Turf overseeding apparatus and methods
First Claim
1. Seeder comprising, in combination:
- a frame for movement along a seeding surface desired to be seeded in a seeding direction;
a seed box mounted to the frame;
multiple cutting head assemblies independently pivotally mounted to the frame, with each of the multiple cutting head assemblies including a carrier, a blade assembly rotatably mounted to the carrier, with the blade assembly including a plurality of roller blades arranged in a spaced parallel relation and rotatably mounted to the carrier about a rotation axis, with each of the plurality of roller blades forming slits into the seeding surface, with the carrier pivotally mounted to the frame, a seed distributor distributing seeds into the slits formed by the plurality of roller blades in the seeding surface, and spring biased hold downs extending between the frame and the carrier exerting down pressure on the cutting head assembly; and
a seed tube extending between the seed box and the seed distributor allowing relative movement of the seed box and the seed distributor.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A seeder (10) includes multiple cutting head units (30) pivotally mounted to a jack shaft (24) of a frame (12) and spring biased downwardly by hold downs (80). Each multiple cutting head unit (30) includes multiple roller blades (36) received on an axle (34) rotatably mounted in a carrier (32) and in gearing relation to the jack shaft (24). The roller blades (36) include a series of oppositely formed, circumferentially spaced radially extending indentations (36a) extending from a continuous, smooth periphery at a constant extent from the axle (34). Fingers (46) extending between the roller blades (36) are pivotally mounted to the carrier (32) to adjust the depth of the slits formed by the roller blades (36). Each hose (98) extending from a seed box (96) diverts seed into adjacent slits immediately after the roller blades (36).
43 Citations
20 Claims
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1. Seeder comprising, in combination:
- a frame for movement along a seeding surface desired to be seeded in a seeding direction;
a seed box mounted to the frame;
multiple cutting head assemblies independently pivotally mounted to the frame, with each of the multiple cutting head assemblies including a carrier, a blade assembly rotatably mounted to the carrier, with the blade assembly including a plurality of roller blades arranged in a spaced parallel relation and rotatably mounted to the carrier about a rotation axis, with each of the plurality of roller blades forming slits into the seeding surface, with the carrier pivotally mounted to the frame, a seed distributor distributing seeds into the slits formed by the plurality of roller blades in the seeding surface, and spring biased hold downs extending between the frame and the carrier exerting down pressure on the cutting head assembly; and
a seed tube extending between the seed box and the seed distributor allowing relative movement of the seed box and the seed distributor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
- a frame for movement along a seeding surface desired to be seeded in a seeding direction;
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5. Seeder comprising, in combination:
- a frame for movement along a seeding surface desired to be seeded in a seeding direction;
multiple cutting head assemblies independently pivotally mounted to the frame, with each of the multiple cutting head assemblies including a carrier, a blade assembly rotatably mounted to the carrier, with the blade assembly including a plurality of roller blades arranged in a spaced parallel relation and rotatably mounted to the carrier about a rotation axis, with each of the plurality of roller blades forming slits into the seeding surface, with the carrier pivotally mounted to the frame, a seed distributor distributing seeds into the slits formed by the plurality of roller blades in the seeding surface, and spring biased hold downs extending between the frame and the carrier exerting down pressure on the cutting head assembly, with the roller blades being driven at a numerical speed different than if free rotating when engaging the seeding surface while moving in the seeding direction. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
- a frame for movement along a seeding surface desired to be seeded in a seeding direction;
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8. Cutting head assembly comprising, in combination:
- a carrier for movement relative to a seeding surface in a seeding direction;
a blade assembly rotatably mounted to the carrier, with the blade assembly including a plurality of roller blades arranged in a spaced parallel relation and rotatably mounted to the carrier about a rotation axis, with the roller blades forming slits into the seeding surface; and
a plurality of fingers arranged in a spaced parallel relation, with each of the plurality of fingers located intermediate adjacent roller blades of the plurality of roller blades, with the plurality of fingers engaging the seeding surface intermediate the plurality of roller blades and the slits formed thereby, with the plurality of fingers being adjustably mounted to the carrier to adjust spacing of the plurality of fingers from the rotation axis of the plurality of roller blades to provide depth adjustment of the slits formed by the plurality of roller blades. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
- a carrier for movement relative to a seeding surface in a seeding direction;
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11. Cutting head assembly comprising, in combination:
- a carrier for movement relative to a seeding surface in a seeding direction;
at least one roller blade rotatably mounted to the carrier about a rotation axis and forming a slit into the seeding surface, with the roller blade including a continuous, smooth periphery at a constant extent from the rotation axis, with the roller blade including a series of oppositely formed, circumferentially spaced and radially extending indentations extending from the continuous, smooth periphery; and
a seed distributor for placing seed into the slit created by the roller blade without enlargement immediately adjacent the roller blade in the seeding direction. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
- a carrier for movement relative to a seeding surface in a seeding direction;
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14. Method of seeding comprising:
- slitting a seeding surface in a seeding direction by rotating at least one roller blade including a continuous, smooth periphery at a constant extent from a rotation axis with the roller blade including a series of oppositely formed, circumferentially spaced and radially extending indentations extending from the continuous, smooth periphery; and
inserting seed into the slit created by the roller blade without enlargement and immediately adjacent the roller blade in the seeding direction. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
- slitting a seeding surface in a seeding direction by rotating at least one roller blade including a continuous, smooth periphery at a constant extent from a rotation axis with the roller blade including a series of oppositely formed, circumferentially spaced and radially extending indentations extending from the continuous, smooth periphery; and
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18. Seeder comprising, in combination:
- a cutting head assembly including multiple instrumentalities each forming a slit into a seeding surface when moved in a seeding direction;
a seed box holding seeds to be seeded and having multiple outlets, with the multiple outlets being substantially less in number than the multiple instrumentalities, with the multiple instrumentalities including a first instrumentality adjacent a second instrumentality, the second instrumentality adjacent a third instrumentality, and the third instrumentality adjacent a fourth instrumentality, with the second and third instrumentalities located intermediate the first and fourth instrumentalities, with the multiple outlets including a first outlet adjacent a second outlet, with the seed from the first outlet being directed to the first and second instrumentalities and from the second outlet being directed to the third and fourth instrumentalities. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
- a cutting head assembly including multiple instrumentalities each forming a slit into a seeding surface when moved in a seeding direction;
Specification