Seedbed preparation method and mechanism
AssigneeTribine Industries LLC
InventorsBen N. Dillon, Dillon M. Thompson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A seedbed preparation and planting machine includes a cutting assembly including powered forward cutting blades for chopping crop residue. A cutting disc assembly follows the cutting assembly effective for forming a seedbed trench at a seed planting depth. A seed assembly follows the cutting disc assembly including a seed hopper and a seed tube located to drop seed into the seedbed trench. A packer assembly tamps down seed in the seedbed trench for covering seed therein.
Claims21
A seedbed preparation and planting machine, which comprises:
- (a) a cutting assembly including powered forward cutting blades for chopping crop residue, wherein the cutting assembly comprises a chain assembly and a biasing member, wherein the biasing member has a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the biasing member is engaged with a structural assembly and the second end of the biasing member is engaged with a pivot assembly carried by the chain assembly;
- (b) a cutting disc assembly following the cutting assembly effective for forming a seedbed trench at a seed planting depth;
- (c) a seed assembly following the cutting disc assembly including a seed hopper and a seed tube located to drop seed into the seedbed trench;
- and
- (d) a packer assembly for tamping down seed in the seedbed trench for covering seed therein.
A method for planting a cover crop in a crop field, which comprises the steps of:
- moving a seedbed preparation and planting machine across the crop field after the crop has been harvested, wherein the seedbed preparation and planting machine comprises:
- (a) a cutting assembly including powered forward cutting blades for chopping crop residue, wherein the cutting assembly comprises a chain assembly and a biasing member, wherein the biasing member has a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the biasing member is engaged with a structural assembly and the second end of the biasing member is engaged with a pivot assembly carried by the chain assembly;
- (b) a cutting disc assembly following the cutting assembly effective for forming a seedbed trench at a seed planting depth;
- (c) a seed assembly following the cutting disc assembly including a seed hopper and a seed tube located to drop seed into the seedbed trench;
- and
- (d) a packer assembly for tamping down seed in the seedbed trench for covering seed therein.
A seedbed preparation and planting machine, which comprises:
- (a) a cutting assembly including powered forward cutting blades for chopping crop residue, wherein the cutting assembly is carried by a first structural assembly;
- (b) a cutting disc assembly following the cutting assembly effective for forming a seedbed trench at a seed planting depth;
- (c) a seed assembly following the cutting disc assembly including a seed hopper and a seed tube located to drop seed into the seedbed trench, wherein the seed assembly comprises a second structural assembly that provides support for the seed hopper;
- (d) a packer assembly for tamping down seed in the seedbed trench for covering seed therein, wherein the packer assembly is carried by the second structural assembly;
- and,
- (e) a parallel link arm assembly having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the parallel link arm assembly is attached to the first structural assembly and the second end of the parallel link arm assembly is attached to the second structural assembly thereby connecting the cutting assembly carried by the first structural assembly to the seed assembly carried by the second structural assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.