Mulch pot planter

Claim 2

A machine for the planting of organic matter comprising means for movement over the surface of the earth; a frame including means for attachment to a source of motive power; means for holding organic matter, forming openings in the earth, and depositing said organic matter in the earth; rotational means for movement of said holding, forming and depositing means from plant receiving to plant depositing positions; means to drive said rotational means; means for opening said holding, forming and depositing means at said plant depositing position to allow the deposition of said organic matter in the earth; said rotational means comprising support wheels for supporting said organic matter holding means and which rotate in parallel planes, said planes being parallel to the direction of motion of said machine and spaced apart; said support wheels being mounted on rotational shafts, which shafts are spaced horizontally apart in a direction parallel to the direction of motion of said machine; said support wheels each including at least one support arm, said support arms from each wheel pivotally supporting said organic matter holding means at two support points horizontally spaced apart in a direction parallel to said direction of motion of said machine, the rotational spacing of said rotational shafts and said support points being equal and the distance from each rotational shaft to the support points on the respective support arms also being equal, such that a parallelogram is formed with one of the sides being fixedly constrained, whereby said organic matter holding means are held in approximate vertical alignment with the surface of the earth at all times during the rotational path of travel thereof.

Claim 3

A machine for the planting of organic matter comprising means for movement over the surface of the earth; a frame including means for attachment to a source of motive power; means for holding organic matter, forming openings in the earth, and depositing said organic matter in the earth; rotational means for movement of said holding, forMing and depositing means from plant receiving to plant depositing positions; means to drive said rotational means; means for opening said holding forming and depositing means at said plant depositing position to allow the deposition of said organic matter in the earth; said rotational means comprising support wheels for supporting said organic matter holding means and which rotate in parallel planes, said planes being parallel to the direction of motion of said machine and spaced apart; said support wheels being mounted on rotational shafts, which shafts are spaced horizontally apart in a direction parallel to the direction of motion of said machine; said support wheels each including at least one support arm, said support arms from each wheel pivotally supporting said organic matter holding means at two horizontally spaced support points, the horizontal spacing of said rotational shafts and said support points being equal and the distance from each rotational shaft to the support points on the respective support arms also being equal, such that a parallelogram is formed with one of the sides being fixedly constrained, whereby said organic matter holding means are held in approximate vertical alignment with the surface of the earth at all times during the rotational path of travel thereof; said means for holding organic matter, forming openings in the earth, and depositing said organic matter in the earth comprising at least one bucket movably mounted on said rotational means.

Claim 4

A machine for the planting of organic matter comprising means for movement over the surface of the earth; a frame including means for attachment to a source of motive power; means for holding organic matter, forming openings in the earth, and depositing said organic matter in the earth; rotational means for movement of said holding, forMing and depositing means from plant receiving to plant depositing positions; means to drive said rotational means; means for opening said holding forming and depositing means at said plant depositing position to allow the deposition of said organic matter in the earth; said rotational means comprising support wheels for supporting said organic matter holding means and which rotate in parallel planes, said planes being parallel to the direction of motion of said machine and spaced apart; said support wheels being mounted on rotational shafts, which shafts are spaced horizontally apart in a direction parallel to the direction of motion of said machine; said support wheels each including at least one support arm, said support arms from each wheel pivotally supporting said organic matter holding means at two horizontally spaced support points, the horizontal spacing of said rotational shafts and said support points being equal and the distance from each rotational shaft to the support points on the respective support arms also being equal, such that a parallelogram is formed with one of the sides being fixedly constrained, whereby said organic matter holding means are held in approximate vertical alignment with the surface of the earth at all times during the rotational path of travel thereof; said means for holding organic matter, forming openings in the earth, and depositing said organic matter in the earth comprising at least one bucket movably mounted on said rotational means.

