PLANT FOR THE CONTROLLED DIFFUSION OF ACTIVE SUBSTANCES IN CULTIVATION AND IN DEFENCE AGAINST PARASITES IN AGRICULTURE

Abstract: The plant for the controlled diffusion of vaporizable active substances in cultivation and in defence against parasites in agriculture consists of a diffuser in the form of ribbon or filament of considerable length, joined at its ends to create an endless closed-circuit line. Said diffuser is able to slide along its path and is driven by traction mechanisms, it being charged with the active substances directly in the field by an appropriate apparatus positioned along the path of the diffuser.

Description: PLANT FOR THE CONTROLLED DIFFUSION OF ACTIVE SUBSTANCES IN CULTIVATION AND IN DEFENCE AGAINST PARASITES IN AGRICULTURE This invention relates to a plant for the controlled diffusion of vaporizable active substances in agriculture and in defence against parasites, in particular in applying the technique of sexual confusion and disorientation. Systems currently used for the diffusion of active substances which act in the vapour state are of two types, namely systems which project the substance mixed with water, either solubilized or microencapsulated, towards the vegetation, or systems used mainly with pheromones in the technique of sexual disorientation and confusion, which exploit the capacity of certain materials to be partially permeable or to absorb the substances and release them with time. This is the principle on which dispensers operate in sexual confusion and disorientation. The first system results in product losses by distribution and degradation, whereas the second allows operation with low doses of active substance but requires manual repositioning of the diffusers at least annually, any increase in the number of diffusion points and in the number of insects simultaneously controllable being achieved only by positioning new and different diffusers at a cost proportional to the number of diffusers applied. The system is also characterised by a certain rigidity in that the quantity of diffused active substance is not readily controllable on the basis of defence requirements, but is influenced by environmental parameters which cannot be modified, the active substance diffused being modifiable only by applying further dispensers. The object of the present invention is to provide a plant which allows moment-by-moment control of the quantities of the individual active compounds to be simultaneously diffused into the environment concerned in the operation, with considerable advantages in terms of active substance economy, this being diffused only when required, of reliability and of efficiency of the system, which is able to cope with environmental situations requiring immediate variations in the quantity of active substance diffused and is able to increase the diffusion points without additional cost. In addition, it is possible, in the struggle against insects using sexual confusion and disorientation techniques, to simultaneously control several insects without cost increase due to additional diffusers, but considering only the active substance cost. Further advantages are practicality of use, complete automation of all operations, and finally the possibility of maintaining any unused active substance under ideal conditions for preserving its specific characteristics, away from light and air. These and further advantages are all attained by a plant for the controlled diffusion of vaporizable active substances, characterised by consisting of a diffuser in the form of ribbon or filament of considerable length, joined at its ends to create an endless closed-circuit line positioned within the environment the subject of the diffusion along a predetermined path, said diffuser being slidable along the path and movable by traction mechanisms, and being charged with the active substances directly in the field by a charging apparatus positioned along the path of the diffuser and consisting of distributers able to transfer small quantities of the active substance to be vaporized onto small portions of defined segments of the movable ribbon or filament used as the diffuser, said segments being dedicated to the diffusion of a single substance and being locatable on the ribbon or filament by suitable sensors for optical or other signs printed on the ribbon or filament in other segments dedicated to this purpose, the movement of the diffuser relative to the distributer within the dedicated segment of the ribbon or filament being measurable by a similar method, the quantity of active substance deposited on the diffuser being then adjustable roughly and occasionally by varying the structure of the distributer, and adjustable finely and continuously by regulating the time involved in distributing the active compound on the diffuser and the speed of advancement of the diffuser, there being controlled both the movement of the diffuser ribbon or filament, and the time of operation of the individual distributers in distributing active substance onto the diffuser, by a microprocessor on the basis of predefined time programs having as variables environmental parameters measured by suitable sensors connected to the microprocessor. Further characteristics and advantages will be more apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a plant for the controlled diffusion of active substances in defence against insects using the technique of sexual disorientation or confusion. Figure 1 is a schematic plan view showing a possible path of the diffuser ribbon or filament in an apple tree cultivation; Figure 2 shows very schematically a possible structure for the apparatus for charging the diffuser ribbon or filament with active substances; Figure 3 shows a portion of diffuser ribbon or filament with a possible system for locating, by colour bands, the segments dedicated to diffusion; this arrangement is suitable for the charging apparatus shown in Figure 2. Figure 4 shows, enlarged compared with Figure 2, a distributer element for active substance in the liquid state, in this case pheromone, of the charging apparatus of Figure 2; Figures 5, 6 and 7 show three possible structures for the end part of the distributer element which lies in proximity to the diffuser ribbon or filament to be charged, this latter being shown as a ribbon or filament in section; Figure 8 shows a further possible structure of the charging apparatus with jet