MACHINE FOR BEDDING OUT TAPES WITH PLANTS DEVELOPED IN GERMINATING UNITS

Abstract: A machine (1) for bedding out tapes (6) with plants developed in germinating units, where the tape (6) is placed edgewise in the ground. The machine comprises a frame (2) connectable with the tool carrier (8) of a tractor through at least one tow bar (5). The frame (2) comprises front wheels (9) adjustable in height and a supply container (4) for a zigzagged tape (6). A plant unit (14) is mounted on the frame (2), said plant unit optionally comprising a skim coulter and a plough share (18) to form a furrow (19) in the ground. A control rod (20) is mounted in the plough share (18), said control rod extending obliquely upwards and forwards to redirect the tape (6) from an obliquely forward and downward direction (22) into a horizontally backward direction (24) just above the bottom of the furrow (19) when the machine is pulled forwards and the tape (6) is pulled out of the supply container (4) and downwards into the furrow (19). A pair of compressing wheels (26, 28) is placed behind the plough share (18) for closing and compressing the furrow (19) produced by the plough share (18). The supply container (4) is arranged with its longitudinal axis in a substantially horizontal plane, and the control rod (20) is of a cross section with an inlet area for the tape (6), said inlet area being horizontally flattened or concave relative to a circular shape, as well as a convex transition and outlet area for said tape (6). In this manner, the tape (6) can be pulled off the supply container with a low tension and be pulled about the control rod (20) and downwards into the furrow (19).

Description: Title: Machine for bedding out tapes with plants developed in germinating units. Technical Field The invention relates to a machine for bedding out tapes with plants developed in germinating units, where the tape is placed edgewise in the ground, said machine comprising a frame connectable to the tool carrier of a tractor by means of at least one tow bar and being provided with a front wheel adjustable in height, and a supply container for a zigzagged tape, and where a plant unit is mounted on the frame, said plant unit optionally comprising a skim coulter and a plough share to form a furrow in the ground, and where a control rod is mounted in the plough share, said control rod extending obliquely upwards and forwards to redirect the tape from an obliquely forward and downward direction into a horizontally backward direction just above the bottom of the furrow when the machine is pulled forwards and the tape is pulled out of the supply container and downwards into the furrow, and where a set of compressing wheels are arranged behind the plough share for closing and compressing the furrow produced by the plough share. Background Art A similar machine is known for instance from DK-PS No. 168,725 Bl, where the tape to be bedded out is instead rolled up into a roll, which may cause relatively large oscillations in the tensions in the tape during the pulling off thereof from the roll. Brief Description of the Invention The object of the invention is to provide a machine for bedding out the tape, where the strength of and the oscillations in the tension in the tape have been reduced during the bedding out procedure, and which is particularly suited for bedding out a zigzag folded tape. The machine according to the invention is characterised in that the supply container is arranged with its longitudinal axis in a substantially horizontal plane, and that the control rod is of a cross section with an inlet area for the tape, said inlet area being horizontally flattened or concave relative to a circular shape, as well as a convex transition and outlet area for said tape. As a result it is ensured that the pulling out of the tape from the supply container with the zigzagged tape can be carried out such that the tape is subjected to a relatively insignificant tension involving vague oscillations therein and without the individual zigs and zags in the zigzagged tape sticking to one another and obstructing the pulling off. In addition, the particular cross sec- tional shape of the control rod, especially in the inlet area, has a reducing effect on the friction between said contol rod and the tape and consequently on the tension in said tape. According to a particular embodiment of the machine according to the invention, the supply container may be arranged with its longitudinal axis turned aside relative to the the longitudinal plane of the plant unit, and a turning roll for the tape may be provided in this plane and is secured to the frame, said turning roll changing the direction of the tape when said tape is pulled off the supply container, whereby said tape obtains an accurately controlled course immediately after being pulled off said supply container. The cross section of the control rod may advantageously comprise a chord-shaped inlet area, which is particularly easy to provide. Moreover, the surface of the control rod may advantageously be completely or partially coated with a smooth Teflon ® coating or be provided with an applied member of Teflon ® , in which the above inlet, transition and outlet areas are provided. In this manner the tension in the tape is additionally reduced, and this embodiment