Root crop planter

Abstract

Root crop seeds (12) are planted in a single pass of a planter (10) which breaks the soil with ripper tines (26) opens furrows behind the ripper tines (26) with discs (40) and planter units (44), depositing the seeds (12) in the soil from the planter units (44), closing the furrows with discs (66) and forming ridges with ridgers (68). The seeds (12) are convened in staggered cups (60) on a conveyor (56) and are dispensed into the planter unit (44) and into the soil in double rows in a staggered configuration, corresponding to the configuration of the cups (60).

Description

[0001] ROOT CROP PLANTER

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] This invention relates to planters for root crops and while the invention can be applied to other crops too, it is particularly suitable for potatoes. For brevity, the invention is described herein with reference to potatoes, as an example of a crop.

[0004] BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0005] Commercial scale potato fields are usually planted by means of mechanical planters that can plant several rows of potato tubers at a time.

[0006] The present invention seeks to maximise efficiency of the planting operation by optimising the distribution of seeds planted (and thus the distribution of potato tubers) in the field, and by completing many of the actions associated with planting, in a single pass with a mechanical planter.

[0007] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a planter for planting root crop seeds in soil while the planter travels along a surface of the soil in a travel direction, said planter having a front and a rear and comprising: at least one breakaway ripper tine that is disposed to break the soil as the planter travels along the soil surface; at least one planter unit disposed to the rear of the pair of furrow opening formers and aligned with the furrow opening formers in the direction of travel in the furrow opened by the furrow opening formers, said planter unit having a small leading end and outer walls that taper outwards to the rear of the planter unit to open the furrow and to define a wide discharge opening at the rear of the planter unit, said planter unit being configured to receive seeds and discharge them under gravity from the discharge opening; a seed container; at least one seed conveyor that is disposed to convey seeds from the seed container and deposit the seeds in the planter unit, said seed conveyor having a plurality of seed cups that are arranged in two rows in a staggered configuration, to deposit seeds in the planter unit alternately from the two rows; and at least one pair of furrow closing formers disposed to the rear of the planter unit, aligned with the planter unit in the direction of travel in the furrow opened by the furrow opening formers and the planter unit, each of the furrow closing formers being disposed at an offset angle, with leading edges of the furrow closing formers being spaced farther apart than their trailing edges, so that the pair of furrow closing formers is disposed to close the furrow in the soil behind the planting unit; the width of the discharge opening being wide enough to discharge seeds deposited from the seed conveyor under gravity alternately in two rows in the soil, said two rows of seeds in the soil being aligned with the two rows of seed cups on the seed conveyor, so that the seeds remain in these two rows in the soil and tubers grow from the seeds in the two rows.

[0009] The planter preferably includes at least one pair of furrow opening formers disposed to the rear of the at least one breakaway ripper tine, said pair of furrow opening formers being aligned with the breakaway ripper tine in the direction of travel, each of the furrow opening formers being disposed at an offset angle, with leading edges of the furrow opening formers in closer proximity to each other, than their trailing edges, so that the pair of furrow opening formers is disposed to open a furrow in the soil behind the breakaway ripper tine.

[0010] The planter preferably includes a plurality of ridgers behind the furrow closing formers, on opposing sides of each furrow, to form ridges over the planted seeds.

[0011] The planter preferably includes a plurality of the planter units and each of the planter units is aligned with one of the breakaway ripper tines and a pair of the furrow opening formers in front of the planting unit, a pair of furrow closing formers behind the planting unit and a seed conveyor disposed to discharge seeds under gravity into the planter unit. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the planter includes two planter units. Each planter unit may include a divider in its discharge opening, said divider being disposed to guide seeds deposited from the two rows of seed cups on the seed conveyor, to travel under gravity into the two rows of seeds in the soil.

[0012] The planter may include at least one fertiliser dispenser configured to dispense fertiliser into the discharge opening of the planter unit, e.g. by spraying liquid fertiliser directly onto the seed in the discharge opening. Instead, or in addition, the planter may include at least one fertiliser dispenser configured to dispense fertiliser into the furrow opened by the furrow opening formers.

