Improvements in Potato-planting Machines.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Mar. 1890
Complete Specification Left, 30th July, 1890-Accepted, 6th Sept., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Potato-planting Machines.
We FRANCIS ADRIAN MILES, of Denne-Hill Farm, Wymynswold, in the County of
Kent, Farmer, and AUGUSTUS CLIFFORD ARTER of Barham, in the same county,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
This invention relates to improvements in potato planting machines with the object
of simplifying the construction of the machine while making the working more certain
and efficient.
Our machine is composed of a hopper mounted on a frame carried by two or more
wheels, this hopper being preferably formed concave on one side and partly rectangular
on the other, but it may be of other shape; at the side of the hopper is a revolving
cone having within it, or projecting from it, a series of pockets or recesses into which
the potatoes fall with revolution of the cone, these pockets being so formed that they
present a potato or a portion of potato to a needle, furnished preferably with three
points or spears, there being a needle to each pocket, which needle may be forced
forward into the potato by the pressure of a spiral spring on the needle bar and with-
drawn by a cam fixed on the framing, or by other suitable means; our hopper being
so constructed that the potato is seized by the needle within the hopper but in the
revolution passes outside the hopper so that on the needle being withdrawn by the
cain the potato falls into the furrow and so on as the machine is moved forward.
We now set the cone to revolve on the main axle of the machine, but in order to
regulate the distance at which the potatoes are planted we may disconnect the cone
from the main axle and drive it by cog wheels or any suitable gearing.
We may duplicate the parts of our machine so that it may plant from a revolving
cone on each side.
Dated this Tutinth 1 1900
For the Applicants,
W. E. GEDGE,
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Potato-planting Machines.
We FRANCIS ADRIAN MILES, of Denne Hill Farm, Wymynswold, in the County
of Kent, Farmer, and AUGUSTUS CLIFFORD ARTER of Barham in the same county,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be perforined, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in potato planting machines with the object
of simplifying the construction of the machine while making the working more certain
and efficient.
Our machine is composed of a hopper mounted on a frame carried by two or more
wheels with suitable gear for horse or other traction; at one or both sides of the
hopper, accordingly as the machine is intended to plant one or two rows simultaneously,
is a revolving cone having within it or projecting from it a series of pockets or
recesses into which the potatoes fall in the revolution of the cone, these pockets being
so formed that they present a potato or a portion of a potato to a needle furnished
with say three points or spears, there being a needle to each pocket, which needle may
be forced forward into the potato by the pressure of a spiral or other suitable spring
on the needle bar and withdrawn by a cam fixed on the framing or by other suitable
means. The cone or cones may revolve on the main axle of the machine, but in order
to regulate the distances at which the potatoes are planted we may disconnect
Price 8d1

page_text: the cone or cones from the main axle and drive it, or them, by cog wheels or any
suitable gearing.
For the better comprehension of our invention we will describe its operation by
reference to the accompanying sheet of drawing upon which
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a potato planter embodying our invention.
The details of the pocket not being shewn in this Figure to avoid complication and to
better display the openings in the cones.
Figure 2 a plan of same.
Figure 3 a transverse section through the hopper and cones (enlarged).
Figure 4 a side elevation of one of the cones.
Figure 5 illustrates the general construction of one of the pockets as fitted to the
cone and
Figure 6 an interior view of same.
A indicates the hopper, B B the revolving cones, CC opening in cones, D D the
pockets, d curve for guiding potato d' into position to he seized by the prongs F,
EE the needle bars, prongs or spears, G spiral spring for operating needle
bar, H cam for operating upon stud I to withdraw needle bar, & inclined portion of
cam H, stud or projection attached to needle bar E, K gear wheels for rotating
cones B, L driving wheels, M. ratchet wheel, N pawls engaging with same.
The hopper A having been charged with potatoes and the machine being set
in motion by horse or other power, the rotation of the wheel L imparts a relative
rotation to the cones B B, dependant upon the respective diameters of the gear
wheels K.
These cones in revolving carry around with them the pockets D having the
needle bars E together with the prongs or spears F which are pressed forward by
the action of the spiral springs G. As soon as the stud or projection I which is
attached to the needle bar E, is brought into contact with the inclined face h of
the cam bar Hit is driven back compressing the spring G until the prongs F
are drawn within the inner curved face d of the pocket, in which position they
are retained until the stud I travels beyond the end of the cam bar H when the
spring is released. As soon as this occurs the pressure of the spring G drives
forward the prongs or spears F into the hopper A. The action being repeated as
each pocket D arrives in its turn at the point of the cam H.
This being so, it will readily be seen that upon the hopper A being charged
with potatoes, the prongs or spears F of each needle bar E will in its turn be
driven forward and into one or other of the potatoes contained within the hopper A,
which have passed into a pocket, directly the stud I travels beyond the lower end
of the cam H.
The potato being thus securely fixed upon the prongs or spears F is carried
around and over the hopper A until the stud I arrives at the inclined portion h
of the cam H, which at once forces it back and releases the potato from the
prongs or spears F, so that it falls into the furrow. Thus it will be seen that
the potato is seized by the needle within the hopper but in the revolution passes
outside the hopper so that on the needle being withdrawn by the cam the potato
falls into the furrow, another succeeds it at the desired interval and so on as the
machine is moved forward.
a
Upon reference to d (Figures 5 and 6) it will be seen that we have given
curve to the inner face of the pocket; this curve being in such relation
to the revolving cone and to the incline of the hopper that the potatoes are
thereby singly guided or forced up to the part of the pocket immediately beneath
the needle bar; the cone also ensuring that the potatoes are kept in constant
agitation within the hopper while the planter is at work.
In order to permit of the potatoes being planted at any desired regulated
distance apart we connect the cones C to the driving wheel L by the gear wheels K
as shown, or in any equivalent manner.
The hopper may be formed concave on one side and partly rectangular on the
other as shown on the drawing, or of any suitable shape.

page_text: We have shown a machine planting on both sides but we might use a single
cone of any desired section and plant from one side of the machine only thereby
reducing the bulk and cost of the machine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A potato planting machine constructed combined and arranged to operate the
extraction of the potatoes from the hopper and their delivery into the furrow
substantially as herein before described.
2. In a potato planting machine, the combination with the hopper of a revolving
cone or cones having openings for the introduction of prongs carried by a spring
needle bar substantially as described for the purpose specified.
3. In a potato planting machine having a revolving cone or cones, a pocket
provided with a spring needle bar furnished with prongs and a stud or projection
or its equivalent for operating the same, substantially as described.
4. In a potato planting machine, a pocket having a curved inner face for
guiding the potato into position to be seized by the needle, a spring needle bar
furnished with prongs and a stud or projection for operating the same, in com-
bination with a cam, or its equivalent, for withdrawing the spring needle bar from
the hopper substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Dated this Thirtieth day of July 1890.
For the Applicants,
W. E. GEDGE,
Agent.