Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Background of the Invention
This invention relates broadly to machines which will transfer
individual growing plants from an array of such plants to a trans-
planted location.
The most commonly known method and machine for trans-
planting plants, as a machine travels over the ground, is an arrange-
ment wherein a person, while seated on the machine, manually takes
one plant at a time from a group or array of plants and deposits each
plant in a setting mechanism. The maximum speed of such techniques
is generally limited by the rate at which a person can pick up a plant
and place it in the transfer mechanism.
A number of other prior art patents are known which attempt
to increase the speed of planting by some sort of mechanized device
utilizing tapes, belts, ribbons, etc.
U. S. Patent 4,156, 395 braodly describes a method and machine
for removing a plurality of plants from an array and transplanting the
plants on an individual basis through the use of a plurality of conveyors.
This patent particularly describes an input conveyor system which will
handle a web of plant carrying containers which are relatively fixed
thereto in rows and ranks. Each successive rank of the array is pushed
upwardly from the web and deposited on a pivoting plate which permits
the individual plants to fall by gravity onto a belt-type conveyor. The
plants are then transferred to another belt-type conveyor moving in a
direction transverse the direction of the path of the first conveyor.
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While the system described in U. S. Patent 4,156, 395 is
adequate in its handling of the web and ejection of individual plants
from the web, a more reliable and efficient technique of transferring
the individual plants to a transplanting location is necessary in order
to achieve high, efficient production rates.
Summary of the Invention
Against the foregoing background, the present invention affords
a highly reliable, high-speed mechanism for transferring a plurality
of plants from a fixed array to predetermined transplanting locations.
Like the device and method shown in the U. S. Patent 4,156, 395, each
successive rank of individual plants in an array are removed from the
array and positioned successively on a pair of intersecting conveyor
paths. However, unlike the device described in this patent, the
transfer mechanism from the array to the conveyor paths and from
the one conveyor path to another are uniquely structured to provide a
positive and stabilized handling of each individual container, In further
contrast to the above prior art device methods, each conveyor path
includes individual grasping means to positively hold each individual
plant at accurately and carefully spaced intervals relative to one
another. The individual gripping or grasping means also enables the
plants to be vertically stable throughout the transfer path.
The positive gripping and vertical control of the plants in each
and every stage of their transfer from the array to their transplanted
location is important in a high-speed operation where the plants them-
selves may be relatively light and unstable. Furthermore, since the
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plants will have a certain amount of top growth, their original position-
ment in a closely packed array will require careful techniques for
separating the top growth from adjacent plants. The present invention
incorporates several paths within the transfer mechanism which serve
to separate the top growths of adjacent plants from one another. In
conjunction with particular paths which separate the top growths, the
spacing 'Detween the individual plants is increased as the plants approach
the region where they are dropped to their appropriate transplanting
s pace .
One of the important uses of this transplanting transfer mechanism
is in direct planting of the individual plants into the ground at carefully
spaced locations as the machine travels over them. With this in mind,
a novel plow and plant setting device is disclosed herein which permits
the rapid and careful placement of each individual plant behind the plow
mechanism. The plow and plant setting device is dimensioned and con-
figured to insure that the plants are positioned substantially vertically
in the furrow and are substantially immediately retained in that position
by the surrounding dirt.
While an embodiment of the invention is shown and described
relative to the use of the plow in an over-the-ground mechanism, it
should be understood that the transfer mechanism can be utilized as
a stationary device for transplanting or repositioning the individual
plants from a fixed web to other positions, such as larger containers
which may move on a path relative to the exit area of the transfer
mechanism or to a larger container or area for hand transplanting.
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Primarily, the invention seeks to provide a device
for high-speed transfer of individual plants from an array to
discrete locations for each individual plant.
A further aspect of the invention is to provide
efficient and stabilized handling of individual plants including
the removal of a plurality of such individual plants from an
array of plants.
In one broad aspect, the invention pertains to an
apparatus for transferring plants along a predetermined path
from an array of such plants arranged in ranks and rows to pre-
determined locations spaced from the array. Means move the array
so that each successive rank of individual plants is adjacent a
irst transfer station in the apparatus, with means at the first
transfer station to, at least partially, separate each successive
rank of individual plants, as a group, from the array. A first
conveyor means moves individual plants along a portion of the
path, the first conveyor means including a plurality of individual,
spaced grasping means having grasping extremities thereon. The
first conveyor means is further configured and located to include
a first predetermined segment thereof as part of the first trans-
fer station, which segment is generally parallel to each succes-
sive rank of individual plants in the array. The spacing between
the grasping extremities of adjacent grasping means in the
predetermined segment is generally equal to the centerline
spacing between adjacent individual plants in ranks in the array,
with a second transfer station including part of the first
conveyor and part of a first predetermined segment of a second,
adjacent, conveyor means. The second conveyor means includes
a plurality of individual spaced grasping means to release the
individual plants from successive grasping extremities of the
second conveyor at a predetermined location relative to the
apparatus.
