Apparatus and method for driving fence posts

Abstract

An apparatus (10) for driving fence posts (22) into the ground, the apparatus 10 comprises (a) a post driving unit (16) operable to drive a fence post (22) into the ground, (b) a cassette (12) for storing a plurality of fence posts (22) that is rotatable about a vertical axis to move each fence post (22) in turn to a retracted position, and (c) an assembly (14) for moving each fence post (22) in turn from the retracted position to an extended position in which the fence post (22) is aligned with the post driving unit 16 and can be driven into the ground.

1 . An apparatus for driving fence posts into the ground, the apparatus comprising:
 a post driving unit operable to drive a fence post into the ground;   a cassette for storing a plurality of fence posts that is rotatable about a vertical axis to move each fence post in turn to a retracted position in relation to the post driving unit; and   an assembly for moving each fence post in turn outwardly from the retracted position to an extended position in which the fence post is aligned with the post driving unit and can be driven into the ground.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the assembly comprises an extendible member that is operable to move the fence post to the extended position. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the extendible member is operable by a scissor action. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the extendible member comprises a cradle for supporting the fence post in an upright position. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the cradle is in the form of a channel member that includes a web and two sides for receiving and supporting the fence post. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the cradle comprises magnetic elements for retaining the fence post in the cradle. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the assembly further comprises an actuator for moving the extendible member between the retracted position and the extended position. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the actuator is motor driven. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the actuator is a piston-cylinder assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the cassette comprises a frame with upper and lower vertically aligned elements that are circular and have recesses for receiving and supporting the fence posts, with the recesses being formed in an outer perimeter of each element at spaced intervals around the circumference of the element. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the frame further comprises elongated elements interconnecting the upper and lower elements. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein each recess includes a formation, for example in the form of a centered tooth for orienting the post in the recess. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a motor operable to rotate the cassette around the vertical axis. 
     
     
         14 . A method for driving fence posts into the ground comprising:
 loading at least one fence post into a rotatable cassette,   rotating the cassette about a vertical axis and moving the at least one fence post to a retracted position,   operating an assembly to move the fence post from the retracted position to an extended position in which the fence post is aligned with a post driving unit and can be driven into the ground, and   operating the post driving unit to drive the fence post into the ground.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the assembly comprises an extendible member, and the method comprises moving the extendible member and thereby moving the fence post to the extended position. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the extendible member operates with a scissor action. 
     
     
         17 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the cradle comprises magnetic elements for retaining the fence post in the cradle. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the assembly comprises an actuator for the extendible member, and the method further comprising operating the actuator to move the extendible member between the retracted position and the extended position. 
     
     
         21 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the cassette comprises a frame with upper and lower vertically aligned elements that are circular and have recesses for receiving and supporting fence posts, with the recesses being formed in an outer perimeter of each element at spaced intervals around the circumference of the element, and the method further comprising:
 receiving and supporting the fence posts in the recesses. 
 
     
     
         24 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising operating a motor to rotate the cassette around the vertical axis.