Covering system for crops provided with means for spreading covering sheets and accordion- fold retracting thereof. by movement in the longitudinal direction of the rows

Abstract

An automated covering system for plants arranged in rows of the type comprising sheets or nets (10) made of longitudinally extending plastic material, arranged above the crops so as to create canopy-shaped covers, in which said sheets are supported by a plurality of vertical posts (20) arranged along the rows over the plants themselves, in which, for each row, at least two lateral sheets (10) are provided, longitudinally sliding to cover or uncover the crops, for this purpose there being provided motorized means for moving each of said sheets (10) along two guides, a first lateral guide (11) and a second lateral guide (12), which are directly or indirectly attached to said vertical posts (20) of the row, so that a lateral edge of said sheets (10) is positioned at the plants, in which: said sheets (10) have one fixed transverse end (10b) and the other one is movable (10C) with respect to the row.

Description

[0001] COVERING SYSTEM FOR CROPS PROVIDED WITH MEANS FOR SPREADING COVERING SHEETS AND ACCORDION- FOLD RETRACTING THEREOF, BY MOVEMENT IN THE LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION OF THE ROWS

[0002]

[0003] / V / V

[0004] The present invention relates to an automated covering system for vineyards and orchards, comprising a plurality of sheets or nets, preferably made of plastic, suspended above the crops, and provided with motorized means for spreading and accordion-folding said sheets along the longitudinal di rection of the rows, so as to protect or ventilate said crops.

[0005] It is currently known that crops, and in particular vines, are protected from hail and from excessive solar i rradiation with coverings consisting of sheets of transparent plastic material , in the form of strips several meters wide and substantially as long as the row they cover. The support structure of said sheets consists of a plurality of posts driven into the ground, aligned along the rows, and that hold at least one tensioned cable at thei r top, where the sheets rest at the centerline. The strips resting on parallel rows are further attached along thei r longitudinal edges with ties and hooking means, so as to form a continuous cover. The width of the sheets is sufficient to create a series of slopes that facilitate the drainage of rainwater. Lastly, the ends of the sheets of the outermost rows are hooked with elastic cords and hooks driven into the ground to prevent even small gusts of wind from being sufficient to lift said sheets and cause them to vibrate.

[0006] in practice, a sort of pitched canopies are formed,connected to one another, with cords tensioned on the posts that form the ridge lines.

[0007] However, this covering system excessively limits the ai r exchange in the underlying area, whereby it is necessary, periodically, to open, at least partially, the sheets to ventilate said crops.

[0008] According to the prior art, this operation is carried out by unfastening the lower ends of the sheets so as to gather them at the ridge above the posts.

[0009] The operation of disengaging the sheets presents no particular problems, it being sufficient to walk along the ends of said sheets and unhook the connection ties. The retraction operation, on the other hand, is not as easy. Fi rst, because the ridge cords are rather high off the ground and are not readily accessible. Secondly, because said ridge lines are over the crops, hence it is also not very easy to get close to them. Finally because the operation of retracting the sheet is in any case laborious and further requi res careful fastening so that the sheet remains accordion-folded.

[0010] To overcome the drawbacks described above, automated covering systems have been developed, in which a single simple action, by the operators, is sufficient to retract transversely, or accordion-fold, the covering sheets on the ridge along the enti re length of the row. Such known systems allow said sheets to be closed in a transverse di rection with respect to the row, thereby reducing thei r width and not thei r length, thus accordion-folding them di rectly above the posts, and keeping open sufficiently large spaces between the sheets, to ventilate the underlying crops.in patent application no. WO2022208483 Al, to innoba, a solution for the protection of crops has been proposed, in which each vertical post of the row supports a movable and retractable frame on which a protective sheet is mounted, which covers the underlying crops. Said frame comprises two deployment arms, angularly movable, each operated with a spring system, all controllable by the operator with a single maneuver, if said arms are in vertical position, thus along the post, they keep the sheet closed, promoting the ventilation of the crops, instead by tilting they open it.

[0011] it is clear that said frame has very large dimensions in the vertical di rection, such as to limit the height attainable by the vines, considering that the sheet itself could hinder the branches of said crops, in addition, the mechanism for angular adjustment of the arms employs a spring system that, tending to get worn over time, requi res periodic maintenance.

