Patent US3776316A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3776316A
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Electronic control for crop thinning
Assignee: Allied Farm Equipment Inc
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Filing: 1972-01-05
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Granted: 1973-12-04
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Expires: 1992-01-05
Abstract
Abstract An electronic control for a crop thinning machine comprises a control unit with a plant sensor input and control circuitry providing an output for operating a solenoid that controls the position (i.e. hoeing or non-hoeing) of the hoeing implement. The control circuitry is of solid state components and includes a series of interacting timing circuits for programming the operation of the hoeing implement in a predetermined manner. Independent plant sensing and timing circuitry are provided for each of a plurality of rows being thinned. In one mode of operation the machine is hoeing until a plant is sensed. The plant is left in place after which hoeing takes place unconditionally for a preset distance. The hoeing continues until the next plant is sensed, which is left in place, and the cycle is repeated. In another mode of operation the hoeing implement is in its non-hoeing position. The first plant sensed is left in place following which hoeing takes place unconditionally over a preset distance after which the hoeing implement is moved back to its non-hoeing position until the next plant is sensed. The cycle then repeats. A simple mode-selection switch is employed for quickly changing modes during field operation.
Inventors
- 👤 R Eberhart
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 04:18
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01B; A01B41/00; A01B41/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
247 words
In an apparatus for thinning a row of plants while moving along such row, comprising hoeing means on the apparatus having a raised position that leaves the ground unhoed and a lowered position wherein the ground is hoed, actuating means for effecting movement of said hoeing means from one position to the other position, control means for operating said actuating means, said control means comprising sensing means for sensing the presence of a plant plus additional means including a plurality of inter-acting timing circuits operable independently of the speed of movement of the apparatus along the row and responsive to the sensing of said plant for disabling the sensing means and causing said actuating means to: 1. be in a condition such that the hoeing means is in its raised position for a predetermined interval of time after sensing of said plant, 2. then be in a condition such that the hoeing means is in its lowered position thereby to leave the sensed plant in place, 3. then maintain the hoeing means in its lowered position for at least a predetermined interval of time, and then, 4. re-enable the sensing means, said ad-ditional means further including mode-control means connected to one of said timing circuits for selectively: a. maintaining the hoeing means iN its lowered position after said last-mentioned interval of time until a second plant is sensed, or b. raising the hoeing means after said last-mentioned interval of time; said mode-control means including a selector switch.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
247 words
In an apparatus for thinning a row of plants while moving along such row, comprising hoeing means on the apparatus having a raised position that leaves the ground unhoed and a lowered position wherein the ground is hoed, actuating means for effecting movement of said hoeing means from one position to the other position, control means for operating said actuating means, said control means comprising sensing means for sensing the presence of a plant plus additional means including a plurality of inter-acting timing circuits operable independently of the speed of movement of the apparatus along the row and responsive to the sensing of said plant for disabling the sensing means and causing said actuating means to: 1. be in a condition such that the hoeing means is in its raised position for a predetermined interval of time after sensing of said plant, 2. then be in a condition such that the hoeing means is in its lowered position thereby to leave the sensed plant in place, 3. then maintain the hoeing means in its lowered position for at least a predetermined interval of time, and then, 4. re-enable the sensing means, said ad-ditional means further including mode-control means connected to one of said timing circuits for selectively: a. maintaining the hoeing means iN its lowered position after said last-mentioned interval of time until a second plant is sensed, or b. raising the hoeing means after said last-mentioned interval of time; said mode-control means including a selector switch.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
then be in a condition such that the hoeing means is in its lowered position thereby to leave the sensed plant in place,
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
then be in a condition such that the hoeing means is in its lowered position thereby to leave the sensed plant in place,
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
In an apparatus according to claim 1, said timing circuits including at least one monostable multivibrator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
In an apparatus according to claim 2, said monostable multivibrator comprising a flip-flop that triggers a timer circuit, the output of said timer circuit resetting the flip-flop after a predetermined delay.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
then maintain the hoeing means in its lowered position for at least a predetermined interval of time, and then,
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
then maintain the hoeing means in its lowered position for at least a predetermined interval of time, and then,
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
re-enable the sensing means, said ad-ditional means further including mode-control means connected to one of said timing circuits for selectively: a. maintaining the hoeing means iN its lowered position after said last-mentioned interval of time until a second plant is sensed, or b. raising the hoeing means after said last-mentioned interval of time; said mode-control means including a selector switch.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
60 words
re-enable the sensing means, said ad-ditional means further including mode-control means connected to one of said timing circuits for selectively: a. maintaining the hoeing means iN its lowered position after said last-mentioned interval of time until a second plant is sensed, or b. raising the hoeing means after said last-mentioned interval of time; said mode-control means including a selector switch.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
In an apparatus according to claim 1, said timing circuitry being entirely of solid state electronic components.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
