FR2480064A1 - SEMEN DISPENSING APPARATUS - Google Patents

Abstract

SEED DISPENSER APPARATUS, INCLUDING A CAGE 10, AN INPUT FOR THE SEED IN THE CAGE 10 TO FEED A SEED BOX 16, A MOBILE GRAIN SELECTOR DEVICE IN ROTATION IN THE CAGE 10, A SPOON SUITABLE TO RETAIN A GRAIN, AND A GRAIN RETAINING BRUSHES 22. THE RETAINING BRUSH DEVICE 22 IS DESIGNED WITH A SERIES OF SLOTS 44, 46, ETC. ARRANGED AT CERTAIN INTERVALS ALONG THE PATH THROUGH THE SPOON AND WHICH ARE OPENED TOWARDS THE SEED BOX 16, THESE SLOTS ALLOWING THE GRAIN, HOUSED IN THE BRUSH DEVICE 22 OUTSIDE THE SPOONS, TO ESCAPE. THIS ARRANGEMENT ALLOWS TO REMOVE FROM THE RETAINING BRUSH DEVICE 22 THE GRAINS THAT ARE ATTACHED TO IT, SO THAT THEY DO NOT ENTER THE OUTPUT 20 OF THE APPLIANCE.

Description

The subject of the present invention is seed dispensing apparatus

  and more particularly precision dispensing apparatuses for use in line seed drills, where the seed is deposited in grooves dug in the soil at regular intervals,

well defined.

  British Patent No. 1,450,677 discloses a seed dispensing apparatus comprising a cage which serves as a seed box, a selector member of the seed rotatably mounted in the cage, a seed spoon on the selector member intended to to cross the seed box and take a seed seed; a seed outlet is provided in the cage to receive the spoon grains and a seed brush device is mounted in the cage on the spoon path to help retain the seed grain

in the spoon.

  the mechanism described in this prior British patent is simple and works effectively. The purpose of this patent application is to improve its performance with regard to the total or

  the so-called "double", ie the distribution of

bution of two grains at a time.

  In seed dispensing machines of the

  type disclosed in British Patent Specification 1,450,677, which includes

  a holding brush device to help hold the seed in the spoon, sometimes

  during operation, seed of

  The viduals are housed in the retaining brush device, quite independently of the grains that are carried in the spoon through the retaining brush device during rotation of the spoon. The grains thus fixed in the brush device are moved little by little through the latter by the successive passages of the spoon, and finally each of these grains can reach the end of the brush device and fall into the output provided for the seed. and thus be deposited in the ground and thus form "a double". It has been proposed to solve this problem to provide fixed channels in the cage, between which the spoon moves and which serve to capture these fixed grains and to

  bring them back to the seed box.

  However, it has been found that these channels do not perform their function perfectly and that it would be necessary for other organs to remove the attached grains before they pass into the grain outlet - especially in cases where the brush device restraint starts close to the

seed box.

  The object of the present invention is to provide means for removing from the retaining brush device the grains which have attached thereto as described above, so that these grains do not enter

  in the outlet of the seed distributor.

  According to the invention, there is provided a seed dispensing apparatus comprising - a cage; - an entry for the seed in the cage to feed a seed box provided in the cage; - A grain selector device rotatably mounted in the cage; - A spoon able to retain a grain, without tightening, mounted on the periphery of the grain selector, so that it passes through the seed box during the rotation of the selector, the spoon being oriented in the direction of the rotation of the selector, so as to take a grain during its passage through the seed box; an outlet for the grain formed in the cage, intended to receive the grains of the spoon; and - a grain-retaining brush device, mounted in the cage, on the spoon path, between the seed box and the grain outlet, to help retain the grain in the spoon, including the brush device; restraint is

  designed with a series of slots arranged at some inter-

  valles along the path traveled by the spoon and which are open towards the seed box, these slots allowing the grains, housed in the device to

  brushes out of the spoons, to escape.

  The invention presents, among other things, the characteristics

  following preferential characteristics. First, at least three of these gaps should be provided in the retaining brush device. Secondly, the gaps between the interstices are preferably smaller (therefore shorter) in the area of the brush device in the vicinity of the seed box and they grow in the region of the device to

  brushes to the exit of the grain. The width of each interspace

  in the brush device, measured in the circumferential direction, must be large enough to allow the grains not in the spoon to fall back into the seed box, while the grains contained in

the spoon remain captive.

  The seed-holding brush device itself may comprise axially opposed brushes (for example, brushes attached to opposite sides of a sector-divided cage), the interstices in the one and the other of the brushes. opposite being in alignment. Alternatively, the interstices in the axially opposed brushes can not be aligned. In addition, the retaining brush device for the grains may also have radially opposed brushes with the appropriate interstices. the retaining brush device for the grains is further characterized in that it extends from the seed box to the exit of the grain over more than 1800 of the path traveled by the spoon during each revolution of the latter. Preferably, the brush device extends over the path described by the spoon.

  rotation at least from the corresponding point

  laying at the position of the clockwise at 10 o'clock

  to the 4 o'clock position, in axial view, with the

  distributor valve in working position. The exit orifice for the grain, formed in the cage, is preferably located under the seed box, the grains being retained in the box by means of a brush device of the seed box, which is similar to the device with brushes

retention of the seed.

  The seed dispensing apparatus may be mounted in a precision seed drill comprising a ground wheel control of the seed selector mechanism, the transmission ratio of the control to this mechanism being such that the speed of the spoon in its passage before the exit of the grain, at a position close to the lowest point of the spoon path or at this point, is equal to the speed of rotation of the seed drill, the direction of rotation of the spoon being opposite to the advance movement of the seeder during work, so that the

  The speed of the grain falling from the floor spoon is approxi-

  equal to zero in relation to the latter.

  Below is an embodiment of the

  This invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, the single figure of which is a side view of one of the halves of the cage of a dispensing apparatus.

seed according to the invention.

  A cage 10, as shown in the drawing, is part of a seed dispensing apparatus, indicated as a whole by the arrow 12, and the seed dispensing apparatus itself is part of the group of mechanisms provided for each line. a precision planter in lines

  several lines to sow seed of the type of beet

sugar raves or maize.

  the seed drill (not shown in the drawing) comprises a drawbar with a cross member, with which it is coupled to the coupling device of an agricultural tractor. A number of planned mechanisms groups

  for each of the lines are arranged on the drawbar.

  Each group includes a grain distributing apparatus, which is driven by a rolling wheel on the ground - for example a compacting wheel at the rear of the group of mechanisms, or by one or more tire wheels, connected to a wheel.

  common control shaft for all groups of lines.

  Each line group comprises a seed hopper which communicates through a conduit with the cage 10 of

  seed dispensing apparatus 12. Under the dispensing apparatus

  tributor is a coultre (groove opening organ), to which the grains distributed by the apparatus 12 pass to the

  as the seed drill advances on the field to be sown.

  As for the constructive details of the dispensing devices 12 of the type shown in the drawing, each of them comprises the cage 10, an inlet mouth 14 for the grains formed in the cage, a seed box 16 in the cage, a selector member grains and a spoon or more (not shown in the drawing), a grain outlet 20 in the cage and a brush device of

  retainer 22 of the grain, mounted therein.

  With regard to the design and

  tion of the main elements of the grain dispensing apparatus, its cage 10 is composed, as mentioned above, of two parts. The drawing shows half of the cage; the other half is presented as its image in a mirror and the two halves fit together in a manner similar to that shown in Figure 2 of British Patent 1 450 677. The cage is made of aluminum molded with eye mounting brackets 24. Each cage half presents

  a peripheral flange 26 which cooperates with the flange corres-

  of the other half and the two halves form

  together a hollow structure in the shape of a box.

  The inlet mouth 14 for the seed has the shape of a square opening, made in the cage 10 and communicates with a seed supply duct (not shown in the drawing) coming from the hopper of the mechanism group. line, which serves to bring the seed into the seed box. The grain flow rate of the hopper is determined more or less by self-tuning,

  to maintain a seed level in the seed box

  constantly constant of semen. If necessary, a throttling device may be provided at the inlet 14 to reduce

the flow to the seed box.

  The seed box consists of a portion of the cage 10 in the region of the inlet 14. The bottom of the box is formed by a brush device 28 of a shape similar to the grain-retaining brush device 22. and which serves to maintain the seeds in the seed box

  above the exit of the grain 20 at the bottom of the cage 10.

  The brush device 28 of the seed bundle comprises two fixed brushes on both sides of the cage, the bristles of which meet at the center of the cage and serve to retain the seeds in the box, while allowing the

  spoons of the grain selector in

the brush device 28.

  The spoons each of which is capable of retaining, without tightening, a grain and which are mounted around the grain selector, so as to pass through the seed box 16 during the rotation of the selector, are designed and arranged also as shown in the patent

  English 1 450 677. Each spoon is turned in the direc-

  R rotation of the grain selector, so as to collect a grain through the seed box. The spoons are formed and sized according to the seed to be dispensed and they can be quickly exchanged if desired to use the dispensing apparatus.

for a different type of seed.

  The outlet 20 for the grains has the shape of an opening 32 provided at the bottom of the cage 10 and which extends over a distance whose boundaries are marked

  in the drawing by reference numerals 34 and 36. The

  verture 32 is disposed above the opening member of the furrows or coulter (not shown in the drawing) of the line group, so that the distributed grains must only cross a small distance to fall into

the furrow dug in the ground.

  The grain-retaining brush device 22, which is essentially the object of the present invention,

  is mounted in the cage 10 on the path of the spoons

  on the grain selector. Thus, the brush device 22 extends in an arc from its inlet end 38 which is situated slightly above a horizontal line 40 crossing the axis of rotation 30 of the grain selector (c that is, from a point corresponding to the axis 30 at the 9 o'clock position) to the discharge end 42 located at a point approximately corresponding to the hours position, so a significantly longer angular distance

great than 1800.

  The grain retaining brush device 22 comprises two substantially equal brush elements attached

  opposite sides of the cage 10 and whose hairs are

  lightly in the center of the cage. These brushes contribute to retain the isolated grains in the spoons during the passage of the latter from the seed box 16 to the discharge outlet of the grains 20. Surplus grains, collected by any of the spoons, are effectively rejected by the brush device 22, and then the grain isolated in each spoon is retained therein and prevented from radially outwardly escaping under the action of centrifugal forces by the retaining action of the brush device 22 At the discharge end of this device, the end of the retaining effect exerted by the brushes on each of the spoons results in the grain it

  contained is immediately unloaded through aperture 32.

  As is clearly seen in the drawing, the brush device 22 has a plurality of interstices 44, 46, 48, 50, 52 and 54, spaced at intervals along the path traveled by the spoon between the seed box 16 and its outlet. discharge 20; these gaps open towards the seed box and thus allow to escape the grains taken in the brush device outside the spoons As the drawing shows, six interstices are provided in the device for brushes retaining grains 22 A lower number may be permissible, but preferably at least three are provided. The intervals measured peripherally between one gap and the other are smaller (i.e. the distance between the gaps is less) in the area of the brush device near the seed box 16 and it goes into growing towards the exit of the grain 20. It is easily understood that the number of grains that are fixed in the brush device 22 will be substantially larger in the area of the box.

  seed 16 only in the area of grain exit 20.

  As for the width of each interstice 44, 46 ...

  etc., measured in the peripheral direction, it must be sufficient to allow the grains which had fixed (so other than those contained in the spoons) to fall back into the boot seed 16 while those contained in the spoons are retained. This depends in some measure on the rotation speed of the grain selector and the diameter of the latter, and also on the size of the grain distributed, etc. However, it seems that the proportions

  interstices shown on the drawing constitute a compromise

put acceptable between these factors.

  In this context, it should be noted that the transmission of the ground wheel of the seed drill to the grain selector should have the ratio necessary for the peripheral speed of the member acting grain selector, and therefore of the speed of the spoons, approximately equal to the rolling speed of the drill, so that the ground speed of each

  spoon in the area of grain exit 20 be appro-

  approximately zero. This is how the rotation speed of the

  grain selector allowed to calculate an acceptable gap

  between the successive segments of the brush device 22 is preferably equal to the rolling speed of the

  seeder on the ground. Obviously, the interstices 44, 46 etc ...

  are all the more apt to reduce the grains fixed in the

  seed box, that they are wider. However, the

  that grains contained in the spoons are lost also increases with the width of the interstices. But this last factor depends to some extent on the shape and depth of the spoon used for

  seed considered in each case.

  Another feature of the brush device in this embodiment is that the fifth segment 58 of the brush device 22 has a radially inwardly extending extension 56, which is provided to rid the grain selector arm of any grain that could be attached to it. The corresponding extension 56 of the brush of the other half of the cage is peripherally slightly offset from that shown in the drawing, so that these two brush extensions act one after the other on each arm of the

grain selector.

  Furthermore, an agitator mechanism 60 is provided for the seed box 16; this mechanism comprises an agitator member 62 which pivots about an axis 64 under the control of an actuating arm 66 and to which an eccentric (not shown in the drawing), rotating about the axis 30 with the seed selector , the oscillating member 62 has a contact surface 68 with the grain, of cylindrical shape, which serves to seal an opening 70, provided in a corner of the cage, while leaving small slits around the edges of the surface 68 for the escape of foreign matter,

  dust, etc ... These slots are too small. for the escape

  grain. Provisions are made for the adjustment

  the size of these slots to optimize the cleaning effect on the seed of any size

  given, while retaining all the grains.

