Patent Description:
Sucker machines are already known which are equipped to cut or tear off the suckers growing at the base of the trunks of plants arranged in rows. Due to the diminishing use of chemical herbicides, such machines are also becoming increasingly popular for performing mechanical weed control.

In particular, a tool for mechanical weeding, suckering, or brushing of the soil underneath plants, comprising a shaft suitable to be put into rotation around its axis by a suckering machine, is already known. Longitudinal grooves are made in the shaft to form side openings in the side surface of the shaft. The longitudinal grooves removably house respective inserts that retain a plurality of consumable wires. The inserts are fully contained in their respective grooves, whereby the wires project radially from the side surface of the shaft by passing through their respective side openings to be fed in rotation by the rotation of the shaft.

An example of such a tool is described in <CIT>.

One of the limitations of these tools is that the shape and size of the wires are constrained by the shape and size of the longitudinal groove, and in particular the side opening.

Furthermore, since the inserts are completely housed in their respective longitudinal grooves, during use it is possible that dirt, dust, or other external elements can creep into the longitudinal grooves, damaging the inserts or otherwise making their handling much more difficult relative to the grooves, for example for their replacement or for replacement of the wires.

The object of this invention is to propose a tool for mechanically weeding, suckering, or brushing the soil, of the type mentioned above, but capable of resolving the drawbacks mentioned above.

Said object is achieved with a tool according to claim <NUM>. The dependent claims describe preferred embodiments of the invention.

The features and advantages of the tool according to the invention will become apparent from the description below of its preferred embodiments, given by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the attached figures, wherein:.

In the following description, elements common to the various embodiments are indicated with the same reference numbers.

In said drawings, <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM> have been used to denote collectively a tool for mechanical weeding, scrubbing, or brushing according to the invention.

In a general embodiment, the tool <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM> comprises a shaft <NUM>. The shaft <NUM> extends along a shaft axis X between a proximal end <NUM>', suitable to be connected to a drive member <NUM> of a weeding machine so as to put the shaft in rotation around its own shaft axis X, and a distal end <NUM>".

For example, the shaft <NUM> is formed from an extruded aluminum profile.

The shaft <NUM> defines a side surface of the shaft <NUM>, i.e., a surface that extends around the shaft axis X.

At least one longitudinal groove <NUM> is formed in the shaft <NUM>. For example, each longitudinal groove <NUM> extends over the full extension of the shaft <NUM>. However, the term "longitudinal" indicates that the walls delimiting the groove extend parallel to the shaft axis X but does not necessarily imply that the groove must have a particular length relative to the length of the shaft or relative to its extension in an angular sense.

The tool <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM> comprises at least one retaining device <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM> partially and removably inserted into at least one longitudinal groove <NUM>. In some embodiments described further hereinafter, the retaining device <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM> has a longitudinal extension, that is, it extends predominantly in the direction parallel to the shaft axis X. However, even for the retaining device, the term "longitudinal" does not necessarily imply that the device must have a particular length relative to the length of the shaft or relative to its extension in an angular sense. In other embodiments, the retaining device can also have a longitudinal extension that is less than its transverse, or circumferential, extension.

Each retaining device <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM> is configured to retain at least one tool <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM> whereby the tool projects radially from the shaft side surface <NUM> to be fed in rotation by the rotation of the shaft <NUM>.

The tool <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM> can be a filament tool <NUM>; <NUM>, for example of the consumable type, or a whip tool <NUM>, that is, formed of two ribbon-shaped portions folded into a "U" shape.

Each retaining device <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM> has a device body <NUM>'; <NUM>'; <NUM>' that forms at least one shaft connecting portion 12a; 112a; 1012a and a tool connecting portion 12b; 112b; 1012b.

Each shaft connecting portion 12a; 112a; 1012a is removably blocked within at least one longitudinal groove <NUM>.

The tool connecting portion 12b; 112b; 1012b extends outwardly from the at least one longitudinal groove <NUM> and so as to partially overlap the shaft side surface <NUM>.

Each tool <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM> is retained between the tool connecting portion 12b; 112b; 1012b and the shaft side surface <NUM>.

In other words, each tool <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>, when connected to a respective retaining device <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM> and when said retaining device is installed in the configuration of use on the shaft <NUM>, is completely outside the at least one longitudinal groove <NUM>.

More specifically, in one embodiment, the tool connecting portion 12b; 112b; 1012b forms at least one tool housing <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM> suitable to receive a proximal "U"-shaped portion <NUM>'; <NUM>'; <NUM>' of the tool <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>.

In one embodiment, the tool housing <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM> is configured whereby the proximal portion <NUM>'; <NUM>'; <NUM>' of the tool is retained by positive and/or force coupling between the tool connecting portion 12b; 112b; 1012b and the shaft side surface <NUM>.

