Resilient seed firming attachment for a planting machine

• US 5,673,638 A
• Filed: 06/20/1996
• Issued: 10/07/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Precision Planting LLC (AGCO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: J & K Keeton Enterprises, Inc.
• Inventors: Keeton, Eugene G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Melius, Terry Lee
• Assistant Examiner(s): Novosad, Christopher J.
• Application Number:
  US08/667,300
• Time in Patent Office: 474 Days
• Field of Search: 111/189, 111/197, 111/198, 111/148, 111/150, 111/176, 111/187, 111/167, 172/612
• US Class Current: 111/167
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/068 Furrow packing devices, e.g. press wheels

Abstract

A resilient seed firming attachment for a planting machine designed to effectively place seed at a consistent depth and at consistent spacing. The attachment may be of any geometrical configuration having a length adequate to firm the seed in the opened furrow and is mounted in a position trailing the discharge end of a seed boot. The resilience of the seed firming attachment being of sufficient force to pressure the seed into the soil at the desired planting depth, but flexible enough so as to not disturb the depth obtained by the furrow opening device.

Claims

1. A planting assembly having a furrow opening mechanism, a seed dispensing means, including a seed tube for directing the seeds downwardly and rearwardly as the planting assembly moves forward, and structure for guiding and firming seeds in the furrow as seeds are deposited said furrow having a bottom width less than a top width, comprising:

a resilient member with first and second ends;

a fastening element for attaching and supporting said first end of said resilient member on the planting assembly with the second end of said resilient member having a predetermined width substantially corresponding to lower portion of the furrow extending downwardly and rearwardly applying downward pressure in the bottom of the furrow to firm the seeds into the soil.

2. The invention in accordance with claim 1, wherein said resilient member is generally cylindrical in shape.

3. The invention in accordance with claim 1, wherein said resilient member has varied geometric configurations.

4. The invention in accordance with claim 1, wherein said resilient member flexes between said first and second ends due to the weight of the planting assembly forcing the resilient member against the soil at the bottom of the furrow.

5. The invention in accordance with claim 1, wherein said fastening element for attaching and supporting the first end of said resilient member on said planting assembly retains said resilient member attached to the assembly against the force applied to the second end of said resilient member by the resistance of the soil against the weight of the planting mechanism.

6. The invention in accordance with claim 5, wherein said element for retaining said resilient member is removably attached to said seed tube.

7. The invention in accordance with claim 1, wherein said resilient member is made of plastic.

8. The invention in accordance with claim 1, wherein said resilient member is composed of metal.

9. The invention in accordance with claim 1, wherein said resilient member is composed of three sections;

a first inflexible section including said first end, a second flexible section, a third inflexible section including said second end, said first section and said third section connected by said second section.

10. The invention in accordance with claim 9, wherein said third section of said resilient member conforms to the bottom of the furrow.

11. The invention in accordance with claim 9, wherein said first section has a width sufficient to assist the seed tube in placing of seeds in the furrow.

12. The invention in accordance with claim 9, wherein said third section has a cross-section equal to or slightly larger than the furrow width near the bottom of the furrow.

13. The invention in accordance with claim 9, wherein said second section of said resilient member flexes sufficiently to permit said third section to become horizontal at the bottom of the furrow.

14. The invention in accordance with claim 9, wherein said second section of said member has a maximum flexed state and an unflexed state which may flex to its maximum when flexing forces are applied and has a memory which returns the second section to its unflexed state when the flexing force is removed.

15. The invention in accordance with claim 9, wherein the width of said first section of said resilient member substantially conforms to the upper limits of said furrow opening to assist in placement of the seeds in the furrow as the seeds are directed therein.

16. The invention in accordance with claim 9, wherein said three sections of said resilient member form a straight unflexed member when no pressure is applied to said resilient member.