Patent Description:
Various machinery exists that include: a working part (e.g. a drill); and a selection of tools (either stored within a magazine or on a carousel) that are interchangeably secured to the working party. Examples of such tools include: <CIT> "Tool magazine system for digit control machine tool", <CIT> "Tool magazine" and <CIT> "Flame cutting machine with tool fixing device". A drawback of these machines with interchangeable tools is that they are not particularly suited to swap heavy tools, which should preferably be interchanged without breaking their secure connection to the machine. The present invention aims to interchange subsoiling and planting heads without the heads losing their secure connection to the planting apparatus.

Furthermore, planting apparatus that swap between subsoiling and planting heads are known. For instance, ProPlant1 apparatus manufactured by Novelquip Forestry (Pty) Ltd includes opposing planter and a subsoiling heads secured to axial ends of a link, which link is hingedly secured at its centre to a boom. To swap between the planter and subsoiling heads, the link rotates <NUM> degrees about its hinged connection. A drawback of this arrangement is that it requires approximately <NUM> meter swing clearance to swap between the planter and subsoiling heads. It is an object of the present invention to provide planting apparatus that requires less lateral clearance to swap between the two heads, as consequently to enable more dense planting of seedlings.

Instead of using link rotation to swap between the planting and subsoiling heads, the present invention uses a T-shaped guide including a central primary guide section and a pair of opposing branch guide sections at an axial end of the primary guide section. The planting and subsoiling heads may be stored along the branch guide sections, and a selected head may travel along the primary guide section towards an extended position for boring pits / planting seedlings.

T-shaped guides along which runners travel are also known. For instance, <CIT> "Gleitbahn mit daran gleitenden haken, insbesondere fuer schlachthauszwecke", <CIT> "Operable wall deployment and storage system", <CIT> "Device comprising a rail system, at least one carrier and a transport mechanism for use in such a device", <CIT> "Hanging device of moving room partition wall", <CIT> "Overhead guide track systems for automated material handling and storage and parking facilities", <CIT> "Apparatus for transferring baggage", <CIT> "Device for switching universal cranes", <CIT> "Tube conveyor", <CIT> "Hanger", <CIT> "Multi-directional dolly transfer system", <CIT> "Suspension pulley structure for movable partitions", <CIT> "Intersection navigation system", <CIT> "Transit grid", <CIT> "Versatile display apparatus", <CIT> "Trolley systems", <CIT> "Device for switch in track system", <CIT> "Movable wall panel systems", <CIT> "Intersection construction for movable wall panel system", <CIT> "Trolley for movable wall panels", <CIT> "Multidirectional suspension system for operable partitions", <CIT> "Supporting apparatus for intravenous containers or the like", <CIT> "Apparatus for showing materials and combinations of materials", <CIT> "Multi-directional canted wheel carrier for operable walls", <CIT> "Suspension system primarily designed for use with operable walls and partitions", <CIT> "Track switch", <CIT> "Sliding door apparatus", <CIT> "Multi-directional radial wheel trolley and track for operable walls", <CIT> "Track system for operable wall", <CIT> "Guiding system having a trolley for moving suspended door panels and the trolley", <CIT> "Multi-directional carrier system for operable partitions", <CIT> "Multidirectional, switchless overhead support system", <CIT> "Linear motion trolley and track systems for operable walls", <CIT> "Transport device having rectangular transport bodies" and <CIT> "Travelling apparatus for suspended panel" describe a primary guide section with opposed branch guide sections extending orthogonally from the primary guide section, wherein a runner may travel along the primary guide section and into a branch guide section.

<CIT> describes a planting apparatus that:.

However, the guides described in the prior art:.

The present invention aims to provide a planting apparatus:.

According to a the invention, there is provided planting apparatus that includes:.

Generally, the first runner defines a bridging guide portion that bridges the first and second branch guides when the first runner is in a retracted position and disposed on the primary guide, between the first and second branch guides.

Preferably, a subsoiling head is secured to the second runner, and a planting head is secured to the third runner.

Generally, the first actuator and the second actuator extend and retract along parallel, spaced apart planes.

Preferably, the primary guide on the one hand and the first and second branch guides on the other hand extend along parallel, spaced apart planes.

Generally, the planting apparatus further includes locking means for:.

Typically, when the first runner is at an axial end of the primary guide, distal the first and second branch guides, either the subsoiling head or the planting head carried on the first runner protrudes from the housing.

Generally, the planting apparatus further includes an elevator comprising:.

in use, to raise and lower the housing relative to the vehicle.

Alternatively, the housing may be secured to the track, and the carriage may be securable to a vehicle,
Preferably, the planting apparatus further includes a fourth actuator that is disposed between vehicle and the elevator, in use, to move the elevator laterally relative to the vehicle.

Typically, the planting apparatus further includes:.

The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:.

With reference to <FIG>, a planting apparatus <NUM> according to a preferred embodiment of the invention includes a housing <NUM>, first second and third runners <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, drive means <NUM>, a subsoiling head <NUM> and a planting head <NUM>.

The planting apparatus <NUM> is used to: prepare soil for planting using the subsoiling head <NUM>; and plant seedlings within the prepared soil using the planting head <NUM>.

The first and second branch guides <NUM> and <NUM>:.

The primary guide <NUM> and the branch guides <NUM> and <NUM> form a T-shape.

As can be seen in <FIG>, the first and second branch guides <NUM> and <NUM> extend along a plane that is parallel to, but spaced from the plane along which the primary guide <NUM> extends. Put another way, having regard to the front view shown in <FIG>, the primary guide <NUM> extends along a plane that is further to the rear than the plane along which the first and second branch guides <NUM> and <NUM> extends.

Each runner <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> comprises a body <NUM> and a series of wheels <NUM> rotatably secured to the body <NUM>. To facilitate replacement of the wheels <NUM>, the wheels <NUM> are typically rotatably secured to a mounting <NUM> that is, in turn, releasably secured to the body <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. The first runner <NUM> is sized and shaped to fit within the U-shaped rail of the primary guide <NUM>, but is oversized relative to the constricted radial opening defined by the primary guide <NUM>, thereby to capture the first runner <NUM> within the first guide <NUM>. Accordingly, the first runner <NUM> is slidably secured to the primary guide <NUM>. The second runner <NUM> is sized and shaped to fit within the U-shaped rail of the first branch guide <NUM>, but is oversized relative to the constricted radial opening defined by the first branch guide <NUM>, thereby to capture the second runner <NUM> within the first branch guide <NUM>, when disposed therein. Accordingly, the second runner <NUM> is slidably securable to the first branch guide <NUM>. Similarly, the third runner <NUM> is sized and shaped to fit within the U-shaped rail of the second branch guide <NUM>, but is oversized relative to the constricted radial opening defined by the second branch guide <NUM>, thereby to capture the third runner <NUM> within the second branch guide <NUM>, when disposed therein. Accordingly, the third runner <NUM> is slidably securable to the second branch guide <NUM>.

The first, second and third runners <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> are configured such that:.

More specifically, the first runner <NUM> defines a bridging guide portion on its operative support surface. The bridging guide portion is in the form of a linear rail that is generally U-shaped in axial cross-section, defining open axial ends and a constriction along the length of its radial opening. In essence, the bridging guide portion of the first runner <NUM> is shaped to correspond with the open axial ends of the first and second branch guides <NUM> and <NUM>, thereby to bridge the first and second branch guides <NUM> and <NUM> when the first runner <NUM> is disposed:.

In other words, when the first runner <NUM> is disposed between the first and second branch guides <NUM> and <NUM>:.

provide a continuous guide within which second or third runners <NUM> or <NUM> may be secured, and along which the second or third runners <NUM> or <NUM> are slidably movable without breaking their secure connection to the housing <NUM>.

As will be appreciated from <FIG>, the first and second actuators 20a and 20b extend and retract along parallel, spaced apart planes. Put another way, having regard to the front view shown in <FIG>, the first actuator 20a extends and retracts along a plane that is further to the rear than the plane along which the second actuator 20b extends and retracts.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, when the second and third runners <NUM> and <NUM> are disposed within the branch guides <NUM> and <NUM> or on the first runner <NUM> (when in the retracted position), the second actuator 20b is securable to the second and third runners <NUM> and <NUM> / their corresponding subsoiling head <NUM> or planting head <NUM> via a link <NUM> in the form of a plate that defines a pair of recesses for receiving the second and third runners <NUM> and <NUM> / the subsoiling and planting heads <NUM> and <NUM> therein. Optionally, the primary guide <NUM> may include formations (e.g. a lip) that retains the second runner <NUM> or the third runner <NUM> on the first runner <NUM> when the second or third runner <NUM> or <NUM> is not received within the recesses defined by the link <NUM>.

The subsoiling head <NUM> may be a subsoiling head known in the art, and is secured to the second runner <NUM>. When the second runner <NUM> is captured within the first branch guide <NUM>, the subsoiling head <NUM> stands proud of the U-shaped channel defined by the first branch guide <NUM>.

The planting head <NUM> may be a planting head known in the art, and is secured to the third runner <NUM>. When the third runner <NUM> is captured within the second branch guide <NUM>, the planting head <NUM> stands proud of the U-shaped channel defined by the second branch guide <NUM>.

Turning to <FIG> and <FIG>, when the first runner <NUM> is in the extended position, either the subsoiling head <NUM> or the planting head <NUM> carried on the first runner <NUM> protrudes from the housing <NUM>.

The planting apparatus <NUM> further includes locking means, in this instance, in the form of the link <NUM> that:.

Although the planting apparatus <NUM> has been described as effecting preparation of soil and planting of seedlings when the first runner is in the extended position, it will be appreciated that soil preparation and planting may be effected while the first runner <NUM> moves towards the extended position, thereby varying: displacement of the second and third runners <NUM> and <NUM> along the primary guide <NUM> / protrusion of the heads <NUM> and <NUM> from the housing <NUM> and the depth of boring / planting.

<FIG> and <FIG> show a planting apparatus <NUM> according to an alternative embodiment of the invention. This embodiment is generally similar to the planting apparatus <NUM> according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, provided that:.

It will be appreciated that by swapping between the subsoiling head <NUM> and planting head <NUM> using linear movement of the heads <NUM> and <NUM> along the primary and branch guides <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, the planting apparatus <NUM> requires less lateral clearance than the (approximately) <NUM> meter swing clearance required by prior art planting apparatus that rotatably swap between subsoiling and planting heads. By reducing the swing clearance required, the planting apparatus <NUM> according to the present invention is able to increase the density of planted seedlings per stop, and thereby increase production.

It will also be appreciated that swapping between the subsoiling head <NUM> and the planting head <NUM> is effected while maintaining the heads <NUM> and <NUM> secured to guides <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> (whether directly or via the first runner <NUM>) at all times. This significantly reduces the risk of either of the heads <NUM> or <NUM> breaking their connection with the housing <NUM> and falling.

Claim 1:
Planting apparatus (<NUM>) including:
a housing (<NUM>) that defines:
a primary guide (<NUM>); and
first and second opposed branch guides (<NUM>, <NUM>) extending laterally from the primary guide (<NUM>);
a first runner (<NUM>) slidably secured to, and movable along the primary guide (<NUM>);
a second runner (<NUM>) securable to, and movable along the first branch guide (<NUM>);
a third runner (<NUM>) securable to, and movable along the second branch guide (<NUM>);
the first, second and third runners (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) being configured such that: the second runner (<NUM>) is receivable from the first branch guide (<NUM>) on to the first runner (<NUM>); and the third runner (<NUM>) is receivable from the second branch guide (<NUM>) on to the first runner (<NUM>); and
drive means (<NUM>) for moving:
the second runner (<NUM>) along the first branch guide (<NUM>) and on to the first runner (<NUM>);
the third runner (<NUM>) along the second branch guide (<NUM>) and on to the first runner (<NUM>); and
the first runner (<NUM>), together with either of the second or third runners (<NUM>, <NUM>) received thereon, along the primary guide (<NUM>).