Device for Inserting Artificial Grass Strands into the Ground

Abstract

An apparatus for inserting artificial grass strands into the ground may be used, for example, to prepare an artificial grass surface for a sporting field. The apparatus may comprise a frame, a plurality of spools having artificial grass strands wound thereon, a rotary device having a plurality of clamps configured to hold the grass strands, a cutting device configured to cut the artificial grass strands, and an insertion device configured to insert the artificial grass strands into the ground.

1 . An apparatus for inserting artificial grass strand parts in the ground, the apparatus comprising:
 a frame that is configured to support various parts of the apparatus;   one or more spools each having at least one artificial grass strand wound thereon;   a rotary device that is rotatably mounted on the frame, wherein the rotary device comprises a plurality of clamps arranged around a periphery of the rotary device when viewed in a side view, wherein a pair of the clamps, along the periphery, are configured to hold a plurality of artificial grass strand parts therebetween as the rotary device moves the pair of clamps;   a cutting device configured to cut the at least one artificial grass strand from each of the one or more spools; and   an insertion device that comprises a plurality of insertion pins and a corresponding actuator that is configured to insert the insertion pins into the ground,   wherein the rotary device is configured to move, via rotational movement, the pair of clamps to place the artificial grass strand parts below the insertion device, and the insertion device is configured to insert the artificial grass strand parts into the ground.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured to perform a cycle having a rotation portion and a stationary portion, wherein:
 during the rotation portion, the artificial grass strand parts are positioned below the insertion device; and   during the stationary portion, the artificial grass strand parts are inserted in the ground by the insertion device.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein during the stationary portion,
 a first clamp releases the artificial grass strands that are being inserted in the ground, and   a second plurality of artificial grass strand parts are cut at a second clamp.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein along the periphery, the first clamp is adjacent to the second clamp. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the insertion pins are located in the rotary device. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of clamps is configured to hold at least 50 artificial grass strands. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of clamps is configured to hold a first end of a first artificial grass strand, and a second end of a second artificial grass strand. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of clamps comprises:
 a front shoe configured to hold the first end of the first artificial grass strand;   a rear shoe configured to hold the second end of the second artificial grass strand; and   a gap, between the front shoe and the rear shoe, to accommodate the cutting device.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the rotary device is configured to move each of the plurality of clamps from a first periphery position for artificial grass strand cutting to a second periphery position for artificial grass strand part insertion. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein when a clamp is in the first position for artificial grass strand cutting, the cutting device moves a blade in a first direction,
 wherein when a clamp is in the second peripheral position for artificial grass strand part insertion, the insertion pins move in a second direction, and   wherein the first direction and second direction are perpendicular.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the periphery of the rotary device, when viewed in the side view, is circular. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the rotary device comprises more than six clamps.