Spatial transplanter mechanism

A transplanter system comprising:

• (a) a plurality of plant holder means for releasably holding a plant;
• (b) a plurality of holder arms, each holder arm having a first end and a second end at least one of said holders mounted at a respective said first end;
• (c) a support assembly defining a rotation axis and rotatably supporting each of said second ends for rotation about said rotation axis;
• (d) drive means to rotate each of said holder arms and corresponding holders about said rotation axis;
• and
• (e) varying means to automatically vary a radius from each holder to said rotation axis as each holder rotates about said rotation axis such that the radius is relatively small when the holder is in an upper, loading position whereat a plant may be placed in the holder and is relatively large when the holder is in a lower, unloading position whereat the holder will release any plant held;
• and
• wherein said support assembly includes a rotatable hub mounted on an axle, said rotation axis extending lengthwise through said axle, and wherein said holder arm is pivotably mounted to said rotatable hub, and wherein said varying means automatically varies the velocity of each holder as it moves between said loading position and said unloading position such that the holder moves at a first velocity when the holder is in its loading position and the holder moves at a second velocity when the holder is in its unloading position, said second velocity being greater than said first velocity.

A transplanter system comprising:

• (a) a support assembly;
• (b) a plurality of automatic release plant holder means, each holder means supported by said support assembly to releasably hold a plant;
• (c) drive means to move each of said holder means from an upper, loading position whereat a plant may be placed in the holder means to a lower, unloading position whereat the holder means automatically releases any plant held in it;
• and
• (d) varying means to automatically vary the velocity of each holder means as it moves between its loading position and its unloading position such that the holder means moves at a first velocity when the holder means is in its loading position and the holder means moves at a second velocity when the holder means is in its unloading position, said second velocity being greater than said first velocity;
• and
• further comprising a plurality of holder arms, each holder arm having a corresponding holder means at a first end and rotatably supported by said support assembly at a second end, wherein said drive means is operable to rotate each holder about a rotation axis, and wherein said varying means includes a plurality of links, each link having a first end pivotably attached to a corresponding holder arm, each link folding the corresponding holder arm in towards the rotation axis when the corresponding holder arm assumes its loading position, and each link unfolding the corresponding holder arm away from the rotation axis when the corresponding holder assumes its unloading position, and wherein each link has a second end pivotably attached to a rotating spider.

A transplanter system comprising:

• (a) a support assembly;
• (b) a plurality of holders, each holder having means to releasably hold and automatically release a plant;
• (c) drive means to move each of said holders from an upper, loading position whereat a plant may be placed in the holder to a lower, unloading position whereat the holder automatically releases any plant held in said holder;
• and
• (d) varying means for automatically varying the velocity of each holder as it moves between its loading position and its unloading position such that the holder moves at a first velocity when the holder is in its loading position and the holder moves at a second velocity when the holder is in its unloading position, said second velocity being greater that said first velocity;
• and
• wherein said drive means includes power source means to move each holder in a continuous manner during operation of the system and means for moving said support assembly, said system being operable during continuous movement of said support assembly relative to the ground, said drive means moving each holder in a cycle of 360.degree., path defining means, said path defining means causing movement of said holder from its loading position to its unloading position by a first path and from its unloading position back to its unloading position by a second path distinct from said first path, each holder has an uppermost position within 15.degree. of its loading position, each holder defines an orientation line along which the stalk of a plant will be disposed when the plant is in the holder, said drive means moves each holder such that the orientation line of each holder is:
• within 20.degree. of horizontal when the holder is in its uppermost position;
• and
• within 10.degree. of vertical when the holder is in its unloading position;
• and
• wherein said drive means moves each holder at a constant angular velocity about a rotation axis throughout said cycle of 360.degree. when transplanting at a constant rate and wherein said varying means operates to vary a radius from each holder to said rotation axis in order to vary the velocity of each holder.