GB205825A - Improvements in planting machines - Google Patents

Abstract

205,825. Blass, S. Oct. 22, 1923. Planting-machines.-In a plant-setting machine comprising funnels for receiving the plants, carrying them round, and discharging them into holes or furrows, the plants are inserted into the funnels root first, and the funnels remain vertical during the operation and do not enter the ground, but are held stationary relatively to the ground as the plants are deposited, the wheels of the machine being arranged so as to compress the soil about the roots of the plants. The wheels are of different diameters and are displaced relatively to one another. They are also inclined so as to be near one another at the bottom. The funnels t are carried by axles o mounted in spokes l on an axle d which is driven from one of the wheels through bevel and spur gearing. When near the ground the funnels move backward at the same speed as the machine moves forward. They are controlled by the engagement of rollers e, f with guides k' - - k'. The lines y, s indicate the inclination of the funnels at different parts of their paths. In the upper part of the path the tops of the funnels move only slightly with regard to the machine, so as to facilitate insertion of the plants by the attendant. The funnels are normally closed at their lower ends by hinged plates j which are swung back as the funnels approach the ground by the engagement of lever arms g with stops h. The plants then drop down and the soil is pressed against their roots while their upper parts are still in the funnels.