Claim 5

A machine for the planting of organic matter comprising means for movement over the surface of the earth; a frame including means for attachment to a source of motive power; means for holding organic matter, forming openings in the earth, and depositing said organic matter in the earth; rotational means for movement of said holding, forming and depositing means from plant receiving to plant depositing positions; means to drive said rotational means; means for opening said holding, forming and depositing means at said plant depositing position to allow the deposition of said organic matter in the earth; said means for movement over the surface of the earth comprising at least two machine supporting wheels mounted on support shafts, said shafts mounted on said frame, one of said wheels including said drive means for said rotational means; said means for holding organic matter, forming openings in the earth, and depositing said organic matter in the earth comprising at least one bucket movably mounted on said rotational means; said rotational means comprising two buckets support wheels which rotate in parallel planes, said planes being parallel to the direction of motion of said machine and spaced apart; said bucket support wheels being mounted on rotational shafts, which shafts are spaced horizontally apart in a direction parallel to the direction of motion of said machine; said wheels each including at least one bucket support arm; said bucket support arms from each wheel pivotally supporting said bucket at two horizontally spaced points; the horizontal spacing of said rotational shafts and said bucket support points being equal and the distance from each rotational shaft to the bucket support points on the respective bucket support arms also being equal, such that a parallelogram is formed with one of the sides being fixedly constrained, thereby holding said bucket in approximate vertical alignment with the surface of the earth at all times during its rotational path of travel.

Claim 6

A machine for the planting of organic matter comprising means for movement over the surface of the earth; a frame including means for attachment to a source of motive power; means for holding organic matter, forming openings in the earth, and depositing said organic matter in the earth; rotational means for movement of said holding, forming and depositing means from plant receiving to plant depositing positions; means to drive said rotational means; means for opening said holding, forming and depositing means at said plant depositing position to allow the deposition of said organic matter in the earth; said means for movement over the surface of the earth comprising at least two machine supporting wheels mounted on support shafts, said shafts mounted on said frame, one of said wheels including said drive means for said rotational means; said means for holding organic matter, forming openings in the earth, and depositing said organic matter in the earth comprising at least one bucket movably mounted on said rotational means; said rotational means comprising two buckets support wheels which rotate in parallel planes, said planes being parallel to the direction of motion of said machine and spaced apart; said bucket support wheels being mounted on rotational shafts, which shafts are spaced horizontally apart in a direction parallel to the direction of motion of said machine; said wheels each including at least one bucket support arm; said bucket support arms from each wheel pivotally supporting said bucket at two horizontally spaced points; the horizontal spacing of said rotational shafts and said bucket support points being equal and the distance from each rotational shaft to the bucket support points on the respective bucket support arms also being equal, such that a parallelogram is formed with one of the sides being fixedly constrained, thereby holding said bucket in approximate vertical alignment with the surface of the earth at all times during its rotational path of travel.

Claim 7

A machine as described in claim 3 wherein one of said bucket support wheels is driven by a drive means comprising a first sprocket mounted on one of said support shafts, a second sprocket mounted on one of said rotational shafts, and a link chain interconnecting said first and second sprockets such that said bucket support wheels are positively driven by said drive means at a constant speed directly proportional to the speed of one of said machine supporting wheels.

Claim 8

A machine as described in claim 4 wherein at least One of each of said support and rotational shafts are extended to allow greater horizontal spacing of said machine supporting wheels while maintaining said sprockets in proper alignment for driving said bucket support wheels.

Claim 9

A machine as described in claim 4 wherein said rotational path of said bucket, as defined by said bucket support wheels and arms, carries said bucket to a position adjacent the surface of the earth such that said bucket partially penetrates said earth surface thereby forming an opening in the earth.

Claim 10

A machine as described in claim 6 wherein said bucket comprises an enclosure, generally in the shape of an upright V, having at least two walls, one of which is movable away from the remaining wall.

Claim 11

A machine as described in claim 7 wherein said movable bucket wall pivots away from said remaining wall in a direction parallel to the direction of motion of said machine as the lower portion of said bucket penetrates the surface of the earth, by means of a pivot arm extending from said movable bucket wall, which arm is operably engaged with said means for opening said holding, forming and depositing means such that an opening is formed in the earth allowing the organic matter held in said bucket to slide out of said bucket and be deposited in said opening in the earth.

Claim 12

A machine as described in claim 8 wherein a change in the spacing of the openings in the earth is accomplished by increasing or decreasing the number of bucket support arms and buckets mounted on said bucket support wheels.

Claim 13

A machine as described in claim 9 wherein said bucket includes blades which penetrate the earth, said blades formed from steel having a high carbon content, which steel is formed into said blades and then annealed to a hardened state.

Claim 14

A machine as described in claim 9 wherein said means for opening said holding, forming and depositing means are camming means including a cam follower mounted on said pivot arm and camming surface, said camming surface arranged to pivot said movable bucket wall by means of engagement with said cam follower only after said lower bucket portion has penetrated the earth.

Claim 15

A machine as described in claim 11 wherein said cam follower is a roller adjustably mounted on said pivot arm and said camming surface is a generally curvilinear track fixedly attached to said frame providing a surface for the engagement of said roller.

Claim 16

A machine as described in claim 12 wherein said adjustable mounting for said roller includes a slot and threaded securing means such that said securing means may be utilized to position said roller at various positions along said slot thereby changing the predetermined position at which said roller engages said track, thereby changing the amount of travel of said movable wall and the corresponding size of the opening in the surface of the earth formed by said bucket including said movable wall.

Claim 17

A machine as described in claim 11 wherein said machine also includes packing means comprising a pair of packing wheels rotationally mounted on support members to roll over the surface of the earth behind the area wherein said buckets are forming said openings in the earth, the planes of said wheels being at an angle with the vertical and with one another such that the lowermost portions of said packing wheels are spaced apart just enough to allow the passage therebetween of said organic matter deposited in the earth, thereby firmly packing the earth in close proximity to said organic matter securely around the organic matter, and the uppermost portions of said packing wheels spaced further apart such that any portion of said deposited organic matter extending above the earth will pass therebetween.

Claim 18

A machine as described in claim 14 wherein said packing wheels and support members are pivotally mounted as a unit on said frame in order to accommodate any irregularities in the surface of the earth over which said machine passes.

Claim 19

A machine as described in claim 15 wherein sAid packing wheels include a rubber lip mounted on the circumference of each of said wheels such that said lips extend past the edges of said wheels thereby forming flexible but resilient packing surfaces which securely pack earth about said deposited organic matter without forming troughs alongside said deposited matter.

Claim 20

A machine as described in claim 11 wherein said machine includes packing means comprising a support arm pivotally mounted on said frame, said support arm including a packing roller rotationally mounted thereon such that said packing roller rolls over, and securely packs, the surface of the earth, directly behind the area wherein said buckets are forming said openings in the earth, to a point immediately adjacent said deposited organic matter, at which point a packer camming means, operably associated with said bucket support wheels and arms, raises said support arm, including said packing roller, over any portion of said deposited organic matter extending above the earth, after which raising said packer camming means releases said support arm and roller allowing said arm and roller to gravitate to the surface of the earth in order to roll, and thereby securely pack, the earth adjacent the next deposited organic matter.

Claim 21

A machine as described in claim 17 wherein said packer camming means comprises a camming surface formed about one of said pivotal support points of said bucket, and a curvilinear cam following track pivotally mounted on said support arm such that as the rotation of said bucket support wheels withdraws said bucket from the earth, said camming surface engages said cam following track thereby lifting said support arm and roller over said deposited organic matter to a point beyond said organic matter at which point said support arm and roller are released to gravitate back to the surface of the earth.

