Star wheel seed planter

• US 5,205,228 A
• Filed: 12/09/1991
• Issued: 04/27/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tinto Industries Limited
• Original Assignee: Tinto Industries Limited
• Inventors: Mitchell, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Kundrat, Andrew V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WARNICK IV, SPENCER K
• Application Number:
  US07/803,878
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 111/89, 111/90, 111/91, 111/95, 111/200, 111/926, 111/170
• US Class Current: 111/89
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/064 with rotating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/18 Machines for depositing quantities of seed at intervals

Abstract

A device for placing seed into the soil at a specific pitch in which radiating spikes of two star wheel formed discs are brought together by rotating the discs synchronously at an angle and that each of the radiating spikes has on its inner side a hollow channel forming an internal closed funnel when the spikes are brought together and opens when by further rotating the spikes move away from each other. The means for placing seed or small objects into the funnels consists of a hub disposed about the axis of rotation of the disc and mounted to rotate with the discs which hub is provided with cells adapted to receive the seed or the other small objects and to release them upon rotation of the discs so they can fall under gravity into the funnel. The device is particularly suitable for the sowing of seed in soil covered by a thick crop residue.

Claims

1. A device for inserting seeds into soil at fixed intervals, comprising:

(a) two discs, rotatable about the same substantially horizontal axis, said discs having radially projecting spikes, said discs being oriented non-parallel to each other so as to bring said spikes into close proximity with each other at one point in the rotation, thereby forming a channel between said spikes for the insertion of the seed by said spikes into the soil;

(b) means for rotating said discs synchronously with each other; and

(c) means for feeding the seed to said channel.

2. A device as in claim 1, wherein said means for feeding the seed to said channel comprises a hub disposed about said axis of rotation of said discs, said hub being capable of rotating with said discs.

3. A device as in claim 2, wherein said means for feeding the seed to said channel further comprises cells connected to said hub, said cells being capable of receiving the seed and releasing the seed upon rotation of said discs so the seed can fall under gravity into said channel.

4. A device as in claim 3, further comprising a cover non-rotatably mounted near a portion of the circumference of said cells, said cover being capable of preventing the seeds in said cells from exiting said cells until said spikes are so positioned that it is desirable that the seeds be released and fall under gravity into said channel.

5. A device as in claim 1, further comprising a cover plate non-rotatably mounted near a portion of the circumference of said discs, said cover plate being capable of preventing vegetative matter from entering said spikes.

6. A device as in claim 4, further comprising a covering plate non-rotatably mounted near a portion of the circumference of said discs, said cover plate being capable of preventing vegetative matter from entering said spikes.

7. A devices as in claim 1 wherein said means for rotating said discs synchronously with each other includes an interlocking peg mounted on one of said discs and capable of engaging said other disc.

8. A device as in claim 6 wherein said means for rotating said discs synchronously with each other includes an interlocking peg mounted on one of said discs and capable of engaging said other disc.