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US 8,025,141 B1Granted
Contour trimmer for potted plants
AssigneeBouldin Corporation
InventorE. Lloyd Bouldin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A contour trimmer apparatus for potted plants includes a crank and connecting rod mechanism for moving a pair of transversely opposed pot engagement heads between open and closed positions. A gap between the pot engagement heads in their closed position may be adjusted via a lead screw arrangement which adjusts an operating position of the crank of the crank and connecting rod assembly.
Claims12
A contour trimmer apparatus for trimming potted plants, comprising:
- a conveyor for conveying pots in a longitudinal direction;
- a longitudinal guide rail extending generally parallel to the longitudinal direction;
- a transverse guide rail extending transverse to the longitudinal direction;
- first and second transversely opposed pot engagement heads slidably disposed upon the transverse guide rail and movable between an open position wherein a pot can pass therebetween and a closed position wherein a pot can be grasped between the pot engagement heads, at least one of the engagement heads including a head power drive for rotating a pot held between the engagement heads;
- a first slide member slidably received upon the longitudinal guide rail;
- a drive motor mounted on the first slide member;
- a second slide member slidably received upon the longitudinal guide rail between the first slide member and the transverse guide rail;
- first and second connecting arms, each arm including a first end pivotally attached to the second slide member and a second end pivotally connected to the first and second pot engagement heads, respectively;
- and
- a reciprocating mechanism connecting the drive motor to the second slide member so that the drive motor drives the second slide member in a reciprocating motion upon the longitudinal guide rail which is in turn translated via the connecting arms into an opening and closing motion of the pot engagement heads upon the transverse guide rail.
7 more elements
A contour trimmer apparatus for trimming potted plants, comprising:
- a conveyor;
- first and second pot engagement heads located on opposite sides of the conveyor, the engagement heads being movable between an open position wherein a pot may pass therebetween and a closed position wherein a pot may be clamped between the engagement heads;
- a drive motor;
- a reciprocating mechanism assembly connecting the drive motor to the first and second pot engagement heads, the reciprocating mechanism assembly translating rotational motion of the drive motor into movement of the engagement heads between their open and closed positions;
- and
- a manually adjustable positioning mechanism connected to the drive motor for adjusting a position of the drive motor relative to the conveyor and thereby adjusting a gap between the engagement heads.
3 more elements
A method of contour trimming potted plants, comprising:
- (a) moving a potted plant on a conveyor to a trimming position between two pot engagement heads;
- (b) rotating an eccentric crank and a reciprocating connecting rod assembly with a drive motor and thereby moving the pot engagement heads toward each other and clamping the pot between the pot engagement heads;
- (c) rotating the pot with the pot engagement heads and trimming the potted plant;
- and
- (d) further rotating the eccentric crank and reciprocating connecting rod assembly and thereby moving the engagement heads away from each other and releasing the pot.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.