In one embodiment, moreover, the tool connecting portion 12b; 112b; 1012b completely encompasses the proximal portion <NUM>'; <NUM>'; <NUM>' of the tool, except for the side that adheres to or faces the shaft side surface <NUM>, so as to prevent the entry of external agents, e.g., soil, dust, dirt, etc., into the tool housing <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>.

In other words, the tool connecting portion 12b; 112b; 1012b is configured to adhere to the shaft side wall <NUM> around the proximal portion <NUM>'; <NUM>'; <NUM>' of the tool.

In one embodiment, the shaft connecting portion 12a; 112a; 1012a and the tool connecting portion 12b; 112b; 1012b extend longitudinally along the length of the respective retaining device.

Preferably, moreover, the shaft connecting portion 12a; 112a; 1012a and the tool connecting portion 12b; 112b; 1012b are formed in one piece with the device body <NUM>'; <NUM>'; <NUM>'.

In an embodiment illustrated in the figures, each longitudinal groove <NUM> forms at least one undercut <NUM>'. The retaining device <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM> is constrained radially to the shaft by the engagement of the shaft connecting portion 12a; 112a; 1012a with the undercut <NUM>'.

For example, each longitudinal groove <NUM> has an inverted "T", or dovetail shape.

In an embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, relating to the case of a filament tool <NUM>; <NUM>, at least one pair of longitudinally spaced holes <NUM> is formed in the tool connecting portion 12b; 112b; 1012b. Each pair of holes <NUM> is suitable to heddle a respective filament tool <NUM>; <NUM>.

Heddling a filament tool <NUM>; <NUM> in a pair of adjacent holes <NUM> means that the filament enters a hole <NUM>, makes a "U"-shaped curve, and exits the adjacent hole.

There can be single or multiple filaments heddled in the same restraint device <NUM>; <NUM>.

Single heddling means that a filament enters and exits through only two adjacent holes; multiple heddling means that a filament enters and exits through four adjacent holes.

In some preferred embodiments, the filaments <NUM>; <NUM> are removably heddled into respective holes <NUM>. Therefore, the filaments can be easily slipped out of the retaining device <NUM>; <NUM> by pulling them at one end.

In the embodiment of <FIG>, each retaining device <NUM> has an elongated shape and is crossed by a plurality of longitudinally aligned holes so as to connect a plurality of filament tools <NUM>.

In the example in <FIG>, four longitudinal grooves <NUM> are formed in the shaft <NUM>, in each of which a respective retaining device <NUM> is partially housed.

In the embodiment of the tool retaining device <NUM> in <FIG>, relating to a shaft provided with whip tools <NUM>, at least one through slot <NUM> suitable to be crossed by two ribbon-shaped portions 2000a, 2000b forming a whip tool <NUM> is formed in the tool connecting portion 1012b.

In the embodiment of <FIG>, each retaining device <NUM> has an elongated shape and is crossed by a plurality of longitudinally aligned through slots <NUM> so as to connect a plurality of whip tools <NUM>.

In the illustrated example, four longitudinal grooves <NUM> are formed in the shaft <NUM>, in each of which a respective retaining device <NUM> for whip tools <NUM> is partially housed.

In this embodiment with a through slot <NUM>, the retaining device <NUM> further comprises locking means <NUM> suitable to retain the proximal "U"-shaped portion of the whip tool <NUM> in the tool housing <NUM>.

For example, the locking means <NUM> are constituted of a pin supported by the tool connecting portion 1012b and extending into the tool housing <NUM> between the longitudinal ends of the through slot <NUM>.

In the embodiments illustrated in <FIG> and <NUM>-<NUM>, the device body <NUM>'; <NUM>' comprises an intermediate portion 12c; 1012c that crosses the opening <NUM>" of a respective longitudinal groove <NUM> formed in the shaft side wall <NUM> with positive and/or force coupling. The shaft connecting portion 12a; 1012a extends laterally from the intermediate portion 12c; 1012c so as to be engaged by the undercut <NUM>' formed in the longitudinal groove <NUM>. The tool connecting portion 12b; 1012b extends laterally from the intermediate portion 12c; 1012c, in an opposite direction from the shaft connecting portion 12a; 1012a. In other words, the retaining device <NUM>; <NUM> has a "Z" shape that helps to increase the constraint of each retaining device <NUM>; <NUM> to its longitudinal groove during shaft rotation and during the weeding action of the tool.

In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, two pairs of longitudinal grooves <NUM> are obtained in the shaft <NUM>. The grooves of each pair are angularly spaced apart according to an angle of less than <NUM>°.

The retaining device <NUM> is suitable to retain filament tools <NUM>, for example of larger diameter than filament tools <NUM> connected to the retaining device <NUM> of <FIG>.

The device body <NUM>' has two arms 112d that each terminate with a shaft connecting portion 112a inserted into a respective longitudinal groove <NUM> of a pair of longitudinal grooves <NUM>. The arms 112d are joined together above the portion of the shaft side surface <NUM> that separates the two longitudinal grooves <NUM> to form the tool connecting portion 112b.

In other words, in this embodiment, each retaining device <NUM> engages two longitudinal grooves <NUM>. For example, the retaining device <NUM> has a substantially triangular shape.

In the example of <FIG>, the retaining device <NUM> has a longitudinal extension such that it is crossed by a single pair of holes <NUM>. For each pair of longitudinal grooves <NUM>, the shaft <NUM> is provided with a row of multiple retaining devices <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the retaining devices <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM> are insertable into their respective grooves <NUM> through one end of the shaft <NUM>.

As mentioned above, the undercut <NUM>' prevents the retaining devices from being radially ejected from the respective groove <NUM>, such as during rotation of the shaft <NUM>. The use of a groove <NUM> with an undercut <NUM>' allows radial locking of the retaining devices without the use of separate locking means, such as screws.

However, in some embodiments, longitudinal grooves without undercuts may be provided, such as rectangular cross sections, and screws or other locking means can be employed to secure the retaining devices <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM> to the respective grooves.

In some embodiments, the retaining devices <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM> have a longitudinal extension substantially corresponding to that of the shaft <NUM>.

In other embodiments, the retaining devices <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM> have a longitudinal extension corresponding to a submultiple of the length of the shaft, whereby two or more devices can be inserted, longitudinally aligned, into the same longitudinal groove <NUM>.

As mentioned above, in some embodiments, the tool housing <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM> is sized whereby the bent proximal tool portion in the tool housing is retained with calibrated interference between the tool connecting portion 12b; 112b; 1012b and the shaft side wall <NUM>.

Calibrated interference here means that the friction between the proximal tool portion and the shaft side wall <NUM> prevents the filament from being ejected from the retaining device due to centrifugal force during shaft rotation <NUM>, but at the same time is not so high as to prevent, if necessary, manual extraction of the filament without having to pull the retaining device out of the respective groove <NUM>.

In one embodiment, a cap <NUM> is applied to the distal end <NUM>" of the shaft <NUM> so as to axially lock the retaining devices <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM> partially housed in their respective longitudinal grooves <NUM>.

In one embodiment, the tool <NUM> comprises an adapter flange <NUM> applied to the proximal end <NUM>' of the shaft <NUM> and suitable to be coupled with a counter flange <NUM> of the drive member <NUM> of a weeding machine.

Note that the term "filament" comprises not only a single wire, but also multiple wires, or bunches, suitable for working the soil.

The tool <NUM> described above can be applied to most commercially available weeding machines via the adapter flange <NUM>.

Once the tool <NUM> is rotated by the machine, due to centrifugal speed the filaments will be stretched and take the pre-set inclination; the result will be the desired mechanical weeding, suckering, or brushing action.

It is evident that the tool described above allows the intended objects to be achieved.

Since the tools (filaments, whips, etc.) are completely external to the longitudinal grooves, their shapes and sizes are completely divorced from the sizes and shapes of the grooves. For example, filaments with a much larger cross-sectional area than the width of the grooves can be installed on the shaft. Filament or whip geometries can also be used that are not compatible with the cross section of the groove.

The tool retaining device, by passing through the side opening, preferably with positive coupling and/or force coupling, prevents dirt or other external agents from infiltrating the groove.

The tool retaining device, by protruding outside the groove, offers, depending on the material with which it may be made (e.g., elastomer), protection to the bark of the plant trunk in case of accidental collision.

The tool retaining device that protrudes radially and laterally from the groove provides protection to said groove in case of accidental and frequent collision with the ground. In particular, the portion protruding from the groove prevents the shaft from being damaged in case of collision with the ground or other rigid bodies, also avoiding crushing or deformation of the groove that would make it more difficult, if not impossible, to extract the retaining device from the groove.

Claim 1:
A tool for mechanical weeding, suckering, or brushing (<NUM>) the soil under plants, comprising:
- a shaft (<NUM>) suitable to be put into rotation around its shaft axis (X) by a suckering machine, the shaft (<NUM>) defining a side shaft surface (<NUM>), at least one longitudinal groove (<NUM>) being obtained in the shaft (<NUM>),
- at least one retaining device (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>) partially and removably inserted in the at least one longitudinal groove (<NUM>) and suitable to retain at least one tool (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>) so that the tool (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>) protrudes radially from the shaft side surface (<NUM>) to be fed in rotation by the rotation of the shaft (<NUM>),
wherein each retaining device (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>) has a device body (<NUM>'; <NUM>'; <NUM>') which forms:
- at least one shaft connecting portion (12a; 112a; 1012a) removably blocked within the at least one longitudinal groove (<NUM>),
- a tool connecting portion (12b; 112b; 1012b),
characterized in that the tool connecting portion (12b; 112b; 1012b) extends externally to the at least one longitudinal groove (<NUM>) and partially overlaps the shaft side surface (<NUM>), each tool (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>) being retained between the tool connecting portion (12b; 112b; 1012b) and the shaft side surface (<NUM>).