[0013] Each breakaway ripper tine may include a shank with attachments configured to break the soil and said attachments may include at least one toe blade, extending from a lower end of the shank, and / or at least one lateral wedge formation, extending laterally from the shank and tapering laterally outwards to the rear.

[0014] According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of planting root crop seeds in soil with a single pass of a planter traveling along a surface of the soil in a travel direction, said method comprising: breaking the soil with at least one breakaway ripper tine and forming a furrow; opening the furrow behind the furrow opening formers with outwardly tapering walls of a planter unit; conveying seeds from a seed container in a plurality of seed cups that are arranged on a seed conveyor in two rows in a staggered configuration; depositing the seeds from the seed cups into the planter unit alternately from the two rows; guiding the seeds in the planter unit to a discharge opening; discharging the seeds from the discharge opening into the soil alternately into two rows of seed in the soil, said two rows of seeds in the soil being aligned with the two rows of seed cups on the seed conveyor; and closing the furrow in the soil behind the planter unit with a pair of furrow closing formers that are each disposed at an offset angle, with leading edges of the furrow closing formers being spaced farther apart than their trailing edges. The method may include opening the furrow in the soil behind the breakaway ripper tine with a pair of furrow opening formers that are each disposed at an offset angle, with leading edges of the furrow opening formers in closer proximity than their trailing edges.

[0015] The method may include ridging the soil to provide ridges over the staggered rows of seeds in the soil.

[0016] The method preferably includes planting seeds from a plurality of planting units, preferably two planting units, including breaking the soil and opening a furrow in front of each planting unit, depositing seeds from a separate seed conveyor into each planting unit, and closing the furrow behind each planting unit.

[0017] The method may include guiding the seeds deposited from the two rows of seed cups on the seed conveyor, with a divider disposed in the discharge opening, to travel under gravity into the two rows of seeds in the soil.

[0018] The method may include dispensing fertiliser into the discharge opening of the planter unit, e.g. by spraying liquid fertiliser directly onto the seed in the discharge opening. Instead, or in addition, the method may include dispensing fertiliser into the furrow opened by the furrow opening formers.

[0019] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how it may be carried effect, the invention will now be described by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0021] Figure 1 shows an isometric view of a first embodiment of a potato planter according to the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 shows a side view of the potato planter of Figure 1 ;

[0023] Figure 3 shows a top plan view of the potato planter of Figure 1 ; Figure 4 shows a front view of the potato planter of Figure 1 ;

[0024] Figure 5 shows a breakaway isometric view of a rear part of the potato planter of Figure 1 , including a seed container and planting units;

[0025] Figure 6 shows a sectional side view of the potato planter of Figure 3, taken at VI-VI, in use in a field;

[0026] Figure 7 shows a rear bottom perspective view of the potato planter of Figure 1 ;

[0027] Figure 8 shows a plan view of a field in which potatoes have been planted with the potato planter of Figure 1 , according to the present invention;

[0028] Figure 9 shows a diagrammatic cross-sectional view through topsoil of the field of Figure 8;

[0029] Figure 10 shows a rear bottom perspective view of a second embodiment of a potato planter according to the present invention; and

[0030] Figure 11 shows a detail side view of a ripper tine of Figure 10.

[0031] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] Referring to Figures 1 to 9, a first embodiment of a planter for root crops according to the present invention is generally identified by reference number 10 and in the illustrated embodiments of the invention, the planter is a potato planter. The planter 10 has a front 11 and a rear 13 and is used to plant seeds 12 in soil 14 of a field while the planter travels along a soil surface 16 in a travel direction 18 (shown in Figure 6).

[0033] The planter 10 includes a sturdy chassis 20 with a hitch extension 22 that can be attached to a towing vehicle such as a tractor (not shown) and the chassis is supported by ground wheels 24. The height of the planter 10 above the soil surface 16 can be adjusted by raising or lowering the ground wheels 24 and / or hitch extension 22 relative to the chassis 20.

[0034] At the front of the planter 10, two breakaway ripper tines 26 are provided that are each articulated relative to the chassis 20 by a hydraulic cylinder 28. Each ripper tine 26 includes a solid shank 30 with attachments in the form of toe blades 32 extending from the lower end 34 of the shank and four lateral wedge formations 36, extending laterally from the shank and tapering laterally outwards to the rear. The number, size and orientation of the toe blades 32 and wedge formations 36 could vary, depending on operational requirements, to ensure adequate tiling of the soil 14.

