WO2019145373A1

WO2019145373A1 - Apparatus for tilling agricultural soils, particularly for preparing for sowing or transplantation, vibrating frame and toothed disk for such apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2019145373A1
Application number: PCT/EP2019/051658
Authority: WO
Inventors: Adriano Gallo; Giovanni Edoardo Gallo
Original assignee: Cimpa Sas Di Gallo Giovanni Edoardo E C.
Priority date: 2018-01-25
Filing date: 2019-01-23
Publication date: 2019-08-01
Also published as: IT201800001808A1

Abstract

An apparatus (10), towed by a movement means (11), for tilling agricultural soils, particularly for preparing for sowing or transplantation, which comprises a chassis (30) to which the following are connected in succession: a plurality of ploughing blades (13), a plurality of vibrating spades (14) which are arranged along a line, means for generating the vibration (16) which are connected to the spades (14), and at least one roller (17, 19), which is parallel to the line of arrangement of the plurality of spades (14) and comprises a plurality of disks (18, 20) which are provided with arc-shaped teeth (36, 38).

Description

APPARATUS FOR TILLING AGRICULTURAL SOILS, PARTICULARLY FOR PREPARING FOR SOWING OR TRANSPLANTATION, VIBRATING FRAME AND TOOTHED DISK FOR SUCH APPARATUS

The present invention relates to an apparatus for tilling agricultural soils, and in particular for preparing for sowing or transplantation.

The invention also relates to a vibrating frame and to a toothed disk for such apparatus.

In agriculture techniques are used to break up and aerate the soils in order to: improve the capacity of soil to assimilate organic substances and drain rainwater, improve microbiological activity, favor root development, and facilitate the necessary irrigation.

In order to reduce the costs of tilling the soils, it is necessary to reduce to the minimum the energy consumption required for moving the apparatuses used.

Furthermore it is important to ensure a rapid rotation of crops, which is adapted to reduce production times.

In the state of the art, the operations for preparing the soil and the subsequent sowing occur in the following steps.

The first step is ploughing, in order to bury weeds, stalks and the like.

In this step, the soil below ground, which is poorly aerated and therefore poor in nutrients and bacterial flora, is brought to the surface, while burying the surface portion of soil, which is better aerated and more fertile.

This step presents drawbacks and aspects that can be improved.

The ploughshare of the plough, in fact, cuts a deep furrow, defining two smooth and impermeable surfaces, which obstruct the drainage of rainwater and generate areas of stagnation that are harmful to plant roots and impede the aeration of the deep soil.

Furthermore, the ploughing step causes the disturbance of a great amount of soil, as much as 4000 t/ha, resulting in a considerable consumption of energy for driving the tractor.

In the second step, aeration of the soil that was ploughed is obtained, by way of using grubbers or subsoilers.

In this step, the soil is aerated in depth, breaking the smooth and impermeable surface layers of the furrows that were made previously. In this way the draining of rainwater is obtained.

This second step also presents drawbacks and aspects that can be improved.

The tractor, in fact, in order to be able to advance over the churned soil that has been subjected to ploughing, consumes a considerable amount of energy.

Furthermore, the tractor, with its weight, generates a compression and compaction of the soil in its advancement motion. This compaction of the soils obstructs the adequate aeration of the layers and is a consequent hindrance to the life of plants.

In the last step, preparation of the seed bed takes place, which affects a surface layer of approximately 10-15 cm.

This operation is generally carried out by way of a rotary harrow that can break up the clods.

In this step, however, the tractor towing the harrow, in its advancement motion, rolls over and compacts the soil that was tilled previously.

Furthermore, the tractor, in order to be able to advance over the churned soil that has been subjected to ploughing and subsoiling, consumes a considerable amount of energy.

For these reasons, in recent years“combine” apparatuses have come on the market, which are towed by a tractor and are capable of performing several different operations in a single pass.

Usually such apparatuses comprise multiple rows of idle disks, which can have different kinds of shape, which are capable of operating at different inclinations with respect to the direction of travel.

Such apparatuses have the drawback that they can prepare an adequate seed bed only on soils that are loose, sandy and dry.

Furthermore, generally these apparatuses till the soil only in a surface layer of 10-15 cm and, as a consequence, the ground is poorly drained and badly aerated.

Alternatively, there are apparatuses on the market that combine disks with a subsoiler, which are capable of tilling the soil as far down as 60 cm.

Such apparatuses, however, have a considerable space occupation, which is determined by the length, which in some cases reaches 6 m, and for this reason they are difficult to maneuver.

What is more, in order to provide an adequate seed bed, it is necessary in any case to make a pass with a rotary harrow in order to break up the large-sized clods lifted by the subsoiler.

In recent years, new cultivation techniques have become established including one known as“blue agriculture”, which consists of not modifying the layers of soil, leaving the fertile layer on the surface without removing the residues of the previous crop, such as for example the stalks.

This technique makes it possible to: keep the most fertile layer of soil at the surface; maintain an adequate humidity in the soil, which is a necessary condition for the germination of the seed; obtain a substantial mulching by virtue of the remaining residues of the previous crops.

This technique involves the use of apparatuses for tilling the soil in strips, or“strip-till” apparatuses.

Such apparatuses cut small furrows which accommodate the seed of the crop, which is subsequently buried by way of disks and rollers.

Such apparatuses have the advantage of consuming relatively little energy and working rapidly, and as a consequence they are adopted on lands of considerable extention. However, such apparatuses have the drawback that they till the soil only superficially, with a maximum depth of 20 cm, and partially, because they work only on the seeding row.

Furthermore, the soil remains compact, poorly aerated and poorly drained, causing a loss of crop as high as 40%.

The description of Italian patent application number 102016000064441 of 23 June 2016, filed by the same applicant, contains the teachings for providing a combine apparatus for the solution to the problems described above.

However, the apparatus disclosed in the cited document has some aspects that can be improved.

Such apparatus, in fact, is provided with a plurality of spades which are moved by a vibrator in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of advancement of the apparatus and this determines a reduced capacity for breaking up the clods.

Furthermore, the apparatus is provided with rollers, of the Packer type, with a plurality of disks, which are substantially circular, and in their rotary motion they cannot effectively toss away the clods after they are broken up, and instead accumulate them and pack them between the disks, causing problems in movement of the apparatus, additional consumption of energy and the provision of an inadequate seed bed.

The aim of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for tilling agricultural soils, particularly for preparing for sowing or transplantation, which is capable of improving the known art in one or more of the above mentioned aspects.

Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for tilling agricultural soils, particularly for preparing for sowing or transplantation, which ensures the soil has an adequate aeration and capacity for drainage.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus, which enables a tilling of soils by carrying out all the steps of preparing the seed bed with a single pass.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus that permits a tilling of soils to a greater depth than conventional apparatuses.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus that makes it possible to reduce the consumption and cost of energy for its movement.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for tilling agricultural soils, particularly for preparing for sowing or transplantation, that is highly reliable, easy to implement and at low cost.

This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by an apparatus, towed by a movement means, for tilling agricultural soils, particularly for preparing for sowing or transplantation, characterized in that it comprises a chassis to which the following are connected in succession: a plurality of ploughing blades, a plurality of vibrating spades which are arranged along a line, means for generating the vibration which are connected to said spades, and at least one roller, which is parallel to the line of arrangement of said plurality of spades and comprises a plurality of disks which are provided with arc-shaped teeth.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the detailed description that follows of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of the apparatus for tilling agricultural soils, particularly for preparing for sowing or transplantation according to the invention, which is illustrated for the purposes of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings wherein:

- Figure 1 is a general, schematic side view of an apparatus according to the invention;

- Figure 2 is a general, schematic view from above of the apparatus in Figure 1 ;

- Figure 3 is a first detail of the apparatus in Figure 1;

- Figures 4a and 4b are two perspective views of a second detail of the apparatus in Figure 1;

- Figures 5a and 5b are two perspective views of a further detail of the apparatus in Figure 1.

With reference to the figures, an apparatus according to the invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 10.

Such apparatus 10 is towed by a movement means 11, such as for example a tractor, to which it is connected through the three-point coupling 12.

This movement means 11 has an advancement motion represented by the arrow 51.

With reference to Figure 1, the surface of the soil is designated with the reference numeral 50.

The tractor 11 transmits the motion to the self-propelled parts of the apparatus 10 by way of a universal joint 25, which is connected to a power take-off on the tractor 11 and to a distribution element 26, such as for example a T-gearbox, which distributes the motion to the various parts through conventional transmission elements, not shown in the figures.

Such apparatus 10 comprises a chassis 30, for supporting the various parts.

Proximate to the tractor 11, the apparatus 10 comprises a plurality of ploughing blades 13 which are arranged on a support 27, and are adapted to cut the soil to a depth of up to 70 cm.

In particular, the blades 13 have a plurality of through holes 23, which are adapted to adjust the cutting depth, by way of the insertion of means of tightening 24 the support 27.

These blades 13 are inclined, in the configuration for use, with respect to the direction that is perpendicular to the soil and have a tip 28 which is directed toward the direction of advancement of the tractor 11.

Proximate to the tip 28, there are two lateral tabs 29, each one extending from a lateral face of the blade 13 and in a direction that is perpendicular thereto.

Such lateral tabs 29 are adapted to maximize the breakage of the layers of soil at the depth reached by the blade 13.

Parallel to such plurality of blades 13, there is a plurality of spades 14.

These spades 14 are arranged along a same line.

In particular the number of spades 14 is equal to the number of blades 13 and each spade 14 is aligned with the corresponding blade 13 in the advancement direction.

Such spades 14 are provided with a vertical element 33, which is substantially perpendicular to the surface 50 of the ground, in the configuration for use, and a V-shaped terminal element 31, which is adapted to penetrate deeply into the ground, in the configuration for use, and is substantially inclined to form an acute angle with the vertical element 33 of the spade 14.

In particular, the apex 34 of the element 31 corresponds to the tip 32 of the spade 14, directed toward the direction of advancement of the movement means 11.

Each spade 14 is pivoted on a same vibrating frame 35.

Such frame 35 is connected to conventional vibrating means 16 which are adapted to generate a vibration in order to produce a substantially oscillating motion of the spades 14.

The vibrating means 16 are connected, through two pulleys 42 and 43 and a belt 41, to the motive force distribution element 26.

The vibrating frame 35 comprises a beam 46 at the ends of which, at the points of connection to the frame 30, vibration damping elements 44 made of plastic material are arranged, which are adapted to damp the vibration produced by the vibrating means 16 and to prevent this from being propagated to all of the rest of the apparatus 10.

Proximate to each end of the beam 46 there is a first elastic element 45, which is arranged at right angles to such beam 46.

This first elastic element 45 extends from a portion 47 of the chassis 30, which is arranged proximate to the part of a first roller 17, in the direction of the beam 46.

This first elastic element 45 comprises a threaded stem 48, extending starting from a vibration damping element 49 made of plastic material.

At the free end of the stem there is a plate 54, from which a tubular element 52 extends which accommodates a spring 53, the ends of the spring facing the plate 54 and the beam 46.

A second elastic element 55 extends along the opposite face of the beam 46 with respect to the face of the first elastic element 45, and proximate to each one of its ends.

This second elastic element 55 extends from a portion 56 of the chassis 30, which is arranged proximate to the part of the plurality of blades 13, in the direction of the beam 46.

This second elastic element 55 comprises a threaded stem 57, extending starting from a vibration damping element 58 made of plastic material.

At the free end of the stem there is a plate 59, optionally provided with a layer made of vibration damping plastic material, from which extends a spring 60 the ends of which are facing toward the plate 59 and the beam

46, which is optionally provided with an element made of vibration damping plastic material 61 in the point of contact with the spring 60.

Along the same direction of extension as the second elastic element 55, but arranged on the same side of the beam 46 as the first elastic element 45, there is, for each end of the beam 46, a third elastic element 62.

This third elastic element 62 extends from a portion 47 of the chassis 30, which is arranged proximate to the part of a first roller 17, in the direction of the beam 46 and comprises an element 63 made of vibration damping plastic material connected to the portion 47 and a spring 64 extending from this element 63 in the direction of the beam 46, but without touching it when the apparatus is in the inactive condition.

Inside the spring 64 there is a cylindrical element made of vibration damping plastic material, not shown in the figures, which is shorter than the spring 64.

When the apparatus 10 is in the condition for use, such spring 64 can touch the beam 46 as a result of the vibration of the frame 35. At the point of contact between this spring 64 and the beam 46, there is an element 65 made of vibration damping plastic material.

The function of these three elastic elements 45, 55 and 62 is to damp the vibrations produced by the vibrating means 16 in order to not transmit them to the rest of the apparatus 10 and to direct the vibrations so that the spades 14 oscillate substantially in a direction at right angles to the direction of advancement.

Parallel to the line of arrangement of such plurality of spades 14, there is a first roller 17, of the Packer type, which comprises a plurality of first toothed disks 18.

In particular, each first toothed disk 18 has a central through hole with a square cross-section which is adapted for insertion on the shaft of the first roller 17, which also has a square cross-section.

The teeth 36 of each first disk 18 have a curved shape with an arrangement such that, in the configuration for use, the longer edge touches the surface 50 of the soil before the shorter edge.

Such first disks 18 rotate in the same direction as the direction of rotation of the wheels of the tractor 11 in its advancement motion.

There is an even number of teeth 36, for example six, and they are uniformly distributed along the perimetric edge of the disk 18.

Such teeth 36 have a tip 37 inclined approximately 10° with respect to the plane of the disk 18, which is parallel to the blades 13 and to the vertical elements 33 of the spades 14. In particular, each pair of teeth 36 that are mutually opposite the central hole comprises tips 37 that have an opposite inclination with respect to the plane of the disk 18.

Such first disks 18, which have arc-shaped teeth 36, with inclined tips 37, with an arrangement such that, in the configuration for use, the longer edge touches the surface 50 of the soil before the shorter edge, make it possible not to make the soil adhere and build up around the roller 17, as occurs in ordinary mowers.

For this reason the disks 18 can rotate at high speeds, breaking up the soil with the advancement of the movement means 11 at advancement speeds up to double that of conventional apparatuses such as milling cutters or rotary harrows.

This first roller 17 is moved by way of a conventional train of gears and mechanical elements, not shown in the figures, such as for example a universal joint, which extends starting from the distribution element 26.

Considering the direction 51 of the advancement motion of the tractor, behind this first roller 17 and parallel to it there is a second roller 19, idle, which comprises a plurality of second toothed disks 20.

Such second roller 19 rotates by virtue of the rolling resistance that acts in the region of contact and interface between the teeth 38 of each second disk 20 and the surface 50 of the soil.

These toothed disks 20 have a central through hole with a square cross-section, which is adapted for insertion on the shaft of the second roller 19, which also has a square cross-section.

The teeth 38 of each second disk 20 have a curved shape with an arrangement such that the longer edge touches the surface 50 of the soil before the shorter edge.

By virtue of the shape of such disks 20 and of the idle roller 19, the disks 20 are capable of burying the remains of the previous crop to a depth of up to 16-17 cm. It should be noted that the shape structure of the teeth 36 of the first disks 18 and of the teeth 38 of the second disks 20 makes it possible to remove the clods from the disk immediately after breaking them up, contrary to what happens in the disks of traditional rollers. Such peculiarity enables a more rapid movement of the apparatus and, as a consequence, a higher speed of use compared to conventional apparatuses, so reducing the working costs and times.

From experimental tests it emerges that it is possible to use the apparatus at speeds as fast as approximately 8 km/h.

There is an even number of teeth 38, for example four, and they are uniformly distributed along the perimetric edge of the disk 20.

Such second disks 20 rotate in the same direction as the direction of rotation of the wheels of the tractor 11 in its advancement motion.

This second roller 18 is connected to the chassis 30 of the apparatus 10 by way of at least two piston-cylinder elements 22, of the hydraulic type, which are adapted to move the second roller 19 vertically, controlling the depth of its pass in the soil.

The rollers 17 and 19 have, between the respective disks 18 and 20, conventional spacers 66a and 66b which are adapted to keep equidistant the disks of the roller and keep parallel the disks between which they are interposed.

