FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The présent invention relates to a motorized weed removal machine arrangement. More particularly, the invention is concerned about the improvement of the existing weed removing machine arrangement which is used to remove the weeds which are grown in between the rows of the crops. The issue is related to removing the weeds are, mainly its time consuming, labour required is more and lack of labour availability. The weeds grow regularly within a short span of time.

BACKGROUND AND THE PRIOR ART

Weeds are the one of the biggest problem faced by the farmers during cultivation process. Because thèse weeds compete for light, nutrient, space with the cultivated crops. Weeds also hâve deharvesting impacts on natural végétation, decreasing the biodiversity and resulting in habitat loss for our native plants. It is very difficult to control its spread as the single plant can germinates up to 2500 seeds.
There are many types of weed removing machine available in the market, most of them eut the stem of the weeds, while the roots at the bottom remains intact with the soil. Thèse roots lead to the growth of the weeds again and again.

Most of the mechanical methods are simple and easily understood by farmers and produce results immediately. However, the cost dépends on the method adopted, implants used availability of labour, type of weeds, and the weed growth. The most common methods of mechanical weed control are; tillage, hoeing, hand weeding, digging, mowing, burning, flooding and mulching.

In India, weeding opération is traditionally carried out with indigenous hand tool. Thèse involve considérable time and labors. In single hand weeding, the labor requirement is as high as 300 to 1200 man h/ha. Availability of the required number of laborers during the peak seasons of the year is a problem. In the view of this, some improved hand tools has been developed which can be operated manually or which can be mechanized, with an output capacity of more than the available hand tool.

The weeds can be removed by the cultivators which are attached to the tractor. The major disadvantage of tractor driven cultivators is, it is not possible to remove the weeds grown in between the row of crops. It is a good machine when it is used to destroy the plants irrespective of the corps or weeds in the open field of vast area. This also is partially applicable to the mini cultivators available. Thèse cultivators available in market are not too comfortable to be used between the rows of crops. The cultivator has single row of cutter. There is no more than one shaft which supports the cutter teeth. And again in most of the motorized weed removal machines engine cannot be disengaged from the drive shaft. There are some disadvantages in both tractor attached cultivator as well as mini cultivators, most importantly the cost of thèse machines is very high, the average fuel consumption is more. The added weight of the tractor or the mini cultivator makes the soil tighter and harder. A skilled driver is required to drive the vehicle.

In 1978 FARM SHOW published a story on the Bourquin weed puller, a mechanical weed puller that used rubber tires to pull tall-growing weeds from low growing crops (Vol. 2, No. 1). The machine went out of production in the 1980's when Monsanto started promoting weed wiper machines to apply Roundup. The machine is designed to brush along the top of the crop to remove tall weeds in the row. A séries of rubber wheels, which are driven hydraulically, rotate against each other, grabbing weeds which extend above the crop row and yanking them out of the ground. The unit can be front or rear-mounted and can be used by itself or mounted on a cultivator, tilling the soil and pulling the weeds in a single opération.

Mechanical weed control may involve weeding the whole crop, or it may be limited to sélective inter-row weeding. In a well spaced crop planted 'on the square', a second inter row weeding may be made at right angles to the first to cover a greater percentage of the soil surface (Kouwenhoven et al., 1991; Kouwenhoven, 1994; 1997). In addition, inter-row implements hâve been designed that control weeds within the crop row by directing soil along the row to cover small weeds (Klooster, 1982). Mechanical weeders range from basic hand tools to sophisticated tractor driven devices. Thèse may include cultivating tools such as hoes, harrows, tines and brush weeders, cutting tools like mowers and strimmers, as well as implements like thistle-bars that may do both. Custom-made basket or cage-wheeled weeders, with gangs of rolling wire cylinders, offer another way to deal with seedling weeds in a friable soil (Bowman, 1997; McGrath, 1999). The mode of action, operating speeds and limitations of a number of mechanical weeding tools were reviewed by Tillett & Home (in Welsh et al., 2002).

US4964472 discloses a weed remover (14) for eradicating, killing, collecting and dispensing weeds without the user having to touch the soil or weeds comprises a frame (22), a handle (16), a foot bar (34), a digging blade (36), a vacuum inlet tube (40), a vacuum blower (86), an outlet hose (94), and a weed collecting housing (48) secured to frame (22). A weed disposai bag (44) is secured to the weed collecting housing (48) and tubes (40, 42) provide a track for weeds to be sucked into a disposable weed bag (44) by vacuum generated from an electric motor (28). A battery charger (100) is provided as well as a tank (26) for weed killer or other fluids and delivery tubing is provided (50, 58, 150) for delivering the weed killer to soil near the severed weed root.

EP0619937A1 discloses a machine includes a frame (2) adapted to move along spaced ridges (C) planted with crop plants (B), frame support runners engaging the furrows (D) between the ridges (C), transverse rows of weeding implements carried by the frame (2) for vertical movement from an inoperative to an operative position also transversely displaceable relative to the frame in opposite directions to closely run along the ridges (C) and furrows (D). The actuating rams (42,66) are controlled by an operator supported by the frame (2) in a position to hâve a direct view of the weeding implements. Thèse weeding implements can be earth working dises (16) for mechanically loosening the earth and uprooting the weeds and for earth refilling. The distance between the implements can be adjusted in accordance with the distance between the ridges (C).

US6595298 discloses a multi-purpose weeder attachable to a hand-held rotary power implement is designed to weed, aerate and till soil. A vertical shaft is removably attached to the implement to permit erect opération of the weeder. A pair of substantially spiral-shaped blades are rigidly connected at an acute angle with the lower end of shaft to cause discharge of weeds upwardly and outwardly from soil when the shaft is rotated. The blades are equally spaced from the shaft as they diverge upwardly. A top end of an auger is connected to the lower end of the shaft to penetrate weed and soil at its free end. An annular member with a cross horizontal élément connects the upper ends of the blades to the shaft.
CN202085455 describes a weed combing machine with adjustable height, which comprises a base, and an upper casing buckled on the base. A blade, a front wheel and a rear wheel are arranged on the base; a crank shaft which can be rotationally connected with the front wheel is arranged at the front end of the base; and. a gear shifting mechanism used for adjusting the inclined angle of the crank shaft to adjust the height from the front wheel to the ground is arranged on the upper casing. A knob rack is driven to push a Connecting rod shaft neck to be inclined through a adjusting knob, so that the Connecting rod shaft neck is rotationally connected on the base due to the rotation of the main shaft neck, the Connecting rod shaft neck obliquely drives a front end shaft to rotate around a main shaft neck so as to adjust the distance from the base to the ground, the distance from the blade to the ground is simultaneously adjusted, the weed combing machine is suitable for différent weeding heights, and the practicability of the weed combing machine is enhanced.

US20120152572 discloses a weeding device is configured in such a manner that a first comb body in which a plurality of comb blades are arranged side-by-side on a coupling rod in a comb shape, and a second comb body having the same configuration as that of the first comb body are stacked so as to form one comb blade unit, that both ends of a plurality of the comb blade units are fastened on the same circle of the rotating center of a pair of rotating plates so as to form a comb blade unit rotating body, that the coupling rod of the first comb body and/or the second comb body is pressed toward the longitudinal direction to project a projection pièce to the outside of the rotating plates, that the projection pièce is depressed by guide plates located on the outside of the rotating plates along with the rotation of the comb blade unit rotating body, and the comb blades are brought into contact with one another or corne close to one another to sandwich the blades of grass that are growing there between, and that the sandwiched blades are pulled out along with further rotation of the rotating plates. With this configuration, the device which is capable of efficiently pulling out the weeds that are growing in a field or a garden together with the roots, capable of easily being used even at home because of a simple mechanism, and capable of further being used as part of the device such as a weeder or a crop harvester, is provided.

KR20120000644 discloses an agricultural machine and a weeding device are provided to facilitate direction change and to improve work efficiency. CONSTITUTION: An agricultural machine comprises: a frame(12) in which a handle is combined; a working unit which is combined with the end of the frame; a first wheel supporting shaft(16) which is combined with the middle of the frame; a second wheel supporting shaft(17) which is connected to the first wheel supporting shaft; a coupler which interlinks the first wheel supporting shaft and second wheel supporting shaft to relatively rotate; an engine(14) for offering driving force; a first power transmission structure device; and a second power transmission device.

It has been found that CL 262 power weeder of Rekha Agriplas Limited is manufactured using high grade raw materials for enhancing durability and longer service life. Power weeder comprises of an engine, gear box, wheels and blades, ail thèse parts are well fabricated for professional working. This powered weeding machine offered by us can work on différent number of blades, 2, 3 and 4 blades with différent sizes and widths are provided based on the weeding capacity required. Less vibration is produced hence the handles can be easily maintained.

In view of the above prior patent documents and non patent literatures and the knowledge and practice prevailing in this technology domain, it is désirable to hâve a weed removal machine which is compact in size, lesser in weight, less fuel consumption and easy to operate. The compactness to the machine allows the machine to manure and move easily in between the rows of the crops. The multiple rows of cutter help to remove the weed far more effectively.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

A basic object of the présent invention is to overcome the drawbacks/disadvantages of the prior art.

One object of the présent invention is to provide a motorized weed removal machine arrangement.

Another object of the présent invention is to provide a unique design of teeth such after digging the soil will not stick to the teeth.

Another object of the présent invention is to facilitate the cutter to grip the soil and allow the front drive shaft cutter to dig the soil and uproot the weeds.

Thèse and other advantages of the présent invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The following présents a simplifiée! summary of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the présent invention. It is not intended to identify the key/critical éléments of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to présent some concept of the invention in a simplified form as a prélude to a more detailed description of the invention presented later.

The présent invention lies in the design of the teeth and the double row of cutter which are specially designed to dig the soil as well as turnover the soil. The design is such that the soil will not stick to the teeth of the cutter while in motion. The shape of the teeth allows the cutter continuously dig the soil and uproot the weeds of any condition. The cutter wheels are mounted on the drive shaft as well as on the non drive shaft of the machine. Power to the drive shaft is provided trough chain drive from the engine
mounted on top of the machine. As the engine drives the drive shaft the cutter mounted on the drive shaft starts rotating, as intended by the user by controlling the throttle provided. The drive shaft is mounted on supporting side plates which are inturn fastened with the bearing block having bearing at both ends.

There are 4 nos. of muiti teeth cutters mounted on drive shaft, which are placed equally spaced on the shaft and will rotate in the same direction and speed of the engine. Each of thèse muiti teeth cutters are fixed/fastened to the drive shaft.

The machine also has a second row of muiti teeth cutters of 2 nos. which are mounted on the non drive shaft or axle. The cutters are placed equally spaced on the axle. This axle is a non rotating member which acts as a supporting member to the muiti teeth cutter. Thèse muiti teeth cutters are intended to rotate on their axis freely. Bearings hâve been provided on each of the cutter to facilitate independent rotation of cutters.

The reason for providing this as an independent rotation cutter is to facilitate the cutter to grip the soil and allow the front drive shaft cutter to dig the soil and uproot the weeds. This also acts as secondary line of plucking the weeds in the loosened soil. This axle mounted cutter play a major rôle when this machine is used without the engine. It will be easy to push or pull in any direction. If any obstruction is found, such as small stones, heavy roots or any hard material the cutter which is passing the hard material will stop rotating, but the cutter along side will be in rotating state which helps the machine to take off from the block head. By this way the load on the cutter can be reduced and the life of the teeth can be increased. The second row also helps in increasing the depth of pénétration of the teeth into the soil, because the soil will be loosened by the front drive shaft mounted muiti teeth cutters. The frame of the machine is designed in such a way that it can house an engine, fuel tank and also the handle to steer the machine easily.

Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses exemplary embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The following drawings are illustrative of particular examples for enabling methods of the présent invention, are descriptive of some of the methods, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The drawings are not to scale (unless so stated) and are intended for use in conjunction with the explanations in the following detailed description.

Figure 1 (a), (b) and (c) illustrate différent views of the weed removal machine arrangement of the présent invention.

Figure 2 illustrâtes an isometric view of the arrangement.

Figure 3 illustrâtes an exploded view of the arrangement showing différent parts/components.

Figures 4(a) to (c) illustrate the curved surface of the tooth on the cutter wheels.

Figure 5 illustrâtes a pair of cutter wheel with teeth.

Figure 6 illustrâtes top view of a pair of cutter wheel with teeth.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that éléments in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and may hâve not been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the éléments in the figure may be exaggerated relative to other éléments to help to improve understanding of various exemplary embodiments of the présent disclosure.

Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that like référence numbers are used to depict the same or similar éléments, features, and structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The following description with référence to the accompanying drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of exemplary embodiments of the invention as defined by the daims and their équivalents. It includes various spécifie détails to assist in that understanding but thèse are to be regarded as merely exemplary. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope and spiritof the invention. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions are omitted for clarity and conciseness.

The terms and words used in the following description and daims are not limited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by the inventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the invention. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of exemplary embodiments of the présent invention are provided for illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended daims and their équivalents.

It is to be understood that the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictâtes otherwise.

By the term "substantially" it is meant that the recited characteristic, parameter, or value need not be achieved exactly, but that déviations or variations, including for example, tolérances, measurement error, measurement accuracy limitations and other factors known to those of skill in the art, may occur in amounts that do not preclude the effect the characteristic was intended to provide.

With référence to the exploded view shown in figure 3 the weeder machine mainly consists of at least a pair of cutter wheels. The présent invention has been illustrated with three pairs of cutter wheels. The number of cutter wheels does not restrict the scope of the présent invention and in practice more than three pairs of cutter wheels may be used and the invention will fetch same performance. Ail cutter wheels are similar in design. Each cutter wheel (10) & (16) consists of about 8 cutting teeth (11) & (17). Thèse cutting teeth are specially designed to dig the soil and up root the plants. Thèse teeth also help in turning over the soil. Each tooth is placed substantially at the same distance from each other in ail the cutter wheels. Though the présent description has not referred to more numbers of teeth, it is to be understood that number of teeth can vary corresponding to the cutter wheel circumference. Each tooth (11 and 17) of the cutter wheel has sharp edges (11a, 11b, 17a and 17b) on its both sides with appropriate slopes at the middle of the tooth so as to define two converging surfaces of each tooth. Each tooth has acicular end (11c and 17c) which aids in digging the soil. Further certain curvature is provided in the tooth so that no soil sticks to the tooth even with continuous digging of soil. The lower surface of each tooth (11 and 17) is rounded providing sufficient slope for the soils not to stick on the teeth surface. The design and shape of the teeth will be more apparent from the exploded views of the tooth shown in figures 4 (a) to 4 (c). The placement of the teeth on the cutter wheel maintaining substantially equal distance in between the teeth, the design of the teeth as described herein above and rotation of the cutter wheel are responsible for efficient weed removal of the soil without any sticking of the soil in the teeth. The cutter wheels are mounted on front driven shaft (1) with the help of front drive shaft coupler (9). The cutter wheels are fastened to the coupler by means of standard M8 bolts (12). The coupler holding cutter wheel is keyed to the driven shaft (1) by means of key (7). The driven shaft consists of 2 set of cutter wheel assembly (6) on each end as shown.

The front drive shaft (1) consists of a pair of cutter wheel assembly (6) and a pair of bearing block (2) with standard SKF 6204 bearing (32) at the ends of driven shaft. The bearing blocks (2) are fastened to the side support plate (3) by means of standard M8 bolts (25). It is to be noted that though the présent embodiment has been described specifying the bearing (32) and bolts (25), any other bearing and bolts of some other spécifications may be used and still the présent invention can be performed. Thèse bearing block (2) consisting of bearing (32) is press fitted on to the driven shaft. Both driven shaft (1) and rear axle (14) are mounted on side plate (3) at both ends as shown in Figure 3. Lock plate (23) is provided to keep the side plate (3) in defined position. Also the rear axle (14) is fastened with standard M20 boit (28) at each ends. The lock plate (23) is fastened to side support plate (3) by means of standard M6 boit (29). Top frame (24) is mounted on the side support plate (3) by means of standard M6 boit (29)
on both sides. It is to be noted that though the présent embodiment has been described specifying the bolts (28) and (29), any other bolts of some other spécifications can be used and still the présent invention may be performed. The top frame (24) provides base for mounting 5 HP petrol engine (30) on it. The front driven shaft is coupled with end flange (5) by means of key (4). The driven sprocket is fastened to the end flange (5) by means of standard M8 boit (26). The end flange 5 consisting of driven sprocket (6) which is locked on to the driven shaft (1) by means of M20 washer (27) and standard M20 nut (28) as shown in sheet (1). The output power from the engine (30) is transferred to the driven sprocket 6 by means of chain drive. It is to be noted that though the présent embodiment has been described specifying the bolts (26), washers (27) and nut (28), any other bolts or washers or nuts of some other spécifications can be used and still the présent invention may be performed.

