GB2258794A - Seeder. - Google Patents

Abstract

In operation a seed box is filled with compost and a seed control plate is placed on top of it. The seed hopper (2) is filled with seed and the motor switched on. The vibratory action of the motor settles the seed towards the bottom of the tapered hopper (2). When a gate valve is opened the seeds start to flow down the angled chute (3). The tip of the chute (3) is then placed in a first vee of the control plate and slowly drawn along, depositing the seeds in a fine line. This is repeated along the rest of the rows of the seed control plate. <IMAGE>

Description

'SEEDED" I, IItPERT CLAY a British subject of 18, Balmoral Crescent, Vest Molesey, gT8 9PY, in the County of Surrey, do hereby declare the invention, which I pray that a patent may be granted to me and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This I3v ETIO! RELATES TO A SEEKER.

There are different methods of sowing seeds in stall quantities.

Some examples are:- Shaking - Direct from the seed packet, or shaking - direct from, the paint of the hand, and in the main, using Just thumb and forefinger.

Amateur gardeners and specialists alike find the sowing of fine and rare seeds a problem. Also handicapped and older people whose fingers are not now as nimble as they used to be, can only sow fine seeds with great difficulty.

The results are often patchy and wasteful with seed.

If seeds are sown in straight lines, they germinate better and are easier to prick out.

Sowing in straight lines is often difficult as the seeds can be the same colour as the compost in the seed tray.

According to the present invention there is provided: A hand held sowing device and seed control plate that fits a tandard seed box. The sowing device comprises, a handle containing an electric motor and a dry cell battery, plus an on/off switch. The electric motor has an eccentric flywheel mounted on it which creates a vibratory motion.

The handle is fitted to a tapered seed hopper, which incorporates a flow control valve, which can be adjusted for different sizes of seed.

Connected to the seed hopper is an angled chute - the inner faces of the chute have been indented to slow down the progress of the seed.

The seed control plate fits the standard size seed box.

This plate can have a number of elongated slots or holes in it to accurately position the seeds. The slots can be in straight lines or arranged to give patterns or names.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with references to the accompanying drawings.

SHEET 1/3 Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device.

Figure 2 is a Plan view of the device.

Detail 1 is the handle.

Detail 2 is a seed hopper.

Detail 3 is a seed chute.

SHEET 2/3 Figures 3,4,5 are drawn enlarged for clarity.

Detail 4 - Eccentric flywheel Detail 5 - Electric Rotor Detail 6 - Dry cell battery Detail 7 - Flow control valve Detail 8 - Flow control adjustment screw Detail 9 - Stand Detail 10 - Rubber friction washer Detail 11 - Spring SnRET 3/3 Figure 6 Detail 12 - Seed control plate, with slots shown for straight line sowing.

Figure 7 Detail 13 - Standard seed tray, shown with Detail 12 in position ready for sowing.

Claims (1)

1. VRAT I CLAIM IS:

   1) A hand held sowing device and seed control plate that fits a standard seed bos. The sowing device comprises, a handle containing an electric motor and a dry cell battery, plus an on/off switch.

   The electric motor has an eccentric flywheel mounted on it which creates a vibratory motion.

   The handle is fitted to a tapered seed hopper, which incorporates a flow control valve, which can be adjusted for different sizes of seed.

   Connected to the seed hopper is an angled chute the inner faces of the chute may be indented in whole or in part to give a rough surface to slow down the progress of the seed.

   The seed control plate fits the standard size seed box. This plate can have a number of elongated slots or holes in it to accurately position the seeds. The slots can be in straight lines or arranged to give patterns or names.