Claim 22

A machine for the planting of organic matter comprising means for movement over the surface of the earth; a frame including means for attachment to a source of motive power; at least one bucket for holding organic matter, forming openings in the earth, and depositing said organic matter in the earth; rotational means for movement of said bucket in a circular path whose plane is parallel to the direction of motion of said machine while said bucket is held vertically upright at all times; said rotational means including bucket support wheels mounted on support shafts; said support wheels offset horizontally a first distance in a direction laterally of said machine; said support shafts offset a second distance parallel to the direction of motion of said machine; said buckets each supported at two points each substantially equidistant from one of said support shafts; said points spaced apart a distance substantially equivalent to said second distance in a direction parallel to the direction of motion of said machine such that a rotational parallelogram is formed supporting said buckets substantially vertically at all times; means to drive said rotational means; means for opening said bucket in a direction parallel to the direction of motion of said machine at a predetermined position to allow the deposition of said organic matter in the earth; and packing means to secure said deposited matter in the earth said packing means comprising a pair of packing wheels rotationally mounted on support members to roll over the surface of the earth behind the area wherein said buckets are forming said openings in the earth, the planes of said wheels being at an angle with the vertical and with one another such that the lowermost portions of said packing wheels are spaced apart just enough to allow the passage therebetween of said organic matter deposited in the earth, thereby firmly packing the earth in close proximity to said organic matter securely around the organic matter, and the uppermost portions of said packing wheels spaced further apart such that any portion of said deposited organic matter extending above the earth will pass therebetwEen.

Claim 23

A machine for the planting of organic matter comprising means for movement over the surface of the earth; a frame including means for attachment to a source of motive power; at least one bucket for holding organic matter, forming openings in the earth, and depositing said organic matter in the earth; rotational means for movement of said bucket in a circular path whose plane is parallel to the direction of motion of said machine while said bucket is held vertically upright at all times; said rotational means including bucket support wheels mounted on support shafts; said support wheels offset horizontally a first distance in a direction laterally of said machine; said support shafts offset a second distance parallel to the direction of motion of said machine; said buckets each supported at two points each substantially equidistant from one of said support shafts; said points spaced apart a distance substantially equivalent to said second distance in a direction parallel to the direction of motion of said machine such that a rotational parallelogram is formed supporting said buckets substantially vertically at all times; means to drive said rotational means; means for opening said bucket in a direction parallel to the direction of motion of said machine at a predetermined position to allow the deposition of said organic matter in the earth; and packing means to secure said deposited matter in the earth said packing means comprising a pair of packing wheels rotationally mounted on support members to roll over the surface of the earth behind the area wherein said buckets are forming said openings in the earth, the planes of said wheels being at an angle with the vertical and with one another such that the lowermost portions of said packing wheels are spaced apart just enough to allow the passage therebetween of said organic matter deposited in the earth, thereby firmly packing the earth in close proximity to said organic matter securely around the organic matter, and the uppermost portions of said packing wheels spaced further apart such that any portion of said deposited organic matter extending above the earth will pass therebetwEen.

Claim 24

A machine as described in claim 19 wherein said packing wheels and support members are pivotally mounted as a unit on said frame in order to accommodate any irregularities in the surface of the earth over which said machine passes; said unit including means for supporting additional weight such that the pressure exerted by said packing wheels varies in proportion to said additional weight.

Claim 25

A machine for the planting of organic matter comprising means for movement over the surface of the earth; a frame including means for attachment to a source of motive power; at least one bucket for holding organic matter, forming openings in the earth, and depositing said organic matter in the earth; rotational means for movement of said bucket in a circular path whose plane is parallel to the direction of motion of said machine while said bucket is held vertically upright at all times; means to drive said rotational means; means for opening said bucket at a predetermined position to allow the deposition of said organic matter in the earth; and packing means to secure said deposited matter in the earth; said packing means comprising a support arm pivotally mounted on said frame downwardly and rearwardly thereof; said support arm including a packing roller rotationally mounted thereon such that said packing roller rolls over, and securely packs, the surface of the earth, directly behind the area wherein said buckets are forming said openings in the earth, to a point immediately adjacent said deposited organic matter, at which point a packer camming means, including lifting means operably associated with said bucket support wheels and arms, lift said packing means to provide contact with said deposited organic matter; said lifting means engaging following means on said packing means for raising said support arm including said packing roller rearwardly and upwardly over any portion of said deposited organic matter extending above the earth as said machine is moved forwardly, after which said packer camming means releases said support arm and roller allowing said arm and roller to gravitate back to the surface of the earth in order to roll, and thereby securely pack, the earth adjacent the next deposited organic matter.

Claim 26

A machine for the planting of organic matter comprising means for movement over the surface of the earth; a frame including means for attachment to a source of motive power; at least one bucket for holding organic matter, forming openings in the earth, and depositing said organic matter in the earth; rotational means for movement of said bucket in a circular path whose plane is parallel to the direction of motion of said machine while said bucket is held vertically upright at all times; means to drive said rotational means; means for opening said bucket at a predetermined position to allow the deposition of said organic matter in the earth; and packing means to secure said deposited matter in the earth; said packing means comprising a support arm pivotally mounted on said frame downwardly and rearwardly thereof; said support arm including a packing roller rotationally mounted thereon such that said packing roller rolls over, and securely packs, the surface of the earth, directly behind the area wherein said buckets are forming said openings in the earth, to a point immediately adjacent said deposited organic matter, at which point a packer camming means, including lifting means operably associated with said bucket support wheels and arms, lift said packing means to provide contact with said deposited organic matter; said lifting means engaging following means on said packing means for raising said support arm including said packing roller rearwardly and upwardly over any portion of said deposited organic matter extending above the earth as said machine is moved forwardly, after which said packer camming means releases said support arm and roller allowing said arm and roller to gravitate back to the surface of the earth in order to roll, and thereby securely pack, the earth adjacent the next deposited organic matter.

Claim 27

A machine as described in claim 21 wherein said lifting means comprises a camming surface formed about one of said pivotal support points of said bucket, said following means including a curvilinear cam following track pivotally mounted on said support arm such that as the rotation of said bucket support wheels withdraws said bucket from the earth, said camming surface engages said cam following track thereby lifting said support arm and roller over said deposited organic matter to a point beyond said organic matter where said camming surface disengages from said cam track, said support arm and roller being released to gravitate back to the surface of the earth.

Claim 28

A machine for the planting of organic matter comprising means for movement over the surface of the earth; a frame; at least one element for holding organic matter, forming openings in the earth, and depositing said organic matter in the earth; rotational means for movement of said element in a circular path whose plane is parallel to the direction of motion of said machine while said element is held vertically upright at all times; said rotational means including element support shafts offset horizontally both a first distance in a direction laterally of said machine and a second distance parallel to the direction of motion of said machine; said elements each supported at two points each substantially equidistant from one of said support shafts; said points spaced apart a distance substantially equivalent to said second distance in a direction parallel to the direction of motion of said machine such that a rotational parallelogram is formed supporting said elements substantially vertically at all times; means to drive said rotational means at a constant speed such that the spacing of saiD openings in the earth is accomplished by changing the number of said elements included in said machine; camming means for opening said elements in a direction parallel to the direction of motion of said machine at a predetermined position to allow the deposition of said organic matter in the earth; and packing means to secure said deposited matter in the earth.

Claim 29

A machine for the planting of organic matter comprising means for movement over the surface of the earth; a frame; at least one element for holding organic matter, forming openings in the earth, and depositing said organic matter in the earth; rotational means for movement of said element in a circular path whose plane is parallel to the direction of motion of said machine while said element is held vertically upright at all times; said rotational means including element support shafts offset horizontally both a first distance in a direction laterally of said machine and a second distance parallel to the direction of motion of said machine; said elements each supported at two points each substantially equidistant from one of said support shafts; said points spaced apart a distance substantially equivalent to said second distance in a direction parallel to the direction of motion of said machine such that a rotational parallelogram is formed supporting said elements substantially vertically at all times; means to drive said rotational means at a constant speed such that the spacing of saiD openings in the earth is accomplished by changing the number of said elements included in said machine; camming means for opening said elements in a direction parallel to the direction of motion of said machine at a predetermined position to allow the deposition of said organic matter in the earth; and packing means to secure said deposited matter in the earth.