[0035] The lower ends 34 of the ripper tines 26 are inserted deep into the soil 14 and break the soil as the planter 10 travels over the soil surface 16, while the depth of each ripper tines is controlled by its hydraulic cylinder 28. The toe blades 32 assist in breaking the soil 16 and the wedge formations 36 increases the width of the soil 16 that is loosened by the ripper tine 26.

[0036] A pressure accumulator 38 for hydraulic fluid is provided to service as a back-up to provide hydraulic fluid under pressure if there is a failure in the normal supply of hydraulic pressure from the towing vehicle.

[0037] Behind each ripper tine 26 a pair of furrow opening formers is supported from the chassis 20, in alignment with the ripper tine in the travel direction 18 and apart from serving to open a furrow, these furrow opening formers also serve as fertiliser band placing discs. The furrow opening formers 40 can have different shapes, but in the illustrated embodiment, they are generally disc-shaped and for brevity, they are referred to herein as "discs 40". The two discs 40 in each pair are supported at opposite offset angles so that the discs 40 effectively form a wedge, with the leading edges of the discs 40 in close proximity and their trailing edges spaced farther apart. The term "offset" is used herein to denote an orientation where the general plane of a disc 40 is not aligned with the travel direction 18, but deviates from the travel direction by an acute angle.

[0038] The height at which the discs 40 are supported from the chassis 20 causes them to penetrate below the soil surface 16, and to press the soil aside in opposing directions and open up a furrow behind each ripper tine 26. It should be noted in this respect that the size of the ripper tine 26, the depth by which it penetrates the soil 14 and the number and size of its toe blades 32 and wedge formations 36 are such that the soil is broken (i.e. loosened or tined) sufficiently for the discs to open a wide furrow. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, a front fertiliser dispenser chute 42 (most visible in Figure 6) is provided between the discs 40, that is configured to dispense fertiliser in a band into the furrow formed by the discs 40. The furrow opening formers 40 thus serve as fertiliser band placing discs.

[0039] Depending on operational requirements, the discs 40 and dispensing chutes 42 may be omitted, because the ripper tines 26 form enough of a furrow, or if it is not necessary to dispense fertiliser via the chute 42.

[0040] Behind each ripper tine 26 and its associated pair of discs 40 and aligned in the travel direction, there is a planter unit 44 which has a small leading end that in the illustrated example forms an upright leading edge that is reinforced by a curved tooth formation (best seen in Figure 5). Outer walls 48 of each planter unit 44 taper outwards to the rear 13 of the planter 10 so that a wide discharge opening 50 is defined between the outer walls at the rear of the planter unit. Preferably, each planter unit 44 includes a divider 52 in the centre of its discharge opening 50.

[0041] Fertiliser dispenser openings 51 are defined inside each planter unit and are directed towards the dispenser openings 50.

[0042] Each planter unit 44 is supported at a depth in the soil 14 in the furrow formed by its associated ripping tine 26 and pair of discs 40, that allows the top of the planter unit to protrude above the soil 14, but allows the outer walls 48 to urge the soil outwards owing to their tapered shape, so that the furrow is wide at the position of the discharge opening 50 - which discharge opening is open to the furrow.

[0043] A hopper or seed container 54 is provided in the upper, rear of the planter 10 and has an open top, into which seeds 12 can be loaded. The planter 10 could have multiple seed containers 54 and their configurations or positions can be different from the illustrated embodiment, but it preferably has a single seed container that provides seeds 12 for all (i.e. both) the planter units 44. Above each planter unit 44, there is a seed conveyor 56 in the form of a driven belt 58 with seed cups 60 attached to the belt. A rear of the seed conveyor 56 is open to the inside of the seed container 54 so that seed 12 from the seed container are urged under gravity to fill the seed cups 60. The seed conveyor 56 carries the seeds in the seed cups 60 upwards, over a roller and then downwards towards the planter unit 44.

