Planter and method of planting

Abstract

A planter (2) includes: (i) a chassis (4); (ii) an arm (42) that is extendable from the side of the chassis (4) from a retracted condition to an extended condition; (iii) means for moving the arm (42) between the retracted and extended conditions; (iv) a track (44) that is slidably secured to an axial end of the arm (42) and that extends operatively downwards from the arm (42); (v) an actuator for moving the track (44) relative to the axial end of the arm (42); (vi) a planting head (9) movable along the track (44); and (vii) a pitting head (8) movable along the track (44).

Description

[0001] PLANTER AND METHOD OF PLANTING

[0002] BACKGROUND

[0003] The present invention relates to a planter. More specifically, the present invention relates to a mobile planter for planting seedlings that is suited for travel on municipal roads.

[0004] Various mobile seedling planters are known. For example, US2019 / 0327917 and AU2010200555 describe a planter with a planting head that extends from the rear of a tractor / vehicle.

[0005] A drawback of known seedling planters is that they are not suited to be driven on municipal roads. It is an object of this invention to address this drawback.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] According to a preferred embodiment of a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a planter that includes: a chassis; an arm that is extendable from the side of the chassis from a retracted condition to an extended condition; means for moving the arm between the retracted and extended conditions; a track that is slidably secured to an axial end of the arm and that extends operatively downwards from the arm; an actuator for moving the track relative to the axial end of the arm; a planting head movable along the track; and a pitting head movable along the track. Typically, the pitting head includes: a shaft; a bit fixed against relative rotation to a first axial end of the shaft; a mixer fixed against relative rotation to the shaft and spaced from the first axial end of the shaft; at least one vane fixed against relative rotation to the shaft and spaced from the mixer in a direction away from the first axial end of the shaft, which vane defines operative leading and trailing edges, wherein the operative leading edge is radially spaced from the shaft a greater distance than the operative trailing edge, such that, upon rotation of the shaft, the pitting head bores a hole in the ground and soil that is radially displaced from the bore by the mixer is pushed back into the bore by the vane.

[0008] Generally, the trailing edge of the vane is radially spaced from the shaft a distance not greater than the radial protrusion of the mixer from the shaft.

[0009] Preferably, the planting head includes: a body; a pair of feet slidably secured to the body and biased towards a protruding position, in which the feet protrude from the operative bottom of the body; a sensor for sensing retraction of the feet from the protruding position; and a controller that ceases operative downward movement of the body when the sensor senses that the feet have retracted a predetermined distance from the protruding position.

[0010] Typically, the free ends of the feet distal the body diverge towards their free ends. Generally, the planter further includes a dispenser secured to the operative top of the track, above the arm, which dispenser includes: a coiled string of tubes for housing seedlings; a guide past which the string of tubes passes as the coiled string of tubes unwinds; a chute associated with the guide for, in use, conveying seedlings discharged from the tubes as the tubes pass the guide, which chute extends to the planting head.

[0011] According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of planting seedlings using the planter according to the first aspect of the invention, which method includes the steps of: lowering the pitting head shaft towards the ground surface; determining contact between the pitting head shaft and the ground from an increase in rotational resistance, power consumption or hydraulic pressure of the pitting head and recording a base position of the pitting head shaft; further lowering the pitting head shaft and simultaneously monitoring displacement of the pitting head shaft from the base position; and ceasing to lower the pitting head shaft when the pitting head shaft has been displaced a predetermined distance from the base position.

[0012] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

[0014] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a planter according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, with a mount in a retracted condition;

[0015] Figure 2 is a perspective view of a planter according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, with the mount in an extended condition; Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the planter in Figure 1 ;

[0016] Figure 4 is a perspective view of a pitting head forming part of the planter in Figure 1 ;

[0017] Figure 5 is a front view of a planting head forming part of the planter in Figure 1 ;

[0018] Figure 6 is a front view of a track forming part of the planter in Figure 1 ;

[0019] Figure 7 is an exploded view of the track in Figure 6;

[0020] Figure 8 is a perspective view of a dispenser forming part of the planter in Figure 1 ;

[0021] Figure 9 is an exploded upper perspective view of the dispenser in Figure 8;

[0022] Figure 10 is an exploded lower perspective view of the dispenser in Figure 8;

[0023] Figure 11 is a perspective view of a portion of a string of tubes forming part of the dispenser in Figure 8;

[0024] Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view through A-A in Figure 13; and

[0025] Figure 13 is a cross-sectional plan view through B-B in Figure 8.

[0026] DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] With reference to Figures 1 to 13, a planter 2 according to a preferred embodiment of a first aspect of the invention includes: a chassis 4; a mount 6; a pitting head 8; a planting head 9; and a dispenser 10.

[0028] The planter 2 is designed to be deployable between: a retracted condition shown in Figure 1 , in which the planter 2 is configured within a dimension envelope (i.e. height and width) that enables the planter 2 to travel on municipal roads; and an extended condition shown in Figure 2, in which the planter is able to plant seedlings in the ground but is oversized to travel on municipal roads.

[0029] The chassis 4 includes wheels 40 that are rotatably mounted to the chassis 4. The wheels 40 could be driven, or the chassis 2 may be towed by a motorised vehicle (not shown). Although the chassis 2 is described as supported on wheels 40, it will be appreciated that the chassis 4 could alternatively be supported on tracks.

[0030] The mount 6, which configures the planter 2 between the retracted and extended conditions, comprises: an arm 42 that is extendable substantially horizontally I parallel to the plane defined by the chassis 4 support surface. In this specification, “substantially horizontally I parallel to” is intended to mean that the arm extends along a plane that is angularly displaced from the horizontal I parallel plane by less than 15 degrees. The arm 42 is fixed at a first axial end of the arm 42 against movement relative to the chassis 4, with the second axial end (i.e. the free end of the arm) being movable relative to the chassis 4. The arm 42 includes means for moving the arm, which means is in the form of a piston and cylinder that is hydraulically actuated between: a retracted condition, in which the second axial end of the arm 42 does not protrude from the side of the chassis 4; and an extended condition, in which the second axial end of the arm 42 protrudes from the side of the chassis 4; a track 44 slidably secured to an axial end of the arm 42, which track 44 extends operatively downwards from the second axial end of the arm 42. More specifically, the track 44 extends substantially vertically downwards from the second axial end of the arm 42. In this specification, “substantially vertically” is intended to mean that the track 44 is angularly displaced from the vertical by less than 15 degrees; an actuator (not shown) in the form of a hydraulic piston and cylinder for moving the track 44 relative to the second axial end of the arm 42.

[0031] The track 44 comprises: a primary rail 44a along which the axial end of the arm 42 moves; and a secondary rail 48 that branches into first and second branch guides 48a and 48b. A first runner 49a is movable along the secondary rail 48; a second runner 49b is movable along the first branch guide 48a and onto the first runner 49a; and a third runner 49c is movable along the second branch guide 48b and onto the first runner 49a. The secondary rail 48, the first and second branch guides 48a and 48b and the first, second and third runners 49a, 49b and 49c are shown in Figures 6 and 7 and described in WO2021 / 237252, which prior art patent is incorporated herein by reference. The planting head 9 is secured to the second runner 49b, the pitting head 8 is secured to the third runner 49c.

[0032] Turning to Figure 4, the pitting head 8 is secured to, and movable along the secondary rail 48 when the pitting head 8 is secured to the third runner 49c and the third runner 49c is located on the first runner 49a. The pitting head 8 is used to bore holes into the ground and includes: pitting head body 50; a shaft 52 that is rotatably secured to the pitting head body 50 and intended to be rotated in a first direction; a bit 54 fixed against relative rotation to a first axial end of the shaft 52 distal the pitting head body 50 (i.e. fixed to the operative bottom axial end of the shaft 52); a mixer 56, in the form of an angled or helical blade, that is fixed against relative rotation to the shaft 52 and spaced from the first axial end of the shaft 52 (i.e. spaced from the bit 54); and at least one vane 58 fixed against relative rotation to the shaft 52 and spaced from the mixer 56 in a direction away from the first axial end of the shaft 52, which vane 58 is generally helical in shape and defines operative leading and trailing edges 58a and 58b, wherein the operative leading edge 58a (when considering the intended rotation of the shaft 52 in the first direction) is radially spaced from the shaft 52 a greater distance than the operative trailing edge 58b.