with an applied member allows an easy and simple replacement of said applied member when the tape is subjected to wear and tear. The surface of the control rod may, however, also present a granulated structure, for instance a structure of many adjacent microballs with a smooth surface, whereby an advantage is obtained in connection with some tape materials, especially rather rigid tape materials. The control rod may advantageously be mounted on a bottom plate, which is rearwardly tillable in the plough share, and the control rod may comprise a locking pin at its upper end, said locking pin locking the control rod during operation while said control rod is engaging a locking plate in the plough share, whereby the introduction of the tape about said control rod is facilitated while the retaining of said control rod in the operating position is nevertheless ensured. In this connection the bottom plate may be connected to the supporting frame of the plant unit through a parallelogram connection in such a manner that the control rod is retained in desired positions while the tape is being introduced thereto. When the supply container is arranged with its longitudinal axis turned aside, and when said supply container is mounted at almost the same height as the turning roll, both the supply container and the turning roll may preferably be tilted forwards, whereby the optimum course of the tape between said supply container and the control rod is obtained. In this connection, both the supply container and the turning roll may particularly advantageously be tilted between 10° and 40° forwards about the longitudinal axis of the supply container relative to the vertical direction, whereby the axis of the turning roll is substantially perpendicular to the tape direction between the turning roll and the control rod. A plurality of tape separating and controlling means may preferably be mounted between the supply container and the control rod, said tape separating and controlling means for instance being rollers and brushes arranged in pairs on both sides of the tape and co-operating in pairs so as to separate coherent tape bendings, which due to adhesion unintendedly may have been pulled out together with the outermost bending, and so as to laterally guide said tape. The machine according to the invention may furthermore according to a particular embodiment be provided with a compartment for supply containers, whereby it is possible to shorten the time necessary for changing from one supply container to another supply container during field work. Finally, injectors may according to the invention be mounted on the frame in front of the plough share for stirring fertilizers into the soil, especially for replacing the fertilizers used for biodegrading the tape in the soil. In this manner it is possible in a very simple manner to compensate for the loss of fertilizers caused by the biodegradation of the tape in the soil Brief Description of the Drawings. The invention is described in greater detail below with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of a first embodiment of the machine according to the invention during the operation thereof, whereby the longitudinal axis of the supply container is parallel to the longitudinal plane of the plant unit, Fig. 2 is a sectional top view of the machine of Fig. 1, where especially the tape course in the machine is shown, Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic side view of a second embodiment of the machine according to the invention during the operation thereof, whereby the longitudinal axis of the supply container has been turned approximately 90° aside relative to the longitudinal plane of the plant unit, Fig. 4 is a sectional top view of the machine of Fig. 3, where especially the tape course in the machine is shown, Fig. 5 illustrates on a larger scale a diagrammatic front view of a detail of the tape course between the supply container, the turning roll and the control rod of Figs. 3 and 4 with associated tape guiding means, Fig. 6 illustrates on a larger scale a side view of a control rod with an applied member, Fig. 7 illustrates on a larger scale a sectional view through a control rod with an applied member perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof, and Fig. 8 illustrates on a larger scale a side view of a detail of a control rod with a granulated surface. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of a first embodiment of the machine 1 according to the invention during the operation thereof. It comprises a frame 2 connected to the tool carrier 8 of a tractor by means of two tow bars 5. In addition, the frame comprises a front wheel 9 adjustable in height and a supply container 4 for a zigzagged tape 6. A hexagonal bar 12 adjustable in height is mounted in a hexagonal sleeve 10 in a plough share 18. A plant unit 14 is mounted on the frame 2 by means of the hexagonal bar 12 and the hexagonal sleeve 10. The plant unit comprises a plough share 18 provided with a forward lower pointed rim 16 to form a furrow 19. A control rod 20 for the tape 6 is arranged in the plough share 18. The control rod comprises a bottom plate 15 connecting said control rod to the supporting frame 38 of the plant unit 14 through a parallelogram connection. The control rod 20 diverts the tape 6 from an