[0044] Each seed conveyor 54 deposits the seeds 12 from its seed cups 60 under gravity into its associated planter unit 44, from where the seeds are guided in the planter unit and are discharged under gravity from the discharge opening 50 into the furrow.

[0045] The seed cups 60 on each seed conveyor 56 are arranged in two side-by-side rows on its belt 58 and the seed cups in the two rows are staggered relative to each other so that seeds 12 are deposited alternately from each of the two rows of seed cups 60 into the planter unit 44. The seeds 12 thus pass alternately from the two rows of seed cups 60 on the seed conveyor 56, through the planter unit 44, and into the furrow. As a result of being discharged alternately from laterally spaced rows of seed cups 60, the seeds 12 are discharged into the furrow in a staggered arrangement, thus forming two rows of seeds. This is best seen in Figures 8 and 9, where seeds 12 in row 62 and row 63 have been discharged from one planter unit 44 and two more rows, 64 and 65 of seeds have been discharged from the other planter unit.

[0046] The spacing of the rows of seeds 12 in the soil 14 in rows 62-65 is approximately the same as the spacing between the rows of seed cups 60 on the seed conveyors 56. However, the two rows of seeds discharged from each planter unit 44 can be spaced further apart or their spacing can at least be maintained, with the aid of the divider 52 that guides the seeds deposited from the two rows of seed cups on the seed conveyor, to travel under gravity into the two rows of seeds in the soil.

[0047] In order to plant the seeds 12 in the staggered configuration in two rows in each furrow, as described above, it is necessary for the furrow and the discharge opening 50 in the furrow, to be wide enough, and this is achieved by virtue of the effective tillage provided by the ripper tines 26, along with opening of the furrow provided by the wedge formations 36, the discs 40 and outer walls 48 of the planter unit 44.

[0048] Behind each planter unit 44 (aligned in the travel direction 18), a pair of furrow closing discs 66 is supported in similar fashion to the discs 40, except that the furrow closing discs are positioned a little higher and while the two furrow closing discs in each pair are also supported at opposite offset angles, their leading edges are spaced farther apart than their trailing edges and they are slightly wider apart at their bottoms than tops, so that the furrow closing discs effectively form a funnel.

[0049] The height at which the furrow closing discs 66 are supported causes them to penetrate the soil 14 and to urge the soil that has been pressed aside by the discs 40 and planter unit 44, inward along the funnel and into the furrow, to close the furrow behind the planting unit and to cover the seeds 12 discharged from the planter unit, with soil, but leaving the seeds in the two rows in which they have been discharged.

[0050] At the rear of the planter 10, three ridgers 68 are provided and while they are behind the furrow closing discs 66, they are not aligned with the furrow closing discs, but are staggered behind them, so that each pair of adjacent ridgers on opposing sides of each closed furrow (in which two staggered rows of seeds 12 have been planted) urges soil onto the furrow to form a ridge 69 above the two rows of seeds.

[0051] Each of the ridges 69 is formed by soil being tilled by blades of the ridgers 68 that each splits the soil and lifts it sideways onto the ridges. The soil is loosened by this action and not compacted, which aerates the soil and allows good water absorption and oxygen availability for the seeds 12, which enhance production considerably. The tilling action of the ridgers 68 from the sides of each ridge, typically cause the ridge to have a slightly V-shaped apex.

[0052] In preferred embodiments of the invention, the planter 10 includes one or more fertiliser dispensers and in the illustrated embodiment, the planter includes a tank 70 for liquid fertiliser and two bins 72, 74 for solid (i.e. granular or pelletised) fertiliser. Reference has been made above to the chutes 42 between each pair of discs 40, and the fertiliser dispenser openings 51 in the planter units 44 though which fertiliser can be dispensed. Depending on operational requirements, liquid fertiliser from the tank 70 or solid fertiliser from either of both bins 72,74 could be dispensed via the chutes 42 into the furrow, shortly before the seeds 12 are dispensed into the furrow from the planter unit 44.

[0053] Likewise, fertiliser could be dispensed through the fertiliser dispenser openings 51 and into the discharge opening 50 of each planter unit 44, directly onto the seeds 12 or could be dispensed along with the seeds. In a preferred embodiment, liquid fertiliser from the tank 70 is sprayed through the fertiliser dispensing openings 51 onto the seeds 12 in the planter unit 44, but it is also possible to dispense solid fertiliser into the planter units.

