Apparatus for separating and/or counting individual elements of a plurality

[8. Apparatus as in claim 1, the nozzle having

• menixcus-like cross section.] 9. Apparatus as in claim 1, the drum
• including an ejector means.

Apparatus for separating and counting individual ones of a plurality of substantially similar shaped particles, elements, grains, or the like, such as grains of seed, pills, etc., and including a rotating drum, feeder means for the particles and a housing for the drum, the improvement comprising:

• the drum being hollow and having a plurality of indentations extending inwardly from its outer surface, each of said indentations terminating in a bore open to the interior of the drum and having at the bottom of the indentation dimensions smaller than the particles so that the particles cannot traverse the bore, the indentations being wider than the particles at the surface of the drum, the indentations dimensioned to hold at least one particle each;
• means including a nozzle for directing a defined air jet towards the drum at direction and position so that the air jet is directed successively towards and into an indentation as the drum successively passes the indentations by the jet to blow particles in excess of one from the respective indentation while urging the remaining particle to seat in the indentation;
• and the feeder means constructed to feed particles towards the drum, so that at least one particle is in each indentation as it passes the jet.

A seed separating and individual seed counting apparatus comprising:

• a moving seed conveying member having a surface and seed carrying indentations in the surface with bores at their bases;
• a seed chamber disposed alongside the member and having a discharge in simultaneous communication with a plurality of said indentations as said member moves the indentations through the chamber;
• and a pressurized air nozzle discharging into the chamber for pressurizing the latter and directing a defined air jet successively toward and into each of said plurality of said indentations as they pass the nozzle for blowing all but one seed from the respective indentation and urging said one seed to seat in said indentation at its bore immediately prior to the respective indentation leaving the chamber.

A seed separating apparatus comprising:

• a seed chamber opening downwardly at its base;
• a movable member closing at least a portion of the chamber base and having at least one row of surface indentations that pass under the chamber as the member moves and open upwardly to receive seeds from the chamber, said indentations having bores therein smaller than the seed for passing air through the indentations;
• and an air nozzle opening into the chamber for pressurizing the latter and directing a defined air jet toward and into successive indentations as they pass the nozzle and just prior to each respective indentation leaving the chamber for blowing excess seeds back into the chamber while urging a remaining single seed to seat in the respective indentation.

Apparatus for separating and counting individual ones of a plurality of substantially similar shaped particles, elements, grains, or the like, such as grains of seed, pills, etc., and including a rotating drum, feeder means for the particles and a housing for the drum, the improvement comprising:

• the drum being hollow and having in its outer surface a plurality of indentations, each indentation terminating in a bottom bore open to the interior of the drum and having at the bottom of the indentation dimensions smaller than the particles so that the particles cannot traverse the bore, the indentations being wider than the particles at the surface of the drum, each indentation dimensioned to hold a plurality of particles;
• means including a nozzle for directing a defined air jet towards the surface of the drum at direction and position so that the air jet is directed successively towards and into the respective indentations as the drum rotates;
• and the feeder means constructed to feed particles toward the outer surface of the drum so that normally a plurality of particles gravitate into each indentation prior to its passing the jet.

Apparatus for separating and counting individual ones of a plurality of substantially similarly shaped particles comprising:

• a rotating drum having angularly spaced surface indentations, each indentation being sufficiently large to retain a plurality of particles therein and terminating in a bore opening to the atmosphere, the respective bores being smaller than the particles so that the particles cannot pass therethrough;
• means including a nozzle for directing a defined air jet at each indentation as the drum successively passes the indentations by said jet;
• and means adjacent to the drum and for gravitationally feeding normally more than one particle into each indentation prior to its passing in the path of said jet.

Apparatus for separating and counting individual ones of a plurality of substantially similar shaped particles, elements, grains, or the like, such as grains of seed, pills, etc., and including a rotating drum, feeder means for the particles and a housing for the drum, the improvement comprising:

• the drum being hollow and having on its outer surface a plurality of inwardly tapering indentations, each indentation terminating in a bore open to the interior of the drum and having at the bottom of the indentation dimensions smaller than the particles so that the particles cannot traverse the bore, the indentations being wider than the particles at the surface of the drum, each indentation dimensioned to hold at least one particle each;
• means including a nozzle for directing a defined air jet towards the drum at direction and position so that the air jet is directed towards and into each successive indentation as the drum rotates and striking the respective indentation along the leading wall portion thereof as the drum rotates, said nozzle having a meniscus-like cross section;
• and the feeder means constructed to feed particles towards the drum, so that at least one particle is in each indentation as it passes the jet.