Individual seed hoppers forming banks of seed hoppers

• US 6,595,148 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2001
• Issued: 07/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Landphair, Donald Keith, Meyer, Bradley John
• Primary Examiner(s): Will, Thomas B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAMMEN, NATHAN SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US10/021,580
• Publication Number:
  US 20030110999A1
• Time in Patent Office: 581 Days
• Field of Search: 111/52, 111/53, 111/59, 111/13, 111/18, 111/22, 111/200, 111/74, 111/75, 111/76, 111/77, 111/8, 111/9, 111/14, 111/25, 111/34, 111/35, 111/63, 111/170, 111/177, 111/186
• US Class Current: 111/63
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 15/006 Hoppers
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/042 using pneumatic means
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/208 Chassis; Coupling means to a tractor or the like; Lifting means; Side markers

Abstract

A seeding machine is provided with banks of individual seed hoppers for directing seed to auxiliary seed hoppers located on individual planting units. The individual seed hoppers of each bank are provided with adjoining walls. The adjoining walls have notches so that seed in one individual seed hopper can flow into an adjoining individual seed hopper. A portion of the planting units can be disabled by placing them in a non-working position. The individual seed hoppers supplying seed to the disabled planting units are provided with removable baffles. Each removable baffle is provided with a downwardly extending leg that cooperates with the notches to prevent seed in an active individual hopper from entering an inactive individual hopper.

Claims

1. A seeding machine comprising:

a frame;

a bank of individual seed hoppers are mounted to the frame, the bank of individual seed hoppers having adjoining walls, the adjoining walls having notches allowing seed to pass between individual seed hoppers;

an access lid is mounted to the bank of individual seed hoppers and provides access to the individual seed hoppers;

planting units are mounted to the frame, each planting unit is provided with an auxiliary hopper for receiving seed from one of the individual hoppers;

flexible tubes extend between the individual hoppers and the auxiliary hoppers of the planting units for transmitting seed from the individual hoppers to the planting units

whereby a portion of the planting units can be placed in a non-working position and removable baffles can be inserted into the bank of individual hoppers for isolating the individual hoppers associated with the portion of planting units placed in the non-working position.

2. A seeding machine as defined by claim 1 wherein alternating planting units are placed in the non-working position and the removable baffles having downwardly extending legs are inserted into the bank of individual hoppers to engage the notches sealing the notches of the individual hoppers.

3. A seeding machine as defined by claim 2 wherein each removable baffle is provided with a horizontal cover that extends from at least one downwardly extending leg.

4. A seeding machine as defined by claim 3 wherein the horizontal cover is provided with upwardly extending lips that engage the access lid.

5. A seeding machine as defined by claim 4 wherein the access lid has a recessed underside in which the upwardly extending lips are received.

6. A seeding machine as defined by claim 5 wherein the access lid is pivotally attached to the frame.