Improvements in Cane Planters.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Dec., 1895-Accepted, 8th Feb., 1896
Improvements in Cane Planters.
I, ANTONIO MARTIN RIVERO, Lawyer, of Neptuno 187, Havana, Island of
Cuba, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
My invention relates to improvements in cane planters and it has for its object
to provide a means whereby a furrow may be opened in which the cane is to be
planted, of different depths as may be required and either of the usual shape or
with a transverse section, similar in shape to the letter W, whose exterior sides
are longer than the middle, whereby in connection with an appropriate dropping
device two pieces of cane may be simultaneously planted parallel without touching
each other. A further object of the invention is to provide for carrying a sufficient
quantity of cane to serve for planting a predetermined area of ground, and to cut
the caue in equal lengths, and to enable the length of the cane cut to be varied
without necessitating dismounting, or of changing the parts of the apparatus.
A further object of the invention is, to permit the piece or pieces of cane to drop
horizontally into the furrow at regular distances which may be varied at will.
Another object of the invention is to provide a novel means for covering the cane
when planted, and to provide for raising and lowering the plough and coverer
independently or together, as occasion may demand, and furthermore, to provide
cleaning devices for the wheels, which will prevent them from becoming clogged
by earth, weeds or grass that may adhere to them, and likewise preventing the
accumulation of grass and weeds at the wheels from interfering with the action
of the cutting and planting devices by serving as a drag to the machine. A further
object of the invention is to provide a marking device capable of being readily
shifted from side to side of the machine.
The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several
parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth and pointed out in the claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this
Specification, in which similar figures and letters of reference indicate corresponding
parts in all the views.
Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine;
Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section, taken essentially on the line 2-2 of
Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a detail vertical section through the planting box;
Figure 4 is a rear elevation of the box ;
Figure 5 is a front elevation thereof;
Figures 6 and 7 are respectively a rear elevation and an inner face view of the
front end of a modified form of planting box ;
Figure 8 is an elevation of the rear end of a planting box, illustrating another
manner of manipulating the cutter ;
Figure 9 is a plan view of one form of plough employed; and
Figure 10 is a side elevation of the plough attached to a fender forming a rear
extension of the plough.
The frame A of the machine may be said to consist of side beams 10, connected
by a rear beam 11, the rear beam being straight and the forward portions of the
side beams curved in direction of ene another to meet intermediate beams 12, which
extend from the rear beau 11 beyond the forward extremitics of the side beams,

page_text: where they are arched, as shown in Figure 2, and may be provided with pedestals
or hangers 13, extending downward therefrom, forming a bearing for the axle of a
single forward wheel 14. The hangers or pedestals are preferably independent of
the frame proper, being attached to a tongue 15, which has pivotal connection with
the frame, and is made to terminate in a clevis 16 for attachment to a team.
At the rear portion of the frame an axle 17 is suitably journaled, carrying a
ground wheel 18 at each end, and although I have illustrated the frame as supported
by three wheels it will be understood that a greater or a lesser number may be used.
The rear portion of the frame is constructed so as to afford a bed for a quantity
of cane, and to that end side boards 19 are removably placed upon the sides of the
said rear portion of the frame, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the frame carrying
suitable standards 20 to be passed through sockets in said side boards. In order
that the wheels of the machine shall not be choked by weeds, or foreign matter
liable to adhere thereto, both of the rear wheels and the front wheel are provided
with scrapers 21. These scrapers are secured at one end to the frame, and extend
diagonally over and in contact with the periphery of the wheels, striking the said
peripheries at an angle more or less acute, and the front faces of the scrapers are
so curved that they will readily discharge any material taken up by the wheels out
of the path of the latter.
Near the forward portion of the frame a seat 22 is located at each side, a suitable
foot rest 23 being provided for each seat, as shown in Figure 1; and between these
two seats, which are preferably opposite each other, a planting or seed-dropping
box B, is erected, ordinarily upon the central beams 12 of the frame. This box may
be of any desired shape, but ordinarily it is rectangular in general contour; it is open
at the bottom and is inclined forwardly at its rear end, whereby the upper portion
of the rear of the box is beveled, as shown at 24 in the drawings.
This box is divided into two compartments by preferably a central partition 25,
removably secured in the box, the upper portion of the partition, which is usually
carried to the top of the box proper, being beveled upon opposite sides, as shown
at 26 in the drawings, especially in Figure 34, and the rear end of the upper
portion of this partition is beveled to correspond to the heveled surfaces 24 of the
box proper.
