Patent ID: 6209257
Filing Date: 2001-04-03
Classification: A01C,A01M

Abstract:
A spraying apparatus for spraying agricultural chemicals over shrubbery and small size arborous trees and plants in early stages of their growth positioned in arrays with empty areas therebetween, the spraying apparatus comprising means for storing an agricultural chemical to be sprayed; a chassis which supports a frame; a spraying assembly located laterally of said frame and supported by said frame, said spraying assembly having the shape of a single upside down ""U"" and provided with a plurality of spraying nozzles; detecting means for detecting the presence of a plant and mounted on said frame laterally of said spraying assembly and forwardly of said spraying assembly as considered in direction of the movement of the spraying apparatus; and means for activating said spraying nozzles after the detecting means detects a plant, with a time delay to compensate for a distance between said detecting means and said spraying nozzles and for an apparatus speed, so as to spray a single plant located exactly within said upside down ""U""-shaped spraying assembly, said spraying assembly having a horizontal beam which is adjustable as to its height relative to the ground and two substantially vertical struts provided with a plurality of said spraying nozzles and mounted on said substantially horizontal beam pivotably about a substantially horizontal axis to compensate for an impact of said vertical struts against an object and also movably along said substantially horizontal beam to bring said substantially vertical struts closer to and further from one another, said spraying assembly being connected with said frame turnably between a working position in which said spraying assembly is located laterally of said frame and a transporting position in which said spraying assembly is located behind said frame; and a plurality of further means for adjusting said substantially horizontal beam as to its height, for pivotably mounting said substantially vertical struts on said substantially horizontal beam, for movably connecting said substantially vertical struts relative to said substantially horizontal beam, and for turnably connecting said spraying assembly with said frame.