Seedling transplanter

An automated apparatus for transplanting seedlings having a soil caked root plug from a first seedling tray to a second tray, comprising

• a frame having a front, a back, and spaced apart side members;
• a first conveyor system positioned substantially parallel to and between the spaced apart side members and having a first continuous belt;
• a second conveyor system substantially perpendicular to the first conveyor system and having a second continuous belt;
• a gantry moveable in a plane parallel to and between the spaced apart side members;
• positioning means for moving the gantry;
• means for operably driving the first continuous belt and the second continuous belt;
• pin means for removing a seedling from a first seedling tray and elevating it above the tray from which it was removed;
• a gripper assembly comprised of a plurality of grippers wherein each gripper is configured to laterally grasp and take possession of a seedling removed from the first seedling tray by the pin means and plant it into the soil of a second seedling tray;
• each gripper of the plurality of grippers includes connection means for sliding engagement with the gantry;
• a pair of spaced apart finger elements pivotally connected to an upright support member and separable by a reciprocating plunger configured for reciprocating interpositional insertion between the finger elements enabling the pair of finger elements to open and close;
• and
• each finger element has a proximal portion and an angled soil penetrating portion for transplanting a seedling at downward angle into the second tray without the need for pre-dibbling the soil thereof, and further capable of being removed from the soil of the second tray in at an upward angle in a reverse manner to minimize the possibility of extracting the transplanted seedling therefrom.

An automated apparatus for transplanting seedlings from a first tray to a second tray, the apparatus having a frame with a front, a back, and spaced apart side members, at least one conveyor system to shuttle the seedlings into and out of the apparatus, and an elevation mechanism to raise the seedlings to be transplanted from their tray to a position where a gripper may laterally grasp and take possession of the seedling, wherein the gripper comprises:

• an upright support member;
• a plurality of spaced apart finger elements pivotally connected to the upright support member;
• a reciprocating plunger configured for interpositional reciprocating insertion between the plurality of finger elements enabling the finger elements to open and close;
• each finger element has an angled soil penetrating portion forming an angle with respect to an imaginary vertical line drawn to extend from the remaining portion of the finger and parallel to the upright support member to enable the plurality of spaced apart finger elements to project toward and laterally grasp a plug portion of the seedling and allow a substantial portion of the seedling to extend freely beyond the plurality of finger elements to prevent damage to the seedling and for transplanting a seedling into the second tray without the need for pre-dibbling the soil thereof;
• and
• a liquid directing tube attached for dispensing a liquid directed at the transplanted seedling to facilitate the assimilation of the seedling with the soil or the second tray.