[0033] Upon rotation of the shaft 52 in the first direction, the pitting head 8 bores a hole in the ground. During the boring process, the mixer 56 mixes the soil, but also pushes some of the soil out of the bore, creating a mound of soil on the ground surface, radially outwards of the bored hole. During rotation of the shaft 52 in the first direction and lowering of the vanes 58, the vanes 58 contact the soil that has radially been displaced from the bore, pushing the displaced soil along the vane 58 from the operative leading edge 58a towards the operative trailing edge 58b and back into the bore. It will be appreciated that the operative bottom surface of the vane 58 preferably extends along a horizontal plane and that the operative trailing edge 58b of the vane 58 is radially spaced from the shaft 52 a distance not greater than the radial protrusion of the mixer 56 from the shaft 52 (i.e. a distance not greater than the radius of the bore created by the mixer 56). By returning soil into the hole bored into the ground, the vanes 58 improve the conditions in which seedlings are planted by the planting head 9.

[0034] Turning to Figure 5, the planting head 9 is also secured to, and movable along the secondary rail 48 when the planting head 9 is secured to the second runner 49b and the second runner 49b is located on the first runner 49a. The planting head 9 is used to plant seedlings in holes bored into the ground by the pitting head 8, and includes: a planting head body 60; a pair of feet 62 slidably secured to the planting head body 60 and biased towards a protruding position, in which the feet protrude from the operative bottom of the planting head body 60; a sensor (not shown) for sensing retraction of the feet 62 from the protruding position; and a controller (not shown) that ceases operative downward movement of the planting head body 60 when the sensor senses that the feet 62 have retracted a predetermined distance from the protruding position.

[0035] The free ends of the feet 62 distal the planting head body 60 diverge towards their free ends.

[0036] When the planting head 9 has reached the desired depth (as determined by the controller), a seedling is dispensed from the planting head 9 into the ground, whereafter the feet 62 are pushed further operatively downwards such that the diverging free ends of the feet 62 cause soil to be compressed inwards and downwards about the seedling’s roots, as the feet 62 are pushed downwards, into the ground.

[0037] It will be appreciated, that by determining the depth that the planting head 9 plants seedlings with reference to the amount the feet 62 have been displaced from the point of contact with the ground, the depth of seedling planting is more accurately controlled. Turning to Figures 8 to 13, the dispenser 10 is secured to the operative top of the track 44, above the arm 42. The dispenser 10 stores seedlings for planting by the planting head 9, and includes: a housing 12; a first coiled string of tubes 16 for housing seedlings; a first guide 20 past which the first string of tubes 16 passes as the coiled string of tubes 16 unwinds; a first chute 22 associated with the first guide 20 for, in use, conveying seedlings discharged from the first string of tubes 16 as the first string of tubes 16 passes the first guide 20, which first chute 22 extends to the planting head 9.

[0038] The housing 12 further includes a first spool 14 and a second hub 18.

[0039] The housing 12 defines: a first base 24 and a second base 26, that divides the chamber defined by the housing into: an operative lower chamber 12a defined between the first and second bases 24 and 26; and an operative upper chamber 12b defined above the second base 26.

[0040] The first spool 14 comprises a first hub 28; and a first circular disk 30, wherein a first axial end of the first hub 28 is secured against relative rotation to the first circular disk 30, extending axially from the centre of the first circular disk 30. The first spool 14 is insertable into I removable from the operative lower chamber 12a defined by the housing 12. When the first spool 14 is inserted into the operative lower chamber 12a defined by the housing 12, the first spool 14 is supported on the first base 24 of the housing 12. The first circular disk 30 includes rollers 32 on the operative underside of the first circular disk 30 for facilitating rotation and linear movement of the first circular disk 30 on the first base 24 of the housing 12 (and, when the first spool 14 is on the ground).

[0041] The first base 24 of the housing 12 defines a ridge (not shown) that extends operatively upwards about at least a peripheral portion of the first circular disk 30 when the first spool 14 is received within the operative lower chamber 12a defined by the housing 12. The first string of tubes 16 comprise a set of right circular cylindrical tubes 36 that are open at an operative lower first axial end 36a and an operative upper second axial end 36b and that are hingedly connected to each other via a tube connector 38 near each axial end 36a and 36b of the tubes 36. Although, the tube connector 38 has been shown as a hinged connection, it will be appreciated that the tube connector 38 could alternatively be a flexible connector (such as a strap). Each tube 36 is sized to receive an item, such as a seedling (not shown) therein. It will also be appreciated that, although the tubes 36 are shown as being right circular cylindrical, the tubes 36 may be any other shape in axial cross-section, e.g. square, octagonal, etc..

[0042] The first string of tubes 16 is wound about the first hub 28 of the first spool 14, with the first axial 36a end of the string of tubes 16 (i.e. the operative lower end of each tube 36 that forms part of the string of tubes 16) supported on the operative upper surface of the first circular disk 30. A flexible sheet 39 extends from a first terminal end 16a of the first string of tubes 16.

[0043] The second hub 18 is generally right circular cylindrical and is rotatably secured to the first base 24 of the housing 12, extending substantially perpendicular from the first base 24 of the housing 12. The second hub 18 is radially spaced from the first hub 28 and from the first circular disk 30.

[0044] A first connector 40 secures a free end of the sheet 39 to the second hub 18, thereby securing the first terminal end 16a of the first string of tubes 16 to the second hub 18.

[0045] Turning to Figure 13, the first guide 20 is also rotatably connected to the first base 24 of the housing 12, extending substantially perpendicular from the first base 24 of the housing 12. In axial cross-section, the first guide 20 is in the shape of a sprocket, for receiving tubes 36 between sprocket teeth. The first guide 20 is disposed between the first and second hubs 28 and 18. It will be appreciated that the term “between” is not intended to require the first guide 20 to be disposed along a virtual line connecting the axes of the first and second hubs 28 and 18. Instead, “between” is intended to mean that the first guide 20 is spaced from both the first and second hubs (e.g. to form a triangle (preferably, an acute triangle, i.e. where none of the internal angles are obtuse) between the axis of the first and second hubs 28 and 18 and the axis of the first guide 20). More specifically, the first guide 20 is: radially spaced from: the first hub 28; the first circular disk 30; and the second hub 18; and spaced from a virtual plane that extends between the axes of rotation of the first and second hubs 28 and 18.

[0046] The first string of tubes 16 extends from the first hub 28, past the first guide 20 and to the second hub 18. The first string of tubes 16 makes contact with the first guide 20, with the tubes 36 releasably received between the sprocket teeth defined by the first guide 20, as the first string of tubes 16 unwinds from the first hub 28 to the second hub 18.

[0047] The first chute 22 defines an inlet at the first base 24 of the housing 12 and extends operatively downwards from the first base 24 of the housing 12. More specifically, the first chute 22 inlet is arranged such that, when the first string of tubes 16 passes the first guide 20, the first axial end 36a of the first string of tubes 16 passes over the first chute 22 inlet, dispensing items from the first string of tubes 16 into the first chute 22. The first chute 22 defines a funnel (not shown) at its inlet to facilitate receipt of items dispensed from the first string of tubes 16 into the first chute 22.

[0048] As is apparent from Figure 8: a portion of the first base 24 of the housing 12 that extends from the first circular disk 30 to the first chute 22; and the first circular disk 30, form a planar surface to facilitate smooth sliding travel of the first axial end 36a of the first string of tubes 16 from its wound configuration about the first hub 28 towards the first chute 22.

[0049] It will be appreciated that, since the first circular disk 30 rotates with the first hub 28, there is no relative sliding movement between the first axial end 36a of the first string of tubes 16 and the first circular disk 30 as the first string of tubes 16 unwind from the first hub 28, until such time as a tube 36 that forms part of the first string of tubes 16 begins its linear sliding travel towards the first chute 22. It will be appreciated that, by limiting relative movement between the first axial end 36a of the first string of tubes 16 and the first circular disk 30 during unwinding of the first string of tubes 16, shear wear of items contained within the first string of tubes 16 is reduced during the dispensing process. Turning to Figure 13, a first flexible pad 42 is secured to the housing 12, spaced from the radial periphery of the first guide 20 so as to create a gap therebetween that is less than the outer diameter of the tubes 36 that form part of the first string of tubes 16 (when the tubes are received between the sprocket teeth defined by the first guide 20). This arrangement creates a slight friction fit between the tubes 36 and the first flexible pad 42 as the tubes 36 pass the first guide 20. Optionally, this arrangement could also induce a slight friction fit between the tubes 36 and the first guide 20 during travel of the tubes 36 past the first guide 20. Friction between the tubes 36 and the first flexible pad 42 assists in controlling the position of the tubes 36 as they pass the first guide 20.

