Abstract:
A net winder for winding up netting. A frame is mounted to a platform. A rotatable shaft is mounted to the top of the frame and an elongated cylindrical member is releasable connected thereto. A drive system causes the shaft to rotate which in turn causes the cylindrical member to rotate. Netting to be wound up is affixed to the cylindrical member and the net winder is operated to spool the netting onto the member. Once sufficient netting has been spooled onto the cylindrical member it can be removed from the shaft and a new one put on in its place.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a net winder for winding up netting, such as the netting used to protect grapes or other agricultural products. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Late in the summer grapevines enter a phase of their growth cycle that is known as veraison. Veraison occurs when red grape varieties begin to change the color of the grapes from green to red and it marks the beginning of sugar accumulation in the grapes. This change of color is in a sense a survival mechanism whereby the grape plant is attempting to disperse its seeds to ensure new plants propagate. The change in color from green to red and the increased sugar concentration attracts birds which feed on the grapes thereby dispersing the seeds. Bird damage can be significant and it is common practice to drape nets on the grapevines to protect the grapes from the birds. After harvest in the fall the nets must be removed in preparation for winter pruning. Removing the nets after harvest is a labour intensive process and is generally cumbersome and monotonous. I have created a “net winder” which simplifies and streamlines the process of getting the nets off the plants. 
         [0003]    Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the description that follows. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The invention consists of a net winder for winding up netting after use. A metal frame is seated on a platform and supports a rotatable shaft which is driven by a motor. A removably connectable cylindrical elongated member is connected to a portion of the shaft and the netting is wound onto it when the net winder is in operation. 
         [0005]    When it is time to remove netting from overtop of grapevines, the netting is detached from the grapevines and laid on the ground in between adjacent rows of grapevines. The net winder device is positioned via tractor at the end of the row and the netting wound around and affixed to the rotatable elongated member on the shaft of the net winder. The shaft is caused to rotate, thereby winding up the netting. 
         [0006]    The foregoing was intended as a broad summary only and of only some of the aspects of the invention. It was not intended to define the limits or requirements of the invention. Other aspects of the invention will be appreciated by reference to the detailed description of the preferred embodiment and to the claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    These and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings and wherein: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a net winder according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0009]    The net winder  10  comprises a rotatable shaft  24  mounted on a frame  6 , the shaft being rotatable by a motor  14  in order to wind up netting  2  or the like. 
         [0010]    Preferably, the frame  6  is made of a rigid material such as 1 inch metal square tubing that is bolted to a platform  11 . The platform  11  must be sufficiently strong to support the frame  6  and related components while in use. The platform  11  is preferably made of two sheets of ¾ inch plywood, however any material able to support the frame  6  and hold it in place would work; for example, metal, plastic and the like. 
         [0011]    A pair of 1 inch bearings  8  are fastened to the two top pieces of the frame  6  and hold a 1 inch diameter shaft  24  in place. The 1″ shaft  24  lies horizontally across the top of two sides of the frame  6 . Preferably, one end of the shaft  24  protrudes approximately 4″-6″ (short end) beyond the metal frame  6 . The other end of the shaft protrudes approximately 6′ (long end) beyond the metal frame  6 . 
         [0012]    The ‘long end’ of the shaft  24  is preferably fitted with ⅛″×¾″ steel plate in a ‘x’ pattern  26  so as to comfortably hold a 6′×2½″ piece of PVC pipe or other cylindrical elongated member  28 . The PVC pipe  28  is removably fitted over the x pattern  26  and bolted to the shaft so as to turn with the shaft. It is contemplated that other connection techniques and materials may be used, provided that the cylindrical elongated member is removably attachable to the shaft and when attached it moves in synch with the shaft  24 . In  FIG. 1 , the PVC pipe  28  is shown being mounted on the shaft. When fully mounted, bolt  30  is fitted through opening  31  in the PVC pipe and connected to the shaft  24  to hold the PVC pipe in place. The netting  2  is rolled onto the PVC pipe as discussed in more detail below. 