227 words
A unit for controlling the position of a hoeing implement of a plant thinning machine wherein the hoeing implement is movable to and from a hoeing position and a non-hoeing position to a thin row of plants, said unit comprising hoeing-implement actuating means, and circuit means for operating said actuating means, said circuit means including a sensing circuit for sensing the presence of a plant, a spacing circuit for setting a minimum predetermined distance over which the ground will be hoed to remove any plants within said predetermined distance, a centering circuit for centering unhoed plants in blocks of ground of the row, means connecting said centering circuit to said sensing circuit, means connecting said centering circuit to said spacing circuit, a hoeing circuit responsive to an output of the centering circuit, and mode-selecting circuit means cooperating with the output of the hoeing circuit to provide an output for connection to said actuating means for selectively driving said actuating means in either of two modes, one mode being such as to maintain the hoeing implement in hoeing position after said predetermined distance and then moves to its non-hoeing position upon thereafter sensing of the next plant, the other mode being such that the hoeing implement moves to its non-hoeing position after said predetermined distance and then moves to its hoeing position upon thereafter sensing of a plant.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
227 words
A unit for controlling the position of a hoeing implement of a plant thinning machine wherein the hoeing implement is movable to and from a hoeing position and a non-hoeing position to a thin row of plants, said unit comprising hoeing-implement actuating means, and circuit means for operating said actuating means, said circuit means including a sensing circuit for sensing the presence of a plant, a spacing circuit for setting a minimum predetermined distance over which the ground will be hoed to remove any plants within said predetermined distance, a centering circuit for centering unhoed plants in blocks of ground of the row, means connecting said centering circuit to said sensing circuit, means connecting said centering circuit to said spacing circuit, a hoeing circuit responsive to an output of the centering circuit, and mode-selecting circuit means cooperating with the output of the hoeing circuit to provide an output for connection to said actuating means for selectively driving said actuating means in either of two modes, one mode being such as to maintain the hoeing implement in hoeing position after said predetermined distance and then moves to its non-hoeing position upon thereafter sensing of the next plant, the other mode being such that the hoeing implement moves to its non-hoeing position after said predetermined distance and then moves to its hoeing position upon thereafter sensing of a plant.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
A control unit according to claim 5 in which the spacing circuit, the centering circuit, and the hoeing circuit each includes adjustable timing circuits that provide signal outputs for preselected time intervals.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
162 words
A unit for controlling the position of a hoeing implement of a plant thinning machine wherein the hoeing implement is movable to and from a hoeing position and a non-hoeing position to thin a row of plants, said unit comprising hoeing-implement actuating means, and circuit means for operating said actuating means, said circuit means including a sensing circuit for sensing the presence of a plant, a spacing circuit for setting a minimum predetermined distance over which the ground will be hoed to remove any plants within said predetermined distance, a centering circuit for centering unhoed plants in blocks of ground of the row, means connecting said centering circuit to said sensing circuit, means connecting said centering circuit to said spacing circuit, and a hoeing circuit responsive to an output of the centering circuit, the output of said hoeing circuit driving said actuating means, said spacing circuit, centering circuit and hoeing circuit each including an adjustable timer circuit comprised of a monostable multivibrator.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
162 words
A unit for controlling the position of a hoeing implement of a plant thinning machine wherein the hoeing implement is movable to and from a hoeing position and a non-hoeing position to thin a row of plants, said unit comprising hoeing-implement actuating means, and circuit means for operating said actuating means, said circuit means including a sensing circuit for sensing the presence of a plant, a spacing circuit for setting a minimum predetermined distance over which the ground will be hoed to remove any plants within said predetermined distance, a centering circuit for centering unhoed plants in blocks of ground of the row, means connecting said centering circuit to said sensing circuit, means connecting said centering circuit to said spacing circuit, and a hoeing circuit responsive to an output of the centering circuit, the output of said hoeing circuit driving said actuating means, said spacing circuit, centering circuit and hoeing circuit each including an adjustable timer circuit comprised of a monostable multivibrator.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
A unit according to claim 7 including an additional monostable multivibrator having an output for triggering said monostable multivibrator of the spacing circuit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
52 words
A unit according to claim 8 in which said centering circuit also has an output connected to said additional monostable multivibrator, said means connecting said centering circuit to said sensing circuit comprising an AND gate and with the output of said AND gate being connected as an input to said centering circuit.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
74 words
A unit according to claim 7 in which said circuit means further includes mode-selecting means controlling the output of said hoeing circuit for selective operation In either of two modes, in one mode the implement being maintained in its hoeing position after said predetermined distance and until a plant is thereafter sensed, and in the other mode the hoeing implement being moved to its non-hoeing position and maintained thereat until a plant is sensed.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
A unit according to claim 10 in which said hoeing circuit has outputs cooperating with said mode-selecting means and with logic circuits for providing a signal to effect operation of said actuating means.
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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) | 1976-12-03 | 1977-06-04 | 1977-12-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-03 | 1981-06-04 | 1981-12-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-03 | 1985-06-04 | 1985-12-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |