ASSOCIATED METHOD OF SPRAY ANALYSIS

Field Of The Invention

THIS INVENTION relates, broadly, to a stem applicator spray device. It extends, too, to an associated method of analysis of the spraying using such a device.

Background To The Invention

For purposes of the present patent specification, the follows terms are understood to have the following specific definitions:

• “stem applicator spray” refers to a spray device that has application in spraying agricultural substances (defined below), where such spraying is directed proximate the stems of targeted trees and crops;

• “agricultural substances” refers, collectively, to all fertilisers, insecticides, agricultural remedies, plantgrowth regulators, defoliants, desiccants, legume inoculants, and combinations of these. The particular nature of any notional agricultural substance has no bearing whatsoever on the invention as claimed; and

• “crops” refers collectively to all land-based crops, that are intended to be harvested for consumption or processing, and which include a stem - including all manner of trees. A number of different stem applicator spray devices are known and are used to spray agricultural substances onto crops. However, each of these suffers from at least one disadvantage or shortcoming, as it described here. For starters: many are fairly rudimentary, and require the person using the spray device to apply the agricultural substances manually after it has been sprayed from the device - typically, but not exclusively, the agricultural substance is brushed onto the stem of the crop, thus necessarily exposing such persons to the poisonous and/or caustic agricultural substances being sprayed. This is regarded as highly undesirable.

Furthermore, many spray devices exhibit poor volume-control, or no volume-control, of the amount of agricultural substances ejected from the spray device in any given spray motion. This means that the volume of agricultural substances applied is neither consistent nor regular: too much being sprayed is potentially harmful to the crop, whereas too little renders the application ineffective. Either way, this is undesirable.

A commonly known disadvantage is that many spray devices are cumbersome to wear, and uncomfortable to use. There are a number of reasons for this, including the following: the weight distribution of many backpack mounted devices tend to place pressure disproportionally on the back and hips of the user. Moreover, many of the spray devices disclosed in the prior art are exclusively mechanical apparatus, incorporating a hydraulic hand-operated actuator of sorts. A common complaint from many users is the pain and cramping that is often associated with prolonged operation of these apparatus. The inventors are aware of the “Calibra” spray device, which is proprietary to Quest Development CC. The Calibra incorporates a bifurcated spray, arranged in a vernier calliper type arrangement; its operation is via a hand-operated piston, that is engaged via a dedicated handle. Each of the two arms of the bifurcated vernier incorporates its own one-way valve. Critically, it has been found that, on operation of the handle as a result of the suction inherent in the one-way valves, at least some quantity of the agricultural substance intended to be sprayed actually remains within the spray device, and not expelled from it - a consequence of this flaw is that the volume of agricultural substances sprayed from the Calibra is neither consistent nor predictable. This also exacerbates the extent of the problem of inconsistent volume control described elsewhere in this specification.

Yet a further disadvantage associated with the prior art devices lies in their lack of consistency and predictability in the precise volume of agricultural substances sprayed from these devices, and the lack of any record of precisely where, in any given crop field, that agricultural substance has been sprayed. This makes it virtually impossible to assess and analyse the extent, accuracy and/or precision of the spraying exercise.

Object Of The Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a stem applicator spray device, and an associated method of analysis of the spraying using such a device, that will overcome, at least partially, the disadvantages described above. Summary Of The Invention

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a stem applicator spray device comprising:

• a reservoir, for storing an agricultural substance solution to be sprayed, on or proximate the stem of crops;

• a backpack, for securing and carrying the reservoir;

• a spray gun, in fluid flow communication with the reservoir via a hose, the spray gun terminating in at least one nozzle;

• a pump, for pumping the solution from the reservoir and through the nozzle; and

• an actuator, for selective actuation of the pump; characterised in that the actuator is actuated selective via electrical means.

The spray gun may terminate in a bifurcated, dual nozzle arrangement.

The device may further include a computer for setting the predetermined volume of agricultural substance to be sprayed.

The electrical means of the actuator may take the form of a capacitance sensor touch switch.

The device may further include a communication module, the communication module being maintained in electronic communication with the actuator. Further, the communication module may be maintained in wireless communication with a transceiver that is held in a remote location, the transceiver being coupled to a remote computer, characterised in that instructions are communicated to the actuator from the remote computer, thus enabling selective actuation of the actuator remotely.

