US3914923A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Plant topping apparatus
Assignee: WAYCROSSE Inc
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Filing: 1971-07-01
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Granted: 1975-10-28
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Expires: 1991-07-01
Abstract
Abstract An improved plant topping apparatus of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,025,653, in which a cutting blade moves along a row of plants in a cutting plane which extends transversely across the row and is inclined forwardly and downwardly along the row at approximately 30* from the vertical, and in which a tapered guide housing extends forwardly and upwardly from the cutting plane. The guide housing has a top wall inclined along a straight line extending forwardly and upwardly from the cutting plane. The housing also has transversely spaced side walls extending downwardly from the top wall along opposite sides of the row and diverging forwardly from the cutting plane. Preferred angular orientations and relative positions of certain parts help provide precise and efficient removal of predetermined lengths from the tops of plant stalks of different relative heights in the same row.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth W Arends
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 10:15
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01D; A01D47/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
346 words
In a machine for removing the tops of leaf-bearing plants in which the machine includes a groundengaging supporting member, a frame member mounted above the ground-engaging member and supported thereby for forward movement along a path spaced above the ground and corresponding to a row of such plants, and at least one cutting blade rotatably supported with respect to the frame member for rotation of the blade in a cutting plane extending transversely above such a row and inclined forwardly and downwardly at approximately 30* from the vertical, said blade being mounted on the frame member at a location spaced above the ground at a height adapted to sever only the uppermost portions of the plants, the improvement comprising, in combination with such blade location and cutting plane orientation, a guide housing extending forwardly from said cutting plane above said row, the guide housing comprising a top wall extending forwardly and transversely above said row and inclined forwardly and upwardly from the blade and cutting plane at an angle in the range from 10* to 20* above the horizontal, and transversely spaced side walls extending downwardly from said top wall along opposite sides of said row and diverging forwardly from the cutting plane, said top and side walls defining an open-bottomed, rearwardly converging and downwardly inclined channel spaced above the ground at a height where it engages only the uppermost portions of the plant tops and leaves for preliminary engagement and foward bending of the plant tops to an angular cutting position at the cutting plane for cutting engagement by the blade and removal of only predetermined portions from the plant tops while the remaining portion of each plant and most of the leaves are left for growth in such row, said machine having a plantengaging crossbar extending transversely above said row within the guide housing, and manually adjustable supporting means holding the crossbar within the housing, the adjustable supporting means providing selective adjustment of the crossbar position within the housing in at least one direction below the top wall and forwardly of the cutting plane.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
346 words
In a machine for removing the tops of leaf-bearing plants in which the machine includes a groundengaging supporting member, a frame member mounted above the ground-engaging member and supported thereby for forward movement along a path spaced above the ground and corresponding to a row of such plants, and at least one cutting blade rotatably supported with respect to the frame member for rotation of the blade in a cutting plane extending transversely above such a row and inclined forwardly and downwardly at approximately 30* from the vertical, said blade being mounted on the frame member at a location spaced above the ground at a height adapted to sever only the uppermost portions of the plants, the improvement comprising, in combination with such blade location and cutting plane orientation, a guide housing extending forwardly from said cutting plane above said row, the guide housing comprising a top wall extending forwardly and transversely above said row and inclined forwardly and upwardly from the blade and cutting plane at an angle in the range from 10* to 20* above the horizontal, and transversely spaced side walls extending downwardly from said top wall along opposite sides of said row and diverging forwardly from the cutting plane, said top and side walls defining an open-bottomed, rearwardly converging and downwardly inclined channel spaced above the ground at a height where it engages only the uppermost portions of the plant tops and leaves for preliminary engagement and foward bending of the plant tops to an angular cutting position at the cutting plane for cutting engagement by the blade and removal of only predetermined portions from the plant tops while the remaining portion of each plant and most of the leaves are left for growth in such row, said machine having a plantengaging crossbar extending transversely above said row within the guide housing, and manually adjustable supporting means holding the crossbar within the housing, the adjustable supporting means providing selective adjustment of the crossbar position within the housing in at least one direction below the top wall and forwardly of the cutting plane.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A machine according to claim 1 in which the adjustable supporting means includes means providing selective adjustment of the crossbar position both vertically below the top wall and horizontally ahead of the cutting plane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
A machine according to claim 2 in which the side walls have longitudinally extending horizontal bottom edges serving as lower edges of the open-bottomed channel, and in which the adjustable supporting means provides selective adjustment of the corssbar at positions of different height above said lower edges.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-10-27 | 1979-04-28 | 1979-10-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-27 | 1983-04-28 | 1983-10-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-27 | 1987-04-28 | 1987-10-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |