Seed planter apparatus and method
First Claim
1. A seed planter apparatus comprising:
- a seed meter including a housing assembly, the housing assembly including a cover releasably connected to a shell, the housing assembly including at least one opening formed in the housing assembly adjacent a seed discharge area to promote the release of seeds from a disc rotatably attached to the housing assembly, the disc dividing an interior of the housing assembly to include a vacuum chamber and a seed chamber, the disc including a plurality of openings formed adjacent a periphery of the disc.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A planter apparatus includes a seed meter including a housing assembly with a cover releasably connected to a shell. The housing assembly includes at least one opening formed therein adjacent a seed discharge area to promote the release of seeds from a disc rotatably attached to the housing assembly. The disc divides an interior of the housing assembly to include a vacuum chamber and a seed chamber. The disc including a plurality of openings formed adjacent a periphery of the disc. The planter apparatus may also include a singulator assembly having rotatably spools, a rotatable chute door, a disc having clusters of openings for simultaneous release, and a one-piece baffle.
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Citations
46 Claims
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1. A seed planter apparatus comprising:
a seed meter including a housing assembly, the housing assembly including a cover releasably connected to a shell, the housing assembly including at least one opening formed in the housing assembly adjacent a seed discharge area to promote the release of seeds from a disc rotatably attached to the housing assembly, the disc dividing an interior of the housing assembly to include a vacuum chamber and a seed chamber, the disc including a plurality of openings formed adjacent a periphery of the disc. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
- 8. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the seed disc openings comprise a plurality of spaced apart clusters of openings.
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20. A method of operating a seed planter apparatus comprising:
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providing a housing assembly including a cover releasably connected to a shell, the housing assembly including at least one opening formed in the housing assembly adjacent a seed discharge area, a disc rotatably attached to the housing assembly, the disc dividing an interior of the housing assembly to include a vacuum chamber and a seed chamber, the disc including a plurality of openings formed adjacent a periphery of the disc;
rotating the disc;
holding seeds in the disc openings while the disc openings communicate with the vacuum chamber;
releasing the seeds from the openings as the disc openings exit from the communication with the vacuum chamber; and
flowing air through the opening formed in the housing assembly to promote the release of seeds from the disc. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. A seed planter apparatus comprising:
a seed meter including a vacuum chamber, a seed chamber, and a seed disc, the seed disc including a plurality of spaced apart clusters formed therein, each of the clusters including a plurality of communicating openings to allow seeds held by differential pressure within the openings of each cluster to release the seeds together as the cluster exists from communication with the vacuum chamber. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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27. A method of operating a seed planter apparatus comprising:
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providing a seed meter including a vacuum chamber, a seed chamber, and a seed disc, the seed disc including a plurality of spaced apart clusters formed therein, each of the clusters including a plurality of communicating openings; and
rotating the seed disc and clusters while in communication with a vacuum chamber;
holding a seed within each opening of the cluster;
rotating the cluster out of communication with the vacuum chamber;
releasing the seeds from the openings of each cluster substantially simultaneously.
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28. A seed planter apparatus comprising:
a seed meter including a housing assembly, the housing assembly including a chute portion and a seed chamber, the chute portion including a first opening for receiving seed from a hopper which communicates with the first opening, the chute including a second opening formed therein, a bar extending from a portion of the chute and positioned above the second opening, a door shaped to cover the second opening and including a clip portion for snap-fitting onto the bar to allow the door to rotate on the bar. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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31. A method of operating a seed planter apparatus comprising:
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providing a seed meter including a housing assembly, the housing assembly including a chute portion and a seed chamber, the chute portion including a first opening in communication with a hopper, the chute including a second opening formed therein, a bar extending from a portion of the chute and positioned above the second opening, a door shaped to cover the second opening and including a clip portion snap fitted to the bar;
rotating the door about the bar;
passing seed from the hopper through the first opening; and
passing seed through the second opening.
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32. A seed metering apparatus for a seed planter comprising:
a housing including a seed chamber opening for communicating with a hopper, a baffle rotatably attached to the housing, the baffle including a body portion and a handle portion, the handle portion extending through an opening formed in the housing, the housing including a plurality of notches formed on an outer surface of the housing to allow the handle to be positioned within the notches to rotate the body portion and vary the size of the seed chamber opening. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A method of operating a seed metering apparatus for a seed planter comprising:
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providing a housing including a seed chamber opening for communicating with a hopper, a baffle rotatably attached to the housing, the baffle including a body portion and a handle portion, the handle extending through an opening formed in the housing, the housing including a plurality of notches formed on an outer surface of the housing;
moving the handle portion between the notches;
retaining the handle portion in the notch;
rotating the body portion to vary the size of the seed chamber opening.
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40. A seed metering apparatus for a seed planter comprising:
a housing assembly including a singulator assembly attached thereto, the singulator assembly including at lease one spool rotatably attached to a body portion of the singulator assembly, the spool including a circular cross-section, the spool in contact with a seed disc, the seed disc including a plurality of openings formed adjacent a periphery of the disc, the spool partially covering the openings. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A method of operating a seed metering apparatus for a seed planter comprising:
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providing a housing assembly including a singulator assembly attached thereto, the singulator assembly including a plurality of spools rotatably attached to a body portion of the singulator assembly;
providing a seed disc including a plurality of openings formed adjacent a periphery of the disc;
contacting a seed disc with the spools;
partially covering the openings with the spools;
contacting the spools with seeds; and
rotating the spools.
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Specification