Method and device for selectively collecting material and organisms on plants

A method and a device for selectively collecting a first kind of matter, material, or organism from plants and on plant life by exposing the plant life to an air current flowing between a blower outlet and a suction hood. Stimulus signals are directed toward the plant life such that the signals influence a second kind of matter, material organism to leave the plants and/or the second kind of matter, matter or organism is retarded from gathering on the plant life. In this way, the second kind of matter, material or organism is not exposed to the collecting air current.

The present invention in a first aspect relates to a method according to 
the preamble of claim 1 and in a second aspect to a device according to 
the preamble of claim 6. 
In connection with plant cultivation there exists a lot of different 
organisms which in one way or another are dependent on the plants. The 
purpose of this invention is to collect material and organisms, 
collectively matter from the plant cultivation, especially insects, 
arthropods and funguses in order to influence the cultivation result in 
the desired direction and also to make use of the collected material. This 
procedure creates opportunities for non-poisonous cultivation and use of 
the plants and the organisms free from chemicals. 
The collection of organisms on plants by exposing them to compressed air 
and at the same time sucking them up in a container is previously known, 
for example by DK 24911. 
There is a disadvantage with the known device, in that the material and 
organisms, existing on or around the plants will be injudiciously 
sucked-up and collected in the container. Useful insects like, for example 
ladybirds, bees and bumble-bees will be sucked up. Firstly it is desirable 
that these are left untouched. Secondly the collection of such organisms, 
means that the collected material is more heterogeneous which makes it 
more difficult to make use of it for different purposes. 
The purpose of the present invention is to bring about a procedure and a 
device of this kind where this disadvantage is set aside and consequently 
some of the organisms on and around the plants are prevented to be 
sucked-up in the container. 
According to the invention this has been attained in that a method of the 
kind specified in the preamble of claim 1, includes the special measures 
specified in this claim's characteristic portion and in that a device of 
the kind specified in the preamble of claim 6 has the special features 
specified in this claim's characteristic portion. 
Owing to the fact that these signals make some of the organisms leave the 
plants or prevent them from congregating there, it is possible to avoid 
that these organisms be sucked-up in the container. 
According to a preferred embodiment form of the invention these signals 
consist of sound-, light- or scent signals or combinations of these. 
Through this type of influence some kinds organisms will be frightened 
away, especially sound- and light signals produce this effect. 
Furthermore, by sending out a scent substance some kinds of organisms can 
be made to change residence or to avoid settling down on the plants. This 
allows that the following collection can be made on plants where such 
kinds of organisms which one does not want to collect are absent due to 
the scent treatment. 
It is previously known, for example by SU 1 685 347, SU 1 777 754, SE 116 
241 and US 1 478 424 that in collecting organisms from plants, one can 
expose them to different kinds of influence as for example warmth, scent, 
sound or light. In the known devices and procedures however this influence 
aims to attract the organisms in order to collect them or in combination 
with air-sucking improve the effect of the collection. They are therefore 
designed for this purpose and do not allow any separating effect. 
In the dependent claims, advantageous embodiments of the invented method 
and the invented device are mentioned. 
The invention is more deeply explained by the following detailed 
description of an embodiment of this with reference to the enclosed figure 
showing a collection device according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING AND THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE 
INVENTION 
The device consists of a blower with varying suction and pressure 
qualities. The compressed air passes the airchannel 9 for distributing the 
air to the flexible pipes 6 and the especially designed blower outlets 7. 
The airchannel 9 is equipped with an air pressure regulator. The blower 
outlets are designed in order to aim an air current at the plant and the 
organism. The organisms are instantly sucked up, at the same time as the 
plants start to move, which makes it more difficult for the material and 
the organisms to cling to the plant and make the transportation possible 
through the air current to the suction hood 5. The material and organisms 
are transported through the flex pipes 3 to a suction channel 10, which is 
equipped with a device for regulation of the suction pressure which leads 
to a cyclone 12 with container 2. The suction hood 5 can in certain cases 
be equipped with an elastic screening, so the air current more easily can 
be led in the flow direction. In or outside the field between the blowpipe 
7 and suction hood 5 the extra fittings are fixed, like equipment for 
heating/cooling 17 and supply adding agent, scraper 5, brushes 14, sound- 
and light equipment 16 on special holds 13, where they individually can be 
adjusted to the right height and breadth position. The equipment can be 
fixed on a chassis 11, which can be placed on a vehicle such as a tractor 
or on a selfgoing unit. The blower outlets 7 and the hood 5 are separately 
fixed to lifting devices 8 and 4 and through flexible tubes 6 and 3 
connected with a blower unit 1 whose driving force could be power from a 
vehicle or a separate motor. The brush 14 is best placed horizontally and 
rotating and arranged as vertically and horizontally adjustible. 
The field of air current between the blow- and suction outlets is best if 
it could be varied. This could be done by regulating the blow- or suction 
pressure or both of them. Another possibility of regulation could be made 
by arranging the outlets sideways and vertically adjustible so that their 
mutual distance can be adjusted. By the adjustment an adaption to the 
cultivated plants and to the behaviour of the organisms is brought about. 
Warmth or cold air can be added in order to improve the effect and can be 
distributed directly in the field or through blower outlet. The effect 
field can be multiplied with advantage through arrangement of several 
blow- and suction outlets in order to cover a bigger harvest area. The 
facilities used in order to improve the effect could then be arranged 
individually for each field or cover more of them. The same is true about 
the signal instruments which influence some of the organisms to depart in 
order to avoid collection. 
The collected material from the field, could through the flexible pipes be 
collected in a container under the cyclone but before the energy source, 
so that there is a minimal destructive effect on the collected material 
which makes it possible to use this material. This procedure is to be used 
on plants within the following families among others: Umbellate Family 
(Umbelliferae), Grass Family (Gramineae), Composite/Daisy Family 
(Composite), Wallflower/Crucifer Family (Cruciferae), Mint/Labiate Family 
(Labiatae), Lily Family (Liliaceae), Flax Family (Linaceae), Heath Family 
(Ericaceae), Goosefoot Family (Chenopodiaceae), Rose Family (Rosaceae), 
Poppy Family (Papaveraceae), and the Pea Family (Leguminosae).