[0012] Patent application no. WO2017056081 Al, to the same Applicant, instead proposed a solution in which the accordion-folding of the covering sheet is obtained simply by pulling the ends of a loop for each post, in detail , the sheet is spread over arc-curved rods, and around it, at each post, a cord tied into a loop is provided, so that, by pulling the ends of said loop, the sheet accordion-folds and closes over the posts. To restore its opening, instead, the presence of elastic members is provided, anchored to the loop, such that when the ends of the latter are released, said elastic members, in order to return to thei r balanced configuration, bring the sheet back into the openconfiguration, to protect the plants. To control the enti re system, each end of the loop is further secured to a continuous cable that covers the enti re row.

[0013] However, said solution, providing elastic elements, requi res constant maintenance, like the previous one; in fact, if the elastic elements were to lose thei r fundamental characteristics, the sheet could not return to the initial covering configuration.

[0014] Moreover, in both known solutions, there is no total removal of the sheet, but only the closing of said sheets above the posts is provided, and therefore these could still shade the crops.

[0015] Thus, the main object of the present invention is to overcome said disadvantages, by providing an automated covering system for crops arranged in rows, in which we have a total removal of the plastic sheets, providing that each of said sheets is slidable with respect to two fixed lateral guides and can be accordion-folded in the longitudinal di rection of the row. in practice, by attaching a transverse end of the sheet with respect to the row and making the opposite end movable with respect to the longitudinal guides, it is possible to open and close the aforesaid covering as requi red .

[0016] This has been achieved, according to the present invention, by providing, at the sides of each row, two strips of plastic sheets, preferably inclined so as to create pitched canopies over the crops, in which said sheets are constrained and each one slides on two lateral guides, an upper one positioned above or at the posts of the row, and the other lower one, placed in thevicinity of the centerline of the space between one row and the adjacent one, in which said sheets are moved by a system of cables and pulleys, operated by one or more motorized shafts.

[0017] A better understanding of the invention will be achieved by means of the following detailed description and with reference to the accompanying Figures that illustrate some preferred embodiments by way of nonlimiting examples.

[0018] in the drawings:

[0019] Figure 1A is a perspective view of an embodiment of the covering for crops between two adjacent rows, in a closed configuration, with the covering sheets (10) fully extended above said rows, and in which a single motor (15A) controls the actuation of the closing drive shaft (15) and of the opening driven shaft (16) , connected by a transmission cable;

[0020] Figure 1B is a perspective view of the covering for crops in Figure 1A, in an open configuration, with the covering sheet (10) partially accordion-folded in the vicinity of its fixed end (10B) ;

[0021] Figures 2A and 2B are a perspective view of the lower guides (12) of the sheets (10) and a perspective view of a detail of the sliding coupling between the covering sheet (10) and the upper (11) or lower (12) lateral guides, in which a plurality of toroidal elements (13) slide inside the aforesaid lateral guides, and the connection to the sheet (10) is made by means of the hook-shaped ends (13c) of the aforesaid toroidal elements connected to rings (17) hooked to the eyelets present along the lateral edges of the sheet;Figure 2c is a 3D view of a detail of the lower guides (12) in a configuration of reciprocal coupling and preferably provided with a coupling element to a lower cable;

[0022] Figure 3A is a perspective view of a detail of the head toroidal element (13) , attached to the pull cable (14) by means of fastening elements (13D) , couplable by means of its hook-shaped end (13C) to the ring (17) for connection to the eyelet of the sheet (10) closest to its movable end (10c) , so that such toroidal element may translate with respect to the upper (11) or lower (12) lateral guide, but not with respect to the pull cable (14) ;

[0023] Figure 3B shows some details of Figure 3A;

[0024] Figure 4a is a perspective view of a detail of a variant of the sliding coupling between the covering sheet (10) and the upper lateral guides (11) , in which said guides are made by a plate (18) for connection to the posts of the row (20) , which is integral with a substantially cylindrical element (19) having a longitudinal groove (19a) , from which the radial arm (13A) with a hook-shaped end (13c) of said toroidal elements (13) protrudes;

[0025] Figure 4B shows some details of Figure 4A;

[0026] Figure 5 shows a detail of Figure 1 with return pulleys (23) of the pull cable (14) ;

[0027] Figure 6, corresponding to Figure 1, shows a variant of the invention in which two motors (15A) are provided, for controlling the movement of the cover, which operate the drive shaft (15) for opening said sheet and the other drive shaft (15) for closing it,respectively.

