Device for cutting slits in a surface

• US 8,006,774 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2008
• Issued: 08/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GEBR. Kraaijeveld B.V. (Gebr Kraaijeveld Onroerend Goed BV)
• Original Assignee: GEBR. Kraaijeveld B.V. (Gebr Kraaijeveld Onroerend Goed BV)
• Inventors: Kraaijeveld, Teunis Jan Willem
• Primary Examiner(s): Will; Thomas B
• Assistant Examiner(s): MITCHELL, JOEL F
• Application Number:
  US11/970,061
• Publication Number:
  US 20080164040A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,331 Days
• Field of Search: 172/19, 172/20, 172/21, 172/22
• US Class Current: 172/20
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 45/026 Scarifiers comprising a knife reel actively driven around a substantially horizontal shaft

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for cutting slits in a surface, for instance a turf cover, comprising a frame displaceable over the surface, a movable cutter on the frame and oriented during use toward the surface for the purpose of cutting slits in the surface. The invention is distinguished in that the device comprises collecting means for collecting the material cut from the surface by means of the cutter.

The invention also relates to a dispensing device, comprising a filler material container, a channel to an outflow opening oriented toward a slit, which channel is connected to the filler material container, and a dispensing mechanism in at least one of the channel and the filler material container.

Claims

1. Device for cutting slits in a surface, comprising:

a frame displaceable over the surface,

a movable cutter on the frame and oriented during use toward the surface for the purpose of cutting slits in the surface,

characterized in that the device comprises collecting means for collecting the material cut from the surface by means of the cutter, which collecting means lie behind the cutter relative to the direction of displacement of the device; and

a dispensing device, comprising;

a filler material container for containing filler material, which filler material container lies behind the collecting means relative to the direction of displacement of the device;

a slit blade behind the cutter relative to the direction of displacement of the device, which blade extends at least during use in a cut slit and which blade is arranged on a funnel-shaped outflow opening which is oriented toward said cut slit;

a channel connecting the filler material container to said outflow opening

a dispensing mechanism in at least one of the channel and the filler material container for the purpose of dispensing filler material from the filler material container to said outflow opening; and

a transmission for driving the dispensing mechanism in accordance with the displacement speed of the device such that the degree of dispensing of the filler material to said outflow opening depends on the displacement speed of the device over the surface;

wherein the dispensing device is arranged such that the degree of dispensing of the filler material is such that said cut slit is filled with filler material dispensed to said outflow opening up to a height which corresponds substantially to the depth of said cut slit.

2. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the cutter can be moved in order to throw up material from the surface in a throw-up direction.

3. Device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the collecting means are located in the throw-up direction.

4. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized by a hood for guiding in the direction of the collecting means the material cut out of the surface by means of the cutter.

5. Device as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that the cutter comprises a blade on a rotatable shaft.

6. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the collecting means comprise a collecting bin.

7. Device as claimed in claim 6, characterized by a tipping mechanism between the frame and the collecting bin, with which the collecting bin can be moved between a position of use and a tipping position.

8. Device as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the collecting bin can be tipped about a tipping axis which is defined in the tipping mechanism and which is oriented relative to the direction of displacement of the device such that the collecting bin can be tilted substantially transversely relative to the direction of displacement of the device.

9. Device as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the tipping mechanism comprises:

a hinge which defines a tipping axis and with which the collecting bin is coupled pivotally to the frame,

a drive arm which extends over a distance from the hinge defining the tipping axis, and

a drive which is connected to the drive arm.

10. Device as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the tipping mechanism comprises a transmission between the drive arm and the drive.

11. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the channel is located below the collecting means.

12. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the dispensing mechanism comprises a rotatable dispensing shaft on which flexible blades are arranged, which flexible blades carry the filler material, which is situated on the side of the dispensing roller remote from the outflow opening, in the direction of the outflow opening when the dispensing shaft is rotated and hold back the filler material when the dispensing shaft is stationary.

13. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the dispensing mechanism comprises a conveyor belt which extends between the filler material container and the outflow opening.

14. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the dispensing mechanism comprises an adjusting slide.

15. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the transmission is connected to at least one of the drive motor, wheel, support roller.

16. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized by agitating means at the outflow opening, by means of which agitating means the filler material can be loosened.

17. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the device comprises height-adjusting means for adjusting the distance between the frame and the surface, and thereby for adjusting the depth of the slit which is cut by the cutter during use.