NL1042346B1 - String planter - Google Patents

Abstract

String planter for planting seed material such as potatoes or other tuberous or bulbous plants, comprising a string bed with at least two leg string units, each of which is provided for supplying the seed material to be planted in one row in a row from a supply point to a discharge point, and with return means on either side of each leg string unit for returning seed material falling against the supply direction to the supply point, falling from the row, characterized in that the return means are arranged consecutively between two successive leg string units of the said leg string units, so that the seed material over these return means between these successive leg belt units can roll.

Description

Patent center

The Netherlands

© 1042346 (21) Application number: 1042346 © Application submitted: April 20, 2017 © BI PATENT (51) Int. CL:

A01C 9/02 (2018.01)

© Application registered: © Patent holder (s): November 5, 2018 DEWULF N.V. in ROESELARE, Belgium, BE. © Request published: - © Inventor (s): Willem Goffe Siderius in BEETGUM (BE). © Patent granted: Gert de Boe in LOCHRISTI (BE). November 5, 2018 Bart-Jan Rozema in GROOTEGAST. Siebe Meindertsma in FERWERT. © Patent issued: Joeri Van Iseghem in INGELMUNSTER (BE). January 31, 2019 © Authorized representative: ir. A. Ferguson in Amersfoort.

© String planter (57) String planter for planting seed such as potatoes or other tubers or bulbs, comprising a string bed with at least two leg string units, each of which is provided for supplying the seed to be planted in one row from a supply point to a discharge point, and with return means on either side of each leg string unit for returning seed material falling against the supply direction to the supply point, falling from the row, characterized in that the return means are arranged contiguous between two successive leg string units of said leg string units, so that seed material is disposed over it these return means can roll between these successive leg string units.

NL Bl 1042346

This patent has been granted regardless of the attached result of the research into the state of the art and written opinion. The patent corresponds to the documents originally submitted.

P548NL

String planter

This invention relates to a string planter for planting seed material such as potatoes or other tuberous or bulbous plants when the string planter is displaced in a row direction, comprising a string bed with at least two leg string units, each of which is provided for supplying in one row according to a supply direction legs of seed material from a supply point to a discharge point, and with return means on either side of each leg string unit for returning seed material falling out of the row against the direction of supply to the supply point.

String planters or string bed planters are used to plant root or bulb crops such as, for example, potatoes or onions. Planting such crops is also referred to by the term legs. The seed potatoes can also be referred to as the general term poters.

Such a string planter usually comprises a storage bunker in which the seed material is arranged, a string bed on which the seed material lands from the storage bunker, and furrow pullers for forming furrows / channels in the subsurface, the seed material falling from the string bed into the formed furrows. A forward puller is often also referred to as the trench trigger or coulter. The string bed usually comprises two or more leg string units, which are each provided for supplying seed material to be planted in one row according to a supply direction from a supply point to a discharge point, wherein the seed material falls into a said channel from the discharge point. The string bed further comprises return means on either side of each leg string unit for returning seed material falling out of the row to the supply direction, against the supply direction. The operation and design of the string bed is such that one row of 30 connecting poters is formed on each leg string unit such that the poters are planted one by one in the formed channels. The formation of this row is also referred to as the singularity. In other words, potting of the poters takes place on each leg string unit so that on each string unit, at the level of the discharge point, the poters extend in one row and poter can be arranged per poter in a said channel.

When applying the poters to the channel, it is important that this is done evenly and that each poter is planted separately. For this, the poters must be contiguous in one row on each leg string unit. Therefore, the better the single germination, the more evenly the seed is planted in the subsoil. Due to the dimensions and the shape of the string bed and the string planter in general, there are limitations with regard to singulation. Namely, the poters, which are on the return means which are located next to a leg string unit and which are then brought by the return means to the supply point, can come into contact with one or more poters that are present in a row of poters on a said row. leg string unit. As a result, poters are pushed out of the aforementioned row and / or extra poters end up on the leg string unit. In order to avoid problems with singulation, the speed of the leg string units is limited and the supply speed from the storage bunker to the string bed is limited. In other words, a string planter therefore has a certain capacity and there is always a maximum speed at which it is still possible to plant relatively well. It would therefore be desirable to be able to optimize the singulation of string planters in such a way that planting can always be done well, even at higher speeds than is possible today.

