MACHINE FOR BEDDING OUT SEPARATE GERMINATING UNITS

Abstract: A machine for bedding out separate germinating units (14) comprising seeds, germinated seeds or completely developed plants. The machine comprises a frame (1) with a supply container (2) fo germinating units and a tow barac (3) for connecting the frame to the tool carrier (8) of a tractor and a front wheel (6) as well as optionally a skim coulter (4). A plant unit is mounted on the frame, said plant unit comprising a plough share (5) for producing a furrow (7), and a pair of compressing wheels (9) is arranged behind the plough share for closing and compressing the furrow (7). A lowering means (11) is provided which extends downwards into the plough share (5) and is directed towards the bottom of the furrow (7). This lowering means is adapted to successively lower separate germinating units (14). A guide means (13) is mounted between the supply container (2) and the lowering means (11), said guide means advancing, separating and supplying the germinating units (14) one by one to the inlet end of the lowering means (11). The resulting machine is very simple and requires minimum manpower.

Description: Title: Machine for bedding out separate germinating units. Technical Field The invention relates to a machine for bedding out separate germinating units containing seeds, germinated seeds or completely developed plants, said machine com- prising a frame with a supply container for germinating units and at least one tow bar for connection of the frame to the tool carrier of a tractor, and a front wheel adjustable in height as well as optionally a skim coulter. Background Art Various machines for bedding out separate germinating units are known. The ma- chines are either relatively complicated in use, or they require much manpower. It is desired to obtain a high degree of structural simplicity, and that the machines require less manpower. Brief Description of the Invention The object of the invention is to solve these problems. The machine according to the invention is characterised in that a plant unit is mounted on the frame, said plant unit comprising a plough share to produce a furrow, that a set of compression wheels are placed behind the plough share for closing and compressing the furrow produced by said plough share, and that a lowering means is provided which extends downwards into the plough share and is directed towards the bottom of the furrow, said lowering means being adapted to successively lower separate germinating units into the furrow, and that a guide means is provided between the supply container and the lowering means for advancing, separating and supplying the germinating units one by one to the lowering means. As a result a very simple structure is obtained where the individual germinating units can be lowered and accurately positioned in the furrow in a simple and fast manner. The individual germinating units pass the guide means and are then catched as a separate unit by the lowering means, which in turn places said germinating unit correctly in the furrow. By an embodiment of the machine the germinating units are arranged such that they form a tape, and each germinating unit comprises a catching opening, and one or more cuts are provided in the tape between two succeeding germinating units, said machine according to the invention being characterised in that the guide means is formed as a pipe of a substantially rectangular cross section, said guide means ad- vancing the tape to the lowering means, and that said lowering means is formed by a wheel with radially directed projections interspaced a distance corresponding to the desired distance between the plants in the soil, and that at the outer end the pipe is curved outwards relative to the circumference of the wheel and is provided with a sharp tear-off rim, said outer end on the side facing the wheel being provided with a slot extending in the longitudinal direction of the pipe, whereby the slot is adapted to receive the radial projections of the wheel when the wheel is rolling on the bottom of the furrow during operation in such a manner that the projections can successively engage the openings of the germinating units. As a result, the germinating unit placed outermost in the guide means is automatically released in a very reliable manner from the remaining portion of the germinating tape, because one of the wheel projections can catch said germinating unit and tear off said germinating unit from the remaining portion of the tape by means of the sharp tear-off rim of the guide means. When a germinating unit has been catched by a projection, said germinating unit follows the projection downwards to the bottom of the furrow or adjacent said bottom where it is released and pressed into said furrow by the wheel. According to the invention, a brushing means may be mounted on the plough share and adapted to co-operate with the lowering wheel, said brushing means comprising one or two thin steel blades which can be inserted between the wheel and the germi- nating unit during the rotation of