Transplanter Cutter Disc Variable Thickness Furrow Precision
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional transplanter machines face issues with creating precise furrows in loose and moist soils, leading to incorrect seedling placement and soil disturbance, which affects rooting and growth, and struggle with cutting through weed roots, causing furrow widening and damage to protective soil layers.
Innovation Solution
A transplanter machine with a rotating cutter disc having a variable thickness and a convex structure, positioned ahead of the ploughshare, pre-cuts the ground to create a narrow furrow, allowing the ploughshare to finish the furrow without excessive soil movement, and features adjustable penetration depth and self-cleaning capabilities for use in wet conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a ploughshare is used to cut the furrow, then the seedlings can be planted at suitable depth, but the furrow becomes too wide and soil is excessively moved in loose and moist soils
Solution Approach 1:
A rotary cutter head with cutting discs is positioned in front of the ploughshare to pre-cut the furrow along the desired path. This preliminary action creates a narrow guide furrow that constrains subsequent soil movement by the ploughshare, preventing excessive widening and reducing overall soil disturbance while maintaining planting depth accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The furrow cutting operation is divided into two separate functions: the rotary cutter head creates the initial narrow furrow path, and the ploughshare follows to complete the furrow with minimal additional soil movement. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in its specific task, improving overall precision and reducing harmful soil displacement
2Manufacturing precision
If a ploughshare creates a neat cut, then seedling placement precision is improved, but the protective soil layer is broken in weeded grounds
Solution Approach 1:
The rotary cutter head pre-cuts the furrow along the exact desired path before the ploughshare operates. This preliminary cutting action confines soil movement to a narrow strip, preventing the ploughshare from disrupting the wider protective soil layer that covers weeded grounds, while still achieving precise seedling placement
3Manufacturing precision
If the ploughshare penetrates deeply to ensure correct planting depth, then seedling rooting is improved, but weed root stumps are dragged along causing furrow widening
Solution Approach 1:
The rotary cutter head with multiple cutting discs penetrates the ground along the furrow path before the ploughshare, cutting through weed root stumps and creating a narrow guide channel. This preliminary action prevents the ploughshare from dragging root stumps that would otherwise cause furrow widening, while still achieving the required planting depth
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting function is segmented between the rotary cutter head (which handles root cutting and furrow creation) and the ploughshare (which completes the furrow). This segmentation allows the cutter head to deal with obstructions like weed roots independently, preventing them from being dragged and causing furrow distortion
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Transplanter machine (1) for transplanting seedlings rooted in sods in a previously cut furrow, adapted to operate according to a direction of travel (M), comprising: - a supporting frame (2) connectable to an agricultural machine; - means (3') for resting and advancing on the ground in said direction of travel (M) and means (3") for closing the furrow; - at least one transplanter unit (T), where said at least one transplanter unit (T) comprises: - feed means (4) for a plurality of seedlings; - a ploughshare (5) for the ground adapted to cut a furrow into which said seedlings are placed; - means for placing said seedlings in said furrow; - a cutter disc (6) rotatingly associated with said supporting frame (2), in front of said ploughshare (5) along said direction of travel (M), adapted to cut the ground in advance pre-forming said furrow, where said cutter disc (6) has a variable thickness that increases gradually from a maximum circumference thereof to a centre thereof.