US3943862A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sugar cane planting apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-10-04
•
Granted: 1976-03-16
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Expires: 1994-10-04
Abstract
Abstract A sugar cane planting apparatus has a conveyor which is preferably continuous and has spaced horizontal trough elements for taking up sugar cane billets from a supply bin and arranged to discharge the billets one at a time to a planting head with the billets arranged parallel to the direction of motion of the apparatus whereby the billets are planted substantially in end-to-end relation. For controlling the billet supply, the conveyor extends upwardly and is cranked so that any second billet lying on top of a billet in the trough rolls back into the bin and any upstanding billet is deflected by a fixed deflecting plate in the upper crank part. A casing guides the billets on the downward run, each billet falling from the trough (in which it is moved on the upward run) when the trough turns over the top of the conveyor, the billet falling onto the back of the preceding trough.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter Populin
- 👤 Louis Populin
- 👤 Guiseppe Scalia
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 14:08
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01C; A01C11/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S111/00; Y10S111/906; Y10S111/907
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
32 words
A sugar cane planting apparatus comprising a. means for mounting the apparatus for movement across a field along a planting path; b. a bin for receiving a supply of sugar cane billets;
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
32 words
A sugar cane planting apparatus comprising a. means for mounting the apparatus for movement across a field along a planting path; b. a bin for receiving a supply of sugar cane billets;
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
182 words
c. a billet discharge station; d. a conveyor having an upward run extending upwardly from a billet take-up point within the bin for delivering billets to said billet discharge station; e. billet supply means included in the conveyor for engaging and conveying said billets and comprising billet supports dimensioned and shaped to support a single billet for delivery to said discharge point; f. means for transmitting driving force to said billet supply means for supplying said billets sequentially and intermittently to said discharge station; g. guide means mounted for guiding downward motion of billets from said discharge station, the guide means for delivering the billets for planting with the longitudinal direction of each billet extending substantially parallel to said planting path; h. said upward run of the conveyor having an upper portion overhanging said bin whereby any second billet lying on top of a first billet supported on a billet support falls back into said bin; and i. wall means located at said upper portion of said upward run for deflecting back into said bin any billet upstanding from a billet support.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
182 words
c. a billet discharge station; d. a conveyor having an upward run extending upwardly from a billet take-up point within the bin for delivering billets to said billet discharge station; e. billet supply means included in the conveyor for engaging and conveying said billets and comprising billet supports dimensioned and shaped to support a single billet for delivery to said discharge point; f. means for transmitting driving force to said billet supply means for supplying said billets sequentially and intermittently to said discharge station; g. guide means mounted for guiding downward motion of billets from said discharge station, the guide means for delivering the billets for planting with the longitudinal direction of each billet extending substantially parallel to said planting path; h. said upward run of the conveyor having an upper portion overhanging said bin whereby any second billet lying on top of a first billet supported on a billet support falls back into said bin; and i. wall means located at said upper portion of said upward run for deflecting back into said bin any billet upstanding from a billet support.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transmitting means comprises a driven axle at one end of the conveyor and a second axle at the other end of the conveyor, flexible continuous elements at respective sides of the conveyor mounted for motion on the axles, and each of said billet supports comprises an element having end portions mounted on said flexible continuous elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein each said billet support extends substantially parallel to said plainting path and said guide means comprises a downwardly extending enclosed zone of substantially rectangular shape, the length thereof extending substantially parallel to said planting path.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein each said billet supply element is a rigid element providing a trough slightly larger than said billets.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said wall means is provided by a fixed plate extending adjacent said upward run along which said billet supports move.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said fixed plate extends around the conveyor to provide a backing plate immediately behind said billet supports on the return run of the conveyor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
70 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein each said rigid element has a surface facing away from the direction of motion thereof and uppermost during downward motion thereof, said guide means being co-operating with each rigid element for supporting a billet during downward motion thereof, the supported billet having been discharged from the next succeeding rigid element at the discharge station, the billet falling under gravity onto the rigid element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
In combination, apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for mounting the apparatus comprises mounting brackets whereby the apparatus can be supported on a vehicle, and a sugar cane planting head mounted on the bottom of the guide means for co-operation therewith.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
The combination as claimed in claim 8, and further comprising a bulk supply trailer bin having wheel means, connection means for connecting the trailer bin to the planting apparatus, bin means for receiving and holding a large supply of billets and conveyor means selectively operable to transport billets to said bin of the planting apparatus.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-03-16 | 1979-09-15 | 1980-03-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-03-16 | 1983-09-15 | 1984-03-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-03-16 | 1987-09-15 | 1988-03-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |