Laterally Shifted To Final Position Patents (Class 111/103)
  • Patent number: 10004174
    Abstract: The transplanter is designed to harness power from a walk-behind tractor to help small farmers transplant (among other things) seedling vegetables. As a farmer guides the walk-behind tractor, a movable feeder tube assembly comprising a plurality of feeder tubes moves latterly back and forth. When a feeder tube aligns with a pivotable transfer tube, a seedling in the feeder tube is deposited in the transfer tube so that the seedling descends down the transfer tube into a furrow for planting. The transfer tube then pivots so that a kicker panel on the bottom of the transfer tube pushes the seedling rearwardly and thereby helps to enable the seedling to remain vertical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Ted S. Kornecki, Corey M. Kichler
  • Publication number: 20130305973
    Abstract: A large tree mover system includes a trench formed around the circumference of the tree, and a plurality of elongate supports beneath the root ball of the tree. Two or more connecting beams positioned over the plurality of supports connect the plurality of supports to form a substantially rigid frame. The plurality of inflatable airbags are positioned under the plurality of supports, and these or other airbags may be positioned under the supports to roll the root ball to a selected location. A method of moving large trees is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Inventors: Mark A. Merit, Thomas P. Cox
  • Patent number: 7685043
    Abstract: Apparatuses, computer media, and methods for determining a value of a forest factory. A stump land value component and a biomass component of a forest factory are determined. A value of the forest factory is obtained by combining the components. The stump land value component may be normalized by a crop rotation time period. A carbon value component of a forest factory may be determined and the value of the forest factory adjusted. A land parcel may be partitioned into land partitions, in which forest parameters are associated with each land partition. A stump land value component, a biomass fuel value component, and a carbon credit value component may be determined from the land partitions. The carbon credit value component may be determined a percentage of coniferous trees, deciduous trees, and corresponding constant values of oxygen generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Accenture Global Services GmbH
    Inventors: Jonathan A. Millen, II, Luke Leslie, Paul Sheridan
  • Publication number: 20020062770
    Abstract: A plant border assembly includes a plant tray defining a cavity and a top opening communicating with the cavity. The cavity has a width and a length that is greater than the width. The plant border assembly further includes a plant border including a growing medium disposed in the cavity and a strip of plants disposed in the growing medium in the cavity. The plant tray is adapted to allow removal of the plant border from the plant tray without lifting the plant border through the top opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Inventor: Todd Anthony Layt
  • Patent number: 5954002
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for rapidly pricking out plants. It is comprised of a positioning element comprising an internal vertical passage wherein the plant together with its ball of earth, introduced through the top or through the bottom, may be immobilized momentarily by appropriate device, before it is driven from top to bottom towards the planting area by use of rods penetrating sideways into the positioning device through slots provide to this effect so as to bear directly to the earth ball without touching the foliage. It relates to the industrial field of agriculture machines and is intended to the automatic high speed transfer of earth ball-borne plantlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Inventor: Claude Ferrand
  • Patent number: 5241917
    Abstract: Device for automatic positioning of plants is provided with a vertical positioner element conical at the top and cylindrical at the bottom wherein is introduced by known means the plant with its earth ball. The earth ball is located in the cylindrical portion while the plant itself is in the conical portion which is upwardly tapered. An insufflation head is provided with a seal adjusted to the positioner element and permitting the injection of air or a gas when the assembly, including the positioner element and the insufflation head, is above a hole which has been previously made in a receiver element where the planting is to take place. The device facilitates and automates the setting in place of plants of all kinds while preserving their integrity owing to the use of non-mechanical handling means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1993
    Inventor: Claude Ferrand