An advantage of the invention of this application
is the adaptability of the transfer mechanism for an over-the-
ground planting apparatus and the unique planting efficiencyafforded by a plant setting plow which is configured to place
plants in a stable, upright, condition in furrows.
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Brlef Description of the Drawings
Fig. 1 is a top plan view of tha transfer mechanism
in a preferred embodiment of the invention.
Fig~ 2 is a partial side elevation view of the transfer
mechanism as taken in the direction of lines 2-2 of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is an end elevation view of the transfer
mechanism as taken along lines 3-3 of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is an enlaryed sectional view as taken along
the lines 4-4 of Fig. 3 showing the plow and plant setting
device.
Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view as taken along
lines 5-5 of Fig. 4 showing the plow and container immediately
after placement of the container in a furrow.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments
The plant transfer mechanism 10 probably is best
described by first referring to Figure 1. Mechanism 10 is
carried on a rigid frame 12 which, as will be pointed out later
herein, may either be an over-the-ground attachment to a tractor
or the like or may be a stationary transfer mechanism.
The input conveying aspects of the transfer mechanism
10 can best be illustrated with reference to U. S. Patent
4,156,395. In this patent a high-speed planting machine and
method are shown, utilizing an input conveyor adapted to handle a
web which defines a plant carrying array utilizing a thin sheet
of plastic material thermoformed to have a plurality of sleeves
or pockets depending from the upper surface thereof. The sleeves
are arranged in a fixed array of ranks and rows. Typically, the
sleeves will carry skeletal frame members which in turn carry
the plants and planting medium. The input conveyor system,
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utilized in mechanism 10, for inde~ing a web 28 carrying an array
of ranks and rows of plants 30 to a first transfer station 16, is
preferably similar to the input conveyor system described in U. S.
Patent 4,156, 395 and to that extent froms no part of the instant
invention. As the web 28 proceeds to the first transfer station 16,
a plant ejection mechanism 34 i9 utilized to partially force up each
individual plant or plant container from the successive ranks of the
web. The initial partial ejection of plants from webs is similar to
that shown in the previously mentioned patent and, therefore,
discussion of that aspect of this transfer mechanism is not deemed
necessary at this time.
As each successive rank of plants 30, preferably in plant
containers 32, are indexed by the appropriate indexing mechanism
to a first transfer station 16, the ranks of plants are firstj partially
forced upwardly from the web, as shown in Fig. 2, and are secondly,
completely removed from the web and transferred in a controlled
fashion, as a unit, to a first conveyor 18.
The first conveyor includes a series of equally spaced positively
gripping devices continuously moved about a closed path. The closed
path of the first conveyor 18 becomes substantially tangent to the closed
path of a similar, second conveyor 22. A second transfer station 20
at the juncture of these first and second conveyors is designed to
accomplish a controlled exchange of each successive individual plant
from its positive retention on the first conveyor to a similar positive
retention on the second conveyor. The second conveyor 22, being
similar to first conveyor 18, includes a series of equally spaced positive
gripping devices identical to those carried by the first conveyor. The
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conveyor 22 carries the plants to discharge stations 24 and 26. It
should, however, be noted that the spacing between positive gripping
devices 52 on the first conveyor is different and significantly less
than the spacing between positive gripping devices 62 on the second
S conveyor. A m~re detailed discussion on each of the transfer stations
and conveyors will facilitate an understanding of the general arrange-
ment just described.
First Transfer Station and Conveyor Path
_
A fixed array of plants 30, in a web 28, are suitably indexed
to first station 16 as discussed above. Each plant is preferably
carried in individual skeleton-type frames 32 having a plurality of
tapered spaced ribs connecting a closed bottom wall to a ring-like
integral rim at the upper extremity. After the first rank of plants
are moved axially upwardly a short distance from the web as a unit
using an ejection assisting mechanism 34, a transfer mechanism
removes each rank of plants as a unit, completely out of the web and
then carries the rank of containers longitudinally, in the machine
direction, toward the first conveyor 18. The transfer mechanism
includes a transfer bar 36 having a comb-like grasping bar 38, extend-
ing laterally of the machine. Grasping bar 38 includes a plurality of
equally spaced C-shaped openings to partially surround the plants,
designed to accept, in axial retention, the upper extremities of each
container 32. The motion of transfer and grasping bars 36 and 38 is
controlled by a face cam 41 fixedly mounted to the frame 12 and cam
follower 42 mounted to bar 36. The transfer mechanism is controlled
to operate in an orbital manner. In operation, the grasping bar 38
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first moves outwardly longitudinally of the machine away from
conveyor 18 so each C-shaped opening underlies the rims of an
associated container 32. The bar carrying a rank of containers
is next moved upwardly to remove the rank completely frorn the
web to an elevation approximately that of the elevation of the clips
52 which are formed on the first conveyor 18. The next movement
of the comb is longitudinally toward the direction of the grasping
clips 52.
