US3590925A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automated agricultural system
Assignee: TARA CORP
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Filing: 1968-05-06
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Granted: 1971-07-06
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Expires: 1988-05-06
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates to an automated agricultural system for variously servicing the plants of a row crop and particularly to such a system for scanning rows of the crop to accomplish such services as thinning, weeding, blocking, fertilizing, and so on. The system selectively identifies row plants that are to be preserved, a system for processing radiation that is reflected from such plants. The system, as disclosed, also includes specific structure for thinning row plants, spaced apart by a preselected distance.
Inventors
- 👤 Arthur L Troutner
- 👤 Don Lebell
- 👤 William A Koelsch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 12:25
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01B; A01B41/00; A01B41/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
223 words
An agricultural apparatus for thinning plants in row crops, comprising: a mobile frame means for moving along said row crops to travel over individual plants; destruction means affixed to said mobile frame means, for destroying plants in a row traveled by said mobile frame means; distance-indicating means affixed to said mobile frame and setable to provide a command signal upon the occurrence of said mobile frame travelling a predetermined distance along said row; plant-sensing meaNs affixed to said mobile frame to sense plants in said row to providing plant signals as said plants are encountered by said mobile frame; inhibit means affixed to said mobile frame for inhibiting the destructive operation of said destruction means for a short interval of said row; means affixed to said mobile frame and connected to receive said plant signals and said command signals for controlling said inhibit means to leave a plant undestroyed on the concurrence of said plant signals and said command signal; space-indicating means affixed to said mobile frame for metering the distance between plants in said row traveled by said mobile frame and left undestroyed by said destruction means; and means controlled by said space indicating means for varying said predetermined distance of said distance-indicating means inversely as said distance metered between plants in a row traveled by said mobile frame and left undestroyed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
223 words
An agricultural apparatus for thinning plants in row crops, comprising: a mobile frame means for moving along said row crops to travel over individual plants; destruction means affixed to said mobile frame means, for destroying plants in a row traveled by said mobile frame means; distance-indicating means affixed to said mobile frame and setable to provide a command signal upon the occurrence of said mobile frame travelling a predetermined distance along said row; plant-sensing meaNs affixed to said mobile frame to sense plants in said row to providing plant signals as said plants are encountered by said mobile frame; inhibit means affixed to said mobile frame for inhibiting the destructive operation of said destruction means for a short interval of said row; means affixed to said mobile frame and connected to receive said plant signals and said command signals for controlling said inhibit means to leave a plant undestroyed on the concurrence of said plant signals and said command signal; space-indicating means affixed to said mobile frame for metering the distance between plants in said row traveled by said mobile frame and left undestroyed by said destruction means; and means controlled by said space indicating means for varying said predetermined distance of said distance-indicating means inversely as said distance metered between plants in a row traveled by said mobile frame and left undestroyed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said plant-sensing means includes: means for illuminating said plants; means for sensing light reflected from said plants to provide two signals representative of reflected light of different band widths; and means for combining said two signals to provide said plant signals indicative of the presence of plants.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said destruction means comprises a rotary cutting apparatus affixed to said frame means to revolve about an axis that is substantially parallel to said row crops; and wherein said inhibit means comprises means for forwardly shifting said cutting apparatus axially.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-07-05 | 1975-01-04 | 1975-07-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-05 | 1979-01-04 | 1979-07-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-05 | 1983-01-04 | 1983-07-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |