US 6,305,303 B1Granted

High-speed transplanter for seedlings attached to tape

AssigneeBoard of Supervisors of Louisana State University and Agriculture and Mechnical College

InventorsMalcolm E. Wright, Leslie L. Davis, Brent C. Gros, Stephen C. LeJeune, William C. Mercer

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Abstract

An automated transplanter has been designed for seedlings previously loaded and correctly spaced on a low tensile-strength, biodegradable tape wound on a spool. The transplanter design allowed for rapid planting of the tape with the attached seedlings while minimizing the tension placed on the tape. The design linked the unspooling of the tape directly to the ground speed of the tractor and provides for an anti-backlash mechanism to prevent the spool from free-wheeling when the tractor speed slowed quickly. Using this design, synthetic seedlings attached to a low tensile-strength tape were successfully planted at speeds up to 7.5 mph.

Claims11

Dependent claims

Apparatus for planting seedlings attached to a tape, wherein said apparatus is adapted to be attached to a tractor, and wherein said apparatus comprises:

(a) a frame adapted to be mounted to the rear of the tractor;
(b) a furrow opener attached to said frame and adapted to open a furrow in the ground as said frame is pulled by the tractor
(c) a pair of packing wheels, wherein said packing wheels are mounted to said frame rearward of the furrow opener;
(d) a drive wheel mounted to said frame and adapted to roll on the ground as the tractor moves;
(e) a drive train powered by said drive wheel;
(f) a rotatable turntable mounted on said frame and adapted to hold the tape of seedlings;
(g) a clutch connected to said drive train and adapted to control the rotation of said turntable;
and
(h) two conveyor belts, wherein said conveyor belts are mounted near the turntable and are driven by the drive train at a speed equal to the speed of the tractor, and wherein said conveyor belts are adapted to pull the tape from the turntable into the furrow opener;
wherein:
said furrow opener is adapted to place tape entering said furrow opener into the soil at a speed equal to the speed of the tractor, and wherein the packing wheels are adapted to pack soil against the tape after the tape has been positioned in the furrow.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.