[0054] Instead of dispensing fertilisers, the same configurations, or configurations with minimal adjustment, could be used to dispense other beneficial substances, such as pesticides, growth enhancers, or the like.

[0055] In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 9, the planter 10 includes two planting units 44, each with its associated ripper tine 26, pairs of discs 40 and furrow closing discs 66 and seed conveyor 56. This configuration has been found to be beneficial to plant four rows 62-65 of seeds 12 between two tracks 76 left by the ground wheels 24, where the tracks are spaced about 2 metres apart. Such a configuration has been found to provide optimal spacing between the seeds 12 and thus between the plants. Also, the outer two ridgers 68 are generally aligned behind the ground wheels 24, so that the soil on the outsides of the tracks 76 can be planted by the same or a similar planter 10 with its ground wheels and ridges following the tracks 76. Thus each subsequent pass of a planter 10 can be used to plant potatoes with an optimal, staggered distribution between rows of seeds in a strip of the field with a width of about 2 metres, between each pair of tracks 76.

[0056] However, in other embodiments of the invention, it may be preferred to have only a single planter unit 44 with its associated ripper tine 26, pairs of discs 40 and furrow closing discs 66, and seed conveyor 56. Also, in other embodiments of the invention, it may be preferable to provide more than two planter units 44 - e.g. if a higher planting density is required, if the wheels 24 and tracks 76 are further apart, or if planting units are provided on the outsides of the ground wheels.

[0057] Further, the planter 10 can be used on soil 14 which has not been prepared and in most instances, neither pre-planting nor post-planting operations will be required. Accordingly, the present invention allows for comprehensive, optimised planting in a single pass of the planter 10.

[0058] Referring to Figures 10 and 11 , a second embodiment of a planter according to the present invention is shown, but it is identical to the planter 10 shown in Figures 1 -9. For clarity, the planter shown in Figures 10 an 11 is identified generally, by reference number 100 and features that are common between the different embodiments of the invention are identified by the same reference numbers.

[0059] The planter 100 is shown with furrow opening discs 40, although the use of these discs is optional, depending on operational requirements.

