Planting finger assembly

Details Planting finger assembly Planting finger assembly

A - Human Necessities

01

C

111/1, 47/20

A01C 11/02 (2006.01) A01G 9/08 (2006.01) B25B 5/08 (2006.01) F16H 25/18 (2006.01)

Patent

CA 1292392

PLANTING FINGER ASSEMBLY ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A planting finger assembly having paired planting fingers is disclosed for use with a planter of the type wherein plants are removed from a nursery tray, preferably by the stem, and transported to a secondary growing location preferably in a field for harvest. Each planting finger assembly has a pair of planting finger shafts mounted in parallel across a U-shaped carrier. The planting finger shafts rotate with respect to the U-shaped carrier along parallel axes extending through the ends of the U and spanning the interval therebetween. The paired fingers penetrate and extend beyond the U. The finger shafts each terminate in ra- dially extending wedged shaped gripping fingers for holding and releasing the plant. The two fingers on each plant finger assembly rotate on the finger shafts towards and away from one another responsive to oppo- sitely disposed spiral cams and a joined pair of cam followers. Opposite rotation of the fingers moves the fingers from an opened position for receiving or dis- charging a plant to a closed position for gripping and transporting the plant. When paired finger assemblies are disposed in side-by-side relation and the respective planting fingers of each assembly are opened, the wedge shaped fingers of adjacent assemblies form separating wedges for the plants. Typically, the separating wedges separate the foliage of plants in adjacent cells and direct them into the receiving pockets formed by the open gripping fingers on each finger assembly. Thereafter, when the fingers are closed, adjacent fingers on each finger assembly grab only the immediately intended plant and do not entangle the foliage of adjacent plants. Finger assembly movement is effected by an endless chain and endless cam track. Each finger assembly is attached to the endless chain with the cam followers disposed in the cam track. Variation of the spacing of the cam track from the path of the chain causes the fingers to open and close. Preferably the plants are gathered from the tray in close and parallel alignment to the planting finger assembly and are placed in spaced apart relation at the secondary growing location. The spaced apart relation occurs responsive to the passing of a chain around a radius of curvature so that the radial projec- tion of the finger assembly and the length of the planting fingers effects the desired plant spacing.

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