WO2013006930A1

WO2013006930A1 - A planting bucket

Info

Publication number: WO2013006930A1
Application number: PCT/BR2012/000185
Authority: WO
Inventors: Júnior Carlos Roberto MANOCHIO; Pedro FREDERICO
Original assignee: Raizen Energia SA
Current assignee: Raizen Energia SA
Priority date: 2011-07-12
Filing date: 2012-06-15
Publication date: 2013-01-17
Anticipated expiration: 2014-01-12
Also published as: BRPI1103386A2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a planting bucket (1), particularly used for planting seedlings (10) by the plant propagation method, the planting bucket comprising at least one storage area (6) for storing seedlings (10), the storage area (6) being at least partly closed, a collecting area (5) for collecting seedlings (10) and a pair of positioning wheels (2) and a pair of carrying wheels (7). The storage area (6) is provided with at least one conducting wall (4) configured for displacing seedlings (10) toward the collecting area (5), the collecting area (5) being configured to have a cavity (53) accessible to a user. The pair of positioning wheels (2) is positioned parallel to the pair of carrying wheels (7), but on a different plane.

Description

SEEDLING PLANTING MACHINE

The present invention relates to a planting bucket, particularly used for planting seedlings, which employs the method of plant propagation. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

As known from the technique, planting seedling by using the plant propagation method is carried out by means of farm tractors that pulls a cart associated to its back portion, the cart being filled with segments of the seedling that will be cultivated. Furrows are opened in the soil by means of plough in the field where the seedlings are planted. The tractor goes into the field with the cart, and on the upper of the cart a farm worker is charged with picking the seedling segments from the cart and throwing them into the furrows. On average, 60% of the seedlings are cut by hand, there rest being carried out mechanically.

The disadvantage of this technique is the fact that there is no exact amount to throw into the field. For instance, in a sugar-cane plantation about 22 to 23 tons of seedling segments per hectare are planted. From this total about 5 tons are wasted, because not all segments will germinate. Besides, this amount causes an irregular plantation.

Another disadvantage of this technique is the fact that the segments are cut in small pieces of about 20 to 30 cm (0,2 to 0,3 m), for which reason the characteristics present in the seedlings are not fully utilized.

It should be noted that one of the greatest disadvantages of this process is that fact that the user works on the cart, which greatly increases the chances of accidents with the worker falling down.

On the other hand, the plantation of these seedlings may take place in a mechanized manner by means of a specialized machinery. However, the machines employed in this type of planting activity should be used on plane ground or grown with declivity lower than 8°. For this reason, the plantation is restricted to only a few types of grounds.

The prior art does not have a solution to the problems mentioned above. OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION

A first objective of the present invention is to provide a planting bucket provided with a collection area, so as to prevent wasting seedling segments.

A second objective of the present invention is to provide a planting bucket that is inexpensive and easy to adapt.

A third objective of this invention is to provide a planting bucket with which the worker does not need to be working on its upper portion.

A fourth objective of the present invention is to provide a planting bucket that can be used on grounds having declivity higher than 8°

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The objectives of the present invention are achieved by means of a planting bucket, particularly to plant seedlings by using the plant propagation method, the planting bucket comprising at least one area for storing and carrying seedlings, the storage and carriage area being at least partly closed, an area for collecting seedlings and a pair of positioning wheels as well as a pair of carrying wheels. The storage area is provided with at least one conducting wall configured to displace seedlings towards the collecting area, the collecting area being configured to have a cavity accessible to a user and a pair of positioning wheels being positioned parallel to the pair of carriage wheels and on a different plane.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the figures.

- Figure 1 is a side view of the assembly formed by the bucket and the tractor;

- Figure 2 is a back view of the bucket;

- Figure 3 is a front view of the bucket;

- Figure 4 is a top view of the bucket;

- Figure 5 is a front view of the conducting wall;

- Figure 6 is a side view of the conducting wall; and

- Figure 7 is a detail of the back view of the bucket in operation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES AND OF THE INVENTION

As shown in figure 1 , the planting bucket 1 is provided with a storage area 6, a collection area 5, a conducting wall 4, associated operative- ly to a displacement device 3, a pair of carrying wheels 7 and a pair of posi- tioning wheels 2.

The planting bucket 1 is preferably associated to a tractor. However, the planting bucket 1 may be associated to other vehicles such as a truck.

Storage area

The storage area 6 consists of an area designed for storing seedlings 10 for subsequent planting. As shown in figure 1 , the storage area 6 is provided with a pair of bucket walls 61 , a lower wall 62, a conducting wall 4, arranged in the front part of the planting bucket 1.

As illustrated in figure 3, a pair of side rails 64 and a pair of lower rails 63 are provided on the bucket 1 , the side rails 64 being secured to the upper part of the bucket walls 61 and the lower rails 63 being secured to the outer part of the lower wall 62. Preferably, both rails 63, 64 extend throughout the longitudinal length of the planting bucket 1 , so as to enable total utilization of the area of the planting bucket 1.

In a preferred embodiment, shown in greater detail in figures 5 and 6, the conducting wall 4 is constituted by a moving wall 43, a pair of lateral guide wheels 41 and a pair of lower guide wheels 42. The lateral guide wheels 41 are associated to side rails 63 and the lower guide wheels 42 are associated to the lower rails 64. In this way, the conducting wall 4 extends throughout the longitudinal length of the planting bucket 1 , thus conducting the seedlings 10 toward the collecting area 5.

Besides, the upper part of the conducting wall 4 is associated to a displacement device 3, as shown in figure 1. The displacement device 3 has the objective of carrying out horizontal movement of the conducting wall 4, which will move as far as the outermost part of the planting bucket 1 , more specifically, close to the collecting area 5.

The storage area 6 is preferably constituted by iron plates. How- ever, other types of materials may be used, as for example, polymeric materials, wood, etc.

The displacement device 3 is preferably a hydraulic cylinder. However other types of displacement devices may be used, as for example a set of endless screw or a rack-and-pinion assembly.

The conducting wall 4 is preferably a smooth plate. However, other types of configuration and materials may be used in manufacturing it. Collecting area

The collecting area 5 consists of an area configured to be acces- sible manually by a user, being positioned at the end of the storage area 6.

It is the user, more specifically the farm worker, that will plant the seedlings 10 manually.

The collecting area 5 is provided with an accessible cavity 53, side walls 52 and a retractable prolonger 51.

The accessible cavity 53 has the objective of retaining the seedlings 10, thus facilitating manual access by the user while panting.

As can be seen in detail in figures 2 and 4, the accessible cavity 53 is located at the outer part of the storage area 6 and in a preferred configuration, a configuration as a chute. The initial portion of its outer side wall 52 has a separation formation 56 that preferably has the shape of a fourth of a circumference, and the prolongation of the accessible cavity is rectangular in shape. Moreover, its length is preferably half the length of the storage area 6, the accessible cavity 53 spreading in the other half of the length of the storage area 6. It can be noted that the initial portion of the external side walls 52 of the accessible cavity 53 are tangential to each other, thus forming a substantially triangular area 55, which configures the distribution formation 56. The fourth-of-circumference shape advantageously provides separation and optimized movement of the seedlings 10. However, other formats may be used, as long as they meet the requirements of the present invention, for example, the accessible cavity 53 may be rectangular in shape, with the same length of the storage area 6.

Further with regard to the collecting area 5, in figure 2 one can note that it may be configured so as to ensure such angulations that will enable the seedlings 10 to slide toward a retractable prolonger 51 , simply using the effect of gravity, without the aid of moveable devices. Alternatively, the collecting area 5 may include elements that facilitate the displacement of the seedlings 10 in the direction of the retractable prolonger 51 , for instance it may include a moveable matting that moves through a set of pulleys belts or through a set of gears. Alternatively, one may use rollers arranged along the chute that forms the collecting area. With regard to the positioning, in a preferred embodiment, the collecting area 5 should be arranged at the height of the user's waist, so as to facilitate the collection of the seedlings 10 inside the bucket. However, it height may change depending on the configuration used, since this is not the focus of the invention.

It should be noted that the retractable prolonger 51 is associated to the accessible cavity 53 by means of a hinged association 54 and is also associated to the bucket-walls 61 of the storage area 6 by an elevation means 8.

The prolonger 51 is positioned adjacent the accessible cavity 53 and extends beyond the side portion of the planting bucket 1 , as shown in figure 2. Configured in this way, the planting bucket 1 can be towed in open highways without interfering with other vehicles, since the side width of the equipment is not exceeded. Additionally, the length of the collecting area 5 is preferably intended for four users to work side by side behind the planting bucket 1 and parallel to the collecting area 5. The equipment may be configured so as to enable a larger number of workers and, as a result, enable an increase in the planting productivity.

The hinged association means 54 is preferably a hinge, but other articulations may also be used for associating the retractable prolonger 51 to the accessible cavity 53.

The elevation means 8 is preferably a mechanical link-chain, but other types of elevation means may be used, as for example a traction spring.

In an alternative embodiment, the retractable prolonger 51 is re- movable, being only used when the assembly is in operation, and there may further be retractable prolongers 51 of different lengths.

Positioning wheel

The positioning wheel 2 consists of a pair of wheels arranged parallel to a pair of carrying wheels 7, but on different planes.

As can be seen in figure 7, the positioning wheels 2 has the objective to help the carrying wheels 7, so that the carrying wheels 7 will not slide into the planting furrow 9. The positioning wheels 2 rest against the sides of the furrow 9 (see support point A in figure 7), thus propping the car- rying wheels 7.

Besides, the positioning wheels 2 are associated to a hydraulic system 21 , the latter carrying out the vertical movement of the positioning wheels 2. Such a hydraulic system 21 enables that the positioning wheels 2, when in use, will be at a height below the carrying wheels 7, which guaran- tees a perfect engagement of the positioning wheels 2 with the side of the furrow 9, besides enabling the carriage of the planting bucket 1 out of the planting areas, when they should be positioned in such a way that they will be at a height above the lower portion of the carrying wheels 7. The positioning wheels 2 are preferably a solid metallic disc, but other types may also be used, such as, for example, a wheel-and-tire assembly. Besides, the hydraulic system 21 may be replaced by other forms of adjustment of the positioning wheels, for instance, by an endless screw or a rack-and-pinion assembly, among others.

With regard to the use of the equipment of the present invention, as shown in figures 1 to 7, the planting bucket 1 is filled with seedlings 0, so as to fill the whole storage area 6. After being filled the planting bucket 1 is positioned in the furrows 9, the positioning wheel 2 is actuated and adjusted to the furrows, so that the tractor can start its movement.

During the planting, the displacement device 3 is actuated by means of a manual lever (not shown), whenever it is necessary to fill the collecting area 5, since the displacement device 3 causes the conducting wall 4 to move horizontally, so that the users positioned in the back portion of the planting bucket 1 can pick up the seedlings 10 from inside the collecting area 5 and, when necessary, actuate the manual lever for continuous filling of the collecting area 5.

Alternatively, the actuation of the displacement device 3 may be carried out by automation of this actuating process, for instance, by a weight sensor associated to the collecting area 5 and whenever the collecting area 5 is below a predetermined weight, the sensor will actuate the displacement device 3 until the weight will be equal to the predetermined weight, thus accelerating the process of planting the seedlings 10.

In addition a covering 12 may be associated to the upper back portion of the planting bucket 1 , so as to protect the users from sunlight radiation.

Additionally, a protection grid (not shown) may be associated to the upper back portion of the planting bucket 1 , so that, when the conducting wall 4 is actuated, the seedlings 10 will be gradually transferred without part thereof falling over the collecting area 5.

An advantage of this invention is the fact that it has a collecting area, which prevents waste of 5 tons of seedlings 0 per hectare, thus enabling one to save raw material.

Besides, the present invention can use segments of seedlings 10 longer than those used in the prior art, for example 60 to 70 cm (0,6 to 0,7 m) long, thus increasing the chance of germination and with more utilization of the seedling characteristics.

Another advantage of this invention is the fact that the users do not work at the upper part of the planting bucket, but rather at the lower part, on the soil and so there is greater working safety for the users.

A further advantage of this invention is that the planting bucket is inexpensive and easy to adapt, since it can be adapted to automobiles, as for example to a bucket.

One more advantage of this invention is the fact that the planting bucket can be used on various types of grounds, including grounds with declivity higher than 8°. A preferred embodiment having been described, one should understand that the scope of the present invention embraces other possible variations, being limited only by the contents of the accompanying claims, which include the possible equivalents.

Claims

1. A planting bucket (1), particularly for planting seedlings (10) by using the plant propagation method, the planting bucket being characterized by comprising at least:

- one storage area (6) for storing seedlings (10), the storage area

(6) being at least partly closed;

- a collecting area (5) for collecting seedlings (10); and

- a pair of positioning wheels (2) and a pair of carrying wheels

(7) ;

the storage area being provided with at least one conducting wall

(4) configured to displace the seedlings (10) toward the collecting area (5), the collecting area (5) being configured so as to have a cavity (53) accessible to a user;

the pair of positioning wheels (2) being positioned parallel to the pair of carrying wheels (7) and on different planes.

2. A planting bucket (1) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the conducting wall (4) is associated to a displacement device (3).

3. A planting bucket (1) according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the conducting wall (4) is provided with guide wheels (41 , 42).

4. A planting bucket (1) according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the conducting wall (4) is provided with a movable wall (43).

5. A planting bucket (1) according to claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the positioning wheels (2) are associated to a hydraulic system (21), the hydraulic system (21) being configured to carry out the vertical movement of the positioning wheels (2).

6. A planting bucket (1) according to claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the positioning wheels (2) are solid.

7. A planting bucket (1) according to claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the displacement device (3) is a hydraulic cylinder.

8. A planting bucket (1) according to claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the displacement device (3) is an endless assembly.

9. A planting bucket (1) according to claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the displacement device (3) is a rack-and-pinion assembly.

10. A planting bucket (1) according to claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the collecting area (5) is associated to the side wall

(11) of the planting bucket (1) by an elevation means (8).

1 . A planting bucket (1) according to claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the collecting area (5) is removable.

12. A planting bucket (1) according to claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the collecting area (5) is hinged .

13. A planting bucket (1) according to claims 1 to 12, character- ized in that the planting bucket (1) is provided with ties (11) at its upper part.

14. A planting bucket (1) according to claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the planting bucket (1) is provided with a protector at its upper back part.

15. A planting bucket (1) according to claims 1 to 14, character- ized in that the covering (12) may be associated to the back part of the bucket (1).

16. A planting bucket (1) according to claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the collecting area (5) projects beyond the plane formed by the bucket walls (61).