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US 4,282,985 AGranted
Seed plate
OwnerRay Yamamotoinventor
Life of this patent
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OwnerRay Yamamotoinventor
Estimating the term…
A circular seed plate for use with a tilted, cylindrically shaped hopper includes a plurality of cells formed in, and spaced around, the circumference of the plate. Each seed cell includes an end surface which extends radially inwardly from the outer diameter in a direction toward the center of the plate, a trailing shelf surface which extends forwardly in the direction of rotation of the plate from the radially innermost end of the end surface, and a leading shelf surface which extends forwardly from the trailing shelf surface also in the direction of rotation of the plate. Ideally each leading shelf surface is substantially longer than its corresponding trailing shelf surface. The edge defined by the intersection of each leading shelf surface and the upper face of the seed plate is beveled along substantially the entire length of the leading shelf surface. As the seed plate rotates over the base of the hopper, several seeds are captured by each passing seed cell and then are pushed along by the trailing end surface toward an outlet opening formed in the top of the inclined hopper base. As the seeds approach the top of the travel of the plate, all of the seeds except one roll out of the cell so that only a single seed at a time is deposited into the ground.
In a hopper having an inclined base portion, upstanding side walls extending upwardly from the base portion and an outlet opening in the base portion at the top of the incline, the improvement comprising a circular seed plate removably disposed within the hopper to overlie the base portion, said plate powered to rotate about its central axis and having a lower face adjacent the hopper base portion, an upper face opposite the hopper base portion and a plurality of cells spaced about the circumference of said plate, each of said cells including:
In a cylindrically shaped seed hopper having an inclined base portion, an upstanding side wall extending around the circumference of the base portion and a seed dispensing opening in the base portion at the top of the incline, the improvement comprising a circular seed plate disposed within the hopper to closely overlie the hopper base portion, said plate powered to rotate about its central axis and having a lower face adjacent the hopper base portion, an upper face opposite the hopper base portion and a plurality of seed cells spaced about the circumference of said plate, each of said cells including:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.