the wheel so as to brush said germinating unit off the projection. As a result a very reliable release of each germinating unit from the lowering wheel is obtained in such a manner that said germinating unit falls into the furrow at a desired location whereafter said furrow is compressed by the wheel. Moreover soil cleaning means may according to the invention be mounted on the plough share in front of or adjacent the rear side of the wheel, said soil cleaning means for instance being scrapers and/or brushes for cleaning the wheel. In this manner a very reliable putting down of the individual germinating units in the soil is obtained because the machine operates equally well in dry or granular soil as in sticky or lumpy soil. Lumps of soil or blocks of soil optionally sticking to the lowermost portion of the lowering wheel are scraped/brushed off the wheel in a very reliable manner. When the germinating units comprise completely developed plants, the lowering means may according to the invention be formed by a set of co-acting, substantially vertical, endless, rotating lowering belts, which extend downwards into the plough share, and the turning axes of which extend in the advancing direction of the machine, and which furthermore are provided with a Velcro ® closure surface. As a result each germinating unit can be exactly vertically put down in the soil in the bottom of the furrow in a plane parallel to the vertical central plane of the plant unit. According to an embodiment of the machine the germinating units are arranged such that they form a tape, and this embodiment is characterised in that the supply container is adapted to release a tape placed edgewise and comprising germinated plants, which are zigzagged in said container, and that the guide means is formed by two pairs of tractive rollers arranged behind one another adjacent the outlet of said con- tainer and driven synchronously with the operating speed of the machine, and whereby the pair of rollers arranged farthest away from said outlet rotates at a significantly faster circumferential velocity than the first pair of rollers, said pair of rollers ar- ranged farthest away from said outlet furthermore forming an acute angle y with the first pair of rollers so as to ensure that the germinating units can be easily torn off the tape one by one, and that a chute is mounted between the guide means and the lowering belts, said chute forwardly guiding the loose germinating units to the gap between said lowering belts. In this manner a particularly reliable feeding of the separated germinating units to the gap between the lowering belts is ensured. According to the invention the frame may be provided with a hexagonal sleeve, in which a hexagonal bar mounted on the plant unit can be inserted for connecting the machine to a tractor. Such a securing of the machine to a tractor turned out to be particularly simple. In addition, 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 germinating units 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 germinating unit in the soil. Moreover, the lowering means may according to the invention be formed by a substantially vertical endless lowering belt with a Velcro ® closure surface and a substantially vertical back plate arranged adjacent said lowering belt, said back plate optionally comprising a chute-like upper portion, whereby the portion of the plough share adjacent the lower plate is preferably shorter than the portion of said plough share farthest away from said back plate when seen in the advancing direction of the plough. The resulting lowering of each germinating unit into the furrow is particularly simple and reliable because the soil slides inwards towards the back plate and gradually presses said germinating unit firmly into said furrow. According to the invention the lower rim of the back plate may be substantially obliquely cut, the lowermost portion of said rim always being placed in front in said plough furrow. In this manner soil is gradually fed to the lowermost rim of the germinating unit during the last stage of the lowering of said germinating unit. Furthermore, a plate-like guiding means may according to the invention be provided substantially planoparallel to the back plate and adjacent the lowermost portion of the lower rim of said plate, said plate-like guiding means being adapted to ensure the orientation of the germinating unit before said germinating unit hits the bottom of the furrow. This embodiment turned out to be particularly advantageous for maintaining the germinating unit in the vertical position, especially during the last stage of the bedding out procedure. Yet another embodiment of the machine according to the invention is characterised in that the lowering means comprises a substantially vertical back plate optionally provided with a chute-like upper portion, and a substantially circular and rotatable disk pressed towards the back plate, as well as at least two preferably rotatable spacer rolls arranged between the back plate and the disk, and that the disk is so resilient that the germinating unit coming down from above can be pressed against the back plate and simultaneously advanced by the disk at the periphery of the latter. In this manner a particularly reliable and simple lowering of each germinating unit into the furrow is obtained. Moreover, the back plate may according to the invention be smooth, whereby the disk can have a friction surface, such as granulated, on the side facing the back plate. As a result, the germinating unit being fed from the top can be gripped, clamped and advanced by the disk. The germinating unit is not released until it reaches the lowermost peripheral location of the disk. According to the invention the disk can be made of thin sheet, such as of steel or plastics, which proved to be particularly advantageous. Finally, the portions of the plough share adjacent the back plate and the disk may according to the invention be relatively short when seen in the advancing direction of said plough share, whereby the spacer rolls can be mounted on the back plate. In this manner the soil in the sides of the furrow formed by the plough can fall down about the germinating unit immediately after said germinating unit has left the disk. Brief Description of the Drawings The invention is explained in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the machine according to the invention during operation, Fig. 2 is a side view of a portion of the plant unit, where the lowering means is formed by a wheel with radially directed projections, and where a guide means in form of a pipe is mounted above the wheel, said lowering means being enlarged compared to Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a top view of the plough share, the lowering wheel being arranged in the interior of said plough share, Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the guide means and a portion of the lowering wheel, Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the guide means, the slot thereof clearly appearing, Fig. 6 is a top view of a portion of the tape comprising germinating units, said tape being pulled out of the supply container, Fig. 7 illustrates a lowering means in form of a pair of co-acting endless, rotating lowering belts as well as a guide means in form of two pairs of tractive rollers arranged behind one another and adjacent the outlet of the supply container, Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a lowering means in form of an endless, rotating lowering belt and an associated back plate, said belt extending along the plate, Fig. 9 is a side view on a larger scale of the back plate of Fig. 8, the lower rim of said plate being obliquely cut and provided with a guiding means, Fig. 10 is a front view of the back plate of Fig. 9, Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a lowering means in form of a vertical back plate and a rotating disk pressed against said back plate, and Fig. 12 is a top view of the back plate and the disk of Fig. 11 , where a germinating unit is about to be clamped between the disk and the back plate. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention The embodiment of the machine shown in Fig. 1 comprises a frame 1 with a supply container 2 for germinating units and a tow bar 3 connecting the machine to the tool carrier 8 of a tractor not shown. As illustrated in Fig. 1 , a plant unit is mounted on the frame 1 , said plant unit comprising a skim coulter 4 and a plough share 5 for producing a furrow 7 behind said plough share. A pair of compressing wheels 9 are mounted behind the plough share 5, said compressing wheels closing and compressing the furrow 7. A front wheel 6 adjustable in height is mounted on the frame, and a skim coulter 4 can as shown also be mounted thereon. A lowering means 11 is provided which extends downwardly into the interior of the plough share 5 and is directed towards the bottom of the furrow, said lowering means being formed as a wheel, cf. Fig. 2, and adapted to successively lower separate germinating units 14. As shown in Fig. 2, a guide means 13 is mounted between the supply container 2 and the lowering means 11, said guide means 13 advancing, separating and supplying the germinating units 14 pulled out of the supply container. The supplying means here a supply to the lowering means 11. When the supply container 2 comprises germinating units, said germinating units can be arranged in a tape 15, cf. Fig. 6. Each germinating unit 14 comprises a catching opening 16 for some projections 17 on the lowering wheel 11. The germinating units 14 in the tape 15 are separated by one or more cuts 19. The guide means 13 can be shaped as a pipe of a substantially rectangular cross section, cf. Fig. 4. The tape can be moved through the guide means 13 to the lowering means 11 in such a manner that the projections 17 of the wheel protrude into the catching openings 16 in the tape, said projections on the wheel protruding through a slot 18 arranged on the bottom side of the pipe. The distance between the projections 17 on the wheel 11 corresponds to the desired distance between the plants in the