It should be noted that a rod 39 is formed on the upper surface
of the comb bar 38 and extends perpendicular thereto. This rod has
two functions. A first function of the bar is to depress a switch
control 43 which in turn activates a solenoid controlled hinged plate
44 which operates to compress the upper resilient jaw or lever 53
of the clip 52 to simultaneously open a plurality of such clips equal
in number to the number or rows in the array. A second function
of rod 39 is to insure that the bar 38 travels laterally of the machine
with the speed of the conveyor 18 to insure efficient positive transfer
of the plants to individual gripping clips 52. The rod is interleaved
between two adjacent clips 52 and is, therefore, forced to move with
the conveyor 18. As the bar 38 so moves a slight distance for a slight
period of time, contact of rod 39 with the swith 43 release~ and the
upper jaws 53 are released so the rim of the container is resiliently
clamped between jaws 53 and 54. The bar 38 and its carrying bar 36
is spring biased to return to its original lateral position for successive
identical transfer operations.
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A slight dwell in the orbital rnotion of the transfer is necessary
to permit the movement of the transfer bar 36 transversely of the
machine at the speed of the conveyor 18. This dwell is created through
the action of the crank which is axially resilient when the cam follower
reaches region A of the cam. The cam follower is forced into the
corner A and is stationary relative to the cam for the short period of
time necessary for the dwell.
Each clip 52 is cantilever mounted to a continuous ^hain-like
member 50. The bases of each clip are spaced equally from one another
a predetermined distance equal to the spacing between the centers of
the rows in the array. However, it should be noted that curved region 51
of l;he path of conveyor 18 forces the grasping extremities of each clip
to increase their spacing from one another. This has the advantage
of disentangling top growths of adjacent plants, at least temporarily.
The clips 52 are shown as alligator-type clips having an upper and
lower jaw members 53 and 54 spring biased to a closed position. It
should be understood that for purposes of this invention the clips could
be operable to open and close in a horizontal plane rather than a
vertical plane to grasp the plants in the body section rather than at a
rim of a container.
Second Transfer Station and Conveyor
Conveyor 18 is located so as to present a closed travel path which
approaches a point of tangency with the path of travel of a second conveyor
22. It is at this point of tangency that the second transfer station 20 is
located~ Second conveyor 22 is of a construction similar to conveyor 18
including an endless chain carrying a succession of clips 62 which are
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identical to clips 52. However, the spacing between the bases of
adjacent clips 62 is sufficiently greater than the spacing between the
bases of adjacent clips 52. As each successive clip 62 on conveyer
22 approaches the second transfer station 20, the upper jaw of the
clip is contacted by a rotary cam disc 58. With the second convey~3r
22 traveling in a counterclockwise direction and the first conveyor 18
traveling in a clockwise direction, the clips 62 on conveyor 22 are
opened slightly before the clips 52 on conveyor 18. In fact, the
circular disc cam 58 opens and closes the clips so that the clips on
the second conveyor grip the containers 32 prior to the release of the
containers by the clips on the first conveyor. As the conveyor 18
continues, each successive clip 52 is contacted by a similar circular
cam disc 56. Thus, permitting the grasping of clip 52 on the container
to be released and permitting the containers to be positively controlled
and carried by the second conveyor.
Conveyor path 22 includes a 180 curved region 63 permitting
the movement of the containers transverse the machine to be reversed.
At this region, the spacing between extremities of the clips 62 is
increased agair~, disentangling any top growth conflict between adjacent
containers. It should also be noted this curved region 63 includes a
curved stabilizing plate 64 positioned so that its lower edge 65 lies
on a horizontal plane to contact the upper edge of the rims of plant
containers 32 to locate and stabilize them in a vertical position and
provide additional positive alignment to each of the containers as they
are moved with increased velocity about the curved path. After the
plants pass through region 63, they are then in proper condition to be
released for planting or setting.
