Sapling planting unit
AssigneeDeere & Company
InventorsVishal Puranik, Syed Gouse Moiddin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sapling indexing unit for a transplanter, the sapling indexing unit comprising a channel track. An intermediary unit is movably coupled to the channel track. The intermediary unit comprises a plurality of tubes arranged vertically and each having a top and a bottom. A base frame is proximal to the bottom of the plurality of tubes and an aperture is defined by the base frame. A drive mechanism is configured to provide horizontal movement to the intermediary unit relative to the base frame and the aperture.
Claims13
A sapling indexing system for a transplanter comprising:
- a channel track;
- an intermediary unit movably coupled to the channel track, the intermediary unit comprising a plurality of tubes each having a top and a bottom, wherein a discharge flap is pivotably coupled to the bottom of at least one of the plurality of tubes, the discharge flap comprising an open state and a closed state;
- a base frame proximal to the bottom of the plurality of tubes and an aperture defined by the base frame, wherein the base frame further comprises a first surface, wherein the intermediary unit is configured to move relative to the first surface, and wherein the first surface retains the discharge flap in the closed state;
- and
- a linear actuator configured to provide horizontal movement to the intermediary unit relative to the base frame.
A sapling indexing system for a transplanter comprising:
- a channel track;
- an intermediary unit movably coupled to the channel track, the intermediary unit comprising a plurality of tubes each having a top and a bottom and arranged vertically and in a row, wherein a discharge flap is pivotably coupled to the bottom of at least one of the plurality of tubes, the discharge flap comprising an open state and a closed state;
- a base frame proximal to the bottom of the plurality of tubes and an aperture defined by the base frame, wherein the base frame further comprises a first surface, wherein the intermediary unit is configured to move relative to the first surface, and wherein the first surface retains the discharge flap in the closed state;
- and
- a linear actuator configured to provide horizontal movement to the intermediary unit relative to the base frame.
A sapling indexing system for a transplanter comprising:
- a channel track;
- an intermediary unit movably coupled to the channel track, the intermediary unit comprising a plurality of tubes each arranged vertically and having a top and a bottom, wherein a discharge flap is pivotably coupled to the bottom of at least one of the plurality of tubes, the discharge flap comprising an open state and a closed state;
- a base frame proximal to the bottom of the plurality of tubes and an aperture defined by the base frame, wherein the base frame further comprises a first surface, wherein the intermediary unit is configured to move relative to the first surface, and wherein the first surface retains the discharge flap in the closed state;
- a linear actuator configured to provide horizontal movement to the intermediary unit relative to the base frame;
- and
- a controller configured to operate the linear actuator;
- wherein the discharge flap is configured to hold a sapling during the closed state and drop the sapling during the open state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.