GB1579179A - Seed planting machines - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN SEED PLANTING MACHINES (71) We, LOGAN FARM EQUIP MENT CO. INC., a corporation organised under the laws of the State of Idaho, United States of America, of 209 South La Salle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60604, United States of America, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to machines for planting seeds, typically seed potatoes and the like, which are capable of planting up to eight or more rows or furrows simultaneously. More particularly, the invention relates to machines which may be selfpowered, although more commonly, are adapted to be drawn over the ground by a tractor or draft vehicle, wherein seeds disposed in a seed containing receptacle, are picked up in cups or buckets which are moving on one or more endless conveyors.

The cups or buckets are conveyed through a seed hopper, which may be separate from, integrated with, or otherwise attached to the receptacle. and thereafter to a furrow or drill opened by a furrow forming or drilling device, such as a plow share. on shoes also attached to the planter. Such machines are also usually provided with means, such as hilling discs or the like, to form the hills over the planted seed.

In seed planting machinery in the agricultural arts. several patents have issued illustrating the attempts of prior artisans to provide for automatic planting of seeds, in particular potato and other like seeds, e.g.. sugar beets. wherein the seed or set is deposited in single files in two or more parallel crop rows at a time and at prescribed depths.

United States Patent 1.974.757, (Slaten) discloses a potato seed planter adapted to be drawn over the ground as by a draft vehicle.

A plow attached to the planter opens a furrow into which seeds are dropped after being conveyed on a bucket elevator from a hopper. The seed conveyor, or elevator, is disposed in the hopper and is provided with a housing which is closed to the hopper except in one section where an opening permits seeds to be received in the buckets as they pass upwardly on the elevator through the opening. A pair of upper and lower spaced apart sprockets are also contained in the housing and a conveyor chain is drivingly engaged thereon which contains the buckets. The housing also extends below the hopper and seeds which are received in the buckets are carried upwardly thereby over the upper sprocket and discharged onto the bottom of the preceding bucket on the chain. The seeds continue downwardly on the bottom of the cups in the housing to be discharged at the bottom of the planter through an opening in the housing into the furrow through the inside of the plow. A hilling disc on the planter follows along and closes the furrow and the seed is planted.

Slaten expresses a preference for the elevator to be made double. i.e., "two sprockets being cast on a single hub for both head and tail ends" A dividing wall separates the elevator housing into two compartments. From this it must be assumed that the compartments. or at least a wall thereof, are required to help support the seed on the cup bottoms since these are arcuately formed, otherwise there is no way for the seeds to be maintained in that position on the bottom of the cups as they descend to the furrow. It is also quite apparent that the seeds are not deposited in the furrow under any sort of control nor is any provision made by Slaten for ensuring deposit in the center of the furrow. Therefore from this disclosure. there appears to be no doubt the seeds will roll around in the furrow and be bounced from side-to-side before coming to rest. Therefore precision in planting is unpredictable as is accuracy of spacing between seeds in the furrow.

U.S. Patent 2.385,74(). (Teagle) discloses a double row potato planter including a frame wherein potato seeds are conveyed on an endless chain in a basket-like cup or carrier thereon. The endless chain is driven on upper and lower sprockets off a drive wheel which is adapted to rotate when the planter is drawn over the ground by a draft vehicle. A pair of conveyors are mounted on the frame of the device and pick up seed from a single hopper, convey the seed upwardly to the top of the conveyor and over the upper sprocket where each seed is discharged from its basket and comes to rest on the bottom of the preceding basket. At the top of the conveyor and just before the seed is discharged to the preceding cup or carrier, the cups enter a fixed curved tube at the entrance of which is a knife blade which cuts any over sized potato seed which may hive been picked up from the hopper. The tube which is the upper end of a seed discharge tube extends to the bottom of the planter and the seed loaded baskets remain inside of the tube for their entire downward journey until discharged and planted in a furrow which is formed by a plow share also carried on the plantcr. The discharge tubes at the top are curved and fixedly mounted on the machine being non-adjustable with respect to the conveyor chain or sprockets and are continuous throughout their entire lengths.

'this device is capable of seeding and planting two rows or furrows simultaneously since furrow closing means as well as means for varying crop row spacings is also disclosed in this patent.

U.S. Patent 1.()34.()17 (Kitchen) exemplifies a very e'irlv form of potato planter which is adapted to be drawn over the ground by a drift animal vehicle while preparing a furrow for the planting of potato seeds conveyed thereto for planting from a hopper carried on the device. Seeds stored in a dull compartment hopper are conveyed in basket-like buckets on a pair of endless belt conveyors. one to each compartment to a position to be engaged by picker arm dropping mcchanisms. which operate on camming mechanism to pluck the seed from each basket altcrnatelv. and drop them into a common chute and into the furrow beneath the machine. The pickers. or dropping mechanisms. one to a conveyor. on opposite sides of the chute are timed to pluck seeds alternitely to produce proper spacing in the furrow.

The device disclosed in Kitchen is man- ifestly ;i niechanic;il complicition and disadvantageously uneconomicil to operate.

The camming mechanism disclosed and required to insure that the cooperating picker arms of the dropping devices as well as the need for precise timing of the conveyors so that the seeds arrive in proper sequence to be plucked from their baskets, in effect amounts to a tuning up of the device to insure proper planting. In addition, because of the relatively great height from which the seed is dropped into the chute, a great deal of seed rolling and bouncing, not to mention seed damage, in the furrow is almost certain to occur which would be severely limiting if it is attempted to operate the machine at any significant speed. Also, the great dropping distances would almost surely interfere with, if not prevent, accurate placement of the seed in the furrow.

Other patents which disclose potato plan tcrs and various aspects thereof are U.S. patents 2,638,246, 2,341,352, 3,690,511, 3,020,860, 3,570,424 and its reissue Re 28,207, 3,683,829, 2,708,397, and 3,322,438, all of which patents describe various types of machine and are examples of the many different approaches taken by the many artisans and workers in the art over the years who have labored long and hard to bring forth greater efficiencies to the agricultural sciences through improved machines, tools and methods for seed planting. In the particular art of seed potato planting. significant reduction in planting time is much sought after because in many areas which are well suited to potato planting and which are of vast size extending to thousands of acres. the planting season is extremely short, hence performing high speed planting operations is of paramount importance.

From one aspect. the present invention consists in a machine for planting seeds, comprising at least one endless seed conveyor movable about upper and lower supporting means and including at least one row of seed cups. at least one seed receptacle for supplying seeds to the cups as they move upwardly through the receptacle, and guide means associated with the row(s) of cups for guiding seeds carried by the cups, as they move downwardly. and terminating in a discharge location adjacent the bottom of the machine. each of the cups having an open top into which a seed is loaded when the cup travels upwardly through the associated seed receptacle. and a bottom surface inclined transversely with respect to the direction of movement of the machine, whereby each loaded cup. upon travelling around the upper supporting means, re vcrses its direction of motion. is inverted and deposits its seed onto the bottom inclined surface of the immcdiatcly preceding inverted cup, upon which the seed descends to the discharge location. whereat the inclined bottom surface is disposed transversely with respect to the direction of movement of the machine for discharging the seed into a planting furrow beneath the machine.

With this invention seeds, such as, seed potatoes may be delivered to pre-drilled furrows, on the seed conveyor(s) and from the seed receptacle(s) of the machine. In particular, the seeds are received in the seed cups or buckets on the conveyor(s) and are thereafter deposited for planting in the furrow(s) which may be formed or drilled by suitable tools carried on the machine.

The furrow(s) may be closed after deposit by suitable hilling discs and the like also carried on the machine. The above operations are all automatically performed while the planting machine travels over the ground.

Preferably. the or each conveyor comprises two rows of seed cups and the cups in one row are disposed in a fixed staggered relation with respect to the cups in the other row, whereby the seeds supported by the bottom surfaces of the cups in each row are planted one by one in the furrow and alternately with the seeds supported by the cups in the other row. In one embodiment. the transversely inclined bottom surfaces of the seed cups in the two rows are arranged to converge. whereby the bottom surfaces of the cups discharge the seeds supported thereby into the furrow in a substantially straight line. In another embodiment. the transversely inclined bottom surfaces of the seed cups in the two rows are arranged to diverge, whereby the bottom surfaces of the cups discharge the seeds supported thereby into the furrow in two lines adjacent opposite sides of the furrow.

Conveniently. the or each seed receptacle is size adjustable to permit adjustment of the machine in accordance with prespecified crop row spacing or distances.

The or each row of seed cups may be arranged to enter an adjustable curved tube as it moves about the upper supporting means. This tube is so mounted on the machine as to provide a control over the motion of the seeds as they are conveyed by the cups along the inside wall of the tube whereby a smooth transition of seed passage is obtained when it leaves one cup and is pitched or dumped forwardly onto the bottom of a preceding cup as the cups move around the upper supporting means. thereby ensuring against damage to the seeds.

In a machine including a plurality of seed receptacles. the receptacles may be mounted on flexible frames which are supported on a drive or bull wheel. so that. when operating on ground of uneven contour. constant seed planting depth in the crop rows or furrows is maintained. The machine may include a wheeled frame upon which is mounted, for independent movement relative thereto, one or more of the flexible frames or subframes, the wheeled frame being adapted to be drawn over the ground by a draft vehicle, and means for lifting the frames and associated planting means above the ground on the wheeled frame.

This invention permits the construction of seed planting machines comprising multiple rows of side-by-side staggered seed cups movable in parallel rows on one or more endless seed conveyors for planting several parallel rows of seeds simultaneously at greatly increased speeds, up to double the speeds of existing machines, while yet maintaining relatively lower cup speeds. The above may be accomplished through the instrumentality of a seed conveyor comprising a plurality of rows, in a preferred embodiment. dual rows, of seed cups which are mounted either on separate conveyor chains or belts or on a single conveyor chain or belt, and which are arranged in staggered relation with respect to each other cup in an adjacent row, the chains or belts being driven on sprockets rotatably mounted on a common shaft. The above described arrangement of components, parts and stag geared cups in the respective adjacent rows, provides agitation of the seeds in the hopper(s) of the seed receptacle and seed bridging does not occur. It can therefore be seen that. as this arrangement prevents seed bridging. the need for additional mechanical agitators and like mechanisms is eliminated.

A shaker assembly or mechanism, over which the conveyor chains or belts move, may be associated with the conveyor(s) whereby the seed cups are vibrated to eliminate excess seeds which may have been picked up in the receptacle(s). Moreover, the planting machines according to the invention may be readily constructed with one or more size-adjustable receptacles on which the seed conveyors and associated planting elements are mounted so that crop rows of various spacing between furrows can be accommodated and adjusted to quickly and simply, even when loaded with seed.

This feature of the invention is advantageous because. for example. in the various potato growing areas of the U.S. and indeed. throughout the world. furrow spacings may varv from thirtv-two inches apart up to thirty-eight inches or more apart.

Hence machines according to the present invention for simultaneously sowine a plu- ralitv of parallel crop rows. or furrows may be constructed so as to be adjustable to the different crop row spavins encountered in different planting area.

The seed cups utilized in the present invention are shaped to promote accurate seed placement of seeds in the planting furrow(s) and, from another aspect, the invention consists in a seed cup for a vertically disposed seed conveyor of a seed planting machine in which a seed is loaded into an open top of the cup as it travels upwardly and a seed deposited from an immediately succeeding cup is supported on the bottom surface of the cup as it descends to a discharge position adjacent the bottom of the machine, wherein the open top and bottom surface are disposed adjacent opposite ends of an axis of the cup. said bottom surface icing inclined with respect to said axis. and nicans is provided for securing the cup Ii to the seed conveyor with its bottom surface inclined transversely with respect to the direction of movement of the seed planting machine.

