Sapling planting apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11445657-B2
Application number	US-201916511918-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 15, 2019
Priority date	Jul 15, 2019
Publication date	Sep 20, 2022
Grant date	Sep 20, 2022

Abstract

A system for a high-efficiency planting operation for a work machine for planting saplings. The system comprises a conveying unit to store at least one tray of saplings and to transport the tray of saplings towards a gripping unit. The gripping unit retrieves at least one sapling from the tray and to release at least one sapling towards an indexing unit. The indexing unit is coupled to the gripping unit and individually releases a sapling for planting. A planting unit receives the sapling from the indexing unit and delivers the sapling into a ground. A sensing module is coupled to a plurality of sensors to detect a set of parameters and generates data input signals based on the parameters. A controller receives the data input signals and provides feedback to the conveying unit, the indexing unit or the planting unit to adjust actuators in response to the data input signals.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sapling planting apparatus coupled to a chassis, the chassis including ground-engaging supports to facilitate propelling the chassis, the sapling planting apparatus comprising:
a screw;
a nut in threaded engagement with an outer surface of the screw;
a motor operatively coupled to the screw to rotatably drive the screw, wherein rotation of the screw translates the nut in a first direction;
a tube configured for delivering a sapling towards a ground, the tube coupled to the nut, the tube telescopically extendable in a second direction from a rest position; and
a spade configured for penetrating the ground for planting the sapling, the spade coupled to the tube.

2. The sapling planting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein translating the nut in a reverse direction, the reverse direction being opposite the first direction, after the tube has begun to telescopically retract in an upward direction towards the rest position.

3. The sapling apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first direction is opposite a direction of travel of the chassis.

4. The sapling apparatus of claim 3 , wherein a speed of translating the nut and a speed of travel of the chassis are the same when the spade is in contact with the ground.

5. The sapling planting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein an end of the tube comprises a rigid material, the end of the tube configured to penetrate the ground to create a well in the ground when planting.

6. The sapling planting apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a spade actuator operatively coupled to the spade, the spade actuator actuating the spade from an open position to a closed position to released sapling into a ground.

7. The sapling planting apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a dig actuator operatively coupled to the tube, the dig actuator actuating the tube from the rest position to an extended position.

8. The sapling planting apparatus of claim 7 further comprising a scissor mechanism operatively interposed between the dig actuator and the tube, the scissor mechanism comprising at least one pair of relatively movable crossed scissor arms, and a pivot means interconnecting the at least one pair of scissor arms for relative movement of the scissor arms about the pivot axis, wherein actuating the dig actuator actuates the at least one pair of scissor arms to extend, the at least one pair of scissor arms amplifying movement cause by the dig actuator.

9. The sapling planting apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the scissor mechanism is enclosed in a housing assembly to environmentally seal the scissor mechanism.

10. The sapling planting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the spade comprises a fixedly attached spade portion and a rotatably attached spade portion, the spade operatively coupled to a spade actuator, the spade actuator rotating open the rotatably attached spade portion thereby placing the sapling in the ground.

11. A work machine for planting a sapling comprising:
a chassis;
ground-engaging supports coupled to chassis to facilitate propelling the chassis; and
a sapling planting apparatus coupled to the chassis,
the sapling planting apparatus comprising:
a screw;
a nut in threaded engagement with an outer surface of the screw;
a motor operatively coupled to the screw to rotatably drive the screw wherein rotation of the screw translates the nut in a first direction;
a tube for delivering a sapling towards a ground, the tube coupled to the nut, the tube telescopically extendable in a downward direction from a rest position, wherein translating the nut in the first direction coincides with extending the tube in a downward direction; and
a spade for penetrating the ground for planting sapling, the spade coupled to the tube.

12. The work machine for planting a sapling of claim 11 , wherein translating the nut in a second direction, the second direction being opposite the first direction, coincides with retracting the tube in an upward direction towards the rest position.

13. The work machine for planting a sapling of claim 11 , wherein the first direction is opposite a direction of travel of the chassis.

14. The work machine for planting a sapling of claim 13 , wherein a speed of translating the nut and a speed of travel of the chassis are the same when the spade is in contact with the ground.

15. The work machine for planting a sapling of claim 11 , wherein an end of tube comprises a rigid material, the end of tube penetrating the ground to create a well in the ground when planting the sapling.

16. The work machine for planting a sapling of claim 11 further comprising a spade actuator operatively coupled to the spade, the spade actuator actuating the spade from an open position to a closed position to release the sapling into the ground.

17. The work machine for planting a sapling of claim 11 further comprising a dig actuator operatively coupled to the tube, the dig actuator actuating the tube from a rest position to an extended position.

18. The work machine for planting a sapling of claim 11 further comprising a scissor mechanism operatively interposed between a dig actuator and the tube, the scissor mechanism comprising at least one pair of relatively movable crossed scissor arms, and a pivot means interconnecting the at least one pair of scissor arms for relative movement of the scissor arms about a pivot axis, wherein actuating the dig actuator actuates the at least one pair of scissor arms to extend, the at least one pair of scissor arms amplifying movement of the dig actuator.

19. The work machine for planting a sapling of claim 18 , wherein the scissor mechanism is enclosed in a housing assembly to environmentally seal the scissor mechanism.

20. The work machine for planting the sapling of claim 11 , wherein the spade comprises a fixedly attached spade portion and a rotatably attached spade portion, the spade operatively coupled to a spade actuator, the spade actuator rotating open the rotatably attached spade portion thereby placing the sapling in the ground.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Moiddin Syed Gouse
• Sahu Pramod Kumar
• Wangikar Abhishek
• Chourey Rahul

Classifications

• A01C5/04 Primary

  Machines for making or covering holes for sowing or planting · CPC title

• A01C11/025 Primary

  Transplanting machines using seedling trays; Devices for removing the seedlings from the trays · CPC title

• A01B79/02

  combined with other agricultural processing, e.g. fertilising, planting · CPC title

• A01C11/006

  Other parts or details or planting machines · CPC title