US1241502A

US1241502A - Corn-planter.

Info

Publication number: US1241502A
Application number: US12839216A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lewis E Fagan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1916-10-30
Filing date: 1916-10-30
Publication date: 1917-10-02
Anticipated expiration: 1934-10-02

Description

L. E. FAGAN.

coma PLANTEB. mwucmou FILED ocT. 30.11916.

Patented Oct. 2, 1917.

6 SHEETS-SHEET l- Invent/Z0? (a. 2

L. E. FAGAN.

CORN PLANTER. APPLICATION FILED on. 30. 1916.

1 241 ;5@& Patented Oct. 2, 1917.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

L. E. FAGAN. v

CORN PLANTER. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 30. I916.

1,241,502., ratented 'Oct. 2,1917.

6 SHEET$-SHEET 3.

L. E. FAGAN.

CORN PLANTER.

APPLICATION FILED OC' I'. 30. I916.

13%,502. Patented Oct. 2,1917. v

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

L. E. FAGAN.

CORN PLANTER.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. so. 1916.

Patented Oct. 2, 1917.

nnrrnn srrarns earner errrcn.

LEWIS E. FAGAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

coRN-rLANrEn.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Lnwrs E. FAGAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new'and useful Improvements in Corn-Planters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates in general to planters, and more particularly to the mechanism for separating, selecting and discharging or dropping kernels of grain, such as corn, cotton, beans or the like, which it "is desired to plant. v

One of the primary objects of my present invention is to provide a planter which will select and drop seeds or kernels irrespective of their size and shape with maximum accuracy;

With this general aim in view I have devised a mechanism comprising a separator or selector of novel construction which separates the kernels from'each other as they leave the hopper, a transferrer to whichthe separated kernels are deliveredsingly. from the separator, an accumulator provided with cells into each of which a single kernel is delivered by the transferrer, and mechanism for discharging from the accumulator a predetermined number of kernels at each actuation of the mechanism.v In connection with this mechanism I have also provided means for automatically returning to the hopper those kernels which are delivered by the transferrer to the accumulator in ex cess of the number which, it is desirable to drop at each operation, and I have also provided mechanism designed to be used only when the planter is employed for drilling which retains the'kernels discharged from the accumulator and releases them successively in predetermined timed relation to each other so that they will be deposited in the ground in the proper spaced relation.

For the purpose of facilitating anunderstanding of my invention I have illustrated on the accompanying drawings one preferred embodiment thereof, from a consideration of which when taken in connection with the following description, my invention and many of its inherent advantages should be readily understood. Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved mechanism, the seed hopper, being omitted to more clearly show the underlying mechanism;

Specification of Letters Patent.

latented 0ct.2, 1917.

Application filed. October 30, 1916. Serial No. 128,392.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on the llne 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a similar view onthe line 3-3 of Fig. 1; I

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view on the line etl of Fig. 2, certain parts being broken away to show the underlying elements;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a portion of the separator plate and the driving. mechanism therefor Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view partially in section showing the mechanism employed for drilling purposes;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 7-7 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 88 of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 9-9 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, reference character 11 designates generally the base or supporting portion upon which the various mechanisms embodied in my invention are carried. This base may be mounted in any convenient manner upon the frame of the planter, one standard 12 being shown, the bottom or foot of which may be'bolted to the frame. This base and the mechanism carried thereby is disposed on the frame immediately beneath the usual hopper 13 which may be of well known or preferred construction, and preferably equipped with a cut-off valve 14 of any suitable type. As shown in the present instance the hopper is supported upon and carried by four posts or uprights 15 integrally connected together by a spiral member 16, which will be described more in detail hereinafter, .and. mounted at their lower endsupon the base 11 to which they are secured by bolts or screws 17 passing through the outwardly extending feet 18.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be observed that a vertically disposed shaft'19 is journaled'near its lower is well understood in the art. The shaft 19 carries at its upper end a hopper plate or vided with a cell in the form of an aper-- ture 25 adapted to receive and accommo disk 24 which forms the bottom of the hopper and upon which the kernels in the hopper rest. Near its center this plate is pro.-

date a plurality of the largest sized kernels, which enter therein from the hopper. It will be noted that the hopper plate is positioned immediately above the spiral member 16 which has a top web 26 upon which the kernels in the cell 25 rest during the greater part of each revolution of the plate.

I passage 31 into which the kernels are dropped near the axis of the spiral through the aperture 27, as previously explained. The kernels, when deposited in this passage,

' rest upon'a plate 32 which, in the form of the inventionshown on the drawings, has a substantially fiat upper face, although I have found that a conical plate is very satisfactory for the purpose. The upper face of the plate, whether fiat or conical, is provided with grooves 33 preferably tapering in depth from their inner to their outer ends, assho'wn. The lower face of the plate 32 .is provided nearits periphery with a downwardly projecting flange 34 equipped with teeth 35 to form an internal gear. A web. 36 extending across the upper end of the base 11, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, cars ries'apinion '37'which meshes with the internal gear 35 and also meshes with and is driven by an idler pinion 38 which in turn is driven by. agear 39 fixed on the shaft 19, all as best shown in Figs. 2 and 5.

At this point I desire to direct attention to the fact that the spiral ribs or

walls

28 and 29, forming the spiral passage 31, are in the form of parallel involute curves the inner of which terminates inwardly of but adjacent to one edge of the plate 32, while the outer one extends outside the periphery ofthe plate 32, as shown in Fig. 1. The passage 31 accordingly extends from substan-v tially the center of the disk 32 to a point at one side of the plate where the end of the passage is disposed partially over and partially outside the plate. Thelgrooves 33 formed on the upper surface of the plate 32 have their longitudinal axes disposed on a tangent to the base of the involute curve on which the rib 28 is formed; consequently,

. the longitudinal axes of the grooves are at all times perpendicular to the rib 28. It will be obvioustherefore that the kernels which 1 are delivered into the passage 31 upon the plate near the center thereof, will, as'the plate 32 is rotated. in a counter-clockwise direction, viewing Fig. 1, be forced by the rib 28 outwardly toward the periphery of. the grooves 32 longitudinally of the plate 33 without any tendency to move from one groove to another. construction thekernels which are delivered to the center of the plate 32 are moved toward the periphery of the plate by the involute rib 28, each along !its individual groove so that when the kernels have approached the periphery of the plate they are separatedfrom each other by a plurality of grooves. In order to facilitate the smooth travel of the kernels toward the periphery of the disk and to prevent hopping or jumping of the kernels as the result of jars or jolts incident to the travel of the machine over the ground I prefer to incline the outer face of the rib 28 as indicated by ref.- erence character 41, so that this face partially overhangs the kernels as they are forced. outwardly on the plate. It will be noted from Fig. 1 thatth'e passage 31, as previously explained, extends at its outer end partiallyoutside of the periphery of the plate 32, and this portion of the passage outside the plateis provided with a bottom wall 42 which is inclined downwardly toward the plate, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, andis disposed partially above the plate so that the larger kernels. which might have a tendency to slide off the periphery of the plate before the end of the passage .31 is reached, will be urged by this inclined bottom wall into the ends ofthe grooves 33 by which they are carried along to the end of the passage 31 asthe plate revolves. The end of the rib 29beyond the extremity of the bottom wall 42 is turned inwardly as indicated at 43 so as to forma vertical passageway downwardly, through which the kernels will drop as they are brought in succession the revolving plate'into register with this passage. In order to assist in pushing the kernels, particularly the smaller ones,o1'f from the plate 32, when they have reached theend of the rib 28, I have provided a toothed wheel 44 mounted on a shaft 45 journaled in a spider46 and carrying at its upper end a similar gear 47 driven through the intermediary of an idler 48 from a spur gear 49 formed on the hub of the hopper plate 24. This gear 44ro tates in a counter-clockwise direction, viewing Fig. 1, and serves to facilitate the deliv- As the result of this cry of the kernels from the plate into the vertical passagethrough which they are decular plate or member 51 fixed to the vertical shaft 19 just above the base lland provided adjacent its periphery with marginal upstanding walls or partitions 52 ar-' ranged radially around the plate so as to divide the plate into a plurality, in the present instance 16, of pockets 53, the outer walls of which are formed by the circular casing 54 of the base member 11. Each of these pockets travels in succession, as the member 51 is rotated by the shaft 19, beneath the passage 55 (Fig. 3.) throughwhich the kernels are delivered from the groove plate 32. Each pocket is equipped with a kernel detector in the form of a finger or block56 slidingly mounted upon the member 51 and having an inwardly extending guide rod 57 which projects through a suitable guide opening in the vertical flange 58 of a cupshaped member which is secured by screws 59 or other suitable means to the member 51, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 7. Each detector is normally urged outwardly radially of the'member 51 into the position shown at the right in Fig. 3, and also in Fig. 7, by a coiled expansion spring 60 surrounding the guide rod 57 and interposed between the flange 58 and the rear face of the detector finger proper.

The circular web 36, upon which the driving pinions for the groove plate ,32 are mounted, as previously explained, is provided with an annular downwardly. projecting wall 61 which forms the rear walls of the pockets above the detectors 56, and this wall'is equipped with an inwardly extending cam flange 62, the contour of which is best shown in Fig. 4. Upon the inner end.

of the top portion 63 of each detector there is mounted an antifriction roller 64 which is normally urged into engagement with the cam face of the flange 62 by the spring 59, above explained. It will be obvious from Fig. 4 that as the conveyer plate, carrying with it the detectors, is revolved, the detectors will bealternatel'y drawn inwardly from the pockets 53 by the cam 62, and as the rollers 64 ride off the endof the cam the detectors will be projected radially outwardly into their respective pockets by the springs 59, aided by centrifugal force.

The kernels are delivered from the plate 32 through the passage 55 into the pockets of the conveyer at approximately the point marked D in Fig. 4, at which point the detector is withdrawn from the pocket. As the conveyer plate rotates in a counterclockwise direction, viewing Fig.4, so that the roller 64 travels olf'of the cam 62, the detector will be forced'outwardly into the pocket as previously explained, but if a kernel has been deposited in the pocket the detector will contact therewith and be prerented by the kernel from reaching the outward limit of its travel. In other words, a kernel disposed in the. pocket would be engaged between the outer face of the detector 56 and the inner face of the wall 54,. and the outward movement'of the detectorwill be accordingly limited by the size of the kernel. It will be understood at this point that the relative speed of the groove plate 32 and the conveyer 51 are such that only one kernel will be delivered by the plate 32 to any pocket of the conveyer; consequently, no conveyer pocket will ever contain more than one kernel and in actual practice many of the conveyer pockets will pass the delivery passage 55 without receiving any kernel.

It will be observed from Figs. 2, 3 and 7 that the conveyer plate 51 is provided with a slot 65 extending radially inwardly from each pocket; and that the lower portion of each detector is equipped with a downwardly extending tooth 66 which projects through its respective slot and is slidable longitudinally of said slot upon radial movement of the detector. The position of each tooth 66 radially of the conveyer plate 51, which is determined by the presence or absence of a kernel in the pocket in which the respective detector operates, controls the operation of the accumulator to which the kernels are delivered from the pockets, which accumulator and its operating mech anism will now be described.

This accumulator consists of a circular housing or shell 67 surrounding the vertical body Wall 54ofthe base 11 and outside of the conveyer. A stationary bottom 68, consisting of a radially projecting flange formed on the base 11, supports the accumulators throughout substantially one-half of its circumference. The accumulator shell is also provided, as shown in Fig. 1, with a series of inwardly extending walls or partitions 69, which divide the shell into a series of compartments, in the present instance 16, corresponding in number to the number of conveyer pockets. At one side the casing wall 54 is provided with a port or discharge opening 71, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, through which communication is afforded between the conveyer pockets and the accumulator chamber. Upon the periphery of the accumulator shell there is provided a radially extending flange 72 equipped on its lower face with gear teeth v73 which mesh with the teeth of a gear wheel 74 (Fig. 7) mounted upon an inclined shaft 75, journaled in a suitable bracket 76, formed on the base 11, this shaft being equipped at its inner end with a bevel; ratchet Wh-eel 77 disposed beneath 'and in proximity to the path of travel of the radial slot 65 in the conveyer plate 51.

The accumulator normally remains stationary with one of its chambers in registration with the port 71, as shown in Fig. 4. Assuming that the conveyer is rotatingand I that one of the pockets'con'taining no kernel all passes over the shaft 75, the pocket being empty the detector will, be in 11 rojectedposition, as shown in Fig. 7, and the tooth 66 will pass outside of the bevel ratchet wheel 77 without actuating thesame, as shown in full lines in Fig. 7., If, however, a kernel is disposed in the conveyer pocket the detector will be held thereby in partially retracted position as indicatedin dotted lines in Fig.7

and the tooth 66.will aline and engage with theuppermost tooth on the wheel 77 so as to impart a partial rotation to theshaft 7 5v as the tooth 66 passes the wheel 77 upon. rotation of the conveyer plate 51. This actuation of the shaft will, through the gear Wheel 74, partially rotate the accumulator shell 67 so as to. bring thesucceedi-ng accumulatorchamber into register with the port 71, through .which the kernel will be ejected into the chamberfrom the conveyer pocket by the detector when the pocket is brought intoregister with the port. The proportions of the gear wheel 74 and the bevel ratchet wheel 77 are such that the accumulatorfv chambers are presented successively into register with the port 71 upon successive actuations of the shaft 75 by the tooth 66.

From Figs. 2 and 4 it will be observed that an arcuate plate. 78 carried by an arm 7 9, the hub 81 of which is rotatably mounted concentrically with the shaft 19, forms the bottom offour accumulator chambers, counting in a counter-clockwise direction from the port, 71, viewing Fig. 1. As the kernels are discharged-from. the conveyor pockets into the accumulator chambers, one kernel being depositedin each succeeding chamber, as previously explained, these kernels are retained in'the pockets by the plate'7S until fourkernels in corresponding pockets have been, accumulated on the plate 7 8. By m0vement'of this platein a clockwise direction, viewing .Fig. 4, about the shaft 19 as a center, the plate is. withdrawn practically si Inultaneously from beneath one or more of these four-pockets, depending upon the extent of; movement of the plate, thereby permitting the kernels resting onthe plate to drop into a receiver or into the boot of the planter, which is disposed beneath these chambers.

- Referring now to the mechanism for actuating the plate 78 to effect the discharge of'the, accumulated kernels it will be observed from Fig. 4 thatthe arm 7 9 is con, nected by a'link 82 with the end of an arm or lever 83 fixed upon the lower end of a rock shaft 84 journaled at one side of the casing. The upper end'of the shaft 8 1 has fixedly mounted thereon an arm 85, as shown in Fig. 1, the outer end OfWlllCl'l is urged into en'gagement with the per phery of the hopper plate24; by a contraction spring 86 attached at one end to the lever and at its'other to a stationary part of the struc ture such, for instance, as one of the screws 17. From Fig: 1- it'will also be observed that the hopper plate 24L is provided with. a segmental notch orrecess 87 adapted to, ac-. commodate the end of the lever. 85, sothat at each revolution of the plate 2 1 in, a counter-clockwise direction the extremity of the lever 85 will enter this recess and swing in a counter-clockwise direction under the in- -fluence of the spring 86 whenthe recess 2' reaches the position indicated in. dotted lines in Fig. 1. This movementrof the lever 85 rocks the shaft 84 and. through the lever 83, link 82, and arm. 78, swings the plate 7 9 in a clockwise direction from beneath the chambers of the accumulator in which the kernels have been deposited. If the lever 85 is permitted to swing to the full depth of the notch .87 the movement will be. suflicient to withdraw the plate 78 from beneath all four of the filled chambers. of the accumulator,

It is frequently desirable to drop less than four kernels in a hlll, three and sometimes two being all that is necessary. To readily accommodate my'invention to such requirements I have provided means for limiting the throw of 'the arm 85 and consequently the length of travel of the plate 78, which consists of a cam 88 mounted'up'on a fixed bearing pin 89' in the path of travel ofthe lever 85. This cam may be adjusted upon its pivot by any suitable mechanism but in the present instance I have shown the cam as equipped with an'arm 91' adapted to be connected with a link, shaft or other mechanism which can be readily adjusted to any one of three different positions. When the cam is in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1 the arm 85 will be permitted to swing to its fullest extent within the recess 87,'thereby withdrawing the plate 78 from beneath all four chambers. Should it be desirable to droponly three kernels at a time the cam will be swung in a counterclockwise direction so that the lever 91 willassume the dotted line position indicated by B in Fig. 1 to present a higher surface in. the path of the arm 85 which will stop the operative stroke of the armf85 short of a full stroke so as to withdraw the plate/('8 from beneaththree chambers only. By adjusting the cam so as to present still a higher surface in the path of the arm 85 by swinging the lever 91 into the dotted line position indicated by O in Fig. 1 the movement of the plate 78 may be restricted so as to permit the kernels to be discharged from only two of the chambers. In the operation of'the planter the checkrow wire-controlled clutch which intermittently actuates the drive shaft 23 is thrown out when the arm 85 enters the recess 87. After the planter has traveled a predetermined distance the, clutch is then thrown in by the next knot on the checkrow wire and another revolution is imparted to the shaft 19. Upon initial rotative movement of the hopper plate 24 the'edge- 92 of the recess 87 engages the end of the arm 85 and forces the arm outwardly again into the position shown in Fig. 1 where it re mains in contact with the periphery of the hopper plate until the recess is again brought into register with the arm, where upon the dropping operation previously explained is repeated.

The mechanism thus far describedis so speeded and timed and the cell opening 25 in the hopper plate is so proportioned that at least the maximum number of kernels of the largest size that it is ever desirable to plant in one hill-will be delivered to the accumulator between each successive dropping operation. When the seed contains kernels of smaller size a'greater number of these small kernels will be delivered from the hopper throughthe cell opening 25; conplate 78 onto the stationary plate 68 and will be discharged through an opening in the plate 68 into a chute 93 (Figs. 3 and 1)] from which they enter a container 94. From the container the surplus kernels are returned to the hopper by any suitable elevating mechanism, an endless chain conveyer 95 provided with one or more buckets 96 being shown in the present instance for purposes of illustration, the lower end of the conveyer being trained over a spocket wheel 97 mounted upon the shaft 23. The upper end of the conveyer and the top of the hop per through which the surplus kernels are returned tothe hopper are not shown on the drawings. v

In order that the planter may be adapted for drilling; that is, dropping the kernels singly at predetermined distances apart, I have provided mechanism which is arranged beneath the accumulator to receive the kernels dropped thereby and then discharge them singly in succession. Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 6, it will be observed that the upper portion of the boot, which is designated generally by reference character 98, is curved transversely to correspond to the curvature of the accumulator and discharge plate 7 8, and is also provided with a plurality of partitions 99 which divide the boot into four channels or compartments alining with the overlying compartments of the accumulator. The lower end of each channel or compartment of the boot is normally closed by a flat valve 101 pivoted at 102 and normally held in closed position as shown in full lines in Fig. 2 by a contractile spring 103 attached atone end to the arm 104 of the valve and at its other end to a stud or pin 105. Infront of the boot there is rotatably mounted in a pair of bracket arms 106 a rotary shaft 107 which is continuously driven when the planter is drilling from the main drive shaft through any suitthere are mounted four fingers or tappets I 108 arranged upon the shaft so as to engage with the arms 104- of the valve 101 in succession at each revolution of .the shaft 107. Each finger 108 is preferably set at an angle of 90 degrees with respect to the next adjacent finger so that the valves 101 are opened in succession at regular intervals. After each valve has been opened by its finger from thefull line position to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2 it is closed again after the kernel has dropped down into the boot, by the spring 108. Beneath'thevalves 101 the boot is gradually contracted into one relatively small channel through which the kernels are delivered in 107 should be so timed in its operation that it will make one complete revolution at each actuation of the accumulator plate 78 and the fingers 108 should be so positioned that all of the valves 101 will be closed so as to catch the kernels as they are discharged from the accumulator.

This drilling mechanism is designed to be a permanent part of the machine, but in order that it may not interfere with the hill drop mechanism previously explained I have provided means for rendering-the drilling mechanism inoperative when the planter is used for hill drop purposes. I have there fore mounted upon the front wall of the boot a plate or bar 109 arranged for'vertical movement in suitable guideways 111. A

rock shaft 112 journaled in the brackets 106v tating the shaft 112 in a clockwise direction. viewing Fig. 2 the bar 109 will be elevated shaft 112 is rocked to elevate the bar 109- and upon reverse rotation of the shaft the bar will be lowered into the position shown inFig. 2. This bar 109 carries beneath each of, the valves 101 an upwardly projecting finger 115 disposed in alinement with the valve arm 104. When the-apparatus is used for drilling" purposes the bar 109 with its fingers is lowered into the position shown in Fig. 2 so that the valve may be permitted to close under the actuation of their springs 103. The mechanism will now operate to drill the kernels, as has been previously described, In order to throw the. drilling mechanism out of operation and permit the planter to operate as a hill drop planter the thereby, through the fingers 115, swinging each of-the valves 101 into the open position shown indotted lines in Fig. 2. In, this position'obviously the apertures do not intercept the kernels butpermit them to drop from the accumulator directly into the lower portion of the boot.

It is believed that my invention in one of its preferred embodiments and its mode of operation will be readily understood from the foregoing. It should be obvious that my novel separator including the groove plate and the cooperating spiral effectually separates the kernels one from another and delivers them singly into the pockets of the transferrer. As the transferrer revolves each a simple adjustment of the cam, which -de.

termines the length of the opening movementofthe plate 78., The surplus kernels which accumulate in the accumulator are automatically returned to the hopper so that only [the desired number of kernels are planted. The mechanism is so arranged and constructed that a predetermined number of kernels are released from the accumulator at'each actuation of the plate 78, and these may be dropped simultaneously for hill planting, or the drilling mechanism may be employed when desirable, for intercepting the kernels released from the accumulator and subsequently discharging, them singly. at predetermined intervals to be delivered from the boot.

While I have shown and described that embodiment of my invention which at present seems preferable, nevertheless it should be understood that the various structural features shown and described are capable of considerable modification and variation without departing from the essence of theinvention as defined in the following claims.

I claim: I

.1. In a planter, the combination of a hop per, means for delivering kernels from the ho 3 )er means for se aratm the kernels del vered from the hopper lrrespective of the size and shape of said kernels, and means for intermittently discharging a predetermined number of said separated kernels.

2. In aplanter, thecombination of a hopper, means for delivering seed kernels therefrom, means outside the hopperfor posi tively separating the seed kernels one from another irrespective of the size and shape of said kernels, an accumulator adapted'to receive said separated kernels, and means for intermittently discharging a predetermined number of said separated kernels from said accumulator. v I

3. In a planter, the comb natlon of an accumulator provided wlth a series of compartments, means for separating anddelivermg one kernel of seed to each of sa1d com-,

partments in succession, and means for dis charging the kernels from a predetermined number of sa1d compartments simultaneously.

4. In a planter, the combination of an accumulator provided with a seriesof seed compartments, a hopper adapted to, contain the seed, means for removing seed from said means for discharging a predetermined number; of kernels from said accumulator, and

means for returning the surplus kernels from the accumulator tosaid hopper.

5. In a planter, the combination of-a seed-r hopper and depos1t1ngonekernel thereof 1n each of sa1d compartments in succession,

containing hopper, an accumulator comp rismg a series of compartments, means for removing a plurality of'seed kernels from the hopper, means for separating said removed kernels one from another and depositing them singly in successive compartments of sa1d accumulator, means for simultaneously discharging a predetermined number of saidkernels from said compartments, means whereby the number of kernels sodischarged I may be varied at will, and means for'returning the surplus kernels from said" accumu-.

later to the hopper. 3

6. In a planter, the combination of hopper, 'means for intermittently removing a plurality of kernels of seed] from said.

hopper, means including a stationary member and a rotatable member for, separating said kernels from each other, and means whereby a predetermined number [o-f said separated kernels are discharged irrespective ofsize .and shape 'simultaneously from the planter.

- livering the same one at a time.

7. In a planter, the combination of a hopper, means for intermittently removing a plurality of seed kernels from said hopper, and means for separating said kernels from each other irrespective of size and shape and distributing the same singly to individual.

and means including a spiral member, and

a grooved member, for separating said kernels lrrespective oi size and shape, and de- 9. In a. planter, the combination ofa hopper, means for intermittently removing a. plurality of seed kernels. from said hopper, and means including a rotatable grooved member and a stationary spiral member cooperating therewith for separating said kernels from each other irrespective of size and shape.

10. In a planter, the combination of a hopper means for intermittently delivering a plurality of seed kernels from said hopper, a member provided with an involute spiral passage into which said kernels are delivered, a rotatable member provided with grooves disposed normally to the axis of said involute passage, and means for rotating said member to thereby separate the kernels from each other and cause the same to be delivered one at a time to the periphery of said rotatable member.

11. In a planter, the combination of a hopper, a member disposed beneath said hopper provided with an involute spiral rib, means for intermittently delivering a plu rality of seed kernels from said hopper to a point near the base of said rib, and a rotatable plate provided with grooves disposed perpendicular to said rib, said grooves being adapted to cooperate with said rib to separate said kernels and move the same in separated relation toward the periphery of said plate.

12. In a planter, the combination of a conveyer provided with a series of seed pockets, means for delivering kernels of seed to said pockets, an accumulator, and means governed by the presence or absence of a seed kernel in said pockets for actuating said accumulator.

13. In a planter, the combination of a series of movable seed pockets, means for delivering kernels of seed thereto, seedreceiving means, andv mechanism rendered operable only by the presence of a seed kernel in a pocket for actuating said seed-receiving means.

14. In a planter, the combination of a rotatable'member provided adjacent its periphery with a series of pockets, means for delivering seed kernels one at a time to said pockets, and means for automatically detecting the presence or absence of a seed kernel in each pocket.

15. In a planter, the combination of a rotatable conveyer member provided adjacent its periphery with a series of seed pockets, means for deliveringnotimore than one seed kernel to a seed pocket at one point in its travel, mechanism for detecting the presence or absence of a seed kernel in each pocket, and a movable accumulator adapted to be actuated by said mechanism as each pocket that contains a :seed kernel passes a given point. 7 I

.16. In a planter, the combination of a rotatable conveyer provided with a series of pockets, means for deliveringseed, kernels to said pockets, means for receiving said kernels from the pockets, detector mechanism for determining the presence or absence of a seed kernel ineach pocket, and mechanism controlled by said detector mechanism for operating said seed-receiving means.

17. In a planter, the combination of a r0- tatable conveyer provided with a series of pockets, a rotatable accumulator provided with a series of compartments, means for delivering seed kernels to said pockets, and mechanism rendered operative only by the presence of a seed kernel in a pocketfor presenting an empty compartment, in position to receive a kernel from each loaded pocket, said mechanism being unaffected by empty pockets on the conveyer.

18. In a planter, the combination of an accumulator comprising a series of compartments, means for delivering a single seed kernel to each of said compartments in succession, means controlled by the approach of a seed kernel for presenting an empty compartment in position to receive said kernel, a plate forming the bottoms of a plurality of said compartments throughout a portion of their travel, and means for withdrawing said plate from beneath a predetermined number of said compartments to permit the simultaneous discharge of the seed kernels therefrom.

19. In a planter, the combination of a rotatable accumulator provided with a series of compartments, a rotatable conveyer provided with a series of pockets and having one point of communication with said accumulator, means for delivering seed kernels singly to individual pockets, means whereby said accumulator is actuated to present the empty compartments successively in position to receive the seed kernels as they are delivered from said pockets, and means for simultaneously discharging a predetermined number of said kernels simultaneously from said accumulator.

20. In a planter, the combination of an accumulator havlng a series of comparttom for a plurality of said compartments throughout a portion of their travel, means for intermittently Withdrawing said plate from beneath one or more of said compartments, and adjustable means for determining' the extent of movement of said plate.

21. In a planter, the combination of a plurality of passages, devices normally closing each of said passages, means for simultaneously depositing a single seed kernel in each of said passages, and means for automatically actuating said devices so as to discharge said kernels in predetermined timed sequence.

22. In a planter, the combination of a plurality of passages, a valve normally closing each passage, means for simultaneously delivering to each of said passages a single Copies of this patent may be obtained for seed kernel, and mechanism for opening said, valves 1n predetermined timed relation to permit the discharge of seedkernels from a separator for separating saidseed kernels and delivering the same singly to said pockets, an accumulator provided with a series of chambers, means controlled by kernels in said pockets for presenting the empty compartments of said accumulator in succession for the reception of the kernels from said pockets, means for simultaneously discharging a predetermined number of kernels from said accumulator, and means for delivering said discharged kernels in predetermined timed sequence from the planter.

LEWIS E. FAGAN.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, I). 0.