CA1160107A - Seedling planter - Google Patents
Seedling planterInfo
- Publication number
- CA1160107A CA1160107A CA000395417A CA395417A CA1160107A CA 1160107 A CA1160107 A CA 1160107A CA 000395417 A CA000395417 A CA 000395417A CA 395417 A CA395417 A CA 395417A CA 1160107 A CA1160107 A CA 1160107A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- planting
- main frame
- ground working
- wheel support
- ground
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01C—PLANTING; SOWING; FERTILISING
- A01C11/00—Transplanting machines
- A01C11/02—Transplanting machines for seedlings
Landscapes
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Soil Sciences (AREA)
- Environmental Sciences (AREA)
- Transplanting Machines (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A twin row seedling planter is provided with a new mechanical system for ejecting seedlings into a cut in the ground made by a dibble after the dibble has cut to a selected depth. The planter also features an improved modular lay-out of planting beams,packing beams and wheel support beams. The operators' station is located for ease of access to the planting dibbles. A simple and efficient system is used to raise and lower the packing beams and the planter frame in sequence.
A twin row seedling planter is provided with a new mechanical system for ejecting seedlings into a cut in the ground made by a dibble after the dibble has cut to a selected depth. The planter also features an improved modular lay-out of planting beams,packing beams and wheel support beams. The operators' station is located for ease of access to the planting dibbles. A simple and efficient system is used to raise and lower the packing beams and the planter frame in sequence.
Description
~60~07 SEEDLING PI.ANI'ER
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for the planting of seedlings, particularly seedling trees.
Canadian Patent No. 985,573 issued March 16th, 1976 relates to a seedling planter apparatus which may be trailed behind a tractor or other towing vehicle and which may be operated by one man as during the course of a reforestation or other similar project. This apparatus includes a 10 mobile frame adapted to travel over the ground with an arm being pivotally mounted to the frame and extending rearwardly from the mounting location. A dibble is carried by the free end of the arm which is adapted to cut into the ground when the arm is urged toward the ground by a hydraulic actuator during 15 forward travel of the fxame. A seedling planter is carried by the arm rearwardly of the dibble and is constructed to support a seedling for planting in the cut made by the dibble.
A dislodging mechanism is provided for dislodging seedlings from the dibble into the cut. The apparatus includes a 20 detection device for activating the dislodging means when the predetermined depth has been reached. In the event that the ~7 , ~ . ., ; . ~ . . . . .
~60~07
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for the planting of seedlings, particularly seedling trees.
Canadian Patent No. 985,573 issued March 16th, 1976 relates to a seedling planter apparatus which may be trailed behind a tractor or other towing vehicle and which may be operated by one man as during the course of a reforestation or other similar project. This apparatus includes a 10 mobile frame adapted to travel over the ground with an arm being pivotally mounted to the frame and extending rearwardly from the mounting location. A dibble is carried by the free end of the arm which is adapted to cut into the ground when the arm is urged toward the ground by a hydraulic actuator during 15 forward travel of the fxame. A seedling planter is carried by the arm rearwardly of the dibble and is constructed to support a seedling for planting in the cut made by the dibble.
A dislodging mechanism is provided for dislodging seedlings from the dibble into the cut. The apparatus includes a 20 detection device for activating the dislodging means when the predetermined depth has been reached. In the event that the ~7 , ~ . ., ; . ~ . . . . .
~60~07
- 2 ~
dibble fails to achieve the pre~etermined depth due to an obstacle such as a rock or boulder, the seedling dislodging device is not activated.
An improved apparatus for planting seedlings is described in Canadian Application Serial No. 371,394 filed February 20th, 1981, with such patent application being assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
This application describes an improved form of planting apparatus which incorporates the basic features of the 10 planting apparatus described in Canadian Patent No. 985,753 but whlch, in addition, includes means thereby to adapt the apparatus for the planting of containerized seedlings, i.e.
seedlings which have been grown at the nursery in individual small containers. The use of containerizecl seedlings provides 15 numerous advantages which need not be described here.
The seeclling planters described in the above-noted Canadian patent and in the patent application were particularly designed for use under Boreal forest conditions. These conditions include terrain which is often very rough with large rocks or boulders often being disposed a short distance below the soil surface. While this type of ecluipment has proven to be very satisfactory in rugged boreal forest conditions,
dibble fails to achieve the pre~etermined depth due to an obstacle such as a rock or boulder, the seedling dislodging device is not activated.
An improved apparatus for planting seedlings is described in Canadian Application Serial No. 371,394 filed February 20th, 1981, with such patent application being assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
This application describes an improved form of planting apparatus which incorporates the basic features of the 10 planting apparatus described in Canadian Patent No. 985,753 but whlch, in addition, includes means thereby to adapt the apparatus for the planting of containerized seedlings, i.e.
seedlings which have been grown at the nursery in individual small containers. The use of containerizecl seedlings provides 15 numerous advantages which need not be described here.
The seeclling planters described in the above-noted Canadian patent and in the patent application were particularly designed for use under Boreal forest conditions. These conditions include terrain which is often very rough with large rocks or boulders often being disposed a short distance below the soil surface. While this type of ecluipment has proven to be very satisfactory in rugged boreal forest conditions,
- 3 ~
there exists a need for a seedling planter of a somewhat moxe lightweight construction especially adapted ~or use under more moderate conditions. Planting sites of this nature include reclaimed agricultural lands, cut~over regions with 5 chopped light slash with the terrain comprising relatively flat or long rolling surfaces. Moderate soil conditions include glacial till including small stones and gravel, sandy soiIs and moderately heavy clay loams~
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention in one aspect provides an apparatus including a main frame and a wheel support means for supporting such frame above the ground and movable relative to the frame for raisinq and lowering the latter. A ground working implement is carried by the main frame and is movable relative 15 thereto between a ground engaging position and a raised position.
A single force applyingl~,means is operatively connected to both the wheel support means and the ground working implement and is operable in a first phase to lift the ground working implement to the raised position and, in a second phase to 20 move the wheel support means to raise the main frame after the ground working implement has reached the raised position.
In a typical embodiment, two each of the wheel support means, ground working implement and single force applying means are provided. Each of the single force applying means are 25 connected to a respective one of the wheel support means and to a respective one of the ground working implements.
~ 4 In the preferred form of the invention, the a~ve~
noted structure is incorporated in a seedling planter which includes a pair of mova~le planting dibbles each associated with a respective one of the ground working implements but 5 independently movable relative to same. Actuator means are provided for moving the planting dibbles so that they can penetrate the earth to produce a furrow to permit planting of seedlings. The above-noted ground working implements, in the case of a seedling planter, comprise earth packing means 10 for pressing soil around the seedling after placement in the furrows.
In a typical embodiment of the invention, stop means are provided to limit the degree of upward movement of the ground working implement. The single force applying means 15 acts between the wheel support means and the ground working implement to raise the latter until the stop means is reached.
After this, the force applying means then reacts via the stop means to apply sufficient force to the wheel support means to effect raising of the main frame. The wheel support means 20 preferably comprises a first elongated beam which is pivotally movable relative to the main frame with wheel mounting means being attached to an outer end of each said beam. The ground working implement preferably comprises a second elongated beam pivotally movable relative to the main frame and having a 25 ground working tool attached to an outer end of same. The single force applying means preferably comprises a hydraulic cylinder ~6~107 interconnected between the first and second beams for effecting pivotal motion therebetween.
sy virtue of the structure recited a~ove, the number of hydraulic actuators needed is reduced and moreover the 5 hydraulic control circuitry is simplified. When a certain planting operation has been completed the operator simply activates the hydraulic cylinder thereby to raise the ground working implement or earth packing means, until the stop is reached, with continued actuation of the hydraulic cylinder lO causing the latter to react via the stop means to apply force to the wheel support means thereby to effect lifting of the main frame to provide additional clearance when the apparatus is being towed from one work site to another.
Further according to the invention there is provided 15 a seedling planter including first and second module bases.
First an~ second ones of each of the planting dibbles, ground working implements, wheel support means and single force applying means are connected to the first and second module bases respectively, the latter being each removably connected 20 to the main frame. As a further feature these module bases are adjustably mounted to the main frame to permit adjustment in directions toward and away from one another and transversely of the forward direction of travel of the main frame, By virtue of this arrangement maintenance procedures are 25 facilitated and moreover the distance between the rows to be planted can be readily adjusted.
~6(3~07 In accordance with a sepa~ate aspect of the invention which is described and claimed in co-pending divisional application Serial No._ , filed , there is provided a seedling planting apparatus including a main frame and wheel support means for supporting the main frame above the ground. A pair of planting beams are each pivotally mounted adjacent to a respective one of the opposing sides of the frame, each planting beam having a planting dibble adjacent its free outer end. A pair of packing beams lO are each pivotally mounted to the main frame adjacent a respective one of the planting beams and have packing means at their free outer ends for pressing earth around the seedlings planted by the dibbles. An operators' station is disposed on the main frame intermediate the opposing sides of same so 15 that, in use, the operators positioned at the operators' station have ready access to the planting dibbles in their raised position for placement of individual seedlings thereinto. Means are provided for raising and lowering the planting beams to cause the dibbles to move between raised seedling-receiving 20 positions and lowered earth-penetrating positions. Ejecting means are carried by the respective planting beams for ejecting the seedlings out of their planting dibbles into furrows in the soil cut by the dibbles.
In the preferred arrangement the wheel support means 25 comprises a pair of elongated walking beams each pivotally mounted adjacent to a respective one of the opposing sides of the main frame. A ground engaging wheel is attached to the free outer ends of each walking beams. A pair of module bases ~ 7 -are provided, each connected to the main frame adjacent respective ones of the opposing sides of the frame One each of the walking beams, planting beams and packing beams are pivotally connected to a respective one of each of the module 5 bases.
As noted previously, the module bases are preferably laterally adjustable relative to the main frame thereby to readily enable the distances between the walking, planting and packing beams to be adjusted.
In a preferred form of the invention, the frontal portion of the frame is relatively wide and is provided with laterally extending oppositely projecting portions. The module bases are each mounted to an associated one of the wing portions with their associated walking, planting and packing beams 15 extending rearwardly therefrom in flanking relation to the rear portion of the frame. The operators' station is located on the rear portion of the frame intermediate the opposed sets of beams. As described in more detail hereinafter the operators' station includes suitable seat means to accommodate 20 the operator with the operators' station also including a protective cab partially enclosing the seat to protect the operators from injury.
As a still further separate aspect of the invention which is described and claimed in copending divisional application 25Serial No. filed , a seedling planting apparatus includes a planting beam having a planting dibble connected to a free end of same, with means for moving the planting dibble between a raised seedling-receiving position and a lowered earth-penetrating and cutting ~6~3107 ~ 8 ~
position, The dibble is proYided with means for holding the seedling placed therein as well as ground contactIng means movable relative to the planting beam by a distance proportional to the depth of penetration of the dibble~ Dislodging means 5 are mounted for movement relative to the dibble for contacting the seedling and pushing it out of the dibble and means are provided operatively connecting the ground contacting means with the dislodging means, These means comprise spring-loaded means adapted to store spring energy as the ground contacting means 10 are moved in response to penetration of the dibble into the earth and to release such spring energy to dislodge the seedling into the cut after the dibble has penetrated the earth to a predetermined depth.
The above-noted spring-loaded means preferably 15 comprises a toggle mechanism having an over-center action with movement of the ground contacting means causing movement of the toggle position from a home position toward the center position during which spring energy is stored. The spring energy is released after the dead center position to propel 20 the dislodging means and a seedling contacted thereby in a direction outwardly of the dibble.
In a preferred form of the invention the planting beam is pivotally attached to the main frame of the planter for movement in an arcuate path while the ground contacting 25 means is pivotally mounted to the planting beam. The above-noted toggle mechanism typically includes a toggle spring and a rigid arm means rotatably mounted to the ~eam for movement g ~
in an arcuate path. A first one of the arm means is operatively connected to the dislodging means while a second one of the arm means is operatively connected to the toggle spring. A third one of the arm means is adapted to be contacted 5 by the ground contacting means to effect the movement of the toggle mechanism~
In the preferred embodiment the toggle mechanism is arranged to interact with the dislodging means such that the latter is initially moved at a rate proportional to the rate of 10 penetration of the dibble into the ground and, after the dead center position, the toggle mechanism causes the dislodging means to be moved in the same direction at a much higher rate of speed. Therefore, a two-speed operation is provided ~-ith the dislodging means coming into contact with the seedling relatively 15 slowly and thereafter rapidly ejecting the tree. This reduces the damage which would otherwise occur if the seedling were impacted rapidly by the dislodging device.
The above-descriked planting dibble and seedling dislodging or ejecting system does not require the use of 20 hydraulic systems or electrical systems and thus it can be constructed in a very economical manner to provide a structure which is reliable and trouble-free in operation.
In a typical operation the seedling planter described is towed behind a crawler tractor at an average speed of about 25 one mile per hour (1,6 km~hr). The crawler tractor provides the hydraulic power to activate the planting beams etc. It is estimated that a seedling spacing of close to six feet will be - lQ -provided at a cycle time of about four seconds~ This proYides a theoretical maxim~ of about 900 trees/hour/planting dibble.
This four second cycle includes the time for manually loading the seedling into the planting dibble.
The crawler tractor is typically provided with a twin-row plough arrangement which clears away slash and debris from the r~gion in which the seedlings are to be planted.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF DRAWINGS
A typical embodiment of the invention will now be 10 described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the seedling planter while in use and being towed along behind a crawler tractor;
Fig. 2 is a side elevation view of the seedling planter;
Fig. 3 is a partial end elevation view of the planter, it being realized that the planter is symmetrical about its longitudinal center line;
Fig. 4 is a partial plan view of the planter;
Fig. 5 is a side elevation view of a planting beam, 20 planting dibble and seedling ejection assembly;
Fig. 6 is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig.5;
Fig. 7 is a rear elevation view of the planting dibble only; and Fig. 8 is a side elevation view of the spring loaded 25 system for dislodging or ejecting individual seedlings into the cut in the earth formed by the planting dibble.
~L~66~107 ~ 11 ~
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODrMENT
The tree planter shown in the drawings is a trailer-type double dibhle two-row tree planter, relying on the prime mover, i.e. the crawler tractor, for hydraulic power. The S planter is of the intermi~tent furrow-type and is able to plant bare root seedlings and, with container attachments on the planting dibbles, to plant most common containers and plugs.
The two laterally spaced apart planting beams and associated dibbles are operated independently by two operators on the 10 planter facing the rear of the apparatus.
~ he planting apparatus 10 includes a frame generally indicated at 12 having a forward end 14 which includes a towing tongue 16 adapted to be connected to a bulldozer. The bulldozer is typically outfitted with a suitable twin-row plough 15 to clear slash and debris from the rows in which the seedlings are to be planted. Frame 12 of the planter comprises a main frame proper and a cab enclosure 18 both of which are fabricated from welded steel components all sized and arranged to provide the necessary strength and rigidity as to withstand the rugged 20 conditions encountered during use.
Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 through 4, the wheel support system for supporting the main frame 12 above the ground includes a pair of elongated walking beams 20 each pivotally mounted via pivot axle 22 adjacent to a respective 25 one of the opposing sides of the main frame~ A pair of - 12 - ~ 07 elongated planting bea~s 24 a~e also each pivotally mounted adjacent to a respecti~e one of the opposing sides of the main frame via the above-noted pivot axles 22. Each planting beam 24 has a planting dibble 26 connected adjacent its free outer 5 end. A pair of elongated packing beams 28 are also each pivotally mounted via pivot axles 30 adjacent a respective one of the planting beams. Each packing beam 28 has packing wheels 72connected at its free outer end for packing earth around seedlings planted by the dibbles. Each packing beam comprises 10 two main sections disposed in flanking relation to the associated planting beam 24.
An operators' station is disposed on the main frame intermediate the opposing sides of same in such location that, in use, the operators located at such operators' station have ready access to the planting dibbles 26 in their raised positions thereby to permit manual placement of the seedlings into the dibbles.
Referring again to the main frame 12, it will be seen that the frontal portion 14 of same is relatively wide and includes laterally extending oppositely projecting wing portions 36. A pair of module bases 38 are provided, each being attached to a respective one of the frame wing portions 36 and it will be readily seen from the drawings that one each of said walking beams 20, planting beams 24 and packing beams 28 are pivotally connected to a respective one of the module bases.
Thus, the walking, planting and packing beams extend rearwardly from their associated module bases 38 in flanking relation ~ ~o~107 ~ 13 ~
to the relatively narrow re~r port~on of the main frame 12, It will readily be seen from the drawin~s that the above~noted operators' station 34 is located on the rear portion 40 o~ the main frame intermediate the opposed sets of walking, 5 planting and packing beams 20, 24 and 28 respectively. The operators' station conveniently includes a transversely arranged seat for accommodating a pair of operators, who sit facing the rear portion of the apparatus, each operator being located generally adjacent to the raised, seedling receiving position of 10 a respective one of the planting dibbles 26. The above-noted operators' protective cab 18 substantially encloses the seat but is open at the rear and is partly open at the sides thereby to provide the operators with sufficient access to the planting dibbles in the raised positions of same. As best seen in Fig. 1 15 the operators' stationincludes a pair of opposed shelves 42 for placement thereon of cartons of seedlings to be planted in convenient positions adjacent the two operators.
