US2042896A

US2042896A - Potato planter

Info

Publication number: US2042896A
Application number: US702380A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hofler Gregor; Seikel Willi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1932-12-14
Filing date: 1933-12-14
Publication date: 1936-06-02
Anticipated expiration: 1953-06-02

Description

.Fe 2, 1936. e. HOFLER ET AL POTATO PLANTER Filed Dec. 14, 1953 Patented June 2, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE POTATO PLAN TER Gregor Hiifler and Willi Seikel, Altenmittlau, Germany 1 Claim.

The object of our invention is a potato-planter, the isolating device of which consists in a wormshaped shaft. With the well known arrangements of this kind the worm-shaft is placed with- 5 in a trough, sometimes two or more worms are arranged aside of each other.

The object of our invention is distinguished from the above mentioned by providing a smooth roller in parallel to the worm-shaft, rotating in the same direction. In comparison to the well known arrangements a progress is obtained in that way, that the tubers cannot be mashed and ,he germs or buds cannot be pressed ofi, while at the same time a perfect isolation of the single tubers is guaranteed. Also it is appropriate to journal the roller higher than the worm-shaft and to arrange both in a position slanting upwards towards the dropping end. For the purpose of an exact dropping of the tubers a cam can be provided at the end of the roller.

The invention is illustrated by way of example on the enclosed drawing.

Fig. 1 shows in a longitudinal section a diagrammatical illustration of a potato-planter,

fastened onto a plough, designed for planting one single row of tubers. The object of the invention may also be used for machines planting several rows of tubers at the same time.

Fig. 2 shows a view from above of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows in enlarged scale the wormshaped shaft and the roller with the driving gear.

Fig. 4 shows a cross section of the wormshaft and the roller.

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate details of the potatoplanter.

For the purpose of an exact isolation of the single tubers, the worm-shaft l and the roller 2 are inclined towards the hopper 3. Furthermore they are thus arranged, that the roller is journalled higher and that the worm-shaft and the roller rotate in the same direction. The tubers to be planted are transported within the spiral turns of the worm towards the dropping tube,

sliding along the rotating surface of the roller 2. The worm-shaft l rotates in such manner, that the tubers are shoved against the roller 2. The roller 2, rotating at the same time in upward direction, a damaging of the seed-potatoes by means of squeezing or mashing is avoided. Furthermore by means of this rotation of the form-shaft and the roller in connection with the above mentioned incline towards the hopper 3 the tubers moving within the spiral turns of the worm and exceeding the required number, are shoved back towards the preceding spiral turn. The throwing-out of the single tubers, after having moved through the last spiral turn, is efiected by means of a cam 5 of the roller 2. 5 As the worm and the roller rotate at the same number of revolutions, the dropping of the tubers always ensues when the following tuber lies within the last spiral turn of the worm.

The drive of the machine from the plough 10 is done by means of a running wheel 8, in connection with gears on the worm-shaft l and the roller 2. The potato, dropped into the planting tube, is held in position by means of the additional plough-share 6 until it has been covered 15 by the ground, thrown up by means of the main plough-share l.

The hopper 3 may be provided with an adjustable partition [4, arranged at the side of the projection, containing the worm-shaft l and the roller 2, and fastened to the wall I2 of the hopper, situated next to the worm-shaft I by means of a joint l3, or in some other suitable way, the partition being adjusted according to the size of the tubers or potato-slices to be transported. 25 For this purpose the partition I is brought into a more or less inclined position towards the side wall I2 of the hopper, by means of adjusting the set-screws I5 or the like, which pass through the side wall l2 and thrust against the partition M, in order to regulate the space between the partition l4 and the roller 2. (Fig. 5.)

The roller 2 may also be provided with a spiralshaped projection l0, starting about at the middle of its circumference and being led towards the higher situated end of the roller and following the spiral turns of the worm-shaped shaft I, thus preventing the tubers from falling back, when 40 the machine is used on rising ground. Preferably the surface ll of the said projection It), turned towards the tubers or potato-slices to be transported, is curved inwardly. (Fig. 6.)

We claim: 45

In a potato planter, a worm having a spiral of a depth and pitch to convey single tubers, and a roller arranged parallel thereto, means for rotating the roller and worm in the same direction, and a cam on the end of the roller opera- 50 tive to engage and displace tubers from the worm.

GREGOR HiFLER. WILLI SEIKEL.