Method and apparatus for installing, retrieving and reusing protective coverings for plants, vines and trees
AssigneeLeucadia, Inc.
InventorsMathew J. Andros, Roger M. Castadio, Scott J. Welcher, Michael R. Taber, Lon M. Martin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides improved implements and methods for dispensing and retrieving protective crop covering materials (PCCM) onto/from rows of crops, particularly vineyard crops, to protect the plants from nuisance birds and weather conditions which cause damage to the crops. Basically, there is disclosed herein a system for layout of PCCM from a bulk roll of PCCM onto crops, a system for retrieving the PCCM from the crops and disposing it or storing said PCCM on reusable spools and a system for layout of the PCCM from the reusable spools.
Claims26
An apparatus for dispersing protective covering material onto rows of crops, comprising:
- a low profile support frame capable of being towed by a towing vehicle;
- a rotational drive system capable of rotating and unfurling a wound roll of protective material, the rotational drive system being mounted on said frame;
- a tower mounted on and extending substantially perpendicularly upward from the support frame above the rotational drive system;
- and
- a collecting means, having an entry end and an exit end, adjustably mounted on the tower above the rotational drive system and capable of collecting the protective material from the wound roll and redirecting the path of the protective material from the roll toward and in line with a row of crops which is to be covered.
An apparatus for retrieving protective covering material from off a row of crops and collecting the covering material, comprising:
- a low profile support frame capable of being coupled to a towing vehicle;
- a winding means for receiving and winding the protective material, said winding system mounted on the frame;
- a drive system capable of driving the winding means, the drive system being mounted on said frame;
- a tower mounted on and extending substantially perpendicularly upward from the support frame above the winding means and the drive system;
- and
- a collecting means, having an entry end and an exit end, adjustably mounted on the tower above the winding means and the drive system and capable of collecting the covering material from a covered row of crops and redirecting the path of the covering material from the row of crops and toward the winding means,
- whereby the covering material is removed from the row of crops and collected by the winding means.
An apparatus for dispersing a protective covering material from a spool onto a row of crops, comprising:
- a support frame capable of being coupled to a towing vehicle;
- a tower having a support pole vertically adjustably mounted to the support frame and extending substantially perpendicularly upward from the support frame;
- a boom adjustably mounted perpendicularly to the support frame;
- and
- a dispensing arm having a cross bar slidably adjustably mounted to the boom and a loading bar mounted to the cross bar, the loading bar being constructed and arranged to receive a spool of protective covering material, the dispensing arm being adjustably mounted to the boom, said tower and dispensing arm being further constructed and arranged such that the dispensing arm is suspended directly above the row of crops when the support frame is towed parallel with the row of crops,
- whereby the covering material is dispensed onto a row of crops.
A method of dispersing protective covering material onto a row of crops, comprising the steps of:
- placing a bulk roll of protective covering material, having a free end, onto a low profile support frame, the support frame having a tower mounted on and extending substantially perpendicularly upward from the support frame and a collecting means mounted on the tower and capable of collecting the protective material from the bulk roll and redirecting the path of the protective material from the roll toward and in line with a row of crops which is to be covered;
- feeding the free end of the protective covering material through the collecting means;
- anchoring the free end of the protective covering material along the row of crops;
- and
- towing the low profile support frame along side the row of crops and unrolling the bulk roll, thereby covering the row of crops with the protective covering material.
A method of retrieving protective covering material from off a row of crops and collecting the covering material, comprising the steps of:
- providing a low profile support frame capable of being coupled to and towed by a towing vehicle, wherein the support frame has a winding means for receiving and winding the protective material mounted on the support frame and a drive system capable of driving the winding means mounted on said support frame;
- providing a tower mounted on and extending substantially perpendicularly upward from the support frame above the winding means and the drive system, and a collecting means mounted on the tower above the winding means and the drive system and capable of collecting the covering material from a covered row of crops and redirecting the path of the covering material from the row of crops and toward the winding means;
- feeding the free end of the protective covering through the collecting means and securing the free end to the winding means;
- and
- winding the protective covering onto the winding means,
- whereby the covering material is removed from the row of crops and collected by the winding means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.