Abstract: A method and a device for picking up seedlings from a seedling tray is capable of picking up seedlings by accurately arranging seedling storage cells in opposition to seedling pushing rods irrespective of the transporting tilt of the seedling tray. In the method, the seedling tray formed with a plurality of seedling storage cells is positioned at a predetermined position by means of tray positioning rods, and the seedling pushing rods are inserted into respective seedling storage cells while maintaining the positioned condition. The device implementing the method includes the tray positioning rods for positioning the seedling tray at the predetermined position and the seedling pushing rods for performing an inserting operation for respective seedling storage cells while maintaining the positioned condition of the seedling tray by the tray positioning rods.

Abstract: A strips peeling off apparatus and a carrying conveyor are disposed on a body of a machine for transplanting seedlings. A series of pots is taken out from a multiple series of pots 1 placed on the body through a pair of guide plates by pulling two strips with a pair of taking-out rollers through the pair of guide members toward the front side of the body to expose the seedlings with soil exposed from the pots of the series of pots. The seedlings with soil are carried toward the rear end side at the same velocity as the velocity of the body by clamping the root block portion of the seedling with a first conveyor, and subsequently, with a second conveyor, by clamping the leaf portions of the seedlings to carry the seedlings toward the rear side of the body into a planting groove formed by an opener mounted below the body.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for transplanting seedling from a first tray to a second tray. The apparatus includes a frame, a moveable carriage connected to the frame, and a conveyor system. In the preferred embodiment, a first conveyor is used to shuttle seedlings into the operative reaches of the apparatus and a second conveyor shuttles the transplanted seedlings out of the operative reaches of the apparatus. The carriage includes a gripper assembly comprised of a plurality of grippers slidably mounted to a guide rod system or track. A positioning mechanism is employed to move the carriage and associated gripper assembly. The grippers includes an upright support and a pair of pivotally connected spaced apart gripper fingers. The gripper fingers are separated by a separating member and can be easily detached from the carriage by a disconnect mechanism.

Abstract: Plantlets from a bare-root, cutting or tissue culture condition are automatically planted into a nursery container. The apparatus creates a continuous supply of V-shaped notches in planting substrate, into which plantlets are placed and then the substrate is closed about the roots, creating a "sandwich" or "book" effect. The resulting plug members with the substrate closed around the plants roots or stem are automatically transplanted into a nursery container for subsequent growing. Plantlets with small roots are quickly and efficiently placed in the substrate without injury or transplant shock. The apparatus is particularly useful for small plantlets or early stage germinants that have both roots and shoots (such as tissue culture material derived from either micropropagation or somatic embryogenesis) but it can also be used with rooted or unrooted cuttings, true or synthetic seed or naked embryos.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatic transplanter. More specifically, the invention relates to a mechanism for transferring seedlings or plants from plant trays or flats in which they have been grown or propagated onto a conveyor for delivering to means for effecting transplanting into a field.

Abstract: An apparatus for transplanting seedling from a first ray to a second tray. The apparatus includes a frame, a moveable gantry connected to the frame, and a conveyor system. In the preferred embodiment, a first conveyor is used to shuttle seedlings into the operative reaches of the apparatus and a second conveyor shuttles the transplanted seedlings out of the operative reaches of the apparatus. The gantry includes a gripper assembly comprised of a plurality of grippers slidably mounted to a track. A positioning mechanism is employed to move the gantry and associated gripper assembly. The grippers includes an upright support and a pair of pivotally connected spaced apart gripper fingers. The gripper fingers are separated by a plunger mechanism preferably having a beveled surface for ease of insertion between the gripper fingers.

Abstract: The invention provides a seedling transportation apparatus of a simple structure wherein a new seedling tray can be supplied readily without immediately removing an emptied old seedling tray and does not interfere, when it is moved toward the downstream side in a transportation direction, with a transportation operation for a seedling. To this end, transportation of a seedling tray is performed not in an upright condition or in a curved or bent condition but in a horizontal condition.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for transplanting seedlings from a starting tray into soil. The plant starting tray is positioned on a table surface and moved so that a first column of seedling cells is aligned over a slot formed through the table. A plant pusher unit pushes a seedling from its seedling cell into a transfer tube. A pressure differential is used to move the seedling from the transfer tube through a flexible seedling valve into a prepared hole in soil.

Abstract: A field seedling planting machine for transplanting seedlings automatically from a tray in which they have been grown in a plurality of individual cells, and planting such seedlings in a prepared ground planting position in the field, the machine having a support for supporting trays for downward movement to an indexing mechanism and an eject mechanism for ejecting the seedlings and the attached roots mass plugs from the cells of the tray. A horizontal plant retainer conveyor receives the seedlings and plugs ejected from the trays and transports them sequentially to a transfer mechanism to a planting mechanism and in doing so reorients the seedlings so that they and the plugs are planted in a vertical position. As the seedlings are transferred a sensor detects the absence of foliage of a mature seedling and effects an adjustment of the conveyor speed to avoid irregular gaps between the planted seedlings.

Abstract: A seedling planter mounted on a trailer is provided with means to sense the side walls of ridges of earth and a means to position the planter over ridges of earth in response to the ridge side wall sensing means by transporting the planter sideways from the for/aft center line of the trailer irrespective of the track of the trailer.

Abstract: A transplanter for transferring seedlings from plant trays to a planting position includes a special plant tray having a series of longitudinal indexing grooves and a transverse alignment groove for engagement with indexing rods and support rings that are joined together to form an indexing drum. The indexing drum is mounted adjacent a loading frame for guiding the plant trays into position for ejection of the plant seedlings and includes an integrally internally mounted plug ejector subassembly which moves relative to the indexing drum at each of a number of successive indexing positions of the drum for ejection of seedlings from the plant tray. The indexing grooves and transverse alignment groove on the plant tray provide datum surfaces for ensuring accurate positioning of the plug ejector subassembly relative to the seedlings in the plant tray.

Abstract: An apparatus for unloading a tray full of seedlings and transporting them one at a time to another location for further handling, e.g., for planting. The apparatus is arranged to be towed behind a prime mover, and all operations are powered by the movement of the apparatus on wheels and/or by compressed air generated on the prime mover.

Abstract: A seedling planting apparatus wherein a body of the seedling planting apparatus including one planting unit or a plurality of planting units for picking a seedling from each pot provided in a seedling tray to plant them in the field is connected to the rear portion of a traveling vehicle, wherein the body of the seedling planting apparatus is provided at its front portion with an operation platform and the planting unit is arranged such that an empty seedling tray wherein the planting operation has been finished, is withdrawn at the front portion of the body of the seedling planting apparatus. The thus constituted seedling planting apparatus can travel stably and straightly, and in the apparatus, an excessive force is not applied on the connection between the body and the traveling vehicle, and during the turning, little jolt is caused, and at the same time, an operator standing on the platform can effect all operations without getting down from the platform.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for transplanting seedling from a first ray to a second tray. The apparatus includes a frame, a moveable gantry connected to the frame, and a conveyor system. In the preferred embodiment, a first conveyor is used to shuttle seedlings into the operative reaches of the apparatus and a second conveyor shuttles the transplanted seedlings out of the operative reaches of the apparatus. The gantry includes a gripper assembly comprised of a plurality of grippers slidably mounted to a track. A positioning mechanism is employed to move the gantry and associated gripper assembly. The grippers includes an upright support and a pair of pivotally connected spaced apart gripper fingers. The gripper fingers are separated by a plunger mechanism preferably having a beveled surface for ease of insertion between the gripper fingers.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in transplanting seedlings between propagation containers. More particularly the apparatus of this invention is intended to enable the transfer of seedlings from a chain of connected cells in which the seedlings have been grown for a period of time to a larger cell chain or other container. The apparatus includes a means to move said cells along a first and second predetermined path, and a first and second plant delivery path extending transversely to said first and second predetermined path. The apparatus includes a means lift seedlings from cells on said first path and to deliver them to cells moving along said second path into a prepared planting position.

Abstract: A seedling planting apparatus includes a carriage, a seedling supply device, a seedling picker device for picking seedlings from the seedling supply device at a predetermined picking position, and a seedling planting device for receiving the seedling from the seedling picker device at a predetermined delivery position and planting them in a field, the seedling supply device including a frame for supporting a seedling tray formed with multiple cells in which seedlings are grown, a traverse feeding mechanism for moving the frame transversely so that a selected cell is located at the predetermined picking position, and a longitudinal feeding mechanism for logitudinally feeding the seedling tray pitch by pitch when the frame is moved to a right or left terminal position thereof, the seedling picker device including a pair of seedling picker claws for picking the seedling from the cell and delivering it to the seedling planting device, and a seedling picker driving mechanism for moving the seedling picker claws fr

Abstract: A seedlings transplanting machine, which includes a machine base having a platform at the top and a rail transversely disposed above platform and reciprocated longitudinally, a sliding frame placed on the platform and reciprocated along the rail to carry a seedling tray, a first transmission mechanism controlled to move the sliding frame along the rail, a second transmission mechanism controlled to reciprocate the rail longitudinally, a seedling drop unit controlled to draw seedlings away from the tray and then to plant the seedlings in the soil.

Abstract: A pneumatic seedling transplanter comprising a beating plate for a tray of seedlings to be planted in which the tray has open portions below the seedlings and the bearing plate has at least one opening which can be aligned with the open portions of the tray to permit a seedling to be dropped from the tray through the opening in the bearing plate, a guide tube below the opening in the bearing plate for guiding a dropped seedling downward to be planted, and a source of suction selectively applicable to the guide tube as an impulse of suction to quickly release the seedling to be planted from the tray and induce the seedling to fall through the opening in the bearing plate and into the guide tube and to continue to fall through the guide tube under the influence of gravity, the source of suction including first and second annular chambers, and a vacuum chamber in communication with the guide tube, whereby expansion of one of the annular chambers expands the vacuum chamber to create the impulse of suction and exp

Abstract: A machine for transplanting potted seedlings grown in a series of pots linked together without separating them from one another includes a bottom plate having an upwardly curved leading end portion, and a slot formed in its trailing end portion. A soil opener is fitted in the slot and contains a vertically rotatable pot guide. A pair of soil drawing members are attached to the bottom plate behind the soil opener. A pair of side frames are erected on the bottom plate, and have inwardly directed portions converging toward the soil opener. A pair of pot guides are also provided on the bottom plate inwardly of the side frames.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing a support-free vegetation mat which is particularly useful for roof greening. An earth substrate and plants with roots or moss having a stackable, dimensionally stable substrate with raised edges is provided. The vegetation mat is cultivated and transported and on laying the mat is separated from the substrate by sliding or drawing off. Thus, the vegetation mats are not only cultivated, but also transported in a stackable, dimensionally stable substrate with raised edges. Only at the time of laying the vegetation mat is the latter separated from the substrate by sliding or drawing off.

Abstract: A vehicular machine available for transplanting vegetal seedlings onto seedbed lines comprising; a planting unit which is furnished with a plurality of vegetal seedling mounting tables and planting levers for transplanting vegetal seedlings onto seedbed lines supplied from these mounting tables disposed on the back side of a working truck hauled by a tractive vehicle; and a working step which facilitates an operator to mount himself on the working truck in order to replenish vegetal seedlings to respective mounting tables of the planting unit. The working truck itself is held by a plurality of supporting wheels which are respectively aligned with the level line identical to that of those wheels of the tractive vehicle.

Abstract: Plant seedlings are transplanted from a germination tray to one or more maturation trays by penetrating the soil plug surrounding the plant and its root system in the seedling tray by means of a rotating spirally coiled shaft, withdrawing the seedling, soil plug and shaft as a unit from the germination tray, inserting the plant, soil plug and shaft unit into the maturation container, and penetrating the soil plug with a needle-like holding implement while rotating the coiled shaft in a reverse direction to withdraw the shaft from the plug and deposit the plug and plant within the maturation container. In the preferred embodiment, a plurality of such coiled shafts are provided on a traveling frame controlled by a microprocessor to enable mass transplantation of plural seedlings to be carried out on a rapid automated basis.

Abstract: The transplant head of the transplanter has an upper plate with four pinholes spaced at the corners of a square of a determined width. A lower plate is adjustably spaced beneath the upper plate and has four pinholes located at the corners of a square of a lesser width than the upper plate pinhole spacing. Four transplant pins extend between the upper and lower holes such that when the upper plate is brought closer to the lower plate by a pneumatically activated mechanical linkage, the pins converge within a seedling plug. Additional pins and pinholes provide for transplanting of an array of seedlings. A pneumatic actuator is connected to the lower plate and is adapted to elevate the transplant head with engaged plug. A carriage is driven by a pneumatic actuator to position a growth pot beneath the engaged plug. A computer controller causes the plug to be lowered into the soil of the growth pot after which the mechanical linkage may be activated to space the plates to disengage the pins from the plug.

Abstract: A system for transplanting plants from a seedling tray to a plant tray includes a gripper head having gripper arms which are selectively movable between gripping and release positions. The gripper head moves in combination with a pusher assembly which pushes the plug out of the seedling tray. A frame mounts the gripper head and pusher assembly for movement relative to a seedling tray. The gripper head includes a number of unique features, ensuring that the gripper head gently grips the plant plug, such that the plant plug is not damaged. Further, the pusher assembly "sweeps" a plug out of the compartment such that the gripper head may grip it. In further embodiments, plural units may be used in combination to increase the speed of operation of the inventive system.

Abstract: A setting machine for transplanting plugged seedlings of vegetables along predetermined transplantation ridges in a field used in combination with seedling culture trays made of synthetic resin and formed with cells as through-holes. The setting machine includes a taking-out device for supporting the seedling culture trays and for selectively taking the seedlings out of open bottoms of the cells successively. The taking-out device includes a selecting member adapted to be two-dimensionally positioned in a plane in parallel with the bottom surface of the seedling culture tray, and formed with selecting holes to be aligned with the cells of the seedling culture tray. The setting machine further includes a transfer device for forcibly transferring the seedlings taken out of the cells to a predetermined position by the action of negative pressure, and a transplanting device for transplanting the seedlings into the ground along predetermined transplantation ridges.

Abstract: To relocate cutlings (22) contained in plant boxes (20), an endless transport element (2) with grippers (9) is used, which grip on a pick-up position (23) the plants (22) at their stems and transport these to an unload position comprising a direction changing wheel (4). To pull out the plants (22) as far as possible in the direction of growing and particularly vertically, every gripper (9) is rotatably journalled on a carrier (8) provided on a transport element (2). The distance between the gripper bearing (17) in the area of the pick-up position (23) and the shaft of the direction changing wheel (4) is substantially smaller than the radius of said direction changing wheel. Hence the plants (22) gripped by the gripper (9) are pulled out in essentially the grind direction thereof.

Abstract: A transplanting apparatus for transplanting plants from free draining matrix trays in which each plant containing cell of each matrix tray is provided with a drainage hole at the bottom of a cell. The transplanting apparatus has a matrix tray rotary supply device, an expulsion/indexing device, a plant catching device, and a planter device. The matrix tray rotary supply device vertically holds and supplies matrix trays to the expulsion/indexing device, and rotates to supply a new matrix tray. The explusion/indexing device moves a supply matrix tray in a row by row movement and expulses one row of plants after the other. The plant catching device catches the expulsed plants and aligns the expulsed plants root end down, and the planter device plants the expulsed aligned plants.

Abstract: The present invention involves a method and an apparatus which utilizes a porous open cell structure in which seeds may germinate and plants root and be provided with appropriate nutrients and water until they are mature enough to be transplanted. At that time the entire porous open cell structure, which is in the form of a flat, may be cut into individual units, each individual unit containing one or more plants centered therein. Thus the separated individual units may then be transplanted into various receptacles including conventional individual plastic flats which are in the condition found in most greenhouses and purchased by individual buyers.

Abstract: An automatic transplanter utilizes relatively simple mechanical structure to so securely engage the root-bound plug of a seedling that the plug and seedling may be rapidly (a) lifted out of its small germination compartment, (b) horizontally transported to correct vertical register with its newly assigned soil-filled and dibbled larger compartment, and (c) accurately positioned in and discharged into the dibbled cavity. An illustrative relatively short two-second cycle is described wherein plural seedlings are thus concurrently transplanted, for each such cycle, from individual small compartments on a first periodically advanced conveyor of a two-dimensional array of germinated seedlings to correct individual larger compartments on a second conveyor that is also periodically advanced, but at a recurrence rate and incremental advance which differ from that of the first conveyor.

Abstract: A planter for placement of plants in spaced parallel rows in the soil has a plant dispenser fed manually or automatically from a plant supply and delivering to a furrow-opening coulter assembly and press wheels. The plant dispenser comprises a drum having an internal impeller defining plant-receiving chutes through which the plants pass, and thence downwards and outwards through an opening in the drum. The coulter assembly has reciprocated coulter side plates which receive and support each plant in a receiving zone between them, and by forward movement relative to the plant and relative to a fixed placement member located in front of the plant, allow soil to flow back to cover the plant's root ball. The press wheels are mounted with a variable caster angle to vary their soil-gathering affect. A hitch has twin parallel toolbars whereby the row units are freely laterally position-adjustable even across the tractor hitch.

Abstract: An apparatus for transplanting seedlings from a nursery pan to vegetable beds or flower beds as the case may be. The apparatus automatically takes up seedlings from the nursery pan individually pot by pot, and prior to implanting them, levelling a soil around the bed, digging holes in the bed to implant the seedlings therein, and compacting the soil around the root portions of the implanted seedlings.

Abstract: A planting apparatus for planting seedlings in a furrow, comprising a coulter for forming a furrow in the ground as the apparatus is towed, means for introducing a seedling into the coulter and means for ejecting the seedling from the coulter into the furrow, characterized in that means are provided for automatically delivering an intermittent jet of water to clean the apparatus and prevent the build-up of soil. The water also facilitates the planting of the seedling.

Abstract: This invention relates to an automatic method for planting balled seedlings grown in container trays. According to this invention, the balled seedling (7) is removed from the container by taking hold of it from the top with a fork-like gripping element (16) and transferring it into the ground. For this, a gripping prong (16) which remains in position at the gripping stage and into which the seedling is pushed is used. The seedlings can be planted without breakage or problems and in the correct position.

Abstract: An improved transfer mechanism for extracting and transporting plants from a high density incubating tray to a singulated constant velocity conveyed path in which each plant is gripped by planting fingers is disclosed. The planter is moved across a field at relatively constant velocity and has the planting fingers conventionally depositing the plant upright and stationary with respect to the passing ground where they are covered by conventional furrowing and packing apparatus. The conveying planting fingers are serially mounted on an endless conveyor and hence pass the vicinity of the incubating tray from which extraction and transfer of the plants must occur at a relatively constant velocity. A tray extraction mechanism is provided which includes a tray conveyor, plant extractor plugs and a tray extraction reciprocation apparatus. The tray extraction reciprocation apparatus functions to oscillate the tray conveyor and plant extractors parallel to the path of the planting fingers.

Abstract: An improved transfer mechanism for extracting and transporting plants from a high density incubating tray to a singulated constant velocity conveyed path in which each plant is gripped by planting fingers is set forth. The planter is moved across a field at relatively constant velocity and has the planting fingers conventionally depositing the plant upright and stationary with respect to the passing ground where they are covered by conventional furrowing and packing apparatus. The conveying planting fingers are serially mounted on an endless conveyor and hence pass the vicinity of the incubating tray from which extraction and transfer of the plants must occur at a relatively constant velocity. A tray extraction mechanism is provided which includes a tray conveyor, plant extractor plugs and a tray extraction reciprocation apparatus. The tray extraction reciprocation apparatus functions to oscillate the tray conveyor and plant extractors parallel to the path of the planting fingers.

Abstract: A transplanting machine wherein a potted seedling to be transplanted is separated from a seedling pot arrangement having transverse rows staggered by a seedling separator, while holding by a seedling regulator from the front at least the potted seedling which are positioned at both sides of the potted seedling being separated. The seedling separator includes regulating plates fixed on a spindle, arm members carried in a rocking manner on the regulating plates, separating needles projecting from the arm members for penetrating into and coming out from the potted seedlings as the regulating plates rotate, springs for biasing the arm members in the projecting directions of the separating needles, and cams for moving the separating needles penetrating in the potted seedlings generally at a right angle with respect to and apart from the joint plane of the potted seedlings, as cam receiving portions formed in the arm members slide in accordance with the rotations of the regulating plates on the cam.

Abstract: An apparatus for transplanting the tape comprises a share (1) for providing a slot opening in the soil, a holding device (24, 25) for one or several packages (26) of tape (27), and elevationally adjusting members, leading members and guide members (33, 34) for the tape, as well as members (15, 16) for pushing together and pressing down the soil around the tape. The share (1) is substantially V-shaped, open to the rear and preferably elevationally adjustable. The guide member (33) is an obliquely forwardly turned guide rod (33) rising from the share (1) or one or several inclined rollers. The holding device (24, 25) comprises a plate-shaped substratum (25) for the package. The elevationally adjusting members are members for adjusting the course of the tape, in particular its angle position, in relation to the guide member (33). The leading means leads the tape from the package to its contact with the guide member (33).