Potato planter

A planting unit for a potato seed planter, the planting unit comprising:

• a first sprocket;
• a second sprocket;
• a third sprocket;
• a flexible band disposed about the first sprocket, the second sprocket and the third sprocket, the flexible band having an outer surface, an inner surface and a centerline;
• a plurality of cups attached to the flexible band, each cup of the plurality of cups including a receiving portion adapted to receive a potato seed, the receiving portion being generally aligned with or inward of the centerline of the flexible band;
• a loading section disposed between the first sprocket and the second sprocket, the loading section allowing potato seeds to be loaded into the plurality of cups attached to the flexible band;
• and
• a singulation section disposed proximate the second sprocket that removes any extra potato seeds from the plurality of cups.

A planting unit for a potato seed planter, the planting unit comprising:

• a rotatable first sprocket;
• a rotatable second sprocket;
• a rotatable third sprocket;
• a chain engaging the first sprocket, the second sprocket and the third sprocket, the chain adapted to travel in a generally upward direction between the first sprocket and the second sprocket, the chain adapted to travel in a generally horizontal direction between the second sprocket and the third sprocket, and the chain being adapted to travel in a generally downward direction between the third sprocket and the first sprocket;
• and
• a plurality of cups attached to the chain, each of the cups including a receiving portion that is generally aligned with or inward of a pitch line of the chain.

A seed planter for planting seeds in the ground at desired locations, the seed planter comprising:

• a frame;
• a seed hopper attached to the frame, the seed hopper being sized and configured to receive a plurality of seeds;
• and
• a planting unit attached to the frame, the planting unit comprising:
• an endless chain passing around a first sprocket, a second sprocket and a third sprocket, the chain including a pitch line and a plurality of links;
• a plurality of cups attached to the endless chain, each cup of the plurality of cups including a receiving portion adapted to receive a seed and an outer tip;
• a loading section disposed between the first sprocket and the second sprocket, the loading section allowing seeds from the seed hopper to be loaded into the plurality of cups attached to the endless chain;
• a deflector positioned proximate the second sprocket and outer tip of the plurality of cups, the deflector being sized and configured to deflect any extra seeds discharged from the plurality of cups into a return mechanism;
• a downward section disposed between the second sprocket and the third sprocket;
• and
• a guide mechanism disposed proximate the downward section, the guide mechanism being adapted to guide the movement of the potato seeds in the downward section.

A planting unit for a potato seed planter, the planting unit comprising:

• a first sprocket;
• a second sprocket;
• a third sprocket;
• a flexible band disposed about the first sprocket, the second sprocket and the third sprocket, the flexible band having an outer surface, an inner surface and a centerline;
• a plurality of cups attached to the flexible band, each cup of the plurality of cups including a receiving portion adapted to receive a potato seed and an outer tip;
• a loading section disposed between the first sprocket and the second sprocket, the loading section allowing potato seeds to be loaded into the plurality of cups attached to the flexible band;
• and
• a deflector positioned proximate the second sprocket and outer tip of the plurality of cups, the deflector being sized and configured to deflect any extra seeds discharged from the plurality of cups into a return mechanism.

A planting unit for a potato seed planter, the planting unit comprising:

• a rotatable first sprocket;
• a rotatable second sprocket;
• a rotatable third sprocket;
• a chain engaging the first sprocket, the second sprocket and the third sprocket, the chain adapted to travel in a generally upward direction between the first sprocket and the second sprocket, the chain adapted to travel in a generally horizontal direction between the second sprocket and the third sprocket, and the chain being adapted to travel in a generally downward direction between the third sprocket and the first sprocket;
• a plurality of cups attached to the chain, each of the cups including a receiving portion and an outer tip;
• and
• a deflector positioned proximate the second sprocket and the outer tip of the plurality of cups, the deflector being sized and configured to deflect any extra seed to a return mechanism.