Patent ID: 6698176
Filing Date: 2004-03-02
Classification: A01G,Y10S

Abstract:
An apparatus for mounting on a mobile vehicle for pruning branches of vines and bushes or trees in a ground growing crop, comprising:a pruning blade, and means carried on the mobile vehicle for mounting said pruning blade for rotational movement in a predetermined position relative to the vines and bushes, said pruning blade further comprising a base plate having a periphery and a center of rotation for engaging said means for mounting, a plurality of cutting members having peripheral cutting surfaces, means for releasably fixing said plurality of cutting members in spaced positions along the periphery of said base plate so that portions of said peripheral cutting surfaces extend beyond said base plate periphery, wherein said means for releasably fixing said plurality of cutting members comprises a first releasable fastener for fixing said cutting member in peripheral position on said base plate, a second releasable fastener for fixing said cutting member in rotational position on said base plate, wherein said second releasable fastener comprises threaded members spaced from said cutting members for engaging said base plate, and a hold-down member engaged by each of said threaded members and engaging one of said cutting member peripheral cutting surfaces.