obliquely downward and forward direction 22 to a horizontally backward direction 24, where said tape 6 is placed edgewise just above the bottom of the furrow 19 when the machine 1 is pulled to the left in Fig. 1 across the ground. Two pressure wheels 26, 28 are furthermore mounted on the frame 2 behind the plough share 18, said two wheels pushing the soil together about the bedded, horizontal course 24 of the tape 6 so as to compress said soil about this portion 24 of the tape 6. The supply container 4 is mounted substantially horizontally above the frame 2 and behind the control rod 20 with its longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis C of the plant unit 14, cf. Fig. 2. A dispensing outlet 32 for the tape 6 is provided at the end of the supply container 4 which faces forwards in the nning direction. A plurality of tape separating and guiding means is placed between the dispensing outlet 32 of the supply container and the control rod 20. The tape separating and guiding means are formed by a pair of rollers 35 immediately in front of the dispensing outlet 32 and a plurality of pairs of brushes 36. From both sides of the tape 6 these pairs of brushes 36 scrape against the tape in pairs so as to separate possible double bendings of said tape 6. In addition, these pairs of brushes 36 operate as side guides for the tape. The supply container 4 is placed in a supporting frame 38 above the frame 2. Fig. 2 illustrates clearly how the pair of rollers 35 and the pairs of brushes 36 are placed on their respective sides of the tape 6 in such a manner that they surround said tape. Fig. 2 is also a diagrammatic view of the zigzagged tape 6 in the supply con- tainer 4. Analogous with Figs. 1 and 2, Figs. 3 and 4 are diagrammatic views of a second embodiment of a machine according to the invention, where the longitudinal axis of the supply container 4 has been turned 90° aside relative to the longitudinal axis C of the plant unit 14. The dispensing outlet 32 for the tape 6 is provided at the end of the supply container 4 which is closest to the longitudinal axis C of the plant unit 14. A turning roll 34 for the tape 6 is provided in front of the dispensing outlet 32. When pulled out of the supply container 4, the tape runs about the turning roll 34 so as to subsequently follow the tape direction 22 known from the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2. Like in the first embodiment of the machine, a plurality of tape separating and guiding means are placed between the dispensing outlet 32 of the supply container and the control rod 20. These tape separating and guiding means are for instance in form of a pair of rollers 35 and a plurality of pairs of brushes 36 surrounding the tape 6 from both sides. This pair of rollers 35 and pairs of brushes 36 co-operate in separating possible double bendings of the tape 6 and in braking and controlling the tape in the lateral direction. The supply container 4 is placed in a supporting frame 38 above the frame 2. The supporting frame can, if desired, be provided with a vibrator for vibrating the tape towards the dispensing outlet 32 of the supply container 4. Figs. 4 and 5 clearly show the position of the supply container 4 and the course of the tape 6 between said supply container 4 and the control rod 20, as well as the associated tape separating and guiding means, viz. the pair of rollers 35 and the pairs of brushes 36. It appears clearly how the brushes brush the sides of the tape 6 from both sides. Fig. 6 is a side view of a control rod 20 with an applied member 21 of Teflon ® . At the top the control rod 20 is provided with a locking pin 23 projecting perpendicu- larly forwards from said control rod 20. The locking pin 23 engages a notch in a locking plate 17 in the front end of the plough share. At the bottom the locking pin 23 comprises a bottom plate 15 connecting the control rod 20 to the supporting frame 38 of the plant unit through a parallelogram connection. Fig. 7 is a sectional view through the control rod 20 of Fig. 6 with an applied member 21 , said view taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said control rod, and where the course of the tape 6 about the control rod 20 and the applied member 21 is diagrammatically shown. As shown, the applied member 21 comprises a concave or horizontally flattened inlet area 40 and a convex transition and outlet area 42 for the tape 6. Fig. 8 is a side view of a particular embodiment of the surface of the control rod 20. This surface presents a granulated structure, viz. for instance corresponding to many adjacent microballs, but with a smooth surface. It appears from Figs. 3 to 5 that the supply container 4 is mounted at the level of the turning roll 34 and almost horizontally. As illustrated, both the supply container and the turning roll 34 are tilted forwards about the longitudinal axis of said supply container in such a manner that after moving about the turning roll 34 the tape 6 enters the direction 22 towards the control rod 20. One or more injectors not shown can be mounted on the frame 2 in front of the plough share 18 for stirring fertilizers into the soil, especially for replacing the fertilizers used for biodegrading said tape in the soil. The invention can be modified in many ways without thereby deviating from the scope thereof.

