Device and a method for the netting of trees

Abstract

A device for the netting of trees, which device comprises a supply opening ( 1 ) and a device for the application of a net sleeving ( 5 ) around a tree when the latter is carried through the device. The device for the application of a net sleeving ( 5 ) around a tree is separated from the supply opening ( 1 ) and comprises a netting tube ( 4 ), on the outside of which the net ( 5 ) is located, the end of the net ( 5 ) being bent around that end ( 7 ) of the netting tube ( 4 ) that faces towards the supply opening ( 1 ) and extends into the netting tube ( 4 ). Also a method for the netting of trees, wherein the net ( 5 ) is applied to the tree inside a netting tube ( 4 ) located immediately after the supply opening ( 1 ).

1 . A device for the netting of trees, which device comprises a supply opening ( 1 ) and a device for the application of a net sleeving ( 5 ) around a tree when the latter is conveyed through the device, characterised in that the device for the application of a net sleeving ( 5 ) around a tree is separated from the supply opening ( 1 ) and comprises a netting tube ( 4 ) on the outside of which the net ( 5 ) is located, the end of the net ( 5 ) being bent around that end ( 7 ) of the netting tube ( 4 ) that faces towards the supply opening ( 1 ) and extends into the netting tube ( 4 ).  
     
     
         2 . A device according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the netting tube ( 4 ) has an inner dimension that corresponds essentially to the dimension of the narrow end of the supply opening ( 1 ).  
     
     
         3 . A device according to  claim 1  or  2 , characterised in that the netting tube ( 4 ) is, at the end ( 7 ) that faces towards the supply opening ( 1 ), provided with an outwardly oriented bead ( 8 ), whose outer diameter corresponds essentially to the largest possible stretched dimension of the net sleeving ( 5 ).  
     
     
         4 . A device according to any one of claims  1 - 3 , characterised in that a pull device is provided for pulling a tree through the device, said pull device comprising at least one gripper jaw ( 9 ) that is able to seize around the cut-off end of the tree within the netting tube ( 4 ) and that can be displaced through the netting tube ( 4 ).  
     
     
         5 . A device according to  claim 4 , characterised in that the pull device comprises a drive mechanism that, when a force is applied, first ensures that the gripper jaw ( 9 ) engages with the cut-off end of the tree, following which it shifts the gripper jaw ( 9 ) along with the tree through the netting tube ( 4 ).  
     
     
         6 . A device according to  claim 5 , characterised in that the drive mechanism comprises a hydraulic cylinder ( 13 ).  
     
     
         7 . A device according to any one of claims  1 - 6 , characterised in that a cutter device is provided for cutting off the net ( 5 ) when a tree has been pulled through the device.  
     
     
         8 . A device according to  claim 7 , characterised in that the cutter device comprises two rotatably mounted and partially overlapping cutter blades ( 16 ).  
     
     
         9 . A device according to  claim 8 , characterised in that the cutter device is mounted rotatably about a shaft parallel with the netting tube ( 4 ), and that it is provided with conical rollers ( 17 ,  18 ) that rest on the netted tree, a slot being provided between the rollers ( 17 ,  18 ), said slot permitting an empty net ( 5 ) to pass through said rollers ( 17 ,  18 ) whereby the cutter device is allowed to drop and cut off the net ( 5 ).  
     
     
         10 . A device according to any one of claims  1 - 9 , characterised in that a conveyor belt ( 19 ) is provided after that end of the netting tube ( 4 ) that faces away from the supply opening ( 1 ), which conveyor belt ( 19 ) is configured for conveying the tree away from the netting tube ( 4 ).  
     
     
         11 . A device according to  claim 10 , characterised in that the conveyor belt ( 19 ) is configured to operate at a rate that corresponds to the rate of movement of the pull device away from the netting tube ( 4 ).  
     
     
         12 . A device according to  claim 11 , characterised in that the rate of the conveyor belt ( 19 ) is increased, preferably by 2.5 times, when the pull device is conveyed towards the netting tube ( 4 ).  
     
     
         13 . A method for the netting of trees, which method comprises the following steps: 
 locating a tree at the wide end of a supply opening ( 1 );    displacing the tree through the supply opening ( 1 );    applying a net sleeving ( 5 ) around the tree;    cutting off the net ( 5 ), characterised in that the net ( 5 ) is applied to the tree within a netting tube ( 4 ) arranged immediately after the supply opening ( 1 ).    
     
     
         14 . A method accoarding to  claim 13 , characterised in that the major part of the net ( 5 ) is located exteriorly on the netting tube ( 4 ), the end facing towards the supply opening ( 1 ) being bent around the edge ( 7 ) of the netting tube ( 4 ) and during the netting displaced through the netting tube ( 4 ) along with the tree, while more net ( 5 ) is drawn beyond the edge ( 7 ) of the netting tube ( 4 ).  
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 13  or  14 , characterised in that a pull device engages around the cut-off end of the tree inside the netting tube ( 4 ) and pulls it there through.  
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 15 , characterised in that the pull device pulls the tree through the netting tube ( 4 ) only until the thickest portion of the netted tree has passed through the netting tube ( 4 ), following which it is pulled further by use of less force.  
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 16 , characterised in that at least one conveyor belt ( 19 ) pulls the tree further when the thickest portion of the tree has passed through the netting tube ( 4 ).