Improved method and apparatus for trimming a hedge or row of bushes, such as tea bushes

摘要

724,107. Harvesting tea; cutting hedges. COCKBURN, D. H. March 9, 1953. [Feb. 7, 1952] No. 3299/52. Classes 6 (2) and 6 (3). Hedges or rows of teabushes are cut by a machine mounted on rails 13 on each side of the hedge or bush-row, the machine having an arched frame 16, 17 which straddles the hedge and carries a rotary cutter and fan 35 to engage he top 39 of the hedge 10 and to withdraw the cuttings into a receptacle 15, the unit 14 being movable on the frame to alternative positions 14a to cut the profile 42 of the hedge. The frame comprises front and rear members 16, 17 upstanding from horizontal members 25 which carry wheels 28 at each end. The wheels are grooved to engage the tubular rails 13 of metal or bamboo which have spigots 46 to engage adjoining sections. The rails rest on pegs 44, permanently in position, and can be moved from row to row so that only one double-set of rails is required. The cutter comprises a motor 33 driving a vertical spindle 34 carrying combined fan-blades and cutter, 36. The receptacle 15 is perforated to allow escape of air. The cutter is retained by clamps 31, 32 so as to be movable to the alternative positions 14a. In a modification, the receptacle 15 is carried on a second carriage coupled to the first.