[0060] On the rear of the shank 30 of each ripper tine 26, there is provided a dispensing chute 102 that is open at its top and bottom and that is configured to receive fertiliser and dispense it into the furrow formed by the ripper tine 26. Below the dispensing chute 102, there a dispensing blade 104 is also supported by the shank 30 and it is spaced from the dispensing chute 102 and is preferably cone-shaped. The dispensing chute 102 and dispensing blade 104 are configured such that fertiliser pellets or granules dispensed through the dispensing chute 102 under gravity impacts the dispensing blade 104, from which it bounces and falls into the soil in a random distribution that ensures sufficient proximity to the seeds 12 in the soil, but also sufficient distribution of the fertiliser to avoid an over-concentration.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A planter for planting root crop seeds in soil while the planter travels along a surface of the soil in a travel direction, said planter having a front and a rear and comprising: at least one breakaway ripper tine that is disposed to break the soil as the planter travels along the soil surface; at least one planter unit disposed to the rear of the at least one breakaway ripper tine and aligned with the breakaway ripper tine in the direction of travel in a furrow formed behind the breakaway ripper tine, said planter unit having a small leading end and outer walls that taper outwards to the rear of the planter unit to open the furrow and to define a wide discharge opening at the rear of the planter unit, said planter unit being configured to receive seeds and discharge them under gravity from the discharge opening; a seed container; at least one seed conveyor that is disposed to convey seeds from the seed container and deposit the seeds in the planter unit, said seed conveyor having a plurality of seed cups that are arranged in two rows in a staggered configuration, to deposit seeds in the planter unit alternately from the two rows; and at least one pair of furrow closing formers disposed to the rear of the planter unit, aligned with the planter unit in the direction of travel in the furrow opened by the furrow opening formers and the planter unit, each of the furrow closing formers being disposed at an offset angle, with leading edges of the furrow closing formers being spaced farther apart than their trailing edges, so that the pair of furrow closing formers is disposed to close the furrow in the soil behind the planting unit; wherein the width of the discharge opening is wide enough to discharge seeds deposited from the seed conveyor under gravity alternately in two rows in the soil, said two rows of seeds in the soil being aligned with the two rows of seed cups on the seed conveyor, so that the seeds remain inthese two rows in the soil and tubers grow from the seeds in the two rows. The planter according to claim 1 , which includes at least one pair of furrow opening formers disposed to the rear of the at least one breakaway ripper tine and ahead of the planter unit, said pair of furrow opening formers being aligned with the breakaway ripper tine in the direction of travel, each of the furrow opening formers being disposed at an offset angle, with leading edges of the furrow opening formers in closer proximity to each other, than their trailing edges, so that the pair of furrow opening formers is disposed to open the furrow in the soil behind the breakaway ripper tine. The planter according to claim 1 , which includes a plurality of ridgers behind the furrow closing formers, on opposing sides of each furrow, to form ridges over the planted seeds. The planter according to claim 1 , which includes a plurality of the planter units and each of the planter units is aligned with one of the breakaway ripper tines, a pair of furrow closing formers behind the planting unit, and a seed conveyor disposed to discharge seeds under gravity into the planter unit. The planter according to claim 4, which includes two planter units. The planter according to claim 1 , wherein each planter unit includes a divider in its discharge opening, said divider being disposed to guide seeds deposited from the two rows of seed cups on the seed conveyor, to travel under gravity into the two rows of seeds in the soil. The planter according to claim 1 , which includes at least one fertiliser dispenser configured to dispense fertiliser into the discharge opening of the planter unit The planter according to claim 7, wherein the fertiliser dispenser is configured to spray liquid fertiliser directly onto the seed in the discharge opening.The planter according to claim 1 , which includes at least one fertiliser dispenser configured to dispense fertiliser into the furrow opened by the breakaway ripper tine. The planter according to claim 1 , wherein each breakaway ripper tine includes a shank with attachments configured to break the soil, said attachments including at least one of: a toe blade extending from a lower end of the shank, and at least one lateral wedge formation extending laterally from the shank and tapering laterally outwards to the rear. A method of planting root crop seeds in soil with a single pass of a planter traveling along a surface of the soil in a travel direction, said method comprising: breaking the soil with at least one breakaway ripper tine and forming a furrow in the soil; opening the furrow behind the furrow opening formers with outwardly tapering walls of a planter unit; conveying seeds from a seed container in a plurality of seed cups that are arranged on a seed conveyor in two rows in a staggered configuration; depositing the seeds from the seed cups into the planter unit alternately from the two rows; guiding the seeds in the planter unit to a discharge opening; discharging the seeds from the discharge opening into the soil alternately into two rows of seed in the soil, said two rows of seeds in the soil being aligned with the two rows of seed cups on the seed conveyor; and closing the furrow in the soil behind the planter unit with a pair of furrow closing formers that are each disposed at an offset angle, with leading edges of the furrow closing formers being spaced farther apart than their trailing edges. The method according to claim 11 , which includes opening the furrow in the soil behind the breakaway ripper tine with a pair of furrow opening formers that areeach disposed at an offset angle, with leading edges of the furrow opening formers in closer proximity than their trailing edges; The method according to claim 11 , which includes the step of ridging the soil to provide ridges over the staggered rows of seeds in the soil. The method according to claim 11 , which includes planting seeds from a plurality of planting units, including breaking the soil and forming a furrow in front of each planting unit, depositing seeds from a separate seed conveyor into each planting unit, and closing the furrow behind each planting unit. The method according to claim 14, which includes planting seeds from two of said planting units. The method according to claim 11 , which includes guiding the seeds deposited from the two rows of seed cups on the seed conveyor, with a divider disposed in the discharge opening, to travel under gravity into the two rows of seeds in the soil. The method according to claim 11 , which includes dispensing fertiliser into the discharge opening of the planter unit. The method according to claim 11 , which includes spraying liquid fertiliser directly onto the seed in the discharge opening. The method according to claim 11 , which includes dispensing fertiliser into the furrow opened by the breakaway ripper tine.

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