Patent ID: 8025141

Claim:
A contour trimmer apparatus for trimming potted plants, comprising: a conveyor for conveying pots in a longitudinal direction; a longitudinal guide rail extending generally parallel to the longitudinal direction; a transverse guide rail extending transverse to the longitudinal direction; first and second transversely opposed pot engagement heads slidably disposed upon the transverse guide rail and movable between an open position wherein a pot can pass therebetween and a closed position wherein a pot can be grasped between the pot engagement heads, at least one of the engagement heads including a head power drive for rotating a pot held between the engagement heads; a first slide member slidably received upon the longitudinal guide rail; a drive motor mounted on the first slide member; a second slide member slidably received upon the longitudinal guide rail between the first slide member and the transverse guide rail; first and second connecting arms, each arm including a first end pivotally attached to the second slide member and a second end pivotally connected to the first and second pot engagement heads, respectively; and a reciprocating mechanism connecting the drive motor to the second slide member so that the drive motor drives the second slide member in a reciprocating motion upon the longitudinal guide rail which is in turn translated via the connecting arms into an opening and closing motion of the pot engagement heads upon the transverse guide rail.