operation for distributing three different active substances; Figure 9 shows on the diffuser a possible arrangement of those segments dedicated to location and two possible quantitative levels of active compound charge on the segments dedicated to diffusion; this arrangement is suitable for the charging apparatus of Figure 8. With reference to Figure 1, D indicates the diffuser consisting of an endless ribbon or filament, the diffuser being supported and guided along the path defined by rollers R and eyelets P mounted on the poles T supporting the plants indicated by A. Along the path, in a position comfortable for normal maintenance, there is situated the active substance charging apparatus Y inside which, in this case, there is also provided the drive pulley M for driving the ribbon or filament along the path. The arrows indicate the direction of movement of the diffuser along the path. It should be noted that along the diffuser path, which is particularly suitable for applying the sexual confusion or disorientation technique, the most recently charged and hence most active segments of the diffuser are positioned on the outside, and only subsequently are they brought to the inside, a region in which a lesser concentration of active substance is acceptable. In Figure 2, E1 , E2, E3, E4 and E5 indicate five distributers for five different active substances and controlled by microprocessors, D indicates the diffuser ribbon or filament supported by rollers U and driven by the drive pulley controlled by microprocessors. L indicates an optical reader able to sense colour variations printed on the diffuser (black bars) and to continuously feed the processor with information on the position of the diffuser ribbon or filament. Figure 3 shows a possible dedicated segment distribution along a diffuser portion; Z, showing 10 black bars, indicates the segment dedicated to providing information on the position of the next segments; the 10 bars correspond to 10 positions on each of the next five segments, Z2, Z3, Z4, Z5 and Z6, which are each dedicated to receiving, transporting and diffusing the corresponding different active substance. In Figure 4, MO indicates a spring, E indicates an electrical winding within which the iron core B visible through the spring turns is free to move, and C indicates a connection of non-ferrous material between the core and the reservoir for the active substance F. The reservoir contains the active substance F which is able to reach the diffuser ribbon D, shown in section, only by the distributer terminal part N making contact with the diffuser ribbon or filament. In the successive Figures 5, 6 and 7, F indicates the active substance, I indicates a capillary transport element for liquids, S indicates a ball and H indicates a tube of capillary dimensions, while D again indicates the diffuser shown in section. In Figure 8, F1 , F2 and F3 indicate three different active compounds, also highlighted by different symbols, contained in the reservoirs of the jet charging apparatus, and G indicates the jet distributer which deposits the active substances on the diffuser D, L is an optical reader. In Figure 9, Z11, Z12 and Z13 indicate the segments dedicated to identifying the next segment 1, 2 and 3 and 4, 5 and 6 respectively, these being dedicated exclusively and respectively to diffusion of the active compounds F1, F2 and F3. The symbols which differentiate the various liquids in the distributer reservoir shown in Figure 8 and represented on the six dedicated segments of the diffuser in Figure 9, represent two possible quantitative charging levels of the three substances onto the diffuser. With regard to plant operation, the drive pulley M transmits motion to the diffuser, and the distributers deposit defined quantities of active substance on the diffuser in relation to their operating time and the speed of travel of the diffuser ribbon or filament. The movement of the diffuser distributes the segments charged with the active substances along the defined path and hence into the environment concerned in the diffusion. Said segments diffuse the vaporizable active compound. Depending on requirements and the rate of vaporization of the active substance, the diffuser can either move continuously and the dedicated segments be continuously charged, or be programmed to effect a complete periodic revolution (for example daily), and hence in the period considered each dedicated segment will be charged only once. The quantity of compound (pheromone) distributed on the surface can hence be readily varied on the basis of the dedicated segment length charged and of the charging frequency. As interference between the different compounds is possible, the diffuser has been divided into segments dedicated to diffusion, ie segments proposed for transporting and diffusing a single active compound during the progress of the diffuser revolutions through the path, and segments dedicated to identifying and recognizing the aforesaid diffuser segments and sensing the movements of the diffuser relative to the active substance distributers. In practice the reader, indicated in the figures by L and which can be optical or magnetic, reads the message on the diffuser ribbon or filament and feeds the data to the processor, which on the basis of the information received locates the segment dedicated to the diffusion of a certain substance and causes the distributer to charge it with the said substance, in the case of Figure 4 by bringing the distributer into contact with the ribbon by the electromagnet E. The dedicated segment length covered by the substance, which in the final analysis defines the quantity of substance diffused, is determined by the processor program and by environmental variables, and is controlled by the optical or magnetic reader or by electronic angular sensors positioned on drive or driven pulleys inserted into the path of the diffuser. The invention conceived in this manner is susceptible to modifications, all falling within the scope of the inventive concept. Moreover all details can be replaced by others technically equivalent. In practice, the materials used and the dimensions and the form of the paths and ribbons or filaments used as diffusers, the arrangement of the diffusers and their number, and the number of active substances diffused can be chosen at will according to requirements, without on this account leaving the scope of protection of the following claims.