FR2597702A1

FR2597702A1 - Novel machine for planting plants with root balls

Info

Publication number: FR2597702A1
Application number: FR8606071A
Authority: FR
Inventors: Gaston Simon
Original assignee: CLAIRE FONTAINE ATEL
Current assignee: CLAIRE FONTAINE ATEL
Priority date: 1986-04-23
Filing date: 1986-04-23
Publication date: 1987-10-30
Also published as: FR2597702B1

Abstract

Machine allowing a totally automated planting of vegetable or flower plants grown with root balls, especially intended for use where growing takes place in strips separated by circulation alleys called inter-row walkways. It is composed: - of a plate-carrying assembly A and for extracting the root balls 1 to 24, - of a tilting assembly B which is extensible for taking up and transporting the root balls 30 to 48, - of an assembly C for conveying the plants in a closed circuit and for positioning them on the ground by means of opening, suspended buckets 56. These assemblies are mounted on an articulated chassis comprising means for preparing and finishing the ground.

Description

La présente invention concerne les machines destinées à realiser de façon mécanique la plantation de plants cultivés en mottes. The present invention relates to machines for mechanically planting seedlings grown in clods.

I1 est de plus en plus connu la technique consistant à cultiver les plants de légumes ou de fleurs dans une motte de forme et de dimensions parfaitement calibrées, chaque motte étant obtenue par moulage de terreau dans une des alvéoles d'un plateau en matière plastique, permettant ensuite l'expédition des plants sur les lieux de plantation. I1 is more and more known the technique consisting in cultivating the vegetable or flower plants in a clod of perfectly calibrated shape and dimensions, each clod being obtained by molding potting soil in one of the cells of a plastic tray, allowing the plants to be dispatched to the planting sites.

Cette technique a pour objectif la mecanisation et l'automatisation des opérations de plantation.The aim of this technique is the mechanization and automation of planting operations.

La machine, suivant l'invention, a pour but la plantation entièrement automatisée de plants cultivés en mottes, la fonction de la seule personne affectée à cette machine étant limitée à l'approvisionnement en plateaux de laditelmachine. L'invention concerne plus particulièrement une machine destinée à la plantation de légumes ou de fleurs dans des planches de culture delimitées par des allées de circulation couramment dénommées passe-pieds. The purpose of the machine according to the invention is the fully automated planting of seedlings, the function of the only person assigned to this machine being limited to supplying laditelmachine trays. The invention relates more particularly to a machine intended for planting vegetables or flowers in cultivation boards delimited by circulation aisles commonly known as footboards.

La machine, objet de l'invention, est du type semi-portee comportant un train de deux roues porteuses et deux pattes d'attache destinées à l'attelage de la machine sur le dispositif trois points d'un tracteur agricole. Elle est constituée d'un châssis principal réalisé en profilés creux soudés selon un cadre rectangulaire sur les côtes longitudinaux duquel sont soudées des jambes verticales sur lesquelles sont montées les roues porteuses, la traverse avant duquel chassis comporte lesdites pattes d'attache ainsi que des paliers d'axes horizontaux dans lesquels tourillonnent des axes de basculement d'un ou de plusieurs chassis secondaires, sur chacun desquels est montée une uni te de plantation constituée - d'un ensemble porte-plateaux et d'extraction des mottes, - d'un ensemble de prise en charge des mottes et de transfert, - d'un ensemble de convoyage et de dépose des plants au sol, - d'un ensemble de préparation et de ragréage du sol. The machine, object of the invention, is of the semi-mounted type comprising a train of two carrying wheels and two attachment lugs intended for coupling the machine to the three-point device of an agricultural tractor. It consists of a main chassis made of hollow profiles welded in a rectangular frame on the longitudinal sides of which are welded vertical legs on which are mounted the supporting wheels, the front crossmember of which chassis comprises said attachment tabs as well as bearings horizontal axes in which pivot axes of tilting one or more secondary chassis, on each of which is mounted a planting unit made up of - a tray holder and clod extraction unit, - a assembly of clods and transfer, - a set of conveying and depositing plants on the ground, - a set of preparation and leveling of the soil.

Une telle structure de châssis permet, par la latitude de basculement des châssis secondaires, d'obtenir une régularité de profondeur de plantation quelle que soit la planéité de la planche de culture et la variation de hauteur de celle-ci par rapport aux passe-pieds sur lesquels circulent les roues porteuses du châssis. Such a chassis structure makes it possible, by the tilting latitude of the secondary chassis, to obtain a regularity of planting depth whatever the flatness of the culture bed and the variation in height thereof with respect to the pass-feet on which the chassis carrying wheels circulate.

L'ensemble porte-plateaux est composé d'un bâti incliné disposé de façon à assurer une translation des plateaux perpendiculairement au sens de déplacement de la machine : ce bâti a une longueur déterminée pour contenir au moins deux plateaux en ligne, afin de permettre a l'opérateur la mise en place d'un nouveau plateau lorsque le premier des plateaux placés sur le bati est entièrement vidé. La translation des plateaux est assurée par un moteur hydraulique maintenu constamment en pression assurant l'entrainement séquentiel d'un jeu de deux chaines latérales disposées chacune en boucle fermée entre deux roues dentées, ces chaines étant réunies selon un intervalle correspondant à la longueur des plateaux1 par des barrettes jouant le rôle de poussoirs.La mise en action du moteur hydraulique et son arrêt destinés à provoquer la translation du plateau de la valeurcorrespondante à l'écartement de deux rangées d'alvéoles sont commandés par une roue à rochet assujettie en rotation à un cliquet basculant soumis à l'action d'un vérin hydraulique lui-même commandé par un dispositif fin de course monté sur le basculement des pinces de préhension et de transfert des mottes. Le châssis porte-plateaux est prolongé par un support-guide destiné à recevoir un plateau en attente : le transfert de ce plateau sur le châssis porte plateaux, pour être pris en charge par les barrettes d'entrainement reliant les chaines latérales s'effectue a l'aide d'un vérin hydraulique.Sous le châssis porteplateaux est disposé le dispositif d'extraction des mottes celui-ci consiste dans un faisceau de tiges-poussoirs disposées en ligne transversalement par rapport au sens de translation des plateaux en nombre correspondant à celui des alvéoles d'une même rangée transversale du plateau et d'écartement égal. Ces tiges poussoirs guidées en translation perpendiculairement au plateau sont animées d'un mouvement de monte et baisse sous l'action d'un jeu de leviers commandes par un vérin hydraulique dont l'action est synchronisée avec le déplacement du plateau, le basculement et la fermeture des pinces de préhension. La levée desdites tiges poussoirs est déterminée de façon a assurer le degagement intégral des mottes par rapport au plateau. The tray holder assembly is composed of an inclined frame arranged so as to ensure a translation of the plates perpendicular to the direction of movement of the machine: this frame has a determined length to contain at least two trays in line, in order to allow a the operator setting up a new tray when the first of the trays placed on the frame is completely emptied. The translation of the plates is ensured by a hydraulic motor constantly maintained in pressure ensuring the sequential drive of a set of two side chains each arranged in a closed loop between two toothed wheels, these chains being joined at an interval corresponding to the length of the plates1 by bars acting as pushers. The actuation of the hydraulic motor and its stop intended to cause the translation of the plate of the value corresponding to the spacing of two rows of cells are controlled by a ratchet wheel subject in rotation to a tilting pawl subjected to the action of a hydraulic cylinder itself controlled by a limit switch device mounted on the tilting of the grippers and clod transfer. The tray holder frame is extended by a guide support intended to receive a waiting tray: the transfer of this tray to the tray holder frame, to be supported by the drive bars connecting the side chains is carried out at using a hydraulic cylinder. Under the plate carrier frame is arranged the clod extraction device, this consists of a bundle of push rods arranged in line transversely to the direction of translation of the plates in numbers corresponding to that cells of the same transverse row of the plate and of equal spacing. These push rods guided in translation perpendicular to the plate are moved up and down under the action of a set of levers controlled by a hydraulic cylinder whose action is synchronized with the movement of the plate, the tilting and the closing of the gripping pliers. The lifting of said push rods is determined so as to ensure the complete clearance of the clods relative to the plate.