  During operation, the seed flows from the hopper of the line mechanism group to the seed box 16, so that the seed contained in the box reaches a level corresponding to approximately line 40. The seed selector rotates in the seed box. the direction R under the control of the wheel bearing on the ground, so that the spoons cross, at a speed approximately

  equal to the speed of rotation of the drill, the seed contains

  In each spoon collects a grain, the excess grains are quickly rejected by the brush device 22 and then this device holds the grains in the spoons against the sponges 22. centrifugal forces. When the spoons reach the end 42 of the brush device 22, the grains come out of the spoons and pass through the outlet 20 to fall a few centimeters more

  down in the furrow dug in the ground by the mech-

  line. The net speed of grains compared

  on the ground is close to zero and therefore they do not bounce

not feel.

  All the grains which have lodged themselves in the

  22 retainer brushes are pushed little by little by the spoons in the direction of the rotation of the needles

  of a watch, as shown in the drawing (arrow R) and

  Firstly, the interstice 44. At this gap, these initially fixed grains tend to roll towards the seed box 16 under the effect of vibrations caused in the dispensing apparatus during the operation of the seed drill. The fixed grains that manage to overcome the gap 44, fall back into

  the seed box at interstices 46, 48, etc. The probability

  that a grain so housed reaches the end 42 of the

  brush device 22 is very small.

  Many modifications can be made

  Details of the interstices of the retaining brush device 22 of the embodiment described above, without exceeding the scope of the invention. The precise number of interstices is not critical. In principle the largest number is preferable. Similarly, the most effective position

  for interstices is the area corresponding to the posi-

  12 hours clockwise, relative to the axis 30, so that the grains initially fixed

  can fall vertically into the seed box 16.

  the maximum permissible width for each interstice of the brush device depends, as mentioned above, on the grains to be dispensed, the shape of the spoons used for these

grains and other factors.

REVE1NDICATIONS

  1 - A seed dispensing apparatus, comprising: - a cage (10), an entrance for the seed in the cage (10) for feeding a seed box (16) provided in the cage (10), - a selector device of grain rotatably mounted in the cage (10), - a spoon adapted to retain a grain, without tightening, mounted on the periphery of the grain selector, such that it passes through the seed box (16) during rotation of the selector, the spoon being oriented in the direction of rotation of the selector, so as to take a grain during its passage through the seed box, - an outlet (20) for the grain formed in the cage (10). ), for receiving the grains of the spoon, and - a device for retaining brushes (22) of the grain, mounted in the cage (10) on the path of the spoon, between the seed box (16) and the outlet grain (20),

  to help retain the grain in the spoon,

  characterized in that the hold-down brush device (22) is designed with a series of slots (44, 46, etc.) arranged at intervals along the path traveled by the spoon and which are open in the direction of the seed box (16), these slots allowing the grains, housed in the brush device (22) out of the spoons,

to escape.

  2 - A seed dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that at least three slots are provided in the retaining brush device

grains (22).

  3 - A seed dispensing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the gaps between the interstices are smaller in the area of the brush device (22) near the seed box (16) than in the region of the device with brushes (22) close to the exit of the grain (20), the width of each interstice

  (44, 46 ..... etc ...) in the brush device (22), -

  measured in the circumferential direction, to be large enough to allow seeds that are not in the spoon to fall back into the seed boot (16), while

  that the grains contained in the spoon remain captive.

  4 - A seed dispenser according to

  any one of the preceding claims, characterized

  in that the grain-holding brush device (22)

  includes axially opposed brushes.

  - A seed dispensing apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the interstices

  aligned in each of the opposite brushes constitutes

  kill said slots in the retaining brush device.

naked (22) grains.

  6 - A seed dispensing apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the interstices (44, 46, .... etc ..) formed in the opposite brushes do not

are not in axial alignment.

  7 - A seed dispenser according to

  any one of the preceding claims, characterized

  in that the grain-holding brush device (22) extends from the seed box (16) to the grain outlet (20) over more than 1800 of the distance traveled

  by the spoon during each revolution of the latter.

  8 - A seed dispensing apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the brush device (22) extends at least on the path described by the

  spoon in a distance from the point cor-

  responding to the clockwise position at hours to the 4 o'clock position, in axial view,

  with the dispensing apparatus (12) in the working position.

  9 - Seed dispenser according to

  any one of the preceding claims, characterized

  in that the exit orifice for the grain (20) formed in the cage (10) is located under the seed box (16), the grains being retained in the box by means of a device

  with brushes (28) of the seed box (16).

  -Spring comprising a dispenser

  according to any one of the preceding claims,

  characterized in that it comprises a ground wheel control of the grain selector mechanism, the transmission ratio of the control to this mechanism being such that the speed of the spoon at its passage in front of the exit of the grain (20) in a position close to or at the same point as the lowest point of the spoon path is equal to the speed of rotation of the seed drill, the direction of rotation of the spoon being opposite to the advance movement of the seed drill during work , so that the speed of the grain falling from the floor spoon is approximately equal to zero

relative to the latter.