Method and apparatus for automated opening and dispensing of seed from a container
First Claim
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1. An automatic opener and dispenser, comprising:
- a packet receiver comprising a first packet receptacle and a second packet receptacle, said packet receiver moveably supported by a support, said packet receiver sized, shaped and configured to receive and support two packets simultaneously in the first packet receptacle and the second packet receptacle;
a packet opener supported by said support and positioned relative to said packet receiver to allow said packet opener to selectively open a packet supported by one of said first packet receptacle and said second packet receptacle;
an automatic drive supported by said support and operably connected to said packet receiver, said automatic drive operable to actuate said packet receiver through a cyclical movement comprising a plurality of cycles, each cycle of the plurality of cycles including;
a first packet opening/second packet dispensing stage corresponding to a position of the packet receiver in which the first packet receptacle is positioned such that said packet opener is operable to open a packet supported in said first packet receptacle and said second packet receptacle is simultaneously positioned such that an opened packet supported in said second packet receptacle is positioned such that a content of the opened packet is dispensed, anda first packet dispensing/second packet opening stage corresponding to a position of the packet receiver in which the first packet receptacle is positioned such that an opened packet supported in said first packet receptacle is positioned such that a content of the opened packet is dispensed and said second packet receptacle is simultaneously positioned such that said packet opener is operable to open a packet supported in said second packet receptacle,said packet receiver sized, shaped and configured to simultaneously support packets in both said first packet receptacle and said second packet receptacle in both said first packet opening/second packet dispensing stage and said first packet dispensing/second packet opening stage.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for automatically opening a seed packet and dispensing the contents of the same for planting is disclosed.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. An automatic opener and dispenser, comprising:
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a packet receiver comprising a first packet receptacle and a second packet receptacle, said packet receiver moveably supported by a support, said packet receiver sized, shaped and configured to receive and support two packets simultaneously in the first packet receptacle and the second packet receptacle; a packet opener supported by said support and positioned relative to said packet receiver to allow said packet opener to selectively open a packet supported by one of said first packet receptacle and said second packet receptacle; an automatic drive supported by said support and operably connected to said packet receiver, said automatic drive operable to actuate said packet receiver through a cyclical movement comprising a plurality of cycles, each cycle of the plurality of cycles including; a first packet opening/second packet dispensing stage corresponding to a position of the packet receiver in which the first packet receptacle is positioned such that said packet opener is operable to open a packet supported in said first packet receptacle and said second packet receptacle is simultaneously positioned such that an opened packet supported in said second packet receptacle is positioned such that a content of the opened packet is dispensed, and a first packet dispensing/second packet opening stage corresponding to a position of the packet receiver in which the first packet receptacle is positioned such that an opened packet supported in said first packet receptacle is positioned such that a content of the opened packet is dispensed and said second packet receptacle is simultaneously positioned such that said packet opener is operable to open a packet supported in said second packet receptacle, said packet receiver sized, shaped and configured to simultaneously support packets in both said first packet receptacle and said second packet receptacle in both said first packet opening/second packet dispensing stage and said first packet dispensing/second packet opening stage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of opening and dispensing a content of a packet, comprising:
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supporting a first packet with a packet receiver; opening the first packet to create a first packet opening while the first packet is supported by the packet receiver; moving the first packet to a dispensing position while the first packet is supported by the packet receiver; dispensing a content of the first packet through the first packet opening while first packet is supported by the packet receiver; supporting a second packet with the packet receiver during said step of dispensing the content of the first packet through the first packet opening, whereby the second packet and the first packet are simultaneously supported by the packet receiver; and during said step of supporting a second packet with the packet receiver and during said step of dispensing the content of the first packet through the first packet opening, opening the second packet to create a second packet opening, whereby said second packet is opened while the content of the first packet is dispensed. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A planter for planting a first plurality of seeds contained in a first container and a second plurality of seeds contained in a second container, the planter comprising:
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a frame; at least one seed metering device supported by the frame; a seed dispensing device supported by the frame, the seed dispensing device including a first stage whereat the first container is automatically opened and a second stage whereat the first plurality of seeds are dispensed from the first container; and a controller operably coupled to the seed dispensing device, the controller controlling the opening of the first container when the first container is in the first stage and the controller controlling a movement of the first container to the second stage, the second container being automatically opened prior to the first container exiting the second stage. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification