GB566893A - Improvements relating to the mounting of seeds for planting - Google Patents

Abstract

566,893. Packing seeds. JENKINS, F. C. June 3, 1943, Nos. 8924/43 and 2572/44. [Class 94 (i)] An improved method of mounting seeds on paper carriers to facilitate sowing consists in attaching the seeds to a thin paper band which is folded into a tube to enclose the seeds, and finally it is twisted into string. Pest deterrents or plant food may be enclosed in the string. The paper 1 is led from a reel 2, Fig. 1, by guide and feed rollers 3, 4, 5 to a seed - applying mechanism 6, thence to a folding device 11, over a roller 12 through a lappet eye 13 to a traveller 14 carried by a ring 15 which rotates with a bobbin 16 on which the string containing the seeds is wound. The seed-applying mechanism is shown in Fig. 2 and comprises a roller 52 provided with rubber projections 53 for applying beads of gum or other adhesive to the band 1 as it passes over a feed roller 28. The gum is received from a roller 54 which is driven by reduction gearing from the shaft 61 of a seed-disperser 63 which projects seeds on to the band as it passes over the inclined side 93 of a hopper in which the seeds are contained. Prior to receiving the gum beads, the band may be formed with slits by a reciprocating cutting-device 32 driven by crank pins 35, 36, whilst passing between slotted support plates 43, 44. To prevent fouling of the roller 28 should the band not be fed around it, a groove is formed therein in register with the projections 53, which permits the projections to pass the roller without gumming it. The hopper 9 has a sliding plate 23 which can be withdrawn to discharge seed into a shoot 17 when a new kind of seed is required. The seed is maintained in contact with the spraying wheel 63 which rotates counterclockwise by discs 65, 66 of screw formation. The folding device, Fig. 6, comprises a flat metal support 73 with turned-over side edges 74 at its entrance end which starts the folding. Slots are cut in the walls 75 at the outlet end to allow passage of large seeds. The folded band passes over a turning bar 83 on its way to the roller 12, Fig. 1, and flanges on a roller 76 prevent the band from being withdrawn from the guides during the turning. In modified forms the device may be arranged to secure more than one seed in side-by-side relationship on the band, and, as shown in Fig. 12, for dealing with large seeds the disperser 63 may deliver to a bucket-type conveyer 78 which deposits the seeds on to a slotted fender 81. This fender may be modified by causing it to oscillate from an inclined position to a horizontal position for delivery. The machine may be fitted with known kinds of registering, controlling, printing, &c. mechanisms, and with automatic cut-off mechanism for the string.