Dominic L Adam

US Patent:

62128213, Apr 10, 2001

Filed:

May 10, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/309384

Inventors:

Kieran L. Adam - Santa Maria CA
Dominic L. Adam - Santa Maria CA

International Classification:

A01C 1100
A01C 1102

US Classification:

47 1.01R

Abstract:

This invention relates to a system and method for automatically selecting viable seedlings or plants from a nursery tray for transplant into a field by an automatic transplant device. An automatic plant selector according to the present invention functions as an attachment to an automatic transplant device such as a rotary cup transplant machine. The plant selector eliminates the requirement of human labor while significantly reducing the percentage of non-viable or "blank" transplants when using an automatic transplant device to plant seedlings. This reduction is accomplished through use of primary and secondary nursery trays that are addressed by primary and secondary plant removal devices, or "plant pullers," respectively, which automatically provide viable seedlings to the automatic transplant device. The plant selector moves these nursery trays in horizontal and vertical increments that allow each cell in each tray to become available in turn to either the primary or secondary plant puller. The secondary plant puller is used to provide a viable seedling from the secondary nursery tray when a plant sensor indicates that the primary plant puller is unable to provide a viable seedling from the primary nursery tray.

US Patent:

20210392808, Dec 23, 2021

Filed:

Jun 18, 2020

Appl. No.:

16/905794

Inventors:

- Santa Maria CA, US
Dominic L. Adam - Santa Maria CA, US

International Classification:

A01B 79/00
A01B 39/10
A01B 39/18

Abstract:

Systems and methods for disturbing soil are described. The systems may include an elliptical motion mechanism, a shaft coupled to the elliptical motion mechanism, wherein the elliptical motion mechanism is configured to move the shaft in an elliptical path, and a hoe blade coupled to the shaft such that the hoe blade in an initial position is proximate to a soil surface, and wherein a face of the hoe blade is located in a plane intersecting the plane of the elliptical path, and wherein the soil-disturbing apparatus is configured to receive a signal to operate the elliptical motion mechanism, and in response to receiving the signal, operate the elliptical motion mechanism so the hoe blade is moved in an elliptical path, and whereby a portion of the hoe blade elliptical path falls below the soil surface to disturb the soil.