It is therefore an object of the invention to optimize the singulation on the leg string units.

This object is achieved by providing a string planter for planting seed material such as potatoes or other tuberous or bulbous plants when the string planter is displaced in a direction of travel, comprising a string bed with at least two leg string units, each of which is provided in accordance with a supply direction feeding one row of seed material from a supply point to a discharge point, and with return means on either side of each leg string unit for returning seed material falling against the supply direction to the supply point, falling from the row, the return means between two successive leg string units of the The leg string units referred to in 5 are arranged contiguous, so that seed material can roll over these return means between these successive leg string units.

The singulation at the existing string planters often does not proceed optimally since the poters, certainly if they are large poters or if there are many poters present on the return means, collide with the walls / partitions arranged between the return means of two consecutive leg string units, and are then pushed to the poters that are on a said leg string unit. The dimensions of the return means, which extend next to the leg string units, therefore constitute a limitation here. In the string planter according to the invention, the return means are arranged contiguously between two successive leg string units of said leg string units. As a result, the seed material can roll over these return means between these successive leg string units and the seed material can move over the full width, which is situated between two leg string units. The chance that the seed material that is brought by the return means towards the supply point will repel seed material or touch seed material that is present on the leg string units is therefore smaller here. In other words, this string bed is free of partitions that hinder the singles. The one or more return means which are located between two successive leg string units thus form one common bed on which the poters can move and / or be displaced. Poters thus located on return means between two consecutive leg string units can thus move across the entire width between these leg string units and be carried along in the direction of the supply point, so that the chance of them interfering with poters located on the 30 leg string units is smaller than with the existing string planters. Given that the singling here takes place in better conditions, the speed of these leg string units can possibly be increased, so that the maximum capacity of this string planter is higher than with the existing string planters.

As no annoying partitions are present and the full width between two consecutive leg string units is utilized, the leg string units can also be arranged closer to each other without compromising the good singulation. With the help of this string planter it is therefore possible to plant poters in rows that are arranged closer to each other than with the existing string planters. As a result, the yield per hectare of plot can increase significantly.

Each leg string unit preferably comprises a plurality of conveyor strings. The supply direction also preferably corresponds substantially to the direction of travel.

In a preferred embodiment, the return means are arranged downwardly inclined towards the respective leg belt units at a height transverse to the direction of supply and are positioned upwardly inclined upwardly towards the respective leg belt units at a height transverse to the direction of supply. to. This arrangement 20 ensures better that at the level of the discharge point several poters form one continuous row on each leg string unit and it is also better prevented that poters are ejected from this row. At the supply point the poters roll towards the row to be included in the row, while at the level of the discharge point poters that were not included in the row roll back away from the row.

At the discharge point, poters that are adjacent to a said leg string unit must overcome an upward slope before they can contact the poters on said leg string unit. When the string bed is placed under a slope, for example when planting on a sloping field and / or on an uneven field, this arrangement 30 prevents all the seed material from rolling towards the lowest set leg string unit and is thus ensured that the seed remains well and evenly distributed over the string bed. The string bed here, for example, has a wavy pattern at the point of discharge.

The return means are preferably designed as conveyor belts. With the help of conveyor belts it is easier to realize the desired slopes. A row of conveyor belts can also be easily twisted so that at the height of the feed point in a direction transverse to the feed direction this row is arranged inclined downwards towards the respective leg string units and inclined upwards at the height of the discharge point in a direction transverse to the feed direction is arranged towards the respective leg string units. With the aid of conveyor belts, for example, a wavy pattern can easily be added to the string bed. Preferably, there are at least two conveyor belts between two consecutive leg string units.

In an alternative embodiment, the return means are designed as conveyor belts. However, if a string planter is desired with return means with a certain slope, it is less easy to realize this slope with conveyor belts.

In a specific embodiment, the return means between the two successive leg string units form part of the same conveyor belt. Between two consecutive leg string units, one must then only be provided with one conveyor belt, which is simple. However, if it is desired to provide this conveyor belt with the desired slope, this is less simple.

Preferably, a first leg string unit of the successive leg string units is arranged between a longitudinal side of the string bed and the second subsequent leg string unit and the width of the return means between this first leg string unit and the said longitudinal side of the string bed is at least 30 as wide as half of the width of the return means between the first leg string unit and the second leg string unit. The distance that extends between the longitudinal side and the first leg string unit is therefore at least half the distance that extends between the first leg string unit and the second leg string unit. There is thus sufficient distance between this longitudinal side and this first leg-string unit so that poters that are displaced by the return means which are situated between the first leg-string unit and the longitudinal side, do not or hardly hinder the singulation on the first leg-string unit. Furthermore, this width of the return means between this first leg string unit and the said longitudinal side of the string bed is at least 60% of the width of the return means between the first leg string unit and the second leg string unit, even more preferably at least 75%. The singulation on each leg string unit then proceeds optimally here.

Preferably, if there are at least three leg string units, the distance between two consecutive leg string units is almost always the same.

In a preferred embodiment the string bed is pivotally arranged in the string planter around a hinge axis in the direction of travel and the string planter comprises measuring means for determining the angular rotation of the string bed around said hinge axis and control means for rotating the string bed around said hinge axis as a function of the angular rotation determined with the measuring means. In this way it is always possible to set up the string bed almost horizontally (spirit level), when planting on sloping plots and / or planting uneven plots. In this way it is prevented that the poters roll too much to one side of the string bed and that the poters are no longer well spread over the entire string bed. This also benefits the single person.

By leveling the string bed, the stability of the machine also improves as this string bed has a certain weight. An additional advantage here is that the pots fall more centrally in the formed front. This hinge axis can always be in the same position. However, embodiments are also possible where the hinge axis is arranged so as to be movable. This hinge axis can be a physical axis, but can also be a fictional axis, whereby due to the specific suspension of the string bed, this string bed is hinged about an axis that deviates from its suspension points.

In addition to the string bed itself, other parts of the string planter can also be hinged together with this string planter. Thus, a bunker and / or a frame and / or a supply belt, etc. can be hinged together with the string bed in the string planter.

Furthermore, preferably this string planter comprises a furrow puller for forming furrows for arranging the seed to be planted therein, wherein this furrow puller 10 is arranged hingeably around said pivot axis relative to the string bed. In this way the forward tractor is able to follow the slope of the field / field while keeping the string bed in a horizontal position (spirit level). The furrows formed here are then almost everywhere the same depth, so that the pots are planted at the desired depth.

The string planter preferably further comprises a transport element for supporting the string bed and for moving the string bed in the direction of travel, wherein the string bed is arranged hingedly relative to the transport element around the hinge axis. In order to arrange the string bed pivotally in the string planter around the pivot axis, the string bed is arranged pivotally relative to the transport element. The transport element can for instance comprise a rear axle with caterpillars and / or wheels. These wheels and / or caterpillars then follow the slope of the field, as a result of which the string planter is always well supported by the transport element and is easy to move in the direction of travel.

This invention will now be further elucidated with reference to the following detailed description of a string planter according to the present invention. The purpose of this description is to give only illustrative examples and to indicate further advantages and details of this invention, and thus cannot be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention or the patent rights claimed in the claims.

In this detailed description reference is made to the accompanying drawings by reference numerals, wherein

figure 1 is a perspective representation of a string planter according to the invention;

figure 2 is a perspective representation of the string planter shown in figure 1, wherein the part above the string bed is not shown so that the string bed is clearly visible;

figure 3 is a perspective representation of a first embodiment of a string bed of a string planter according to the invention;

figure 4 is a perspective representation of a second embodiment of a string bed of a string planter according to the invention;

- figure 5 represents a section of the string bed shown in figure 3, according to a plane perpendicular to the direction of travel of the string planter at the level of the supply point;

figure 6 represents a cross-section of the string bed shown in figure 4, according to a plane perpendicular to the direction of travel of the string planter at the point of supply;

figure 7 represents a front view of the string bed and the front puller of a string planter according to the present invention, when planting on a horizontally running field;

figure 8 represents a front view of the string bed and the front puller of a string planter according to the present invention, when planting on an inclined field.

The string planter (1) shown in figures 1 and 2 is a potato planter (1) that includes the following components:

- a storage bunker (7), in which the potatoes (2) to be planted are arranged;

- a string bed (3);

- a frame (19) that supports the string bed (3) and the storage bunker (7);

- a furrow puller (10) for forming furrows (trenches), in which the potatoes (2) are planted, the furrow puller (10) being hingedly connected to the frame (19) and this according to a hinge axis (B) extending according to the direction of travel (A). This direction of travel (A) is shown with an arrow in figures 1 and 2. The fork puller (10) is further connected to front wheels (12) to support the fork puller (10) and to guide it over the field;

- a rear axle (14) with rear wheels (13), said rear axle (14) being pivotally connected to the frame (19) and this according to a pivot axis (B) which extends in the direction of travel (A). The string planter (1) is supported by the rear axle (14) and the rear wheels (13) on the field (17).

- earthing discs (8) for covering the formed channels and forming ridges

- a grounding element (16), being a grounding cap (16), for further grounding the formed ridges.

With this string planter (1) the potatoes (2) are applied from the supply bunker (7) to the supply belt (18) and then to the string bed (3). The string bed (3) comprises three leg string units (4), each of which is provided for supplying the potatoes (2) to be planted in one row according to a supply direction from a supply point to a discharge point. Furthermore, the string bed (3) comprises return means (5) on either side of each leg string unit (4) for returning seed material falling out of the row to the supply direction to the supply point. There are thus two extreme leg string units (4) here and one middle leg string unit (4) which is located between the two extreme leg string units (4). Furthermore, the string planter (1) comprises three rollers (11), each arranged respectively at a said discharge point. The potatoes (2) leave the string bed (3) one by one at the level of a said roller (11) and thus fall into the formed channel one by one between the fork puller (10) and the earthing discs (8). The fork puller (10) here comprises a trim bar (10a) with three pullers (10b) for making 3 channels.

The supply direction is a direction towards the front of the string bed (3) and this seen in the direction of travel (A) of the string planter (1). The supply direction here corresponds to the direction of travel (A).

Each leg string unit (4) comprises six conveyor belts (4a) and the return means (5) are also conveyor belts (5). The conveyor belts (4a) of the leg string units (4) 10 thus move the potatoes (2) in the direction of the front side of the belt bed (3), viewed in the direction of travel (A), and the return means (5) move the potatoes (5) 2) in the direction of the rear of the string bed (3). The return means (5), which are arranged between two successive leg string units (4) of the said leg string units (4), are arranged contiguous. This allows the potatoes (2) to roll over these return means (5) between these successive leg string units (4). This means that potatoes (2) that are located between these successive leg string units (4) have a certain room for movement. As a result, the chance is rather small that the singulation on the leg string units (4) is hindered.

The return means (5) are arranged downwardly inclined towards the respective leg string units (4) at the point of delivery in a direction transverse to the direction of delivery and arranged upwardly inclined upwardly towards the respective leg string direction towards the respective leg string direction (4) leg string units (4). As a result, the cross-section of the string bed (3) will have a wavy pattern transverse to the supply direction. This is visible in figures 5 to 8. This wavy pattern results in a good singulation at the height of the leg string units (4). This is well represented in figures 5 and 6 with reference to potatoes (2) which are located on the string bed (3) at the level of the supply point.

Two embodiments are shown here for the string bed (3). Figures 3 and 5 represent a first embodiment and Figures 4 and 6 represent a second embodiment. In the second embodiment the leg string units (4) are placed at a smaller distance from each other than in the first embodiment. The leg string units (4) can be placed closer together here, since the potatoes (2) have freedom of movement over the entire width of the return means (5) which are situated between two successive leg string units (4).

