FR2531603A1 - POWDER SEEDER - Google Patents

Abstract

THE INVENTION RELATES TO A POCKET DRILL. IT RELATES TO A SEEDER 6 WHICH INCLUDES A WHEEL 28 INTENDED TO TRANSMIT SEEDS 27 TO PLANTS 10 WITH A DEPRESSION OF A WHEEL 8 FOR SETTING UP. WHEN THE PLANTS 10 REACH THEIR LOWER PLANTING POSITION, AN ASSOCIATED PLUNGER 14 CONTROLS BY A CAM HUNTS THE SEED TO A PREDETERMINED DEPTH AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HOLE FORMED BY THE PLANTING 10. SOME OF THE WATER IS SIMULTANEOUSLY INJECTED FROM THE HOLLOW PART PLUNGER 14. APPLICATION TO AUTOMATIC SEED PLANTING.

Description

The present invention relates to seeders in pits, that is to say those

  which, during operation, form a hole in the soil by depressing, with the seed to be planted in the consolidated soil or on it, at the bottom of the hole.

  Already known rotary dowels

  in which seeds coated with a magnetically attractive coating are planted by sinking into the soil using magnetic punches. Once coated in the soil, adhesion forces prevent extraction.

seeds with the punch.

  In a seed drill version, seeds are metered into holes formed in the soil by a pneumatic device or by planters.

mounted around a wheel.

  In another rotating arrangement, seeds of a seed-forming hub member are metered to recessed divers which progressively move the seeds to the hollow plant tips through which they are pushed back into the plant.

floor.

  An advantage of seeded seeders is that the packed soil column formed at the bottom of the hole can be a capillary-like interface,

  attracting moisture from the soil placed below, towards the seed.

  This fact may encourage a more uniform establishment of plants than in the case of a traditional plantation with

  A disadvantage of these known seeders is, however,

  as well as the space released above each seed

  initially represents a region of zero impedance, irri-

  germination to promote germination (or heavy rains) may cause the hole to be filled with fine particles from the surrounding soil, forming a plug which discourages the emergence of small, desirable plants

  and their establishment during drying.

  The invention relates to a seed drill in secure pouches.

  the advantages of known devices in the measurement of

  possible but eliminating their disadvantages.

  According to the invention, these characteristics are obtained

  in two ways: (1) by eliminating the need for irrigation at the time of establishment by limiting the added water for each seed to the hole containing the

  seed, (2) and by preventing the introduction of

  soil fines in planting holes under heavy rainfall after a seed has been planted,

  using a solid particulate material.

  Thus, according to the invention, a seed drill in soil-supported pouches comprises a setting device intended to form a hole in the soil by pressing, the seed

  to plant being placed in the consolidated soil or on that

  ci, at the bottom of the hole, and a filling device for putting into the hole thus formed a certain amount of water or a solid particulate filler, or

  two, the device for putting it in place and the

  Folding being intended to function automatically and

  successively when the drill moves along the ground.

  It is advantageous that the delivery device comprises a planting element having an opening and operating in depression, from which the seed is

  released when a diver moves in the plane element

  tation or under the control of a stream of water.

  The expressions "having an opening" and "depressions"

  In this paper reference is made to a planting or planting element or the like which indicates that the article concerned has a seed-holding opening maintained in depression or intended to be maintained in depression; to say at a pressure lower than the

atmospheric pressure.

  The diver, when present, has

  a hollow organ whose hole is intended to

  with a reserve of water, at the moment when the seed is released by the planting element, or just before or just after Thus, in this case, the diver is also the

filling device.

  In a variant, the placing device comprises a punch having an opening and functioning in depression, releasing the seed by temporary disconnection

  from the opening of the punch of the source of the depression.

  In this case, the opening of the punch is advantageously intended to be connected to a source of water, when the seed is released from the punch or just before or just after. Thus, in this case, the punch also constitutes

the filling device.

  In such an embodiment, the punch

  carries a cylinder, the seed holding opening being in the end face of the cylinder and communicating with

  with a lateral opening formed in the wall of the cylinder.

  When the cylinder moves alternately in its support case, the lateral opening first communicates with the source of depression so that the seed is taken and retained on the end opening until planting,

  then with a reserve of water so that the release of the.

  sheath at the end of the hole-forming operation be facilitated and simultaneously that the hole containing the seed

  receive the necessary amount of water.

  In another variant, the placing device comprises a punch which cooperates with a feed device for transmitting a seed under the

punch just before planting.

