WO2017216337A1

WO2017216337A1 - Device for thinning and harvesting a fruit tree

Info

Publication number: WO2017216337A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/064765
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jean-Pierre Villanou
Original assignee: Jean-Pierre Villanou
Priority date: 2016-06-16
Filing date: 2017-06-16
Publication date: 2017-12-21

Abstract

Device for thinning and/or harvesting fruit trees. The present invention relates to a device (1) for removing blossom or fruit (2) from a plant (10) by plucking from their branches (3), being in the form of a frame (5) that can be coupled to a machine (6), on which frame (5) are mounted means (9)+(4)+(7) for plucking said fruit or blossom (2), said plucking means (9)+(4)+(7) being mounted in rotation with respect to said frame (5) and consisting of at least one rotor (9), each rotor (9) being provided with stems (4), characterized in that each rotor (9) is provided with means (8) that automatically apply, to the rotor (9) + stems (4) assembly, or to each one of these, a force for slowing and/or accelerating the natural rotational speed of the one or more rotors (9), such that the real rotational speed of the one or more rotors (9) is slightly above or below the natural rotational speed of the one or more rotors (9) at least induced by the simple displacement of the machine (6) and the frame (5).

Description

FRUIT TREATING AND COLLECTION DEVICE FOR FRUIT TREE

The present invention is in the agricultural field, mainly fruit production.

The invention relates more particularly to the control of the load of a fruit tree, as well as harvesting.

To do this, it relates to a device for removing flowers or fruit from a plant.

Such a removal device will find a particular application, but not limited to, in a thinning operation, namely the removal of flowers and fruit of apple, apricot, plum and peach.

For the thinning, in a known manner, it is necessary to reduce the number of flowers or fruits present on a fruit tree, it is also essential for the self-fertile varieties, namely that the flowers of said fruit tree provide them. even their fertilization from their own pollen. The aim is to improve the quality and size of the fruits produced, but also to lower the cost of production.

Currently, this thinning operation involves removing by hand or using tools, flowers or berries. This operation is long and tedious, involving a high labor cost.

There are also portable motorized machines, or large sizes, the latter being fixed on a tractor. Their principle is to rotate, with the help of a motor, an axis provided with flexible wires or rigid or semi-rigid rods, these rotating threads strike the flowers, but also the leaves, and the branches. The most fragile young leaves and twigs are destroyed, which is a major disadvantage. The duration of use of these machines is therefore low and their mode of action is aggressive for the tree. Their use is therefore impossible for thinning at the berry stage and for harvesting.

Such existing devices are described in documents US Pat. No. 4,077,193, EP 1,106,050 and US Pat. No. 4,292,792. several vertical axes, motorized in rotation, on which rods are mounted integral radially with respect to each axis. Each rod is attached to its axis at one of its ends, the opposite end remaining free. The entire shaft and rods form a rotor, similar to a large motorized rotating brush. As such, the motorization of each rotor can be controlled, in a variable manner, to increase or decrease the speed of rotation of the entire rotor. In short, we adapt the speed of the rotor as a whole, the rods rotating at the same speed as the axis of which they are integral.

A disadvantage of this type of motorization of the entire rotor resides in a speed chosen unsuitable with respect to the tree to be lightened. This results in a deterioration of the vegetation, injuring the tree, causing too many or not enough flowers or fruits to be pulled away.

There is also a manual brush made of semi-rigid rods that can be large and towed by a motorized machine. The rotor is mounted free in rotation, during the movement of the machine, the rods penetrate the branches of the shaft which causes the natural rotation of the rotor. This device, by the absence of motorization, is not aggressive and sometimes lacks efficiency.

The invention aims to overcome the disadvantages of the technique, by providing a device for removing flowers and fruit from a fruit tree that respects the entire plant and can be used on all species.

Such a device comprises a rotating rotor provided with semi-rigid rods, whose rotation is preferably free, provided by its longitudinal displacement on the vegetation. Indeed, the rods being in engagement with the vegetation, the displacement of the assembly causes the natural rotation of the rotor. In this case, the device thus eliminates a motorization imposing the drive of the rotor. Additionally, said rotor can be motorized to obtain a determined and variable rotation speed.

In particular, the device according to the invention comprises a free rotor rotating along an axis of rotation. The rotor may be connected to a self-propelled frame or coupled to a machine, such as a tractor, moving in a rectilinear direction. The displacement of said frame causes a so-called natural rotation of said rotor. The rotor may comprise at least one rod adapted to be in contact with a shaft, preferably several arranged on the spine, radially with respect to the axis of said rotor, thus forming an assembly resembling a large brush.

Said rotor is linked to means which make it possible to apply a braking and / or acceleration stress in the event of motorization, towards the natural rotation of said rotor, during its displacement along the vegetation. This constraint of modifying the natural rotational speed of said rotor makes it possible to apply a different force to the stems engulfed in the vegetation and sliding along the branches of the tree or trees. This force must allow, on the one hand, tearing of the flowers during a thinning operation and, on the other hand, to detach the fruits during the harvest.

Thus the device according to the invention is able to easily remove the flowers or fruits respecting the tree and mitigating the lack of aggressiveness of the naturally rotating version. Therefore, said rods form a more or less dense brush depending on the number of rods and their arrangement on the rotor. The diameter of this brush can be of any diameter, to adapt to different fruit species. Preferably, they can be rigid. They can also be provided in semi-rigid material, flexible or elastic, and provided of any possible length.

Such a brush facilitates the use of the device on branches and branches, as is the case of apricot. This brush makes it possible not to hurt the twigs and the leaves, as well as the young fruits if the intervention is carried out at this stage. This machine can also be used as indicated in the title for harvesting.

To do this, it is characterized in that said means for tearing flowers or fruits comprise a rotor provided with rods which penetrate the vegetation. Means apply a braking and / or acceleration constraint which acts on the natural rotation of the rotor. This induces a rotation speed slightly lower and / or higher than the speed which would have been generated by the only movement of the machine if no constraint was applied to the rotor.

In fact, the rotor + rod + shaft assembly can be compared to the rack and pinion system, the rods representing the teeth of the pinions. The braking and / or acceleration stress applied to the natural rotational speed of the rotor induces a controlled sliding of the rods which is due to the speed differential existing between the natural rotation of the rotor and that imposed by the means applying the stress. This forced sliding of the stems in the vegetation makes it possible to obtain and modulate the friction of the stems in the vegetation, thus the aggressiveness of the brush. It is in this that the invention induces a modification "slightly" higher or lower, braking and / or accelerating the initial natural rotation speed, namely without stress.

In particular, the device according to the invention may comprise means provided with at least one sensor making it possible to measure the forward speed of the chassis, the speed of rotation of the rotor is thus controlled by the speed of displacement of the chassis connected to said rotor. .

Advantageously, the device according to the invention can comprise:

A sensor for measuring the speed of progress of the assembly

A control box provided for:

• Set a maximum allowed rotor torque on the vegetation to define the maximum allowed friction in the shaft;

• Receive information from a sensor measuring the penetration of rods in the shaft cage, which allows to define the average diameter of the brush and thus know its natural rotation speed;

• Adjust the differential of the natural rotational speed of the rotor and the desired speed of rotation to allow to regulate the friction of the rods on the shaft and thus the aggressiveness of the machine. The braking and / or acceleration means can be controlled by a control box.

The control unit can control the braking and / or acceleration of said device as a function of the forward speed of the machine, forward speed given by a position sensor, but also according to the penetration of the given brush by a cylinder sensor actuating the displacement of the rotor towards the inside of the shaft cage, as a function of a maximum torque chosen by the user and / or as a function of a rotation speed differential defined by the 'user.

As a result, the action of the brush on the vegetation and fruits is enslaved to all the parameters mentioned above. The invention is therefore designed to adapt and take into account the heterogeneity of the plant while maintaining constant the parameters desired by the user. Therefore, the relative operation of the invention makes it possible, from previously determined data (for example as a function of the fruit tree to be thinned or harvested), to maintain optimal operating conditions in order to carry out the desired operation, it does not matter the user's behavior or the external conditions, such as an altitude difference which would slow down or accelerate the vehicle supporting the device according to the invention.

In a contradictory way, the patented version in 2011 (EP2677856) does not make it possible to obtain such control of the aggressiveness, because the said version is naturally rotated and the aggressiveness is directly linked to the stiffness of the stems and to the density of vegetation.

Thus, the subject of the invention is a device for removing flowers or fruit from a plant by tearing from their branches, in the form of a chassis that can be coupled to a machine, chassis on which are mounted means for tearing said fruits or flowers, said pulling means being rotatably mounted relative to said frame and consisting of at least one rotor, each rotor being provided with rods, characterized in that each rotor is provided with means which automatically apply to the rotor + rod assembly or to each of them a braking and / or acceleration constraint at the natural rotational speed of the rotor or rotors, so that the actual rotational speed of the rotor or rotors is slightly greater or less than the natural rotational speed of the rotor or rotors at least induced by the single movement of the vehicle and the frame.

Note that if the tearing means are rotatably mounted, then the invention consists in reducing / decelerating the speed of the rotor, whereas if they are motorized, then the invention can also make it possible to accelerate said speed of rotation. rotation.

In addition, but in no way limiting, said braking and / or acceleration means can be controlled by a control box.

Said control unit can control the braking and / or the acceleration of said device as a function of the forward speed of the device given by at least one sensor, as a function of the penetration of the given assembly by at least one sensor. a cylinder, according to the maximum torque chosen by a user and according to the rotational speed differential defined by said user.

Said tearing means may consist of a set of several rotors, each rotor consisting of several independent parts, each having means which automatically apply to each of them a braking and / or acceleration stress.

Said tearing means may consist of an assembly of several rotors, each rotor of said assembly being subjected to a stress of braking and / or acceleration, and thus controlled in rotation.

Said rods of the pulling means may be rigid, semi-rigid, flexible and / or flexible.

Said rods of the tearing means may be covered with a flexible or rigid material of any shape.

Said rods may extend over all or part of each rotor.

Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following detailed description of the non-limiting embodiments of the invention, with reference to the appended figures showing a particular embodiment of the device according to the invention during the thinning operation at the berry stage.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, without limitation, the present invention relates to a device 1 for removing flowers or fruits 2 of a tree by tearing from their branches 3, said tree 2 + 3 then constituting a plant.

Such a device 1 is in the form of a brush 9 + 4 constituted by at least one rotor 9 and semi-rigid rods 4. This brush 9 + 4 is inserted into a frame 5 for bonding said brush 9 + 4 to an agricultural machine 6, including a tractor, via suitable connection means. According to another configuration, said chassis 5 can be self-supporting by suitable rolling means.

The assembly of the brush 9 + 4, constituted by the rotor 9 and its rods 4, can be mounted free to rotate on said frame 5. In particular, said frame 5 may comprise a shaft around and relative to which one or more rotors 9 are mounted in rotation, in particular by means of suitable bearings or bearings.

In particular, each rotor 9 can be provided free in rotation or motorized rotation, then driven at a variable speed that can be determined by the user.

It will be noted that the rods 4 may be provided of different lengths or sections, and of variable length, for example through telescopic sections.

Said rods 4 are connected at one end to said rotor 9. They may be provided at their opposite end with a protective cap 7, and may be covered with a flexible material to limit impacts on the plant 2 + 3.

The device 1 comprises at least one sensor R designed to measure the speed of advance of the brush, namely rotor 9 + rods 4, and at least one Y sensor provided for measuring the penetration of the brush 9 + 4 in the vegetation 2 3.

Said device 1 comprises means 8 for braking and / or acceleration applied to the speed of rotation of said brush assembly 9 + 4. These means 8 may consist of at least one control box X, preferably a single control box X. Thanks to said control box X, the maximum allowed torque parameters and the desired rotational speed differential M can be defined. relative to the natural rotation speed B calculated by said control box X, according to the different information given by sensors R and Y.

In the case of a free rotation of the rotor 9, the setting in motion of the machine 6 along the direction A causes the rotation of the rotor with a natural rotation speed B. The means 8 apply a braking stress inducing a rotation M of the rotor which depends on the natural rotation B and the braking of the means 8.

Therefore, the setting in motion of the machine 6 according to the direction A and the putting into operation of the means 8 which apply a braking stress in the direction M of the brush 9 + 4, causes a forced sliding of the rods 4 on the vegetation 2 + 3.

In the case of a motorized rotation of the rotor 9, the determined rotational speed added to the setting in motion of the machine 6 along the direction A, induces the rotation of the rotor 9 with a given speed of rotation. The means 8 can then apply a braking and / or acceleration constraint, modifying the rotational speed of said rotor 9.

Therefore, the setting in motion of the machine 6 along the direction A and the putting into operation of the means 8 which apply a braking and / or acceleration constraint in the direction M of the brush 9 + 4 causes a slip forced stems 4 on vegetation 2 + 3.

More specifically, slowing and / or accelerating can cause a shearing effect, facilitating the detachment of fruit during a harvest operation. Indeed, the invention lies in the fact that the speed of rotation imposed by the means 8, which apply a braking stress and / or acceleration following M brush 9 + 4, is different from the natural rotation speed of the brush 9 + 4 obtained by the only advance of the machine 6 along the direction A. This natural rotation speed in the direction B of the brush 9 + 4 is induced by the advancement of the machine 6 in the direction AT. By using the means 8 which applies braking and / or acceleration stress to the brush 9 + 4 in the direction B, the actual rotation speed of the brush 9 + 4 can be modified and become higher or lower. preferably "slightly" higher or lower than the natural rotation speed obtained by the only advancement of the machine 6. The term "slightly" means within the meaning of the present invention as a modification of the speed of rotation of more or minus one turn per minute, preferably all values between minus ten revolutions per minute and plus ten revolutions per minute, modifiable in zero point decimal places one revolution per minute.

The rotation speed differential of the brush 9 + 4 between its actual speed M and natural B can then be chosen by the user in a range of for example ± 10tr / min (plus or minus ten revolutions per minute). This adjustment can be made for example by incrementation or linear decrementation.

The effect of more or less pronounced sliding of the rods 4 on the vegetation 2 + 3 makes it possible to regulate the aggressiveness of the brush 9 + 4, that is to say the quantity of flowers or fruits 2 torn from the tree 10.

The intensity of the friction of the rods 4 on the branches 3, regulated by the stress applied to the brush 9 + 4, the depth of the penetration of the rods 4 in the vegetation 2 + 3, the density of rods 4 mounted on the rotor 9 the length and the rigidity of the stems 4 make it possible to adapt the intensity of the fall of the flowers or the fruits 2.

As mentioned above, the characteristics and the implantation of the rods 4 allow space to preserve the flowers or fruits 2, which will remain on the plant 10 after the passage of the device 1 in the case of thinning. For use in harvesting mode the implantation of the stems 4 will then allow to drop a maximum of fruit.

The dimensions and the type of removal means 4 + 7 of the rotor 9 can be defined according to the type of fruit tree, in particular according to the section of the shape of its branches 3, as well as the size of the trees 10 and the stage of the vegetation at the time of the intervention.

Note that the rotor 9 can be of any size, to adapt to the type of tree to lighten or harvest. Advantageously, according to a particular embodiment, not shown, in the frame 5, it can be mounted a set of several rotors 9, to facilitate the crossing of the obstacles constituted by the branches 3. In other words, each rotor 9 can be subdivided into several sections, mounted coaxially, along the same shaft or axis, or along axes or trees parallel to each other. Therefore, each rotor section 9 can be decelerated and / or accelerated with the same or different constraints through means 8 provided for this purpose.

The invention greatly facilitates the thinning or harvesting of fruit trees through a device 1 whose aggressiveness can be regulated, which does not allow existing solutions.

In addition, such a device 1 by virtue of this constraint of braking and / or controlled acceleration of the brush 9 + 4, independent of the natural rotation in the direction B induced by the advancement along the direction A, makes it possible to regulate the aggressiveness of the 9 + 4 brush.

In fact, the rotor 9 moves on the vegetation 2 + 3 which constitutes its tread, its speed of rotation is then given by the average rolling circumference 11 of the brush 9 + 4, and the speed of advance of the 6 machine towing the assembly, for example a rotational speed of 10 rpm.

To generate a friction of the rods 4 on the vegetation 2 + 3, the speed of rotation of the brush 9 + 4 will be adjusted thanks to these means 8 which apply a braking and / or acceleration stress to for example 12 rpm . An increase in the difference between the natural rotation speed and that imposed by these means 8, which apply a braking and / or acceleration constraint, increases the friction of the rods 4 on the vegetation 2 + 3, therefore the aggressiveness of the brush 9 + 4. In fact, the control box (X) processes the information of the sensors R and Y and records the data of the user to adapt the rotation speed M of the brush 9 + 4 in accordance with previously established instructions.

We are thus in the presence of a real rotation speed M of the brush 9 + 4 enslaved to all these parameters. The control of the rotation is therefore relatively relative to the actual operation of the rotor in contact with the vegetation, to automatically comply with the constraints necessary for the required operation (thinning or harvesting). When using the invention, the instructions are therefore respected without any intervention of the user.

Claims

Device (1) for removing flowers or fruits

(2) of a plant (10) by tearing from their branches

(3), in the form of a chassis (5) capable of being coupled to a machine (6), chassis (5) on which tearing means (9) +(4) +( are mounted 7) said fruits or flowers (2), said plucking means (9) + (4) + (7) being mounted in rotation relative to said chassis (5) and consisting of at least one rotor (9), each rotor (9) being provided with rods (4), characterized in that each rotor (9) is provided with means (8) which automatically apply to the rotor (9) + rods assembly

(4) or to each of them a braking and/or acceleration constraint at the natural rotation speed of the rotor(s) (9), so that the actual rotation speed of the rotor(s) (9) is slightly higher or lower than the natural rotation speed of the rotor(s) (9) at least induced by the sole movement of the machine (6) and the chassis (5).

Removal device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said tearing means are mounted free to rotate on said frame (5) and that said means (8) only apply a braking constraint to said rotor (9). ) .

Removal device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said tearing means are mounted in motorized rotation on said chassis (5) and that said means (8) apply a braking and/or acceleration to said rotor (9).

Removal device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said braking or acceleration means (8) are controlled by at least one control unit (X).

5. Removal device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that said control unit (X) controls the braking and/or acceleration of said means (8) as a function of the forward speed of the device (1) given by at least one sensor (R), depending on the penetration of the brush (9) + (4) given by at least one sensor of a cylinder (Y), depending on the maximum torque chosen by a user and according to the rotation speed differential defined by said user.

6. Removal device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said tearing means (9) + (4) + (7) are constituted by a set of several rotors (9), each rotor ( 9) being made up of several independent parts, each comprising means (8) which automatically apply to each of them a braking and/or acceleration constraint.

7. Removal device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said tearing means (9) + (4) + (7) consist of a set of several rotors (9), each rotor

(9) of said assembly being subjected to a braking and/or acceleration constraint and thus regulated in rotation.

8. Removal device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said rods (4) of the tearing means (9) +(4) +(7) are rigid, semi-rigid , flexible and/or flexible.

9. Removal device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said rods (4) of the tearing means (9) +(4) +(7) are covered with a flexible material or rigid, of any shape.

10. Removal device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said rods (4) extend over all or part of each rotor (9).