Each compartment in the box is normally closed at the top through the medium
of a door 27. These doors extend from end to end of the compartment, and are
located a predetermined distance from the top, ordinarily just where the inclination
at the top commences, as shown in Figure 3. The doors are adapted to drop, and
each door is secured in any approved manner to a shaft 28, which extends through
the box B from one end to the other, as shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5.
At the rear end of the box each shaft has secured upon it a finger 29, the fingers
being located outside of the box, as shown in Figure 4, and each finger is fitted
with a counterbalance weight 30, of sufficient size or density, or springs having
force enough, to maintain the door cr platform 27 with which it is connected in a
closed, or substantially horizontal position, as shown in the said Figure 4.
Preferably the doors are somewhat arched in cross section in order that they may
present a somewhat circular upper face to receive the cane.
At the forward or opposite end of each door or platform shaft a crank arm 31,
is.secured, and the two crank arms are connected by a link 32, as illustrated in
Figure 5, whereby when one of the doors is dropped by, for example, forcing
outwardly the finger 29 connected with it, the other door will simultaneously
assume a like position, causing whatever material that has been placed upon the
doors to drop down into the compartments of the box; and it may here be remarked
that in the construction of this box it is ordinarily made tapering, as shown in
Figure 4, being narrowest at its lower end, and the central partition 25, is generally
carried beyond the lower end of the box proper, and is forked, since it is intended
to direct the cane dropped by the doors, into a furrow, one piece at each side of the
central ridge.
A plate or partition 33 is supported in a vertical position immediately at the

page_text: rear of the planting or dropping box B, the said plate having attached to or
integral with it a bracket 34, or its equivalent, which in its turn is attached to
the frame of the machine, as shown in Figure 1.
A shaft 35 is carried longitudinally of the frame and is supported in suitable
hangers attached to the frame, but one end of the shaft is usually carried
through the plate or partition 35, turning loosely therein; and this forward end
of the shaft is collared, or fitted to receive an arın 36, turning loosely at its
lower end on said shaft, as shown in Figure 3. At the upper end of this arm
a knife 37 is firmly secured in any known manner, the knife being given an
inclination corresponding to that of the rear end surfaces 24 of the box, as is
likewise shown in Figure 3, whereby when the arm 36 is rapidly reciprocated or
rocked on the shaft 35 it will pass the openings at each side of the partition 25 in
the planting box, and whatever cane that may be inserted into the said openings
and made to rest upon the platforms or doors 27, will be cut by the knie in
suitable lengths, the knife when passing in one direction cutting the cane in one
opening at the central partition, and cutting the cane in the other opening at the outer
wall of that compartment, a reverse action taking place on the return of the knife.
In this manner two persons may readily feed this machine, which consists in
placing the cane in the openings or compartments upon the platforms or doors, and
said feeding may be accomplished not only expeditiously and conveniently but with
perfect safety to the operator.
The shank of the knife on the upper end of the reciprocating knife 36 is provided
with a pin 38 extending outwardly therefrom; and as the knife is reciprocated
from side to side of the box the piu will strike one or the other of the fingers 29
after it has cut the cane in both compartments, and thereby open the doors or
platforms and permit the cane to drop.
Sometimes it is desirable to cut the cane short, that is, for example, with two or
three joints at other times it is desirable that the cane should be planted to
contain more joints. To that end a guide-way 39, is erected upon the upper
portion of the box near the front, extending from side to side, as shown in
Figures 1 and 3; and the said guide-way is adapted to receive the stem for
example, of a follower or board 40, having sliding movement in direction of the
ends of the dropping or planting box and extending from side to side of the latter,
having a suitable opening therein to receive the central partition in the said box;
or the follower may be made in two sections, one at each side of the partition, and
be held in position by means of a set screw or like device that is passed into its
shank.
The shaft 35 is driven from the axle by locating upon its rear end, for example,
a beveled pinion 41, which meshes with a like gear 42, secured on the axle; and
suitable means may be employed for throwing the gear in and out of mesh with
the pinion.
At the forward end of the shaft 35 a gear 43, is securely mounted thereon, which
gear is in mesh with a larger gear 44, adjustably mounted in the plate or
partition 33, the trunnions or spindle upon which the gear is mounted being held
to slide, for example, in a segmental slot 45 (Fig. 4) made in said plate; and the
larger gear 44 meshes with an upper gear 46, and upon the same shaft with the
gear 46 a crank disk 47 is mounted, located forward of the plate 33, between said
plate and the reciprocating knife arm 36, the pin of the crank disk being made to
enter a slot 48 in the arm and thus give movement to the latter.
Sometimes the cane is to be dropped so that it will lie in its furrow end to end,
and at other times it is desirable that a space of more or less length shall occur
between the pieces of cane. This is accomplished by changing the speed of the
gearing. Therefore the upper gear 46 is male removable, and the intermediate
gear 44 adjustable to and from the upper gear, in order that it may be accom-
modated to the size of the latter.
The furrow plough 49 is shown in detail in Figures 9 and 10, in which it will be
observed that the upper portion of the plough is open, and the said plough in cross

page_text: I
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section is angular, the front presenting a shape substantially like that of an
.inverted V. Thus in ploughing, a furrow similar to that shown in Figure 4 will
be produced, in which a trough 51, is formed at each side of a central rib 52. The
plough share just described has attached to each of its sides at the rear a fender 52ª,
and the lower end of this fender is preferably inclined in an upwardly and rear-
wardly direction from its front, as shown in Figure 2, in which the plough proper
is shown quite small.
Each fender is provided with a rearwardly and upwardly curved extension
arm 53, pivoted in any suitable or approved manner to the longitudinal central
beams 12 of the frame. The plough is lifted from the ground, or carried downward
to enter the ground as deeply as may be desired either through the medium of two
links 54, as shown in Figure 1, attached to the upper forward portion of the
fenders, or through the medium of a link 55, shown in Figure 9, attached to the
upper portion of the plough 49. In either event the links are pivotally connected
with an arm 56 which is projected from a rock shaft 57, journaled in the forward
part of the frame and operated by a lever 58. The upper portion of the plough is
concaved, and the fenders meet and are secured together at the top of the plough
and form a continuation of the said concavity.
This lever 58 is preferably an articulated lever, comprising a handle section 58ª
and a body section 58, the latter section being provided with a latch 59, operated
by a thumb lever 60 carried by the handle section, the latch being adapted for
engagement with a rack 61 carried by the frame. The rear end of the arm 56,
connected directly with the plough, is usually steadied by a short shaft 62, passed
through it, as shown in Figure 1, and it may also serve as a pivotal connection
between the two members of the lift lever, it being understood that the two
sections of the lift lever are so constructed that the handle section can not be
carried upward beyond the plane of the body section, but is free to drop downward
at an angle therefrom after the lever in its entirety has been carried upward to
adjust the plough.
A covering device is employed, consisting preferably of two blades 63 and 64, as
shown in Figure 1, of angular construction and placed in such manner that the
concaved surfaces of the two blades will face one another, one of the blades being
carried further to the rear than the other, so that their bent portions will be
diagonally opposite; and each blade 63 and 64 is provided with a forwardly
extending arm 65, pivoted to the forward portions of the frame, as illustrated in
both Figures 1 and 2.
The two blades of the furrow coverer'or closer are connected by a cross bar 66,
diagonally placed, and a link 68 is pivotally connected with the said bar, having
sliding movement thereon, and with an arm 69, attached to a rock shaft 70,
journaled transversely beneath the frame, and operated by a lever 71 within
convenient reach of any person on the platform, or from one of the persons seated
near the seed-dropping box.
At the rear of the machine a marker is located, which marker consists of a body
bar 72, which is pivoted to the central rear portion of the frame, and is capable of
being swung from one side of the frame to the other. The marking bar 73, is
adjustable upon the body bar, being held in desired position by a set screw 74, or
the equivalent thereof; and the marking bar, when carried to the side of the
machine, is made to enter sockets 75, located one at each side at the rear, as
illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, and said sockets are usually closed, after receiving
the bar, by means of a cap block 76 and a set screw 77. At the extreme outer
end of the marking bar 73 the marker 78 is placed, and is of stellated shape.
The arms 65 project forwardly from the furrow closer and are connected by a
cross bar 79, so placed that when the plough is carried upward a certain distance,
.or a distance, for example, which will carry it out of the ground, the coverer will
not be lifted; but if said plough is then taken further upward, it will carry
upward with it the furrow closer or coverer by contact with the said connecting
bar 79.

page_text: Thus the plough can be manipulated independently of the furrow closer, or
both of them may be simultaneously operated. Under such a construction an
exceedingly simple cane planter is obtained, and one which is not only durable but
economic, and which will insure the ready planting of cane, and whereby the cane
may be expeditiously and conveniently fed to the cutters and cut to whatever
length desired.
In Figures 6, 7 and 8, I bave illustrated slight modifications with reference
to the planting or dropping box B and the knife, and in said figures the
partition 25 has been omitted from the box; consequently it contains but a single
compartment.
In the form of the device shown in Figures 6 and 7, the arm 80, corresponding
to the arm 36 shown in the principal Figure 5, is employed in like manner as the
said arm 36, but at the top it is widened out to form two opposing cutters 81, made
to face one another at an inclination; and as the arm 80 is reciprocated it is carried
across the single opening 79 at the rear end of the box, and the knives 81 are
alternately brought into action.
The arm 80 is connected with a similar arm 82, located upon the inside of the
box at its forward portion, and the said arm 82, at its upper end, carries a
platform 83 upon which the cane is laid; and as the arm 80 reciprocates the
arm 82 is given a like motion, and the cane cut will drop from the platform 83,
which is arched upon the top, and fall to the furrow.
In the form of the device shown in Figure 8, the box is provided with two
platforms or tables, similar to those shown and described in connection with
Figures 3, 4 and 5, and the tables are similarly dropped and similarly connected ;
but the arm 84, which is substituted for the arm 36, is pivoted at or near its
centre upon the end of the box, .its upper end being provided with a knife 85, and
a pin to trip the fingers operating the table. At the lower end of the arm 84 a
slide is made, and the arm receives movement from a crank 87, operated from the
upper or removable wheel or gear 46 of the train of gearing, or through other
driving mediums.
The links 54 of the plough are provided with a series of apertures 89. Thus
the depth to which the plough may be lowered, or the height to which it may be
raised, will be determined by the aperture that is brought in registry with and
receives the pivot pin of the lever 58. The downward movement of the plough
may be limited by placing a pin in any one of the apertures in the links of the
plough occurring above the frame of the machine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is,
1. In a cane planter, a dropping box adapted to receive the cane to be planted;
knives held to reciprocate across a face of the box, cutting the introduced cane into
lengths, and a regulating device carried by the box, whereby the cane may be cut
into long or into short lengths, substantially as shown and described.
2. In a cane planter, a planting box provided with a removable partition and
an opening at one of its ends divided by the said partition, the box being open at
its lower end, a knife held to reciprocate across the open end of the box, and means,
substantially as described, for regulating the length of the cut cane, as and for the
purpose specified.
3. In a cane planter, a planting box having an opening at one of its ends, the
said end being inclined in direction of the opposite end of the box, a knife held to
reciprocate across the opening in the box, a partition located within the box and
extending up to the open portion thereof, the said box being provided with an
opening at its lower end, and an interchangeable driving mechanism operating the
said knife, as and for the purpose set forth.
4. In a cane planter, a planting box having an opening at one of its ends, and
means for adjusting the length of the cane to be contained in the box, a knife held

page_text: to reciprocate across the opening in the end of the box, doors located within the
box and capable of transversely closing the same, trip devices carried by the door
and operating from the knife, and means, as shown and described, for reciprocating
the knife, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
5. In a cane planter, a furrow opener provided with an essentially inverted
V-shaped share, whereby a furrow is made comprising a central ridge and a ditch
at each side of the ridge, enabling two pieces of cane to be planted in the furrow,
substantially as specified.
6. In a cane planter, the combination, with the planting box adapted to receive
cane, having a partition dividing it into compartments, and a knife reciprocating
across both compartments, of a plough provided with fenders at its sides, the said
fenders being located beneath the planting box, one at each side, the plough being
connected with the forward end of the fenders, and a substantially inverted V-shaped
share, whereby a furrow is made with two separate troughs, and whereby the cane
from each compartment of the drop box will be deposited in an independent trough
in the same furrow, as and for the purpose specified.
7. In a cane planter, the combination, with a furrow opener and a planting box
located above the opener, provided with a reciprocating knife and means for driving
the same, and devices for regulating the length of the cane to be cut, of a furrow
closer located at the rear of the furrow opener, a lever connected with the furrow
opener, through the medium of which the said opener may be raised or lowered
independently of the furrow closer, or whereby the closer may be elevated with the
furrow opener, and an independent lever controlling the movement of the furrow
closer, as and for the purpose set forth.
8. In a cane planter, a marker pivotally connected with the planter at the rear
thereof and capable of being carried from side to side of the planter, sockets
adapted to receive the carrying arm of the marker, and means, substantially as
described, for holding the marker in the position in which it is set, as specified.
9. In a cane planter, the combination, with the wheels thereof, of scrapers
attached to fixed supports, extending diagonally across the wheels, engaging with
-said wheels at an angle to their periphery, and having their faces convex, as and
for the purpose specified.
Dated this 31st day of December 1895.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53 Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.