The distance between two consecutive leg string units (4) is constant here. The two extreme leg string units (4) each extend along a longitudinal side (6), being a wall (6), of the string bed (3). The distance between each wall (6) and its respective leg string unit (4) here is at least half the distance between two consecutive leg string units (4). In the second embodiment, the distance between each wall (6) and its respective leg string unit (4) is more than 70% of the distance between two successive leg string units (4). In the second embodiment, the singling on each leg string unit (4) is very good.

The string bed (3) is further arranged hingedly in the string planter (1), around the hinge axis (B) according to the direction of travel (A). Furthermore, the string planter (1) comprises measuring means, being sensors, for determining the angular rotation of the string bed (3) around said pivot axis (B). For this purpose, the string planter (1) comprises a rear axle (14) with rear wheels (13) arranged pivotally according to this pivot axis (B), said rear axle (14) being pivotable relative to the frame by means of two hydraulic cylinders (9). (19). These hydraulic cylinders (9) form the control means (9) for rotating the string bed (3) around said pivot axis (B) in function of the angular rotation determined with the measuring means.

The fork puller (10) is also pivotally arranged around said pivot axis (B) relative to the string bed (3), so that the fork puller (10) can follow the slope of the field (17).

The position of the fork puller (10) relative to the string bed (3) when planting on a horizontally lying field is shown diagrammatically in Figure 7. It can be seen here that the string bed (3) extends horizontally along a horizontal plane ( 15) and the field (17) also extends horizontally and also the head puller (10) extends horizontally. The potatoes (2) fall in the middle of the formed furrow (see dotted line).

The position of the fork puller (10) relative to the string bed (3) when planting on a slightly sloping field (17) is shown schematically in Figure 8. The slope of the field (17) relative to the horizontal plane (15) is represented here by the angle alpha (α). Here it is visible that the string bed (3) extends horizontally, the field (17) extends inclined according to the angle a. The trigger (10) here also extends inclined according to the angle a so that 3 channels 15 are formed with substantially the same depth. The potatoes (2) still fall well into the formed furrows (see dotted line).

Claims (8)

Conclusions A string planter (1) for planting seed material such as potatoes (2) or other root or bulb crops when the string planter (1) is moved in a direction of travel (A), comprising a string bed (3) with at least two leg string units (4) , each of which is provided for supplying seed material to be planted in one row according to a supply direction from a supply point to a discharge point, and with return means (5) on either side of each leg string unit (4) for returning the supply direction to the supply point against the supply direction seed material falling out of the row, characterized in that the return means (5) are arranged contiguous between two successive leg string units (4) of said leg string units (4), so that seed material over these return means (5) between these successive leg string units (4) can roll. String planter (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the return means (5) are arranged downwardly inclined downwardly as viewed from the supply direction in a direction transverse to the supply direction towards the respective leg string units (4) and at the level of the discharge point viewed upwardly as viewed in a direction transverse to the feed direction, are arranged towards the respective leg string units (4). String planter (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the return means (5) are designed as conveyor belts (5). String planter (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the return means (5) form part of the same conveyor belt between the two successive leg string units (4). String planter (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a first leg string unit (4) of the successive leg string units (4) between a longitudinal side (6) of the string bed (3) and the second subsequent leg string unit (4) ) is arranged and the width of the return means (5) between this first leg string unit (4) and the said longitudinal side (6) of the string bed (3) is at least as wide as half the width of the return means (5) between the first leg string unit (4) and the second leg string unit (4). String planter (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the string bed (3) is arranged hingedly in the string planter (1), around a pivot axis (B) according to the direction of travel (A) and in that the string planter (1) ) comprises measuring means for determining the angular rotation of the string bed (3) around said hinge axis (B) and control means (9) for rotating the string bed (3) around said hinge axis (B) in function of the measuring means certain angular rotation. A string planter (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that said string planter (1) comprises a prong puller (10) for shaping from the front for arranging the seed to be planted therein, said prong puller (10) pivotably around said hinge axis (B) is arranged relative to the string bed (3). A string planter (1) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the string planter (1) comprises a transport element for supporting the string bed (3) and for moving the string bed (3) in the direction of travel (A), wherein the string bed (3) is arranged hingedly relative to the transport element, around the hinge axis (B).