MXPA97001652A - A mecan seed dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sender doser for an agricultural machine, the seed dispenser comprises: a box having an inlet for receiving the seeds and an outlet through which the dispensed seed is stocked, the box being provided with an axial inner wall and a radial outer wall, a radially extending flexible member mounted on the box defines a radially inner wall, the axial inner wall, the radial outer wall and the radial inner wall define a seed entrapment zone the axial inner wall is provided with a flexible member that extends axially to drive excess seeds out of the seed receiving cells before the seed receiving cells enter the seed entrapment zone.

Description

A MEC NICO SEED DISPENSER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of Invention: The invention is directed to a mechanical seed metering device which can be used on seeders, grain seeders and air seeders. 2. Description of previous Art: In the United States of North America, the vast majority of crops are sown with row crop planters, grain seeders or seeders by air. The row crop planters are designed to place the seeds in rows sufficiently separated to allow the control of the herbs for the crop and to improve the existence of harvested. Grain seeders and air seeders are used in solid seeding, when a row spacing is too narrow to allow cultivation or other cultivation practices.

All three sowing machines dose seeds so that they can be planted evenly in a field. Row crop planters usually have the most sophisticated seed metering equipment while air seeders and row seeding machines use volumetric feeders that apply a fixed volume of seeds per linear foot.

The one-for-one mechanical seed feeders used on seed drills include seed plate feeders, finger feeders and "brush feeders". A seed plate seed dispenser is a mechanical seed dispenser having a rotating plate located at the bottom of the seed hopper. The plate is provided with seed cells in which the seed is trapped. If the cells are of the correct size, only one seed will be trapped in each cell. The plate is then rotated over the discharge area and the seed is released. U.S. Patent Nos. 3,486,659, 4,882,985, 4, 609,131 describe various configurations for seed plate type seed dispensers.

Another mechanical seed proportioner is the finger take-up feeder. This dispenser is used for corn and comprises a series of fingers that pass through the seed deposit. The fingers are initially open in the seed deposit and then closed by trapping the seed between the fingers and a stationary plate. The additional seed trapped by the fingers is removed by passing the fingers over indentations in the stationary plate as the seed is transported to the discharge area where the finger opens releasing the seed. An example of a finger feeder is described in United States Patent No. 3,552,601.

Recently, "brush dispensers" have been used to dose soy, sorghum, cotton, etc. A vertical rotating seed plate having a plurality of seed cells around its periphery passes through the seed deposit. The seed is trapped in the seed cells by the brushes. Examples of such "brush dispensers" are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,924,786, 5,027,725 and 5,058,766.

SYNTHESIS It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple mechanical setter dispenser for individualized seeds. The seed doser can be used on row crop planters, grain seeders and air seeders.

The seed doser of the present invention comprises a stationary box having an inlet for receiving the seeds from a seed hopper and an outlet through which the metered seeds are dispensed into a seed tube. The stationary box is provided with a zone of entrapment of seeds formed by a first axial wall, a radial outer wall and a radially extending brush defining an inner radial wall. The brush radially extending extends circumferentially over the seed deposit beyond the dispenser outlet. The seed trapping zone extends circumferentially around a part of the inner periphery of the box. A container having a plurality of seed receiving cells around its periphery is rotatably mounted in the box by means of a hub. The seed receiving cells cooperate with the trapping zone to trap the singular seeds there.

The recipient seed cells of the container pass through a second set of seeds formed between the container and the stationary box that collects the seeds. The seeds that are trapped in the seed receiving cells of the rotating container pass into a flexible and elastic insert which collides with the seeds received in the seed cells by releasing any cells with double seeds. An axially extending brush located immediately downstream of the flexible and elastic insert urges the excess seeds out of the seed receiving cell. By passing the seed trapped by the axially extending brush, it enters the seed trapping zone and is held there by the seed receiving cells until it is released at the outlet. The seed is released by removing the outer radial wall so that the seeds fall into the outlet. The radially extending brush prevents the seed from entering the outlet directly from the seed deposit. A radially extending protrusion is formed in the brush at the outlet to release any seeds that could be wedged in the seed receiving cells.

It is a feature of the present invention that the radially extending brush, the axially extending brush, the inner axial wall, the insert and the radially projecting protrusion are all formed on a plastic ring. The ring is detachably mounted in the housing by suitable tabs integrally formed in the ring and receiving openings formed in a stationary housing element.

To accommodate the seeds of different size the axial position of the container in relation to the box can be changed. Such a change expands or reduces the trapping area formed for each seed cell. The container is provided with a series of steps corresponding to the steps formed on the hub. By raising and lowering the container in the steps, the axial position of the container in relation to the stationary box can be adjusted. An indicator system is constructed inside the bucket and container to inform the farmer of the axial position of the container in relation to the box.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is an exploded view of the seed doser.

Figure 2 is a side view of the box and the cube of the seed dispenser.

Figure 3 is a side view of the container of the seed dispenser.

Figure 4 is a front view of the container of the seed dispenser.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 showing the seed trapping zone of the seed meter.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the cube.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Figure 1 is an exploded view of the seed doser. The seed proportioner can be used with row crop planters, grain seeders and air seeders. This is particularly useful in row crop planters, specifically for use with soybeans and other crops. The dispenser comprises a stationary box 10 having two elements. The first element is a solid metallic unit 12 which is provided by a seed inlet 14 (see Figure 3) or a seed outlet. The unit 12 is also provided with an axially extending spindle 18 to which the rotary elements of the seed doser are fastened. The second box element comprises a plastic ring 20 which is secured to the first box member 12 by the plastic appendages 21, see figure 5. The appendages 21 are received in the receiving openings 23 formed in the unit 12. Plastic ring defines a first axial wall 22 and a radially extending flexible member 24 comprising a brush. The first axial wall 22 and the radially extending brush 24 together with the outer radial wall 26 form a seed trapping zone 28 for trapping the unique seeds S, best shown in Figure 5.

A hub 30 is rotatably mounted on the spindle 18 and is provided with three screws 32. A container 34 is mounted on the hub 30 by passing the screws 32 through the curved slots 35 formed in the container and securing the container to the containers. by the wing nuts 36. The container is better illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, this comprises a series of seed receiving cells 38 which are located around the axial periphery of the container. Each cell is provided with an inwardly extending slot 40 which helps to introduce the seeds into the seed receiving cell 38. The width and depth of the slots become smaller as the slot approaches the receiving cell of the cell. seed. As seen in Figure 5, the seed receiving cells 38 form a second axial wall in the seed entrapment area to trap individual seeds. In addition, the rotation of the seeds by the container 34 imparts a centrifugal force on the seeds by forcing them radially outwardly against the outer radial wall 26.

The ring adjacent to the seed set is provided with a flexible and elastic insert 48. The insert is embedded in the ring. The ring is also provided with an axially extending flexible member 42 comprising a brush having a triangular configuration. This brush is located between the insert 48 and the zone of seed entrapment. This brush is held in place by a mounting plate 44. The mounting plate 44 is provided with a screw 46 which is screwed into the ring 20 to secure the mounting plate to the ring.

In operation, the seeds of a seed deposit are deposited in the seed doser through the inlet 14. The seeds are collected in a set formed in the seed container 34 and the box 10. When the container is rotated in a Right to left direction, the seeds in the seed set are directed into the seed receiving cells 38 through the slots. After they enter the cell they are then lightly touched by the flexible and elastic insert 48 which releases any double seeds in the seed cells. After this light touch, the axially extending brush 42 carries the excess seeds out of the seed cells so that only one seed remains in a seed cell before it enters the seed entrapment zone. When the seed enters the seed entrapment zone, it is forced radially outwards by a centrifugal force against the outer radial wall 26 which is formed in unit 12. It is held axially in place by the first axial wall. 22 and the second axial wall formed by the seed receiving cell 38. The radially extending brush 24 forms the internal radial wall of the seed entrapment zone. The brush 24 holds the seed in the seed receiving cells when the dispenser is stopped and when the gravity exceeds the centrifugal force of the rotating container acting on the seeds. The brush 24 also provides a flexible area to compensate for the filled seed receiving cells without breaking several components. Upon entering the seed in the exit area, the outer radial wall 26 falls outward and forms part of the outlet 16. In this manner the seed is thrown into the outlet. The outlet in turn is coupled to a seed tube which directs the seeds into the sowing furrow. To prevent the seeds in the seed set from taking a shortcut in the seed meter, the brush 24 extends beyond the dispenser outlet. A radially protruding protrusion 49 formed in the ring 20 forces any seed that can be wedged in the seed receiving cell outwardly inside the outlet, so that the seed receiving cell is open to be filled in during its next rotation through. of the set of seeds.

The hub 30, better illustrated in Figures 1 and 6, is a plastic disc member 50 having an annular orifice. 52. The periphery of the disk member 50 is provided with a series of steps 54 which correspond to the steps 56 formed in the container 34. These steps comprise means for adjusting the axial position of the container relative to the stationary case 10. By means of the adjusting the rotational position of the container 34 relative to the hub 30, the axial distance of the container 34 relative to the stationary case 10 can be controlled. Indicator means comprise a pointer 60 on the container 34 and the indicator markings on the hub 30 are used to inform the farmer of the position of the container in relation to the bucket. By verifying a scheme the farmer can then determine the size of the individual seed trapping areas and change the relationship for different seed sizes. The spindle 18 is provided with a coupler member, not shown, for coupling the spindle to a rotatable force source to rotate the hub and container.

Another feature to be identified are the finger tabs 70 which extend radially outwardly from the container and are used to assist the farmer in turning the container relative to the hub when adjusting the axial position of the container relative to the hub. In addition, the finger tabs 70 are used to space the containers when they are stacked to protect the seed receiving cells.

To calibrate the dispenser, the spindle 18 and the hub hole 52 were provided with thread. During calibration the deepest step 54 is set so that the container is screwed onto the spindle until the teeth of the seed receiving cells make contact with the first axial wall 22. The calibration is then fixed using an insert screw through the axis and the cube. This calibrating position does not have a designation.

The present invention should not be limited to the modalities described above and should not be limited only by the claims that follow.

Claims (19)

1. A seed doser for an agricultural machine, the seed doser comprises: a box having an inlet for receiving the seed and an outlet through which the metered seed is dispensed, the box being provided with a first axial wall and a outer radial wall, a flexible member mounted on the box defines an internal radial wall, the axial internal wall, the radial outer wall and the radial internal wall define a zone of seed entrapment; a container rotatably mounted in the box, the container has a series of individual seed receiving cells arranged around its axial periphery, the seed receiving cells rotationally move through the seed entrapment zone, the seed receiving cells define an axial outer wall for trapping the seeds in the seed entrapment zone; the seeds that enter the box through the inlet form a set of seeds between the box and the container, the individual seeds located in said assembly are taken by the seed receiving cells in the container as it is rotated through said container. As a result, the seeds are trapped in the seed entrapment zone, the seed trapped in the seed receiving cells are released by the outer radial wall of the box when the seed is turned towards the exit.

2. A seed doser as claimed in clause 1 characterized in that the outer wall of the box releases the seeds from the seed trapping zone upon finishing the exit and starts again at the exit.

3. A seed doser as claimed in clause 2 characterized in that the container is provided with a series of slots corresponding to the individual seed receiving cells and extending inwardly therefrom.

4. A seed doser as claimed in clause 3 characterized in that the first axial wall is provided with a flexible member that extends axially to drive the excess seeds out of the seed receiving cells before the receiving cells of the seed seed enter the area of seed entrapment.

5. A seed doser as claimed in clause 4 characterized by the radially extending flexible member and the axially extending flexible members are brushes.

6. A seed doser as claimed in clause 5 characterized in that the first axial wall is provided with an elastic insert adjacent to the flexible member extending axially to lightly touch the duplicated seeds out of the seed receiving cells of the container.

7. A seed doser as claimed in clause 6 characterized in that the radially extending flexible member is provided with a radially extending protrusion to release the seeds that may have been coined in the seed receiving cells.

8. A seed doser as claimed in clause 7 characterized in that the first axial wall, the axially extending flexible member and the elastic insert are mounted on a ring that can be separated from the box.

9. A seed doser as claimed in clause 8 characterized in that it comprises means for adjusting the container axially in relation to the box to accommodate different seeds.

10. A seed dispenser as claimed in clause 9 characterized in that the means for adjusting the container comprises in a series of steps formed in the container and a matching cube that is rotatably mounted in the box.

11. A seed doser as claimed in clause 10 characterized in that the bucket and the container are provided with indicating means to indicate the position of the container in relation to the box.

12. A seed proportioner for an agricultural machine, the seed proportioner includes: a box having an inlet for receiving the seed and an outlet through which the dispensed seed is dispensed, the box being provided with a first axial wall and an outer radial wall, a flexible membrane extending radially mounted, in the box defines an internal wall, the axial internal wall, the radial outer wall and the radial internal wall define a zone of entrapment of seeds; a container being rotatably mounted in the box, receiving and having a series of individual seed receiving cells arranged around its axial periphery, the seed receiving cells rotationally move through the seed entrapment zone, the seed receiving cells define an axial upper wall to trap the seeds in the area of seed entrapment; said seed entering the box through the inlet forms a puddle or set of seeds between the box and the container, the individual seeds located in this set are taken by the seed receiving cells in the container as this is rotated through the set and are trapped there in the seed entrapment zone, said seeds trapped in the seed receiving cells are released by the outer radial wall of the box when the seed is turned towards the outlet, the first axial wall and the flexible member Radially extending they are mounted on a ring that can be separated from the box.

13. A seed doser as claimed in clause 12 characterized in that the outer radial wall of the box releases the seeds from the seed entrapment zone by ending at the outlet and starting again after the exit.

14. A seed doser as claimed in clause 13 characterized in that the ring is provided with axially extending appendages that engage the receiving openings formed in the box.

15. A seed doser for an agricultural machine, the seed doser comprises a box having an inlet to receive the seeds and an outlet through which the dispensed seed is dispensed, the box being provided with a first axial wall and a wall outer radial, a radially extending flexible member mounted on the box defines an internal radial wall, the axial internal wall, the radial outer wall and the radial internal wall define a zone of entrapment of seeds define; a container being rotatably mounted in the box, the container having a series of individual seed receiving cells formed around its axial periphery, the seed receiving cells are rotationally moved through the seed entrapment zone, the seed receiving cells define an axial outer wall to trap the seeds in the seed entrapment zone; said seeds entering the box through the box form a set of seeds between the box and the container, the individual seeds located in this set are taken by the seed receiving cells in the container to be rotated through the set and they are trapped there in the zone of seed entrapment, the seeds trapped in the seed receiving cells are released by the outer radial wall of the box when the seeds are turned towards the outlet; Y means for adjusting the container axially relative to the box to accommodate the seeds of different sizes.

16. A seed doser as claimed in clause 15 characterized in that the outer radial wall of the box releases the seeds from the seed entrapment zone by terminating at the outlet and starting again after the exit.

17. A seed doser as claimed in clause 16 characterized in that it comprises means for adjusting the container axially in relation to the box to accommodate seeds of different size.

18. A seed dispenser as claimed in clause 17 characterized in that the means for adjusting the container comprise a series of steps formed in the container and a matching cube that is rotatably mounted in the box.

19. A seed doser as claimed in clause 18 characterized in that the hub and the container are provided with indicating means to indicate the axial position of the container in relation to the box.