How does a planter work?
concretemachine > 10-12-2022, 06:41 AM
Do you wonder how a planter works? Think about how you plant your garden. You dig a hole, plant the seed, and then cover it up. The same concept applies to a planter.
For each row on a planter, you find a seed box. This box stores the seeds that will be planted in that particular row. The seed falls down through the bottom of the box, into a seed plate. As the plate rotates, the seeds fall out one-by-one on to the ground.
Planting3a.jpgView full sizeGet to know the parts of a planter
At the front of the individual row setup is a trash wheel. These two jagged edge blades help clean out any debris in the row of where the seed will be planted.
The next element is the disc opener. These two disc blades, smooth edges for this set, dig a trench for the seed to be planted in. This is the same step you take when you use a hoe in your garden.
Next in line is the gauge wheel. This wheel rotates the seed plate and releases a new seed a certain distance from the last seed. As the seed falls, it passes a sensor. From the tractor seat, the farmer can tell how many seeds are being planted, how far apart they are being planted, and that all rows are working properly.
The last step in any planting process, either by hand or by machine, is to cover the seed up. There are two wheels at the back of the row, called closing wheels. They are pointed in to one another and their whole object is to simply cover up the seed.
It sure is nice to use a planter to help us plant our crops. As you plant your garden this summer, think about each step and how that is automated in our planting equipment.