[0050] The first chute 22 inlet is disposed between and operatively below the first flexible pad 42 and the first guide 20 (i.e. within the gap defined between the first flexible pad 42 and the first guide 20). More specifically, the axis of the first chute 22 is spaced from the first guide 20 a distance equal to the distance the axis of a tube 36 forming part of the first string of tubes 16 is spaced from the first guide 20 when the tube 36 is in contact with the first guide and dispenses the item contained within the tube 36.

[0051] The first spool 14, second hub 18, first guide 20 and first string of tubes 16 is repeated in the operative upper chamber 12b defined by the housing 12. More specifically, the operative upper chamber 12b defined by the housing 12 includes: a second spool 54 comprising: a third hub 68; and a second circular disk 70 secured to a first axial end of the third hub 68; a second string of tubes (not shown, but similar to the first string of tubes 16) for containing items to be dispensed, which second string of tubes: includes: a series of tubes that are open at a first axial end and are hingedly connected to each other via a tube connector; and are wound about the third hub 68 with the first axial end of the tubes supported on the operative upper surface of the second circular disk 70. a fourth hub 58 that is rotatably connected to the second base 26 of the housing 12 and about which the second string of tubes unwound from the third hub 68 may be wound; a second connector 82 for securing a first terminal end of the second string of tubes to the fourth hub 58; a second guide 60 disposed between the third and fourth hubs 68 and 58, against which second guide 60 the second string of tubes makes contact as the second string of tubes unwinds from the third hub 68 to the fourth hub 58; and a second chute 62 associated with the second guide 60 into which second chute 62 items contained within the second string of tubes are dispensed via the first axial end of the second string of tubes, as the second string of tubes pass the second guide 60.

[0052] Turning to Figure 12, the fourth hub 58 extends axially from a second axial end (i.e. the operative upper axial end) of the second hub 18. A common shaft 19 extends axially through the second and fourth hubs 18 and 58 and: a first ratchet 21 connects the second hub 18 to the common shaft 19 to lock the second hub 18 and common shaft 19 against relative rotation in a first direction; and a second ratchet 23 connects the fourth hub 58 to the common shaft 19 to lock the fourth hub 58 and the common shaft 19 against relative rotation in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction of relative rotation.

[0053] It will be appreciated that rotation of the common shaft 19 in a first direction will cause rotation of the second hub 18 without rotating the fourth hub 58 within the housing 12, whereas rotation of the common shaft in a second direction will cause rotation of the fourth hub 58 without rotating the second hub 18 within the housing 12.

[0054] The first and second chutes 22 and 62 converge towards a common third chute (not shown) that extends operatively downwards. Each of the first and second chutes 22 and 62 defines an air inlet and an air outlet, wherein the air inlet is spaced further from the third chute than the air outlet defined by the first and second chutes 22 and 62. The purpose of the air inlets and outlets is to facilitate travel of items along the first and second chutes 22 and 62 in the region between the air inlets and outlets and towards the third chute, and thereby prevent blockage within these regions.

[0055] A blower (not shown) directs air into the air inlets defined by the first and second chutes 22 and 62. A first door 86 is hingedly connected to the first base 24 of the housing 12 to retain / facilitate removal of the first spool 14 within / from the operative lower chamber 12a defined by the housing 12, and a second door 88 is hingedly connected to the second base 26 of the housing 12 to retain I facilitate removal of the second spool 54 within / from the operative upper chamber 12b defined by the housing 12.

[0056] First and second mounts (not shown) are also secured to the housing 12 operatively above the second axial ends of the first and third hubs 28 and 68, respectively. The first and second mounts releasably receive the second axial end of the first and third hubs 28 and 68 therein, respectively, thereby rotatably to support the second axial end of the first and third hubs 28 and 68.

[0057] The housing 12 is releasably securable to the chassis 4, which chassis 4 includes: a winder (not shown) for rotating the common shaft 19 and, thereby, the second and fourth hubs 18 and 58; and an encoder (not shown) that is associated with the first and second guides 20 and 60 for: sensing rotation of the first and second guides 20 and 60; and controlling rotation of the second and fourth hubs 18 and 58 and / or rotation of the first and second guides 20 and 60.

