assembly humps extends from an upper face of the rings and a lower end of the assembly humps extend from a lower face of the rings by an identical distance. 10
15. Perforated rotating attraction drum according to claim 14, wherein said identical distance is in the order of 1.5 mm.
16. Perforated rotating attraction drum according to claim 4, or any one of claims 5 to 15 when dependent on claim 4, characterized in that the upper end of each 15 assembly hump of a ring features a countersink whereas the lower end of each assembly hump features a shoulder, so that the hump at the lower end of one ring can fit into the countersink at the upper end of the adjacent end at the time of stacking. 20
17. Perforated rotating attraction drum according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it includes inserted means in the stack between two rings allowing to increase the height of the openings by the thickness of said means. 25
18. Perforated rotating attraction drum according to claim 17 when dependent on claim 16, characterized in that the inserted means are washers of equal thickness located in each countersink of the upper end of the assembly humps of a ring. 30
19. Perforated rotating attraction drum according to any one of claims 4 to 6 when dependent on claim 3, characterized in that each end ring includes: at least two assembly humps located away from the periphery of the rings and connected to the inside wall of said rings, said humps featuring hump bores having axes parallel to the axis of the rings; and 35 wherein said rigid rods pass through said hump bores of the end rings as well as the hump bores of the other rings in the stack.
20. Perforated rotating attraction drum according to 19, characterized in that the assembly humps are located an equal angular distance from each other on a concentric circle with a diameter smaller than that of the end rings.
21. Perforated rotating attraction drum according to claim 20, wherein each end ring has three assembly humps.
22. Leaf-stripping head characterized in that it includes: 10 a perforated rotating attraction drum according to any one of the preceding claims; at least one means of suction allowing generation of an air flow across the openings of said perforated rotating attraction drum to ensure an attraction force of the leaves of the foliage wall facing said drum; and 15 a second counter-rotating drum presenting an outside lateral wall of general cylindrical shape and mounted opposite the stack of rings of the perforated rotating attraction drum, so as to ensure the nipping of the leaves plastered on the latter. 20
23. Leaf-stripping head according to claim 22, characterized in that the or each means of suction is constituted by a suction turbine installed above an upper end of the perforated rotating attraction drum and/or below a lower end of the perforated rotating attraction drum, so as to generate, inside the internal vacuum of said perforated rotating attraction drum, a suction air flow from one 25 at least of said upper end and lower end, this suction air flow allowing nipping and plastering of the leaves against the lateral cylindrical surface of the perforated rotating attraction drum located opposite the foliage wall.
24. Leaf-stripping head according to any one of claims 22 or 23, characterized in 30 that the air flow is generated through a front area of the lateral surface of the perforated rotating attraction drum.
25. Leaf-stripping head according to claim 24, wherein the air flow is generated through the circle arc portions of the openings located in the front area.
26. Leaf-stripping head according to any one of claims 22 to 25, characterized in that it includes a screen fastened to said leaf-stripping head, by means of fastening elements, facing the portions of the openings located opposite the non-functional suction areas.
27. Leaf-stripping head according to any one of claims 22 to 26, characterized in that the leaf-stripping head includes cleaning means extending towards the inside of the perforated rotating attraction drum beyond the lateral wall of the perforated rotating attraction drum.
28. Leaf-stripping head according to claim 27 when dependent on claim 26, characterized in that the cleaning means consist of a plurality of superposed blades fastened rigidly on the screen and shaped so they can engage themselves in the openings of the perforated rotating attraction drum so they 15 can continuously clean said openings, during the rotation of said perforated rotating attraction drum.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
FR14/50387 | 2014-01-17 | ||
FR1450387A FR3016494B1 (en) | 2014-01-17 | 2014-01-17 | ROTARY ATTRACTION DRUM ADJUSTED FOR PLANT CLEANING AND BLANKET HEADS EQUIPPED WITH SUCH A DRUM. |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
NZ703157A NZ703157A (en) | 2015-05-29 |
NZ703157B true NZ703157B (en) | 2015-09-01 |
Family
ID=
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