CLIAMS:We Claim:
1. A sugarcane planter for planting sugarcanes in a field, the planter comprising:
A rigid frame having a first end and a second end;
At least one ridger mounted at first end of the rigid frame;
At least one furrower mounted at the second of the rigid frame; and
A container configured for planting sugarcane mounted proximal to the second end.
2. The sugarcane planter according to claim 1, wherein the rigid frame of the planter is provided with a linkage for connecting to a vehicle for movement of the planter.
3. The container of claim 1, wherein the container comprises of
a. A top region formed for loading of sugarcanes; and
b. A bottom region having at least one chute formed, the chute configured for channelizing the sugarcanes for release onto the field.
4. The container of claim 1, wherein the width of the chute is equal to the width of the sugarcane loaded.
5. The container of claim 1, wherein the chute comprises of a release arrangement mounted on the chute, the arrangement configured for sequential release of sugarcanes onto the field.
6. The release arrangement of claim 5, wherein the release arrangement comprises of
i. A sheet of metal formed to have a profile identical to the chute wherein the sheet of metal is hinge mounted on the chute; and
ii. At least one cam mounted on a shaft abutting the sheet of metal, the cam configured for causing movement of the sheet of metal between an open position and a close position.
7. The release arrangement of claim 5, wherein the shaft is driven through a gearbox mounted on the rigid frame proximal to the container.
8. The release arrangement of claim 5, wherein the gearbox is connected to a second shaft, the second shaft coupled to the transmission of the vehicle.
9. The sugarcane planter of claim 1, wherein additionally the planter is provided with a sugarcane dispenser rotatably mounted vertically below the chute.
10. The sugarcane planter of claim 1, wherein the sugarcane dispenser is configured to receive at least one sugarcane from the chute and dispense it to the field upon rotation of the dispenser.
11. The sugarcane planter according to claim 1, wherein the planter is optionally provided with at least two wheels mounted on the frame for enabling movement of the planter.

Bangalore NARENDRA BHATTA HL
27 April 2015 (INTELLOCOPIA IP SERVICES)
AGENT FOR APPLICANT
,TagSPECI:A SUGARCANE PLANTER

FIELD OF INVENTION
The invention generally relates to the field of mechanical engineering and particularly to a mechanical arrangement for planting of sugarcane.