In the rear the cutter wheel is fastened to the bearing block (18) & (19) by means of standard M8 boit 20. The bearing block consists a pair of standard SKF 6240 bearing (21) for each cutter wheel assembly. The assembled par of cutter wheel (16) is press fitted on to the rear axie (14) at both ends as shown in Figure 3. The rear assembly (15) holds a pair of cutter wheel assembly (16). The 2 cutter wheel assemblies placed on rear axie are freely and independently rotating on axie axis. In addition to this tooth/wedge (22) is welded apart in equal distance on the rear axie (14). The 2 cutter mounted on either side acts as gripping wheels so that the tooth (22) pénétrâtes into the soil and uproot the weeds.

WE CLAIM

1. A machine arrangement for removal of weeds from soil, said machine arrangement comprising:

a top frame means defining a base for an engine drive means located on top of it and a cover means for securing majority of components of the arrangement;

a pair of plate means for supporting and fastening components/parts of the arrangement;

a pair of shaft means located in two rows of which the front/first row comprising shaft means driven by said engine and the next/second row comprising shaft which is non rotatable;

wherein said driven shaft means in the first row comprising plurality of cutter wheels coupled to said driven shaft such that movement of said cutter wheels corresponds to the movements of the driven shaft

wherein said each cutter wheel comprising plural teeth means profiled so that soils do not stick to the surface of the teeth during digging opération and

wherein non rotatable shaft defining the second row for plurality of cutter wheels wherein said cutter wheels in the non rotatable shaft are independently rotatable and placed closed to the edges of the shaft,

wherein said non rotatable shaft means further comprising plural wedge means located on the shaft maintaining substantially equal proximity to each other whereby said cutter wheels in the non rotatable shaft and the wedges facilitate gripping the soil and plough the soil to make it non sticky and allow the front driven shaft cutter to dig the soil and uproot the weeds.

2. Machine arrangement as claimed in daim 1 said teeth are placed substantially equidistant from each other along the circumference of the cutter wheels.

3. Machine arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein each tooth of the cutter wheel has sharp edges on its both sides with appropriate slopes at the middle of the tooth so as to define two converging surfaces of each tooth.

4. Machine arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said each tooth has acicular end for digging into the soil.

5. Machine arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said each tooth comprising an appropriate curvature to provide sufficient slope so that no soil sticks to the tooth during digging of soil.

6. Machine arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said non rotatable shaft comprising set of independently rotatable cutter wheels provides secondary line of plucking the weeds in the loosened soil.

7. Machine arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said non rotatable shaft comprising set of independently rotatable cutter wheels play a major rôle when this machine is used without the engine and the machine encounters obstructions whereby the cutter along side will be in rotating state which helps the machine to take off from any obstruction. By this way the load on the cutter can be reduced and the life of the teeth can be increased.

8. Machine arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein cutter teeth length is maintained so that it can penetrate at least 1 inch into the soil.

9. Machines arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein cutter teeth length is maintained so that it can penetrate preferably 3 to 4 inches into the soil.

10. Machine arrangement as claimed in daim 1 further comprising plural coupler means.

11. Machine arrangement as claimed in daim 1 further comprising plural bearing blocks.

12. Machine arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding daims is motorized.

13. Machines arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding daims is optionally manual.

14. Machine arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding daims is optionally attachable to a
motorcycle or any other mobile means.

15. A machine arrangement for removal of weeds from soil as herein described and illustrated with référence to description read along with accompanying drawings.