MXPA97005336A - A mechanical seed meter - Google Patents

Abstract

A mechanical seed meter having a stationary housing and a rotatable bowl. The stationary housing is provided with a first axial wall, an outer radial wall and a flexible inner radial wall. The bowl is provided with seed receiving cells that form a second axial wall for trapping singled seeds in the seed trapping area. A flexible and resilient flap maintains the seed in the seed receiving cells. An axially extending brush removes excess seeds from the seed receiving cells as they pass through the seed puddle before entering the seed trapping area. The seed slides along the radial outer wall by centrifugal force until it enters the outlet area from which the outer radial wall becomes part of the outlet and the metered seed is deposited through the outlet to a seed tube. Jammed seed, that is seed trapped in the seed receiving cells, are provided with a downward force by a bump located in the outlet and an upward force by a rotatable wheel located downstream from the outlet.

Description

A MECHANICAL SEED METER This application is a continuation in part of the patent application of the United States of America Series No. 08 / 610,644, filed on March 4, 1996.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the invention This invention is directed to improvements in a mechanical seed meter which can be used on seeders, grain cultivators and seeders with air. 2. Description of Previous Art In the United States of North America, the vast majority of crops are planted with row crop cultivators, grain seeders or seeders through the air. Row crop planters are designed to place seeds in rows with sufficient separation to allow control of the weeds through cultivation and to improve harvesting efficiency. Grain seeders and seeders through air are used in solid sowing, when the row spacing is very close to allow cultivation or other cultural practices. * 2 The three seeders measure or dose the seeds so that they can be planted uniformly in a field. Row crop planters usually have the most sophisticated dosing equipment for individual seeds, while grain planters and seeders through air use volumetric meters or feeders, which dose a fixed volume of seeds per linear foot.

The unique mechanical seed meters used on the seed drills include seed plate gauges, gauges, finger gauges and "brush gauges". A seed plate seed meter is a mechanical seed meter that has a rotating plate located at the bottom of the hopper of seeds. The plate is provided with the 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 discharged area and the seed is released. Patents of the United States of North America Nos. 3,486,659, 4,282,985 and 4,609,131 describes in various configurations for seed plate type seed meters.

Another mechanical seed meter is the meter picking seeds with your finger. This meter is used for maize and comprises a series of fingers that pass through the seed deposit. The fingers are initially open in the seed deposit and then close by trapping the seed between the fingers and a stationary plate. Additional seeds trapped by the fingers are removed by passing the fingers over indentations on the stationary plate as the seed is transported to the discharge area where the finger opens releasing the seed. An example of a finger pick meter is described in U.S. Patent No. 3,552,601.

Recently "brush meters" have been used to dose soybean, sorghum, cotton etc. A vertical rotating speed plate has a plurality of seed cells around its periphery passages through the seed reservoir. The seeds are trapped in the seed cells by the brushes. Examples of "Brush Meters or 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 seed metering device for singling seeds. The seed meter can be used on row crop planters, grain seeders and cultivators through air.

The seed meter 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 dosed seeds are fed into the seed tube. The stationary box is provided with a seed trapping zone formed by a first axial wall, an outer radial wall and a brush that extends radially defining an internal radial wall. The radially extending brush extends circumferentially from the seed pool 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 a hub. The seed receiving cells cooperate with the seed trapping zone to trap the unique seeds there.

The seed receiving cells of the container pass through a pool of seeds formed between the container and the stationary box collecting the seeds. The seeds trapped in the seed receiving cells of the rotating vessel pass under a flexible and elastic fin which presses slightly and keeps the seeds received in the seed cells while releasing any cells with double seed. An axially extending brush located a short distance downward from the flexible and elastic fin urges the excess seeds out of the seed receiving cell. As the trapped seed passes 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 pool. A radially extending protrusion is formed in the brush at the outlet to release any seeds that could be wedge-shaped in the seed receiving cells.

An upwardly pressing wheel is located immediately downstream of the outlet and contacts the outer eyebrow of the container. The seeds stuck in the seed receiving cell are pushed up by the wheel releasing the seeds so that they can be released from the seed receiving cell in the next step.

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

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

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

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

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 showing the seed entrapment 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 meter. The seed meter can be used on row crop planters, grain cultivators and seeders through air. This can be particularly useful in row crop planters and more specifically for use with soybeans and other crops. The meter comprises a stationary box 10 having two elements. The first element is a solid metallic unit 12 which is provided with a seed inlet 14 (Figure 3) and the seed outlet 16. The unit 12 is provided with an axially extending spindle 18 to which the rotating elements are attached. of the seed meter. A wear strip 19 is mounted on the interior wall of the unit 12 by appendages not shown, which hook the mounting holes in the unit. The wear strip is formed of an elastic metal having a radius greater than the unit so that it stays in place when it is mounted on the unit.