  In this latter embodiment, the feeding device advantageously evacuates the seed into a chamber having an open end and housed in a container of the particulate filling material. In this case, the filling device is formed by the punch which, at the end of its descending path, will form a hole by pressing into the soil, the seed being embedded in the consolidated soil of the lower part of the hole, the greater part of the hole at least, above the seed, being filled with the particulate filler material, for example a plug of a compressed filler

in the hole by the punch.

4 2531603

  The potted seed drills according to the invention advantageously comprise rotary arrangements in which

  several placement devices and several

  fillers are arranged uniformly around a horizontal axis around which the seed drill rotates so that they place the successive devices for placing and

filling in operation.

  When the filling device operates and deposits a quantity of water in the hole containing the seed, it can, if necessary, be followed by a second assembly which deposits a solid particulate filler

in the hole.

  In a variant, when the device for replacing

  pleating deposits a certain amount of solid filler material in the hole containing the seed, the operation can be followed if necessary by that of a second set which deposits a certain quantity of water in

the hole.

  When the filling device deposits

  water in the hole containing the seed, it continues to prefer

  to transmit water throughout the time when it is in contact with the ground to prevent penetration of fine soil particles into the discharge opening

of the filling device.

  In all cases in which a certain quantity

  water is deposited in the hole, the water can, the case

  wort, contain fertilizer or other adjuvants.

  Other features and advantages of the invention

  tion will become more apparent from the following description,

  FIG. 1 is a simplified vertical section of a first embodiment of a drill according to the invention comprising vacuum planters intended to plant the seeds with a predetermined quantity of seeds. Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective of a vacuum assembly for the apparatus of Fig. 1; FIG. 3 is a vertical section of a second

  embodiment implementing depressions punches

  seed planting plant with a predetermined amount of

  finished with water; Fig. 4 is a vertical section of a third embodiment which includes punches for planting seeds with a plug of inert material placed over each seed; Figure 5 is a simplified cross-section, on a larger scale, of part of this latter embodiment; Figure 6 is a sectional view of another portion of the embodiment of Figure 4; Figure 7 is a perspective view of a device for dispensing particulate material into a planting hole; Figure 8 is a side elevation of a

  variant allowing the distribution of a particular material

  lar; Figs. 9 (a) and 9 (b) are plan views of alternative delivery devices that may be used in the other embodiments already described; and Figures 10 and 11 are vertical sections

  simplified two variants of the first embodiment.

  We first refer to Figure 1; a rotary seed drill 6 according to the invention comprises a wheel

  of placement 8 of 30.5 cm in diameter, having six planes

  toirs 10 of 20 mm in length evenly distributed around the outer wall 12 of the wheel The taper of the planters corresponds to a dimension of 12 mm at the level of the wall

  12 and to a dimension of 6 mm at the end of the nozzle.

  The planters 10 have associated divers 14

  whose radially internal ends bear

  16 They are intended to move along a cam track 18 formed in a fixed support hub 19 which

25316-03

  constitutes a bearing surface 20 of the inner wall 21 of

the wheel 8.

  When the wheel 8 rotates counterclockwise around the hub 19, the plungers 14 move radially under the control of the track 18

  between their fully withdrawn and total positions

  The divers are thus completely removed when the planters are in their position of acceptance and seed transport, and they are fully advanced when the planters are in their lower position.

  hole formation, and for a while afterwards.

  In the fully advanced position, seals 23 are in

  support against seats 24 so that they prevent the transmission

  depression and do not encourage the penetration of

  tion of the fine soil particles in the openings of the planters. The inner and outer walls 21 and 12 of the wheel 8 are sealingly closed by circular end plates. One of them, the plate 26 is visible on

Figure 1.

  A vacuum pump (not shown) is connected either to one of the end plates or to an axial extension of the hub 19 and connects the inside of the wheel 8

  to a source of a depression In this way, each plan-

  toir 10 can take and hold a seed 27 when

  moves over the surface of a feed wheel 28

  which is in depression and which is running simultaneously,

  this wheel bearing the seeds on the suction orifices 30

  from a feed hopper (not shown).

  felt) and to the wheel 8 of establishment.

  FIG. 2 shows such an arrangement in which the positioning wheel 8 and the feed wheel 28 are carried by hollow shafts 42, 43. These shafts are closed at both ends and supported by a box beam 44 which is kept under empty, openings 45

  and 46 of the two trees allowing the communication of

  wheel with the source of depression of the beam

225316-03

  box 44 The references 47 denote seals The trainer

  rotation of trees 42 and 43 is ensured by means of

  sprockets 48, 49 and chains 50, 51, the feed wheel 28

  tion being driven at relatively low speed so that the collection of seeds by this wheel, in the hopper

  loading (not shown) is facilitated.

