Automated apparatus for removing transplant size seedlings
AssigneeNorth Carolina State University
InventorRaymond C. Long
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for removing tobacco transplant seedlings from a plant bed by being connected to a tractor and pulled thereacross. An undercutter bar is provided at the front of the apparatus for undercutting a ribbon of soil which is then received by a conveyor defining an upwardly extending and a horizontally extending portion. A shaker mechanism provided beneath the conveyor serves to dislodge soil and smaller transplant seedlings from the seedlings as the seedlings are transported from the front to the rear of the automated apparatus. A boxing mechanism is provided at the rear of the automated apparatus which serves to fill containers with the transplant seedlings and then to deposit the filled containers upon the ground as the apparatus is pulled across a plant bed.
Claims20
An automated apparatus for removing transplant size seedlings from a plant bed comprising:
- a frame adapted to be pulled through a plant bed by a tractor and having a front end and a rear end;
- undercutter bar means rotatably mounted at the front end of said frame and adapted to be pushed beneath the surface of a plant bed as said undercutter bar means rotates upwardly toward the front end of said frame;
- conveyor mean mounted on said frame defining a first upwardly inclined portion and a second generally horizontal portion for receiving and transporting seedlings along the first portion and the second portion thereof;
- shaker means carried by said frame and positioned under at least one of said first and second portions of said conveyor means for shaking the seedlings carried thereby;
- seedling boxing means positioned at the rear end of said frame for releasably engaging a container positioned for receiving seedlings from the second portion of said conveyor means and conveying the container from an upper position adjacent said conveyor to a vertically lower position where the seedling-filled container is released to fall upon the plant bed;
- and
- hydraulic means for actuating said conveyor means, undercutter bar means and shaker means.
An automated apparatus for removing transplant size seedlings from a plant bed comprising:
- a frame adapted to be pulled through a plant bed by a tractor and having a front end and a rear end;
- an undercutter bar rotatably mounted at the front end of said frame and adapted to be pushed beneath the surface of a plant bed as it rotates upwardly toward the front end of said frame;
- conveyor means mounted on said frame defining a first upwardly inclined portion and a second generally horizontal portion for receiving and transporting seedlings along the first portion and the second portion thereof;
- shaker means carried by said frame and positioned under at least one of said first and second portions of said conveyor means for shaking the seedlings carried thereby;
- one or more endless chains positioned on opposing sides at the rear end of said frame for releasably engaging a container positioned for receiving seedlings from the second portion of said conveyor means and conveying the container from an upper position adjacent said conveyor to a vertically lower position where the seedling-filled container is released to fall onto the plant bed;
- and
- hydraulic means for actuating said conveyor means, undercutter bar means and shaker means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.