[0058] According to a second aspect of the invention, a method of planting seedlings using the planter 2 according to the first aspect of the invention includes the steps of: lowering the pitting head shaft 52 towards the ground surface; determining contact between the pitting head shaft 52 and the ground from an increase in rotational resistance, power consumption or hydraulic pressure of the pitting head and recording a base position of the pitting head shaft; further lowering the pitting head shaft 52 and simultaneously monitoring displacement of the pitting head shaft 52 from the base position; and ceasing to lower the pitting head shaft 52 when the pitting head shaft 52 has been displaced a predetermined distance from the base position. By using contact with the ground as a base reference, the depth of holes bored in the ground by the pitting head 8 can better be controlled. The compact nature of the planter 2 and its ability to retract and extend laterally makes the planter particularly suited to be driven along municipal roads to planting areas.

Claims

AMENDED CLAIMS received by the International Bureau on 30 Sep 2024(30.09.2024)1 . A planter (2) including: a chassis (4); an arm (42) that is extendable from the side of the chassis (4) from a retracted condition to an extended condition; means for moving the arm (42) between the retracted and extended conditions; a track (44) that is slidably secured to an axial end of the arm (42) and that extends operatively downwards from the arm (42); an actuator for moving the track (44) relative to the axial end of the arm (42); a planting head (9) movable along the track (44); and a pitting head (8) movable along the track (44), characterised in that a dispenser (10) is secured to the operative top of the track (44), above the arm (42), which dispenser, in use, stores seedlings for planting by the planting head (9).

2. The planter (2) according to claim 1 , wherein the pitting head (8) includes: a shaft (52); a bit (54) fixed against relative rotation to a first axial end of the shaft (52); a mixer (56) fixed against relative rotation to the shaft (52) and spaced from the first axial end of the shaft (52); at least one vane (58) fixed against relative rotation to the shaft (52) and spaced from the mixer (56) in a direction away from the first axial end of the shaft (52), which vane (58) defines operative leading and trailing edges (58a, 58b),18AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19)wherein the operative leading edge (58a) is radially spaced from the shaft (52) a greater distance than the operative trailing edge (58b), such that, upon rotation of the shaft (52), the pitting head (8) bores a hole in the ground and soil that is radially displaced from the bore by the mixer (56) is pushed back into the bore by the vane (58).

3. The planter (2) according to claim 2, wherein the trailing edge (58b) of the vane (58) is radially spaced from the shaft (52) a distance not greater than the radial protrusion of the mixer (56) from the shaft (52).

4. The planter (2) according to claim 3, wherein the planting head (9) includes: a body (60); a pair of feet (62) slidably secured to the body (60) and biased towards a protruding position, in which the feet (62) protrude from the operative bottom of the body (60); a sensor for sensing retraction of the feet (62) from the protruding position; and a controller that ceases operative downward movement of the body (60) when the sensor senses that the feet have retracted a predetermined distance from the protruding position.

5. The planter (2) according to claim 4, wherein the free ends of the feet (62) distal the body (60) diverge towards their free ends.

6. The planter (2) according to claim 5, wherein the dispenser (10) includes: a coiled string of tubes (16) for housing seedlings; a guide (20) past which the string of tubes (16) passes as the coiled string of tubes (16) unwinds;19AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19)a chute (22) associated with the guide (20) for, in use, conveying seedlings discharged from the tubes (16) as the tubes (16) pass the guide (20), which chute (22) extends to the planting head (9).

7. A method of planting seedlings using the planter (2) according to claim 6, including the steps of: lowering the pitting head (8) shaft (52) towards the ground surface; determining contact between the pitting head (8) shaft (52) and the ground from an increase in rotational resistance, power consumption or hydraulic pressure of the pitting head (8) and recording a base position of the pitting head (8) shaft (52); further lowering the pitting head (8) shaft (52) and simultaneously monitoring displacement of the pitting head (8) shaft (52) from the base position; and ceasing to lower the pitting head (8) shaft (52) when the pitting head (8) shaft (52) has been displaced a predetermined distance from the base position.20AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19)

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