The second box element comprises a plastic ring 20, which is secured to the first box element 12 through the plastic appendages 21, see figure 5. The appendages 21 are resided in the reception openings 23 formed in the unit 12. The 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 radial wall 26 form a seed trapping zone 28 for trapping the singular seeds S, best shown in the Figure. A pail 30 is rotatably mounted on the use 18 and it is provided with three screws 32. The container 34 is mounted on the hub 30 by passing the rings 32 through the curved slots 35 formed in the container and securing the container thereto 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 60 which helps to introduce the seeds into the seed receiving cell 38. The width and depth of the slots becomes smaller as the slot approaches the receiving cell of seeds. As can be seen in Figure 5, the seed receiving cells 38 form a second axial wall in the seed entrapment zone to trap the 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 adjacent ring the seed pool is provided with a flexible and elastic fin 48. The fin is provided with a base 49 that is mounted on the ring. The fin imparts a light downward force on the seed to maintain the individual seeds in the seed receiving cells. 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 also provided with a screw 46 which is screwed into the ring 20 to secure the mounting plate in 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 between the seed set 34 and the box 10. By turning the container in one direction from right to left, the seeds in the seed pool are directed to the seed receiving cells 38 through the slots 40. After they enter, the single cell seeds are held in place by a flexible and elastic fin 48. The axially extending brush 42 drives the excess seeds out of the seed cells, so that only one seed remains in each seed cell before it enters the seed entrapment zone. Upon entering the seed entrapment zone, the seed is forced radially outward by a centrifugal force against the outer radial wall 26, which is formed in unit 12. This is held axially in place by the first axial wall 22 and the second wall formed by the seed receiving cell 38. The radially extending brush 24 forms the radial wall of the seed entrapment zone. The brush 24 holds the seed in the seed receiving cell 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 for compensating the seed receiving cells carried without breaking the various 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 is sometimes coupled to a seed tube, which directs the seeds to the sowing furrow. To prevent the seeds in the seed set from jumping, the seed doser, the brush 24 extends beyond the dispenser outlet. A radially extending protrusion 49 formed in the ring 20 imparts a downward force on any seed that can be wedged in a seed receiving cell, so that the seed receiving cell is opened to be refilled during the next annotation through of the seed puddle. In addition, a rotating plastic wheel 80 located immediately downstream of the outlet provides an upward force to dislodge the jammed seed. The rotatable plastic wheel is rotatably mounted on a pivot hinge 82 which is urged upward by a spring 84. The spring surrounds a bolt 86 on which the pivot arm is mounted. The mounting bolt in turn is mounted on a spine 88 extending from the unit 12.

The hub 30, best illustrated in Figures 1 and 6, is a plastic disc member 50 having an annular orifice 52. The annular orifice is mounted in use 18 and held in place by a pin 53 and the ring of retention 55. The periphery of the disc 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. Through 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 It can be controlled. Indicating means comprising a pointer 60 on the container 34 and indicator marks 62 on the hub 30 are used to inform the operator of the position of the container in relation to the hub. By verifying a scheme the operator can then determine the size of the individual seed trapping areas and change the ratio for different seed sizes. The spindle 18 is provided with a coupling member, not shown to couple the use to a rotating power source to rotate the hub and the container.

Another feature to be identified is the finger pins 70, which extend axially outwardly from the container and are used to assist the operator in rotating the container relative to the hub when adjusting the axial position of the container relative to the hub. In addition, the finger pins 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 bore 52 are provided with threads. 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 22. The calibration is then used using a split pin inserted into the spindle. through the tree and the cube. This calibration position does not have an indicator label.

The present invention should not be limited by the nullities described above, but should be limited only by the claims that follow.

Claims (8)

1. CLAIMS 1. A seed doser for an agricultural machine, the seed dispenser 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 housing defines an internal radial wall, the axial inner wall, the radial outer wall and the radial inner wall defining a seed entrapment zone; a container is rotatably mounted in the box, the container has a series of individual seed receiving cells arranged 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; the seed that enters the box through the inlet forms 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 as it is rotated through the whole and they are trapped there in the zone of seed entrapment, the seed trapped in the seed receiving cells is released by the outer radial wall of the box when the seed is turned towards the exit, where the box is also provided with a fin Elastic flexible to maintain the seed in the seed receiving cells before entering the zone of seed entrapment.
2. 2. A seed doser as claimed in clause 1, 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.
3. 3. A seed dispenser as claimed in clause 2, characterized in that the container is provided with a series of grooves corresponding to the individual seed receiving cells and extending inwardly therefrom.
4. 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 outwardly from the seed receiving cells before the receiving cells of seeds enter the seed entrapment zone, the flexible and elastic fin being located upwardly of the axially extending flexible member.
5. 5. A seed doser as claimed in clause 4, characterized in that the radially extending flexible member and the axially extending flexible members are brushes.
6. 6. A seed doser as claimed in clause 5, characterized in that the radially extending flexible member is provided with a radially extending protrusion to impart a downward force to push the seeds clogged downwardly from the recipient cells of the seed. seeds.
7. 7. A seed doser as claimed in clause 6, characterized in that the box is provided with a rotating wheel pressed upward located downstream of the outlet to push the jammed seeds upwardly from the seed receiving cells.
8. 8. A seed doser as claimed in clause 7, characterized in that the first axial wall, the radially extending flexible member, the axially extending flexible member and the flexible and elastic fin are mounted on a ring that can be separated from the box. 12. A seed proportioner for an agricultural machine, the seed proportioner includes: a box having an inlet for receiving seeds and an outlet through which the metered seed is dispensed, the box being provided with a first axial wall and an outer radial wall, a flexible member extending radially mounted in the box defines an inner radial wall, the axial inner wall, the radial outer wall and the radial inner wall, defining a zone of entrapment of seeds; a container being rotatably mounted in the box, the container has a series of individual seed receiving cells arranged around its peripheral axis, 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; the seeds enter the box through the entrance and form 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 of the set and are trapped there in the area of seed entrapment, said seed trapped in the seed receiving cells is released by the outer radial wall of the box when the seed is turned towards the outlet, a rotating wheel pressed upwards located immediately downstream of the outlet to impart an upward force on the seed stuck in the seed receiving cells. 13. A seed proportioner as claimed in clause 12, characterized in that the wheel is rotatably mounted on a pivot joint mounted on a spine on the box. 14. A seed proportioner as claimed in clause 14, characterized in that the pressure spring is located between the pivot joint and the box for pushing the rotary wheel upwards.