The communication module may communicate with the transceiver via any one of the set of protocols & connectors selected from the group consisting of: Bluetooth™, radio frequency, USB cable, RS232 and WiFi™.

Additionally, the communication module may incorporate an electronic data storage facility, for storing data, for analysis after spraying a particular field of crops.

The data may be selected from the group consisting of: volume of agricultural substance solution sprayed; location of the solution sprayed within the field; the number of crops sprayed; the time of spraying the solution within the field; the identity, alternatively employee number, of the device operator, and a combination of these.

The pump may be selected from the group consisting of: a peristaltic pump, piston pump, gear pump, centrifugal pump and vane pump.

Preferably, the device further includes a PC board and processor, for controlling the pump and touch switch. Preferably, the pump is a peristaltic pump that is operated via a stepper motor, in order to pump consistently equal volumes of solution through the pump. The stepper motor, in turn, receives operating instructions selectively from the PC board.

The pump may be powered by a DC motor, alternatively by an AC motor.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of analysis of the spraying of a field of crops, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing at least one stem applicator spray device, the device being of the type described in the consistory statements above;

• spraying a field of crops utilising the series of spray devices;

• recording, on the data storage facility of each spray device, data relating to the agricultural substance having been sprayed in the field;

• communicating the data stored in each data storage facility to a secondary computer; and

• analysing and interpreting that data.

The data may be communicated to the secondary computer via the set of protocols & connectors selected from the group consisting of: Bluetooth™, radio frequency, USB cable, RS232 and WiFi™. The data may be selected from the group consisting of: volume of agricultural substance solution sprayed; location of the solution sprayed within the field; the time of spraying the solution within the field; the identity, alternatively employee number, of the device operator; and a combination of these.

The method may further include the step of: directing the operation of the device from a remote location.

The secondary computer may be selected from the group consisting of: a laptop, a mobile phone, a tablet, a desktop.

Brief Description Of The Drawings

In order to describe the invention, embodiments thereof are described hereunder, purely as examples, without limiting the scope of the invention, wherein:

Figure 1 depicts a perspective view of the Calibra device disclosed in the prior art;

Figure 2 depicts a perspective view of the first aspect of the invention;

Figure 3 depicts a close-up of the harness and reservoir portions of the device depicted in Figure 2; Figure 4 depicts a close-up of the hose, nozzle and actuator portions of the device depicted in Figure 2;

Figure 5 depicts a front view of the invention in use, as operated by an operator;

Figure 6 depicts a plan view from above of the portion A - A’ in Figure 5;

Figure 7 depicts an isometric view of an alternative embodiment of the device depicted in Figure 4;

Figure 8 depicts a front view of an alternative embodiment of the invention in use as depicted in Figure 5; and

Figure 9 depicts a plan view from above of an alternative embodiment of the invention as depicted in Figure 6.

Detailed Description Of The Drawings

Before describing the invention, reference is made, first, to Figure 1 , which depicts a typical, prior art device 5 that is known as the “Calibra”. Attention is drawn to the hydraulically-operated hand-pump 10, the significance of which is expounded upon further below.

Referring now to Figures 2 - 6, which depict preferred embodiments of the invention, a stem applicator spray device, is disclosed and is referred to generally by numeral 20. The corresponding method for the analysis of the spraying of a field of crops (not depicted) using a series of devices 20 is also disclosed.

The device 20 includes a reservoir 30, for storing an agricultural substance solution (not depicted) to be sprayed. The reservoir 30 is releasably securable to a harness 40, that incorporates a pair of shoulder straps 50 and waistbelt 60. It will be readily apparent, particularly from Figure 5, that the straps of the shoulder straps 50 and waistbelt 60 are adjustable, making it convenient for an operator 70 to secure the harness 40 snugly and comfortably to her torso.

The device 20 further includes a spray gun 80, which is maintained in fluid flow communication with the reservoir 30 via a hose 90. The spray gun 80 terminates at one end in a pair of nozzles 100. In the preferred embodiment depicted (in Figures 2, 4, 5 & 6) the spray gun 80 terminates in a bifurcated dual-nozzle (100, 100) arrangement. This configuration is preferred, in that it permits a closer, more- targeted spraying of the crops, as the nozzles 100 are focused about the circumference of each crop, as is best illustrated in Figures 5 & 6. However, it will be appreciated by the expert in the field that this dual-nozzle arrangement is just one of countless permutations (not depicted) that might be used in different embodiments in order to achieve this same result.

