An improved machine for planting tubers and in particular potatoes

摘要

651,354. Planting potatoes. LAUREAU, G. A. July 28, 1948, No. 20128. Convention date, Jan. 16. Addition to 627,472. [A Specification was laid open to inspection under Sect. 91 of the Acts, April 29, 1949.] [Class 6(i)] The potato-planting machine described in Specification 627,472 is modified by the omission of the tiltable scoops and by the addition of vanes 18 to the surface of the rotary disc 15 to guide the potatoes from the centre to the circumferential pockets 16. The potatoes are fed from a hopper 21 by a belt conveyer 23 passing over the hopper base 22, and fall on to a shoot 17 reciprocated lengthwise by. links 29 connected to the driving pulley 24 of the conveyer. The shoot feeds the potatoes to the centre of the disc 15 whence they pass to the pockets 16 under the action of the vanes 18, which are spaced from the disc but rotate with it, and a fixed spiral blade 19 which passes under the vanes. The potatoes are ejected from the pockets 16 in the vicinity of one of two shoots 20 or 20SP1/SP leading to coulters. Pivoted ejectors 31 are forced up at these points by a spring-loaded blade 36. Alternate pockets feed the shoots 20 and 20SP1/SP, the ejectors 31 and blades, 36 being alternately at different levels below the disc.