         [0013]    On the ‘short end’, the shaft  24  is fitted with a gear  22  which is part of the drive mechanism. A hydraulic motor  14 , also fitted with a gear  21 , is mounted on the metal frame  6  below the ‘short end’ of the shaft. A chain  20  attaches the gear  21  on the hydraulic motor  14  to the gear  22  on the ‘short end’ of the shaft  24 , so as to transfer rotational force from the motor  14  to the shaft  24 . It is also contemplated that other motor types and mounting locations could be used, provided simply that there is a drive mechanism for rotating shaft  24  about its axis. 
         [0014]    Preferably, the entire net winder rests on and is clamped to 3 point forks off the back of a tractor, or is otherwise connected to the tractor. The hydraulic motor is connected to the hydraulic system of the tractor with ⅜″ hydraulic hoses  32 ,  34 . Hydraulic hose  32  is connected to the motor with a hydraulic ball valve  16 . Hydraulic hose  34  is connected via quick connect  18 . 
         [0015]    The process of winding the nets onto the net winder is as follows: 
         [0016]    The tractor and net winder  10  do not need to drive up and down each row of the vineyard to accumulate the nets. Rather the tractor and net winder  10  drive around the perimeter of the vineyard and drag the nets out of the vineyard. 
         [0017]    The tractor and net winder  10  are positioned at the end of the rows perpendicular to the row orientation. The nets  2  are first detached from the vines and laid on the ground in the middle of the row. The end of the net  4  is wound around the cylindrical elongated member  28  and secured with tape (tape is used to secure only the first net to the PVC) or other suitable fastener to the member  28 . When the hydraulic system of the tractor is introduced to the hydraulic motor  14  of the net winder  10 , the shaft  24  (and the attached PVC pipe  28 ) of the net winder turns and the netting  2  is rolled onto the PVC pipe  28 . If slight tension is maintained in the net by the operator then the net is wound onto the PVC more tightly and a more compact bundle is created. Once a roll of netting becomes sufficiently large the PVC pipe  28  is un-bolted from the shaft  24 , the PVC  28  and roll of netting is removed, and a new piece of PVC is bolted to the shaft. 
         [0018]    In order to unwind the netting  2  on a given elongated member  28 , the system may be operated in reverse. Alternatively, the elongated member  28  can be fitted on the shaft  24 , but not locked in place via bolt or other connection method. In this fashion, the elongated member is able to roll freely on the shaft. A user can simply grasp the netting and pull to unreel the net. 
         [0019]    The hydraulic system of the tractor drives the hydraulic motor of the net winder therefore the net winder requires the farmer to have the necessary hydraulic connections on his/her tractor. Alternatively, if a different motor system is used these connections would not be necessary. For example a combustion or electric motor having a forward and reverse could be used so as to wind and unwind the netting. 
         [0020]    Preferably, the speed at which the shaft turns is governed with hydraulic ball valve  16  which controls the flow of hydraulic fluid through the hydraulic motor. The hydraulic ball valve  16  is installed at the hydraulic motor but can be installed at other points of the system. 
         [0021]    In a further embodiment, a second hydraulic ball valve (not shown) can be attached to the metal frame  6  and would act as a secondary on/off control. The second hydraulic ball valve would give the operator the ability to turn the net winder on/off without having to go to the tractor controls—ie the second ball valve would be positioned closer to where the farmer was spooling on the nets. In this embodiment, rather than going directly from the motor  14  to the tractor, hydraulic hose  34  would first go to this second ball valve and then from the second ball valve to the tractor. Ball valve  16  would remain in place to control speed. The second ball valve would act to turn the net winder on or off. 
         [0022]    It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the preferred and alternative embodiments have been described in some detail but that certain modifications may be practiced without departing from the principles of the invention.