NL1025363C2 - Device for planting growth tape. - Google Patents

Description

Device for planting growth tape

The invention relates to a device for planting tape, which comprises, for example, seeds or seed plants, in the ground, comprising a frame, a holder for the tape, and a guide trough, with which a trench can be drawn into the ground and tape can be brought into the ground from the container.

In the international patent application WO 00/00009 a machine is described with which so-called growth tape is introduced into the ground narrowly. This machine comprises a frame (indicated by number 2 in the figures at WO 00/00009) to which are attached, inter alia, a feed container (4) for zigzagging tape (6), a plant unit (14) provided with plow (18), for pulling a trench (19) in the ground, and a slanted shaft / rod (20), for reversing the tape (6) from a direction slanting downwards and forwards to a direction horizontal and backwards net above the bottom of the trench (19). When the machine is being pulled, the tape (6) is pulled out of the container (4) and down to the trench (19). Behind the plow (18) is a set of pressure wheels (26, 28), with which the channel (19) is closed and pressed.

Planting is a critical phase in the growth process. If the seeds or seedlings are exposed for too long to a moisture deficit or are covered too much with soil or clods, this can lead to the plants dying off.

The object of the invention is to improve the device according to the first paragraph. To this end, the device according to the invention is characterized in that at least the part of the rear part (seen in relation to the direction of travel of the device) of the guide trough which is in the ground during operation is narrower than (the 1025363

2 I

corresponding part of) the front part of the I

guide trough. It is preferable that the width of the I

rear part of the guide trough at least about I

corresponds to the sum of the thickness of the side walls ter I

5 and 80% to 150%, preferably 90% to 130%, of the I

thickness of the unloaded tape. I

With this measure it is achieved that the drawn I

channel is closed to some extent, or at least can be closed, I

before the tape is introduced, which results in a better I

10 connection between the tape and soil is obtained and I

instability of the relatively narrow tape in the relative I

wide trench is reduced or even eliminated. I

It is preferred that the device is I

provided with means for carrying during operation I

15 from a quantity of land. Such ground can be I

referred to as 'buffer ground' and serves for I

controlled closing of the channel and building I

a sufficiently firm back. I

Locking up and defining the I

The buffer soil is further improved if the resources are 1

plane descending backwards downwards, for example an I

plate, with the rear edge of the plane 1

preferably extending to or beyond the rear end I

of the guide trough and / or wherein means I are provided

25 for laterally displacing the entrained soil in I

the direction of the of the guide channel. I

Furthermore, it is preferred that the guide channel I

is coupled to said means for carrying I

buffer ground, such that when these resources are raised or I

30 move downwards, the guide channel in at least approximately equal I

moves up or down. Thus on I

effective depth control, i.e. the I

depth of the drawn trench, relative to the top I

of shaped back, and the planting depth remain substantially I

35 constant. I

1025363 3

A further preferred embodiment is that in which the guide trough comprises an axis for reversing the tape from a direction obliquely downwards and forwards to a direction horizontally and backwards, which axis has a diameter larger than 18 mm and which is preferably lies in a range between 20 and 50 mm. Because the drawn trench according to the invention is closed at least to some extent before the tape is planted therein, the front side of the guide trough can be made wider without the planting of the tape being influenced too much. A relatively wide shaft can then be used, which will generate fewer stress variations or hitches in the tape than the usual shafts (according to the state of the art, the diameter of such shafts is approximately 15 mm).

The invention will now be elucidated with reference to the figures, in which an embodiment according to the invention is schematically represented.

Figure 1 shows a side view of a device according to the invention.

Figures 2 and 3 show a top and rear view, respectively, of the right half of the rear of the device according to figure 1.

Figures 4 and 5 show a top, side and front view of means for entraining and moving sideways buffer soil during operation.

In the figures, identical parts and parts which perform the same or substantially the same function are designated by the same reference numeral.

Figures 1 to 3 show a device 1 according to the invention, also referred to as a growth tape planter, with which a number of tapes 2, in this example eight tapes 2 in four beds 3, can be planted simultaneously. Growth tape may, for example, consist of two strips of a biodegradable material stuck together.

Between these strips are, at some distance from each other, seeds 10253 C 3

I 4 I

I (for example, lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, industrial tomatoes, I

I onions or the like), possibly covered with an I

I root medium, a moisture-retaining substance and / or I

I crop food and protection products. Growth tapes are in I

Detail described in the European patent application 0 1222 263. I

I The front of the planter 1 is provided with an I

I three-point coupling 4, with which the planter 1 connects to a tractor I

I (not shown) can be coupled, one or more tools I

I for soil preparation, such as a rotary harrow or a cutter

I 10 5, front support wheels 6 and a composite frame 7. On I

I this frame 7 are the different parts of the I

I actual planter 1 confirmed directly or indirectly. This I

I parts include rear support wheels 8, in corner I

Adjustable holders 9, in which traya with zigzag tape 2 I

Are placed and each of which is provided with a supply of I

I tape 2 to respective guide channels 10 (partially with I

Shown in dotted lines), with which parallel to the I

I driving direction of the planter 1 channels 11 (figure 3) in the I

I soil can be pulled and tape 2 from the holders 9 in I

Can be brought to the ground. To this end, each of I

I guide troughs 10 provided with an inclined axis 12 I

I (Figure 2) for reversing the tape from a direction I

I tilted down and forward to a direction I

I horizontally and backwards to just above the bottom of the I

I 25 concerning channel 11. In this example, the axis 12 has an I

I diameter of 25 mm and is provided with a coating of I

I Teflon ™. Both measures contribute to an even I

I guidance of the tape. The front part of the guide channel I

I acts primarily as a plow or coulter and is relatively I

I wide, for example approximately 5 cm. The back part is in I

Mainly formed by a channel with a U-shaped cross-section. This I

I part is considerably narrower, for example approximately 1.5 cm, and I

I essentially acts as a guide for the tape. To the tape I

To bring the soil as stable as possible into the soil, the I

The guide channel, at least during operation, is preferably kept horizontal.

The guide troughs 10 are attached to a consolidation cap 13 which, near the cutter 5, is pivotally attached to the frame 7 and can therefore be adjusted more or less forward to be able to assume the correct position in the working position, independently of the working depth of that milling cutter 5. During operation, the consolidation cap 13 carries along part of the soil detached with the milling cutter 5, also referred to as buffer soil. As shown in figures 4 (with dotted lines) and 5, the cap 13 comprises a plate 14 which runs backwards downwards, the rear edge of which extends beyond the rear ends of the guide troughs 10. Tape 15 is inserted into these ends brought to the ground. The plate 14 is provided with a bend, such that the rear part of the plate 14 makes a smaller angle with the horizontal (ground level) than the front part of the plate 14. This angle is preferably less than 10 degrees, so that the entrained buffer soil is slightly pressed by this rear part. The rear edge of the cap 13 is provided with recesses 15 at the location of the troughs 10, which on the one hand prevent the planted tape or the seedlings from being damaged by this edge and on the other hand allow soil under the plate 13 to remain against the sides of the tape 2 is brought.

On the underside of the cap 13, in front with the supporting wheels 8, front partitions 16 are attached, for example by means of welding, which meet at the front in a line edge. The baffles 16 diverge to the rear and merge into parallel (rear) baffles 17, which together with the rear side of the plate 14 determine the shape of the respective back 3. The plate 14 and the partitions 16 and 17 are made of metal, preferably stainless steel.