[0028] with reference to the figures described above, the subject matter of the invention is an automated covering system for plants arranged in rows, such as vines or fruit trees, comprising a plurality of posts (20) , located at said plants, to create at least one row, such that the apices of each row of posts support upper lateral guides (11) for the sliding of covering sheets or nets (10) , preferably made of plastic material (HDPE, mater-B or the like) , in which the sheets are rectangular, with a width of a few meters and a substantially longitudinal extension.

[0029] in practice, the covering is made by mounting, in a pitched manner, at the sides of each row, said sheets (10) , each with its respective movement means.

[0030] According to the invention, for mounting each sheet (10) , in addition to the aforesaid upper lateral guide (11) attached at the apices of the vertical posts (20) , a lower lateral guide (12) is also provided, attached to rods or on cables (21) transversely arranged with respect to the row. in the case of two or more adjacent rows, to facilitate the runoff of rainwater, the upper lateral end of said sheets is positioned at the row, hooked to the upper lateral guide (11) , whereas the lower lateral end is positioned in the vicinity of the centerline of the space existing between one row and the adjacent one, hooked to the lower lateral guide (12) .

[0031] in brief, each sheet (10) of said automated covering system for crops is constrained to slide with respect to the two lateral , upper (11) and lower (12) guides, attached to a support system comprising saidposts of the row (20) , suitably longitudinally and laterally spaced, so as to promote the growth of the crops, thei r protection from hail and from excessive solar i rradiation, as well as the drainage of water when necessary.

[0032] in the preferred embodiment shown in the Figures, the sliding coupling, for movement of the covering sheet (10) along the row, is made by means of the aforementioned fixed lateral guides (11, 12) that consist of cylindrical tubes provided with a respective longitudinal groove (11A, 12A) , and a plurality of toroidal elements (13) , slidable in the guides themselves, each provided with a radial arm (13A) that projects through said longitudinal groove to be laterally hooked to the eyelets of the sheet (10) , preferably by means of an hook (13c) or ring at the end.

[0033] in an alternative embodiment, to improve the anchoring of the upper lateral guide (11) to the vertical posts of the rows (20) , said guide is made by a rectangular plate (18) , connected to said vertical posts of the row, integral with a substantially semi-cylindrical element (19) , also provided with a specific longitudinal groove (19A) , from which the radial arm (13A) of each toroidal element (13) protrudes, for coupling to the eyelets of the sheet (10) .

[0034] in the illustrated example (Figure 3) , said toroidal elements (13) , adapted to move the covering sheet (10) by sliding in said lateral guides (11,12) , are configured to have a reduced dimension in the longitudinal di rection and are provided with a radial arm (13A) extending from thei r outer surface, with ahook (13C) or ring at the end, for connection to the sheet (10) . Said sheet, in fact, is provided with multiple eyelets along both longitudinal edges, into which connecting rings (17) are preferably inserted, where said ends of the arm (13A) of the toroidal elements are engaged.

[0035] Said toroidal elements (13) are preferably provided with a radial or oblique cut, allowing them to be inserted transversely onto the respective pull cable (14) without having to insert them from an end of the cable itself.

[0036] According to the present invention, to move the covering sheet (10) with respect to the row, pull cables (14) are provided at the longitudinal sides of the sheet itself, in which each cable (14) passes through the holes of a row of toroidal elements (13) , where the element (13) hooked to the eyelet of the sheet (10) closest to its movable transverse end (10c) is the only one to be locked and fastened on said pull cable (14) , and not slidable with respect thereto. Such locking occurs by means of two fastening elements (13D) , SO that said toroidal element translates with the respective cable and to draw the sheet along the guides. All the other toroidal elements (13) are instead free to translate both with respect to the lateral guides (11,12) and with respect to the cable (14) , necessarily having to vary thei r distance in the longitudinal di rection when the sheet is accordion-folded during the opening of the covering of the row.

[0037] in the case of a very heavy sheet (10) , in addition to said element (13) hooked to the eyelet of the sheet(10) closest to its movable transverse end (10c) , other toroidal elements (13) are preferably provided, adjacent to the preceding one and likewise locked with respect to the pull cable (14) , contributing to the movement of the same sheet along the row.

[0038] According to the present invention, each sheet (10) is pulled by at least two lateral pull cables, where each one cooperates with at least two pulleys (22) , which are respectively located at the ends of the covering system. Said pulleys (22) are mounted on motorized means that control thei r movement: such means may consist of two drive shafts (15) , or of one drive shaft (15) and one driven shaft (16) .

[0039] in particular, at the ends of each covering system, transversely to the vertical posts (20) of the row and constrained to these by radial bearings, said shafts (15,16) are provided, each with at least a fi rst and a second pulley (22) for each sheet (10) , the axis of which lies at the same height as the upper lateral guide (11) or as the lower one (12) . in fact, said lower (12) and upper (11) lateral guides preferably being at different heights, for each shaft (15,16) there is a further idle shaft, where a return pulley (23) is located, the axis of which lies at the height of the guide that does not correspond to that of the shafts (15,16) , where said return pulleys (23) have the function of varying the di rection of said cable (14) .

[0040] in a preferred embodiment (Figure 6) , the system is provided with two motors (15A) and hence two drive shafts (15) , one for closing and the other for opening the covering sheet (10) , such that when the sheet is pulled,the other is idle, and vice versa. Thereby the drive shaft (15) winds the pull cables (14) onto its two pulleys (22) , while the idle shaft unwinds them, and vice versa.

[0041] in a second embodiment instead (Figures 1A, 1B) , the covering system is provided with a single motorized drive shaft (15) , and thus requi res additional motion transmission means for the driven shaft, to open and close the system itself, in such a case, the driven shaft (16) has the function of a return shaft, with the pull cable (14) also acting as a sort of transmission belt between the two shafts. Alternatively, it is necessary to provide at least one additional cable to transfer the driving torque from the drive shaft to the driven shaft, so that said additional cable is wound, if the pull cables are unwound, and vice versa, in the case where such additional cable is provided (not shown) , it is preferably slidable in a guide adapted to protect it from vegetation that could wind around it, blocking it or hindering its sliding.

[0042] in a non-limiting embodiment, the lateral guides (11,12) have a thickness of 2mm and an internal diameter of 11mm, so as to couple with a torus (13) of 10mm, a longitudinal groove (11A, 12A) of 3mm, inclined by 45° with respect to the vertical di rection, into which said radial arm (13A) of the toroidal element, with a thickness of 2mm, is inserted. The alternative embodiment of the guides provides for the use of a connecting plate (18) to the posts, preferably 60mm high and 2mm thick, integral with a substantially semici rcular element having the same characteristics assaid cylindrical guides. Said torus (13) instead has an internal hole, for the insertion of the pull cable (14) , preferably with a diameter of 3.5mm.

[0043] it is useful to note that the present invention has been described providing that each sheet (10) covers the enti re length of the row but, as a function of the size of the row and the power requi red to move said system, it may be provided to use two or more covering systems for each row, which are arranged in series, with sheets (10) of fewer length with respect to the row, so as not to have sheets that are too long or too heavy. For example, pai rs of sheets arranged in series with length equal to half the enti re row.

[0044] The invention has been described, for exemplary and not limiting purposes, according to some preferred embodiments and variants. Those skilled in the art will be able to find numerous other embodiments, all falling within the scope of protection of the appended claims.

[0045] For example, it is possible to provide that the covering sheets are horizontal and not downwardly inclined: in such case the upper and lower lateral guides of each sheet are clearly positioned at the same level with respect to the ground.

[0046] Further, in the case of adjacent rows, the lower lateral guides (12) of the sheets (10) of two rows may also be coupled to each other, so as to facilitate thei r mounting and making them more rigid, and, possibly, they may be secured to a longitudinal anchoring cable.

