Method and apparatus for plant culture
First Claim
1. An apparatus for disposing pendant portions of plants in attitudes suited to a selected objective, the apparatus comprising a conveyor having a grasping section operable to introduce objects to the conveyor for transport therealong and a releasing section operable to release objects borne by the conveyor therefrom, said releasing section being spaced from said grasping section;
- and means for mounting said conveyor on a vehicle for transport along said plants with the grasping section deployed for contact with the pendant portions of the plants and the releasing section disposed above said plants to release said pendant portions for retention in attitudes rested on other portions of the plants.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The method including the steps of growing plants supported on a structure with pendant portions of the plants extending downwardly therefrom and moving the pendant portions of the plants upwardly over the plants prior to harvest. The apparatus having a conveyor with a grasping section operable to introduce the pendant portions to the conveyor for transport therealong and a releasing section operable to release the pendant portions from the conveyor and a mount borne by the conveyor for securing the conveyor on a vehicle for transport along the plants with the grasping section deployed for contact with the pendant portions and the releasing section disposed above the plants for releasing the pendant portions on to the plants.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. An apparatus for disposing pendant portions of plants in attitudes suited to a selected objective, the apparatus comprising a conveyor having a grasping section operable to introduce objects to the conveyor for transport therealong and a releasing section operable to release objects borne by the conveyor therefrom, said releasing section being spaced from said grasping section;
- and means for mounting said conveyor on a vehicle for transport along said plants with the grasping section deployed for contact with the pendant portions of the plants and the releasing section disposed above said plants to release said pendant portions for retention in attitudes rested on other portions of the plants.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An apparatus for disposing pendant portions of the vines in attitudes suited to a selected objective, the apparatus comprising a frame having predetermined first and second portions spaced from each other to define a passage therebetween;
- means for mounting the frame for earth traversing movement along a row of said vines with the first portion thereof disposed in proximity to the pendant portions of the vines and the second portion disposed to pass above the vines and laterally of the first portion with the row passing in relative movement through said passage;
a conveyor borne by the frame having a flight movable along a path from the first portion to the second portion of the frame; and
means for driving the conveyor to move said flight along the path during said earth traversing movement whereby the conveyor transports said pendant portions of the vines from the first to the second portions of the frame to place the pendant portions over the vines. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
- means for mounting the frame for earth traversing movement along a row of said vines with the first portion thereof disposed in proximity to the pendant portions of the vines and the second portion disposed to pass above the vines and laterally of the first portion with the row passing in relative movement through said passage;
Specification