Distributor for gravel and seeds

A device for distributing solid particles of material comprising a support, first horizontal plate means fixedly mounted on said support and formed with a plurality of material-discharge aperatures arranged in a predetermined geometrical configuration, second horizontal plate means fixedly mounted above said first plate means and having a plurality of material-receiving apertures arranged in the same configuration but displaced horizontally with respect to said discharge aperture configuration, middle horizontal plate means slidably disposed between said first and second horizontal plate means and having a configuration of apertures registrable alternately with said first and second-named configurations in two respective predetermined registration positions of said slidable middle plate means, guide means on the support constraining said middle plate means to horizontal movement between said registration positions, and lever means connecting said middle plate means and said support and being arranged to move the middle plate means between said registration positions responsive to operation of said lever means, said support comprising a horizontal frame having a plurality of depending supporting legs defining a space beneath the frame;

• a rack of receiving containers movably disposed beneath the frame in said space and arranged in a geometrical configuration substantially identical with and registering with the material-discharge apertures,
• said support means further provided with means for adjustably clampingly securing said second plate means relative to said first plate means whereby slidable middle plate means of varying thicknesses can be accommodated,
• said geometrical configuration comprising rectilinear rows and columns of apertures,
• said receiving apertures having downwardly receiving surfaces,
• said guide means comprising a rectangular bin mounted on said support, said first and second plate means fitting in said bin, said middle plate means slidably fitting between two opposite longitudinal walls of said bin, and wherein said middle plate means has an extension projecting movably through a transverse wall of said bin.
• means of limiting sliding movement of said middle plate means substantially to the path of travel required for motion between said two registration positions,
• said middle plate means being formed with a rectilinear slot of a length substantially equal to and extending parallel to said path of travel, and wherein said limiting means comprises fixed pin means secured to said support and extending through said slot, and
• said lever means pivoted to said support being provided with link means connecting the lever means to said extension of the middle plate means.