Overhead plant clipping system

A system for clipping the top portions of plants comprising:

• (a) an overhead boom type structure adapted to move over the underlying plants;
• (b) a plant clipping device secured to the boom type structure and depending downwardly therefrom, the plant clipping device including cutting means for clipping a top portion of the underlying plants as the plant clipping device is passed over the plant;
• (c) means for laterally shifting the plant clipping device from one location on the boom structure to another such that a relatively large area of plants can be clipped by incrementally shifting the plant clipping device on the boom structure and moving the boom structure over the plants;
• and
• (d) means for adjusting the height of the cutting means of the plant clipping device with respect to the boom structure.

A method of cultivating transplants within a greenhouse comprising the step of:

• (a) movably mounting an overhead boom structure within the greenhouse and over a plant growing area that includes transplants;
• (b) suspending a plant clipping machine from the boom structure;
• (c) adjusting the height of the plant clipping machine with respect to the underlying transplants such that the clipping machine will cut a selected top portion of the plant as the cutting machine is moved thereover;
• (d) moving the boom structure back and forth through the greenhouse and selectively shifting the cutting machine along the boom structure at selected times such that multiple swaths may be cut as the boom structure is moved repeatedly back and forth through the greenhouse;
• and
• (e) clipping the top portion of underlying transplants within the greenhouse as the boom structure and plant clipping machine are moved back and forth through the greenhouse.

A plant clipping system for clipping plants within a plant growing area comprising:

• (a) an overhead boom structure adapted to move over the underlying plants within the growing area;
• (b) support means for movably mounting the boom structure such that it may move back and forth over the underlying plants;
• (c) carriage guide means associated with the overhead boom structure;
• (d) a carriage movably mounted on the carriage guide means for moving laterally back and forth along the overhead boom structure;
• (e) a carrier frame secured to the carriage and depending downwardly therefrom;
• (f) a plant clipping device secured to the carrier frame structure;
• (g) means for adjusting the height of the plant clipping device with respect to underlying plants within the plant growing area such that a selected top portion of the plants may be clipped as the boom structure and plant clipping device are moved over the underlying plants;
• and
• (h) wherein the boom structure may be moved back and forth over the underlying plants while the carriage and plant clippig device may be shifted laterally along the boom structure such that a plurality of laterally spaced swaths may be cut be selectively shifting the carriage and plant clipping device laterally on the boom structure during the plant clipping operation.