GB2144014A

GB2144014A - Seed planting machine

Info

Publication number: GB2144014A
Application number: GB08419152A
Authority: GB
Inventors: George Samuel Potter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-07-29
Filing date: 1984-07-27
Publication date: 1985-02-27
Also published as: GB8419272D0; GB2144612B; GB2144612A; GB8320579D0; GB8419152D0

Abstract

A seed planting machine (1) comprises means for advancing compartmented seed trays in a series of steps corresponding to the compartment spacing, and an automatic seed delivery device for plating one or more seeds in each compartment of a row of compartments as that row reaches a predetermined location. An electric motor (6) provides power, and the tray advance and seeding operations are synchronised by a belt or chain drive system. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Seed planting machine This invention relates to a seed planting machine, and more particularly to a machine for automatically planting seeds at spaced locations on a tray.

Modern horticultural practice often involves raising seedlings in modular compartmented trays and the preferred embodiment of the invention is particularly suitable for planting one or more seeds in each compartment of such trays. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is applicable to other seed.

ing operations, e.g. planting seeds in individual pots, or peat or soil blocks arranged on trays, or direct station sowing into trays of compost.

According to the present invention there is provided a seed planting machine comprising: drive means for advancing a tray along a predetermined path; a plurality of seed delivery openings arranged in a row transverse to the direction of advance of the tray and spaced apart at intervals corresponding to the desired spacing between seed locations within each row of planted seeds; and metering means operable to deliver a predetermined number of seed to each delivery opening each time the tray is advanced to a position in which a desired seed location is beneath a delivery opening.

Thus, as a tray is advanced by the drive means a succession of rows of seeds are planted. Preferably, the drive means advances the tray in a plurality of steps of equal size, each step corresponding to the desired spacing between successive rows of seeds. In this case seeds are preferably metered to the delivery openings during the halt between each stepwise advance.

The predetermined number of seeds delivered to each delivery opening at each operation of the metering means may be one, in which a single seed will be planted at each station, or may be more than one, in which case a group of seeds will be planted at each station.

The invention will be better understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, given by way of example only, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic side view of an embodiment of the invention; and Figure 2 is an end view (in the direction of the arrow A) of the embodiment of Fig. 1 Referring to the drawings, a seed planting machine 1 comprises a base 2 having means for supporting trays as they pass through the machine from an entry end 3 to an exit end 4. A plurality of interconnected rollers are provided on the base 2 for driving the trays through the machine. The rollers are interconnected for synchronous movement by drive belts or chains 5, one only of which may be seen in the drawings, and the entire set of rollers is connected to an electric drive motor 6 by a drive train 7.The drive train 7 includes suitable means e.g. a wrap spring clutch, for ensuring that, as the motor 6 rotates at a substantially constant speed, the rollers only advance intermittently, and only by a predetermined step corresponding to the desired spacing between rows of seeds. In the case of compartmented trays this spacing will of course, correspond to the distance between the centres of adjacent compartments. The means for providing intermittent stepwise advance is preferably adjustable to permit trays of different sizes to the accommodated.

A seeding head is located adjacent the exit end of the machine and defines a plurality of spaced apart seed delivery openings 9. The spacing between the openings 9 determines the spacing between the seeds of each row planted and may be variable. The drive train of the rollers is synchronised such that during each dwell period of the tray, the delivery openings are directly above a row of compartments to allow seeds to fall centrally into the compartments. Preferably a gate arrangement is provided to deflect seeds from the seeding head into a container if a tray is not located correctly beneath the delivery opening when the machine is operated. This avoids seed wastage.

Seeds are delivered, at the correct moment, to the respective delivery openings via flexible tubes (shown schematically at 10) from a metering device 11. The metering device 11 operates synchronously with the tray drive, and for this purpose is connected to the roller drive train via a drive belt, chain, or sprocket wheel. The metring device may be of any convenient type for releasing a predetermined number of seeds into tubes 10 at the correct moment. In the preferred embodiment the metering device 11 comprises a seed compartment defined between front 1 2 and rear 1 3 wall members. The wall members converge towards the lower end of the seed compartment, and at their lower edge slid in gly engage a metering plate which forms the base of the seed compartment.The metering plate is reciprocated so that a row of metering holes in the plate is alternately located within and outside of the seed compartment. A fixed base plate is located closely beneath the metering plate so that when the metering holes are within the seed compartment a number of seeds, determined by the size of the metering holes, may fall into, but not through each metering hole. As the metering plate moves it carries the seeds located in the metering holes outside the seed compartment until, as the metering plate approaches the limit of its travel, the metering holes clear the edge of the base plate and the seeds fall from the metering holes into the tubes 10.

Means e.g. a brush or air jet or mechanical proders, are preferably provided to clear all seeds and debris from metering holes when the metering plate reaches its limit of outward travel.

As mentioned above, operation of the metering device is synchronised with movement of the trays to ensure that seeds arrive at the seed head at exactly the correct moment.

Preferably the seed head is mounted for vertical movement, and is lowered automatically into contact with the seed tray or soil immediately prior to the arrival of each seed, and is then raised to allow the next advance of the tray.

The above described machine may, of course, be modified within the scope of the invention. For example the tray drive rollers may be replaced by drive belts or by a belt or other conveyor. Pressure rollers may be provided to stabilise movement of the trays. The electric drive may be replaced by a hand drive system.

Claims

1. A seed planting machine comprising drive means for advancing a tray along a predetermined path; a plurality of seed delivery openings arranged in a row transverse to the direction of advance of the tray and spaced apart at intervals corresponding to the desired spacing between seed locations within each row of planted seeds; and metering means operable to deliver a predetermined number of seed to each delivery opening each time the tray is advanced to a position in which a desired seed location is beneath a delivery opening.

2. A seed planting machine according to claim 1 wherein the tray is advanced by the drive means in a succession of steps of equal size, each step corresponding to the desired spacing between successive rows of seeds.

3. A seed planting machine according to claim 2 wherein the seeds are metered to the delivery openings during the halt between successive stepwise advances.

4. A seed planting machine as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the delivery openings are provided on a seeding head which is automatically lowered into contact with the tray prior to planting each row of seeds.

5. A seed planting machine according to any of claims 2 to 4 wherein the size of the steps in which the tray advances is adjustable.

6. A seed planting machine according to any of claims 2 to 5 wherein the machine includes a continuously rotating drive unit, and the trays are advanced by drive belts or rollers connected to the drive unit via a wrap spring clutch.

7. A seed planting machine according to any preceding claim wherein the metering means comprises a seed compartment the base of which is formed by a reciprocable metering plate have a row of metering holes each for receiving and carrying from the seed compartment a predetermined number of seeds.

8. A seed planting machine according to claim 7 including means for positively cleaning seeds and/or debris from the metering holes during each reciprocation of the metering plate.

9. A seed planting machine substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.