A peculiarity of the invention consists in that such rollers are assembled by sliding disks and spacers alternately onto the shaft with a square cross-section, which was previously inserted into their adapted holes, tightening the whole only at the ends of the shaft by way of fixing elements such as, for example, bolts.

In this manner it is possible to rapidly replace any disk or spacer, if necessary.

Behind the second roller 19 in the advancement direction of the tractor 11, and parallel to it, there is a beam 39 for supporting a plurality of hoes 21.

Such beam 39 is connected, by way of brackets 40, to the of the second roller 19, in the point of connection to the piston-cylinder elements 22, so as to always keep the hoes 21 at the same height as the second roller 19 and parallel to the surface 50 of the soil.

In particular, this plurality of hoes 21 is arranged so that the teeth 36 of the second disks 18 slide between two successive hoes 21.

The purpose of these hoes 21 is to clean and knock off the soil which, owing to pressure, clings between the disks 20.

One of the peculiarities of the invention is the presence of two ski shaped supporting and balancing elements 67, which extend in the direction of advancement of the apparatus along the opposite edges of the chassis 30 of the apparatus 10, and which are parallel to the advancement direction 51.

These two supporting and balancing elements 67 are in contact with the surface 50 of the soil in the configuration for use and are adapted to favor the travel of the apparatus by preventing this from getting bogged down in the soil, thus reducing the power required for the movement means 11, in order to move the apparatus 10.

In variations of embodiment, not shown in the figures, it is also possible to connect the chassis 30 to a sowing machine and/or a manure spreader, thus further increasing the number of tilling operations that can be carried out using the apparatus 10 according to the invention.

Operation of the apparatus according to the invention is the following.

The blades 13 cut the soil in depth, producing furrows into which the vibrating spades 14 subsequently pass, widening the furrows and breaking up the soil into clods, aerating it and draining it.

The size of the clods broken up by the spades 14 depends on the working frequency of the vibrating means 16.

Subsequently the first roller 17 further breaks up the clods with its pass, tilling a surface thickness of approximately 10 cm and preparing the seed bed.

The size of the clods broken up by the first roller 17 depends on the rotation speed of the roller proper.

Finally, the second roller 19, with the aid of the hoes 21, buries the remains of the previous crops, and compacts and levels the soil.

The level and/or the working height of the second roller 19 are controlled by way of the movement of the piston-cylinder elements 22.

It should be noted that the invention makes it possible to aerate the soil more, and more efficaciously, than conventional apparatuses.

It should be noted come that the invention enables a saving of energy and costs, by producing a combined tilling, comprising multiple steps, in a single pass.

It should be noted that the apparatus according to the invention is compact and easier to handle than conventional apparatuses, having a length of the order of 150 cm and a width comparable to the width of the means used for its movement.

These characteristics permit it to be transported by road by lifting it, without the need for an auxiliary cart.

In practice it has been found that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects by providing an apparatus, towed by a movement means, for tilling agricultural soils, particularly for preparing for sowing or transplantation, characterized in that it comprises a chassis to which the following are connected in succession: a plurality of ploughing blades, a plurality of vibrating spades which are arranged along a line, means for generating the vibration which are connected to said spades, and at least one roller, which is parallel to the line of arrangement of said plurality of spades and comprises a plurality of disks which are provided with arc-shaped teeth.

The invention, thus conceived, is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, all the details may be substituted by other, technically equivalent elements.

In practice the materials employed, provided they are compatible with the specific use, and the contingent dimensions and shapes, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. 102018000001808 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. An apparatus (10), towed by a movement means (11), for tilling agricultural soils, particularly for preparing for sowing or transplantation, characterized in that it comprises a chassis (30) to which the following are connected in succession: a plurality of ploughing blades (13), a plurality of vibrating spades (14) which are arranged along a line, means for generating the vibration (16) which are connected to said spades (14), and at least one roller (17, 19), which is parallel to the line of arrangement of said plurality of spades (14) and comprises a plurality of disks (18, 20) which are provided with arc-shaped teeth (36, 38).

2. The apparatus (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that said ploughing blades (13) are provided with a plurality of through holes (23), for the insertion of means for fastening (24) to the support (27) said ploughing blades (13).