L'ensemble de prise en charge des mottes et de transfert consiste dans une batterie de pinces de prehension en nombre égal a celui des alvéoles d'une meme rangée transversale du plateau : ces pinces sont réalisées chacune au moyen de deux lames flexibles fixées sur un patin portepinces. Les patins porte-pinces sont montés coulissants sur un jeu de deux tiges de guidage parallèles implantees par leurs extrémités dans deux flasques supports basculants. Les pinces sont disposées transversalement au sens de déplacement des plateaux. Au moment de la prise en charge des mottes, les patins porte-pinces sont disposés en appui latéral les uns contre les autres plaçant l'extremite des pinces selon un intervalle correspondant à celui des alvéoles d'une meme rangée transversale du plateau.Sitôt la fermeture des pinces sur les mottes après soulevement de celles-ci par les tiges poussoirs, les patins porte-pinces s'écartent les uns des autres en meme temps que l'ensemble bascule sous l'action de vérins hydrauliques agissant en poussée sur les flasques supports des tiges de guidage.La variation d'espacement des patins est assuree au moyen d'un dispositif d'entrainement par chaine disposee selon une boucle fermée entre une roue dentee libre et une roue dentée d'entrainement clavetée sur la sortie d'arbre d'un moteur hydraulique, un des patins porte-pinces d'extremité de la batterie étant entrainé en translation par ladite chaine, entrainant lui-même les autres patins à l'aide d'une chaine intercalaire de longueur déterminée pour assurer en fin d'extension de la batterie de pinces un intervalle entre celles-ci correspondant à celui des réceptacles équipant l'ensemble de convoyage et de depose des plants au sol.Les lames flexibles constituant les pinces de préhension ont leurs extrémités convergentes en position repos, leur degre de flexibilité est déterminé de façon à assurer des pressions de contact suffisantes sur la motte, sans toutefois risquer d'écraser celle-ci. L'ouverture de la pince s'obtient par la translation entre les lames d'un curseur en téflon monté à l'extremite d'une tige coulissante, sous l'action de vérins à commande hydraulique. Lorsque les pinces ont libéré les mottes, la chaine d'entrainement des patins porte-pinces effectue une translation de sens inverse de façon à regrouper sous la poussée du patin solidarisé avec la chaine, l'ensemble des autres patins porte-pinces. The clod care and transfer unit consists of a battery of gripping pliers equal in number to that of the cells in the same transverse row of the tray: these pliers are each produced by means of two flexible blades fixed on a gripper shoe. The gripper pads are slidably mounted on a set of two parallel guide rods implanted at their ends in two tilting support flanges. The clamps are arranged transversely to the direction of movement of the plates. When the clods are taken care of, the gripper pads are placed in lateral support against each other, placing the extremity of the grippers at an interval corresponding to that of the cells of the same transverse row of the tray. Closure of the clamps on the clods after lifting them by the push rods, the clamp holder pads move away from each other at the same time as the assembly rocks under the action of hydraulic cylinders acting in thrust on the flanges guide rod supports. The variation of pad spacing is ensured by means of a chain drive device arranged in a closed loop between a free toothed wheel and a toothed drive wheel keyed to the shaft output of a hydraulic motor, one of the battery end gripper pads being driven in translation by said chain, itself driving the other pads using an intermediate chain of determined length p or ensure at the end of extension of the pliers battery an interval between them corresponding to that of the receptacles equipping the conveyor and planting assembly of the plants on the ground. The flexible blades constituting the gripping pliers have their ends converging in rest position, their degree of flexibility is determined so as to ensure sufficient contact pressures on the root ball, without however risking crushing it. The opening of the clamp is obtained by the translation between the blades of a Teflon slider mounted at the end of a sliding rod, under the action of hydraulically actuated jacks. When the tongs have released the clods, the chain for driving the pincer-bearing skids carries out a translation in the opposite direction so as to group together, under the thrust of the skid secured to the chain, all the other pincer-bearing skids.

L'ensemble de convoyage et de dépose au sol des plants est constitué d'une chaine de manutention en boucle fermée dont la trajectoire se situe dans un plan incliné, laquelle chaine porte à intervalles réguliers une serie de nacelles ou godets suspendus constitués de deux parties, l'une fixe, l'autre ouvrante de forme conique afin de déposer le plant dans une position verticale dans le sillon creusé dans le sol. La trajectoire des godets comprend en partie supérieure un tronçon hortizontal pendant lequel les mottes libérées par les pinces tombent à l'aplomb de celles-ci dans les godets. Des dispositifs de guidage sont prévus pour stabiliser les godets et éviter leur mouvement de basculement dans cette portion de trajectoire ainsi qu'à l'approche de la zone de largage du plant au sol. La chaine de manutention est entrainée à l'aide d'un moteur hydraulique. The set of conveying and depositing plants on the ground consists of a closed loop handling chain whose trajectory is in an inclined plane, which chain carries at regular intervals a series of nacelles or hanging buckets made up of two parts , one fixed, the other opening of conical shape in order to deposit the plant in a vertical position in the furrow dug in the ground. The trajectory of the buckets comprises in the upper part a hortizontal section during which the clods released by the clamps fall in line with the latter in the buckets. Guidance devices are provided to stabilize the buckets and prevent their tilting movement in this portion of the trajectory as well as when approaching the plant drop zone on the ground. The handling chain is driven using a hydraulic motor.

Les différentes phases successives, depuis l'extraction des mottes des plateaux jusqu'à la dépose des plants au sol sont commandées à partir d'un automate programmable. The different successive phases, from the extraction of clods from the trays to the removal of the plants on the ground are controlled from a programmable controller.

Les dessins annexés illustrent, à titre d'exemple, un mode de réalisation, d'une machine conforme à la présente invention. Ceux-ci représentent : - en figures 1, 2 et 3, respectivement les vues en élevation, de dessus et transversale de l'carrière de la machine, le dessin se limitant à une représentation schematique du plan de translation des plateaux, le plan de translation des patins supports de pinces pour mise à écartement de ceux-ci et leur basculement, le plan de circulation des godets de l'ensemble de convoyage, - en figure 4, une vue transversale de l'carrière de la machine, - en figure 5, une vue de dessus de l'ensemble porteplateaux, - en figure 6, une vue partielle en élévation de la machine montrant le mécanisme de mise à écartement des pinces pour largage des plants au-dessus des godets du dispositif de convoyage, - en figure 7, une vue du détail des dispositifs de stabilisation des godets en parties haute et basse de leur trajectoire correspondant aux points de prise en charge du plant et de largage au sol de celui-ci. The accompanying drawings illustrate, by way of example, an embodiment of a machine according to the present invention. These represent: - in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, respectively the elevation, top and transverse views of the quarry of the machine, the drawing being limited to a schematic representation of the plane of translation of the plates, the plane of translation of the clamp support pads for spacing them and their tilting, the circulation plane of the buckets of the conveying assembly, - in FIG. 4, a transverse view of the quarry of the machine, - in FIG. 5, a top view of the tray holder assembly, - in FIG. 6, a partial elevation view of the machine showing the mechanism for spreading the clamps for releasing the plants above the buckets of the conveying device, - in FIG. 7, a detailed view of the devices for stabilizing the buckets in the upper and lower parts of their trajectory corresponding to the points for taking over the plant and dropping it on the ground.

- en figure 8, une vue en perspective de l'ensemble du châssis de la machine.- In Figure 8, a perspective view of the entire chassis of the machine.

Tel que représenté, la machine comporte, regroupés sur un châssis semi-porté équipé de deux roues et d'un moyen d'attelage à un tracteur - un ensemble porte-plateaux A équipé d'un dispositif d'extraction des mottes, - un ensemble B de prise en charge et de transfert des mottes, - un ensemble C de convoyage et de dépose des plants au sol. As shown, the machine comprises, grouped on a semi-mounted chassis equipped with two wheels and a means of coupling to a tractor - a tray-holder assembly A equipped with a clod extraction device, - a set B for handling and transfer of clods, - a set C for conveying and depositing plants on the ground.

- un ensemble de préparation et de ragréage du sol.- a set of soil preparation and leveling.

L'ensemble porte-plateaux A est constitué d'un bâti 1 incliné d'environ 40 par rapport à la verticale muni de glissières latérales de guidage entre lesquelles coulissent en translation les plateaux 2 selon une direction perpendiculaire au déplacement de la machine. Cette translation est obtenue à l'aide d'un jeu de deux chaines de manutention latérales 3 disposées en boucle fermée entre une roue dentée menante 4 et une roue dentée menée 5. La trajectoire de chaque chaine dans un plan vertical comporte en partie supérieure un tronçon rectiligne parallèle aux glissières de guidage et de longueur au moins égale à la longueur de deux plateaux consécutifs.Ces chaines sont reliées entre elles par des barrettes transversales 6 placees à intervalles réguliers correspondant sensiblement à la longueur d'un plateau : ces barrettes assurent l'entrainement en translation sans glissement des plateaux. Dans l'exemple décrit, les plateaux comportent vingt rangées transversales de douze alvéoles 7. La translation des plateaux doit donc s'effectuer d'une façon séquentielle selon un déplacement égal à l'intervalle séparant lesdites rangées. A cet effet le moteur hydraulique 8 sur l'arbre duquel est clavetée la roue dentée menante 4, comporte une roue à rochet 9 munie de vingt dents ; dans le creux de denture de cette roue a rochet s'inscrit un cliquet 10 basculant autour d'un axe 11 sous l'action d'un vérin hydraulique 12.A chaque dégagement du cliquet synchronisé avec l'extraction des mottes de la rangée d'alvéoles concernée, le moteur hydraulique 8 maintenu constamment en pression provoque la translation du plateau nécessaire à placer la rangée d'alvéoles suivante à l'aplomb du dispositif d'extraction. Le bâti porte-plateaux est prolongé en partie haute par un support guide 13 sur lequel l'opérateur place un plateau en attente : le transfert de celui-ci sur le bâti 1 s'effectue à l'aide d'un poussoir 14 placé à l'extrémité d'une tige guidée en translation selon l'axe longitudinal du bâti au moyen d'un coulisseau 15 circulant dans une glissière axiale, ladite translation étant commandée par un vérin hydraulique 16 agissant sur une biellette 17 articulée sur le coulisseau. The tray holder assembly A consists of a frame 1 inclined about 40 relative to the vertical provided with lateral guide rails between which the plates 2 slide in translation in a direction perpendicular to the movement of the machine. This translation is obtained using a set of two lateral handling chains 3 arranged in a closed loop between a driving toothed wheel 4 and a driven toothed wheel 5. The trajectory of each chain in a vertical plane comprises in the upper part a straight section parallel to the guide rails and of length at least equal to the length of two consecutive plates. These chains are interconnected by transverse bars 6 placed at regular intervals corresponding substantially to the length of a plate: these bars ensure the 'drive in translation without sliding of the plates. In the example described, the plates comprise twenty transverse rows of twelve cells 7. The translation of the plates must therefore be carried out in a sequential manner according to a displacement equal to the interval separating said rows. For this purpose the hydraulic motor 8 on the shaft of which is keyed the driving toothed wheel 4, comprises a ratchet wheel 9 provided with twenty teeth; in the hollow of the teeth of this ratchet wheel is inscribed a pawl 10 rocking about an axis 11 under the action of a hydraulic jack 12. Each time the pawl is released synchronized with the extraction of the clods from row d 'cells concerned, the hydraulic motor 8 constantly maintained in pressure causes the translation of the plate necessary to place the next row of cells directly above the extraction device. The tray-carrying frame is extended at the top by a guide support 13 on which the operator places a waiting tray: the transfer of this onto the frame 1 is carried out using a pusher 14 placed at the end of a rod guided in translation along the longitudinal axis of the frame by means of a slide 15 circulating in an axial slide, said translation being controlled by a hydraulic cylinder 16 acting on a link 17 articulated on the slide.

La figure 4 représente le premier plateau en position telle que la dernière rangée d'alvéoles se situe à l'aplomb du dispositif d'extraction ; le cliquet 10 en basculant va libérer la roue à rochet 9, laquelle comporte dans cette zone une dent 9a dont la longueur de tête est telle que l'intervalle séparant les deux creux de denture successifs qui l'encadrent correspond à la distance séparant ladite dernière rangée d'alvéoles du premier plateau et la premiere rangée du plateau suivant, c'est-à-dire deux fois la distance de ces rangées aux bords des plateaux concernés augmentée de l'épaisseur d'une barrette d'entrainement 6. FIG. 4 shows the first plate in position such that the last row of cells is located directly above the extraction device; the pawl 10 by tilting will release the ratchet wheel 9, which comprises in this zone a tooth 9a whose head length is such that the interval separating the two successive toothing hollows which surround it corresponds to the distance separating the latter row of cells of the first tray and the first row of the next tray, that is to say twice the distance from these rows to the edges of the affected trays increased by the thickness of a drive bar 6.

Lorsque la barrette 6 retenant le premier plateau en partie basse a atteint la roue menée 5, elle s'éclipse par rotation de celle-ci : le plateau ainsi libere est recueilli sur une tablette de stockage prévue en partie basse de la machine.When the bar 6 retaining the first plate in the lower part has reached the driven wheel 5, it disappears by rotation of the latter: the plate thus freed is collected on a storage shelf provided in the lower part of the machine.

le plateau en attente sur le support-guide 13 est venu se placer à la suite du deuxième plateau sous l'action du vérin 16.the plate awaiting on the guide support 13 has been placed following the second plate under the action of the jack 16.

Le dispositif d'extraction des mottes consiste dans un faisceau de tiges-poussoirs 18 au nombre de douze dans l'exemple décrit, implantées verticalement sur une traverse 19, a intervalles réguliers correspondant aux intervalles séparant les alvéoles d'une même rangee du plateau, réalisant ainsi une sorte de peigne dont les dents sont dirigées vers le haut, lequel peigne est anime d'un mouvement alterné de monte et baisse, guide en translation au moyen de deux douilles à billes 20 fixees aux extrémités de la traverse 19 et glissant sur deux colonnes de guidage 21 montées fixes sur le bâti porte-plateaux 1.L'extrémite des tiges-poussoirs est en forme d'aiguille épaulée, la partie aiguille étant destinée à maintenir la motte extraite de l'alvéole du plateau sous la poussée de la partie par lée. Les tiges-poussoirs traversent dans leur translation une traverse perforée fixe 22 solidaire du bâti. Le mouvement de monte et baisse est obtenu a partir d'un vérin hydraulique 23 et d'un jeu de biellettes 24. The clod extraction device consists of a bundle of push rods 18 twelve in number in the example described, installed vertically on a cross member 19, at regular intervals corresponding to the intervals separating the cells of the same row from the plate, thus producing a sort of comb whose teeth are directed upwards, which comb is driven in an alternating movement of up and down, guide in translation by means of two ball bushings 20 fixed at the ends of the cross member 19 and sliding on two guide columns 21 fixedly mounted on the tray support frame 1. The end of the push rods is in the form of a shoulder needle, the needle part being intended to keep the root ball extracted from the tray cell under the pressure of the game by line. The push rods in their translation pass through a fixed perforated cross 22 secured to the frame. The up and down movement is obtained from a hydraulic cylinder 23 and a set of links 24.

L'ensemble B de prise en charge et de transfert des mottes consiste dans une batterie de pinces de préhension, au nombre de douze dans l'exemple décrit, constituée chacune d'un patin porte-pinces 30 les flancs latéraux duquel sont prolongés par deux lames flexibles 31 dont les extrémités convergentes en position de fermeture sont jointives. Les patins porte-pinces sont montés coulissants sur deux tiges de guidage parallèles 32 dont les extrémités sont implantées dans deux flasques supports 33, basculants autour d'un axe 34 et entretoisés par deux tubes 35 ; les tiges de guidage 32 sont disposées transversalement au sens de translation des plateaux.La faculté de déplacement des patins porte-pinces est destinée à permettre au départ le positionnement des pinces en regard de chaque alvéole d'une meme rangée transversale du plateau afin de prendre en charge la motte qui vient d'en être extraite, et le positionnement terminal des mêmes pinces au-dessus des nacelles ou godets suspendus de l'ensemble de convoyage C de la machine, c'est-à-dire passer d'un écartement minimum des patins porte-pinces à un écartement maximum de ceux-ci. La translation des patins porte-pinces 30 est assurée à l'aide d'une chaine de manutention 36 disposée en boucle fermée entre une roue dentée libre 37 et une roue dentée d'entrainement 38 clavetée sur la sortie d'arbre d'un moteur hydraulique 39.Un des patins porte-pinces d'extrémite de la batterie est relié à la chaine 36 : pour passer de la position' d'écartement minimum à la position d'écartement maximum, ce patin solidaire de la chaine assure l'entrainement des autres patins au moyen d'une chaine intercalaire 40 dont les extrémités sont fixées en un point de chaque patin et reliant les patins consécutifs entre eux, dont la mise en extension maximum correspond à l'écartement des nacelles ou godets suspendus. Le retour à la position d'écartement minimum des patins porte-pinces qui place ceux-ci en appui les uns sur les autres s'effectue par l'inversion du sens de rotation du moteur hydraulique 39. Le patin solidaire de la chaine repousse alors les autres patins au fur et à mesure jusqu'à leur regroupement complet. The assembly B for taking up and transferring clods consists of a battery of grippers, twelve in number in the example described, each consisting of a gripper shoe 30 the lateral flanks of which are extended by two flexible blades 31 whose converging ends in the closed position are contiguous. The gripper pads are slidably mounted on two parallel guide rods 32, the ends of which are located in two support flanges 33, tiltable around an axis 34 and braced by two tubes 35; the guide rods 32 are arranged transversely to the direction of translation of the plates. The ability to move the gripper pads is intended to allow the positioning of the grippers at the start opposite each cell of a same transverse row of the tray in order to take in charge the clod which has just been extracted from it, and the terminal positioning of the same clamps above the nacelles or buckets suspended from the conveying assembly C of the machine, that is to say pass from a spacing minimum of the gripper pads to a maximum spacing of these. The translation of the gripper pads 30 is ensured by means of a handling chain 36 arranged in a closed loop between a free toothed wheel 37 and a drive toothed wheel 38 keyed onto the shaft output of an engine hydraulic 39.One of the battery end gripper pads is connected to the chain 36: to move from the minimum spacing position to the maximum spacing position, this pad integral with the chain provides the drive other pads by means of an intermediate chain 40, the ends of which are fixed at a point on each pad and connecting the consecutive pads together, the maximum extension of which corresponds to the spacing of the suspended nacelles or buckets. The return to the minimum spacing position of the gripper shoes which places them in abutment on each other is effected by reversing the direction of rotation of the hydraulic motor 39. The shoe integral with the chain then pushes back the other skates gradually until they are fully grouped.

La chaine de manutention 36 longe chaque patin porte-pince.The handling chain 36 runs along each clamp holder shoe.

L'ouverture des pinces s'obtient à l'aide d'un curseur mobile 41 en téflon s'inscrivant entre les lames 31, lequel curseur porté à l'extrémité d'une tige coulissante 42 est mobile en translation sous l'action de vérins hydrauliques 43, dont le corps est fixé au flasque 33 et dont la tige provoque le pivotement autour d'un axe 44 d'une barrette 45 reliant deux cames 46 et commandant la translation simultanée de l'ensemble des tiges coulissantes 42.The opening of the clamps is obtained by means of a movable slider 41 in teflon inscribed between the blades 31, which slider carried at the end of a sliding rod 42 is movable in translation under the action of hydraulic cylinders 43, the body of which is fixed to the flange 33 and the rod of which causes pivoting around an axis 44 of a bar 45 connecting two cams 46 and controlling the simultaneous translation of all of the sliding rods 42.

Après prise en charge des mottes par les pinces, l'ensemble B bascule autour de l'axe 34 sous l'action de vérins hydrauliques 47 de façon à faire passer les pinces d'une position de prise en charge des mottes représentée en figure 4, sensiblement perpendiculaire aux plateaux, a une position de largage sensiblement verticale ; simultanement à cette phase de basculement se produit la mise à écartement maximum des patins porte-pinces. Lorsque cette position est atteinte, les cames 46 sont en appui sur des butées fixes 48 prévues sur le châssis ; les vérins 43 en exerçant leur poussée provoquent l'ouverture de chaque pince et les cames 46 échappent aux butées 48. La fin de la course des vérins 43 place les pinces en position de recul par rapport au point de largage des mottes évitant ainsi la retenue du feuillage des plants par les pinces. After the clods have taken charge of the clods, the assembly B swings around the axis 34 under the action of hydraulic jacks 47 so as to move the claws from a clod take-up position shown in FIG. 4 , substantially perpendicular to the plates, has a substantially vertical release position; simultaneously with this tilting phase occurs the maximum spacing of the gripper pads. When this position is reached, the cams 46 are supported on fixed stops 48 provided on the chassis; the jacks 43 by exerting their thrust cause the opening of each clamp and the cams 46 escape the stops 48. The end of the stroke of the jacks 43 places the clamps in the retracted position relative to the release point of the clods thus avoiding the retention of the foliage of the plants by the pincers.

L'ensemble C de convoyage et de dépose des plants au sol est constitué d'une chaine de manutention 50 circulant en boucle fermée dans un plan incliné d'environ 30 par rapport à la verticale ; cette chaine circule sur un jeu de trois roues dentées 51, 52 et 53 dont l'une d'elles 52, motrice, est clavetée sur la sortie d'arbre d'un moteur hydraulique 54. La trajectoire comporte entre les roues dentées 51 et 52 un tronçon horizontal. La position de la roue dentée 53 détermine pour la chaine une portion de trajectoire descendante de faible pente entre les roues dentées 52 et 53 sous-tendue par un pignon 55 et une portion de trajectoire ascendante de forte inclinaison entre les roues dentées 53 et 51.Sur cette chaine de manutention sont mon tées à intervalles réguliers une série de nacelles ou de godets suspendus 56, le nombre desquels godets, sur la portion de trajectoire horizontale, est au moins égale au nombre de pinces, c'est-à-dire douze dans l'exemple décrit, lesdits intervalles correspondant a celui des pinces en position d'écartement maximum. Ces godets de forme conique sont divisés en deux parties par un plan médian formant avec le plan de défilement de la chaine 50 un angle d'environ 45" ; ils sont fixés sur la chaine d'une façon basculante autour d'un axe support 57 correspondant a un prolongement de l'axe d'articulation des maillons de la chaine. Cette fixation doit assurer une position verticale des godets tout au long de leur trajectoire.Cependant afin d'éviter tout mouvement pendulaire des godets, notamment lorsque ceux-ci se trouvent sur le tronçon horizontal de la trajectoire a l'aplomb des pinces 31 pour recevoir les plants ainsi qu'en partie basse de la trajectoire au point de largage des plants au sol, il est prévu sur chacun des godets et au niveau de l'axe support 57 un patin 58 faisant office de came, dont le chant supérieur constituant la face active comporte une partie rectiligne inclinée limitée a ses deux extrémités par un arrondi ; l'inclinaison de la partie rectiligne correspond sensiblement a celle du tronçon de trajectoire de la chaine 50 en amont de la roue dentée 53 correspondant au point de largage des plants.Lorsque le godet aborde cette zone de largage, le patin 58 vient en appui sur une rampe fixe inclinée 59 de position réglable assurant ainsi le maintien en position verticale du godet. A ce niveau est également prévu un dispositif d'ouverture du godet, lequel consiste en une rampe de guidage fixe 60 de position réglable sur laquelle accede un galet 61 monté sur la demi-partie mobile du godet correspondant a la partie arrière de celui-ci dans le sens de défilement des godets. The assembly C for conveying and depositing the plants on the ground consists of a handling chain 50 circulating in a closed loop in an inclined plane of approximately 30 relative to the vertical; this chain circulates on a set of three toothed wheels 51, 52 and 53 of which one of them 52, driving, is keyed on the shaft outlet of a hydraulic motor 54. The trajectory comprises between the toothed wheels 51 and 52 a horizontal section. The position of the toothed wheel 53 determines for the chain a portion of descending trajectory of slight slope between the toothed wheels 52 and 53 subtended by a pinion 55 and a portion of ascending trajectory of steep inclination between the toothed wheels 53 and 51. On this handling chain are mounted at regular intervals a series of nacelles or hanging buckets 56, the number of which buckets, on the portion of horizontal trajectory, is at least equal to the number of clamps, that is to say twelve in the example described, said intervals corresponding to that of the pliers in the maximum spacing position. These conical cups are divided into two parts by a median plane forming an angle of about 45 "with the running plane of the chain 50; they are fixed on the chain in a tilting fashion around a support axis 57 corresponding to an extension of the articulation axis of the chain links. This fixing must ensure a vertical position of the buckets throughout their trajectory. However to avoid any pendular movement of the buckets, especially when these found on the horizontal section of the trajectory above the clamps 31 to receive the plants as well as in the lower part of the trajectory at the point of release of the plants on the ground, it is provided on each of the buckets and at the level of the support axis 57 a shoe 58 acting as a cam, the upper edge of which constitutes the active face comprises an inclined rectilinear part limited at its two ends by a rounded shape; the inclination of the rectilinear part corresponds substantially to that of the section of trajectory of the chain 50 upstream of the gear 53 corresponding to the point of release of the plants. When the bucket approaches this release area, the shoe 58 comes to bear on a fixed inclined ramp 59 of adjustable position thus ensuring the maintenance in vertical position of the bucket. At this level is also provided a device for opening the bucket, which consists of a fixed guide ramp 60 of adjustable position on which a roller 61 mounted on the movable half-part of the bucket corresponding to the rear part of the latter accesses. in the direction of travel of the buckets.

Le réglage de la rampe 60 permet d'ajuster l'ouverture des godets suivant le volume du feuillage des plants. Apres largage du plant, le godet stabilisé remonte vers la roue dentée 51 en prenant appui sur la partie terminale recourbée de la rampe 59. Lorsqu'il atteint la zone de ladite roue 51, correspondant à la variation de trajectoire de la chaine 50 pour accéder au tronçon horizontal, le patin 58 prend appui sur une autre rampe de guidage fixe 62 de position réglable comportant, dans l'ordre, une partie courbe prolongée par une partie rectiligne sensiblement parallèle a la partie rectiligne de la rampe 59, elle-même parallele a la trajectoire de la chaine 50 entre le pignon tendeur 55 et la roue 53.The adjustment of the ramp 60 makes it possible to adjust the opening of the buckets according to the volume of the foliage of the plants. After dropping the plant, the stabilized bucket rises towards the toothed wheel 51 by resting on the curved end portion of the ramp 59. When it reaches the area of said wheel 51, corresponding to the variation in the trajectory of the chain 50 to access in the horizontal section, the shoe 58 bears on another fixed guide ramp 62 of adjustable position comprising, in order, a curved part extended by a rectilinear part substantially parallel to the rectilinear part of the ramp 59, itself parallel has the trajectory of the chain 50 between the tensioning pinion 55 and the wheel 53.

Le moteur hydraulique 54 est alimente par un distributeur rotatif proportionnel 63 du type orbitrol monté sur le châssis principal de la machine et en liaison mécanique avec l'une des roues porteuses par l'intermédiaire d'un variateur de vitesse mécanique 64, une telle disposition permettant d'adapter la vitesse de défilement des godets a celle de la machine en fonction du pas de plantation que l'on désire obtenir. The hydraulic motor 54 is supplied by a proportional rotary distributor 63 of the orbitrol type mounted on the main chassis of the machine and in mechanical connection with one of the carrying wheels by means of a mechanical speed variator 64, such an arrangement making it possible to adapt the speed of movement of the buckets to that of the machine according to the pitch of planting which it is desired to obtain.

Tel que représenté en figure 8, la machine comporte un châssis principal 65 réalisé en mécano-soudure selon un cadre rectangulaire dont les longerons comportent chacun à l'arrière un jambage sur lequel est montée une roue porteuse 66 et en partie avant une traverse sur laquelle sont soudées des pattes d'attache 67 ; sur la face supérieure de la traverse sont prévus, dans l'exemple décrit, deux jeux de deux paliers d'axes horizontaux 68, constituant les axes de basculement de chassis secondaires 69 disposées symétriquement par rapport à l'axe médian longitudinal de la machine. As shown in FIG. 8, the machine comprises a main chassis 65 made of mechanical welding in a rectangular frame, the longitudinal members of which each have at the rear a leg on which is mounted a carrying wheel 66 and in the front part a cross member on which are welded lugs 67; on the upper face of the cross-member are provided, in the example described, two sets of two horizontal axis bearings 68, constituting the tilting axes of secondary chassis 69 arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal median axis of the machine.

Chaque châssis secondaire est constitué d'un cadre de base rectangulaire portant sur son coté longitudinal exterieur, les points de fixation de l'ensemble porte-plateaux A ainsi que deux potences 69a destinées à supporter l'ensemble B de prise en charge des mottes et de transfert, l'autre coté longitudinal du cadre portant les points de fixation de l'ensemble C de convoyage et de dépose des plants au sol ainsi que les dispositifs de préparation et de ragréage du sol comprenant dans l'ordre d'intervention, un coutre vertical 70 constitué d'un profilé plat dont le chant situé vers l'avant est biseauté destiné à rejeter un eventuel obstacle tel qu'une pierre, une racine ou autre avant le passage d'une paire de coutres circulaires 71, pinces vers l'avant, un socle 72 constitué de deux lames obliques entre lesquelles s'effectue la dépose à fond de sillon du plant, une paire de roues tasseuses 73 refermant le sillon après plantation.Each secondary chassis consists of a rectangular base frame carrying on its outer longitudinal side, the fixing points of the tray-holder assembly A as well as two brackets 69a intended to support the assembly B for taking care of the clods and transfer, the other longitudinal side of the frame carrying the fixing points of the assembly C for conveying and depositing the plants on the ground as well as the soil preparation and leveling devices comprising, in the order of intervention, a vertical coulter 70 consisting of a flat profile whose edge located towards the front is bevelled intended to reject a possible obstacle such as a stone, a root or other before the passage of a pair of circular coulters 71, pliers towards the 'front, a base 72 consisting of two oblique blades between which is carried out at the bottom of the furrow of the plant, a pair of compacting wheels 73 closing the furrow after planting.

