US3719158A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Transplanting machine
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1968-02-14
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Granted: 1973-03-06
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Expires: 1988-02-14
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to an automatic transplanting machine which is adapted to receive a plant-loaded magazine thereon. A pair of side-by-side convergent resilient endless belts which are provided to receive the plants from the plant-loaded magazine have a downward path of travel leading to a position adjacent the ground. The endless belts then diverge to release the plants.
Inventors
- 👤 H Roths
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 04:17
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01C; A01C11/00; A01C11/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
A planting machine for planting transplants comprising: a mobile frame; a coilable magazine journaled on said frame; means for moving said magazine on said frame to a transplant discharge station; said magazine including a resilient strip mounted on one edge thereof and formed with a plurality of transplant accommodating pockets in said strip; angularly disposed slits in said strip and leading to said pockets; means on said frame over which said magazine is traveled to open said pockets and discharge the transplants therefrom as the machine is operated; resilient feed means located adjacent said pocket opening means for retaining the transplants in proper position; a planting head comprising a pair of spaced frame members; and a pair of parallel belts formed of spongy yieldable material mounted on said frame members for yieldably receiving said transplants from said resilient feed means and carrying the transplants and discharging them into a furrow in the ground as the machine is operated, the combination further including a feed timing plate positively connected to the means for moving the magazine to control the rate of travel therethrough.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
182 words
A planting machine for planting transplants comprising: a mobile frame; a coilable magazine journaled on said frame; means for moving said magazine on said frame to a transplant discharge station; said magazine including a resilient strip mounted on one edge thereof and formed with a plurality of transplant accommodating pockets in said strip; angularly disposed slits in said strip and leading to said pockets; means on said frame over which said magazine is traveled to open said pockets and discharge the transplants therefrom as the machine is operated; resilient feed means located adjacent said pocket opening means for retaining the transplants in proper position; a planting head comprising a pair of spaced frame members; and a pair of parallel belts formed of spongy yieldable material mounted on said frame members for yieldably receiving said transplants from said resilient feed means and carrying the transplants and discharging them into a furrow in the ground as the machine is operated, the combination further including a feed timing plate positively connected to the means for moving the magazine to control the rate of travel therethrough.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
182 words
A planting machine for planting transplants comprising: a mobile frame; a coilable magazine journaled on said frame; means for moving said magazine on said frame to a transplant discharge station; said magazine including a resilient strip mounted on one edge thereof and formed with a plurality of transplant accommodating pockets in said strip; angularly disposed slits in said strip and leading to said pockets; means on said frame over which said magazine is traveled to open said pockets and discharge the transplants therefrom as the machine is operated; resilient feed means located adjacent said pocket opening means for retaining the transplants in proper position; a planting head comprising a pair of spaced frame members; and a pair of parallel belts formed of spongy yieldable material mounted on said frame members for yieldably receiving said transplants from said resilient feed means and carrying the transplants and discharging them into a furrow in the ground as the machine is operated, the combination further including a feed timing plate positively connected to the means for moving the magazine to control the rate of travel therethrough.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
182 words
A planting machine for planting transplants comprising: a mobile frame; a coilable magazine journaled on said frame; means for moving said magazine on said frame to a transplant discharge station; said magazine including a resilient strip mounted on one edge thereof and formed with a plurality of transplant accommodating pockets in said strip; angularly disposed slits in said strip and leading to said pockets; means on said frame over which said magazine is traveled to open said pockets and discharge the transplants therefrom as the machine is operated; resilient feed means located adjacent said pocket opening means for retaining the transplants in proper position; a planting head comprising a pair of spaced frame members; and a pair of parallel belts formed of spongy yieldable material mounted on said frame members for yieldably receiving said transplants from said resilient feed means and carrying the transplants and discharging them into a furrow in the ground as the machine is operated, the combination further including a feed timing plate positively connected to the means for moving the magazine to control the rate of travel therethrough.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The combination defined in claim 1 in which the magazine is formed with linear spaced apart openings therein, and wherein said pocket opening means is a toothed feed roller meshing with the openings in the magazine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
The combination defined in claim 1 in which said resilient feed means comprises a continuous adjustably mounted holding belt assembly mounted on the frame for yielding engagement with said magazine and in timed relation with the travel thereof for receiving said transplants from said pockets.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