3. The apparatus (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said ploughing blades (13) are inclined with respect to the direction that is perpendicular to the ground in the configuration for use and have a tip (28) which is directed toward the direction of advancement of said movement means (11), and in that proximate to said tip (28) there are two lateral tabs (29), each one extending from a lateral face of said blade (13) and in a direction that is perpendicular thereto.

4. The apparatus (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said plurality of spades (14) is arranged parallel to the line of arrangement of said plurality of blades (13).

5. The apparatus (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the number of said spades (14) is equal to the number of said blades (13) and each said spade (14) is aligned with the corresponding said blade (13) in the advancement direction (51).

6. The apparatus (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said spades (14) are provided with a vertical element (33), which is substantially perpendicular to the surface (50) of the ground, in the configuration for use, and a V-shaped terminal element (31), which is adapted to penetrate deeply into the ground, in the configuration for use, and is substantially inclined to form an acute angle with the vertical element (33).

7. The apparatus (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that each said spade (14) is pivoted on a same vibrating frame (35) which is connected to said means for generating the vibration (16).

8. The apparatus (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a first roller (17) and a second roller (19) which are mutually parallel.

9. The apparatus (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first roller (17) is moved by way of a train of gears and mechanical elements which extends starting from a distribution element (26) which is connected by way of a universal joint (25) to a power take-off on the movement means (11).

10. The apparatus (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second roller (19) is idle.

11. The apparatus (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second roller (19) is connected to said chassis (30) of the apparatus (10) by way of at least two piston-cylinder elements (22).

12. The apparatus (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that parallel to said second roller (19) there is a beam (39) for supporting a plurality of hoes (21), which is connected, by way of brackets (40), to the ends of said second roller (19), in the point for connection to the piston-cylinder elements (22).

13. The apparatus (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is provided with two ski-shaped supporting and balancing elements (67), which extend in the direction of advancement of the apparatus along the opposite edges of said chassis (30) and which are parallel to the advancement direction (51), being in contact with the surface (50) of the soil in the configuration for use.

14. A vibrating frame (35) for an apparatus (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is connected to said vibrating means (16), said vibrating means (16) being connected to said motive force distribution element (26).

15. The vibrating frame (35) according to claim 14, characterized in that it comprises a beam (46) at the ends of which, at the points for connection to said chassis (30) of said apparatus (10), vibration damping elements (44) made of plastic material are arranged.

16. The vibrating frame (35) according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that proximate to each end of said beam (46) there is a first elastic element (45), which is arranged at right angles to said beam (46) and comprises a stem (48), said stem (48) extending starting from a vibration damping element (49), said stem (48) having, at the free end, a plate (54), a tubular element (52) extending from said plate (54) and a spring (53) being accommodated in said tubular element, the ends of said spring facing said plate (54) and said beam (46).

17. The vibrating frame (35) according to one or more of claims 14 and 16, characterized in that along the opposite face of the beam (46) with respect to the face of said first elastic element (45) there is, for each end of said beam (46), a second elastic element (55) which comprises a stem (57), said stem (57) extending starting from a vibration damping element (58), at the free end of said stem (57) there being a plate (59) from which extends a spring (60), the ends of which face said plate (59) and said beam (46), which is provided with a vibration damping element (61) made of plastic material in the point of contact with said spring (60).

18. The vibrating frame (35) according to one or more of claims 14 to 17, characterized in that along the same direction of extension as said second elastic element (55), but arranged on the same side of said beam (46) as the first elastic element (45), there is, for each end of said beam (46), a third elastic element (62) which comprises a vibration damping element (63) and a spring (64) which extends from said element (63) in the direction of said beam (46), there being, arranged inside said spring (64), a cylindrical vibration damping element that is shorter than said spring (64), there being a vibration damping element (65) at the point of contact between said spring (64) and said beam (46).

19. A toothed disk (18, 20) for an apparatus (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that it is provided with a central through hole having a square cross-section for insertion on the shaft of said roller (17, 19), and in that said arc-shaped teeth (36, 38) have an arrangement such that in the configuration for use the longer edge touches the surface (50) of the soil before the shorter edge.

20. The disk (18) according to claim 19, characterized in that said teeth (36) have a tip (37) that is inclined by approximately 10° with respect to the plane of the disk (18).