Claims: Claims 1. A machine (1) for bedding out tapes (6) with plants developed in germinating units, where the tape is placed edgewise in the ground, said machine (1) comprising a frame (2) connectable to the tool carrier (8) of a tractor by means of at least one tow bar and being provided with a front wheel (9) adjustable in height, and a supply container (4) for a zigzagged tape (6), and where a plant unit (14) is mounted on the frame (2), said plant unit optionally comprising a skim coulter and a plough share (18) to form a furrow (19) in the ground, and where a control rod (20) is mounted in the plough share, said control rod extending obliquely upwards and forwards to redirect the tape (6) from an obliquely forward and downward direction (22) into a horizontally backward direction (24) just above the bottom of the furrow (19) when the machine is pulled forwards and the tape is (6) pulled out of the supply container (4) and downwards into the furrow (19), and where a set of compressing wheels (26, 28) are arranged behind the plough share (18) for closing and compressing the fur- row (19) produced by the plough share, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the supply container (4) is arranged with its longitudinal axis in a substantially horizontal plane, and that the control rod (20) is of a cross section with an inlet area (40) for the tape, said inlet area being horizontally flattened or concave relative to a circular shape, as well as a convex transition and outlet area (42) for said tape (6). 2. A machine as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the supply container (4) is arranged with its longitudinal axis turned aside relative to the the longitudinal plane of the plant unit (14), and that a turning roll (34) for the tape (6) is provided in this plane and is secured to the frame (2), said turning roll changing the direction of the tape when the latter is pulled off the supply container (4). 3. A machine as claimed in claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the cross section of the control rod (20) comprises a chord-shaped inlet area (40). 4. A machine as claimed in one or more of the claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the surface of the control rod (20) is completely or partially coated with a smooth Teflon ® coating or provided with an applied member of Teflon ® , in which said inlet (40), transition and outlet areas (42) are provided. 5. A machine as claimed in one or more of the claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the surface of the control rod (20) presents a granulated structure, for instance corresponding to many adjacent microballs with a smooth surface. 6. A machine as claimed in one or more of the claims lto5, characterise d in that the control rod (20) is mounted rearwardly tiltable in the plough share (18) and at its upper end comprises a locking pin (21), said locking pin locking the control rod during operation while said control rod is engaging a locking plate (23) in the plough share (18). 7. A machine as claimed in one or more of the claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the supply container (4) is mounted at almost the same level as the turning roll 34), and that both the supply container (4) and the turning roll (34) are tilted forwards. 8. A machine as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that both the supply container (4) and the turning roll (34) are tilted between 10° and 40° forwards relative to vertical direction. 9. A machine as claimed in one or more of the claims 1 to 8, characterised in that a plurality of tape separating and guiding means are provided between the supply container (4) and the control rod (20), said tape separating and controlling means for instance being rollers (35) and brushes (36) arranged in pairs on both sides of the tape (6). 10. A machine as claimed in one or more of the claims lto9, characterised in that it comprises a compartment for supply containers (4). 11. A machine as claimed in one or more of the claims ltolO, characterised in that injectors are mounted on the frame (2) in front of the plough share (18) for stirring fertilizers into the soil, especially for replacing the fertilizers used for biodegrading the tape in the soil.

Inventors: AHM POUL HENRIK, AHM, POUL, HENRIK
Applicants: AHM POUL HENRIK, BENTLE PRODUCTS AG, AHM, POUL, HENRIK
Application year: 1999
Main classification: A01C7
IPC codes: A01C7