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Plant Release Stations
.
After e~iting the curved region 63 of the second conveyor,
the plants, carried by successive, equally spaced slips 62 proceed
along a strai~ht path transverse the machine. The plants are then
selectively released from the grip of the clips at a predetermined
location or locations. The embodiment shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3
includes the transfer mechanism 10 in a moving device designed to
plant a plurality of rows of plants in a field. For that purpose, the
clips 62 are opened at a plurality of predetermined locations behind
the mechanism 10. In the embodiment shown herein, a two-row
planting device is used incorporating this invention. However, it
should be apparent that more or less than two rows could be planted
using the teachings of this invention. A plant discharge tube 70 with
a large funnel-type opening 71 is positioned directly, vertically above
a plow 74. A driven, cam disc 66 similar to cam discs 56 and 58
discussed above is positioned above the funnel to selectively engage
and release alternate adjacent clips 62. A notch 67 is included in one
segment of the periphery of the cam so that only every other clip is
engaged and opened. The disc 66 will be timed to insure this action.
As the remaining plants continue along the path, the clips 62 approach
a second predetermined location having an identical discharge tube 70
with a similarly configured funnel 71. At this point a freely spinning
cam wheel 68 contacts each of the clips 62, releasing the remaining
containers from gripping retention thereon. 13ach of the discharge
tubes may include a vacuum-assist device powered by a motor 72 which
will serve to positively drive the plants downwardly.
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The transfer mechanism just described has been found to
be particularly useful in an over-the-ground planting mechanism.
Therefore, directly beneath each vacuum assisted discharge tube
is positioned a uniquely designed plow and plant setting device.
This device is shown in Figs. 1 and 3 and in greater detail in Figs.
4 and 5. The plow 74J which is adjustably mounted in front of
furrow tamping wheels 86, includes a sharp leading edge 76 and a
recessed trailing surface 78. As noted above, a preferred plant
container 32 is of a frustoconical design having a predetermined
sidewall taper from the lower wall to the upper rim. The recessed
trailing surface 78 is provided with the same angle of taper upwardly
and outwardly as the container so that the concave walls of the recess
conform to the outer surface configuration of the container as the
container slides down the recess. More importantly, as shown in
Fig. 4 the recess has a maximum transverse dimension which is
generally equal to the maximum transverse dimension of the plow,
which is in the trailing region of the plow. The depth of the recess
at any given location axially of the plow is generally one-half the
transverse dimension of the trailing section at that axial location.
Likewise, the maximum transverse dimension of the container is
approximately equal to but not substantially greater than the maximum
transverse dimension of the trailing section. With such a relationship,
it will be shown that the side walls of the container protrude slightly
beyond the maximum dimension of the plow. The entire length of the
recess and container combination. With such a relationship and with
the creation of a very narrow furrow by the blade, the plant is imme-
diately grasped by the sidewalls of the furrow, in an upright position,
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and retained there so that the plants are positively embedded within
the furrow as the plow moves across the field. This effect is enhanced
by forcing the plant into the recess by the vacuum assist discharge
tube .
As noted above, the preferred embodiment of the transfer
mechanism is utilized in a plow wherein the frame 12 is an integral
part of an attachment to a tractor. The attachment is provided with
ground wheels 80 and the transfer mechanism can be adapted to be
driven at the speed of the ground wheels or may be driven independently
at a different speed.
~owever, it should be noted that the transfer mechanism could
be a stationary mechanism adapted to move individual plants from a
fixed array to individual secondary containers at a high speed. In
such an embodiment such secondary containers can be conveyed
transversely past the bottommost extremity of the discharge tubes
so that the containers 32 may be forcefully injected into such secondary
containers for storage, resale, etc. It should also be apparent that
other planting operations could also be incorporated along the path of
the secondary containers, such as filling, dibbling, water, etc. It is
intended that the true scope of the invention cover such a stationary
use of the transfer mechanism as well as the use of the transfer
mechanism on over-the-ground planting devices.
From the above description of the preferred embodiments of
the invention, those skilled in the art will readily understand the
inherent capability and advantage of this machine for high-speed,
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positively controlled transplanting of plants frorn a fixed array to
selected predetermined locations. The positive retention of each
individual plant at all segments of its transfer path from the fixed
array is an important aspect of the invention.
It is thus apparent that there has now been provided, in
accordance with the invention, a transfer mechanism that fully
satisfies the objects, aims and advantages set forth above. While
the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodi-
ments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications
and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light
of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace
all such alternatives, modifications and variations as fa]l within the
spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.
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