Seed firmer
First Claim
1. A seed firmer for pressing seeds into soil during planting, the seed firmer comprising:
- a mount for attachment to a row unit of a planting machine; and
an arm defining a ground-facing surface having at least one point of contact with the ground, including a rearmost ground contact point with respect to a direction of forward travel during planting operation,wherein the ground-facing surface has a transition section directly trailing a rearmost ground contact point, the transition section extending upwardly from the rearmost ground contact point with a radius no less than 25 mm,wherein the mount includes a linkage having two parallel intermediate links rotatably coupled to the arm to provide vertical travel of the arm without changing the orientation of the arm,wherein the mount further includes a first spring engaged with the linkage to bias the arm in a downward direction toward the ground, andwherein one of the intermediate links has a selective sliding joint operable to enable the linkage to be selectively tripped to achieve an alternate, non-parallel relationship between the intermediate links upon encountering an obstacle during forward travel.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A seed firmer for pressing seeds into soil during planting. The seed firmer includes a mount for attachment to a row unit of a planting machine. An arm defines a ground-facing surface having at least one point of contact with the ground, including a rearmost ground contact point with respect to a direction of forward travel during planting operation. The ground-facing surface has a transition section directly trailing a rearmost ground contact point, the transition section can extending upwardly from the rearmost ground contact point with a radius no less than 25 mm. Also, in some constructions the rearmost section of the ground-facing surface defines a ratio of horizontal distance to vertical height that is no less than 1.2:1.
27 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A seed firmer for pressing seeds into soil during planting, the seed firmer comprising:
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a mount for attachment to a row unit of a planting machine; and an arm defining a ground-facing surface having at least one point of contact with the ground, including a rearmost ground contact point with respect to a direction of forward travel during planting operation, wherein the ground-facing surface has a transition section directly trailing a rearmost ground contact point, the transition section extending upwardly from the rearmost ground contact point with a radius no less than 25 mm, wherein the mount includes a linkage having two parallel intermediate links rotatably coupled to the arm to provide vertical travel of the arm without changing the orientation of the arm, wherein the mount further includes a first spring engaged with the linkage to bias the arm in a downward direction toward the ground, and wherein one of the intermediate links has a selective sliding joint operable to enable the linkage to be selectively tripped to achieve an alternate, non-parallel relationship between the intermediate links upon encountering an obstacle during forward travel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A seed firmer for pressing seeds into soil during planting, the seed firmer comprising:
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an arm defining a ground-facing surface having at least one ground contact point for driving seeds into soil as the arm is moved across the soil; a first link having a first end arranged for connection to a planting machine and a second end defining a first pivot connection with the arm such that the arm is pivotable relative to the first link about a first pivot axis; and a second link having a first end arranged for connection to the planting machine and a second end defining a second pivot connection with the arm such that the arm is pivotable relative to the second link about a second pivot axis spaced from the first pivot axis, wherein the arm is a non-compliant arm and the orientation of the ground-facing surface is controlled exclusively in relation to the first and second links. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A seed firmer for pressing seeds into soil during planting, the seed firmer comprising:
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an arm defining a ground-facing surface having at least one point of contact with the ground, including a rearmost ground contact point with respect to a direction of forward travel during planting operations, wherein the ground-facing surface has a transition section directly trailing the rearmost ground contact point, the transition section extending upwardly from the rearmost ground contact point; and wherein the ground-facing surface includes an overhang rearward of the transition section, the overhang including a ground-facing anti-rebound surface spaced above the rearmost ground contact point and arranged to limit upward travel of a seed flicked upward from the rearmost ground contact point. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification