Seed meter transfer and storing apparatus

• US 6,598,890 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2001
• Issued: 07/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Paul H. Mears, Randy L. Kester
• Original Assignee: Paul H. Mears, Randy L. Kester
• Inventors: Kester, Randy L., Mears, Paul H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Swenson, Brian L
• Application Number:
  US09/836,900
• Publication Number:
  US 20020149302A1
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• Field of Search: 280/47.34, 280/79.3, 280/79.11, 280/47.35, 280/33.99, 221/185, 221/211, 248/129, 248/224.8, 248/225.11, 111/200
• US Class Current: 280/79.3
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/04 Single-grain seeders with or without suction devices
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/046 with perforated seeding discs
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/04 involving means for grappling or securing in place objects to be carried; Loading or unloading equipment

Abstract

A seed meter transfer and storage apparatus for storing seed meters of a type that are used, for example, on a corn or soybean planter. The apparatus includes a frame with a plurality of upwardly extending members operatively attached thereto. Each of the members are spaced a predetermined distance from each adjacent members and a slot is disposed at the top of each member for receiving a flange which is on each side of the seed meter. This allows one seed meter to be stored between each adjacent member for each pair of adjacent members.

Claims

1. A seed meter transfer and storage apparatus in combination with seed meters of a type that are used on a corn or soybean planter and having a generally L-shaped flange disposed on each side thereof, said apparatus comprising:

a frame;

a plurality of upwardly extending members operatively attached to said frame, each of said members being spaced a pre-determined distance from each adjacent member; and

,

a slot disposed in the top of each member for receiving the flange on each side of a seed meter whereby one seed meter can be stored between each adjacent member.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein more than one of said members have a tapered depression on the top thereof which is wider at the top than at the bottom thereof and has the top of one of the slots terminating into said depression, whereby said tapered depression facilitates easy insertion of the seed meter flange into said slot.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 including a plurality of rows of upwardly extending members on said frame for storing a plurality of seed meters.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 for also storing a seed disc having a central opening therein, which seed disc is disposed in said seed meter during use when on a planter, said apparatus comprising at least one substantially horizontal bar operatively attached to said frame for receiving a plurality of said seed discs.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 including a pin and wherein said bar is welded to said frame and said bar has an opening in one end thereof for selectively receiving said pin, whereby said seed discs are prevented from falling off of said bar when said pin is inserted into said opening.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 including a plurality of wheels operatively disposed on the bottom of said frame for permitting said apparatus to be moved around on said wheels and to provide a space for a fork lift to pick it up if desired.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 including an enclosure into which said frame can be selectively disposed whereby the seed meter is protected from damage by rodents.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 including a plurality of wheels operatively disposed on the bottom of said frame for permitting said apparatus to be moved around on said wheels.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said enclosure has a door on one side thereof whereby said frame can be rolled into said enclosure.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said enclosure has a floor and said door is pivotally attached to the floor of the enclosure so that the door can pivot downwardly to an open position and be used as a ramp to facilitate the rolling of said frame into said enclosure.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein wheels are attached to permit said enclosure to be easily moved from place to place and to permit a space for a fork lift to pick it up if desired.