Apparatus for removing plastic film from raised plant beds

• US 4,796,711 A
• Filed: 06/27/1986
• Issued: 01/10/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Row Runner Corporation ALVA FL
• Original Assignee: Row Runner Corporation of America
• Inventors: Chrysler, Ralph W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Feyrer, James R.
• Application Number:
  US06/879,469
• Time in Patent Office: 928 Days
• Field of Search: 37/1, 37/2, 47/9, 47/29, 47/56, 47/1, 56/228, 56/327 R, 56/327 A, 56/328, 171/3, 171/16, 171/19, 171/31, 171/40, 171/43, 171/45, 171/46, 171/48, 171/60-65, 171/83, 171/86, 171/101, 171/109, 171/110, 171/143, 171/138-141, 171/111, 171/73, 171/70, 171/139 , 171/53, 171/5, 171/1, 171/9, 171/10, 171/49, 171/51, 171/50, 171/74, 171/104, 171/106, 172/19, 172/20, 172/33, 172/50, 172/63, 172/67, 172/240, 172/272, 172/611, 172/776
• US Class Current: 171/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 13/0287 Devices for laying-out or removing ground coverings
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 2013/0218 for removing

Abstract

An apparatus used in agriculture and more specifically to an apparatus for removing the plastic film cover from raised plant beds in which the edges thereof are tucked under soil placed in overlying relation to the downwardly inclined side edges of the plastic film thereby enabling separation of the plastic film from the plant bed after the plants have matured and the crop harvested from the plants so that the plastic film can be removed and appropriate cultivation and reshaping of the plant beds may be more effectively accomplished with the apparatus of the present invention materially reducing the time and labor required in removing the plastic film for disposal or recycling.

Claims

1. The method of separating a plastic film mulch from a raised plant or seedbed after the plants have matured and the produce crop harvested in which the plastic film has downwardly inclined side edges tucked under soil placed thereon to hold the film in place during the growing and harvesting season, said method consisting of the steps of forming longitudinal slits in the soil surface alongside the side edges of the plastic film and raised plant bed, positioning a blade in a downwardly and laterally inwardly inclined relation under each side edge of the film and partially into the inclined side edges of the raised plant bed, elevating and conveying the plastic film and a substantial portion of the raised plant bed and conveying it rearwardly at a speed equal to the forward speed of the elevating and conveying mechanism while substantially maintaining the shape of the raised plant bed to enable the tuck soil on top of the side edges of the plastic film to be maintained on the side edges of the plastic film and discharging the raised plant bed, plastic film and tuck soil from the rear of the conveying mechanism with the tuck soil falling off the film with the with the plastic film then being substantially free of soil on the upper surface thereof to facilitate removal without hindrance from soil on the upper surface of the plastic film.

2. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the step of elevating and conveying the plastic film and substantial portion of the plant bed includes the step of elevating the plastic film and plant bed at its highest point at the rear discharge for the film and plant bed with the center crown portion of the plant bed and plastic film shedding loose soil from the upper surface of the plastic film as it is discharged back onto the soil surface.

3. An apparatus for removing plastic film from a raised plant bed comprising frame means adapted to be connected in towing relation to a tractor having a power take-off, a rearwardly and upwardly inclined, longitudinally extending powered and speed controlled conveyor means supported from the frame means and drivingly connected to the power take-off, said conveyor means including an endless conveyor element having an upwardly and rearwardly inclined upper flight and longitudinal side guide panels, the forward end of the conveyor means being positioned transversely of the plant bed and elevating the plant bed and plastic film thereon and moving it rearwardly at a speed equal to the speed of the frame means as the frame means moves along a path of movement, lifting blade means mounted on the frame means forwardly of and generally in alignment with the side guide panels of the conveyor m®

ans and extending under the edge of the plastic flim and tuck soil overlying the side edges of the plastic film for elevating the tuck soil and side edges of the plastic film and portions of the plant bed for movement onto and along the upper flight of the conveyor means while substantially maintaining their relative shape and orientation, said plastic film and tuck soil being separated and falling off the side edges of the film as the tuck soil, plastic film and portions of the plant bed move along the conveyor means and a disc element located forwardly of each lifting blade means for cutting through debris and other material forwardly of the lifting blade means for cutting through debris and other aterial forwardly of the lifting blade means to facilitate movement of the lifting blade means through the soil surface at the side edges of the plastic film.

