SINGULATOR FOR SEEDS OR THE LIKE

• US 3,770,164 A
• Filed: 04/18/1972
• Issued: 11/06/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ralo L. Hembree
• Original Assignee: Ralo L. Hembree
• Inventors: Hembree, Ralo L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tollberg, Stanley H.
• Application Number:
  US05/245,076
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• Field of Search: 221/211,278,160 214/1BS
• US Class Current: 221/211
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 1/06 Coating or dressing seed
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/044 Pneumatic seed wheels

Abstract

A singulator for small, lightweight articles such as lettuce seeds is disclosed for use in connection with a seed capsule assembly machine. The principle elements of the singulator are a hollow, rotatable drum, having a smooth periphery provided with conical cavities connected by restricted passageways to the drum interior. Means are provided for vacuumizing the drum interior, picking up seeds from the hopper surrounding the exterior of the drum and at the discharge location, the cavities successively are connected to a source of air under pressure discharging the seeds. Two air jets are provided for blowing off duplicate seeds picked up by the cavity so that only a single seed is discharged.

Claims

1. Apparatus for picking up seeds or the like from a hopper, singulating them and depositing them in capsules, said apparatus being of the type comprising a hollow vacuumized drum, means mounting said drum for rotation, a row of seed pick up devices on the drum periphery having air passages leading to the drum interior, and means for supplying air to each drum aperture as it passes a delivery location for ejecting a seed;

the improvement wherein said drum has a smooth peripheral wall, said seed pickup means each comprising an outwardly facing conical cavity in said drum wall and a restricted air passage connected between the apex of said conical cavity and the interior of the drum, and external air jet means directed towards said drum periphery for blowing all but one seed out of each cavity and externally of the drum.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 for handling seeds or the like of a size similar to that of lettuce, cabbage, broccoli or cauliflower seeds, wherein said conical cavities have an included angle of about 45* to 120* and are about 0.075 inches deep along their axes.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 for handling seeds of a size similar to that of lettuce seeds, wherein said included angle is about 90*.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said restricted air passage has a diameter of about 0.0135 to 0.040 inches.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 for handling seeds of a size similar to that of lettuce seeds, wherein said restricted air passage has a diameter of about 0.016 inches.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the drum vacuum is about 6 to 25 of mercury.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the drum vacuum is about 8 - 10 inches of mercury.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of said seed pick up means further comprises a plug member containing said conical cavity and restricted air passage, lines in the drum periphery for receiving said plug members, means for sealing said plug members to their bores, and means for detachably securing said plug members in their bores.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said hopper enshrouds an upwardly turning sector of said drum, said air jet means comprising an air nozzle directed toward said conical cavities in the drum periphery above the level of seeds in the hopper, and means for supplying air to said nozzle for disloding all but one seed from each cavity.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said air nozzle is located inside said hopper but above the seed level therein.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said air nozzle is directed radially toward said drum periphery.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 for handling seeds or the like of a size similar to that of lettuce, cabbage, broccoli or cauliflower seeds, wherein said air nozzle receives air at about 14-16 inches of water, gauge pressure.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, comprising a second air nozzle downstream of said first named air nozzle directed toward said cavities for fuRther dislodging doubles.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, including means for enshrouding said second air nozzle.

15. Apparatus for singulating seeds or the like comprising a hollow drum having side flanges and a peripheral flange, a row of seed pick up devices on said peripheral flange and having air passages leading to the drum interior, drum mounting means comprising a stationary hub sleeve, said drum side flanges making rotary sealing engagement with the hub sleeve, drive shaft means extending through said hub sleeve and having means on its outer end for connection to the outer drum side flange, and air and vacuum ports formed in said hub sleeve and connecting to the drum interior.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, comprising a radial cylinder extending from said hub sleeve and open to said air port, a spring advanced plunger slidable in said cylinder, means for sealing said plunger to the cylinder, an anti-friction shoe on the outer end of said plunger and slidably engaging the inner surface of said peripheral drum flange, and an air passage through said plunger and shoe for connection to said pick up devices.