soil. At its outer end 13a the pipe 13 is curved outwards relative to the circumference of the wheel and is provided with a sharp tear-off rim 20. The slot 18 of the outer end 13a faces the circumference of the wheel, and each projection 17 of the wheel can be received in this slot for a short period when the wheel rolls on the bottom of the furrow 7 during operation of the machine. When each projection 17 moves in the slot 18, said projection engages the opening 16 in the outermost germinating unit in the tape and tears off said germinating unit from the remaining tape. Fig. 4 illustrates clearly how the guide means 13, 13a formed as a pipe is of a substantially rectangular cross section. Fig. 3 shows how the lowering wheel can be mounted inside the plough share 5, and Fig. 2 shows how a brushing means 21 can be mounted on the plough share 5, said brushing means 21 co-operating with the periphery of the lowering wheel 11. The brushing means can comprise one or two thin steel blades scraping against the wheel during rotation of the wheel in such a manner that the germinating units lowered by the projections 17 are scraped off said projections. Soil cleaning means 23a, 23b and 23c are mounted on the plough share 5 in front of or adjacent the rear side of the wheel 11. 23a is for instance a scraper which can scrape the side of the rearmost portion of the wheel 11 so as thereby to scrape off soil. 23b is a soil scraper which can scrape off soil from the circumference of the wheel 11. 23c is formed by one or more brushes for an additional cleaning of the wheel 11. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the lowering wheel 11 can be mounted in a separate suspension on the plough share 5. This suspension is formed by two angular brackets 26 interconnected at the top by means of a transverse shaft 27, the lowering wheel 11 rotating about said transerse shaft 27. As illustrated in Fig. 7, when the tape comprises completely developed plants the lowering means can be formed by a pair of co-acting endless rotating lowering belts 11 ' , 11 " . The turning axes 28 of these belts extend in the advancing direction of the machine, i.e. in the longitudinal direction of the plough share. The lowering belts 11 ' and 11 " can comprise Velcro ® tape surfaces, which catch the individual germinating units in a very reliable manner when said germinating units are supplied to the belts at the top. Then the belts carry each germinating unit vertically downwards into the furrow, where said germinating unit is retained in a vertical position by the soil falling into the furrow and being pressed into said furrow from both sides when the plough share is pulled further forwards. The supply container 2 is adapted to release a tape being zigzag folded in said container. As shown in Fig. 8, the guide means can be formed by two tractive rollers arranged behind one another and adjacent the outlet of the container. These tractive rollers are driven synchronously with the operating speed of the machine. The pair of rollers 3 la, 3 lb arranged farthest from the outlet 2a of the supply container rotates at a velocity which is significantly faster than the circumferential velocity of the first pair of rollers 30a, 30b. The pair of rollers 31a, 31b is oriented so as to form an acute angle v with the first pair of rollers 30a, 30b. In this manner it is ensured that the germinating units in the tape passing the rollers can be easily torn off the tape. A chute 34 is mounted between the guide means 3 la, 3 lb and the lowering belts 11 ' , 11 " . The chute 34 advances the loose, vertically oriented germinating units to the gap 10 at the inlet end of the lowering belts 11 ' , 11 ". The term "chute" refers here also to a kind of hopper. As shown in Fig. 1, the frame 1 can be provided with a hexagonal sleeve 35, into which a hexagonal bar 36 mounted on the plant unit can be inserted 35. One or more injectors not shown can 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 said tape in the soil. A vibrator can, if desired, be mounted on a supporting frame 36 for the supply container 2, said vibrator vibrating the tape towards the outlet 2a of the supply container. The advantage of such a vibrator is that the passage of the tape through the outlet 2a is facilitated. It appears from Fig. 8 how the lowering means can comprise a substantially vertical, endless, rotating belt 11 ' with a Velcro ® closure surface as well as a back plate 11'", said belt sliding against said back plate. The lower rim 11 ' "a of the back plate 11' " can be obliquely cut with the effect that during the lowering of a germinating unit soil is gradually supplied thereto at the rear end thereof first because the soil at the short side portion 5a of the plough share 5 slides into said plough share 5 before the soil present at the long side portion 5b of said plough share. Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate on a larger scale how the lower rim 11 ' "a of the back plate 11 ' " can be obliquely cut, and how a guiding means 38 can be mounted on the front of the back plate. This portion is arranged substantially planoparallel to the back plate 11 ' " and serves to guide the front portion of the germinating unit substantially vertically downwards into the soil during the last stage of the bedding out procedure. As illustrated in Fig. 11, the lowering means can be formed by a substantially vertical back plate 41 and a substantially circular, driven resilient disk 42 pressed towards said back plate 41. The latter back plate 41 is optionally provided with a chute-like upper portion 34' " . The driving means of the disk are not shown, but they can for instance be placed behind the back plate 41 on a shaft 45 which extends through said back plate 41 and said disk 42. Two spacer rolls 43 a and 43b are arranged between the disk and the plate, said spacer rolls keeping portions of the disk at a short dis- tance from the back plate 41 in such a manner that along a curved length corresponding to "for instance 1.35 a.m. " to " 1.55 a.m. " the disk clearly presses against the back plate, but along the remaining curved length said disk does not press against the back plate 41. A germinating unit 14' coming to the disk 42 from above is at the position 46 clamped between the disk and the back plate and pulled downwards towards the bottom of the furrow 7. At the position 47 the disk releases the germinating unit. The back plate 41 is usually smooth whereas the side of the disk 42 facing the back plate 41 can be slightly uneven, optionally granulated, with the result that the grip of the disk in the germinating unit has been facilitated. The disk 42 can be made of thin sheet, such as of steel or plastics. When the plate is made of plastics, it is typically of a thickness of 3 to 5 mm. Fig. 12 illustrates clearly how the disk is bent outwards from the back plate 41 along a portion of its periphery by means of spacer rolls 43a, 43b. Fig. 11 illustrate that the portions 5a, 5b of the plough share can be rather short compared to the matter illustrated in Fig. 7, said portions being placed adjacent the disk 42. As shown, the spacer rolls 43a, 43b can be mounted on bars extending from the side of the back plate 41. The invention may be modified in many ways without thereby deviating from the scope of the invention.

Claims: Claims 1. A machine for bedding out separate germinating units containing seeds, germinated seeds or completely developed plants, said machine comprising a frame (1) with a supply container (2) for germinating units and at least one tow bar (3) for connecting the frame to the tool carrier (8) of a tractor, and a front wheel (6) adjustable in height as well as optionally a skim coulter (4), c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that a plant unit is mounted on the frame (1), said plant unit comprising a plough share (5) for producing a furrow (7), that a set of compression wheels (9) are mounted on said frame (1) behind the plough share for closing and compressing the furrow (7) produced by said plough share (5), and that a lowering means (11) is provided which extends downwards into the plough share (5) and is directed towards the bottom of the furrow (7), said lowering means being adapted to successively lower separate germinating units into the furrow, and that a guide means (13) is provided between the supply container (2) and the lowering means (11) for advancing, separating and supplying the germinating units one by one to the lowering means (11). 2. A machine as claimed in claim 1, where the germinating units are arranged such that they form a tape, and where each germinating unit comprises a catching opening(16), and where one or more cuts (19) are provided in the tape (15) between two succeeding germinating units (14), c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the guide means (13) is formed as a pipe (13) of a substantially rectangular cross section, said guide means (15) advancing the tape (15) to the lowering means (11), and that the lowering means (11) is formed by a wheel with radially directed projections (17) interspaced a distance corresponding to the desired distance between the plants in the soil, and that at the outer end (13a) the pipe (13) is curved outwards relative to the circumference of the wheel and is provided with a sharp tear-off rim (20), said outer end (13a) on the side facing the wheel (11) being provided with a slot (18) extending in the longitudinal direction of the pipe (13), whereby the slot (18) is adapted to receive the radial projections (17) of the wheel (11) when the wheel is rolling in the bottom of the furrow (7) during operation in such a manner that the projections (17) can successively engage the openings (16) of the germinating units (14). 3. A machine as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that a brushing means (21) is mounted on the plough share (5) and is adapted to co-operate with the lowering wheel (11), said brushing means (21) comprising one or two thin steel blades which can be inserted between the wheel (11) and the germinating unit (14) during the rotation of the wheel (11) so as to brush said germinating unit off the projection (17). 