  In a variant, known devices under pressure, giving an equivalent suction effect, can

to be used.

  The ends of the planters have a chamfer inclined at 250 as shown in FIG.

  facilitates the transfer of seeds from the wheel 28.

  Where appropriate, the seed spacing may be increased by multiples of the spacing of the planters by replacing the feed wheel 28 with a second wheel having a suitably smaller number of seed retaining apertures, for example so that only one dibble

  on two receives a seed from the feed wheel.

  A rigid brush 32 of "nylon" cleans the ends

  Means of the nozzles before they reach the wheel 28 feeding. Each plunger 14, in its radial displacement, is guided by the wall of the passage formed in the inner wall 21 of the positioning wheel and by guides arranged radially and shown for the upper plunger 14 by the reference 33 Connectors 34 connect the holes formed in the radially outer regions of the divers

  to flexible tubes 36 joining connecting tips

  38 placed in the inner wall 21 of the wheel 8, having

openings.

  Except in the lowest position or during the next sector of 450 for example of their path, the openings 25 of the planters communicate with the interior partially evacuated from the setting wheel, the resulting differential pressure exerted at the holes sufficient keeping seeds in place 27 until

  what they reach the planting position.

  When the planters reach their lower (planting) position however, the plungers 14 are fully advanced under the control of the cam arrangement (16-18) to release the seed and sink it to the bottom of the hole formed by the dibbler 10 in this position. Simultaneously, the cap 38 connected to the associated connector 34 is placed in communication with a slot 40 of an axial passage of the hub 19 through which water from an external source flows so that it descends into the hollow portion of the

diver and in the hole formed.

  The communication with the slot 40 is maintained during the following rotation of 450 of the dibbler so that the open end of the diver is not likely to be blocked by fine particles of the soil or is cleaned of such

  fine particles during planting and immediately afterwards.

  In a variant shown in FIG.

  each dibbler is associated with a substantially

  42 which corresponds to it and which contains the elements 23,

  24 and which is connected to a common vacuum manifold 43.

  Piping 44 'bypass connects the collector to a

  vacuum pump placed outside (not shown).

  In another variant (FIG. 11), the "divers" 14 end at a small distance from the openings 25 of the planters and the circulation of the water coming from the slot 40 ensures the release of the seed of the lower dibbler. A similar variant can be incorporated into the

  embodiment of Figure 1, if any.

  FIG. 3 shows an embodiment in which the nozzles and the plungers of the preceding arrangements are replaced by cylindrical punches 52 each having, at its end face, a seed-holding opening 54 which communicates with a passage 55 with a second opening 56 formed in the side wall of the punch.

  As indicated above, the position of the points

  Ions 52 is controlled by a fixed arrangement 16, 18 with cam and support, allowing the recess and forward for the same radial positions as the divers 14 of the first

embodiment.

  In the recessed positions first taken by the punches 52 before they receive seed 27 from a feed hopper 58, the outer faces of the punches are substantially at the outside of the wheel

  as shown in Figure 3, and open them

  Lateral flaps 56 communicate via suitable bypass passages 58 (shown only for the lower punch), with a common vacuum manifold 60 connected externally to a vacuum pump (not shown).

  a variant (not shown) of the embodiment

  felt, the collector 60 is removed and the inside of the

  On the contrary, the planting wheel is evacuated.

  When each punch 52 advances so that it forms the hole and pushes the seed into the consolidated ground of the bottom of the hole, the lateral opening 56 of the punch is no longer in front of the collector 60 but comes in front of a passage 61

  bypass (shown only for the lower

  A localized stream of water thus enters the holes formed by the punches 52 when they are in their lower position, this current being maintained for example during the next 450 of their course, opening 56 being

  more then in front of the passage 61 The maintenance of the circula-

  For a certain period, the water is prevented from clogging the seed holding opening 54 with the fine soil particles during contact with the soil. As already indicated in the introduction to this specification, the water used in the embodiments described above may contain fertilizers or other suitable adjuvants. In the embodiment of Figures 4, 5 and 6, the delivery device is in the form of a drum 66 mounted on bearings 67, 68 so that it rotates about a fixed horizontal shaft 70 support Le drum 66 which is driven by wheels on the ground, also has a number of ground contact tabs 72 to facilitate

  preventing slipping from the ground.

  Six regularly spaced projections 74 are mounted in the outer wall of the drum and each have a passageway 76 which tapers inwards and joins an inner chamber 78 having the same diameter as the corresponding punch 80,

  only one being shown in the drawings.

  As indicated in the figures, each punch 80 has a cylinder 82 closed at its outer end by a plug

  83 is pushed from the outside by a compression spring 84

  which is pressed against the inner face of the plug A

  its inner end, the spring 84 is attached to a rod cor-

  respondent 86 protruding as a radius of a central sleeve

  88 mounted with play on the shaft 70.

  The position of the punches 80 is coanandée by a corresponding cam contact which moves on a cam track 92 of spiral and fixed shape (shown end in Figure 5) which is rigidly attached to the shaft 70 The reference

  93 denotes one of the two pairs of guide bars available

  radially and placed in contact with the support shaft 94 of the flap 90 so that the reciprocating movement

punch 80 is regularized.

  In operation, when the drum 66 rotates (clockwise in the figure), the spring 84 is more and more compressed when the track 92 brings the flange closer to the shaft 70. touch comes out of the top end of the cam track

  spiral and allows the spring 84 to return to its

  initial management by driving the punch and the

  the positions shown in Figures 4 and 5.

  The cam arrangement 90, 92 is protected by an inner wall 96 of the remainder of the interior of the drum 98 which periodically receives an inert particulate matter, such as

  only "Vermiculite" from a suspended hopper 99.

  A seed from a hopper 100 is driven

  downwards by a depression of a feed wheel 102

  With the central portion slightly constricted and having the same general shape as the feed wheel 28 of the first embodiment, the seed expelled from the feed wheel 28 by a spring-loaded release device 104 falls to the periphery of the feed wheel 28. a distribution wheel 106 which carries six bars 108 of L-shaped slides at its periphery Each slide bar is inclined forwardly at an angle of 45 to the center plane of the feed wheel 106 so that the seeds roll towards the straight ends of the bars, at a location where they are retained by the adjacent end wall 110 of the drum 66 until they reach the upper end of the feed tube 112 and roll therein.

  this way, they reach the lowest of the sub-

  chambers 78, a plate 114 forming a repoussé cover.

  by a spring (Figure 6) preventing a premature release.

  turkey of the seed by the sub-chamber.

  During the last part of its journey to the planting position, the sub-chamber 78 is protected against the "Vermiculite'115 from the inside of the drum 98 by an inner plate 116 forming a lid. This is only when the projection 74 has released the plate 116 to occupy the planting position shown in the figure

  4, that the "Vermiculite" can enter the sub-chamber -

  78 As soon as this happened, the 90 touch left

  the upper end of track 92 as previously described

  Finally, it allows the spring 84 to drive the punch which is recessed towards the position indicated in FIG. 4. When it reaches this position, the punch has formed a hole by pressing into the ground, the seed being buried.

  in the consolidated soil at the bottom of the hole, the largest

  of the hole above the at least one being filled with "Vermiculite" from the sub-chamber 78 and pressed in the form of a relatively compact plug, under the action

punch 80.

  It should be noted, with reference to other embodiments of the invention, that when the hole containing the seed is to receive both water and a particulate filler, the devices of Figures 1, 2, 3 10 and 11 may be followed by a suitable distributor of particulate material, for example a dispenser 118 shown in FIG. 7. This includes a drum having a cam shaft 122 and a flange 124. The outer face of the flapper 124 has a portion 125 forming a nose which bears against the inner face of a mounted flap 126

  so that it has limited pivoting around a pivot 128.

  A first end face of the drum is removed on

Figure 7 for the sake of clarity.

  The flap 126 which forms the rear wall of one of a number of wedge-shaped cells of the drum wall is pushed inward despite the retaining force of the flap by a suitable pulling spring

(not shown)

  The apparatus is completed by a cover element

  132 This cooperates with the periphery of the drum to prevent the release of particulate matter from the cells 130 during their passage of the filling hopper

  (not shown) to a location to which they are

  The cam arrangement 122, 124 pivots the plate 126 outwardly in spite of the retaining force of the tension spring, so that the cell is freed from any filling material that remains there. During operation, the distributor shown in FIG. 7 is driven in synchronism with the wheel

  by means of a suitable timing belt

  tion. FIG. 8 shows a variant in which the positioning wheel 8 plays the role of a pinion for a belt 134 having openings, and which is also supported by a idler wheel 136 When the openings of the belt pass under the hopper 138 which has an open bottom, the particulate material of the hopper can fall through the openings of the belt into holes formed by the nozzles (or punches) of the wheel 8a. Other distributors of a particulate material include the drum of setting up of Figures 4, 5

  and 6 (used without seed planting elements).

