Mulch sheet perforating apparatus

Claim 1

A MULCH SHEET FLAME PERFORATOR FOR A SEED PLANTER HAVING: (A) AN ENDLESS PLANTER BELT OPERATING OVER A PAIR OF HORIZONTALLY SPACED PULLEYS, (B) PLANTING FINGERS PROJECTING OUTWARDLY FROM THE OUTER FACE OF SAID BELT FOR FORMING PLANTING CAVITIES THROUGH A MULCH SHEET ON THE GROUND SURFACE, (C) A MULCH SHEET FLAME PERFORATOR FOR PRESENTING A SAID PULLEYS AND BELT IN OPERATIVE POSITION, (D) A MULCH SHEET FLAME PERFORATOR FOR PRESENTING A FLAME JET AGAINST A MULCH SHEET ABOVE SAID PLANTING CAVITIES COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A FRAME PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID PLANTER FRAME TO ROCK AROUND THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF ONE OF SAID PAIR OF PULLEYS OF SAID PLANTER, (E) MEANS ON SAID FRAME ADAPTED TO ENGAGE AND TRAVEL ALONG THE GROUND SURFACE TO VERTICALLY POSITION SAID FRAME RELATIVE TO THE GROUND SURFACE, (F) A HOLLOW CYLINDRICAL CONTROL DRUM HAVING RADIALLY DISPOSED PERFORATIONS IN CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED POSITIONS ON THE PERIPHERY OF SAID DRUM (G) A GAS BURNER WITHIN SAID CONTROL DRUM HAVING A DOWNWARDLY PROJECTING FLAME JET DIRECTED TOWARD SAID PERFORATIONS SO THAT ROTATION OF SAID DRUM ALLOWS INTERMITTENT DOWNWARD DISCHARGE OF SAID FLAME JET AGAINST SAID MULCH SHEET AS SAID PERFORATIONS BECOME ALIGNED WITH SAID BURNER TIP TO FORM A PLANT GROWTH HOLE IN SAID SHEET.