[0047] Finally, the motors (15A) described so far may be electric, or hydraulic operated by a hydraulic pump specifically provided or installed on a tractor, or theymay provided with a mechanical power take-off for thei r operation.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An automated covering system for plants arranged in rows, such as vineyards or orchards, of the type comprising sheets or nets (10) made of longitudinally extending plastic material , arranged above the crops so as to create canopy-shaped covers, wherein said sheets are supported by a plurality of vertical posts (20) arranged along the rows at the plants themselves ,characterized in that for each row at least two lateral sheets (10) are provided, sliding longitudinally to cover or uncover the crops, for this purpose there being provided motorized means for moving each of said sheets (10) along two guides, a fi rst lateral guide (11) and a second lateral guide (12) , di rectly or indi rectly attached to said vertical posts (20) of the row, so that a lateral edge of said sheets (10) is positioned in correspondence with the plants, wherein:• said sheets (10) have one fixed transverse end (10B) and the other one movable (10c) with respect to the row, and comprise a plurality of eyelets arranged along both longitudinal side edges, with which the sheets are anchored to said guides (11,12) ;• said fi rst lateral guide (11) is attached di rectly onto said vertical posts (20) ;• said second lateral guide (12) is attached to supporting rods or cables (21) , arranged transversely to the row itself;• said sheets (10) are constrained to slide along said fixed guides (11,12) via a plurality ofperforated elements (13) configured to slide in said guides (11,12) , wherein said perforated elements (13) are provided with a respective substantially radial arm (13A) projecting from the relative guide for anchoring to the eyelets of the sheets (10) ;and in that said motorized means comprise at least two transverse shafts (15,16) placed at the ends of the sheets, the axis of which is located at the same height as the fi rst lateral guide (11) and / or the second lateral guide (12) , wherein at least one of said shafts (15) is connected di rectly to a motor (15A) and each mounts at least a fi rst and a second pulley (22) , adapted to move two respective pull cables (14) , each of which passes inside the perforated elements (13) and the guides (11,12) , where, for each pull cable (14) , it is provided that one or more of the perforated elements (13) hooked to the fi rst eyelets of the sheet (10) , positioned in the vicinity of its movable transverse end (10c) , are fi rmly attached to the respective cable (14) by means of fastening means (13D) .

2. An automated row covering system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said second lateral guide (12) is positioned at a lower height with respect to said fi rst lateral guide (11) , so as to mount the sheets (10) inclined sloping on the crops to promote rainwater drainage.

3. An automated row covering system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said second lateral guide (12) being lower and said fi rst lateral guide (11) being higher at different heights, for eachshaft (15,16) a further idle transverse shaft is present, where a return pulley (23) is placed, the axis of which is located at the height of the guide that does not correspond to the one of the shafts (15,16) .

4. An automated row covering system according to claim 1, characterized in that for moving the sheets (10) , said motorized means comprise two motors (15A) , one for each of the transverse shafts (15) , supported by said vertical posts at the ends of the sheets (10) , such that when one shaft (15) pulls the sheet (10) via the pull cables (14) , the other is idle, so that when one shaft (15) winds up the pull cables (14) onto its pulleys (22) , the other shaft (15) unwinds them, and vice versa.

5. An automated row covering system according to claim 1, characterized in that for moving the sheets (10) , said motorized means comprise a motor (15A) , a drive shaft (15) and a driven shaft (16) , supported by said vertical posts at the ends of the sheets.

6. An automated row covering system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that for moving the sheets (10) , said driven shaft (16) is a return shaft, such that the pull cable (14) works like a belt between the drive shaft (15) and the driven shaft (16) .

7. An automated row covering system according to claim 5, characterized in that for moving the sheets (10) , at least one additional cable is provided for transferring the driving torque from the drive shaft (15) to the driven shaft (16) , such that said additional cable winds up if the pull cables (14) unwind, and vice versa.

8. An automated row covering system according to claim 1, characterized in that said vertical posts (20) placed at the ends of the rows are suitably inclined and fi rmly anchored to the ground to be able to withstand the forces developing during the actuation of the cable to open / close the cover.

9. An automated row covering system according to claim 1, characterized in that, to reduce friction and to reduce bul k in the longitudinal di rection, said perforated elements (13) are in the form of toroidal elements, provided with a radial arm (13A) with a hook (13c) or ring at the end, for hooking to the eyelets of the sheet (10) .

10. An automated row covering system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that each upper (11) or lower lateral guide (12) is in the form of a cylindrical tubular element, having a special longitudinal groove (11A, 12A) , from which said radial arm (13A) of the toroidal element (13) protrudes.

11. An automated row covering system according to claim 1, characterized in that in order to improve the anchoring of the upper lateral guide (11) to the vertical posts (20) of the rows, said guide is made by a plate (18) integral with a substantially cylindrical element (19) , provided with a special longitudinal groove (19a) , from which said radial arm (13A) of the perforated or toroidal element (13) protrudes.

12. An automated row covering system according to claim 1, characterized in that said perforated elements (13) are annular and have a radial or oblique cut configured to al low thei r transverse insertion on therespective pull cable (14) .

13. An automated row covering system according to claim 4 or 5 , characterized in that each motor (15A) is electric or hydraulic or is provided with a mechanical power take-off.

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