Seeder apparatus for dispensing seed with or without top dressing

• US 6,058,860 A
• Filed: 09/04/1998
• Issued: 05/09/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Turfco Manufacturing Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Turfco Manufacturing Incorporated
• Inventors: Bjorge, Scott, Kinkead, George B., Worrel, Vernon J., Donner, Matthew A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Novosad, Christopher J.
• Application Number:
  US09/148,339
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 111/11, 111/12, 111/13, 111/900, 111/905
• US Class Current: 111/11
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 15/14 with means for lifting out the fertiliser
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/008 Sod or grassland seeding A01C7/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/06 Seeders combined with fertilising apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 111/90 Methods of planting seeds and miscellaneous compositions

Abstract

The seeder apparatus includes a first hopper for dispensing seeds onto a conveyor mechanism to be moved thereby to an entry nip between a rotary brush and the conveyor mechanism for propelling the seed downwardly at the discharge end of the frame on which the hopper is mounted. A shield assembly is mounted to the frame discharge end portion to minimize the effects of wind on the trajectory of seed or other material being propelled to the ground by a brush and conveyor mechanism. In one embodiment, a metering gate extends vertically in its closed position relative to the conveyor mechanism, the metering gate controlling the rate of dispensation of seed being moved to the entry nip. In a second embodiment, the seed hopper is mounted to a top dresser hopper whereby either seed from the seed hopper and/or dressing material from the top dresser hopper may be moved by the conveyor mechanism to the entry nip, with a top dressing metering gate being provided for controlling the rate of dispersion of material from the top dresser hopper to the entry nip.

Claims

1. A method of seeding with grass seed an area of terrain including turf having a base, comprising the steps of:

loading grass seed into a seed hopper, moving the seed hopper along the terrain, selectively mechanically conveying grass seed from within the hopper to the exterior of the hopper, and downwardly propelling grass seed exterior of the hopper to the ground along a trajectory that has both vertical and horizontal components with sufficient force to penetrate to the base of the turf.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of shielding the downward trajectory of the seed from the effects of wind as the seed is being propelled to the ground.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of dispensing the seed on a layer of top dressing material for being commingled therewith as the seed is being downwardly propelled.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the selectively mechanically conveying step comprises the steps of:

providing a belt capable of supporting and transporting the seed received from within the hopper; and

conveying the belt so that the seed supported and transported by the belt may be propelled to the ground.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of ribs on the belt which form channels with the seed being deposited on the belt to fill the channels, wherein the ribs serve to grip and advance at least a portion of the seed as the belt is conveyed.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the selectively mechanically conveying step further comprises the steps of:

adjusting a gate between the hopper and the belt to control the amount of seed that is mechanically conveyed to the exterior of the hopper, wherein the gate is variable between an openmost position which allows a maximum amount of seed to be conveyed, and a closed position wherein the gate is positioned proximate the ribs so that only the seed which lies within the channels is conveyed, with the hopper including a discharge end wall having a lower end vertically above the belt, with the discharge end wall extending at an included angle with the belt that is substantially less than 90 degrees and the gate has a lower portion extendable at substantially 90 degrees relative to the belt and an upper portion abutting against the discharge end wall and extending at the same angle as the discharge end wall when the lower portion is extending at 90 degrees relative to the belt; and

controlling the amount of seed which is propelled to the ground by selecting an appropriate position of the gate.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the downwardly propelling step comprises the steps of:

providing a brush so as to form a nip point between the brush and the conveyor belt; and

rotating the brush so that as the seed is conveyed into the nip point, the brush imparts a force against the seed sufficient to propel the seed towards the ground.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the downwardly propelling step further comprises the steps of:

causing the brush to contact the seeds on the belt after the seeds have started to move downwardly along with the belt and after the seeds have passed through a vertical plane of an axis about which the belt is conveyed.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising the steps of:

providing an adjustable shield around the brush and a portion of the belt; and

adjusting the shield so as to protect the seed as it is propelled towards the ground.

10. The method of claim 4 wherein the downwardly propelling step comprises the steps of:

providing a brush so as to form a nip point between the brush and the belt; and

rotating the brush so that as the seed is conveyed into the nip point, the brush imparts a force against the seed sufficient to propel the seed towards the ground.

11. A method of seeding an area of terrain, comprising the steps of:

loading seed into a seed hopper, moving the seed hopper along the terrain, selectively mechanically conveying seed from within the hopper to the exterior of the hopper, and downwardly propelling seed exterior of the hopper to the ground along a trajectory that has both vertical and horizontal components;

shielding the downward trajectory of the seed from the effects of wind as the seed is being propelled to the ground;

providing a moveable frame to support a shield;

raising the frame and the shield when the hopper is to be transported, without dispensing seed; and

lowering the frame and shield, into a shielding position, when the hopper is to dispense seed, so that the propelled seed is protected from the effects of wind.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of:

providing a flexible member about the frame to act as the shield;

folding the flexible member as the frame is raised; and

retaining the frame in position.

13. A method of applying material comprising the steps of:

providing a moveable frame;

providing a first hopper coupled to the frame;

providing a second hopper coupled to the frame;

depositing a first material into the first hopper;

depositing a second material into the second hopper;

moving a selected and controllable amount of the first material out of the first hopper;

moving a selected and controllable amount of the second material out of the second hopper;

combining the first and second materials; and

propelling the combined first and second materials towards the ground.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the combining step comprises the steps of:

providing a layer of the first material; and

providing a layer of the second material on top of the layer of the first material; and

wherein the propelling step includes the step of mixing the first and second materials to form a homogeneous mixture that is propelled to the ground.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the propelling step further comprises the steps of:

providing a rotating brush; and

moving the first and second materials into contact with the brush so that the rotation of the brush mixes the first and second materials together and propels the mixture towards the ground.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the moving steps and combining step further include the steps of:

providing a conveyor belt proximate an opening in the first hopper and proximate an opening in the second hopper;

moving a preselected amount of the first material out of the first hopper and onto the conveyor belt;

moving a preselected amount of the second material out of the second hopper and onto the first material on the conveyor belt; and

advancing the conveyor so as to cause the first and second material to contact the brush.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of providing the brush comprises the steps of:

positioning the brush and the conveyor so as to form a nip point, the nip point occurring at a point where the conveyor belt is moving towards the ground.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the steps of moving the first and second materials comprises the steps of:

opening a first gate in the first hopper a predetermined amount to allow a preselected amount of the first material to pass from the first hopper onto the conveyor belt, with the first hopper including a discharge end wall having a lower end vertically above the conveyor belt, with the discharge end wall extending at an included angle with the conveyor belt that is substantially less than 90 degrees and the first gate has a lower portion extendable at substantially 90 degrees relative to the conveyor belt and an upper portion abutting against the discharge end wall and extending at the same angle as the discharge end wall when the lower portion is extending at 90 degrees relative to the conveyor belt; and

opening a second gate in the second hopper a predetermined amount to allow a preselected amount of the second material to pass from the second hopper onto the first material being conveyed by the belt.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of moving the second material comprises the steps of:

providing a chute from the second gate, wherein the chute has substantially the same width as the opening in the first hopper and the opening in the second hopper;

aligning the chute so that as the preselected amount of the second material falls from the second hopper and out through the chute, the second material covers substantially the entire width of the first material being conveyed by the belt.

20. The method of claim 18 further including:

providing a shield around the brush, a portion of the conveyor, and the first and second materials for at least a portion of a distance the first and second materials are propelled to the ground.

21. The method of claim 13 wherein the first material is top dressing and the second material is seed.