In order that the present invention may be more readily understood. reference will now he made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a seed planting machine constructed according to the invention. some parts being broken away. and shown in a position for planting when towed; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the underside of the machine; Figure 3 is a plan view of the size adjustable, seed carrying receptacle and hopper sections of the machine, some parts being omitted for clarity; Figure 4 is a front elevation of the maeliiiie shown in Figure 1 . some parts being broken away; Figure 5 is a plan view of the machine with the receptacles mounted thereon, some parts being omitted to show the relationship of the various frame parts and support members; Figure 6 is front elevational view of the frame work of Figure 5, parts being broken away; Figure 7 is a section of the frame taken on line 7-7 of Figure 5; Figure 8 is a front elevational section of a seed or set carrying cup or bucket and a portion of the endless chain or belt on which it is conveyed showing the inclined surface of the cup or bucket as it appears when movilig downwardly in a discharge tube of the invention; Figure 7) is a bottom plait view of the cup or bucket of Figure S: Figure 10 is an end elevation of the cup or bucket of Figure 8: Figure 11 is a side elevation, partially sectioned, of the top portion of the machine showing a form of conveyor shaker assembly mechanism, the conveyor chain or belt and some of the cups or buckets as they move around an adjustable upper or return sprocket. enter an adjustable curved tube of the machine and pitch or dump seeds onto the inclined bottom surface of the preceding cup; Figure 12 is an end elevation, partially sectioned and with parts broken away, or a preferred dual row conveyor chain or belt conveyor system of Figure 11, illustrating some of the cups loaded with seed moving upwardly from the seed hopper and entering the curved or contour tube of the machine, further illustrating the side-by-side, staggered relationship of the cups and the inclined surfaces thereof and their converging relation on said conveyor chain or belt; Figure 13 is a plan view of a vertical discharge tube of the machine illustrating an alternate means for controlling the direction of discharge of the seed or set to deposit the same in the center of a furrow; Figure 14 is a view along the line 14-14 of Figure 13; and, Figure 15 is a elevation view of the vertical discharge tube of the machine shown in Figures 13 and 14.

Proceeding now to a detailed description of the invention. reference may be had to Figure 1. wherein a seed. in particular a seed potato. planting machine or planter 1(1 is shown in operation planting seeds. Planter 10 comprises a drive wheel 18 adjustably linked to a flexible frame 27 on a main frame 26 (see also Figures 5 and 6). by means of a swivel support arm 48 and an adjusting crank or turnbuckle 20. A drive sprocket 28 is mounted for rotation with drive wheel 18 on a drive wheel axle 44 thereof. on which drive wheel 18 is also rotatably supported. Sprocket 28 is drivingly connected. either directly (Figure 1). or through a second sprocket and appropriate idler pulleys and the like (Figure 2). by the drive chains or belts 34 to a seed conveyance (shown herein as a cup or bucket) conveyor sprocket 3() on a housing 32-a (see Figures 2 and 4). the latter being an extension of a hopper section 11 of a receptacle 12 and to which a plow share 17 on a planting drill or shoe 15 is also connected. Sprocket 3fJ is rotatably mounted on a shaft 30-a journaled in the side walls of housing 32-a and carries. also rotatably thereon. a multiple chain or belt sprocket 5(1 in housing 32-a. For present purposes of description multiple sprocket system 5.) is preferably a dual sprocket on shaft 30-a and drivingly engaged thereon is a pair of chains or belts 13 (see Figures 2. 4. and 12). A plurality of spaced seed con vevances shown as cups or huckets 14 are secured or otherwise attached to each chain or belt 13 and arranged in parallel rows. each cup in one row being staggered with respect to a cup in an adjacent row (best shown in Figure 121. It should be readily apparent that (or purposes of illustration only of the inventive concept herein, the terms "pair", "two", or "dual" rows are most often applied. However, these terms have been selected strictly for such descriptive and exemplification purposes only; hence they should not be construed as limiting the concept thereto. For example, it is self evident that any number of moving cup rows, each cup in one row being mounted in staggered relation with respect to a cup in an adjacent row, all rows moving in concert, is contemplated and considered within the scope hereof. In addition, the concept of two or more substantially parallel rows mounted on a single, wide chain or belt, whether driven by multiple sprockets on common shafts, or simuitaneously on separate shafts is also considered as within the skill of the present day artisan in carrying out and practicing the present invention.

Referring now to Figures 3 through 5, seed receptacle 12 has a pair of vertical side walls 41 and front and rear walls 43 and 45 connected thereto. Receptacle 12 is secured to flexible frame 27 on front and rear rails 53 and 57 thereof with releasable paired front and rear U-bolts, or clamps 64 (Figure 5), on rearwardly extending angle rail supports 56.

Front wall 43 and rear wall 45 each comprise fixed, upstanding wall portions or plates 47, 49 and 47-a, 49-a respectively (Figure 3), the tops of which are formed with inwardly projecting flanges 57-a defining tracks or slide passages 59 on their undersides, and receive, in sliding engagement therein, a pair of sliding plates 51.

Plates 51 are attached on one side by bolts 52 to respective fixed plates 47-a and 49-a and slide in tracks or slide passages 59 in fixed plates 47 and 49.

Receptacle 12 further comprises. on the bottom end thereof, a pair of hopper sections. or bins 11 connected to the bottom ends of side walls 41 and fixed front and rear wall plates 47, 4'). 47-a and 49-a and are connected together by a folding or hinged bottom floor 54. Bottom floor 54 comprises a pair of rearwardly extending floor plates 56 connected by a continuous. central hinge 58 and a pair of side or edge connecting hinges 60 which connect plates 56 to a respective one of hopper sections, or bins 11.

Floor 54 plates 56 connected bv central hinge 58 flexibly or foldably join plates 56 together and side hinges 6() flexibly connect floor 54 to hopper sections 11 along a rearwardly extending line on the tops of hoppers 11. Receptacle 12 carries on the front. outside surfaces of wall plates 47 and 47-a thereof the seed conveyor apparatus previously described. and by use of releas able U-bolts or clamps 64. sliding plates 51 and hinged floor 54, receptacle 12 can be adjusted in size on frame 27. To accomplish this clamps 64 are loosened, or released on rails 53 and 57 and one or both hopper sections 11 are moved sidewise relative to each other as hinged bottom floor 54 folds on hinge 58 and plates 56 on hinges 60, expanding or contracting receptacle 12.

Further as receptacle 12 is adjusted and expands or contracts, the planting mchanisms, including sprocket system 50, conveyor chains or belts 13, vertical discharge tubes 32, return sprockets 30-b and shoes 15, mounted on hopper sections 11 thereat move apart or closer together, respectively.

From this it can be seen that planter 10 can be easily and quickly adjusted for planting over a wid range of crop row spacings.

Referring now to Figures 5, 6 and 7, frame 26 is illustrated showing the means for mounting flexible frame 27 thereto. In addition a rearwardly extending hinged support frame 38 is also shown which is attached to a rear platform 42 of frame 26 by a pin hinge 42-a thereon and supported on one or more wheels 23.

Drive wheel 18 is supportably attached to frame 27 by means of swivel support arm 48 and height adjustment crank or turnbuckle 20 and rotatably engages the ground. When planter 10 is moved over the ground, as by a draft vehicle (not shown). drive wheel 18 rotates and powers sprocket system 50 (see also Figures 2 and 4) through drive sprocket 28 and drive chain 34.

Flexible frame 27 is hingedly connected on one side to frame 26 by front and rear support hinges 46 in trunnions 46-a on central, rearwardly extending platform 42 thereof, and by a roller 24 formed on an end of a front beam or rail 40 of frame 26 in an enclosure 22 fixed to front rail 53 of flexible frame 27. Enclosure 22 has an elongated, vertical interior passage 22-a (Figure 7) which engages roller 24 in movable relationship. It is therefore seen that when in use and planter 10 is operating on uneven terrain, frame 27 pivots or flexes about hinges 46 and enclosure 22 moves up and down over roller 24 (or vice versa). Furthermore. as above mentioned and illustrated in Figures 5 and 6. since the entire planting assembly or apparatus. including hopper sections 11 of receptacle 12. seed conveyors 13, plow 17 on shoe 15. vertical discharge tubes 32. shoes 15 and the remaining equipment is mounted on or otherwise attached to flexible frame 27. constant planting depth is achieved and maintained. Flexible frame 27 by its hinged or pivot connection 46 on one of its sides and roller 24 connection is independently movable with respect to both frame 26 and rear hinge support frame 38.

The last named support frame 3X is mounted and supported on one or more support wheels 23 on a swivel connector 25 and an axle 25-a and is attached to platform 42 by hinge connection 42-a. Hinge or rear support frame 38 also supports planter 10 when it is not engaged in planting operations and is to be moved to the planting site or between planting rows as at the end of a planting row and planter 10 is to be turned around for initiating a new plant row. A lifting device comprising a double acting hydraulic cylinder 62 is operatively connected to frame 26, preferably at the end of platform 42 and to a cross brace 38-a of frame 38 as best shown in Figures.l and 5.

Hydraulic power usually available on the draft vehicle can be supplied through suitable hydraulic lines (not shown) to one side of cylinder 62 pressurizing it. Cylinder 62 when thus pressurized will be actuated to raise planter 1() above the ground being supportably suspended between frame 38 and wheel 23 and the hitching device 36 on the front rail of frame 26, when the draft vehicle is operatively connected to planter 1(). When it is desired to lower planter 10 into planting position. power can be supplied to the other side of cylinder 62 through other suitably hydraulic lines (also not shown) and planter 10 will be lowered into position for planting. Since actuation mem- hers and power systems of this type are commonly used in the agricultural arts on these machines and are not the invention herein. it is therefore believed that further description thereof is unnecessary. since a skilled artisan will surely know how to install and use such equipment. It is also to be seen that as frame 26 is lifted by cylinder 62, roller 24 on frame 26 will move to the top of enclosure 22 on flexible frame 27 and the latter frame. together with all of the planting mechanism and related equipment. including drive wheel 18 attached thereto will also be lifted. In this condition entire pl will be seen hereinafter, accuracy of delivery of seeds 16 into the furrow. In the drawings, surfaces 66 converge toward adjacent cup surfaces 66 to deposit seeds 16 in the center of the furrow. In some instances, however, it may be desired to position cups 14 so that surfaces 66 diverge to deposit seeds 16 in rows on opposite sides of the furrow.

In Figures 11 and 12 cups 14 are shown on respective chains or belts 13 in a selected dual sprocket system 50 and are moving upwardly with opening 14-b facing up (Figure 11), seed 16 having already been loaded therein from hopper 11. Other cups have passed over return or upper sprocket 30-b and have dumped their respective seeds 16 onto inclined surfaces 66 of a preceding cup 14, the above action taking place after the chains 13 have passed over a shaker assembly, or mechanism 69, also shown in Figure 11 the descrption of which follows below.

Cup shaker assembly 69 is supported on the frame work of receptacle 12 or other suitable parts of planter 10 not shown in this Figure. A shaker wheel 70 (one shown) is rotatably mounted on an arm or bracket 69-a on an axle 7()-a thereof. Bracket 69-a includes a bridging member 71 which extends chains 13 (in a dual sprocket 5()) system as illustrated herein for present description purposes) and is fastened to an adjusting rod or crank member 72. Crank member 72 is positioned in and threadably engaged by upper and lower threaded receivers or members 72-a and 72-b respectively. and includes at its upper end a crank handle 73. Each shaker wheel 70 has a plurality of peripherally extending shaker prongs, or vibrators 74 which engage in vibration relation each of the moving chains or belts 13 to subject cups 14 thereon, indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 11, to a low frequency. high amplitude vibration which is effective to eliminate any extra seeds which may have been inadvertently picked-up by cups 14 as they passed through hoppers 11 therebelow.

As mentioned above, loaded cups 14 as they pass over return sprocket 30-b enter curved tube 68 which extends therearound and engages vertical discharge tube 32 at the top portions thereof, being held in place thereon by attachment screw 61. Tube 68 is adjustably mounted on the frame work of planter 10 in the upper regions of receptacle 12 by means of a through bolt or clamp 78 in slots 79 in tube 68 upper end. Sprocket 3()-b is adjustable vertically in receptacle 12 by means of a bolt 75 in the vertical slot 76 on a portion of the frame work of machine 10 (not shown) so that chain or belt 13 tension may be increased or decreased. Thus to increase tension sprocket 3()-b is raised in slot 76 and bolt 75 retightened to hold it in place. However, when sprockets 30-b are raised or lowered tube 68 must be raised or lowered in accordance therewith to provide and maintain proper or sufficient clearance for cups 14 as they pass therethrough. As mentioned, tube 68 is adjusted by means of adjustment screws or bolts 78 in the upper end of tube 68, as shown in Figure 11 to permit said adjustment with respect to moving cup 14. Tube 68, preferably of semi-circular configuration is contoured internally to fit or match the circular pattern formed by loaded cups 14 as they follow around return sprocket 30-b as shown in Figure 11. This contoured inner surface of tube 68 provides a means for controlling seed 16 when it is dumped out of its respective cup 14 and moves over return sprocket 30-b.

It should be noted that the advantages in the use of tube 68 accruing when used in conjunction with the present invention are also equally accruable when used with the prior art single cup row machines of the type disclosed in the above-mentioned United States patents to J. H. Wigham and such use, as will become evident, is intended and contemplated. A seed planting machine having such tubes forms the subject of our co-pending Patent Application No. 43822/79 (Serial No. 1579180) divided from the present Application.

A further advantage of the addition of contoured or curved tube 68 of the present invention is, as indicated above, the achievement of control of seed 16 in its motion in free-flight as it proceeds around return sprocket 30-b and is dumped or pitched from cup 14. Referring to Figure 11, each seed 16 as cup 14 passes over the top of sprockets 30-b is pitched or dumped from the cup into free-flight. However. due to the presence of tubes 68 and its curved, or contoured inner surface. seed 16 is guided and controlled in that flight until it lands upon inclined surface 66 of cup 14 there preceding. Seed 16 is then conveyed downwardly. as indicated in Figure 8, through discharge tube 32 until it arrives at the bottom of planter 10 on conveyor chains or belts 13 and moves around sprocket system 50 thereat. As was mentioned previously, due to the slope or inclination of surfaces 66 of cups 14 and their relative position when moving downwardly on conveyor chains or belts 13. seed 16 is given a sidewise thrust or push (with respect to the line of motion of planter 10). at the bottom of planter 10 as cups 14 move around the bottom of sprocket system 50. This sidewise component imparted to seeds 16 directs them to the center region of the furrow for planting in single file therein.

It can be seen from the above that by use of curved tube 68, seeds 16 as they are conveyed upwardly on chains 13 in cups 14 undergo smooth transitional flight as the cups move around the top of return sprockets 30-b and dump or discharge seeds 16 therefrom. Seeds 16 not only continue traveling through curved tube 68 to discharge tube 32, but do so at a uniform velocity and because of the smooth transitional flight therethrough are conveyed around sprocket 3()-b, through tube 68 and then to the furrow without being cut, crushed or otherwise unduly bruised or damaged.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 12, dual chains or belts 13 are shown on their upward movement about sprocket system 50 (Figure 4), with cups 14 shown in side-by-side, staggered relationship, in parallel, vertical rows on chains or belts 13, and about to enter hopper sections 11 to become loaded with seed. After leaving hopper sections 11, cups 14 loaded with seed 16, pass over, or around, shaker assembly 69, as shown in Figure 11. Dual chains or belts 13 are driven on sprockets 50 in Figure 4 which is a system of two sprockets mounted on single shaft 3()-a. In this manner cups 14 in one row on a chain or belt 13, maintain a constant relationship with cups 14 on adjacent chain or belt 13, as both rows together pass through each hopper section 11 where each cup 14 is loaded with seed 16. After leaving hopper 11, cups 14 continue moving uniformly upwardly on chains or belts 13, passing over shaker 69 and return sprocket 30-b. through curved tubes 68, into and through parallel. vertical discharge tubes 32. and finally around drive sprocket system 50 above the furrow. In passing over return sprocket 30-b each cup 14 in turn is inverted and simultaneously loses its seed. which is dumped therefrom into free flight. being guided therein by the inside contoured surface or wall of curved tube 68. Seed 16 comes to relative rest on the inverted bottom of a preceding cup 14 on inclined surface 66 thereof and is supportably conveyed thereon, as in Figure 8. to the interior of shoe 15 at the bottom of planter l() and deposited in the center of the furrow prepared by plow share 17 or shoe 15. Since inclined surfaces 66 on cups 14 in one row are slanted or pitched in converging manner toward surfaces 66 of cups 1-1 in an adjacent row on chains or belts 13. each seed 16 is subjected. as cups 14 move around the bottom of sprockets 5(). to a slight. sidcwiso thrust component which assures accuracy of place mcnt of each seed 16 in the center of the furrow. it being understood the cup rows of each planter mechaiiisni. in effect straddle each furrow. As planting procedure con tinues alld planter I() is moved over the drills or furrows. a pair of hilling. harrow or covering discs 19 mounted on a tool bar 29 (see Figure 2) carried on the underside of planter 10, close the furrow and seeds 16 are planted in single files therein. Also as shown in Figure 2, other accessories are shown which can be mounted on tool bar 29, if desired, for example, the drums or rollers 21.

It is readily apparent from the preceding description that the arrangement of substantially parallel rows of cup or bucket conveyors driven on common shafts on sprockets, e.g., sprocket system 50, that a planting machine has been invented, for example, planter 10 which can operate at relatively significantly higher speeds than heretofore possible with prior art machines. In particular the single cup row planters, now widely used and which are necessarily limited in ground speed when planting by the speed at which a single cup chain can be drawn up through a seed bin or hopper, are rendered near obsolete, since such machines, to avoid excessive seed breakage, are operated at ground speeds, at present generally limited to about three or four miles per hour, depending on the soil structure and ground surface conditions. In the present invention, however, ground speeds are limited by the cup speeds. hence. ground speeds of up to seven or more miles per hour have been achieved. In those areas of the country where the planting season, especially seed potato planting. is extremely short and the area to be planted is extensive the advent of speed machines such as planter 10 is a much welcomed occurrence. and obviously such machines will be much sought after.

The system of staggered arrangement of cups 14 in their respective rows on one or more conveyors results in increased frequency of cup passage through hopper sections 11 which effectively agitates seeds 16 therein. preventing seed bridging. It should be apparent therefore. that such an arrangement beneficially permits elimination of additional mechanisms such as mechanical agitators and the like, now required with prior art devices.

Referring now to Figures 13, 14 and 15, the Figures illustrate means whereby a sidewise thrust can be applied to seeds 16 so that they may be properly aligned to insure accuracy in depositing said seeds 16 in the center of the furrow. In this embodiment one or more helical rods 63 are fastened or otherwise installed on the inside surfaces of vertical tube 32. being positioned on the inside wall thereof. Rods 63 have the form of rapidly descending. high pitch helices, and are. prefcrably substantially round in cross-section. As seeds 16 descend to the bottom in vertical tube 32. they are urged toward the inside wall by contact with helical rods 63 as as they are conveyed thereby on the inverted bottom of a cup or bucket 14 in tube 32 on a side thereof nearest, or adjacent to the furrow. As seed 16 leaves cup 14, rod 63 imparts a sidewise thrust component thereto so that seed 16 moves toward the center of tube 32 for planting in a single file in the furrow when the latter is closed by discs 19.

In operation of the present invention seed planter 10 would, in its simplest, most basic form comprise a single receptacle 12, a pair of seed hopper sections 11, each hopper section 11 operatively associated with a multiple row seed conveyor system, planting mechanism or apparatus for planting two parallel crop rows or furrows simultaneously. It is readily apparent however, as clearly shown in the drawings, in particular Figures 3 through 6, that more than two furrows or crop rows are also contemplated with the present invention, and that planter 10 is adaptable to plant in any number of rows with relatively slight modification. However, planting in more than eight or ten rows simultaneously is generally not practical since the power required becomes too great and prohibitively high. For this reason, the description of the operation hereinafter makes reference to a four row machine. it being readily understood that planting of six, eight or more rows can be accomplished with the present invention.

Seed planter 10 is arranged to be drawn over the planting area by a draft vehicle attached at hitch 36. Receptacle 12 is loaded with a supply of seeds 16 and the machine is raised by cylinder 62 on wheels 23 and transported to the planting field to beging planting operations. Actuating cylinder 62 is pressurized and planter 10 is lowered to the ground. shoes 15 with plows 17 being height or depth adjusted by means of turnbuckle 20 to open furrows of predetermined depth into which seeds 16 will be deposited and planted. When planter 10 is lowered, drive wheel 18 contacts the ground for rotation thereon when drawn by the draft vehicle and driven sprocket 28 rotates therewith, which in turn, through chain 34, drives sprocket 30 and dual sprocket system 50 on common shaft 30-a in housing 32-a connected to hopper section 11. Sprocket system 50 drives conveyor chains or belts 13 mounted thereon and conveyor cups or buckets cups 14 secured thereto which move in parallel relation in vertical rows up into hopper 11. As cups 14 in their respective rows continue moving upwardly. they pass through hopper sections II in alternating manner and are loaded with or receive seeds 16, since each cup 14 in one row on one chain 13 is mounted thereon in staggered relation with respect to a cup 14 in an adjacent row on adjacentlv moving chain or belt 13, and thereby, a relatively high frequency of cup passage through hopper 11 occurs which effectively acts as an agitator to prevent bridging of seeds 16. Cups 14 loaded with seeds 16 continue moving upwardly and chains or belts 13 engage shaker wheels 70 which causes buckets 14 to be shaken or vibrated at a relatively low frequency and high amplitude as determined by the number and size or lengths of prongs or probes 74 on a respective wheel 70 to eliminate excess seeds 16 from cups 14.

After leaving shaker assembly 69, the rows of cups 14 pass around upper sprockets 30-b mounted on the top of planter 10 in receptacle 12 and enter curved tube 68 where seeds 16 are emptied or dumped from each cup 14 as the latter rounds the top of sprockets 30-b. Seeds 16 go into relatively free flight but are guidaby controlled therein by the contoured, inner surfaces of tube 68 which is of semi-circular configuration, and come to relative rest on the inverted bottom inclined surfaces 66 of the preceding cups 14 on chains 13.

Seeds 16 supported on surfaces 66 of cups 14 continue moving downwardly thereon along the side wall of discharge tube 32 to the interior of shoe 15 to be deposited in the furrows opened by plow shares 17. Since inclined, ramp-like surfaces 66 incline inwardly toward each other and toward the center-line of the furrow, seeds 16 at the bottoms, as cup 14 moves around on sprocket system 50, fall away from ramp surfaces 66 receiving a sidewise. directional thrust toward the furrow centers and are planted in single files thereat by following, hilling discs 19 which close the furrows.

In addition, during planting operations above described, ground contour changes encountered resulting from uneven terrain is dealt with by means of flexible frame 27 on hinged connections 46 on platform 42 of frame 26 and action of roller 24 connection of frame 26 movably retained in enclosure 22 of frame 27 to maintain a relatively constant seed 16 planting depth since receptacles 12 and the entire planting system apparatus. including hopper sections 11 are releasably attached to and supported on flexible frames 27.

By means of securing cups 14 in staggered relation in each row to each cup 14 in an adjacent row on one or more chains or belts 13. which are driven together on a common shaft on sprocket system 5(), it is readily apparent that planting speed is significantly increased. the upper limit of which is primarily determined by cup speed passage in and/or through hopper sections 11.

It will also be readily appreciated by the skilled artisan in practicing the present invention that planter 1(). as indicated in Figure 1, is adaptable to be equipped with any of the many accessories and appliances known and av'iilable to the art by means of which the entire planting operation. including the stcps of simultaneously fertilizing when planting, whether with liquid or solid particle fertilizer matcrials, can be accomplished with relative facility. Nccesary fertilizer materials and means for dispensing the same are well-known and readily available.

For example, a cannister or other dispenser 65 can be mounted on frame 26, as shown in Figure 1, on beam or rail 4() thereof, which is equipped with one or more fced conduits 65-a whereby fertilizer is distributed to the furrow in shoe 15 for spray deposit thereat after seedling. Cannistcr 65 is similar to many such devices and has variable area ports. slots or dispcnsing holes provided on or proximate to the bottom which can be opened or closed to dispense fertilizer in the desired quantity. Other similar devices may have rotating drums or paddles. operated off the main drive system by belts or chains (not shown) which can be retained in cannister 65 whereby solid granular materials can be dispensed. In general, however, such devices are well-known and since the skilled artisan is quite familiar with their use and operation, further description is deemed unnecessary.

What has been described as an advance in the art of seed planter. in particular seed potato planter. is a device of the character hereinbefore described wherein two or more rows of seed cups or buckets positioned in side-by-side, staggered relationship with respect to cups in an adjacent row, are arranged to drop or deposit seeds conveyed in the cups on one or more conveyors of the endless chain or belt types which are driven on spaced apart sprockets. in single files in furrows prepared by the device and subsequentlv planted therein by a furrow closing device. also carried on the machine. The cups move up through a seed hopper on the conveyors in alternating fashion such that a cup in one row passes into the hopper followed by a cup in another, preferably adjacent row, in relatively rapid succession providing agitation to eliminate bridging in the hoppers. The moving cup rows. afler passing thniugh the hoppers. continue over or through an adadjustable shaker mcchanism ,vhere excess seeds which may have been inadvertently picked-up in the hopper are eliminated from the cups or buckets. The seed in each cup is conveyed from there over an upper or return sprocket and enter a semi-circular curved tube adjustably positioned at the top of the sprocket on tlie return side thereof and wherein the seeds are controlled in their flight there around as the cups are inverted and dump their seeds onto the inverted bottoms of a preceding cup after which the seeds are conveyed downwardly to the bottom of the machine and dropped, or deposited in single files at the centre of the furrow. The cup is of a particular shape, its bottom side having an inclined surface which inclines transversely with respect to the furrow in a direction to converge with the inclined surface of a cup in an adjacent row, although, in some instances it may be desired to have a diverging inclination. The curved tube terminates in a connection with a vertically positioned discharge tube in which the cups in their downward movement toward the furrow are contained. The discharge tube terminates in a housing on a shoe on the bottom of the machine behind a plowing device and is positioned just above the furrow formed by the plow. Each row of cups is contained in its own discharge tube such that each inclined surface on the inverted bottoms of the cups inclines toward the wall of the discharge tube separating the rows of cups in the adjacent discharge tube.

The wall of the discharge tubes provide, in cooperation with the inclined surfaces of the cups. means for supporting the seeds until they reach the bottom of the machine at which point the cups start moving around the lower or driving sprocket and the seed is delivered to the furrow. At the point of discharge. immcdiately prior to emerging from the discharge tube. the seeds are urged in a sidewise direction toward the center of the furrow. or oppositely if the seeds are to be deposited elsewhere in the furrow for planting thereat by the furrow closing means in single files. It can be seen therefore. that each of the cups in the multiple row system is positioned on the conveyor in staggered relation with respect to a cup in an adjacent row so that each cup. in sequence. delivers its seed to the furrow for deposit therein in single files. The invention further contemplates. as should be obvious from the preceding description. a single cup row planter. as well as the multiple row machine.

The seed planter described includes a novel receptacle for holding seeds which is expandible and adjustable in size, so that the machine may be used for sowing seeds in multiple crop rows wherein the distances, or spacings between the rows may vary. It is well known that crop row spacings are not standardized throughout the various crop growing regions. therefore, a planter should be capable of planting under such conditions in any region. regardless of crop row spacing variation.

Accordingly. each hopper section is connected to the receptacle and to each other bv a folding floor. the receptacle has exten dihle front and rear walls which include a pair of fixed plates and a sliding plate such that when the receptacle. which is rclcasably attached to the plianter frame is loosened thereon, the receptacle can be size adjusted by moving the hoppers, either spreading them apart to increase the size of the receptacle, or pushing them together to decrease the size of the receptacle while simultaneously the distance between hoppers, which corresponds to the distance between crop rows is also increased or decreased.

The planting machine may also contain fertilizer dispensing equipment and the like, operatively mounted either on the, frame or on any convenient place on the machine. In addition, other devices such as row marking equipment, shown in Figures 5 and 6 can be readily attached, for example, a rotating disc mounted on the end of an extending boom or arm which can be lowered or raised, as desired, to mark the rows as planting operations proceed.

Claims (19)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A machine for planting seeds, comprising at least one endless seed conveyor movable about upper and lower supporting means and including at least one row of seed cups, at least one seed receptable for supplying seeds to the cups as they move upwardly through the receptacle. and guide means associated with the row(s) of cups for guiding seeds carried by the cups. as they move downwardly. and terminating in a discharge location adjacent the bottom of the machine, each of the cups having an open top into which a seed is loaded when the cup travels upwardly through the associated seed receptacle, and a bottom surface inclined transversely with respect to the direction of movement of the machine, whereby each loaded cup. upon travelling around the upper supporting means, reverses its direction of motion. is inverted and deposits its seed onto the bottom inclined surface of the immediately preceding inverted cup. upon which the seed descends to the discharge location. whereat the inclined bottom surface is disposed transversely with respect to the direction of movement of the machine for discharging the seed into a planting furrow beneath the machine.

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1. wherein the or each conveyor comprises two rows of seed cups and the cups in one row are disposed in a fixed staggered relation with respect to the cups in the other row, whereby the seeds supported bv the bottom surfaces of the cups in each row are planted one bv one in the furrow and alternatelv with the seeds supported by the cups in the other row.

3. A machine as claimed in claim 2. wherein the transversely inclined bottom surfaces of the seed cups in the two rows are arranged to converge. whereby the bottom surfaces of the cups discharge the seeds supported thereby into the furrow in a substantially straight line.

4. A machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the transversely inclined bottom surfaces of the seed cups in the two rows are arranged to diverge, whereby the bottom surfaces of the cups discharge the seeds supported thereby into the furrow in two lines adjacent opposite sides of the furrow.

5. A machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each seed cup has a hole therethrough defining an open top and an open bottom for the cup, the open top being large enough to receive a seed and the open bottom being small enough to contain the seed, but sufficiently large to allow debris picked-up in the cup to fall therethrough.

6. A machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the or each seed receptacle is adapted to supply seeds to the seed cups of at least two seed conveyors associated therewith and is adjustable in width transversely of the machine.

7. A machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein the or each seed receptacle comprises side walls and front and rear walls joined together to form a substantially rectangular enclosure. at least two hopper sections at the bottom of the enclosure for supplying seeds to the cups of the conveyors respectively. and laterally movable relatively to one another, each of the front and rear walls comprising a pair of substantially aligned, spaced-apart. fixed plates and a slidable plate positioned between said fixed plates, a folding floor in the receptacle extending between the hopper sections and comprising at least two mutually adjacent plates extending between the front and rear walls and hinged to each other along mutually adjacent sides and to the hopper sections along opposite sides. so that when the hopper sections are moved towards or away from one another. the front and rear walls correspondingly contract or extend by means of the slidable plates and the floor correspondingly folds or unfolds by means of the hinged plates so as to contract or expand the receptacle.

X. A machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including a wheeled supporting frame having hitching means for coupling the machine to a tractor vehicle, at least one laterally extending frame flexibly connected to the wheeled frame, and a drive wheel mounted on and suporting the laterally extending frame and engageable with the ground. when the machine is towed thereover, said drive wheel being connected to drive the endless conveyor(s).

9. A machine as claimed in claim 8. wherein the or each flexible frame is connected to the wheeled frame by hinges and is connected at its front to the wheeled frame by a roller mounted on one of the frames and engaged in an enclosure on the other frame.

10. A machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the or each row of cups has a curved tube associated therewith, adjacent the upper supporting means for the conveyor, the or each tube having an open end substantially at the top thereof into which the seed cups travel as they reverse direction and begin their descent towards the bottom of the machine, the or each tube enclosing the associated cups and having an interior shape substantially conforming to the path followed by the moving cups as they reverse direction and become inverted, and the or each tube being adjustable relative to the cups so as to change the clearance between the latter and the tube interior.

11. A machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the guide means comprises a downwardly extending discharge tube associated with the or each row of cups. the or each discharge tube enclosing the associated row of cups from adjacent the upper end of the conveyor to the discharge position. so that seeds deposited on the inclined bottom surfaces of the cups are supported on said bottom surfaces and by the inside wall of the discharge tube.

12. A machine as claimed in claims 10 and 11, wherein the or each discharge tube is connected to the or each curved tube at the lower end of the latter where the cups complete their travel about the upper supporting means.

13. A machine as claimed in claim 11 or 12, including 'i helical rod disposed on the inside surface of the or ench discharge tube at the bottom thereof and terminating on a line directed transversely to the direction of movement of the machine.

14. A machine as claimcd in anv one of the preceding claims. wherein the or each conveyor includes at least one endless chain or belt mounted on upper and lower supporting sprockets and having one ro,v of seed cups secured to the chain or belt.

15. A machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including furrow opening means for forming the furrow(s) into which the seeds are discharged.

16. A seed cup for a vertically disposed seed conveyor of a seed planting machine in which a seed is loaded into an open top of the cup as it travels upwardly and a seed deposited from an immediately succeeding cup is supported on the bottom surface of the cup as it descends to a discharge position adjacent the bottom of the machine. where in the open top and bottom surface are disposed adjacent opposite ends of an axis of the cup, said bottom surface being inclined with respect to said axis, and means is provided for securing the cup to the seed conveyor with its bottom surface inclined transversely with respect to the direction of movement of the seed planting machine.

17. A seed cup as claimed in claim 16, which has an axial hole defining the open' top and an open bottom for the cup, the open top being large enough to receive a seed and the open bottom being small enough to contain the seed but large enough to allow debris picked-up in the cup to fall therethrough.

18. A seed cup for a seed planting machine, constructed substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

19. A machine for planting seeds constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.