BACKGROUND
Sugarcane planting in tropical regions is predominantly performed either manually or by use of a mechanical device. The manual planting of sugarcane involves the steps of formation of ridges using tractor attached ridge maker or bullocks, laying of chopped sugarcanes and covering up of the sugarcanes. The manual planting is time consuming. Further, the manual planting involves increased labor requirement and high cost. One example of mechanical planting includes but is not limited to a chop type planter. The chop-type planter is a tractor attached Power Transmission Output (PTO) driven planter, which requires two laborers to be seated on the equipment with sugarcanes placed in a basket in front of them. The laborers are required to feed sugarcane into a chute containing plurality of rotating blades that chop the sugarcane based on the feeding rate of the operator. A ridger is provided at the front for opening soil before planting and a furrower is provided at the rear for covering soil after planting. The chop-type planter involves high initial investment. There are also devices available that are suitable for large scale tillable lands involving complex machinery, hence increasing the maintenance cost of the machinery. Therefore, the existing planting methods have disadvantages in terms of labor requirement, initial investment, operation cost, time consumption and efficiency.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
So that the manner in which the recited features of the invention can be understood in detail, some of the embodiments are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
FIG.1 shows a perspective view of a sugarcane planter, according to an embodiment of the invention.
FIG.2 shows a front view of the chute arrangement of the sugarcane planter, according to an embodiment of the invention.
FIG.3 shows a schematic representation of drive mechanism of the sugarcane planter, according to an embodiment of the invention.
FIG.4 shows a dispenser assembly of the sugarcane planter, according to an embodiment of the invention.
FIG.5 shows the mechanism of sugarcane flow through the chute, according to an embodiment of the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One aspect of the invention provides a sugarcane planter for planting sugarcanes in a field. The sugarcane planter comprises of a rigid frame having a first end and a second end, a ridger mounted at first end of the rigid frame, a furrower mounted at the second end of the rigid frame and a container configured for planting sugarcane mounted proximal to the second end.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Various embodiments of the invention provide a sugarcane planter for planting sugarcanes in a field. FIG.1 shows a perspective view of a sugarcane planter, according to an embodiment of the invention. The sugarcane planter includes a rigid frame 1 having a first end 1a and a second end 1b. The rigid frame 1 of the planter is provided with a linkage 2 for connecting to a vehicle for movement of the sugarcane planter. Examples of vehicle include but are not limited to a tractor and any other motor vehicle that is configured for movement through an agricultural land. The rigid frame 1 is optionally provided with at least two wheels (not shown) for enabling movement of the sugarcane planter. A ridger 3 is mounted at first end 1a of the rigid frame 1. The ridger 3 is configured to to create a ridge in the soil with variable depth for the sugarcane to be dropped. A furrower 4 is mounted at the second end 1b of the rigid frame 1. The furrower 4 is configured to cover up the soil over the dropped sugarcane. A container 5, for planting sugarcane is mounted proximal to the second end 1b of the sugarcane planter. The container 5 includes a top region 5a formed for loading of sugarcanes. A bottom region 5b has at least one chute 6 formed. The chute 6 is configured for channelizing the sugarcanes loaded in the container 5a onto the field. The width of the chute 6 is equal to the width of the sugarcane loaded.
Additionally, the chute 6 includes a release arrangement. The release arrangement regulates the sugarcane flow through the chute 6. The release arrangement includes a sheet of metal 7, hinge mounted on the chutes 6, formed to have a profile identical to the chutes 6. The release arrangement also includes at least one cam 8 mounted on a shaft 8a. The plurality of cam 8 is mounted abutting the sheet of metal 7. The cam 8 is configured for movement of the sheet metal 7 between an open position and a close position. The movement of the sheet metal 7 is periodic. The shaft 8a is driven through a gearbox 9 mounted on the rigid frame 1 proximal to the container 5. The gearbox 9 is driven by a second shaft 10. The second shaft 10 derives power from the power transmission of the vehicle. A sugarcane dispenser 11 is rotatably mounted vertically below the chute 6. The sugarcane dispenser 11 is configured to receive at least one sugarcane from the chute 6 and dispense it to the field upon rotation of the sugarcane dispenser 11.
FIG.2 shows a front view of the chute arrangement of the sugarcane planter, according to an embodiment of the invention.
The figure shows the assembly of the cam 8 and the sugarcane dispenser 11. The cam 8 is configured for causing movement of the sheet of metal 7. The movement of the sheet of metal 7 regulates the flow of sugarcane by channelizing the flow. The shaft 8a is driven through the gearbox 9. The gearbox 9 includes a plurality of gears (Not Shown) for rotating the shaft 8a. The gearbox 9 is connected to the second shaft 10, which is coupled to the power transmission of the vehicle.
FIG.3 shows a schematic representation of the drive mechanism of the sugarcane planter, according to an embodiment of the invention. The figure shows the drive mechanism of the cam 8, the gearbox 9 and the sugarcane dispenser 11. The gearbox 9 contains a plurality of gears for driving the shaft 8a of the cam 8. The gears are connected to the cam shaft 8a using a chain and sprocket arrangement 12. The sprockets on the cam shaft 8a are then used to drive the sugarcane dispenser 11. The sugarcane dispenser 11 is connected to the cam 8 using a chain and sprocket arrangement 13. The chain and sprocket arrangement 13 is also provided with a tensioner 14.
FIG.4 shows a dispenser assembly of the sugarcane planter, according to an embodiment of the invention. The dispenser assembly includes the sugarcane dispenser 11 rotatably mounted on the dispenser shaft 11a. The sugarcane dispenser 11 is configured to receive at least one sugarcane and dispense it to the field upon rotation of the sugarcane dispenser 11. The sugarcane dispenser 11 is constructed using two metal plates that are bound together with spacers 15, which are riveted and mounted on a hub 16 with a dowel pin. The dowel pin ensures that both sugarcane dispensers 11 are in alignment with each other. The shaft 11a is also provided with a key slot 17 for locking the sprocket (Not shown).
FIG.5 shows the mechanism of sugarcane flow through the chute, according to an embodiment of the invention. The rotation of the cam 8 and the sugarcane dispenser 11 enable the flow and the drop of the sugarcane. The sugarcane dispenser 11 is provided with a pair of grooves 11b and 11c. FIG.5a shows the mechanism of sugarcane flow when the cam 8 is in closed position. The sheet of metal 7 rests on the cam 8 at the point of contact. When the cam 8 is in closed position, the sheet of metal 7 closes the chute 6 to block the flow of sugarcane. FIG.5b shows the mechanism of sugarcane flow when the cam 8 is in open position. When the cam 8 is in open position, the sheet of metal 7 opens the chute 6 to allow the flow of sugarcanes. At open position, the grooves 11b and 11c of the sugarcane dispenser 11 are oriented to receive single sugarcane for subsequent release.
The invention provides a sugarcane planter that is capable of planting sugarcanes onto a field. One significant advantage of the planter, as discussed herein above, is the regulatory function of the chute that adopts a purely mechanical arrangement to channelize the canes and plant them at predetermined intervals. The maintenance of the planter, as described herein, is easier since the planter contains less moveable parts.
The foregoing description of the invention has been set merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to person skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.