Dibble tube soil plug planter
US4388035A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 8, 1981 |
| Grant date | Jun 14, 1983 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 8, 2001 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA01C11/025
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A planter is moved through a field to place two rows of four plants on the top of a planting bed between adjacent irrigation furrows. Plants ready for transplant are disposed in trays within polymerized cast soil plugs. Each plug is disposed within the tray in a hole. Each tray has rows and columns of plant receiving holes extending through each tray. The planter carrying the plugs moves in increments and sets the planter mechanism in a stationary position over the top of the planting bed prior to plug planting. The tray carrying the transplants is registered horizontally and vertically to a plug receiving cylinder by respective cams and a supporting chain. Upon registry, polymer plugs containing sprouted plants therein are ejected, typically eight at a time, by ejecting fingers penetrating the plant receiving holes. Ejection occurs with the plants horizontally disposed into receiving concavities defined within a rotating cylinder. Rotation of the cylinder drops the ejected plants into receiving funnels, one for each plant. Upon return rotation of the cylinder, connection of a wind chest to the receiving funnel occurs with an air blast forcing the plug and carried plant downwardly …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.