Seeder device

{
  "publication_number": "US3738530A",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A",
  "title": "Seeder device",
  "abstract": "A device for planting seeds in an orderly array which has a plurality of suction needles adapted to be positioned over a seed-carrying tray, an air supply for first pulling air through the needles to removably attach a seed to the end of each needle and then blowing air through the needles to expel seeds, transfer means for separating the needles from the tray so that the needles will be in a position where discharge of the seeds from the end of the needles will cause them to fall in an ordered array on an area to be seeded, additional means for making sure the seeds do not stick to the ends of the needles, and valve means for changing the flow of air through said needles.",
  "claims": [
    "1. Apparatus for planting seeds comprising a base; a seedcarrying tray on the base and having a plurality of recesses therein to carry seeds; a hollow suction box mounted on the base, the seed-carrying tray and suction box being positionable with respect to each other in two positions, in the first position the suction box being over the seed tray, and in the second position the suction box and seed tray being laterally displaced from one another; a plurality of hollow suction needles fastened to and extending downwardly from the suction box, the needles and recesses being in the same ordered array and equal in number, the needles being centered over the recesses when the suction box is over the tray, the upper ends of the needles opening into the suction box and the lower ends of the needles being adapted to enter said recesses when the suction box is in the first position; means for sucking air through said needles and into said box thereby to attach and hold temporarily a seed at the lower end of each of the needles; means for blowing air out of said box through the needles to discharge the seeds from the needles; mechanical means for assisting the seeds to become discharged from the needles; and valve means for first causing a suction in the box to cause air to flow into the box through said needles, and thereafter reversing the flow of air to cause it to flow out of the box through the needles.",
    "2. The apparatus of claim 1 including a plurality of hoses having upper and lower ends, said hoses extending from the top of said base downwardly to a position above the bottom of said base, the upper ends of each of said hoses underlying said needles, and the lower ends of the hoses being a sufficient distance above the bottom of the base to permit the positioning of at least one pack below said lower ends, the upper ends of the hoses being in the same ordered array as said recesses and said needles, and each needle being centered over the upper end of a single hose.",
    "3. The apparatus of claim 2 including mounting means adapted to move the suction box upwardly and downwardly from an upper position to a lower position and vice-versa, the suction box with its needles when in the upper position being high enough above the top of said base to permit the introduction therebelow of said seed carrying tray, and the suction box when in its lower position being positioned so that each of said needles enters into the upper end of a corresponding hose.",
    "4. Apparatus of claim 3 including a lever for moving said suction box in an up and down direction, and also for moving said valve, the apparatus including an air suction and air blowing means, and a valve mounted so as to be actuated by said lever from a first position to a second position, the valve being in its second position when the suction box is in its lower position to channel air from the air blower into the box and out through said needles, and the valve being in its first position when the suction box is in its upper position to channel air through said needles into said box and to said suction means.",
    "5. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the mechanical means for assisting the seeds to become discharged from the needle comprises a pin slidable within the bore of each needle, the pin being adapted to be moved along the length of the needle sufficiently so that one end of the pin projects below the outer end of the needle at the time that air is being blown through the needle, the pin being adapted to be retracted into the needle so that the said one end is slightly within the needle.",
    "6. Apparatus of claim 5 including a thrust plate movably mounted within the interior of the suction box, and actuable to move each push pin downwardly to thrust a seed from the end of its respective needle; the suction box having an inlet, a valve operable when in one position to close said inlet, and when in another position to open said inlet; and means for actuating said valve when the suction box and its needles are in their lower position to permit entrance of air into the suction box.",
    "7. The apparatus of claim 2 including stop means mounted on the suction box to abut against the seed-carrying tray when the latter is below the suction box, thus limiting the down-ward motion of the suction box; said stop being adapted to butt against the top of the base when the seed-carrying tray and suction box are displaced away from each other, thereby permitting the suction box to move down to position in which each of said needles projects into the top end of each of said hoses.",
    "8. The apparatus of claim 5 in which the diameters of the thrust pins are less than the diameter of the bore of said needles, thereby to provide an air gap between said thrust pins and the walls of said bore to permit the passage of air through the needle in both directions.",
    "9. The apparatus of claim 8 in which the radial length of said air gap is within the range of 0.001 inches to 0.005 inches.",
    "10. Apparatus for planting seeds comprising a base; a seed-carrying tray on the base and having at least one recess therein to carry seeds; a hollow suction box mounted on the base, the seed-carrying tray and suction box being positionable with respect to each other in two positions, in the first position the suction box being over the seed tray, and in the second position the suction box and seed tray being laterally displaced from one another; at least one hollow suction needle fastened to and extending downwardly from the suction box, the upper end of the needle opening into the suction box and the lower end of the needle being adapted to enter said recess when the suction box is in the first position; means for sucking air through said needle and into said box thereby to attach and hold temporarily a seed at the lower end of the needle; means for blowing air out of said box through the needle to discharge the seed from the needle; mechanical means for assisting the seed to become discharged from the needle, comprising a porous plug fitted to the lower end of the needle, the plug being porous enough to permit air to pass therethrough in both directions, the outer surface of said porous plug being sufficiently smooth as to hinder the inadvertent attachment thereto by the outer periphery of a seed; and valve means for first causing a suction in the box to cause air to flow into the box through said needle, and thereafter reversing the flow of air to cause it to flow out of the box through the needle."
  ],
  "cpc": [
    "A01G 9/085"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "FINE H",
    "MC KEARNEY J"
  ],
  "filing_date": "1971-07-26",
  "publication_date": "1973-06-12",
  "grant_date": "1973-06-12",
  "priority_date": "1971-07-26",
  "application_number": "US-3738530D-A",
  "family_id": "22601074",
  "citations": [
    "US2546838A",
    "US3240175A",
    "US3261208A",
    "US3627173A"
  ]
}