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US 4,466,554 AGranted
Singulating seeder for high density plug trays
AssigneeBud Antle, Inc.
InventorsWilliam A. Hanacek, Paul Bickel
Life of this patent
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AssigneeBud Antle, Inc.
InventorsWilliam A. Hanacek, Paul Bickel
Estimating the term…
A seeder is disclosed which includes prior art elements of a bottom stationary drop plate, an intermediate and sliding reciprocating cell plate with individual singulating cells, and "wiper bars" overlying and in sliding engagement with the cell plate. The improvement herein has the overlying wiper bars apertured in registry to the underlying drop holes. The cell plate at each individual singulating cell reciprocates to and from a position of registry with and to the wiper bar apertures above and drop apertures below. Reciprocation to a position of registry typically accumulates a singulated seed in each cell of the cell plate, and thus places the seeder in position for seeding with singulation. A probe, registered to the wiper bar aperture is mounted for reciprocation relative to the wiper bar aperture. The probe is actuated in its reciprocation when registration of the singulating cell to the wiper bar aperture and drop hole is effected. Upon occurrance of this registration, the probe passes downwardly, penetrates through and clears both the singulating cell and drop hole. Probe penetration typically continues passing beyond the bottom of the drop hole to urge seed into the receiving aperture only of the underlying plug. Apparatus for accomplishing this function remotely is disclosed.
In a singulator for singulating small particles from a mass thereof of the type wherein an underlying drop plate with at least one drop hole has an overlying and reciprocating singulating plate with at least one singulating cell therein, and said singulating plate includes an overlying wiper bar overlying said drop hole, and said wiper bar, singulating plate and drop plate are juxtaposed for sliding reciprocation of said singulating plate with respect to said drop plate and wiper bar, the improvement comprising:
A process for singulating seeds including the steps of providing a drop plate with at least one drop hole therein;
A process for singulating seeds including the steps of providing a drop plate with at least one drop hole therein;
In a seed singulator for singulating seed from an unsingulated quantity thereof wherein said seeds include an ellipsoid of revolution generated about a major axis and having a minor axis, an improved singulator comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.