10253 ö3

6 I

During operation, the cutter loosens 5 soil and I

pull the guide troughs 10 channels 11. The loosened soil I

with the aforementioned front partitions 16 towards that center and I

moved to the rear part of the guide channels 10. I

5 Because this rear part is narrower than the front part of I

the guide trough 10, with which the (wide) channel is drawn, I

the trench 11 drawn with that front part is already an I

largely closed. Moreover, because the guide troughs 10 are I

two by two are asymmetrical, with the narrow I

10 rear parts on the side of the center of the I to be formed

back, the closing of channels is made with the help of the partitions I

16 further simplified. I

The tape is thus brought into narrow channels, I

thereby effectively warping or tipping the tape I

15 is prevented. In addition, with the back part I

of the top plate 13 and the rear partitions 17 sufficient I

solid backs formed. To the effectiveness with which the I

channels 11 are closed, further increasing is the I

center of the front bulkheads 16 (seen in the I

20 is preferably at least approximately at the height I

of the transition from wide to narrow of the guide troughs 10. I

Because the guide troughs 10 are attached to the cap I

13, the guide troughs 10, when the cap 12 is raised or I

moves downwards, at least about the same extent upwards I

25 or move down. Thus, an I

depth control obtained, i.e. the depth of the I remains

drawn trench, with respect to the formed back, and with that I

the planting depth is essentially constant. I

Can be pivoted through, for example, I through the guide channels

30 to attach the top plate (14) such that the trough towards I

can pivot up at the end of a work pass, I

achieves that possibly sticky soil between the I

top plate and the gutter is scraped loose, which is the I

regular channel formation. I

1025363_I

7

Optionally, behind the guide troughs, for example on either side of the said recesses (15), there may be means, such as pins, which are pulled through the ground during operation, such that the ground is pressed in the direction of the tape and the soil lies more firmly against the planted tape.

The invention is of course not limited to the embodiments described above and can be varied in various ways within the scope of the claims. For example, the guide trough can be made up of different parts instead of one piece, and can for instance comprise a coulter on the front side and a trough for guiding the tape on the rear side.

Furthermore, during planting irrigation pipes can be introduced into the soil or water can be supplied, for example via the guide trough or via a separate tube with an outflow opening. Moreover, administration of water via the guide trough leads to lubrication of the tape.

10253 63

Claims (12)

Device (1) for planting tape (2), which contains, for example, seeds or seedlings, in the soil I (3), comprising a frame (7), a holder (9) for the tape I (2) and a guide trough (10), with which a trench (11) can be drawn into the ground (3) and tape (2) can be introduced from the holder (9) into the ground (3), characterized in that that at least the part of the rear part of the guide channel (10) which is in operation in the ground I is narrower than the front part of guide channel 10 (10). I Device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the width of the rear part of the guide channel (10) corresponds at least approximately to the sum of the thickness of the side walls in place and 80% to 150%, preferably 90 % to 130%, of the thickness of the unloaded tape (2). I Device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, which I is provided with means (13) for carrying a quantity of soil during operation. I 4. Device (1) according to claim 3, wherein said means (13) comprise a surface descending backwards and downwards, for example a plate (14). I Device (1) according to claim 4, wherein the rear edge of the surface (14) extends beyond the rear end of the guide trough (10). I Device (1) according to claim 5, wherein the rear part of the surface (14) forms a smaller angle with the horizontal than the front part of the surface (14). I 7. Device (1) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein I the angle that the rear part of the plane (14) makes with I is horizontally smaller than 10 degrees. I Device (1) as claimed in any of the claims 3-7, wherein the guide trough (10) is coupled to said means (13) such that when said means (13) are raised 1025363 | or moving down, the guide trough (10) moves up or down along at least approximately the same amount. 8 I CONCLUSIONS I Device (1) as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, which is provided with means (16, 17) for laterally displacing the entrained soil in the direction of the of the guide trough (10). Device (1) as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein behind the guide trough (10) there are means, such as pins, which during operation are pulled through the ground (3) such that the ground (3) the direction of the tape (2) is pressed. 11. Device (1) as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the rear part of the guide trough (10) is positioned off-center with respect to the front part. 12. Device (1) as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the guide trough (10) comprises a shaft (12) for reversing the tape (2) from a direction obliquely downwards and forwards to a direction horizontal and backwards which shaft (12) has a diameter greater than 18 mm and which is preferably in a range between 20 and 50 mm. 1025363