4. An apparatus for removing plastic film from a raised plant bed comprising frame means adapted to be connected to a towing vehicle having a power take-off, a rearwardly and upwardly inclined, longitudinally extending powered and speed controlled conveyor means supported from the frame means and drivingly connected to the power take-off, said conveyor means including an endless conveyor element having an upwardly and rearwardly inclined upper flight and longitudinal side guide panels, the forward end of the conveyor means being positioned transversely of the plant bed and elevating the plant bed and plastic film thereon and moving it rearwardly at a speed equal to the speed of the frame means as the frame means moves along a path of movement, lifting blade means mounted on the frame means forwardly of and generally in alignment with the side guide panels of the conveyor means and extending under the edge of the plastic film and tuck soil overlying the side edges of the plastic film for elevating the tuck soil and side edges of the plastic film and portions of the plant bed for movement onto and along the upper flight of the conveyor means while substantially maintaining their relative shape and orientation, said plastic film and tuck soil being separated and falling off the side edges of the film as the tuck soil, plastic film and portions of the plant bed move along the conveyor means and a disc element located forwardly of each lifting blade means for cutting through debris and other material forwardly of the lifting blade means to facilitate movement of the lifting blade means through the soil surface at the side edges of the plastic film, each of said shanks including a mounting bracket at the upper end, bolt means securing the shank to the bracket with the bolt means being spaced with one of the bolts being a shear bolt to enable the shank to pivot rearwardly when the shear bolt is sheared as a result of the blade coming into contact with an obstruction thereby enabling the apparatus to pass the obstruction without damage to the components thereof.

5. An apparatus for removing plastic film from a raised plant bed comprising frame means adapted to be connected to a towing vehicle having a power take-off, a rearwardly and upwardly inclined, longitudinally extending powered and speed controlled conveyor means supported from the frame means and drivingly connected to the power take-off, said conveyor means including an endless conveyor element having an upwardly and rearwardly inclined upper flight and longitudinal side guide panels, the forward end of the conveyor means being positioned transversely of the plant bed and elevating the plant bed and plastic film thereon and moving it rearwardly at a speed equal to the speed of the frame means as the frame means moves along a path of movement, lifting blade means mounted on the frame means forwardly of and generally in alignment with the side guide panels of the conveyor means and extending under the edge of the plastic film and tuck soil overlying the side edges of the plastic film for elevating the tuck soil and side edges of the plastic film and portions of the plant bed for movement onto and along the upper flight of the conveyor means while substantially maintaining their relative shape and orientation, said plastic film and tuck soil being separated and falling off the side edges of the film as the tuck soil, plastic film and portions of the plant bed move along the conveyor means and a disc element located forwardly of each lifting blade meand for cutting through debris and other material forwardly of the lifting blade means to facilitate movement of the lifting blade means through the soil surface at the side edges of the plastic film, said conveyor means including drive means adapted to be connected to the power take-off of the toing vehicle for driving the conveyor means, said conveyor element including a bar-type conveyor including a plurality of transversely extending, closely spaced bars engaging sprocket gears rotatably journalled on shafts, the rearmost shaft being driven with the drive means including a gear box on the frame means having a forwardly extending drive shaft adapted to be connected to the power take-off of the towing vehicle and a lateral drive shaft connected to the rearmost shaft on the conveyor means for driving the conveyor means so that the upper flight thereof moves at a linear speed substantially equal to the forward linear speed of the frame means, said lifting blade means inlcuding a vertically extending support shank supported from the frame means, a generally triangular, inwardly extending and laterally inclined blade at the lower end of the shank at each side of the conveyor means and a removable plowshare on said blade engaged with the soil to enable replacement when worn with the laterally and downwardly inclined blade and plowshare extending into the soil surface alongside of and under the side edges of the plastic film and side edge portions of the plant bed, each of said shanks including a mounting bracket at the upper end, bolt means securing the shank to the bracket with the bolt means being longitudinally spaced with one of the bolts being a shear bolt to enable the shank to pivot rearwardly when the shear bolt is sheared as a result of the blade coming into contact with an obstruction thereby enabling the apparatus to pass the obstruction without damange to the components thereof.

6. The structure as defined in claim 5 wherein said disc element includes a circular coulter having a peripheral edge, a vertical shank vertically and adjustably supporting the coulter from the frame means, and a depth wheel rotatably mounted from the shank and rotatable with the disc element with the depth wheel including a periphery spaced inwardly from the periphery of the coulter to limit the penetration of the periphery of the coulter into the ground surface.

7. The structure as defined in claim 6 wherein said depth wheel is in the form of a pneumatic tire assembly mounted outboard of the coulter for engagement with the soil surface outwardly of the plant bed.

8. The structure as defined in claim 7 together with a vertically adjustable wheel structure mounted on each side of said frame means adjacent the rear thereof and including a shank with a wheel at the bottom thereof, said frame means including a sleeve adjustably supporting the shank for positioning the rear wheels vertically to limit the depth of penetration of the apparatus into the plant bed.

9. The structure as defined in claim 8 wherein said frame means includes a pair of longitudinally extending side rails interconnected by a plurality of cross members forming a rigid frame having the longitudinal and transverse components oriented in a single plane, hitch means at the forward end of the frame for connection with the three point hitch of a tractor.

10. The structure as defined in claim 9 wherein said gear box and forwardly extending drive shaft are located generally centrally of the frame for connection with the power take-off of the tractor.