Seed planter apparatus and method
DCFirst Claim
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1. A seed planter apparatus comprising:
- a seed meter including a housing assembly, the housing assembly including a cover releasably connected to a shell, the housing assembly including at least one opening formed in the housing assembly adjacent a seed discharge area to promote the release of seeds from a disc rotatably attached to the housing assembly, the disc dividing an interior of the housing assembly to include a vacuum chamber and a seed chamber, the disc including a plurality of openings formed adjacent a periphery of the disc.
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Abstract
A planter apparatus includes a seed meter including a housing assembly with a cover releasably connected to a shell. The housing assembly includes at least one opening formed therein adjacent a seed discharge area to promote the release of seeds from a disc rotatably attached to the housing assembly. The disc divides an interior of the housing assembly to include a vacuum chamber and a seed chamber. The disc including a plurality of openings formed adjacent a periphery of the disc. The planter apparatus may also include a singulator assembly having rotatably spools, a rotatable chute door, a disc having clusters of openings for simultaneous release, and a one-piece baffle.
143 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A seed planter apparatus comprising:
a seed meter including a housing assembly, the housing assembly including a cover releasably connected to a shell, the housing assembly including at least one opening formed in the housing assembly adjacent a seed discharge area to promote the release of seeds from a disc rotatably attached to the housing assembly, the disc dividing an interior of the housing assembly to include a vacuum chamber and a seed chamber, the disc including a plurality of openings formed adjacent a periphery of the disc. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of operating a seed planter apparatus comprising:
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providing a housing assembly including a cover releasably connected to a shell, the housing assembly including at least one opening formed in the housing assembly adjacent a seed discharge area, a disc rotatably attached to the housing assembly, the disc dividing an interior of the housing assembly to include a vacuum chamber and a seed chamber, the disc including a plurality of openings formed adjacent a periphery of the disc; rotating the disc; holding seeds in the disc openings while the disc openings communicate with the vacuum chamber; releasing the seeds from the openings as the disc openings exit from the communication with the vacuum chamber; and flowing air through the at least one opening formed in the housing assembly to promote the release of seeds from the disc. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A seed metering apparatus for a seed planter comprising:
a housing assembly including a singulator assembly attached thereto, the singulator assembly including at least one spool rotatably attached to a body portion of the singulator assembly, the spool including a circular cross-section, the spool in contact with a seed disc, the seed disc including a plurality of openings formed adjacent a periphery of the disc, the spool partially covering the openings. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of operating a seed metering apparatus for a seed planter comprising:
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providing a housing assembly including a singulator assembly attached thereto, the singulator assembly including a plurality of spools rotatably attached to a body portion of the singulator assembly; providing a seed disc including a plurality of openings formed adjacent a periphery of the disc; contacting a seed disc with the spools; partially covering the openings with the spools; contacting the spools with seeds; and rotating the spools.
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Specification