US 4,616,578 A · Automatic method and apparatus for transplanting crops

Abstract

Automatic method and apparatus for transplanting crops includes a transplanting apparatus which receives trays of seedlings from a greenhouse and sequentially displaces the seedlings from the trays into selected crop rows via an automatic process. The method and apparatus utilizes a plurality of fluid dispensers mounted on the transplanting apparatus selectively operable for directing fluid against the ground to form a plurality of laterally spaced-apart plant-receiving cavities. The fluid dispensers are positioned in advance of a carriage which is provided on the apparatus for receiving a plurality of seedling trays. The carriage is provided with plant setters which are selectively operable for engaging selected seedlings in selected rows of the seedling trays and displacing them substantially vertically downwardly from a selected cell into a plant-receiving cavity.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A method for transplanting seedling plugs from seedling trays having cells aligned in separate rows into a plurality of spaced-apart crop rows in a field comprising:

orienting the seedling trays by a vehicle means over a field to be transplanted;
forming a plurality of laterally spaced-apart plant-receiving cavities in the ground aligned on the crop rows;
maintaining the seedling trays substantially stationary relative to the field at selected intervals during travel of the vehicle means;
engaging upper surfaces of the seedling plugs in different rows of the seedling trays and displacing them substantially vertically downwardly through and free from a cell while holding the seedling plugs by impaling means for insertion into the plant-receiving cavities;
and
releasing the seedling plugs from the impaling means into associated plant-receiving cavities.

3 more elements

Apparatus for automatically transplanting seedling plugs from cells aligned in rows in a seedling tray into a plurality of spaced-apart crop rows in a field comprising:

vehicle means operable for traveling over the field;
a plurality of cavity-creating means mounted on the vehicle means selectively operable for forming a plurality of laterally spaced-apart plant-receiving cavities aligned on the crop rows;
carriage means mounted on the vehicle aft of the cavity-creating means for receiving seedling trays;
and
plant setter means operable for selectively engaging upper surfaces of seedling plugs in the seedling trays and displacing them substantially vertically downwardly through a cell for insertion into plant-receiving cavities, each plant setter means including a guide means disposed over an associated crop row operable for engaging a seedling plug in a selected cell and holding the seedling plug substantially aligned along a vertical axis while the seedling plug is displaced downwardly through the cell so that it is moved free from engagement therewith for insertion into a plant-receiving cavity, each guide means being defined by impaling means longitudinally received and shiftable within a pusher means, the impaling means initially engaging a seedling plug for penetration thereinto followed by the pusher means engaging the seedling plug.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Automatic method and apparatus for transplanting crops

Life of this patent

Automatic method and apparatus for transplanting crops

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10