Diamond row pattern planter

• US 6,928,941 B1
• Filed: 02/13/2003
• Issued: 08/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary of Agriculture
• Original Assignee: United States Department Of Agriculture
• Inventors: Sternitzke, Donald
• Primary Examiner(s): Novosad, Christopher J.
• Application Number:
  US10/366,115
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 111/174, 111177-182, 111/170
• US Class Current: 111/181
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/042 using pneumatic means

Abstract

A device for planting seeds in a uniform, staggered, diamond-shaped manner promotes thicker faster spreading canopies that help keep the soil bed cool, moist and better protected from erosion, improved weed control, and improved yield.

Claims

1. A device for planting seeds in a diamond-shaped pattern comprising:

a. a hopper assembly comprising a baffle and brush system for controlling seed flow to a pick-up and transfer cylinder operatively connected to said pick-up and transfer cylinder,

b. a cylinder assembly comprising said pick-up and transfer cylinder having a plurality of cylinder holes arranged in rows operatively connected to said hopper assembly,

c. a seed detachment system operatively connected to said cylinder to dislodge seeds from said cylinder holes, and

d. a cleaning system operatively connected to said cylinder for removing seed fragments remaining in said cylinder holes after seed are dislodged by said detachment system.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said hopper assembly further includes a seed hopper wherein said hopper includes shrouds for seed containment that are operatively connected to said pick-up and transfer cylinder and said hopper.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said hopper assembly further includes a seed hopper transition assembly including a pair of seed access ports and a seed drain access port operatively connected to said hopper and said pick-up and transfer cylinder.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said baffle and brush system includes baffling means operatively connected to said hopper assembly and said pick-up and transfer cylinder for regulating seed flow to said cylinder.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said baffling means includes primary sliding gates and secondary sliding gates.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein said baffle and brush system includes dividers operatively connected to said cylinder to guide seeds to said cylinder.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said baffle and brush system includes a seed brush assembly operatively connected to said pick-up and transfer system for diverting seeds from said baffling means to cylinder holes on said cylinder and for removing seeds not on said cylinder holes that are riding on said cylinder.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein said pick-up and transfer cylinder further includes a plurality of tabs operatively connected to said cylinder holes to improve seed flow to said holes.

9. The device of claim 1 further including a vacuum assembly operatively connected to said cylinder assembly for facilitating seed transfer to said cylinder holes.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein said seed detachment system includes a plurality of seed contact dislodging strips operatively connected to said pick-up and transfer cylinder for dislodging seeds held by a vacuum in said cylinder holes.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein said cleaning system includes a plurality of cleaning units operatively attached to said pick-up and transfer cylinder wherein each of said units includes a hexagonal-shaped nut having attached hole cleaners to each side of said nut.

12. A device for planting seeds in a diamond-shaped pattern comprising:

a. a hopper assembly comprising a baffle and brush system for controlling seed flow to a pick-up and transfer cylinder operatively connected to said pick-up and transfer cylinder,

b. a cylinder assembly comprising a pick-up and transfer cylinder having a plurality of cylinder holes arranged in rows operatively connected to said hopper assembly,

c. a vacuum assembly operatively connected to said cylinder assembly for facilitating seed transfer to said cylinder holes,

d. a seed detachment system operatively connected to said cylinder to dislodge seeds from said cylinder holes, and

e. a cleaning system operatively connected to said cylinder for removing seed fragments remaining in said cylinder holes after seed are dislodged by said detachment system.