Abstract: A seedling planter utilizes support wheels located on a main frame near the rear of the planter. The support wheels are pivotable relative to the frame, thereby allowing the force exerted by a set of intermediate packing wheels to be varied. The seedling planter was a novel planting assembly which incorporates two primary structural members; a first planting assembly piece or link which is connected to the frame, and a planting arm which is pivotally connected to the first piece. The first piece is movable to vary the height of the pivot axis about which the planting arm rotates. The planting assembly also includes a soil height level detection subsystem to automatically control downward extension of the first planting assembly piece. The planting arm is thus positioned at a desired predetermined height above the soil as it is rotated into the ground to provide consistent planting depth. A cam-operated seedling holder clamps the seedlings along the rear edge of the planting arm.

Abstract: A seedling holding and dispensing mechanism used on planters having a planting arm which is intermittently extended downwardly into the soil. The seedling holder and dispenser is preferably mounted along the trailing edge of the planting arm. The seedling holder includes a first jaw and a second jaw. The first jaw is preferably mounted to the trailing edge of the planting arm in a fixed position. The second jaw is mounted for movement relative to the first jaw to allow clamping of the seedlings. The second jaw can be pivotally mounted, such as by using a connecting rod which is pivoted torsionally about a longitudinal axis. A proximate end of the connecting rod is adapted to have a lever arm. The mechanism preferably uses retraction and extension position actuators which automatically open the jaws in both the retracted loading position and the extended discharging position.

Abstract: A metal tine assembly interchangeable with plastic tines on a transverse tubular bat having a teardrop cross-sectional configuration. Each tine includes a wound coil and upper shank clamped to the rear wall of a bat by an overlying bracket. The bracket has a lower opening that bears against the sides of the coil and an elongated recess with a side wall that bears against the tine shank to stabilize the tine on the bat. The assembly is held in place by a single mounting screw and expandable grommet.

Abstract: A crop divider attachment for a harvester which includes a fixed upright divider extending forwardly from the conventional divider wall at the sides of a transverse frame. A lightweight snout 18 projects forwardly from the fixed divider and has side surfaces which overlap it. The snout 18 is pivotally connected at the forward end of the fixed divider adjacent to the ground surface. It swings beneath a fixed chimney on the stationary divider with minimum physical clearance in which crops might become engaged. Side deflectors shift the disentangled crop toward the center of the header. The snout floats freely, and its downward movement is limited by a flexible length of chain.

Abstract: A control for selectively setting the operating depth of a ground working agricultural tool without changing the elevated height of the tool when in the transport position. The control includes a ground supported wheel frame pivotally mounting a tool frame. The tool frame is pivoted on the wheel frame between a raised inoperative position and a lowered operative position by operation of a cylinder assembly. The cylinder assembly is pivoted at one end to the tool frame. Its remaining end is connected to a bracket on the wheel frame. The bracket includes a slot, slidably mounting the remaining end of the cylinder. The slot is aligned along an arc centered on the pivot axis of the cylinder at its one end when the tool frame is elevated to the inoperative position. The slot is inclined upwardly toward this pivot axis as the tool frame is lowered to the operative position.

Abstract: A plurality of radial bat support arms are secured between two axially spaced apart hub plate members. The plate members form a hub assembly which is secured to radial mounting lobes on a thin walled center tube of a harvester reel. Each bat support arm has a base portion of channel form in cross section. A single bolt is used for connecting the web of such base portion directly to a first hub plate member. Two additional bolts extend through both hub plate members, through gusset portions of the support arm which lie against the second hub plate member, and through tubular spacer means positioned axially between the gussets and the first plate member. The two additional bolts are both circumferentially spaced apart and radially spaced inwardly from the single bolt. The hub plate members include spacer blocks welded to their inner surfaces at the regions thereof which outwardly bound the mounting lobes on the center tube.

Abstract: A mobile device for harvesting tree seedlings includes means for subsurface cutting to separate and loosen from the surrounding ground the body of earth adjoining the roots of the tree seedlings. The movement and relative position of the earth separating means enables it to efficiently sever the roots of the tree seedlings from the surrounding ground while allowing only a minimum amount of earth of adhere to the roots of the seedlings as they are removed. A plurality of paired gripper belts remove the loosened seedlings by lifting them upwardly and rearwardly relative to the ground, each pair of gripper belts having male-female intercoupled gripping surfaces which minimize damage to the stems of the seedlings. Disposed below the gripper belts are a plurality of elongated root beater means adapted to move in a transverse oscillatory manner to agitate the roots and remove the earth adhering thereto without damaging the seedlings.

Abstract: A mobile device for harvesting tree seedlings includes means for subsurface cutting to separate and loosen from the surrounding ground the body of earth adjoining the roots of the tree seedlings. The movement and relative position of the earth separating means enables it to efficiently sever the roots of the tree seedlings from the surrounding ground while allowing only a minimum amount of earth to adhere to the roots of the seedlings as they are removed. A plurality of paired gripper belts remove the loosened seedlings by lifting them upwardly and rearwardly relative to the ground, each pair of gripper belts having male-female intercoupled gripping surfaces which minimize damage to the stems of the seedlings. Disposed below the gripper belts are a plurality of elongated root beater means adapted to move in a transverse oscillatory manner to agitate the roots and remove the earth adhering thereto without damaging the seedlings.

Abstract: A soil conditioner for use in combination with a cultivating implement drawn behind a tractor to break up the soil and leave a prepared seedbed in a single operation. The conditioner is mounted to a framework extending rearwardly behind the cultivator. It comprises a set of reels each mounted to the framework for free rotation about a transverse axis. Two sets of axial blade members are provided about each reel. The blades are equiangularly spaced about the axis and are arranged so that each blade of one set is angularly spaced midway between adjacent blades of the other set. The first set of blades include ground-engaging edges spaced a first radius from the axis. The corresponding edges of the remaining set of blades are spaced a second radius from the axis that is less than the first radius.