Finger Hoe Tool with Material Removal for Weed Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing soil-tilling devices with finger hoes are limited in their ability to control both weakly and strongly rooted weeds, as they primarily rely on pulling out weeds without effectively managing loose materials or providing additional benefits for crop growth or soil structure.

Innovation Solution

A finger-hoe tool equipped with at least one finger featuring a means for collection and/or removal of loose materials, such as projections or hollows, which allows for the input or discharge of materials, enhancing weed control by incorporating a heaping and plowing effect that supports crop growth and buries weeds, and is designed with a star wheel shape and textured surface for improved performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional finger hoes are used for weed control, then weakly rooted weeds can be pulled out, but strongly rooted weeds cannot be effectively controlled

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweed control effectivenessVSAvoidcapability to handle different weed types

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple functions into a single finger hoe tool: the base uprooting function is merged with additional functions of loosening soil and removing loose materials. The finger hoe now performs three simultaneous actions: pulling out weeds by root, loosening soil around crops, and removing loose materials that could harm crops or support weed growth.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The finger hoe is designed as a multi-functional tool that can handle different types of weeds (weakly and strongly rooted) and perform multiple agricultural functions (weeding, soil loosening, material removal) within a single device, making it universally applicable to various crop rows and weed infestation scenarios.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If soil tilling is performed between rows, then weed control is achieved, but crop growth support and soil structure improvement are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweed controlVSAvoidadditional benefits for crop growth

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The finger hoe applies different actions to different locations: it removes loose materials specifically from the crop row area where they could harm young plants, while loosening and heapng soil in ways that benefit crop growth. The tool distinguishes between harmful loose materials to be removed and beneficial soil to be heapned around crops.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of loose materials (which can harm young crops or support weed growth) into a beneficial process by systematically removing these materials. Simultaneously, it converts regular soil tilling into a beneficial heapng process that supports crop growth, transforming ordinary soil movement into a growth-promoting action.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentUS10645852B2Finger weeding tool for a soil cultivation device, method for mechanically fighting weeds in row plantings

Publication Date: 2020.05.12 K U L T KRESS UMWELTSCHONENDE LANDTECHN GMBH

AI summary

A finger-hoe tool for a soil-tilling device, which has at least one finger, and a method for mechanical control of weeds in row crops make possible an input of loose materials into the row or a discharge of loose materials from the row, because the at least one finger has at least one device for collection and/or removal of the loose materials (e.g. earth, sand, stones), whereby not only the weakly rooted weeds but also more strongly rooted weeds can be controlled.