Chaque cycle de plantation commandé par l'automate annexé à la machine correspondant au programme suivant - translation du plateau 2 sous l'action du moteur hydraulique 8 pour mise d'une rangée d'alvéoles 7 face aux tiges-poussoirs 18 du dispositif d'extraction, - extraction des mottes sous la poussée des tiges-poussoirs à l'aide du vérin 23, - prise en charge des mottes par fermeture des pinces 31 en position regroupée, sous l'action des vérins 43, - basculement des pinces sous l'action des vérins 47 et simultanément mise en extension du faisceau de pinces à leur espacement maximum sous l'action du moteur hydraulique 39, - ouverture des pinces 31 sous l'action des vérins 43 au-dessus des godets de l'ensemble de convoyage et largage des plants, - regroupement des pinces à leur espacement minimum, - basculement des pinces pour mise en place de celles-ci perpendiculairement à une nouvelle rangée d'alvéoles du plateau amené en position sous l'action du moteur hydraulique 8 et du vérin hydraulique 16. Each planting cycle controlled by the machine attached to the machine corresponding to the following program - translation of the plate 2 under the action of the hydraulic motor 8 for placing a row of cells 7 facing the push rods 18 of the extraction, - extraction of the clods under the push of the push rods using the jack 23, - taking care of the clods by closing the clamps 31 in the grouped position, under the action of the jacks 43, - tilting of the clamps under the action of the jacks 47 and simultaneously extension of the bundle of pliers to their maximum spacing under the action of the hydraulic motor 39, - opening of the pliers 31 under the action of the jacks 43 above the buckets of the conveying assembly and dropping of the plants, - grouping of the pliers at their minimum spacing, - tilting of the pliers to place them perpendicular to a new row of cells of the plate brought into position under the action of the hydraulic motor 8 and of the jack hy hydraulics 16.

L'invention ne se limite aucunement au mode de réalisation spécialement décrit, mais elle admet toutes les variantes possibles à condition que celles-ci ne soient pas en contradiction avec l'objet de chacune des revendications annexées à'la présente description. The invention is in no way limited to the embodiment specially described, but it admits all possible variants provided that these are not in contradiction with the subject of each of the claims annexed to this description.

C'est ainsi que les flasques support 33 et leur dispositif de commande d'ouverture de pinces peuvent etre montés basculants non plus autour de l'axe 34 situé sur la potence 69a, mais sur un levier lui-meme basculant autour d'un axe situé à son extrémité sous l'action d'un vérin, le basculement de celui-ci permettant après prise en charge du feuillage et de la tiges des plants par les pinces, d'extraire ceux-ci des alvéoles du plateau supprimant dans certains cas le dispositif tiges-poussoirs. This is how the support flanges 33 and their clamp opening control device can be mounted tilting either around the axis 34 located on the bracket 69a, but on a lever itself tilting around an axis located at its end under the action of a jack, the tilting thereof allowing after taking care of the foliage and the stems of the plants by the pliers, to extract these from the alveoli of the tray eliminating in some cases the push rod device.

La machine, suivant l'invention, peut etre utilisée à la plantation de plants en mottes de toute nature. The machine according to the invention can be used for planting seedlings of all kinds.

Claims

- CLAIMS

l.-Semi-mounted machine intended to carry out the fully automated planting of vegetable plants or flowers cultivated in clods in honeycomb trays, in particular for crops in beds, characterized in that it consists of a chassis assembly comprising a main chassis fitted with load-bearing wheels on which uri are mounted or several secondary chassis articulated on said main chassis in order to ensure regularity of planting depth, whatever the flatness of the growing bed and the variation in height of the latter relative to the foot rails on which the carrying wheels of the main chassis circulate, the chassis assembly thus formed carrying one or more planting units each composed of - a tray carrier and extraction assembly clods (A), - a set (B) for handling clods and transfer, - a set (C) for conveying and depositing plants on the ground, - a set of prep aration and leveling of the soil, the different successive phases from the extraction of clods from the trays to the removal of the plants on the ground being controlled from a programmable controller.

2. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a main chassis (65) produced by mechanical welding in a rectangular frame, the longitudinal members of which each have a leg on the rear on which a carrier wheel is mounted ( 66) and in the front part a cross member on which are welded lugs (67) to the three-point coupling device of a tractor, on which cross member are mounted bearings of horizontal axes (68) constituting the axes of tilting of secondary chassis (69) arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal median axis of the machine, each secondary chassis consisting of a rectangular base frame, carrying on its external longitudinal side the fixing points of the carrier assembly plates (A) as well as two brackets (69a) intended to support the assembly (B), for taking care of the clods and transfer, the other longitudinal side of the frame carrying the attachment points of the assembly (C) conveyor t for placing the plants on the ground, as well as the soil preparation and leveling devices constituted in the order of intervention of a vertical coulter (70), a pair of circular coulters (71), a plowshare (72) consisting of two oblique blades between which the plant is deposited at the bottom of the furrow and a pair of compacting wheels (73).

3.- Machine according to claims 1 and 2, taken together, characterized in that the tray holder assembly (A) consists of a frame (1) inclined by about 40 relative to the vertical, provided with side rails of guide between which the honeycomb plates (2) slide in translation in a direction perpendicular to the movement of the machine by means of a set of two side chains (3) arranged in a closed loop between a driving toothed wheel (4) and a toothed wheel led (5), the trajectory of each chain in a vertical plane comprising in the upper part a rectilinear section parallel to the guide rails and of length at least equal to the length of two consecutive plates, said chains being interconnected by bars transverse (6) placed at regular intervals corresponding to the length of the plates, the translation of which plates is carried out sequentially according to a displacement equal to the interval separating d them consecutive transverse rows of cells (7).

4.- Machine according to claim 3, characterized in that the sequential drive in translation of the plates (2) is controlled by a hydraulic motor (8) on the output shaft which is keyed the driving gear (4) as well that a ratchet wheel (9) provided with a number of teeth equal to the number of transverse rows of cells (7) of the plate, which hydraulic motor (8) kept constantly in pressure causes the translation of the plate necessary to place successively each row of cells perpendicular to an extraction device by successive release of the teeth of the ratchet wheel by a pawl (10) rocking around an axis (11) under the action of a jack hydraulic (12), one of the teeth (9a) of said ratchet wheel having a head length such that the interval separating the successive toothed hollows which surround it corresponds to the distance separating the last row from the first plate and the first row of the next tray, i.e. twice l at a distance, these rows at the edges of the plates concerned increased by the thickness of a drive bar (6).

5.- Machine according to claim 3, characterized in that the frame of the tray holder device is extended in the upper part by a guide support (13) intended to receive a waiting tray, the transfer of which onto the frame (1) is carried out using a pusher (14) placed at the end of a rod guided in translation along the longitudinal axis of the frame by means of a slide (15) circulating in an axial slide, said translation being controlled by a hydraulic cylinder (16) acting on a link (17) articulated on the slide.

