An automatic feeding device and method for a seedling bed of a transplanter, comprising: a bracket installed on the transplanter; several trays, obliquely arranged on the bracket downwards, and the bottom of the trays being provided with release mechanisms for releasing the rice seedling bed; a conveyor belt, arranged on the bracket; a photoelectric sensor, arranged 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.

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 and methods are provided for transplanting slips with an automated slip transplanter. The transplanter comprises a planter unit, a singulation unit, a conveyor belt, a node sensor, and a controller. The planter unit is configured to plant consistent rows of evenly spaced slips in a field. The singulation unit comprises automated grippers and slip cartridges, and is configured to continuously singulate harvested slips stored in the slip cartridges. The conveyor belt is configured to receive the singulated slips from the automated grippers with brushed holders, and transfer the received slips on a belt to the planter unit. The node sensor is configured to autonomously collect performance data of the singulated slips in real-time. The controller is communicatively coupled to the node sensor, and configured to implement operational modes and dynamically adjust a planting slip rate based on the operational modes and performance data collected by the node sensor.

A reforestation machine includes: a main body; a planting device which plants a plant body for reforestation at a predetermined position of soil; a traveling device which allows the main body and the planting device to travel; a power source which drives the traveling device; and a barrier installation device which installs a weed barrier, restricting the growth of weeds growing around a position in which the plant body is planted, around the predetermined position of the soil.

An apparatus for planting rhizomes includes a chassis having wheels to move in a primary direction over an area in which rhizomes are to be planted, the primary direction defining a forward and aft sense, a hopper on the chassis holds rhizomes to be planted, the hopper having a live bottom mounted to move rhizomes in the forward direction, a kickback bar at a forward side of the hopper lifts rhizomes at a forward face of the hopper, a leveling roller above the live bottom levels the height of rhizomes transported by the live bottom forward of the hopper, a barrel feed at a forward end of the live bottom to pull rhizomes from the live bottom, a accumulator below the barrel feed, a drop zone below the accumulator, and a chute with inner flaps from the drop zone oriented to deposit rhizomes in a furrow.

Provided is a transplanting device for performing transplanting between a plurality of culture medium boards cultivating a plurality of plants planted in an aligned manner. The transplanting device includes a transplanting mechanism for transplanting the plants, where the transplanting mechanism performs alternately a step of arranging plants having been arranged in a grid form on a culture medium board of a transplanting source, into a zigzag form on a culture medium board of a transplanting destination, and a step of arranging plants having been arranged in a zigzag form on a culture medium board of a transplanting source, into a grid form on a culture medium board of a transplanting destination.

An independently automated mechanical transplanter assemblage for ejecting plants into the soil is shown and described. The mechanical transplanter includes a plurality of mechanical transplanter units mounted to a frame. Each mechanical transplanter unit will include a plant tray indexing vertically and horizontally for presenting plants to a grabber having a plurality of forks. The grabber and forks thereon will be able to swing into a horizontal position for advancing in a linear motion to grip and retract plants from cells in a tray. The grabber will also be configured to swing the forks into an approximate vertical plane for ejecting each independently held plant down a funnel into a planting shoe for delivery into an open row in the soil. Other embodiments of the device are also disclosed.

An autonomous travel system equipped with a first travel route creation unit, a second travel route creation unit, a linked route creation unit, and a storage unit. The first travel route creation unit is capable of creating a first travel route. The second travel route creation unit is capable of creating a second travel route. The linked route creation unit has a function for creating the second travel route in conjunction with the creation of the first travel route by the first travel route creation unit and/or a function for creating the first travel route in conjunction with the creation of the second travel route by the second travel route creation unit. The storage unit stores, in association with each other, the travel route created by the first travel route creation unit or the second travel route creation unit, and the travel route created by the linked route creation unit.

Apparatuses, systems, and methods are provided for transplanting slips with an automated slip transplanter. The transplanter comprises a planter unit, a singulation unit, a conveyor belt, a node sensor, and a controller. The planter unit is configured to plant consistent rows of evenly spaced slips in a field. The singulation unit comprises automated grippers and slip cartridges, and is configured to continuously singulate harvested slips stored in the slip cartridges. The conveyor belt is configured to receive the singulated slips from the automated grippers with brushed holders, and transfer the received slips on a belt to the planter unit. The node sensor is configured to autonomously collect performance data of the singulated slips in real-time. The controller is communicatively coupled to the node sensor, and configured to implement operational modes and dynamically adjust a planting slip rate based on the operational modes and performance data collected by the node sensor.

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.