GB2485351A

GB2485351A - Seeder having two elastomeric discs with spacer there between

Info

Publication number: GB2485351A
Application number: GB201018854A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Craig Palmer
Original assignee: JACKNBOX Ltd
Current assignee: JACKNBOX Ltd
Priority date: 2010-11-08
Filing date: 2010-11-08
Publication date: 2012-05-16
Anticipated expiration: 2030-11-08
Also published as: GB2485351B; GB201018854D0

Abstract

A seeder comprises a housing 10, 12, two elastomeric discs 1 mounted for rotation on a hub 8 and a spacer 3 element positioned between the discs. An upper portion of the spacer has a protrusion (9) which creates a slot between the discs into which a seed can be introduced. A lower protrusion 17 on the spacer enables the seed to be dispensed. The housing may be in two parts and have a storage volume 12 at an upper portion. The seeder may also have an agitator 13 consisting of a driven wheel and an object counter 18 to detect and count objects dispensed. The invention enables multiple and single objects of various sizes and shapes to be dispensed without the exchange and/or adjustment of mechanical parts, the mechanism can be controlled to enable sequencing and release of the object as required.

Description

Example:

Dispensing multiple and single irregular shaped objects like "plant seeds" and place into position i.e. "seed tray cells" etc.

Background:

Dispensing multiple, single and irregular shaped objects like "plant seeds" to date has been achieved by using a number of methods for example: A vacuum drum or hypodermic needs with air vacuum pumps are used to suck and intern pick up and re-position the objects. other mechanical methods such as hoppers fitted with exit plates having specific object sized apertures, which sort and position the objects are widely employed along with other mechanical solutions not listed.

The limitations of the systems' described above are that they are manufactured for specific object sizes, shapes and positioning, however when the user needs to change between multiple object sizes and/or object placement position. The mechanical parts used have to be replaced to suit the new requirement, for example the vacuum drum has to be re-drilled or the object sort plate replaced for different pitch positions of transferred objects etc. In summary, both methods require significant mechanical part changes in order to achieve optimum performance, resulting in unacceptable time penalties to the user, increasing processing costs etc. Further more, the vacuum systems are plagued with blockages to the vacuum orifices.

Statement of invention:

To overcome this, the present invention proposes a housing with object storage volume and internal geometry, a set of rotating elastomeric discs, with spacer of geometry, inserted between the inner facing surfaces of the discs, the discs when driven, rotate drawing the object to be dispensed from the hopper exit and in between the inner faces of the discs, the object(s) are then held by the discs which rotate about the axis, the discs rotate to the required position, where a feature on the spacer reverses the object insertion process, releasing the object.

Advantages: The invention enables multiple object sizes and shapes to be dispensed from a source without the need for exchange and or adjustment of mechanical parts, the rotation speed and angle of the mechanism can be controlled to enable sequenced release of the object as required.

Title: Object dispenser for multiple and Single objects of various sizes and shapes.

Detailed Description:

Elastomeric discs item 1 and hubs items 2 mounted and driven by adjustable drive shaft mechanisms item 4 and 5, loaded spring item 6, presses against drive hub item 2, elastomeric discs items 1 are driven by drive by hub items 2 and in turn by shaft mechanisms 4 and 5 through moving joint drive features 7 and 8, inserted spacer item 3 placed between inner facing surfaces of elastomeric discs items 1, creating slot feature 9 between elastomeric discs items 1, all mechanisms mounted within housings items 10 and 11, which may included shaped internal storage volume feature 12, to include driven object agitator item 13, objects item 14 are drawn from the store volume feature 12, when drive shaft mechanisms items 4 and 5 rotate, objects 14 propagate towards outer circumference of elastomeric discs 1, housings 10 and 11 with tapering geometry feature 15, guide objects 14 towards circumference of elastomeric discs 1, slot feature 9 draws objects 14 between inner faces of elastomeric discs 1, objects 14 are retained between inner faces elastomeric discs items 1, elastomeric discs items 1 with object item 14 rotate to required position, feature 17 on insert part item 3, release objects item 14, objects item 14 counted by sensors items 18, assembly of all items mounted to X,Y and Z axis positioning mechanism item 19.

Claims

Claim: 1. A spacer part and set of elastomeric discs parts, mounted axially, parallel and or variable angle to create a slot between the elastomeric disc faces to where objects can be drawn into.
2. A set of rotational hub parts for mounting of the elastomeric discs claim 1 to create a set of hub mechanisms.
3. A set of hub and disc parts claim 2 mounted, axially, spaced, angled, to a length adjustable shaft and spring mechanism.
4. Rotational drive between hub and disc parts claim 2 and drive shaft mechanisms claim 3 by moving jointed drive features.
5. Object retention controlled and maintained by an adjustable end load spring mechanism claim 3 acting along the axis of rotation of the drive shaft mechanism claims 3 and 4 acting on the hub and disc parts claims 1 and 2
6. Self adjustment for object size and shape variations accommodated by a loaded spring mechanism claim 5, and shaft mechanisms claims 3, 4 and elastomeric discs claims 1,2,3 and 5.
7. An internal feature to housing part to guide objects from source volume into slot and between the elastomeric disc faces as described in claim 1.
8. A spacer part claim 1 with features to guide the inserted object out from in between the elastomeric disc faces described claim 7.
9. Object storage volume and rotating parts with features to agitate objects.
10. Object storage volume detailed in claim 9 to supply objects to the mechanisms' detailed in claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8.
11. Object counter to detect and count objects claims 7, 8 and 9.
12. X, Y and Z axis adjustment mechanisms' for mechanism as detailed in claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11.
13. Object agitator, consisting of a driven wheel with end form within storage volume to agitate objects within the storage volume.