  It is also possible to use the reverse installation

  se, that is to say the seed distributor and the filling material of Figures 4, 5 and 6, followed by the setting wheel of Figures 1, 2, 3, 10 or II used for the water distribution only, although this arrangement is probably less satisfactory In fact, the invention even covers, in its most general scope, the case of a first element intended to form a hole by pressing into the ground, of a second element intended to bury the seed to be planted in the consolidated soil at the bottom of the hole, a third

  element intended to deposit water or a particular material

  in the hole and optionally a fourth element for depositing in the hole that has not been deposited by the third element From the practical point of view, it appears that at least two of these different functions are advantageously fulfilled by a single element as described above, the water dispenser or the material of

  filling can be removed if necessary.

  Multi-line planting wheels are represented by the wafer in Figures 9 (a) and 9 (b),

  but undesirable seeds may be removed

  by mechanical or chemical means of thinning

  wise (not shown), for example using a different detector device for each of the three lines An example of such devices comprises a mechanical detection bar

  or a photoelectric system for example.

  Thus, in the case of the wheel of FIG. 9 (b) for example, the largest plant in each group can be chosen as the preferred plant and the other plant in the group is removed. The dairies or punches 140 in each group of three can be ordered individually (FIGS. 9 (a) and 9 (b)) as previously described or collectively (FIG. 9 (b) only) for example using a plunger

  three-fingered, in a planter and diver arrangement.

  In all the embodiments and their variants, described above, the planting depth can be

  be modified by changing the cam arrangements used

  1 for the advance of the plungers 14 in FIGS. 1 and 10 or the punch 52 in FIG. 3 or, when the planters are used for the formation of the holes, by modification

  also the size of the planters.

  In other variants, the planters are heated, for example by passing through a flame formed by gas, so that

  that they can perforate plastic sheets and ensure the planting of

seed.

  Although the embodiments shown are intended to be used with dormant seeds,

  that is to say granular spherical grains or agglomerate

  such as brassica, variants of the modes of

  of Figures 1 to 3, 10 and they also allow their

  adaptation to physiologically active seeds.

  It must be remembered that in this memorial

  any reference to water also applies to the case of water containing

  fertilizer or other adjuvant.

  An example of the planting speed of the devices described above can be from 20 to 40 seeds per second for an advance of, for example, 3.2 km / h. For example, 2 to 3 cm 3 of water (or water added with fertilizers, etc.) can be deposited in each hole containing a seed or, when using a particulate filler, about 2 to 5 cm 3 of this material can be used

in place.

Claims (8)

  1 Potted seed drill supported by soil, characterized   rised in that it includes a placing device   (8) for forming a hole in the soil by pressing and   depressing the seed (27) to plant in the consolidated soil or on this consolidated soil from the bottom of the hole, and a filling device for putting in the trpu thus formed a quantity of water, a particulate matter   solid filling or water and a material, the provisions   siting and filling devices (8) are intended to function automatically and successively when   the seeder moves along the ground.   Seed drill according to Claim 1, characterized in that the planting device comprises an element   planting plant (10) having an opening and placed in depression   sion, this element releasing the seed under the control of a   diver (14) moving in the planting element.   3 Seeder according to claim 2, characterized in that the plunger (14) is a hollow member whose cavity is intended to communicate with a water reserve   when the seed is released by the planting element   (10) or just before or just after this release.   Seed drill according to Claim 1, characterized in that the planting device comprises a planting element (10) having an opening and kept in a vacuum so that it releases the seed under the control. a stream of water.   Seeder according to Claim 1, characterized   in that the setting device comprises a pointer   (52) having an opening and maintained in depression, the punch releasing the seed by temporary disconnection   its opening (56) of the source of a depression.   Seed drill according to claim 5, characterized in that the opening (56) of the punch is intended to be connected to a reserve of water at the time of release of the seed by the punch (52), or just before or just   after this liberation, the punch also forming the filler.   Seed drill according to Claim 1, characterized in that the positioning device comprises a punch (82) cooperating with a feeding device and intended to   to have a seed under the awl just before planting tion.   Seeder according to one of the claims   precedents, characterized in that it comprises an arrangement   rotary arrangement in which a plurality of placing and filling devices (8) are arranged uniformly about a horizontal axis around which the seed drill rotates so that the placing and filling devices   are successively in operation.   Seeder according to any one of the claims   previous ones, characterized in that the filling device   wise provides the deposition of a certain amount of water or solid particulate filler in the hole containing the seed, and the filling device is followed by a second set for depositing a solid particulate filler or a certain amount of water respectively, in the hole.   Seeder according to any one of the claims   characterized in that the filling device is intended to deposit water in the hole containing the seed and continues to deposit water for   all the time of contact with the ground so that the penetration   of the fine particles of the soil by the opening of evacuation   filling device is discouraged.