In a further embodiment of the invention, depicted in Figures 7 - 9, the device 20 further includes a secondary nozzle arrangement 160, which itself takes the form of a miniature bifurcated nozzle that is located approximately midway between nozzles 100. The purpose of the presence of the secondary nozzle arrangement 160 is to permit enhanced flexibility in the use of the device 10, and increased precision in the more-targeted spraying of the crops.

The device 20 further includes a pump 110, for pumping the solution from the reservoir 30 and through the nozzle 100. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a peristaltic pump is preferred. However, it is specifically envisaged that, in other embodiments of the invention (not depicted), a piston pump, gear pump, centrifugal pump or vane pump are considered to be ready equivalents. The pump 110 is actuated selectively by the operator 120 through actuator 130 - in the preferred embodiment of the invention, actuator 130 takes the form of a capacitance sensor touch switch, which is best seen in Figure 4. By double-clicking switch 130, pump 110 forces a predetermined volume of solution from reservoir 30 through hose 90, and out of nozzles 100. To be more specific: the device 20 further include a computer 140, pre-programmed into which is a set of instructions for a predetermined volume of agricultural substance to be sprayed. The embodiment depicted in the accompanying Figures shoes the computer 140 to be an onboard computer unit - however, in other embodiments of the invention, that computer 140 is intended to be separate and apart from the device 20, in the manner described immediately below.

More particularly, the device 20 further includes a communication module 150, which is maintained in electronic communication with the actuator 130. The communication module 150 is also maintained in wireless communication with a transceiver (not depicted) that is held in a remote location, the transceiver being coupled to a remote computer (not depicted), characterised in that instructions are communicated to the actuator 130 from the remote computer, thus enabling selective actuation of the actuator 130 remotely. It will be appreciated by the expert in the field that this communication might be accomplished in any number of well-established ways, including via: Bluetooth™, radio frequency, USB cable, RS232 and WiFi™. So, for example: it is envisaged that a team leader (not depicted) will be based in a remote office location, from which she will monitor a team of operators 120 spraying a field on her laptop. Should the data reflect that insufficient substance is being sprayed, the team leader will use her laptop to instruct modified volumes of substance to be sprayed, and that instruction will be communicated over the radio frequency network to communication module 150. From this, it is apparent that the invention has the advantage that the selective spraying is capable of being achieved - partially or even entirely - from a remote location.

In another embodiment of the invention, the operator 120 himself will use an app on his mobile phone (not depicted), which includes a convenient dropdown menu, to modify the preset volume of substance to be sprayed, and that instruction will be communicated to communication module 150 via BlueTooth™.

The device 20 further includes a PC board and processor (not depicted), for controlling the pump 110 and touch switch 130. In the embodiment depicted, the peristaltic pump 110 is operated via a stepper motor (not depicted), in order to pump consistently equal volumes of solution through the pump 110. The stepper motor, in turn, receives operating instructions selectively from the PC board. The pump 110 is powered by a DC motor (not depicted), and, in other embodiments of the invention, by an AC motor (not depicted). Additionally, the communication module 150 incorporates an electronic data storage facility (not depicted), for storing data, for analysis after spraying a particular field of crops. Such data includes all manner of intelligence, including: the volume of agricultural substance solution sprayed; location of the solution sprayed within the field; the number of crops sprayed; the time of spraying the solution within the field; and the identity and employee number of each device 20 operator 120.

The method of analysis of the spraying of a field of crops, commences with assembling a team of operators 120 of devices 20 to spray a field of crops. Data generated in that exercise is then stored on an onboard flash drive; after the conclusion of the spraying exercise, that data generated is communicated to a secondary computer - preferentially a computer in a central office - on which that data is analysed and interpreted. In other embodiments of the invention, it is foreseen that the secondary computer is a mobile phone, a tablet, alternatively a desktop.

The data is communicated to the secondary computer via the set of protocols & connectors described above, namely: vis Bluetooth™, radio frequency, USB cable, RS232 and WiFi™.

It will be appreciated that numerous embodiments of the invention could be performed without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the consistory statements above.