GB324865A - Improvements in transplanting machines - Google Patents

Abstract

324,865. Lavoie, C. April 20, 1929. Planting-machines.-A machine for transplanting young plants grown from seeds in soil in angular containers comprises means for delivering the containers intermittently on to a travelling belt in a longitudinal trough, for separating the containers from the caked soil therein, and for. delivering the soil and plants into a furrow made by a plough, without disturbing the soil in which the seeds germinate. The machine is mounted on forward traction wheels 10 and rear steering wheels 13, and comprises a transverse feed frame 11 and a longitudinal engine-supporting frame 12, the engine 15 being controlled by means of pedals 16 near the driver's seat 17. A plough 20 is fixed under the rear end of the longitudinal trough 18. For turning the machine in a small radius the plough 20 and wheels 13 are raised by depressing a wheel 34 by means of a screw jack 22 operated by a handle 33. The steering column 14 is connected by gearing to the stem of the wheel 34. The full containers 24 are placed side by side on belts 25 mounted on the frame 11 and are delivered intermittently on to the travelling belt 19 in the trough 18 by mechanism driven from the. motor 15. As each container is moved rearwardly by the belt 19 it is stripped from the caked soil within it by the sharpened end of a wall 30 and by a wedge 32, the cake of soil falling into the furrow made by the plough 20. A water tank 29 and spout 28 are provided for moistening the soil before each container passes into the trough 18 immediately behind that preceding it. Means may be provided on the machine for subdividing the cakes of soil into cubes to be deposited at intervals, for ploughing several furrows at once and feeding the containers &c. accordingly, for delivering fertilizer to the furrows before the plants, and for automatically piling up the separated containers.