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A plant for the controlled diffusion of vaporizable active substances in cultivation and in defence against parasites in agriculture, characterised by consisting of a diffuser in the form of ribbon or filament of considerable length, joined at its ends to create an endless closed-circuit line positioned within the environment the subject of the diffusion along a predetermined path, said diffuser being slidable along the path and movable by traction mechanisms, and being charged with the active substances directly in the field by a charging apparatus positioned along the path of the diffuser and consisting of distributers able to transfer small quantities of the active substance to be vaporized onto small portions of defined segments of the movable ribbon or filament used as the diffuser, said segments being dedicated exclusively to the diffusion of a single substance and being locatable on the ribbon or filament by suitable sensors for optical or other signs printed on the ribbon or filament in other segments dedicated to this purpose, the movement of the diffuser relative to the distributer within the dedicated segment of the ribbon or filament being measurable by a similar method, the quantity of active substance deposited on the diffuser being adjustable roughly and occasionally by varying the mechanical structure of the distributer, and adjustable finely and continuously by regulating the time involved in distributing the active compound on the diffuser and the speed of advancement of the diffuser, there being controlled both the movement of the diffuser ribbon or filament, and the time of operation of the individual distributers in distributing active substance onto the diffuser, by a microprocessor on the basis of predefined time programs having as variables environmental parameters measured by suitable sensors connected to the microprocessor. 2. A plant as claimed in claim 1, wherein the diffuser filament or ribbon is of plastic construction. 3. A plant as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the diffuser is of metal construction. 4. A plant as claimed in claim 1, or 2 or 3 wherein the diffuser is of plastic and me ' tal construction. 5. A plant as claimed in claim 1, wherein the individual segments dedicated to the diffusion of the specific active substance are located by the optical reading of bar codes printed on the diffuser. 6. A plant as claimed in claim 1 or 4, wherein the individual segments dedicated to the diffusion of the specific active substance are located by magnetic reading. 7. A plant as claimed in claim 1, wherein if diffusion of a single substance or diffusion of compatible substances to be diffused successively on the same diffuser segment is required, it is not necessary to identify the dedicated segments, and hence the signals and the equipment related to them are not required, the diffuser advancement being able to be evaluated on the basis of the revolutions or part revolutions of the drive pulley or of a driven pulley. 8. A plant as claimed in claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, wherein the active substance to be diffused is a phytophar a- ceutical substance for the struggle against cryptogams. 9. A plant as claimed in claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, wherein the active substance to be diffused is a phytopharma- ceutical substance for the struggle against parasite insects. 10. A plant as claimed in claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, wherein the active substance to be diffused is a plant development regulator. 11. A plant as claimed in claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, wherein the active substance to be diffused is a decoy for pronuba insects. 12. A plant as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substances to be diffused are solid, charging being effected by rubbing the solid against the moving diffuser. 13. A plant as claimed in claim 1, wherein the diffuser is charged with the liquid active substance contained in the distributer reservoir by contact or rubbing of the tip of the distributer against the diffuser while at rest or while moving, said tip being manufactured from a bunch of fibres able to absorb and to transfer onto the diffuser the constituent liquid of the active substance. 14. A plant as claimed in claim 1 or 12 or 13, wherein the diffuser is charged with the liquid active substance contained in the distributer reservoir by contact or sliding of the tip of the distributer against the diffuser while at rest or while moving, said tip being manufactured from a ball, of which the surface in contact with the liquid is able to be wetted with, and to transfer onto the diffuser, the constituent liquid of the active substance. 15. A plant as claimed in claim 1 or 12 or 13 or 14, wherein the diffuser is charged with the liquid active substance contained in the distributer reservoir by a jet of small quantities of the constituent liquid of the active substance. 16. A plant as claimed in claim 1, wherein the environmental parameters measured by the sensors connected to the microprocessor include the active substance concentration measured by an electronic sensor. 17. A plant as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plant functions are controlled by radio contact with a control centre not adjacent to the site concerned with the active substance diffusion. 18. A plant as claimed in claim 1, wherein along its path the diffuser is supported and guided by rollers and eyelets, it being maintained under tension by tensioners and driven by one or more drive pulleys. 19. A plant as claimed in claim 1, wherein on the diffuser there are segments present dedicated to pheromones, insecticides, fungicides, acaricides, phytoregulators and repellent substances. 20. A plant as claimed in claim 1, wherein the environment the subject of the diffusion is used for product protection. 21. A plant for the controlled diffusion of active substances in cultivation and in defence against parasites of agricultural crops as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims and as apparent from the description and drawings, for the specified objects.

Inventors: PRATIZZOLI WILLIAM, PRATIZZOLI, WILLIAM
Applicants: PRATIZZOLI WILLIAM, PRATIZZOLI, WILLIAM
Application year: 1997
Main classification: A01M21
IPC codes: A01M21