WO2020240376A1 - An integrated planting machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to equipment used in agriculture, and more specifically to an integrated planting machine (1000) comprising a frame (100), seed drums (200) configured to dispense seeds on being angularly displaced through apertures and seed detectors (300) to count seeds. Seed dispensing nozzles (208) are configured to dispense only a single seed at a time. Tilling components (110) are attached on an operative bottom end of said frame and spaced apart from each other by a predefined spacing S to make indentations along the field and numerous transfer equipment (114) that dispense the seeds on to the ground. The frame can be configured to alter said spacing S between the tilling components (110) to accommodate variation in row spacing of plants.

Description

AN INTEGRATED PLANTING MACHINE

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to equipment used in farming and more particularly to an integrated planting machine for precise tilling and planting of seeds in a plot of land. DEFINITIONS

As used in the present disclosure, the following terms are generally intended to have the meaning as set forth below, except to the extent that the context in which they are used indicate otherwise. seed - a seed can include a bulb, rhizome, cutting, ratoon, sapling BACKGROUND

The background information herein below relates to the present disclosure but is not necessarily prior art.

Sowing seeds in large scale farming is the most critical and time dependent operation of the entire farming process. While sowing, a number of factors need to be taken into consideration, viz., condition of land surface, seasons along the year and weather variations. Moreover, the sowing is required to be done in a given time frame, typically 1-4 weeks in order to ensure optimum yield is obtained. Another key aspect in obtaining a successful yield and revenue thereby is to have the capability to undertake different crop types giving priority to either the season and/or market prices, for example, one season may have better market rice for millets while another season nay have a better price for cotton or maize.

There are number of tractor drawn solutions in the market that are either vacuum/ pneumatic planters or mechanical drawn seed and fertilizer drills. One the one hand, vacuum planters are too expensive and complicated for use in Indian conditions. On the other hand, mechanical drawn seed drills available today are based on old designs, which typically use a set of gears that use to pick up seed and drop them at fixed set intervals. Different gear settings are used to change the various parameters of the seed drill such as seed type, seed rate etc. However, the mechanical drawn seed drills face a number of issues as listed below: a. Ergonomic Issue: Complicated design and parts, leads to longer setup times and often discourage farmers to plant a variety of seeds due to loss of parts and tools. b. Durability Issue: Quality and number of moving parts means that most farmers stop using their seed drill after 2-3 years, due to failure and bad build issues. c. Performance Issue: Present seed drills do not have a metering mechanism which enables ideal plant to plant distances. Inaccuracy in sowing leads to a lot of time loss to check and constantly recalibrate the equipment. The mechanism to change the gearing mechanism is complicated and hence discourages the planting of different seeds for every season. d. Information Issue: The design and build of seed drill has remained unchanged for years, farmers purchase seeds in kg but fertilizer is calculated based on plant population. Farmers have to rely on rough estimates on the number of seeds purchased per unit weight rather than a calculated exact measure in order to undertake a crop. Farmers have to plant only during the day and have no ability to check the desired planting at night. e. Maintenance Issue: Spares aren’t easily available for existing equipment and maintenance for present equipment is ill informed and difficult to repair easily.

There is, therefore, felt a need to provide an integrated planting machine which overcomes the aforementioned problems.

OBJECTS

Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies, are as follows:

An object of the present disclosure is to provide an integrated planting machine that enables in maintaining precise spacing in between plants and in between rows of plants;

Another object of the present disclosure is to provide an integrated planting machine that is durable for long term use comprising less moving parts;

Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide an integrated planting machine that offers an ergonomic design which accommodates easy change of seed varieties and faster set up times; and Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide an integrated planting machine that can detect number of seeds planted and count a total number of seeds.

Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. SUMMARY

The present invention relates to equipment used in agriculture, and more specifically to a seed planting machine comprising tilling components for making furrows in a plot of land, transfer equipment for sowing seeds in the furrows at predetermined locations with spacing (S), seed containing drums in communication with the transfer equipment for providing seeds to the transfer equipment, fertilizer containing drums for storing and delivering fertilizers; seed and fertilizer dispensing nozzles for receiving seeds and fertilizers from the seed containing drums and the fertilizer containing drums, and dispensing seeds and fertili ers from the seed containing drums and fertilizer containing drums in the furrows, in proximity of sown seeds, a frame for rotatably supporting the seed and fertilizer containing drums and a driving wheel for displacing the frame in the plot of land.

The frame can be configured with the spacing that varies to accommodate variable distance between rows of plants.

The seed dispensing nozzles are removably attached on circumferential surface of each the seed containing drum with a predetermined spacing maintained between the seed dispensing nozzles.

The number of the seed dispensing nozzles can be varied and are removably attached on circumferential surface of each the seed containing drum with a predetermined spacing maintained between the seed dispensing nozzles.

The drive wheel can be configured to be angularly displaced due to displacement of an agricultural vehicle such as a tractor and can also be angularly displaced manually or by an animal. The drive wheel is mechanically coupled to first and second shafts through a suitable transmission seed planting machine.

The seed containing drums configured to rotate on the first shaft and the fertilizer containing drums configured to rotate on the second shaft. The seed dispensing nozzles are adaptable to deliver seeds of various sizes.

Each of the seed detectors sense delivery of a seed out of a corresponding seed dispensing nozzle and hence generate a signal. The seed detector is a fibre optic sensor that facilitates counting total number of seeds dispensed.

The seed collectors are configured to receive seeds from each of the seed dispensing nozzles, as a result of the seed dispensing nozzles coming in contact with a cap opening point located on each of the seed collectors.

Each of the fertilizer collectors are configured to receive seeds from each of the seed dispensing nozzles, as a result of the seed dispensing nozzles coming in contact with a cap opening point located on each of the seed collectors.

The planting operation can be precisely carried out in presence of insufficient visibility conditions. The integrated planting machine contains less moving parts as well as is easy to changeover for accommodating crop variability.

The fertilizer containing drums are made of plastic or other suitable light-weight material. The frame is made of metal or other suitable that offers strength.

The seed detectors are configured with an LED display that displays the count of seeds.

In an embodiment, the transfer equipment are made of flexible hoses made of plastic.

In another embodiment, the frame is provided with a three-point linkage support to facilitate increased rigidity of the frame.

In a preferred embodiment, seed guides are attached to the tilling components to facilitate directing of seeds or fertilizers or pesticides into desired positions on the ground.

In an embodiment, the transmission mechanism includes from the group consisting of a chain and sprocket drive, a pulley and a rope drive, geared drive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING

The integrated planting machine of the present disclosure, will now be described with the help of the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 illustrates an isometric view of an integrated planting machine, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 2 illustrates a top view of a frame of the integrated planting machine of Figure 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 3a illustrates a front view of a seed containing drum of the integrated planting machine of Figure 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 3b illustrates a side view of a seed containing drum of the integrated planting machine of Figure 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 3c illustrates an isometric view of an assembly of a plurality of seed containing drums of the integrated planting machine of Figure 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 4a illustrates a sectional view of a seed detector of the integrated planting machine of Figure 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 4b illustrates an isometric view of a seed detector of the integrated planting machine of Figure 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 4c illustrates an exploded view of a seed detector of the integrated planting machine of Figure 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 5a illustrates a side view of a seed collector of the integrated planting machine of Figure 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 5b illustrates an isometric view of a seed collector of the integrated planting machine of Figure 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 6a illustrates a top view of a seed dispensing nozzle of the integrated planting machine of Figure 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 6b illustrates a bottom view of a seed dispensing nozzle of the integrated planting machine of Figure 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 6c illustrates a sectional view of the seed dispensing nozzle of Figure 6a;

Figure 6d illustrates an isometric view of the seed dispensing nozzle of Figure 6a; Figure 6e illustrates an exploded view of the seed dispensing nozzle of Figure 6a;

Figure 7a illustrates an isometric view of a tilling component of the integrated planting machine of Figure 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 7b illustrates a top view of the tilling component of Figure 7a;

Figure 7c illustrates a side view of the tilling component of Figure 7a;

Figure 7d illustrates a front view of the tilling component of Figure 7a; and

Figure 8 illustrates a seed metering operation through a series of progressive picture frames, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 9 illustrates an isometric view of the integrated planting machine, in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 10 illustrates a top view of the frame of the integrated planting machine of Figure 9;

Figure 11 illustrates a front view of a seed containing drum of the integrated planting machine of Figure 9;

Figure 12 illustrates a side view of a seed containing drum of the integrated planting machine of Figure 9;

Figure 13 illustrates an isometric view of the assembly of a plurality of seed containing drums of the integrated planting machine of Figure 9;

Figure 14 illustrates a sectional view of the seed detector of the integrated planting machine of Figure 9;

Figure 15 illustrates an exploded view of the seed collector of the integrated planting machine of Figure 9;

Figure 16 illustrates an isometric view of the seed collector of the integrated planting machine of Figure 9;

Figure 17 illustrates a side view of the seed collector of the integrated planting machine of Figure 9; Figure 18 illustrates an isometric view of the seed collector of the integrated planting machine of Figure 9;

Figure 19 illustrates a top view of a seed dispensing nozzle of the integrated planting machine of Figure 9;

Figure 20 illustrates a bottom view of the seed dispensing nozzle of the integrated planting machine of Figure 9;

Figure 21 illustrates a sectional view of the seed dispensing nozzle of Figure 9;

Figure 22 illustrates an exploded view of the seed dispensing nozzle of Figure 9;

Figure 23 illustrates an isometric view of the seed dispensing nozzle of Figure 9;

Figure 24 illustrates an isometric view of the tilling component of the integrated planting machine of Figure 9;

Figure 25 illustrates a top view of the tilling component of Figure 24;

Figure 26 illustrates a side view of the tilling component of Figure 24;

Figure 27 illustrates a front view of the tilling component of Figure 24; and

Figure 28 illustrates a seed metering operation through a series of progressive picture frames of the Figure 9.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

S spacing

1000,1000’ - integrated planting machine

600 transmission mechanism

500,500’ drive wheel

430,430’ plurality of apertures of fertilizer containing drums

428 second shaft

408,408’ fertilizer dispensing nozzles ,400’ plurality of fertilizer containing drums sensor housing top

fibre optic sensor

sensor housing bottom

,306’ seed detection sensor

,304’ seed passage

,302’ sensor housing

,300’ Seed detector

plurality of apertures of seed containing drums first shaft

seed collector mounting profile seed collector profile

,222’ seed cap

,220’ shaft

,218’ torsion spring

seed cap base

’ sloped plate

a’ stiffner plate

,214’ seed collection area

cap opening profile

,212’ cap opening point

,210’ seed collector 208,208’ seed dispensing nozzles

206,206’ cover

202,202’ drum section

115 anticlogging plate

114,114’ transfer equipment

200,200’ plurality of seed containing drums

113,113’ seed guide

112 vertical beam of tilling component

111 tilling component hole

110,110’ tilling components

108 bottom end of base frame

106 top end of base frame

104 fitment hole

102 horizontal and vertical structural frame

100,100’ frame

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments, of the present disclosure, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

Embodiments are provided so as to thoroughly and fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to the person skilled in the art. Numerous details are set forth, relating to specific components, and methods, to provide a complete understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that the details provided in the embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, well-known processes, well-known apparatus structures, and well-known techniques are not described in detail.

The terminology used, in the present disclosure, is only for the purpose of explaining a particular embodiment and such terminology shall not be considered to limit the scope of the present disclosure. As used in the present disclosure, the forms“a”,“an” and“the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly suggests otherwise. The terms“comprises”,“comprising”,“including” and“having” are open-ended transitional phrases and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, modules, units and/or components, but do not forbid the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The particular order of steps disclosed in the method and process of the present disclosure is not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance as described or illustrated. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.

When an element is referred to as being“mounted on”,“engaged to”,“connected to” or “coupled to” another element, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element. As used herein, the term“and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed elements.

The terms first, second, third, etc., should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure as the aforementioned terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another component, region, layer or section. Terms such as first, second, third etc., when used herein do not imply a specific sequence or order unless clearly suggested by the present disclosure.

Terms such as“inner”,“outer”,“beneath”,“below”,“lower”,“above”,“upper” and the like, may be used in the present disclosure to describe relationships between different elements as depicted from the figures.

Referring to figure 1, an assembly of an integrated planting machine 1000 is shown. The integrated planting machine 1000 comprises a frame 100 on which a plurality of seed containing drums 200 and a plurality of fertilizer containing drums 400 are mounted. The frame 100 is made of steel or a suitable material that imparts strength to withstand various forces such as ground reaction and vibrations due to a drive wheel 500 attached to the frame 100. The drive wheel 500 is typically a toothed wheel that interacts with the farm ground, as the drive wheel 500 is carried by the frame 100. A plurality of seed detectors 300 are attached to a top end of the frame 100. Typically, the drive wheel 500 has 6 teeth having a transmission gear mounted on the same shaft as drive wheel 500 with 19 teeth.

In another embodiment, the drive wheel 500’ has 12 teeth while the transmission gear has 26 teeth.

In another embodiment as shown in figure 9, the integrated planting machine 1000’ includes a transmission mechanism 600 selected from the group consisting of a chain and sprocket drive, a pulley and a rope drive, a geared drive with gear ratio 1:1.

In yet another embodiment, the frame 100 of the integrated planting machine 1000 is provided with a three-point linkage support 700 to facilitate increased rigidity of said frame 100 while being coupled to a vehicle, by animal means or by manual means.

Referring to figure 2, a top view of the frame 100 is shown. The frame comprises a box type construction with horizontal and vertical structural frames 102 fabricated together. A plurality of tilling components 110 are attached to a bottom end of the horizontal member such that the spacing between the tilling components 110 can be adjusted as desired to maintain the desired spacing between two consecutive plants in a single row of the farm. The tilling components 110 are bolted to the frame 100 through a plurality of fitment holes 104 on the frame 100. The spacing S between the tilling components 110 as shown by the dotted lines governs the spacing between two consecutive rows of plants being sown. A table of spacing maintained with respect to various crops is shown below.

Table 1; Row to Row spacing with tilling component arrangement

Referring to figures 3a-3c, a side view, a front view and an isometric view of a seed and fertilizer containing drum 200 and 400 are shown respectively, which comprises of a plurality of seed and a plurality of fertilizer containing drum sections 202 and 402 joined together. The seed and fertilizer containing drums 200 and 400 are made of plastic and contains seeds or fertilizers. On the periphery of each of the seed and fertilizer containing drum section 202 or 402, a plurality of seed dispensing nozzle 208 are provided that pick up seeds from the inside of the drum through a plurality of seed containing drum apertures 230 and a plurality of fertilizer containing drum apertures 430 respectively. The peripheral spacing between the plurality of seed dispensing nozzles 208 governs the spacing between two consecutive rows of seeds being dispensed on the ground. The desired spacing between two rows of planted seeds and number of seed dispensing nozzles 208 installed on the seed or fertilizer containing drum 200 is shown in table 2 below. On each end of the seed and the fertilizer containing drum 200 and 400, a cover 206 and 406 is provided respectively to constrain the seeds within the corresponding seed containing drum 200 and fertilizer containing drum 400. The plurality of seed containing drums 200 are rotatably mounted on the top end of the frame 100 over a first shaft 228 (as shown in figure 1) that rotates. Similarly, the plurality of fertili er containing drums 400 are mounted on the second shaft 428.

Table 2: Caps spacing for plant to plant spacing

In another embodiment as shown in the figures 11-13, the seed and the fertilizer drums 200’ and 400’ have drum sections 202’ and 402’ with profiles having variable dimensions. Covers 206’ and 406’ are provided on the sides of the drums so as to constrain the seeds inside the drums 200’, 400’. The covers 206’ and 406’ have variable geometry profiles to achieve the desired operational efficiency.

Referring to figures 4a-4c, a top view, an isometric view and an exploded view of a seed detector 300 is shown respectively, which comprises of a seed detection sensor 306 mounted on the sensor housing 302. The seed detector 300 is provided with a centrally located slot which constitutes a seed passage 304. Two fiber optic sensors 310 of the seed detection sensor 306 are contained between a sensor housing top 312 and a sensor housing bottom 308. The seed detector 300 is attached to the top end of the frame 100.

In another embodiment as shown in the figure 14, the seed detector 300’ has a variable bolting pattern with bolt holes having varying sizes and location on the sensor housing 302’ with the seed passage 304’ and seed detection sensor 306’.

Referring to figures 5a and 5b, a side view and an isometric view of a seed collector 210 is shown respectively. One side of the seed collector 210 edge has a cap opening point 212 to facilitate opening of the seed dispensing nozzle 208, while the curved profile of edge along the cap opening point 212 constitutes the seed collection area 214. The profile of the seed collector area 214 matches with the circular profile of the seed containing drum 200 and is in contact with the seed containing drum 200.

In another embodiment as shown in the figures 15-18 the seed collector 210’ has variable geometry profile with the cap opening point 212’ and the seed collector area 214’. This facilitates enhanced interaction between the seed collector 210’ and each of the seed dispensing nozzle 208’. In the interior portion of the seed collector 210’, a sloped plate 215’ is provided typically at an angle of 38 degrees to the horizontal, thereby facilitating efficient directing of the seeds or fertilizers or pesticides from the seed collector 210’ to the ground. A stiffner plate 215a’ is also provided under the sloped plate 215’ to enhance structural stiffness of the seed collector 210’. Additionally, the cap opening point 212’ and the seed collector area 214’ enhance dispensing of seeds or fertilizers or pesticides from the drums to the ground in a guided manner. Moreover, an attachment plate provided on the seed collector 210’ has a bolted joint pattern which allows for enhanced joint strength under complex loading conditions.

Referring to figures 6a-6e a top view, a bottom view, a sectional view, an isometric view and an exploded view of a seed dispensing nozzle 208 is shown respectively. The seed dispensing nozzle 208 comprises a seed cap base 216 on which a seed cap 222 is pivotably attached to receive seeds from the seed containing drum 200. The seed cap 222 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 220 to an end of which a torsion spring 218 is attached. The torsion spring 218 biases the seep cap 222 to be kept in a closed state. The seed collection area 214 which is integral to the seed cap 222 facilitates collection of seeds from the drum 202 and subsequently dispenses it into the seed collector 210.

Referring to figures 19-23 another embodiment of the seed dispensing nozzle 208’ is shown with the modified torsion spring 218’ and the shaft 220’ which are in an integral form of a locking pin commonly used.

Referring to figures 7a-7d an isometric view, a top view, a side view and a front view of a tilling component 110 is shown respectively. The tilling component 110 has a fitment hole 104 that facilitates mounting of the tilling component 110 on to the frame 100. Moreover, the tilling components 110 has a plurality of holes 111 through which seeds are dispensed via a plurality of tilling components 110 (as shown in figure 1). A vertical beam 112 of each of the tilling component 110 facilitates preparation of land surface by making indentations in a straight line, subsequent to which seeds are dispensed through the plurality of holes 111.

In another embodiment as shown in the Figures 24-27, the tilling components 110 are provided with seed guides 113. The seed guides 113 are typically in the form of a cylinder that are welded to the tilling components 110. This facilitates enhanced soil cutting and penetration directing of seeds or fertilizers or pesticides in a guided way so as to deliver on the desired position along the farm grounds. Moreover, anticlogging plate 115 is provided on each of the tilling components 110’ which facilitates prevention of clogging of soil into the tilling components 110’. The working of the integrated planting machine 1000 will now be described referring to figure 1. The plurality of seed containing drums 200 containing seeds rotate about a shaft mounted on the frame 100. As the seed containing drum 200 rotates, the seed dispensing nozzle 208 that is in contact with the seeds contained inside the drum 200 receives seeds into the seed collection area 214. The seeds are then dispensed through the seed dispensing nozzle 208 into the seed collector 210 as the seed cap 222 strikes the seed cap opening point 212 on the seed collector 210 (shown in figure 8). The size of the seed collection area 214 varies as per the desired seed size to be sown, so as to ensure that only a single seed is dispensed each time through the cap 222. Further, the seed is made to fall on the sensor housing top 312 after which it passes between the fibre optic sensors 310 of the seed detector 300, thus facilitating a seed count that is dispensed. The seed further passes through the sensor housing bottom 308 where an LED flash light (not shown in figure) signals sowing operating progress. Additionally, an LED display presents the information of the total number of seeds dispensed in the sowing operation. A control unit is configured to communicate with the sensors 310, the LED flash light and the counter. The counter can be manually reset. Finally, the seeds are dispensed into the ground through a plurality of transfer equipment 114 (as shown in figure 1) connected to the sensor housing bottom 308 and the plurality of tilling component holes 111. Similarly, fertilizers are dispensed into the ground through the plurality of fertili er containing drums 400 provided on the frame 100.

In another embodiment as shown in the Figure 9, the plurality of transfer equipment 114’ is a flexible hose. In yet another embodiment, the plurality of transfer equipment 114’ is a plastic pipe.

The working of the embodiment of the integrated planting machine 1000’ of the Figure 9 is similar to the working of the embodiment of the figure 1 as described above. Figure 28 describes the seed or fertilizer or pesticide dispensing action in progressive timeframes with respect to the embodiment of the figure 9 shown.

The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Individual components of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, are interchangeable. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the present disclosure, and all such modifications are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure. TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENTS

The present disclosure described herein above has several technical advantages including, but not limited to, the realization of an integrated planting machine that:

• Precisely dispenses plant seeds to be sown; · Contains few moving parts and is durable for long term use;

• Is ergonomic in design which facilitates easy changing of equipment as desired to accommodate crop variation; and

• Detects the operation of seeds being planted and gives a total count of the seeds.

The foregoing disclosure has been described with reference to the accompanying embodiments which do not limit the scope and ambit of the disclosure. The description provided is purely by way of example and illustration.

The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein. The use of the expression“at least” or“at least one” suggests the use of one or more elements or ingredients or quantities, as the use may be in the embodiment of the disclosure to achieve one or more of the desired objects or results.

Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like that has been included in this specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the disclosure. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form a part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the disclosure as it existed anywhere before the priority date of this application.

The numerical values mentioned for the various physical parameters, dimensions or quantities are only approximations and it is envisaged that the values higher/lower than the numerical values assigned to the parameters, dimensions or quantities fall within the scope of the disclosure, unless there is a statement in the specification specific to the contrary.

While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the components and component parts of the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the disclosure. These and other changes in the preferred embodiment as well as other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An integrated planting machine (1000,1000’) comprising:

• a frame (100,100’) configured to be driven by wheels over a ground surface;

• tilling components (110,110’) connected to said frame (100,100’) for making furrows on said ground surface;

• seed containing drums (200,200’) rotatably mounted on said frame (100,100’) for storing and delivering seeds;

• seed dispensing nozzles (208,208’) disposed on said seed containing drums (200,200’) for receiving and dispensing seeds;

• fertilizer containing drums (400,400’) rotatably mounted on said frame (100,100’) for storing and dispensing fertilizers;

• fertilizer dispensing nozzles (408,408’) disposed on said fertilizer containing drums (400,400’) for receiving and dispensing fertilizers;

• a driving wheel (500,500’) configured to be rotatably connected to said frame (100,100’) and configured to be in contact with ground surface; and

• transfer equipment (114,114’) interconnected between said seed and fertilizer dispensing nozzles (208, 208’,408, 408’) and said tilling components (110,110’) for periodically dispensing seeds in specific locations in said furrows.

2. The integrated planting machine (1000) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transfer equipment (114,114’) is made of flexible hoses.

3. The integrated planting machine (1000) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said frame (100) is provided with a three-point linkage support (700) to facilitate increased rigidity of said frame (100).

4. The integrated planting machine (1000) as claimed in claim 1, wherein seed guides (113) are attached to said tilling components (110) to facilitate directing of seeds or fertili ers or pesticides into desired positions on the ground.

5. The integrated planting machine (1000) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said frame (100) can be configured with said predetermined spaced apart locations with spacing (S) that varies to accommodate variable distance between rows of plants.

6. The integrated planting machine (1000) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said seed dispensing nozzles (208) are removably attached on circumferential surface of each said seed containing drum (200) with a predetermined spacing maintained between said seed dispensing nozzles (208).

7. The integrated planting machine (1000) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a variable number of said seed dispensing nozzles (208) are removably attached on circumferential surface of each said seed containing drum (200) with a predetermined spacing maintained between said seed dispensing nozzles (208).

8. The integrated planting machine (1000) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said integrated planting machine machine (1000) comprises a drive wheel (500), wherein said drive wheel (500) is configured to be angularly displaced due to displacement of an agricultural vehicle such as a tractor.

9. The integrated planting machine (1000) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said integrated planting machine machine (1000) comprises a drive wheel (500), wherein said drive wheel (500) is configured to be angularly displaced with manual or animal means.

10. The integrated planting machine (1000) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said integrated planting machine machine (1000) comprises a first shaft (228) on which said seed containing drums (200) are rotatably mounted.

11. The integrated planting machine (1000) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said integrated planting machine machine (1000) comprises a second shaft (428) on which said fertili er containing drums (400) are rotatably mounted.

12. The integrated planting machine (1000) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said integrated planting machine machine (1000) comprises a drive wheel (500), wherein said drive wheel (500) is mechanically coupled to said shafts (228), (428) through a transmission mechanism.

13. The integrated planting machine (1000) as claimed in claim 9, wherein said transmission mechanism includes from the group consisting of a chain and sprocket drive, a pulley and a rope drive, geared drive.

14. The integrated planting machine (1000) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said seed dispensing nozzles (208) are adaptable to deliver seeds of various sizes.

15. The integrated planting machine (1000) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said integrated planting machine machine (1000) comprises seed detectors (300), each of said seed detectors (300) configured to sense delivery of a seed out of a corresponding seed dispensing nozzles (208) and hence generate a signal.

16. The integrated planting machine (1000) as claimed in claim 11, wherein said seed detector (300) is a fibre optic sensor (310) that facilitates counting total number of seeds dispensed.

17. The integrated planting machine (1000) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said machine (1000) comprises seed collectors (210), said each seed collector (210) provided with a cap opening point (212), wherein each of said seed collectors (210) is configured to receive seeds from a seed dispensing nozzle (208), as a result of said seed dispensing nozzle (208) coming in contact with said cap opening point (212) located on said seed collector (210).

18. The integrated planting machine (1000) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said machine (1000) comprises fertilizer collectors (410), said each fertilizer collector (410) provided with a cap opening point (412), wherein each of said fertilizer collectors (410) is configured to receive seeds from a seed dispensing nozzle (408), as a result of said seed dispensing nozzle (408) coming in contact with said cap opening point (412) located on said seed collector (410).

19. The integrated planting machine (1000) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said seed containing drums (200) and said fertilizer containing drums (400) are made of polymeric material.

20. The integrated planting machine (1000) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said frame (100) is made of metal.

21. The integrated planting machine (1000) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said seed detectors (300) are configured with an LED display that displays the count of seeds.