Now that the general layout of the seedling planter has been described, reference will now be had to some of the 20 more significant details of construction.
It was previously noted that the wheel support means for the main frame includes a pair of walking beams 20 pivotally mounted via pivot axles 22 to the main frame via the associated module base 38. The pivot axle 22 is mounted on a support 25 bracket 46, the latter being welded to module base 38 with bracket 46 having a stop pad 48 connected to its upper end~
14 ~
In similar fashion each planting beam 24 is pivotally mounted via ~ts associated pivot axle 30 on a support ~racket 50, the latter being welded to its associated module ~ase 38. The inner end portion of each packing beam 28 is provided with an 5 upstanding lug 52, and a hydraulic actuator 54 is interconnected between the upper end of such lug ~2 and the innermost end portion 56 of the associated walking beam 20 via suitable pivot axles. Thus there are two such hydraulic actuators 54, one adjacent each of the opposing sides of the planting 10 apparatus. It will readily be seen from Fig. 2 that the hydraulic actuators 54 are operable in a first phase to lift the packing beams 28 upwardly to a raised position and, in a second phase, to move the walking beams 20 such as to pivot them downwardly thereby raising the main frame 12 upwardly to increase 15 the amount of ground clearance. This is accomplished by virtue of the fact that the packing beams 28 are relatively light as compared with the main frame and its associated equipment. Thus, when the hydraulic actuators 54 are activated, the packing beams are rotated upwardly until the inner end portions of same 20 come into contact with the aforementioned stop pads 48 located on the support brackets 46. These stop pads 48 then provide reaction points for the hydraulic actuators 54 with the latter then applying lifting forces to the innermost end portions of the walking beams 20 thus causing them to be pivoted about 25 their respective pivot axles 22 thereby to provide increased ground clearance.
It was previously noted that the planting beams 24 are pivotally mounted adjacent opposing sides of main frame 12 via the above-noted pivot axles 22, the planting arms 28 5 extending rearwardly from their associated pivot axles and with the frontal end portions of each being provided with upstanding lugs 60. A hydraulic actua~or 62 is interconnected between the upper end of each such lug 60 and a bracket 64 welded to the associated module base 38. Thus, as hydraulic actuators 62 10 are activated, the planting beams 24 are caused to pivot up-wardly and downwardly in spaced apart planes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the planter.
Since the walking, planting and packing beams together with their pivot support structures as well as the hydraulic 15 actuators associated with same are all connected to an associated one of the module bases 38, it will be appreciated that the distances between these assemblies may easily be changed by disconnecting the module bases 38 from the main frame and shifting them inwardly or outwardly on the wing portions 36 of 20 the main frame~ For this purpose additional mounting apertures 36' may be provided in the wing portions as best illustrated in Fig. 4. This modular arrangement serves to sa~e a great deal of time when it is desired to effect adjustments to the distance between the planting rows as well as during certain maintenance 25 procedures.
.. . , . . ,, . , , , . , , ~ , .
~ 16 ~
Re~erring again to the packing beams 28~ it ~ill be noted that eac~ pack~ng beam 28 is provided at its free outer end with a spaced apart pair of downwardly extending arms 70 with the lower ends of such arms each being connected to an 5 associated rotary packing wheel 72. As best seen in Figs. 2 and 3, the packing wheels 72, in their lowered positions, are arranged to contact the ground closely adjacent the rear of the planting beam 24, such packing wheels 72 being towed inwardly as best seen in Figure 3 thereby to enhance their capability . .
10 to close the cut or furrow cut by the planting dibble and to tamp the earth around and against the planted seedling. Packing wheel 72 is shown as equipped with a toothed side plate to facilitate turning of the packing wheels during the planting operation.
It is noted here that hydraulic actuator 54 is placed on "float" position, during the planting operation. Weights may be located on arms 70 to vary the pressure on the soil. If the proper weights are used, depending upon the type of soil, and if the control lever is in the "float" position, the slit in the 20 ground and the seedling will be satisfactorily compacted.
The planting dibble 26 connected to the free outer end of each planting beam 24 is adapted to cut into the ground when such dibble is urged toward it by means of the hydraulic actuators 62~ Generally speaking, each dibble 26 is of a 25 sturdy welded construction including a relatively sharp leading and bottom edge-defining spine 74 to allow the d~ble to slice m~re .
- 16a readily into the ground. The dibble also includes a pair of upright but spaced apart side walls 76 which di~erge away from one another slightly in the upward direction as best seen in Fig. 7. These side walls 76 extend generally rearwardly of the spine of the dibble 26 and are securely welded thereto along their forwardly disposed edges as well as along their bottom edges. Thus, the spine of the dibble together with the spaced apart side walls 76 define a "pocket" which is open at the rear and at the top, such pocket being designated by reference 78.
. . ~
~ 17 ~
Extending downwardly into pocket 78 to a po1nt closely adjacent the bottom of the pocket is an elongated ejector ~on~ue 80, The ejector ton~ue 80 is in the form of a flat plate which tapers downwardly in width toward its lower end there~y to 5 allow it to move freely to and fro between the dibble side walls 76. The ejector tongue moves in a straight line path of travel between the forwardly disposed position illustrated in full lines . in Figure 5 and the rearwardmost position illustrated in dashed lines. In the rearwardmost position of the ejector tongue, its 10 rearward surface is disposed just slightly inwardly of the rearwardly disposed terminal edges of side walls 76.
Each dibble 26 includes means for holding t~e seedling manually positioned therein by one of the operators. Such means may take the form of fingers substantially as described 15 in U.S. Patent 3,931,774 issued January 13th, 1976 to Bradley.
These elongated fingers are designated by a refer0nce number 82 and they extend rearwardly within the pocket 78 from the frontal wall of same to a point just rearwardly of the vertically disposed terminal edges of side walls 76. These fingers 82 20 extend through a small rectangular window 84 formed in the above-described ejector tongue 80. Thus, with the ejector tongue 80 in the forwardmost position, the seedling may be positioned by the operator between the fingers 82 and, after the dibble has moved downwardly and has penetrated into the earth the 25 desired distance, the ejector tongue 80 is moved rearwardly there~y sweeping the seedling clear of the fingers 82 and into ~6C~107 the cut or furrow made by the dibble. As the ejector tongue 80 moves rearwardly it applies forces to the seedling substantially all along its length thus ensuring that the seedling is maintained in a generally upright position as it is moved into 5 the cut made by the dibble.
The planting apparatus described herein includes a ground contacting means movable relative to the planting beam 24 by a distance proportional to the depth of penetration of the dibble. A mechanical spring loaded system is operatively 10 interconnected between the ground contacting means and the seedling dislodging means ~including ejector tongue 80) which spring loaded means is adapted to store spring energy as the ground contacting means is moved in response to penetration o~
the dibble into the earth and to release such spring energy to 15 cause the ejector tongue 80 to move outwardly and dislodge the seedling into the cut after the dibble has penetrated the earth to the desired depth.
The above-noted ground contacting means, as best seen in Figs. 5 and 6, comprises a trigger plate 90 which is of 20 generally U-shaped configuration when seen in cross-section, this trigger plate being arranged in generally embracing relationship with the rear end portion of planting beam 24 and being pivoted adjacent its forward end to the planting beam 24 by means of pivot axle 92. The ground contacting surface 94 25 of trigger plate 90 extends rearwardly along and just below the lower surface of planting beam 24 with the rearward end of surface 94 being located just forwardly of the frontal portion of dibble 26. A spring 96 interacting between the upper surface of planting ~eam 24 and ear portions 98 formed on trigger plate 90 tends to bias the trigger plate 90 in the clockwise direction 5 as shown in Fig. 5 thus assisting gravity in urging the trigger plate 90 to the down or home position~ When the planting beam 24 is urged downwardly and the dibble 26 cuts into the ground, the surface 94 of trigger plate 90 comes into contact with the ground and it is urged against the biasing lO spring 96 in the counterclockwise direction. As the trigger plate 90 is thus being gradually rotated in the counterclockwise direction as shown in Figure 5, spring energy is gradually stored in the seedling dislodging mechanism following which ejection of the seedling from the dibble takes place. The 15 mechanism for accomplishing this action will be described with particular reference to Fig~ 8.
Referring to Fig. 8, it will be seen that the rear end portion of the planting beam 24 is provided with a housing 100 disposed on the upper surface of same. The side wall of this 20 housing has been partially cut away in Fig. 8 to show the mechanism contained within same and furthermore the planting beam proper is shown in phantom thereby to illustrate the structures disposed in the rear portion of same.
It will be noted firstly that the ejector tongue 80 25 is secured at right angles to an elongated ejector shaft 102 which is slidably disposed for rectilinear motion in bushings 104 and 106, bushing 106 being secured to the rear end wall 108 ~31 6~107 - 2Q ~
of planting beam 24 ~hile the other ~us~ing la4 is securely mounted to plate 110 disposed wit~in the plantin~ beam. The ejector shaft 102 is thus movable endwise within ~ushings 104 and 106 thereby to move ejector tongue 80 between positions A
5 and C as illustrated in Fig, 8.
The sp~ing loaded means for activating the ejector tongue comprises a toggle mechanism and is seen in Fig. 8 and this includes a toggle spring assembly 120 which interacts with a rigid toggle arm assembly 122. The toggle arm assembly 122 10 is mounted to housing 100 via pivot shaft 124 for limited angular movement relative to planting beam 24. Toggle arm assembly 122 includes a plurality of arms radiating outwardly from same. A first one of these arms 126 is operatively connected to ejector shaft 102. A second arm 128 is operatively 15 connected to toggle spring assembly 120 while a third arm 130 is adapted to be contacted by trigger plate 90 as the latter rotates about its pivot axle 92. It will be seen that the third arm 130 is located entirely outside o~ housing 100. The third arm 130 is generally U-shaped and has its lower opposing 20 ends rigidly connected to the outer ends of pivot shaft 124.
The previously described generally U-shaped trigger plate 90 includes spaced parallel web portions 134 which are arranged in flanking relation to the third arm 130. These web portions 134 are each provided with a pair of opposed elongated slots 25 136 with elongated contact pins 138 and 140 being disposed within and spanning between the opposed pairs of slots~ An lV7 ~ 21 -opposed pair of coil tension springs 142 ur~es pins 138 and 140 toward one another. Referrin~ to Figs. 5 and 7 it will be seen that these contact pins 138, 140 are disposed on opposing sides of the third arm 130. Hence, as the trigger plate 90 is rotated 5 in the counterclockwise direction, pin 140 contacts the third arm 130 causing rotation of toggle arm assembly 122 in the counterclockwise direction. As this action occurs, the end of toggle spring assembly 120 moves from point A toward point B, Point B is in a direct line between the axis defined by pivot 10 axle 124 and a point E of pivotal movement of toggle spring assembly relative to housing 100. During the time that movement from point A to point B occurs, the~toggle spring assembly is being compressed thus storing spring energy. However, after point B is reached, an over-centering action occurs with the 15 result being that the spring energy is released during travel from point B to point C. Thus a ~airly rapid snap action takes place between points B and C. As this action is occurring, the first arm 126 is being moved in the same manner thus causing endwise movement of the ejectox shaft 102 relative to its 20 bushings 104 and 106. Ejector shaft 102 and the attached ejector tongue 80 thus move from point A to point B at a rate proportional to the rate of penetration of the dibble 26 into the ground. During this relatively slow movement the ejector tongue, in operation, comes into contact with the seedling 25 supported by the fingers 82, Then, after point B is reached, a fairly rapid snap action occurs as the spring energy in the toggle mechanism is released thus causing the ejector tongue 80 to move rapidly to point C. It will thus be seen that the mechanism described above provides a two~speed action, ~elatively slow movement of the ejector tongue from point A to point B is provided during which time the ejector tongue comes 5 into contact with the seedling followed by a relatively fast ejecting action between points B and C. This action reduces the amount of damage which would otherwise occur to the seedling if the latter were impacted rapidly with the ejector tongue.
After the seedling has been planted in the cut made by 10 the dibble, the planting beam 24 is swung up by its hydraulic actuator with the result being that trigger plate 90 rotates clockwise relative to the planting beam with pin 138 coming into contact with the third arm 130 thus resetting the mechanism and allowing the operator to position a further seedling between lS the fingers 82.
In order to avoid shock and impact forces on the various components, numerous shock absorbing springs and the like are employed in the mechanism. It has already been noted that contact pins 138 and 140 are biased towards one another 20 by coil tension springs 142. These coil tension springs allow contact pins 138, 140 to move in their associated slots 136 thus reducing the impact forces between the third arm 130 and such contact pins.
In order to cushion the first arm as it moves between 25 stop points 150 and 152, such first arm 126 is provided with an axially movable plunger arrangement 154 comprising a shaft movable transversely relative to first arm 126, such shaft being , , ~ .
.
~.6~07 - 23 ~
equipped with oppositely disposed biasing springs. This arran~ement absorbs shock at ~oth ends of the angular motion of thetoggle arm assembly, i.e. as it moves between stop points 150 and 152.
The ejector shaft is also designed so as to take up shock and impact forces. It will be seen that t~e ejector shaft 102 is hollow with the first arm 126 entering into ejector shaft 102 via one of an opposed pair of slots 160 disposed in such shaft. The arcuate end portion 127 of first arm 126 is disposed 10 between an opposed pair of plungers 162 slidably disposed within ejector shaft 102. These plungers 162 are urged into contacting relationship with head portion 127 of first arm 126 by means of opposed compression springs 164 and 166 also located within shaft 102. Spring 164 seats within the inner end portion of 15 ejector shaft 102 while the other compression spring 166 seats against a short stem portion 168, the outer end of which is securely welded to the upper end of ejector tongue 80, A
disconnect pin 170 extends through aligned bores in the outer end of ejector shaft 102 and stem portion 168 thus releasably 20 connecting ejector tongue 80 to the ejector sha~t. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the opposed compression springs 164, 166 provide resiliency and reduce shock both during rejection and retraction as well as preventing breakage in case debris interferes with the mechanism and causes it to hang 25 up.
Various adjustments can be made to the mechanism to enhance its operation. The amount of spring force exerted by the toggle spring assembly 120 can be varied by rotating adjustment screw 121 thereby to vary the amount of pre.~loading on the toggle sprin~. The degree of angular movement of the toggle arm assembly 122 can ~e adjusted within limits by changing the location of stop point 152 by rotation of adjusting stud 5 153. In addition, the depth to which the seedlings are planted can be varied by providing an auxiliary plate 91 (shown in dashed lines~ which attaches below the lower surface 94 of the trigger plate. Several such auxiliary plates 94 can be provided and, when one wishes to change the planting depth, it is a simple 10 matter to remove one plate and replace it with another. Differing planting depths, as is well known in the art, are used for different planting conditions and different types of plant stock.
The operation of the apparatus will be readily apparent 15 from the description given above. As the seedling planter is drawn along the planting row by the crawler tractor, the operators, by means of a suitably positioned foot valve, ~not shown), control the hydraulic actuators 62 which swing the planting beams 24 upwardly and downwardly. With the planting 20 beam 24 in the upper position, the ejector tongue 80 is in the retracted position. The operator then quickly places an individual seedling between the fingers 82 following which the actuator 62 is activated to swing planting beam 24 downwardly thus causing dibble 26 to penetrate into the soil~ As this 25 action occurs the trigger plate 90 is rotated thus causing pin 136 to come into contact with the third arm 130 of the toggle arm assembly, Continued movement of the trigger plate causes ~ . . . . -, ,. .. ,, - , . . - . . -o~
~ 25 ~
spring energy to be stored in the tog~le sprin~ assembly until the overcenter~ng action occurs with the result being that the ejector tongue 80 is propelled out~ardly thus dislodging the seedling from fingers 82 and moving it into 5 the cut on the ground made by the dibble. As soon as this action occurs the operator activates the hydraulic actuator to swing beam 24 upwardly with the result being that under the influence of gravity and return spring 96, trigger plate 90 rotates clockwise relative to planting beam 24 thus resetting 10 the toggle arm assembly 122 to the home position and retracting ejector tongue 80 following which the operator places a further seedling between fingers 82. The packing wheels 72 are in contact with the ground at all times during this procedure and they serve to pack the earth around the planted seedlings lS in the usual manner, The above-described operations continue until the end of the planting row is reached at which time the operators wi~l activate hydraulic cylinders 54 thereby to cause the packing beams 28 to be swung upwardly until they reach the stops defined by stop pads 48 following which these same 20 cylinders 54 serve to cause the walking beams 20, to which the wheels are attached, to pivot downwardly thus raising the main frame 12 upwardly to provide additional ground clearance.
The operator then turns the seedling planter around in any desired manner and the seedling planter is then placed in 25 readiness for a further planting operation.
While a specific embodiment of the invention has been - 26 ~
descri~ed for purposes of illustr~tion, those skilled in the art will realize that numerous modifications may ~e made to the details of construction while still remaining within the spirit or scope of the invention as defined in the appended 5 claims.
there exists a need for a seedling planter of a somewhat moxe lightweight construction especially adapted ~or use under more moderate conditions. Planting sites of this nature include reclaimed agricultural lands, cut~over regions with 5 chopped light slash with the terrain comprising relatively flat or long rolling surfaces. Moderate soil conditions include glacial till including small stones and gravel, sandy soiIs and moderately heavy clay loams~
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention in one aspect provides an apparatus including a main frame and a wheel support means for supporting such frame above the ground and movable relative to the frame for raisinq and lowering the latter. A ground working implement is carried by the main frame and is movable relative 15 thereto between a ground engaging position and a raised position.
A single force applyingl~,means is operatively connected to both the wheel support means and the ground working implement and is operable in a first phase to lift the ground working implement to the raised position and, in a second phase to 20 move the wheel support means to raise the main frame after the ground working implement has reached the raised position.
In a typical embodiment, two each of the wheel support means, ground working implement and single force applying means are provided. Each of the single force applying means are 25 connected to a respective one of the wheel support means and to a respective one of the ground working implements.
~ 4 In the preferred form of the invention, the a~ve~
noted structure is incorporated in a seedling planter which includes a pair of mova~le planting dibbles each associated with a respective one of the ground working implements but 5 independently movable relative to same. Actuator means are provided for moving the planting dibbles so that they can penetrate the earth to produce a furrow to permit planting of seedlings. The above-noted ground working implements, in the case of a seedling planter, comprise earth packing means 10 for pressing soil around the seedling after placement in the furrows.
In a typical embodiment of the invention, stop means are provided to limit the degree of upward movement of the ground working implement. The single force applying means 15 acts between the wheel support means and the ground working implement to raise the latter until the stop means is reached.
After this, the force applying means then reacts via the stop means to apply sufficient force to the wheel support means to effect raising of the main frame. The wheel support means 20 preferably comprises a first elongated beam which is pivotally movable relative to the main frame with wheel mounting means being attached to an outer end of each said beam. The ground working implement preferably comprises a second elongated beam pivotally movable relative to the main frame and having a 25 ground working tool attached to an outer end of same. The single force applying means preferably comprises a hydraulic cylinder ~6~107 interconnected between the first and second beams for effecting pivotal motion therebetween.
sy virtue of the structure recited a~ove, the number of hydraulic actuators needed is reduced and moreover the 5 hydraulic control circuitry is simplified. When a certain planting operation has been completed the operator simply activates the hydraulic cylinder thereby to raise the ground working implement or earth packing means, until the stop is reached, with continued actuation of the hydraulic cylinder lO causing the latter to react via the stop means to apply force to the wheel support means thereby to effect lifting of the main frame to provide additional clearance when the apparatus is being towed from one work site to another.
Further according to the invention there is provided 15 a seedling planter including first and second module bases.
First an~ second ones of each of the planting dibbles, ground working implements, wheel support means and single force applying means are connected to the first and second module bases respectively, the latter being each removably connected 20 to the main frame. As a further feature these module bases are adjustably mounted to the main frame to permit adjustment in directions toward and away from one another and transversely of the forward direction of travel of the main frame, By virtue of this arrangement maintenance procedures are 25 facilitated and moreover the distance between the rows to be planted can be readily adjusted.
~6(3~07 In accordance with a sepa~ate aspect of the invention which is described and claimed in co-pending divisional application Serial No._ , filed , there is provided a seedling planting apparatus including a main frame and wheel support means for supporting the main frame above the ground. A pair of planting beams are each pivotally mounted adjacent to a respective one of the opposing sides of the frame, each planting beam having a planting dibble adjacent its free outer end. A pair of packing beams lO are each pivotally mounted to the main frame adjacent a respective one of the planting beams and have packing means at their free outer ends for pressing earth around the seedlings planted by the dibbles. An operators' station is disposed on the main frame intermediate the opposing sides of same so 15 that, in use, the operators positioned at the operators' station have ready access to the planting dibbles in their raised position for placement of individual seedlings thereinto. Means are provided for raising and lowering the planting beams to cause the dibbles to move between raised seedling-receiving 20 positions and lowered earth-penetrating positions. Ejecting means are carried by the respective planting beams for ejecting the seedlings out of their planting dibbles into furrows in the soil cut by the dibbles.
In the preferred arrangement the wheel support means 25 comprises a pair of elongated walking beams each pivotally mounted adjacent to a respective one of the opposing sides of the main frame. A ground engaging wheel is attached to the free outer ends of each walking beams. A pair of module bases ~ 7 -are provided, each connected to the main frame adjacent respective ones of the opposing sides of the frame One each of the walking beams, planting beams and packing beams are pivotally connected to a respective one of each of the module 5 bases.
As noted previously, the module bases are preferably laterally adjustable relative to the main frame thereby to readily enable the distances between the walking, planting and packing beams to be adjusted.
In a preferred form of the invention, the frontal portion of the frame is relatively wide and is provided with laterally extending oppositely projecting portions. The module bases are each mounted to an associated one of the wing portions with their associated walking, planting and packing beams 15 extending rearwardly therefrom in flanking relation to the rear portion of the frame. The operators' station is located on the rear portion of the frame intermediate the opposed sets of beams. As described in more detail hereinafter the operators' station includes suitable seat means to accommodate 20 the operator with the operators' station also including a protective cab partially enclosing the seat to protect the operators from injury.
As a still further separate aspect of the invention which is described and claimed in copending divisional application 25Serial No. filed , a seedling planting apparatus includes a planting beam having a planting dibble connected to a free end of same, with means for moving the planting dibble between a raised seedling-receiving position and a lowered earth-penetrating and cutting ~6~3107 ~ 8 ~
position, The dibble is proYided with means for holding the seedling placed therein as well as ground contactIng means movable relative to the planting beam by a distance proportional to the depth of penetration of the dibble~ Dislodging means 5 are mounted for movement relative to the dibble for contacting the seedling and pushing it out of the dibble and means are provided operatively connecting the ground contacting means with the dislodging means, These means comprise spring-loaded means adapted to store spring energy as the ground contacting means 10 are moved in response to penetration of the dibble into the earth and to release such spring energy to dislodge the seedling into the cut after the dibble has penetrated the earth to a predetermined depth.
The above-noted spring-loaded means preferably 15 comprises a toggle mechanism having an over-center action with movement of the ground contacting means causing movement of the toggle position from a home position toward the center position during which spring energy is stored. The spring energy is released after the dead center position to propel 20 the dislodging means and a seedling contacted thereby in a direction outwardly of the dibble.
In a preferred form of the invention the planting beam is pivotally attached to the main frame of the planter for movement in an arcuate path while the ground contacting 25 means is pivotally mounted to the planting beam. The above-noted toggle mechanism typically includes a toggle spring and a rigid arm means rotatably mounted to the ~eam for movement g ~
in an arcuate path. A first one of the arm means is operatively connected to the dislodging means while a second one of the arm means is operatively connected to the toggle spring. A third one of the arm means is adapted to be contacted 5 by the ground contacting means to effect the movement of the toggle mechanism~
In the preferred embodiment the toggle mechanism is arranged to interact with the dislodging means such that the latter is initially moved at a rate proportional to the rate of 10 penetration of the dibble into the ground and, after the dead center position, the toggle mechanism causes the dislodging means to be moved in the same direction at a much higher rate of speed. Therefore, a two-speed operation is provided ~-ith the dislodging means coming into contact with the seedling relatively 15 slowly and thereafter rapidly ejecting the tree. This reduces the damage which would otherwise occur if the seedling were impacted rapidly by the dislodging device.
The above-descriked planting dibble and seedling dislodging or ejecting system does not require the use of 20 hydraulic systems or electrical systems and thus it can be constructed in a very economical manner to provide a structure which is reliable and trouble-free in operation.
In a typical operation the seedling planter described is towed behind a crawler tractor at an average speed of about 25 one mile per hour (1,6 km~hr). The crawler tractor provides the hydraulic power to activate the planting beams etc. It is estimated that a seedling spacing of close to six feet will be - lQ -provided at a cycle time of about four seconds~ This proYides a theoretical maxim~ of about 900 trees/hour/planting dibble.
This four second cycle includes the time for manually loading the seedling into the planting dibble.
The crawler tractor is typically provided with a twin-row plough arrangement which clears away slash and debris from the r~gion in which the seedlings are to be planted.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF DRAWINGS
A typical embodiment of the invention will now be 10 described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the seedling planter while in use and being towed along behind a crawler tractor;
Fig. 2 is a side elevation view of the seedling planter;
Fig. 3 is a partial end elevation view of the planter, it being realized that the planter is symmetrical about its longitudinal center line;
Fig. 4 is a partial plan view of the planter;
Fig. 5 is a side elevation view of a planting beam, 20 planting dibble and seedling ejection assembly;
Fig. 6 is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig.5;
Fig. 7 is a rear elevation view of the planting dibble only; and Fig. 8 is a side elevation view of the spring loaded 25 system for dislodging or ejecting individual seedlings into the cut in the earth formed by the planting dibble.
~L~66~107 ~ 11 ~
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODrMENT
The tree planter shown in the drawings is a trailer-type double dibhle two-row tree planter, relying on the prime mover, i.e. the crawler tractor, for hydraulic power. The S planter is of the intermi~tent furrow-type and is able to plant bare root seedlings and, with container attachments on the planting dibbles, to plant most common containers and plugs.
The two laterally spaced apart planting beams and associated dibbles are operated independently by two operators on the 10 planter facing the rear of the apparatus.
~ he planting apparatus 10 includes a frame generally indicated at 12 having a forward end 14 which includes a towing tongue 16 adapted to be connected to a bulldozer. The bulldozer is typically outfitted with a suitable twin-row plough 15 to clear slash and debris from the rows in which the seedlings are to be planted. Frame 12 of the planter comprises a main frame proper and a cab enclosure 18 both of which are fabricated from welded steel components all sized and arranged to provide the necessary strength and rigidity as to withstand the rugged 20 conditions encountered during use.
Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 through 4, the wheel support system for supporting the main frame 12 above the ground includes a pair of elongated walking beams 20 each pivotally mounted via pivot axle 22 adjacent to a respective 25 one of the opposing sides of the main frame~ A pair of - 12 - ~ 07 elongated planting bea~s 24 a~e also each pivotally mounted adjacent to a respecti~e one of the opposing sides of the main frame via the above-noted pivot axles 22. Each planting beam 24 has a planting dibble 26 connected adjacent its free outer 5 end. A pair of elongated packing beams 28 are also each pivotally mounted via pivot axles 30 adjacent a respective one of the planting beams. Each packing beam 28 has packing wheels 72connected at its free outer end for packing earth around seedlings planted by the dibbles. Each packing beam comprises 10 two main sections disposed in flanking relation to the associated planting beam 24.
An operators' station is disposed on the main frame intermediate the opposing sides of same in such location that, in use, the operators located at such operators' station have ready access to the planting dibbles 26 in their raised positions thereby to permit manual placement of the seedlings into the dibbles.
Referring again to the main frame 12, it will be seen that the frontal portion 14 of same is relatively wide and includes laterally extending oppositely projecting wing portions 36. A pair of module bases 38 are provided, each being attached to a respective one of the frame wing portions 36 and it will be readily seen from the drawings that one each of said walking beams 20, planting beams 24 and packing beams 28 are pivotally connected to a respective one of the module bases.
Thus, the walking, planting and packing beams extend rearwardly from their associated module bases 38 in flanking relation ~ ~o~107 ~ 13 ~
to the relatively narrow re~r port~on of the main frame 12, It will readily be seen from the drawin~s that the above~noted operators' station 34 is located on the rear portion 40 o~ the main frame intermediate the opposed sets of walking, 5 planting and packing beams 20, 24 and 28 respectively. The operators' station conveniently includes a transversely arranged seat for accommodating a pair of operators, who sit facing the rear portion of the apparatus, each operator being located generally adjacent to the raised, seedling receiving position of 10 a respective one of the planting dibbles 26. The above-noted operators' protective cab 18 substantially encloses the seat but is open at the rear and is partly open at the sides thereby to provide the operators with sufficient access to the planting dibbles in the raised positions of same. As best seen in Fig. 1 15 the operators' stationincludes a pair of opposed shelves 42 for placement thereon of cartons of seedlings to be planted in convenient positions adjacent the two operators.
Now that the general layout of the seedling planter has been described, reference will now be had to some of the 20 more significant details of construction.
It was previously noted that the wheel support means for the main frame includes a pair of walking beams 20 pivotally mounted via pivot axles 22 to the main frame via the associated module base 38. The pivot axle 22 is mounted on a support 25 bracket 46, the latter being welded to module base 38 with bracket 46 having a stop pad 48 connected to its upper end~
14 ~
In similar fashion each planting beam 24 is pivotally mounted via ~ts associated pivot axle 30 on a support ~racket 50, the latter being welded to its associated module ~ase 38. The inner end portion of each packing beam 28 is provided with an 5 upstanding lug 52, and a hydraulic actuator 54 is interconnected between the upper end of such lug ~2 and the innermost end portion 56 of the associated walking beam 20 via suitable pivot axles. Thus there are two such hydraulic actuators 54, one adjacent each of the opposing sides of the planting 10 apparatus. It will readily be seen from Fig. 2 that the hydraulic actuators 54 are operable in a first phase to lift the packing beams 28 upwardly to a raised position and, in a second phase, to move the walking beams 20 such as to pivot them downwardly thereby raising the main frame 12 upwardly to increase 15 the amount of ground clearance. This is accomplished by virtue of the fact that the packing beams 28 are relatively light as compared with the main frame and its associated equipment. Thus, when the hydraulic actuators 54 are activated, the packing beams are rotated upwardly until the inner end portions of same 20 come into contact with the aforementioned stop pads 48 located on the support brackets 46. These stop pads 48 then provide reaction points for the hydraulic actuators 54 with the latter then applying lifting forces to the innermost end portions of the walking beams 20 thus causing them to be pivoted about 25 their respective pivot axles 22 thereby to provide increased ground clearance.
It was previously noted that the planting beams 24 are pivotally mounted adjacent opposing sides of main frame 12 via the above-noted pivot axles 22, the planting arms 28 5 extending rearwardly from their associated pivot axles and with the frontal end portions of each being provided with upstanding lugs 60. A hydraulic actua~or 62 is interconnected between the upper end of each such lug 60 and a bracket 64 welded to the associated module base 38. Thus, as hydraulic actuators 62 10 are activated, the planting beams 24 are caused to pivot up-wardly and downwardly in spaced apart planes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the planter.
Since the walking, planting and packing beams together with their pivot support structures as well as the hydraulic 15 actuators associated with same are all connected to an associated one of the module bases 38, it will be appreciated that the distances between these assemblies may easily be changed by disconnecting the module bases 38 from the main frame and shifting them inwardly or outwardly on the wing portions 36 of 20 the main frame~ For this purpose additional mounting apertures 36' may be provided in the wing portions as best illustrated in Fig. 4. This modular arrangement serves to sa~e a great deal of time when it is desired to effect adjustments to the distance between the planting rows as well as during certain maintenance 25 procedures.
.. . , . . ,, . , , , . , , ~ , .
~ 16 ~
Re~erring again to the packing beams 28~ it ~ill be noted that eac~ pack~ng beam 28 is provided at its free outer end with a spaced apart pair of downwardly extending arms 70 with the lower ends of such arms each being connected to an 5 associated rotary packing wheel 72. As best seen in Figs. 2 and 3, the packing wheels 72, in their lowered positions, are arranged to contact the ground closely adjacent the rear of the planting beam 24, such packing wheels 72 being towed inwardly as best seen in Figure 3 thereby to enhance their capability . .
10 to close the cut or furrow cut by the planting dibble and to tamp the earth around and against the planted seedling. Packing wheel 72 is shown as equipped with a toothed side plate to facilitate turning of the packing wheels during the planting operation.
It is noted here that hydraulic actuator 54 is placed on "float" position, during the planting operation. Weights may be located on arms 70 to vary the pressure on the soil. If the proper weights are used, depending upon the type of soil, and if the control lever is in the "float" position, the slit in the 20 ground and the seedling will be satisfactorily compacted.
The planting dibble 26 connected to the free outer end of each planting beam 24 is adapted to cut into the ground when such dibble is urged toward it by means of the hydraulic actuators 62~ Generally speaking, each dibble 26 is of a 25 sturdy welded construction including a relatively sharp leading and bottom edge-defining spine 74 to allow the d~ble to slice m~re .
- 16a readily into the ground. The dibble also includes a pair of upright but spaced apart side walls 76 which di~erge away from one another slightly in the upward direction as best seen in Fig. 7. These side walls 76 extend generally rearwardly of the spine of the dibble 26 and are securely welded thereto along their forwardly disposed edges as well as along their bottom edges. Thus, the spine of the dibble together with the spaced apart side walls 76 define a "pocket" which is open at the rear and at the top, such pocket being designated by reference 78.
. . ~
~ 17 ~
Extending downwardly into pocket 78 to a po1nt closely adjacent the bottom of the pocket is an elongated ejector ~on~ue 80, The ejector ton~ue 80 is in the form of a flat plate which tapers downwardly in width toward its lower end there~y to 5 allow it to move freely to and fro between the dibble side walls 76. The ejector tongue moves in a straight line path of travel between the forwardly disposed position illustrated in full lines . in Figure 5 and the rearwardmost position illustrated in dashed lines. In the rearwardmost position of the ejector tongue, its 10 rearward surface is disposed just slightly inwardly of the rearwardly disposed terminal edges of side walls 76.
Each dibble 26 includes means for holding t~e seedling manually positioned therein by one of the operators. Such means may take the form of fingers substantially as described 15 in U.S. Patent 3,931,774 issued January 13th, 1976 to Bradley.
These elongated fingers are designated by a refer0nce number 82 and they extend rearwardly within the pocket 78 from the frontal wall of same to a point just rearwardly of the vertically disposed terminal edges of side walls 76. These fingers 82 20 extend through a small rectangular window 84 formed in the above-described ejector tongue 80. Thus, with the ejector tongue 80 in the forwardmost position, the seedling may be positioned by the operator between the fingers 82 and, after the dibble has moved downwardly and has penetrated into the earth the 25 desired distance, the ejector tongue 80 is moved rearwardly there~y sweeping the seedling clear of the fingers 82 and into ~6C~107 the cut or furrow made by the dibble. As the ejector tongue 80 moves rearwardly it applies forces to the seedling substantially all along its length thus ensuring that the seedling is maintained in a generally upright position as it is moved into 5 the cut made by the dibble.
The planting apparatus described herein includes a ground contacting means movable relative to the planting beam 24 by a distance proportional to the depth of penetration of the dibble. A mechanical spring loaded system is operatively 10 interconnected between the ground contacting means and the seedling dislodging means ~including ejector tongue 80) which spring loaded means is adapted to store spring energy as the ground contacting means is moved in response to penetration o~
the dibble into the earth and to release such spring energy to 15 cause the ejector tongue 80 to move outwardly and dislodge the seedling into the cut after the dibble has penetrated the earth to the desired depth.
The above-noted ground contacting means, as best seen in Figs. 5 and 6, comprises a trigger plate 90 which is of 20 generally U-shaped configuration when seen in cross-section, this trigger plate being arranged in generally embracing relationship with the rear end portion of planting beam 24 and being pivoted adjacent its forward end to the planting beam 24 by means of pivot axle 92. The ground contacting surface 94 25 of trigger plate 90 extends rearwardly along and just below the lower surface of planting beam 24 with the rearward end of surface 94 being located just forwardly of the frontal portion of dibble 26. A spring 96 interacting between the upper surface of planting ~eam 24 and ear portions 98 formed on trigger plate 90 tends to bias the trigger plate 90 in the clockwise direction 5 as shown in Fig. 5 thus assisting gravity in urging the trigger plate 90 to the down or home position~ When the planting beam 24 is urged downwardly and the dibble 26 cuts into the ground, the surface 94 of trigger plate 90 comes into contact with the ground and it is urged against the biasing lO spring 96 in the counterclockwise direction. As the trigger plate 90 is thus being gradually rotated in the counterclockwise direction as shown in Figure 5, spring energy is gradually stored in the seedling dislodging mechanism following which ejection of the seedling from the dibble takes place. The 15 mechanism for accomplishing this action will be described with particular reference to Fig~ 8.
Referring to Fig. 8, it will be seen that the rear end portion of the planting beam 24 is provided with a housing 100 disposed on the upper surface of same. The side wall of this 20 housing has been partially cut away in Fig. 8 to show the mechanism contained within same and furthermore the planting beam proper is shown in phantom thereby to illustrate the structures disposed in the rear portion of same.
It will be noted firstly that the ejector tongue 80 25 is secured at right angles to an elongated ejector shaft 102 which is slidably disposed for rectilinear motion in bushings 104 and 106, bushing 106 being secured to the rear end wall 108 ~31 6~107 - 2Q ~
of planting beam 24 ~hile the other ~us~ing la4 is securely mounted to plate 110 disposed wit~in the plantin~ beam. The ejector shaft 102 is thus movable endwise within ~ushings 104 and 106 thereby to move ejector tongue 80 between positions A
5 and C as illustrated in Fig, 8.
The sp~ing loaded means for activating the ejector tongue comprises a toggle mechanism and is seen in Fig. 8 and this includes a toggle spring assembly 120 which interacts with a rigid toggle arm assembly 122. The toggle arm assembly 122 10 is mounted to housing 100 via pivot shaft 124 for limited angular movement relative to planting beam 24. Toggle arm assembly 122 includes a plurality of arms radiating outwardly from same. A first one of these arms 126 is operatively connected to ejector shaft 102. A second arm 128 is operatively 15 connected to toggle spring assembly 120 while a third arm 130 is adapted to be contacted by trigger plate 90 as the latter rotates about its pivot axle 92. It will be seen that the third arm 130 is located entirely outside o~ housing 100. The third arm 130 is generally U-shaped and has its lower opposing 20 ends rigidly connected to the outer ends of pivot shaft 124.
The previously described generally U-shaped trigger plate 90 includes spaced parallel web portions 134 which are arranged in flanking relation to the third arm 130. These web portions 134 are each provided with a pair of opposed elongated slots 25 136 with elongated contact pins 138 and 140 being disposed within and spanning between the opposed pairs of slots~ An lV7 ~ 21 -opposed pair of coil tension springs 142 ur~es pins 138 and 140 toward one another. Referrin~ to Figs. 5 and 7 it will be seen that these contact pins 138, 140 are disposed on opposing sides of the third arm 130. Hence, as the trigger plate 90 is rotated 5 in the counterclockwise direction, pin 140 contacts the third arm 130 causing rotation of toggle arm assembly 122 in the counterclockwise direction. As this action occurs, the end of toggle spring assembly 120 moves from point A toward point B, Point B is in a direct line between the axis defined by pivot 10 axle 124 and a point E of pivotal movement of toggle spring assembly relative to housing 100. During the time that movement from point A to point B occurs, the~toggle spring assembly is being compressed thus storing spring energy. However, after point B is reached, an over-centering action occurs with the 15 result being that the spring energy is released during travel from point B to point C. Thus a ~airly rapid snap action takes place between points B and C. As this action is occurring, the first arm 126 is being moved in the same manner thus causing endwise movement of the ejectox shaft 102 relative to its 20 bushings 104 and 106. Ejector shaft 102 and the attached ejector tongue 80 thus move from point A to point B at a rate proportional to the rate of penetration of the dibble 26 into the ground. During this relatively slow movement the ejector tongue, in operation, comes into contact with the seedling 25 supported by the fingers 82, Then, after point B is reached, a fairly rapid snap action occurs as the spring energy in the toggle mechanism is released thus causing the ejector tongue 80 to move rapidly to point C. It will thus be seen that the mechanism described above provides a two~speed action, ~elatively slow movement of the ejector tongue from point A to point B is provided during which time the ejector tongue comes 5 into contact with the seedling followed by a relatively fast ejecting action between points B and C. This action reduces the amount of damage which would otherwise occur to the seedling if the latter were impacted rapidly with the ejector tongue.
After the seedling has been planted in the cut made by 10 the dibble, the planting beam 24 is swung up by its hydraulic actuator with the result being that trigger plate 90 rotates clockwise relative to the planting beam with pin 138 coming into contact with the third arm 130 thus resetting the mechanism and allowing the operator to position a further seedling between lS the fingers 82.
In order to avoid shock and impact forces on the various components, numerous shock absorbing springs and the like are employed in the mechanism. It has already been noted that contact pins 138 and 140 are biased towards one another 20 by coil tension springs 142. These coil tension springs allow contact pins 138, 140 to move in their associated slots 136 thus reducing the impact forces between the third arm 130 and such contact pins.
In order to cushion the first arm as it moves between 25 stop points 150 and 152, such first arm 126 is provided with an axially movable plunger arrangement 154 comprising a shaft movable transversely relative to first arm 126, such shaft being , , ~ .
.
~.6~07 - 23 ~
equipped with oppositely disposed biasing springs. This arran~ement absorbs shock at ~oth ends of the angular motion of thetoggle arm assembly, i.e. as it moves between stop points 150 and 152.
