Integrated Bed Forming and Hose Laying Machine

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current agricultural practices face inefficiencies in laying irrigation and fertilization hoses accurately and in effectively treating soil at deeper depths for crops like potatoes and carrots, leading to increased resource usage and environmental impact due to substance dispersion.

Innovation Solution

A machine and method that simultaneously lay hoses during bed formation, incorporate fumigating substances into the soil without overturning it, and seal the bed with a plastic film to retain vapors, allowing for precise positioning and reduced substance dispersion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If hoses are laid after bed formation using a dragging tractor, then the operation sequence is simple, but the hoses are not positioned accurately in the beds

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation sequence simplicityVSAvoidhose positioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the bed formation operation and hose laying operation into a single integrated machine that performs both functions simultaneously. The hose laying device is mounted on the bed forming machine, allowing hoses to be laid directly into the freshly formed beds with precise positioning, eliminating the need for a separate dragging tractor operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Device complexity

If fumigating substances are injected at maximum depth of 15 cm, then the equipment remains simple and lightweight, but deep-rooted crops like potatoes and carrots are not effectively treated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveequipment simplicityVSAvoidfumigation effectiveness for deep crops
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The fumigation system is divided into multiple independent injection points at different depths. The machine incorporates several injection mechanisms that can deliver fumigating substances at various soil depths simultaneously, allowing effective treatment for deep-rooted crops while maintaining equipment simplicity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Quantity of substance

If plowshares are used to overturn the ground for spraying, then substances can be distributed, but the ground surface is strongly modified and requires additional milling and compacting operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesubstance distributionVSAvoidoperational efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary injection of fumigating substances into the ground before any ground overturning or surface modification occurs. By injecting substances first and then gently covering them, the patent eliminates the need for multiple subsequent operations (milling, compacting) that would otherwise be required to redistribute substances after plowshare overturning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Reliability

If injected substances are left exposed in the ground, then they can exert fumigating action, but vapors disperse into the atmosphere causing environmental impact and health risks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefumigating actionVSAvoidvapor dispersion
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a plastic film covering system that seals the injected fumigating substances in the ground. This thin film barrier prevents vapor dispersion into the atmosphere while allowing the substances to exert their fumigating action on the soil and plant roots, thereby eliminating environmental contamination and health risks associated with exposed vapors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach enhances operational efficiency, reduces resource usage, minimizes environmental impact, and ensures healthier working conditions by maintaining fumigating substances' effectiveness and reducing operator exposure.

Implementation Method 1

un l'ancrage (4) qui ouvre un sillon lentiforme (6) en le déplaçant sans renverser le sol sus-jacent

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDisplacement: Displacement

Implementation Method 2

d'un pulvérisateur (5) placé sous ledit ancrage (4) et adapté pour pulvériser des substances liquides fumigantes à l'intérieur dudit sillon lentiforme (6)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpray: Spray

Implementation Method 3

d'un film en matière plastique qui couvre ledit lit et qui s'oppose à la dispersion dans l'atmosphère des fumées produites par lesdites substances fumigantes

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhysical containment: Physical Containment

Data Source

PatentEP3030069B1Method for preparing agricultural grounds for cultivations and machine for performing such method
Publication Date: 2019.12.18 ROTER ITALA SRL
  • EP3030069B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3030069B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3030069B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method and a machine for performing the method, adapted to operate a complete treatment for preparing the ground for cultivations. The method comprises preparing the ground for cultivations, by forming beds and introducing in the beds hoses (121) for irrigation and fertilization; moreover, laying is provided for the hoses (121) for irrigation and fertilization simultaneously with forming the beds. The agricultural machine (1, la, lb) comprises: a first device (100, 100a) adapted to spray the ground; a system of baffles (110) adapted to form the beds; a second device (120) adapted to perform the laying of hoses (121) for irrigation and fertilization of the ground, inside the newly formed beds; the second device (120) for laying the hoses being assembled on the machine (1, la, lb), so that the hoses (121) are inserted inside the beds upon forming the beds.