The combination defined in claim 1 in which the planting head comprises individually driven sections, each section being provided with a driven belt, said sections sharply diverging from each other at a predetermined point of travel to release said transplant into a furrow in the ground as the machine is operated.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
137 words
A planting machine for handling transplants comprising: a mobile frame; a plant loaded magazine; planting belt means mounted on said frame and comprising a pair of side-by-side convergent resilient endless belts having parallel engaging portions between which the plants are gripped; means for opening and closing seCtions of said parallel engaging portions alternately for receiving and gripping plants therebetween, respectively; said belts having a downward path of travel leading to a position of adjacency with the ground and diverging at said position to release the plants; and means for transferring plants from said magazine to said parallel engaging portions at a time when said parallel engaging sections are opened including means for grasping the plants when they have been released from said magazine means to prevent their free fall during the transfer to said parallel engaging portions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
137 words
A planting machine for handling transplants comprising: a mobile frame; a plant loaded magazine; planting belt means mounted on said frame and comprising a pair of side-by-side convergent resilient endless belts having parallel engaging portions between which the plants are gripped; means for opening and closing seCtions of said parallel engaging portions alternately for receiving and gripping plants therebetween, respectively; said belts having a downward path of travel leading to a position of adjacency with the ground and diverging at said position to release the plants; and means for transferring plants from said magazine to said parallel engaging portions at a time when said parallel engaging sections are opened including means for grasping the plants when they have been released from said magazine means to prevent their free fall during the transfer to said parallel engaging portions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
109 words
The combination defined in claim 5 in which said side by side resilient belts are normally biased to diverge and said means for opening and closing said parallel engaging sections includes a pair of pivotally mounted arms extending along each of said parallel engaging portions and having cam follower surfaces thereon; and rotary cam means mounted to rotate about generally vertical axes adjacent said arms in position to alternately move said arms toward one another to squeeze another to close said sections of the belts and permit said arms to be moved outwardly by the tendency of said sections of the belts to return to a more diverged position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
80 words
The combination defined in claim 5 in which plant retarding means, movable from a position across said parallel engaging portions of the belt means above and below said planting belt means in which it blocks the path of a plant proceeding between said planting belt engaging portions, is withdrawable to a non-blocking position; and means is provided operating in timed relation with said means for opening and closing said planting belt sections for withdrawing and returning said plant retarding means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination defined in claim 7 in which said plant retarding means is withdrawn at substantially the time said planting belt sections are closed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
82 words
The combination defined in claim 8 in which said plant retarding means comprises a generally horizontal bar mounted to pivot on a generally vertical axis beyond which it extends at both ends; and said means for withdrawing and returning said plant retarding means comprises rotary means for engaging the end of said bar remote from the planting belt means and alternately moving it between plant retarding position and withdrawn position in which the plant is respectively held in upright position and released.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
125 words
A planting machine for handling transplants comprising: a mobile frame; a plant loaded magazine; means for receiving said plant loaded magazine; planting belt means comprising a pair of side-by-side convergent resilient endless members having parallel engaging portions between which the plants are gripped; plant retarding means, movable from a position across the confluence of said engaging portions in which it blocks the path of a plant proceeding between said endless members, withdrawable to a non-blocking position; means for alternately withdrawing and returning said plant retarding means; said endless members having a path of travel leading to a position of adjacency with the ground and diverging at said position to release the plants; and means for transferring plants from said magazine to said parallel engaging portions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
125 words
A planting machine for handling transplants comprising: a mobile frame; a plant loaded magazine; means for receiving said plant loaded magazine; planting belt means comprising a pair of side-by-side convergent resilient endless members having parallel engaging portions between which the plants are gripped; plant retarding means, movable from a position across the confluence of said engaging portions in which it blocks the path of a plant proceeding between said endless members, withdrawable to a non-blocking position; means for alternately withdrawing and returning said plant retarding means; said endless members having a path of travel leading to a position of adjacency with the ground and diverging at said position to release the plants; and means for transferring plants from said magazine to said parallel engaging portions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-05 | 1976-09-04 | 1977-03-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-05 | 1980-09-04 | 1981-03-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-05 | 1984-09-04 | 1985-03-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |