Planting device for planting root crops comprising a cup hopper and at least one conveying device. The conveying device includes at least one carrier element, several conveying elements arranged on the carrier element, and a guide apparatus with at least one guide element which is formed to guide the propagating crops into an output region. Respective conveying elements describe, during operation, a path which runs through the cup hopper to pick up propagating crops. The guide apparatus is arranged such that a vertical proportion of the output direction is smaller than a horizontal proportion of the output direction.

Planting device for planting root crops comprising a cup hopper and at least one conveying device. The conveying device includes at least one carrier element, several conveying elements arranged on the carrier element, and a guide apparatus with at least one guide element which is formed to guide the propagating crops into an output region. Respective conveying elements describe, during operation, a path which runs through the cup hopper to pick up propagating crops. The guide apparatus is arranged such that a vertical proportion of the output direction is smaller than a horizontal proportion of the output direction.

A potato seed planting apparatus has: a frame configured to be advanced over a subjacent field into which potato seed is planted; at least one container on the frame for a supply of potato seed; and a plurality of laterally spaced planting units on the frame. Each of the planting units is configured to cause potato seed from the at least one container to be discharged to the subjacent field at controlled time intervals as the potato seed planting apparatus is advanced in a travel path. First and second of the planting units are configured so that the discharge time intervals for potato seeds from the first planting unit are different than the discharge time intervals for potato seeds from the second planting unit with the potato seed planting apparatus advanced at a first speed in the travel path.

A potato seed planting apparatus has: a frame configured to be advanced over a subjacent field into which potato seed is planted; at least one container on the frame for a supply of potato seed; and a plurality of laterally spaced planting units on the frame. Each of the planting units is configured to cause potato seed from the at least one container to be discharged to the subjacent field at controlled time intervals as the potato seed planting apparatus is advanced in a travel path. First and second of the planting units are configured so that the discharge time intervals for potato seeds from the first planting unit are different than the discharge time intervals for potato seeds from the second planting unit with the potato seed planting apparatus advanced at a first speed in the travel path.

The method for planting potatoes at high speed includes the steps of providing a press wheel behind the seed release mechanism; opening a furrow in a soil; dropping potato seed pieces at spaced intervals in the furrow such that each seed piece or a portion thereof intersects a forward shadow of the press wheel, and catching and decelerating each seed piece against the soil in the furrow thereby reducing set roll in each seed piece. In an alternate embodiment a pair of spaced-apart press wheels are used. These alternate press wheels are mounted astride the furrow in a positive-camber alignment for moving the soil of the furrow against the seed piece.

The method for planting potatoes at high speed includes the steps of providing a press wheel behind the seed release mechanism; opening a furrow in a soil; dropping potato seed pieces at spaced intervals in the furrow such that each seed piece or a portion thereof intersects a forward shadow of the press wheel, and catching and decelerating each seed piece against the soil in the furrow thereby reducing set roll in each seed piece. In an alternate embodiment a pair of spaced-apart press wheels are used. These alternate press wheels are mounted astride the furrow in a positive-camber alignment for moving the soil of the furrow against the seed piece.

The method for planting potatoes at high speed includes the steps of providing a press wheel behind the seed release mechanism; opening a furrow in a soil; dropping potato seed pieces at spaced intervals in the furrow such that each seed piece or a portion thereof intersects a forward shadow of the press wheel, and catching and decelerating each seed piece against the soil in the furrow thereby reducing set roll in each seed piece. In an alternate embodiment a pair of spaced-apart press wheels are used. These alternate press wheels are mounted astride the furrow in a positive-camber alignment for moving the soil of the furrow against the seed piece.

A converging row unit for planting seed potatoes includes a plurality of linear arrays of seed cups, each array disposed upon a flexible endless belt and having an upwardly moveable portion and a downwardly moveable portion. The upwardly moveable portion passes through a seed pick region wherein each seed cup can draw a seed, while the downwardly moveable portion progresses to a point of discharge of the seed. The linear arrays are laterally spaced apart from each other in the upwardly moveable portion, and converge together in the downwardly moveable portion, toward to the point of discharge.

A converging row unit for planting seed potatoes includes a plurality of linear arrays of seed cups, each array disposed upon a flexible endless belt and having an upwardly moveable portion and a downwardly moveable portion. The upwardly moveable portion passes through a seed pick region wherein each seed cup can draw a seed, while the downwardly moveable portion progresses to a point of discharge of the seed. The linear arrays are laterally spaced apart from each other in the upwardly moveable portion, and converge together in the downwardly moveable portion, toward to the point of discharge.

A device comprising a hopper forming a storage space, and at least one conveyor device configured for placing a row of the planting material. The conveyor device comprises at least one carrier element rotating in operation in a direction of rotation and about a deflection axis, and a plurality of conveying elements arranged on the carrier element, which, in operation, each run through the storage space for receiving a planting material component being in a first position relative to the carrier element, and through a dispensing area for dispensing the planting material component. At least a first one of the conveying elements, particularly at least half of the conveying elements, is mounted so as to be movable relative to the carrier element from the first position into a second position at least proportionally parallel to the deflection axis.