Claim 30

A machine for the planting of organic matter comprising means for movement over the surface of the earth; a frame; at least one element for holding organic matter, forming openings in the earth, and depositing said organic matter in the earth; rotational means for movement of said element in a circular path whose plane is parallel to the direction of motion of said machine while said element is held vertically upright at all times; means to drive said rotational means at a constant speed such that the spacing of said openings the earth is accomplished by changing the number of said elements included in said machine; camming means for opening said elements in a direction parallel to the direction of motion of said machine at a predetermined position to allow the deposition of said organic matter in the earth; and packing means to secure said deposited matter in the earth; said elements comprising buckets pivotally mounted on said rotational means, said buckets comprising enclosures, generally in the shape of an upright V, having at least two walls, one of which is movable away from the remaining wall; said rotational means comprising two bucket support wheels which rotate in vertical planes, said planes being parallel to the direction of motion of said machine and spaced horizontally apart, said bucket support wheels being mounted on rotational shafts, which shafts are spaced horizontally apart in the same horizontal plane in a direction parallel to the direction of motion of said machine, one of said bucket support wheels being driven by said drive means, said wheels each including at least one bucket support arm, said bucket support arms from each wheel pivotally supporting said bucket at two horizontally spaced points, the horizontal spacing of said rotational shafts and said bucket support points being equal and the distance from each rotational shaft to the bucket support points on the respective bucket support arms also being equal, such that a prallelogram is formed with one of the sides fixedly constrained, thereby holding said bucket in approximate vertical alignment with the surface of the earth at all times during its rotational path of travel.

Claim 31

A machine for the planting of organic matter comprising means for movement over the surface of the earth; a frame; at least one element for holding organic matter, forming openings in the earth, and depositing said organic matter in the earth; rotational means for movement of said element in a circular path whose plane is parallel to the direction of motion of said machine while said element is held vertically upright at all times; means to drive said rotational means at a constant speed such that the spacing of said openings the earth is accomplished by changing the number of said elements included in said machine; camming means for opening said elements in a direction parallel to the direction of motion of said machine at a predetermined position to allow the deposition of said organic matter in the earth; and packing means to secure said deposited matter in the earth; said elements comprising buckets pivotally mounted on said rotational means, said buckets comprising enclosures, generally in the shape of an upright V, having at least two walls, one of which is movable away from the remaining wall; said rotational means comprising two bucket support wheels which rotate in vertical planes, said planes being parallel to the direction of motion of said machine and spaced horizontally apart, said bucket support wheels being mounted on rotational shafts, which shafts are spaced horizontally apart in the same horizontal plane in a direction parallel to the direction of motion of said machine, one of said bucket support wheels being driven by said drive means, said wheels each including at least one bucket support arm, said bucket support arms from each wheel pivotally supporting said bucket at two horizontally spaced points, the horizontal spacing of said rotational shafts and said bucket support points being equal and the distance from each rotational shaft to the bucket support points on the respective bucket support arms also being equal, such that a prallelogram is formed with one of the sides fixedly constrained, thereby holding said bucket in approximate vertical alignment with the surface of the earth at all times during its rotational path of travel.

Claim 32

A machine as described in claim 24 wherein said movable bucket wall pivots away from said remaining walls in a direction parallel to the direction of motion of said machine as the lower portion of said bucket penetrates the surface of the earth, by means of a pivot arm extending from said bucket, which arm is operably engaged with said camming means, such that an opening is formed in the earth allowing the organic matter held in said bucket to slide out of said bucket and be deposited in said opening in the earth.

Claim 33

A machine as described in claim 25 wherein said pivot arm includes a cam follower which comprises a portion of said camming means, said camming means also including a camming surface, said camming surface arranged to pivot said movable wall by means of engagement with said cam follower and pivot arm only after said lower bucket portion has penetrated the earth.