Automated transplanter assemblies and systems. For example, the disclosure sets forth a plug holder and assembly adapted to transplant plugs into tight-fitting plug holders. The disclosure also conveys a transplanter assembly useful in transplant operations where a plug holder is oriented at a non-perpendicular angle to the surface of a grow tower or other structure that contains the plug holder. The disclosure also provides a transplanter system useful in transplanting plugs into grow towers.

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.

An apparatus having a support frame supports a tray actuation means, a pick up means and a conveyor assembly for feeding a transplanter with viable plants from a multi-celled tray is disclosed. The tray actuation means is configured to move the multi-celled tray along the support frame. The pick up means is configured to pick up the viable plants by their foliage from the multi-celled tray and leaving non-viable plants therein. The conveyor assembly includes receptacles for receiving one viable plant from the pick up means, and at least one sensor for detecting empty receptacles. A controller cooperatively operates the tray actuation means, the pick up means, and the conveyor assembly in order to skip empty receptacles for ensuring continuous feeding of the transplanter with viable plants. A gripper for picking up plants by their foliage is disclosed. A method for continuously feeding the transplanter with viable plants is disclosed.

A work vehicle automated travel system for executing automated travel of a work vehicle along a travel route comprising work routes, in which work is performed by a work unit, and turning routes. Said work vehicle automated travel system is provided with an operation unit. Said operation unit is able to select implementation or non-implementation of an automated work unit control, which detects the beginning of turning of the work vehicle and automatically raises the work unit and disconnects the work clutch of the work unit, and detects completion of the turning of the work unit and automatically lowers the work unit and connects the work clutch. If the beginning of turning is detected while the work vehicle is performing automated travel in a turning route, automated work unit control is implemented regardless of whether implementation or non-implementation of automated work unit control has been selected by the operation unit.

An automated planter apparatus for inserting a rootstock, rooting stock or plantings into the ground, especially useful in hop yards, vineyards and orchards, the planter apparatus mountable to a tractor or trailer, and with grapes as a preferred rooting stock. Apples, or any other type of grafted tree or vine may be planted in the alternative. The planter apparatus includes a chain driven grabber mechanism, attached to a chain loop and driven by sprockets at each end, the grabber mechanism able to grasp and insert the rooting stock into the soil at precisely predetermined points, preferably aided by GPS (Global Positioning System). The grabber mechanism includes a pair of grabbers that receive the rooting stock at a pick-up, and then rotate from an open position to a closed position as the chain loop proceeds around a forward sprocket, rotating the grabber mechanism to a planting release.

This region registration system is provided with a positioning antenna, a position acquisition unit, a reference-point specification unit, a direction specification unit, a candidate-point registration unit, and a region registration unit, and acquires an antenna position as a measurement point. The reference-point specification unit specifies a corner antenna reference point. The direction specification unit specifies a turning direction of a rice seedling transplanter that has passed the corner antenna reference point. The candidate-point registration unit biases the corner antenna reference point to a position forward of the rice seedling transplanter at the time of measuring said corner antenna reference point, and at the same time, registers, as a corner candidate point, a position biased toward either side in the width direction of said rice seedling transplanter in accordance with the turning direction specified by the direction specification unit. The region registration unit is capable of registering a region that encompasses a corner candidate point.

A working vehicle includes a traveling body supported by a traveling apparatus, a steering portion that steers the traveling body, a lifting/lowering apparatus that lifts and lowers a working machine, and a controller configured to execute a turning control including setting a working machine descent start line, calculating coordinates of the traveling body based on a steering operation and a traveling distance of the traveling apparatus, and in a case where the traveling body has reached the working machine descent start line in a state in which the traveling body has completed the turning, starting lowering the working machine by the lifting/lowering apparatus.

An agricultural machine system for performing agricultural tasks in a in a field on which plants are planted or will be planted in a pattern, the system comprising: a prime mover; a tool bar connected to the prime mover; a plurality of units attached to the tool bar, the units configured to perform at least one agricultural tasks and wherein at least two of the units are disposed in an offset relationship from each other with respect to a forward direction of travel of the agricultural machine about the tool bar; and a control unit in communication with the prime mover and the plurality of units, the control unit configured to determine a selective location corresponding to the pattern in which plants are planted or will be planted and activate the units at the selective location to perform the at least one agricultural task as the agricultural machine system travels along a plurality of rows.

An agricultural planter has a carousel-type distribution unit for handling and planting plants. The distribution unit has a rotatably driven carousel containing a plurality of cups adapted to hold plants. The cups are operable to release plants into a conveyance channel for guiding the plants into a hollow plowshare. An ejector foot expels the plants from the hollow plowshare into a soil furrow. A drive mechanism drives the distribution unit to rotate the carousel, release plants into the conveyance channel, and expel plants from the hollow plowshare. The drive mechanism in one embodiment includes a ratcheting arm connected to a drive shaft that drives the distribution unit, and a linear actuator connected to the ratcheting arm. A positioning system determines a location of the planter in a field, and a controller activates the linear actuator to rotate the ratcheting arm when the planter reaches a tripping position in the field.

The invention discloses an automatic feeding device and method for a seedling bed of a transplanter, and relates to the technical field of agricultural mechanical equipment, comprising: a bracket installed on the transplanter; several trays, obliquely arranged on the bracket downwards and used for placing the rice seedling bed, and the bottom of the trays being provided with release mechanisms for releasing the rice seedling bed; a conveyor belt, arranged on the bracket, and positioned at the bottom of the tray, and the end of the conveyor belt is connected with a transplanting platform of the transplanter; a photoelectric sensor, arranged on the transplanting platform and used for detecting the height of the remaining rice seedling bed on the transplanting platform; and a controller, in communication connection with the photoelectric sensor, when the photoelectric sensor detects that the height of the remaining rice seedling bed on the transplanting platform is lower than the height of the photoelectric sensor. Only one driver is needed to operate, so that the labor input is greatly reduced, and the labor intensity is reduced; meanwhile, the space is saved by the reduction of the number of workers, enabling more seedling raw materials to be stored.