6.- Machine according to all of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises a device for extracting the lumps of the cells (7) of the plate (2), consisting of a bundle of push rods (18 ) in a number equal to the number of cells in each row of the tray, located vertically on a crosspiece (19) at regular intervals corresponding to the spacing of cells in the same row making a sort of comb whose teeth are directed towards the top, which comb is driven in an upward and downward movement, guided in translation by means of two ball bushings (20) fixed to the ends of the crosspiece (19) and sliding on two guide columns (21) mounted fixed on the tray holder frame (1), the end of the push rods being in the form of a shoulder needle, said push rods passing through in their translation a fixed perforated crosspiece (22) integral with the frame, which translation is obtained at the using a hydraulic cylinder (23) and a je u connecting rods (24).

7.- Machine according to all of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the assembly (B) for handling and transfer of clods consists of a battery of pliers of a number equal to that of the cells (7 ) of the same row of the plate, each consisting of a clamp-carrying shoe (30), the lateral flanks of which are extended by two flexible blades (31) whose converging ends in the closed position are contiguous, which support shoes clamps are slidably mounted on two parallel guide rods (32) arranged transversely to the direction of translation of the plates and the ends of which are located in two support flanges (33), tiltable around an axis (34) and braced by two tubes ( 35), the ability to move the clip-on pads on said guide rods allowing them to pass from a minimum spacing corresponding to the position of the clips opposite each cell of the same row of the plate to a spacing maximum co corresponding to the position of the clamps plumb with the nacelles or buckets suspended from the assembly (C) for conveying and depositing the plants on the ground.

8.- Machine according to claim 7, characterized in that the translation of the gripper shoes (30) is ensured by means of a handling chain (36) arranged in a closed loop between a free toothed wheel (37) and a drive toothed wheel (38) keyed to the output of the shaft of a hydraulic motor (39) one of said end clamp carrier pads integral with said chain driving the other clamp carrier shoes in translation for setting at maximum spacing by means of intermediate traction chains (40) connecting the pads together and whose maximum extension places the clamps plumb with the nacelles or buckets suspended from the assembly (C) for conveying and depositing the plants on the ground, returning to the position of minimum spacing of the pads, by reversing the direction of rotation of the hydraulic motor (39) operating by grouping said pads bearing against each other under the thrust of the integral pad chain.

9. Machine according to claims 7 and 8, taken together, characterized in that the opening of the clamps is obtained by means of sliders (41) in teflon inscribed between the flexible blades (31), which sliders carried at the end of sliding rods (42) are movable in translation under the action of hydraulic cylinders (43) whose body is fixed to the flanges (33) and whose rod causes pivoting about an axis (44) a bar (45) connecting two cams (46) and controlling the simultaneous translation of all of the sliding rods (42).

10.- Machine according to claims 7, 8 and 9, taken together, characterized in that the assembly (B) for taking care of the clods rocks around the axis (34) under the action of hydraulic cylinders (47 ) to pass the clamps from a position for taking in the clods, substantially perpendicular to the plate to a position for releasing said clods in the nacelles or buckets suspended from the assembly (C) for conveying, and for removing the plants on the ground, the maximum spacing of the gripper shoes being carried out simultaneously with this tilting phase of the assembly (B).

11.- Machine according to claims 7, 8, 9 and 10, taken together, characterized in that in the vertical position of release of the clamps, the cams (46) are supported on fixed stops (48) fixed on the brackets (69a) secondary chases, and escape these under the thrust of the jacks (43) causing the opening of the clamps, the end of travel of said jacks placing the clamps in the retracted position relative to the vertical release position avoiding retaining the foliage of the plants by the pincers.

12.- Machine according to all of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the assembly (C) for conveying and depositing plants on the ground consists of a handling chain (50) bearing suspended at regular intervals from nacelles or buckets (56) and circulating in a closed loop in an inclined plane of approximately 30 "relative to the vertical, which chain circulates on a set of three toothed wheels (51, 52, 53), one of which (52 ) is driven by a hydraulic motor (54), the path of said chain being horizontal between the wheels (51 and 52), descending along a slight slope and subtended by a pinion (55) between the wheels (52 and 53) and ascending according to a strong inclination between the toothed wheels (53 and 51), these two oblique portions of trajectory contributing towards the point of release on the ground of the plants at the level of the wheel (53), the number of nacelles or buckets (56) on the portion of the horizontal path being at least equal to the number of pliers of the assembly (3) of supported.

13.- Machine according to claim 12, characterized in that the nacelles or buckets (56) of conical shape are divided into two parts, one fixed, the other mobile according to a median plane forming with the plane of movement of the handling chain (50) an angle of about 459, which buckets are fixed on the chain in a tilting fashion around a support axis (57) corresponding to an extension of the articulation axis of the links of the chain.

14.- Machine according to claims 12 and 13, taken together, characterized in that the buckets (56) circulating in a vertical position throughout the trajectory of the chain, comprise, mounted on the fixed half-part of each bucket at level of the axis (57), a cam (58), the upper edge of which comprises an inclined rectilinear part limited at its two ends by a rounded shape, the inclination of said rectilinear part corresponding substantially to that of the path section of the chain (50) upstream of the toothed wheel (53), which cam bears on a fixed ramp (59) of adjustable position located at the level of the wheel (53) or on a fixed ramp (62) of adjustable position located at level of the toothed wheel (51), these ramps (59 and 62) being intended to prohibit any pendular movement of the buckets respectively at the time of reaching the point of release of the plant on the ground or the horizontal trajectory portion of the chain for the clods taken care of by clods and, said ramps comprising for this purpose a rectilinear inclined portion substantially parallel to the path of the chain (50) between the tensioning pinion (55) and the wheel (53).

15.- Machine according to all of claims 6, 12, 13 and 14, characterized in that the device for opening the buckets at the point of release of the plant on the ground consists of a fixed guide ramp (60) of adjustable position on which is supported a roller (61) mounted on the movable half-part of the bucket corresponding to the rear part thereof in the direction of travel of the buckets.

16.- Machine according to all of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the running speed of the buckets (56) is adjusted to the speed of advancement of the machine as a function of the planting pitch to be obtained, by feeding the hydraulic motor (54) driving the handling chain (50) carrying the buckets by a proportional rotary distributor (63) of the orbitrol type in mechanical connection with one of the supporting wheels of the chassis by means of a variator mechanical speed (64).

17.- Machine according to all of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the tilting axes of the assembly (B) for handling and transfer of clods can be located at the lower end of tilting levers under the action of hydraulic jacks acting on their other end, the tilting of which levers allows, after taking care of the foliage and the stem of the plants by the pliers, the extraction of these from the cells of the tray.