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US 12,714,003 B2Granted
Batch seed coating devices, scale fillers, mixers, discharge chutes and gates, and related systems and methods
OwnerTimothy Todd Braceinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Various batch mixers and related components and methods for coating seeds to be used in planting and other applications where it is desired to enhance germination of the seed or growth of the resulting plant. Seed supply systems include an articulating gate on a seed scale fill hopper. A lateral discharge gate on a seed supply hopper is provided. Unique mixing bars or blades are arranged around an interior of a stirring batch mixer. A discharge chute may be provided to dissipate kinetic energy of coated seeds without damaging the seeds.
Claims19
A batch seed coating device comprising:
- a housing forming a seed mixing bowl;
- a stirring part mounted to stir, about a rotational axis, a mixture of seeds and seed coating within an interior of the seed mixing bowl;
- a plurality of two or more mixing blades angularly spaced and mounted around the interior of the seed mixing bowl with a leading face of each mixing blade angled radially inward, from an interior surface of a cylindrical side wall of the housing to an inner edge of the mixing blade, along a direction of rotation about the rotational axis to, in use, direct the mixture travelling along the cylindrical side wall, radially inward and in the direction of rotation;
- a discharge port in the cylindrical side wall,
- a moveable mixing blade mounted to move within the interior of the seed mixing bowl between:
- a recirculating position where a leading face of the moveable mixing blade is angled to, in use, direct the mixture radially inward and in the direction of rotation;
- and
- a discharge position where the leading face of the moveable mixing blade is angled radially outward, from an inner edge of the moveable mixing blade to the interior surface of the cylindrical side wall of the housing, along the direction of rotation about the rotational axis to, in use, direct the mixture radially outward into the discharge port.
5 more elements
A method comprising:
- stirring a mixture of seeds and seed coating within an interior of a seed mixing bowl around a rotational axis of the seed mixing bowl;
- in which while stirring, a plurality of two or more mixing blades, which are angularly spaced and mounted around the interior of the seed mixing bowl with a leading face of each mixing blade angled radially inward, from an interior surface of a cylindrical side wall of the seed mixing bowl to an inner edge of the mixing blade, along a direction of rotation about the rotational axis, direct the mixture, which is travelling along the cylindrical side wall, radially inward and in the direction of rotation;
- moving a moveable mixing blade from a recirculating position where a leading face of the moveable mixing blade is angled radially inward to direct the mixture radially inward and in the direction of rotation along with the plurality of two or more mixing blades, into a discharge position where the leading face of the moveable mixing blade is angled radially outward, from an inner edge of the moveable mixing blade to the interior surface of the cylindrical side wall of the seed mixing bowl, along a direction of rotation about the rotational axis to, in use, direct the mixture radially outward into a discharge port;
- and
- discharging coated seeds from the discharge port in the cylindrical side wall.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.