4. A machine as claimed in one or more of the claims lto3, charact e r- i s e d in that soil cleaning means are mounted on the plough share (5) in front of or adjacent the rear side of the wheel (11), said soil cleaning means for instance being in form of scrapers (23 a, 23b) and/or one or more brushes (23 c) for cleaning the wheel (11). 5. A machine as claimed in one or more of the claims lto4,characte r- i s e d in that the lowering wheel (11) is mounted in a separate suspension (26) on the plough share (5). 6. A machine as claimed in claim 1, and where the germinating units (14) comprise completely developed plants, characterised in that the lowering means is formed by a pair of co-acting, substantially vertical, endless, rotating lower- ing belts (11', 11"), which extend downwards into the plough share, and the turning axes (28) of which extend in the advancing direction of the machine, and which furthermore are provided with a Velcro ® closure surface. 7. A machine as claimed in claim 6, and where the germinating units (14) are arranged such that they form a coherent tape, characterised in that the supply container (2) is adapted to release a tape (15) placed edgewise and comprising germinated plants, which are zigzagged in the container (2), and that the guide means is formed by two pairs of tractive rollers (30a, 30b, 31a, 31b) arranged behind one another and adjacent the outlet (2a) of said container, said tractive rollers being driven synchronously with the operating speed of the machine, and where the pair of rollers (3 la, 3 lb) arranged farthest away from said outlet rotates at a significantly faster circumferential velocity than the first pair of rollers (30a, 30b), said pair of rollers arranged farthest away from said outlet (2a) furthermore forming an acute angle (v) with the first pair of rollers so as to ensure that the germinating units (14) can be easily torn off the tape (15) one by one, and that a chute (34) is mounted between the guide means and the lowering belts (11', 11"), said chute guiding the loose germinating units (14) to the gap (10) between said lowering belts (11', 11"). 8. A machine as claimed in one or more of the claims lto7, charact e r- i s e d in that the frame (1) is provided with a hexagonal sleeve (35), in which a hexagonal bar (36) mounted on the plant unit can be inserted. 9. A machine as claimed in one or more of the claims lto8, charact e r- i s e d in that injectors are 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 germinating units in the soil. 10. A machine as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the lowering means is formed by a substantially vertical, endless lowering belt (11 ') with a Velcro ® closure surface and a substantially vertical back plate (11'") arranged adjacent said lowering belt, said back plate optionally comprising a chute-like upper portion (34' "), and that the portion (5) of the plough share adjacent the back plate (11'") is preferably shorter than the portion (5) of said plough share farthest away from said back plate (11'") when seen in the advancing direction of the plough. 11. A machine as claimed in claim 10, characterised in that the back plate (11 ' ") at its lower rim (11 '"a) is obliquely cut, the lowermost portion (p) of this rim being positioned in front in the plough furrow (7). 12. A machine as claimed in claim 10 or 11, characterised in that a plate-like guiding means (38) is provided substantially planoparallel to the back plate (11'") and adjacent the lowermost portion (p_) of the lower rim (11 ' "a) of said back plate, said plate-like guiding means being adapted to ensure the orientation of the germinating unit before said germinating unit hits the bottom of the furrow (7). 13. A machine as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the lowering means is formed by a substantially vertical back plate (41) optionally pro- vided with a chute-like upper portion (34'"), and a substantially circular and rotatable disk (42) pressed towards the back plate, as well as at least two preferably rotatable spacer rolls (43a, 43b) arranged between the back plate (41) and the disk (42), and that the disk is so resilient that the germinating unit (14) coming down from above can be pressed against the back plate and simultaneously advanced by the disk at the periphery of the latter. 14. A machine as claimed in claim 13, characterised in that the back plate (41) is smooth, and that the disk (42) can have a friction surface, such as granulated, on the side facing the back plate. 15. A machine as claimed in claim 13 or 14, characterised in that the disk is made of thin sheet, such as of steel or plastics. 16. A machine as claimed in claim 1, 13, 14 or 15, characterised in that the portions (5a, 5b) of the plough share arranged adjacent the back plate (41) and the disk (42) are relatively short when seen in the advancing direction of said plough share, and that the spacer rolls (43a, 43b) are mounted on the back plate (41).

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