The ejector shaft is also designed so as to take up shock and impact forces. It will be seen that t~e ejector shaft 102 is hollow with the first arm 126 entering into ejector shaft 102 via one of an opposed pair of slots 160 disposed in such shaft. The arcuate end portion 127 of first arm 126 is disposed 10 between an opposed pair of plungers 162 slidably disposed within ejector shaft 102. These plungers 162 are urged into contacting relationship with head portion 127 of first arm 126 by means of opposed compression springs 164 and 166 also located within shaft 102. Spring 164 seats within the inner end portion of 15 ejector shaft 102 while the other compression spring 166 seats against a short stem portion 168, the outer end of which is securely welded to the upper end of ejector tongue 80, A
disconnect pin 170 extends through aligned bores in the outer end of ejector shaft 102 and stem portion 168 thus releasably 20 connecting ejector tongue 80 to the ejector sha~t. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the opposed compression springs 164, 166 provide resiliency and reduce shock both during rejection and retraction as well as preventing breakage in case debris interferes with the mechanism and causes it to hang 25 up.
Various adjustments can be made to the mechanism to enhance its operation. The amount of spring force exerted by the toggle spring assembly 120 can be varied by rotating adjustment screw 121 thereby to vary the amount of pre.~loading on the toggle sprin~. The degree of angular movement of the toggle arm assembly 122 can ~e adjusted within limits by changing the location of stop point 152 by rotation of adjusting stud 5 153. In addition, the depth to which the seedlings are planted can be varied by providing an auxiliary plate 91 (shown in dashed lines~ which attaches below the lower surface 94 of the trigger plate. Several such auxiliary plates 94 can be provided and, when one wishes to change the planting depth, it is a simple 10 matter to remove one plate and replace it with another. Differing planting depths, as is well known in the art, are used for different planting conditions and different types of plant stock.
The operation of the apparatus will be readily apparent 15 from the description given above. As the seedling planter is drawn along the planting row by the crawler tractor, the operators, by means of a suitably positioned foot valve, ~not shown), control the hydraulic actuators 62 which swing the planting beams 24 upwardly and downwardly. With the planting 20 beam 24 in the upper position, the ejector tongue 80 is in the retracted position. The operator then quickly places an individual seedling between the fingers 82 following which the actuator 62 is activated to swing planting beam 24 downwardly thus causing dibble 26 to penetrate into the soil~ As this 25 action occurs the trigger plate 90 is rotated thus causing pin 136 to come into contact with the third arm 130 of the toggle arm assembly, Continued movement of the trigger plate causes ~ . . . . -, ,. .. ,, - , . . - . . -o~
~ 25 ~
spring energy to be stored in the tog~le sprin~ assembly until the overcenter~ng action occurs with the result being that the ejector tongue 80 is propelled out~ardly thus dislodging the seedling from fingers 82 and moving it into 5 the cut on the ground made by the dibble. As soon as this action occurs the operator activates the hydraulic actuator to swing beam 24 upwardly with the result being that under the influence of gravity and return spring 96, trigger plate 90 rotates clockwise relative to planting beam 24 thus resetting 10 the toggle arm assembly 122 to the home position and retracting ejector tongue 80 following which the operator places a further seedling between fingers 82. The packing wheels 72 are in contact with the ground at all times during this procedure and they serve to pack the earth around the planted seedlings lS in the usual manner, The above-described operations continue until the end of the planting row is reached at which time the operators wi~l activate hydraulic cylinders 54 thereby to cause the packing beams 28 to be swung upwardly until they reach the stops defined by stop pads 48 following which these same 20 cylinders 54 serve to cause the walking beams 20, to which the wheels are attached, to pivot downwardly thus raising the main frame 12 upwardly to provide additional ground clearance.
The operator then turns the seedling planter around in any desired manner and the seedling planter is then placed in 25 readiness for a further planting operation.
While a specific embodiment of the invention has been - 26 ~
descri~ed for purposes of illustr~tion, those skilled in the art will realize that numerous modifications may ~e made to the details of construction while still remaining within the spirit or scope of the invention as defined in the appended 5 claims.
Claims (7)
1. An apparatus including a main frame, wheel support means for supporting the main frame above the ground and movable re-lative to the main frame for raising and lowering the latter, a ground working implement carried by the main frame and movable relative thereto between a ground engaging position and a raised position; and a single force applying means operatively connected to both the wheel support means and the ground working implement and operable in a first phase to lift the ground working implement to the raised position and, in a second phase, to move said wheel support means to raise said main frame after the ground working implement has reached the raised position.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising two each of said wheel support means, said ground working implement, and said single force applying means; each of the single force applying means being connected to a respective one of the wheel support means and to a respective one of the ground working implements.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, being a seedling planter, and further having a pair of movable planting dibbles, each asso-ciated with a respective one of said ground working implements but independently movable relative thereto; actuator means for moving the planting dibbles so that they penetrate the earth to produce a furrow to permit planting of seedlings, and said ground working implements being earth packing means for pressing soil around the seedlings after placement in the furrow.
4. The seedling planter of claim 3 further comprising first and second module bases, first and second ones of each of said planting dibbles, ground working implements, wheel support means and single force applying means being connected to said first and second module bases respectively,the latter being each removably connected to said main frame.
5. The seedling planter of claim 4 wherein said module bases are adjustably mounted to said main frame for adjustment in directions toward and away from one another and transversely of the forward direction of travel of said main frame.
6. The implement according to claim 1, 2 or 3 including stop means to limit the degree of upward movement of said ground working implement, with said single force applying means acting between said wheel support means and said ground working im-plement to raise the latter until the stop means is reached, the force applying means then reacting via said stop means to apply sufficient force to said wheel support means to effect raising of the main frame.
7. The implement according to claim 1,2 or 3 including stop means to limit the degree of upward movement of said ground working implement, with said single force applying means acting between said wheel support means and said ground working im-plement to raise the latter until the stop means is reached, the force applying means then reacting via said stop means to apply sufficient force to said wheel support means to effect raising of the main frame,said wheel support means comprising a first elongated beam which is pivotally movable relative to said main frame, and wheel mounting means attached to an outer end of said beam; said ground working implement including a second elongated beam pivotally movable relative to said main frame, and having a ground working tool attached to an outer end thereof; said single force applying means being interconnected between said first and second beams for effect-ing pivotal motion there between.
Priority Applications (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000395417A CA1160107A (en) | 1982-02-02 | 1982-02-02 | Seedling planter |
| CA000435209A CA1178849A (en) | 1982-02-02 | 1983-08-23 | Seedling planter |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000395417A CA1160107A (en) | 1982-02-02 | 1982-02-02 | Seedling planter |
Related Child Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000435209A Division CA1178849A (en) | 1982-02-02 | 1983-08-23 | Seedling planter |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1160107A true CA1160107A (en) | 1984-01-10 |
Family
ID=4121962
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000395417A Expired CA1160107A (en) | 1982-02-02 | 1982-02-02 | Seedling planter |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1160107A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN111149650A (en) * | 2020-01-13 | 2020-05-15 | 河南硒源功能农业科技有限公司 | Automatic planting equipment for movable seedling planting |
-
1982
- 1982-02-02 CA CA000395417A patent/CA1160107A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN111149650A (en) * | 2020-01-13 | 2020-05-15 | 河南硒源功能农业科技有限公司 | Automatic planting equipment for movable seedling planting |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US4438710A (en) | Seedling planter | |
| US4307674A (en) | Agricultural implement for planting seeds | |
| US5279236A (en) | Seed planter | |
| US5535832A (en) | Land leveler and cultivator | |
| US3673970A (en) | Earthworking apparatus | |
| US2713836A (en) | Apparatus for depth placement of seeds and fertilizer | |
| WO2011064118A1 (en) | Down pressure adjustment assembly for a disc opener of an agricultural implement | |
| US6125775A (en) | System for gauge wheel load adjustment | |
| US4579071A (en) | Packer wheel assembly | |
| US4112857A (en) | Spot planter | |
| EP1265475B1 (en) | Agricultural apparatus | |
| JP3339785B2 (en) | Transplant machine | |
| US6615753B1 (en) | Expandable stinger planter | |
| US4333534A (en) | Agricultural tool carrier | |
| EP1731011B1 (en) | Agricultural tool holder | |
| US4364316A (en) | Apparatus for planting seedlings | |
| CA1160107A (en) | Seedling planter | |
| US5842427A (en) | Apparatus for mounting on a tractor or other vehicle and providing opposed movement to digging or lifting implements | |
| US4344374A (en) | Heavy duty seedling planter | |
| CA1178849A (en) | Seedling planter | |
| CA1165630A (en) | Seedling planter | |
| WO1989008379A1 (en) | Trench forming device and guidance method | |
| US4860672A (en) | Trip mechanism for drill seed boot | |
| US4650206A (en) | Locking hitch assembly | |
| EP0166493A2 (en) | Soil cultivating implements |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |