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EP-4736641-A1 - APPARATUS FOR SPRAYING CROPS WITH A TREATING COMPOUND

EP4736641A1EP 4736641 A1EP4736641 A1EP 4736641A1EP-4736641-A1

Abstract

An apparatus (1) for spraying crops with a treating compound comprises: a frame (10), including a central skeleton (101); an interface element (IN), in contact with the ground; a tank (2), containing the treating compound; a dispenser assembly (51) spaced, along a transverse direction (T) perpendicular to the advancement direction (A), from the central skeleton (101) and including at least one dispensing nozzle (511), configured to spray the crops with the treating compound; a pressure-head assembly (3), associated with the central skeleton (101) and configured to convey the treating compound from the tank (2) to the dispensing system (5); a dispensing duct (4), which conveys the treating compound from the pressure-head assembly (3) to said dispenser assembly (51); a connecting structure (6), connected to the central skeleton (101) and to the dispenser assembly (51) and movable with respect to the central skeleton (101) between a first operating position (P11), in which the connecting structure (6) reaches a first height along a vertical direction (V), perpendicular to the transverse direction (T) and to the advancement direction (A), and a second operating position (P12), in which the connecting structure (6) reaches a second height along the vertical direction (V), lower than the first height.

Inventors

  • MARTIGNANI, Stefano

Assignees

  • Martignani Ing. C. Di Martignani Stefano & C. S.r.l.

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20251030

Claims (15)

  1. Apparatus (1) for spraying crops with a treating compound, comprising: - a frame (10), including a central skeleton (101); - an interface element (IN), in contact with the ground to allow the apparatus (1) to advance between the crops along an advancement direction (A); - a tank (2), containing the treating compound; - a dispensing system (5), configured to dispense the treating compound onto the crops, wherein the dispensing system (5) comprises a dispenser assembly (51), which is spaced from the central skeleton (101) along a transverse direction (T) perpendicular to the advancement direction (A), and which includes at least one dispensing nozzle (511) configured to spray the crops with the treating compound; - a pressure-head assembly (3), associated with the central skeleton (101) and configured to convey the treating compound from the tank (2) to the dispensing system (5); - a dispensing duct (4), which conveys the treating compound from the pressure-head assembly (3) to said dispenser assembly (51); - a connecting structure (6), connected to the central skeleton (101) at the first end thereof and to the dispenser assembly (51) at the second end thereof, said connecting structure (6) extending in a movement plane (PDM) perpendicular to the advancement direction (A), characterized in that said connecting structure (6) is movable with respect to the central skeleton (101) between a first operating position (P11), in which the connecting structure (6) reaches a first height along a vertical direction (V), perpendicular to the transverse direction (T) and to the advancement direction (A), and a second operating position (P12), in which the connecting structure (6) reaches a second height along the vertical direction (V), lower than the first height.
  2. The apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the connecting structure (6) is rotatable with respect to the central skeleton (101) about a transverse rotation axis, parallel to the transverse direction (T).
  3. The apparatus (1) according to claim 2, wherein the central skeleton (101) extends along the vertical direction (V) between a first end (101A), proximal to a supporting surface on which the apparatus (1) is placed, and a second end (101B), opposite to the first end (101A), wherein the central skeleton (101) comprises a lowering hinge (C1) including a transverse pin, wherein the connecting structure (6) is connected to the central skeleton (101) at the lowering hinge (C1).
  4. The apparatus (1) according to claim 3, comprising a lowering actuator (CP1), including a fixed portion connected to the central skeleton (101), and a movable portion, removably associated with the fixed portion and connected to the connecting structure (6), wherein the movement of the movable portion generates a lowering torque on the connecting structure (6), causing the connecting structure (6) to rotate about the lowering hinge (C1).
  5. The apparatus (1) according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein the rotation of the connecting structure (6) defines a lowering angle (AR), defined between the movement plane (PDM) and a vertical plane, perpendicular to the advancement direction (A), wherein the lowering angle is between -90 degrees and 90 degrees.
  6. The apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second end of the connecting structure (6) is movable with respect to the central skeleton (101) between a transport position (PT1), in which the second end of the connecting structure (6) is spaced from the central skeleton (101) by a first distance (D21) along the transverse direction (T), and a working position (PL1), in which the second end of the connecting structure (6) is spaced from the central skeleton (101) by a second distance (D11) along the transverse direction (T), greater than the first distance (D21), wherein the connecting structure (6) is rotatable with respect to the central skeleton (101) about an elongation hinge (614), defining a longitudinal rotation axis, parallel to the advancement direction (A).
  7. The apparatus (1) according to claim 6, wherein the connecting structure (6) comprises: - a first arm (611), extending between a respective first and second end, wherein the first end of the first arm (611) is connected to the central skeleton (101); - a second arm (612), between a respective first and second end, wherein the first end of the second arm (612) is removably connected to the second end of the first arm (611) and the second end of the second arm (612) is connected to the dispenser assembly (51), wherein said first and second arms (611, 612) are rotatable with respect to each other about a leveling hinge (615), - a transfer joint (613), configured to generate a rotation of the second arm (612) about the leveling hinge (615), in response to a rotation of the first arm (611) about the elongation hinge (614), wherein the transfer joint (613) is configured to generate a rotation of the second arm (612) with respect to the first arm (611), which results in a movement of the second end of the second arm (612) along the vertical direction (V) equal to the movement along the vertical direction (V) of the second end of the first arm (611), due to the rotation of the first arm (611) with respect to the central skeleton (101).
  8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the first and second arms (611, 612) are of the same length and wherein the rotation angle defined by the rotation of the second arm (512) about the leveling hinge (615) is equal to the rotation angle defined by the rotation of the first arm (611) about the elongation hinge (614).
  9. The apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the dispensing duct (4) is a flexible duct connected to the connecting structure (6) at one or more constraint points (411).
  10. The apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the dispenser assembly (51) defines a first dispenser assembly (51), spaced transversely from the central skeleton (101) and arranged on a first transverse side of the central skeleton (101) to spray the crops arranged on said first transverse side, and wherein the dispensing system (5) comprises an additional dispenser assembly, which defines a second dispenser assembly (52), spaced from the central skeleton (101) along the transverse direction (T) and arranged on a second transverse side, opposite to the first transverse side, said second dispenser assembly (52) including at least one corresponding dispensing nozzle (521), configured to spray the crops arranged on the second transverse side with the treating compound, wherein the connecting structure (6) defines a first connecting structure (61) which connects the first dispenser assembly (51) to the central skeleton (101), and wherein the apparatus (1) comprises an additional connecting structure, defining a second connecting structure (62) which connects the second dispenser assembly (52) to the central skeleton (101), wherein said second connecting structure (62) is movable with respect to the central skeleton (101) between a respective first operating position (P21), in which the second connecting structure (62) reaches a respective first height along the vertical direction (V), and a respective second operating position (P22), in which the second connecting structure (62) reaches a respective second height along the vertical direction (V), lower than the corresponding first height, wherein the first connecting structure (61) is movable independently of the second connecting structure (62) between the respective first and second operating positions (P11, P12, P21, P22).
  11. The apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the dispensing system (5) comprises a central dispenser assembly (53), aligned with the central skeleton (101) along the advancement direction (A) and configured to dispense the treating compound outside the apparatus (1).
  12. The apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pressure-head member (3) comprises a motor (33) and an impeller (31) driven to rotate about a compression axis by the motor (33), wherein the apparatus (1) comprising a shielding element (33') configured to prevent the newly dispensed treating compound from being sucked back in and including a shielding wall (311'), at least partially perpendicular to the advancement direction (A), wherein the impeller (33) comprises a suction mouth (310), facing the motor (33), wherein the shielding wall (311') is interposed between the dispenser assembly (51) and the suction mouth (310) along the advancement direction (A).
  13. A method for spraying crops with a treating compound, the method comprising the following steps: - providing a frame (10), including a central skeleton (101); - providing an interface element (IN), in contact with the ground to allow the apparatus (1) to advance between the crops along an advancement direction (A); - storing the treating compound in a tank (2); - dispensing the treating compound onto the crops through a dispensing system (5) comprising a dispenser assembly (51), which is spaced from the central skeleton (101) along a transverse direction (T) perpendicular to the advancement direction (A), and which includes at least one dispensing nozzle (511) which sprays the crops with the treating compound; - conveying the treating compound from the tank (2) to the dispensing system (5) through a pressure-head assembly (3) and a dispensing duct (4), which conveys the treating compound from the pressure-head assembly (3) to said dispenser assembly (51); - providing a connecting structure (6, 61), connected to the central skeleton (101) at the first end thereof and to the dispenser assembly (51) at a second end thereof, said connecting structure (6, 61) extending in a movement plane (PDM), perpendicular to the advancement direction (A), characterized in that the method comprises a step of moving said connecting structure (6, 61) with respect to the central skeleton between a first operating position (P11), in which the connecting structure (6, 61) reaches a first height along a vertical direction (V), perpendicular to the transverse direction (T) and to the advancement direction (A), and a second operating position (P21), in which the connecting structure (6, 61) reaches a second height along the vertical direction (V), lower than the first height.
  14. The method according to claim 13, wherein, at the movement step, the connecting structure (6, 61) rotates with respect to the central skeleton (101) about a transverse rotation axis, parallel to the transverse direction (T).
  15. The method according to claim 13 or 14, comprising a step of moving the second end of the connecting structure (6, 61) with respect to the central skeleton (101) between a transport position (PT1), in which the second end of the connecting structure (6, 61) is spaced from the central skeleton (101) by a first distance (D21) along the transverse direction (T), and a working position (PL1), in which the second end of the connecting structure (6, 61) is spaced from the central skeleton (101) by a second distance (D11) along the transverse direction (T), greater than the first distance (D21), wherein, at the step of moving the second end of the connecting structure (6, 61), the connecting structure (6, 61) rotates with respect to the central skeleton (101) about an elongation hinge (615), defining a longitudinal rotation axis, parallel to the advancement direction (A).

Description

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for spraying crops with a treating compound. In the field of apparatuses and methods for spraying crops, the use of apparatuses configured to operate in parallel on a plurality of rows at the same time in a single pass of the apparatus is known. Besides being fitted, as is customary, with a tank full of treating compound and a pressure-head member to dispense it, said apparatuses are provided with a dispensing system spaced from the central frame of the apparatus. In particular, solutions are known, comprising a connecting structure, connecting the central frame to a dispenser assembly, transversely spaced to dispense onto the crops of the adjacent row. Due to the bulky structures and considerably large openings, such apparatuses are, in fact, highly difficult to transport. Furthermore, it is not difficult to encounter situations in which the transit thereof can be obstructed by limited heights. Furthermore, the current movement systems for moving the dispensing assembly are inefficient, heavy and costly. It is the object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for spraying crops, which overcome the aforesaid problems of the prior art. Said object is fully achieved by the apparatus and method for spraying crops of the present finding, characterized by the contents of the claims set out below. According to an aspect of the present description, the present finding provides an apparatus for spraying crops with a treating compound. The apparatus comprises a frame, including a central skeleton. The apparatus comprises an interface element, in contact with the ground to allow the apparatus to advance between the crops along an advancement direction. The apparatus comprises a tank, containing the treating compound. The apparatus comprises a dispensing system, configured to dispense the treating compound toward the crops. The dispensing system comprises a dispenser assembly. The dispenser assembly is preferably spaced along a transverse direction perpendicular to the advancement direction from the central skeleton. The dispenser assembly comprises at least one dispensing nozzle, configured to spray the crops with the treating compound. The apparatus comprises a pressure-head assembly. The pressure-head assembly is preferably associated with the central skeleton. The pressure-head assembly is configured to convey the treating compound from the tank to the dispensing system. The apparatus comprises a dispensing duct, which conveys the treating compound from the pressure-head assembly to said dispenser assembly. The apparatus comprises a connecting structure. The connecting structure is connected to the central skeleton at a first end thereof. The connecting structure is connected to the dispenser assembly at a second end thereof. Said connecting structure extends in a movement plane, perpendicular to the advancement direction. Advantageously, said connecting structure is movable with respect to the central skeleton between a first operating position, in which the connecting structure reaches a first height along a vertical direction, perpendicular to the transverse direction and to the advancement direction, and a second operating position, in which the connecting structure reaches a second height along the vertical direction, lower than the first height. The movement of the movement structure allows the apparatus to be compacted as much as possible, because it allows a simple and effective lowering of the structure so as to reduce the height and allow the apparatus to pass through areas with low obstacles, to be transported easily on standard-sized trucks and containers. Therefore, such aa feature makes the apparatus less bulky, more agile, and easier to transport. In an embodiment, the connecting structure is rotatable with respect to the central skeleton about a transverse rotation axis, parallel to the transverse direction. The use of the rotation of the structure allows having a highly agile modality, which is easy to achieve. Furthermore, rotation is the best operating system as it allows the connecting structure to fold at the top of the apparatus (in a plane perpendicular to the vertical direction) reducing the vertical volume to a maximum. In an embodiment, the central skeleton extends along the vertical direction between a first end, proximal to a supporting surface on which the apparatus is placed, and a second end, opposite to the first end. The central skeleton comprises a lowering hinge, preferably including a transverse pin. The connecting structure is connected to the central skeleton at the lowering hinge. This allows the connecting structure to rotate about the transverse pin, which is, in fact, extended along the transverse direction. In an embodiment, the apparatus comprises a lowering actuator. The lowering actuator includes a fixed portion, connected to the central skeleton, and a movable portion, removably associated w