GB1349565A - Method of and apparatus for sowing or planting crops - Google Patents

Abstract

1349565 Moving stones and/or clods for sowing or planting crops C H CREYKE 3 July 1972 [3 April 1971] 8641/71 Headings A1B and A1F Soil containing stones and/or clods S is lifted from the ground, the soil is separated from the stones and/or clods S and returned to the ground, seeds are sown or plants planted in a row or rows in the cleaned soil C, and the stones and/or clods are deposited on the ground beside the rows of seeds or plants before or after the rows are sown or planted. In Fig. 1, a machine comprises a digger unit 10 which is drawn through the ground at constant depth to lift soil containing stones and/or clods onto an inclined endless chain web elevator 11 through which the soil falls into the furrow. The stones and/or clods are delivered onto an endless conveyor 12 which extends through or on each side of a potato planting unit 13 so as to deposit the stones and clods in one or more lines alongside the filled and planted furrow. The potatoes may be planted in two or more furrows at a time using twin digger units. The angle of the elevator 11 is adjustable. The units 10-13 may be driven by a power unit on the machine or tractor. The units 10, 11, 12 may be self-propelled or tractor-drawn. An existing planter 14 may be used. In Fig. 4, a tractor T draws twin digger units 10 and the separator elevator 11 delivers the stones and clods S onto an endless transverse conveyor 12A which deposits them in a line between rows. of planted potatoes. A two-row planting unit is hitched to the rear of the digger-separator machine. The transverse conveyor 12A is reversible and movable laterally of the machine to project from either side of the machine. The digger-separator of Fig. 4 may be used for harvesting root crops.