Mulching and seeding apparatus and method with film severing and covering
First Claim
Patent Images
1. In a mulching and seeding apparatus for forming a soil seed bed row, depositing film on the ground over said soil seed bed row from a rotatable film reel on said apparatus, forming orifices in said film and planting seeds in said soil seed bed through said orifices in said film, the improvement comprising:
- a. severing means attached to said apparatus for severing said film from said reel at the end of a row to leave a ground film end and a reel film end, and concurrently depositing soil on said ground film end to hold said ground film end in place on said seed bed; and
b. means on said apparatus for preventing said reel film end from being unreeled during movement of said apparatus to the beginning of another seed bed row which is to be formed, covered with film and seeded, and wherein said severing means comprises;
c. a knife blade rotatably mounted on said apparatus in a first position above and extending transversely across said film when deposited on said soil seed bed; and
d. driven means for rotating said knife blade through a stroke of the blade to a second position in a direction toward said soil to sever said film and create an end thereof while during said same stroke burying said end with said knife blade.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An agricultural machine and method for applying and securing a plastic film onto a seed bed. The machine includes a cutter that severs the plastic film at the end of a row or other area for which covering is desired, while covering the severed ends so as to anchor them to the soil.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. In a mulching and seeding apparatus for forming a soil seed bed row, depositing film on the ground over said soil seed bed row from a rotatable film reel on said apparatus, forming orifices in said film and planting seeds in said soil seed bed through said orifices in said film, the improvement comprising:
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a. severing means attached to said apparatus for severing said film from said reel at the end of a row to leave a ground film end and a reel film end, and concurrently depositing soil on said ground film end to hold said ground film end in place on said seed bed; and b. means on said apparatus for preventing said reel film end from being unreeled during movement of said apparatus to the beginning of another seed bed row which is to be formed, covered with film and seeded, and wherein said severing means comprises; c. a knife blade rotatably mounted on said apparatus in a first position above and extending transversely across said film when deposited on said soil seed bed; and d. driven means for rotating said knife blade through a stroke of the blade to a second position in a direction toward said soil to sever said film and create an end thereof while during said same stroke burying said end with said knife blade. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. In a method of forming a soil seed bed row with mulching apparatus, covering said row with a plastic film from a reel on said apparatus and forming openings in said film by said apparatus through which seeds are planted in said seed bed, the improvement comprising the steps of:
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a. operating a knife on said apparatus through a stroke of said knife by driven means and with said knife severing said film from said reel during said stroke at the end of a seed bed row to leave a seed bed end and a reel end of said film; b. during some stroke of said knife depositing soil on said seed bed end of said film with said knife to hold said film in place on said seed bed, c. preventing said reel end of said film from unwinding from said reel by setting a brake on said apparatus during movement of said apparatus from the end of a completed seed bed row to the beginning of another seed bed, d. depositing soil on the reel end of said film with a further driven operation of said knife at the beginning of said another seed bed row to hold said film in place; and e. allowing rotation of said film reel by releasing said brake during movement of said apparatus while forming said another seed bed row thereby depositing a film cover over said another seed bed row.
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Specification