GB2048035A

GB2048035A - Sowing Seeds

Info

Publication number: GB2048035A
Application number: GB7917905A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Robinson & Sons Wairarapa Ltd
Current assignee: Robinson & Sons Wairarapa Ltd
Priority date: 1979-05-23
Filing date: 1979-05-23
Publication date: 1980-12-10

Abstract

A device for sowing seeds in a predetermined pattern, the device having a manifold 20 in the form of a seed head which has a seed plate in which a plurality of apertures are formed. The manifold is adapted to communicate alternately with a source of air under pressure and a source of suction. When the manifold is under the influence of suction a seed 32 can be retained against each aperture and when the manifold is under the influence of air pressure air will pass through the apertures to eject seeds from the seed head. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Seed Sowing Device This invention relates to a device for sowing seeds.

The purpose of the machine is to allow an operator to sow any predetermined number of seeds in one operation and in any desired pattern or configuration. Prior to the present invention it was usual to sow seeds by scattering the seeds on the ground or on a seed bed and then if necessary covering the seeds with a layer of soil, peat or the like. This random sowing was necessary because of the small size of the seeds and the difficulty encountered in separating one seed from another prior to sowing. Such a sowing method resulted in seedlings growing at random configuration which necessitated thinning and/or transplanting the seedlings. Particularly when seeds are grown for subsequent resale, it is necessary after the seedlings have matured to a sufficient degree to "prick out" the seedlings and transplant them into prepared soil contained in seed boxes and the like.This pricking out and transplanting has the disadvantage of incurring high labour content and in addition there is often a considerable set-back to the growth of the seedlings after the transplanting. A further disadvantage is that many seedlings can be damaged during the pricking out process so that a proportion of the seedlings can be lost.

It is known to pelletize seeds, that is each seed is individually enveloped in a crust which contains adjuvants which allow the seed to correctly germinate. Fertilizers and other substances as known in the art are also incorporated in the pelletizing mixture which includes a binder so that the seed can be completely encapsulated in a material which will allow the seed to correctly germinate and grow after it has been planted. The pelletizing of seeds not only increases the physical size of the seed but also tends to make the seed a more geometrical shape and thus easier to handle.

It is an object of this invention to provide a machine which will enable an operator to remove a selected number of seeds from a seed supply and to transfer such selected seeds into a seed bed in a predetermined pattern and configuration.

Accordingly the invention comprises a device for sowing seeds in a predetermined pattern, comprising a seed head having a manifold adapted to communicate with a plurality of apertures in a seed plate, and also to communicate alternately with a source of air under pressure and a source of suction wherein each said aperture is adapted to receive and maintain a seed against the seed plate when the said manifold is under the influence of suction.

The invention may also be said to comprise a method of sowing seeds in predetermined patterns utilizing a device comprising a seed head having a manifold adapted to communicate alternately with a source of air under pressure and a source of suction, a seed plate having a plurality of nozzles in communication with the manifold and terminating in external nozzles each adapted to retain a seed when the manifold is under the influence of suction, comprising the steps of (a) contacting the said apertures while under the influence of suction with a supply of seeds to be sown (b) presenting the seed plate of the seed head to the surface of a seed bed to be sown (c) moving the said seed plate towards the seed bed to enable the said nozzles with the seeds to penetrate below the surface of the said seed bed (d) pressurizing the manifold to eject the seeds from the said nozzles and to implant the seeds in the seed bed (e) withdrawing the seed head from the seed bed.

A preferred form of the invention will now be described with the aid of the accompanying drawings wherein: Fig. 1 is a side view of one form of seed head; Fig. 2 is a view of the seed head looking in the direction of the arrow II of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a view of the seed head immediately after being charged with seeds; Fig. 4 is a view of the seed head immediately after implanting the seeds into a seed bed and Fig. 5 is a graphical representation of the essential parts of the machine.

Referring to the drawings and in particular to Fig. 5, the apparatus includes a vacuum pump 10 which may be continuously driven by means of an electric motor or the like. The suction inlet 11 passes through a variable pressure relief valve 12 to one port 1 3a of a three-port directional control valve 13. The pressure exhaust 14 from the vacuum pump 10 passes through a variable pressure relief valve 1 5 to the second inlet port 1 3b of the control valve 13. A pressure line 1 8a is connected to a manual control valve 17, one port of which is closed and the other port is connected through a control line 18 to the three-port directional control valve 13.The arrangement is such that with the vacuum pump operating, the manual control valve 17 will conduct air under pressure from the pressure line 1 8a through the control line 1 8 to the three-port directional control valve 1 3 to position the valve so that air under pressure will pass into the flexible air hose 16 to the seed head 19. Operation of the manual control valve 1 7 will depressurize the control line 1 8 and the spring urged control valve 13 will change to connect the suction line 12 to the flexible air hose 16 so that the interior of the head 19 will change from pressure to suction.

Referring in particular to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the head 1 9 which may be formed for instance of cast aluminium or the like is preferably formed essentially of two parts that is a manifold 20 and a seed plate 21 (see Fig. 2). The manifold 20 is hollow and communicates with the interior of a tubular member 22 to which the air hose 1 6 is connected. The manifold may be substantially rectangular in shape and is of hollow box-like configuration having one face open which is adapted to be closed by the seed plate 21. The seed plate may be attached to the manifold for instance by screws 23 or the like in a substantially air-tight manner.As indicated in Fig. 1 the line 1 6 is preferably a flexible hose and is of a sufficient length that the machinery of Fig. 5 can be situated at a convenient distance away from the seed head 19. The manifold 20 is provided with a handle 24 in whidh is housed the manual directional control valve 1 7 operable by the trigger 17a. The air pressure line 1 8a extends from the handle 24 through to the three-port directional control valve 13 diagrammatically shown in Fig. 5. The seed plate 21 is provided with a plurality of seed apertures 25, each aperture being in the form of a nozzle 26 which protrudes from the plate 21 the required distance E will be hereinafter further described.Each aperture 25 is made of a size that it can retain the required number of seeds only, the required number usually being one, but in particular circumstances can be more than one seed. The apertures 25 communicate with the interior manifold of the part 20 and the number, size and shape of the nozzles 26 and the apertures 25 will be so arranged that the seed plate will have the required number and pattern of nozzles so that the desired number and pattern of seeds can be implanted onto the seed bed 30 (See Fig. 4). The seeds are held against the nozzles when the manifold 20 is under the influence of suction after the control valve has been operated as will be hereinafter described.Thus the aperture 25 of each nozzle 26 is of a size that the suction within the manifold of the seed head 20 will retain the seed against the nozzle, with the aperture being of a sufficiently small size that the seed will not normally pass through it into the manifold. As indicated in Fig. 3 a container 31 is provided with a supply of seeds 32 and in the figure the seed head is shown just after having been lifted from the supply of seeds and the manual directional control valve 1 7 operated so that suction is connected to the manifold 20 and thereby a single seed 32 is retained on the aperture of each nozzle 26. The seed head can then be moved from the supply of seeds to the position for implanting the seeds in the seed bed. In the use the machine is put into operation by switching on the electric motor to drive the vacuum pump 10.The manual directional control valve 1 7 is in a normal position so that the three-port directional control valve 1 3 will normally allow air under pressure to enter the flexible air hose 16. The air pressure and volume of air is adjusted by means of the valve 1 5 to obtain the required conditions.The air pressure within the manifold 20 will ensure that the apertures 25 are kept clear and just prior to the seed plate 21 being plunged into the supply of seeds 32 in the container 31, the trigger 1 7a is operated so that the manual directional control valve will reverse the three-port directional valve to exert suction on the flexible air hose 1 6. This suction will result in each nozzle picking up a seed which will be adhered to the aperture 25 by reason of the suction. If desired in order to ensure maximum pick up of seeds, the seed head can be plunged again into the supply of seeds. The seed head is then moved to the seed box 35 and the seed plate 21 is pressed down onto the surface of the seed bed 30.Because of the length of the nozzles 26 the seeds will be implanted below the surface of the soil. Until this position is reached the trigger 1 7a is held pressed inwardly so that suction will be maintained within the manifold. At this position the trigger is released thereby changing the three-port directional control valve so that air under pressure will again be let into the flexible air hose 1 6 and thus into the manifold 20 thereby ensuring that the seeds 32 are ejected from the apertures 26. The seed head can then be removed. This action will result in the seeds being implanted below the surface of the soil and consequently in the best position for correct germination and subsequent growth.

Preferably the seed plate 21 is made easily removable from the manifold 20 of the seed head so that seed plates having different configurations and spacing between adjacent nozzles can be readily applied to the seed head to enable different patterns and configuration of seeds to be sown.

While in the preceding description a single aperture 25 is shown in each nozzle nevertheless in certain circumstances it can be advantageous to have more than one aperture for each nozzle and this arrangement is contemplated within the present invention.

Claims

1. A device for sowing seeds in a predetermined pattern, comprising a seed head having a manifold adapted to communicate with a plurality of apertures in a seed plate and also to communicate alternately with a source of air under pressure and a source of suction wherein each said aperture is adapted to receive and maintain a seed against the seed plate when said manifold is under the influence of suction.

2. A device for sowing seeds as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the seed head consists of a manifold having one face adapted to receive a seed plate having a plurality of apertures, a flexible hose connecting the manifold with a source of air under pressure and alternately suction, the said seed head also including means adapted to operate control valve means to change the source of air under pressure in the said flexible hose to suction.

3. The device for sowing seeds as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the said manifold will normally contain air under pressure.

4. The device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the said seed plate is provided with a plurality of nozzles which protrude from the said plate and which terminate in the said apertures.

5. The device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the said seed plate is removable from seed head.

6. A device for sowing seeds in predetermined patterns comprising a seed head having a manifold, control means adapted to normally conduct air under pressure into said manifold to discharge through nozzles in the said seed plate, the said nozzles terminating in apertures and wherein means are provided to alternate the air under pressure within the said manifold to suction, the construction and arrangement being such that when the manifold is under the influence of suction each said aperture can attract a seed from a seed supply and maintain the seed against the nozzle under the influence of suction and wherein the seeds may be ejected from the said apertures by pressurizing said manifold.

7. A method of sowing seeds in predetermined patterns utilizing a device comprising a seed head having a manifold adapted to communicate alternately with a source of air under pressure and a source of suction, a seed plate having a plurality of nozzles in communication with the manifold and terminating in external nozzles each adapted to retain a seed when the manifold is under the influence of suction comprising the steps of - (a) contacting the said apertures while under the influence of suction with a supply of seeds to be sown (b) presenting the seed plate of the seed head to the surface of a seed bed to be sown (c) moving the said seed plate towards the seed plate to enable the said nozzles with the seeds to penetrate below the surface of the said seed bed (d) pressurizing the manifold to eject the seeds from the said nozzles and to implant the seeds in the seed bed (e) withdrawing the seed head from the seed bed.

8. A device for sowing seeds in a predetermined pattern substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. A method of sowing seeds in predetermined patterns substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings