GB344349A - Improvements in or relating to planting machines - Google Patents

Abstract

344,349. Planting-machines. POMIERANIEC, I., 4, Eden Mansions, Gondar Gardens, Kilburn, London. Nov. 26, 1929, No. 36227. [Class 6 (i).] A plant-setting machine comprises a conveyer on which the plants are fed, and a series of devices for carrying the plants from the conveyer to the soil, the arrangement being such that the carrying devices are travelling at substantially the same speed and in substantially the same direction as the conveyer when the plants are transferred to them. The devices for carrying the plants to the soil may be mounted on an endless band k, Fig. 1, running over rollers r, r<1>. There may be one or more conveyers and each may comprise an endless band k<1> driven at the same speed as the band k and composed of articulated elements or links c, Fig. 2, forming platforms having walls along their front and rear edges. The forward roller supporting the conveyer is arranged somewhat to the rear of the roller r and is of smaller diameter, as described in Specification 333,614, [Class 6 (i), Cultivating implements &c.]. The band k consists of links or sections hinged together and each having rigidly connected to it an arm f carrying a laterally projecting arm e. The arms f are mounted tangentially to the band k so as normally to lie on one another but to separate as they pass round the rollers r, r<1>. A pin or jaw d carried by an arm d<1> co-operates with an upright pin z on the arm e to grip a plant. The arm d<1> pivots about an inclined or vertical pivot a and is moved into gripping position by the engagement of an extension h with a fixed cam x. The plants are placed across the conveyer k<1>, with the leaf portion overhanging a step on the link c. As the band k<1> turns downward round its front supporting roller the arm d<1> swings about its pivot and the plant is lightly gripped between the pins d, z and is turned through a right angle, being then separated more from the following plant and carried down to the soil with its root lowermost. It is deposited in a hole or in a furrow made by a share on the machine, and the soil is pressed down on the root by the wheels. Gravity, spring, or other means may be provided for releasing the plant by returning the arm d<1> to its normal position when the extension h leaves the cam x. In a modification the band k passes round three rollers. In another the arms f are at right angles to the band k and push the gripping-devices along an inclined rail. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 6 the arms e, d<1> are of equal length, the arms d<1> being provided with extensions h engaging a cam x and the arms e with projections engaging a guide. In another modification the conveyer consists of rods mounted on cranks on two crank shafts. According to the Provisional Specification the plant grippers may be carried by rotatable members instead of an endless band, and they may comprise platforms provided with walls with which walls on pivoted members co-operate, the plants being placed across the band carrying the grippers as well as across the conveyer band.