Seed belt housing with impact absorbing material to reduce seed skip and method for same

• US 20030167986A1
• Filed: 03/05/2002
• Published: 09/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Precision Planting LLC (AGCO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Precision Planting, Inc.
• Inventors: Dill, Kenneth R., Sauder, Derek A., Sauder, Gregg A., Dunlap, Don L.
• Granted Patent: US 6,729,249 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 111/170
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/04 Single-grain seeders with or without suction devices

Abstract

An improved seed belt housing to reduce seed skip and method for same. The seed belt housing having a modified back panel with an area of impact absorbing material disposed at least in the area where the seed normally hits the back panel of the seed belt housing after being discharged by the seed meter. The impact absorbing material having the properties to dampen, absorb, or reduce the amount of bounce or ricochet otherwise experienced by the seed after hitting the back panel of the seed belt housing.

Claims

1. An improved seed belt housing adapted to be disposed adjacent a seed meter and having a seed receiving opening for receiving seeds discharged by the seed meter, the seed belt housing having a back panel with an area spaced in opposition to said seed receiving opening against which the seeds discharged by the seed meter impact and ricochet therefrom, the improvement comprising:

an impact absorbing material disposed at least at the area where the seeds normally impact the back panel, whereby said impact absorbing material reduces seed ricochet.

2. The improved seed belt housing of claim 1 wherein the back panel includes an opening at least at the area where the seeds normally impact the back panel and wherein said impact absorbing material is secured to a back face of the back panel over said opening.

3. The improved seed belt housing of claim 2 further comprising an exterior cover secured over said impact absorbing material.

4. The improved seed belt housing of claim 1 wherein the back panel includes a recess in a front face of the back panel at least at the area where the seeds normally impact the back panel and wherein said impact absorbing material is secured within said recess.

5. The improved seed belt housing of claim 1 wherein the impact absorbing material is integral with the back panel at least at the area where the seeds normally impact the back panel.

6. The improved seed belt housing of claim 1 wherein the back panel is comprised of impact absorbing material.

7. A method to reduce seed ricochet within a seed belt housing adapted to be disposed adjacent a seed meter and having a seed receiving opening for receiving seeds discharged by the seed meter, the seed belt housing having a back panel with an area spaced in opposition to said opening against which the seeds discharged by the seed meter impact and ricochet therefrom, the method comprising:

providing an impact absorbing material disposed at least at the area where the seeds normally impact the back panel, whereby said impact absorbing material reduces seed ricochet.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

securing said impact absorbing material to a back face of the back panel over an opening in the back panel at least at the area where the seeds normally impact the back panel.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising cutting said opening in the back panel at least at the area where the seeds normally impact the back panel.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

securing an exterior cover over said impact absorbing material.

11. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

securing said impact absorbing material within a recess in a front face of the back panel at least at the area where the seeds normally impact the back panel.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

forming said recess in a front face of the back panel at least at the area where the seeds normally impact the back panel.

13. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

integrally forming said impact absorbing material with the back panel at least at the area where the seeds normally impact the back panel.

14. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

providing a back panel comprising impact absorbing material.

15. A kit for modifying a seed belt housing to reduce seed skip, the kit comprising:

a template adapted for positioning against a back panel of a seed belt housing to locate an opening to be cut in said back panel at least at an area where seeds impact said back panel when discharged by a seed meter; and

a member of impact absorbing material sized to at least cover said opening to be cut in said back panel.

16. The kit of claim 15 further comprising:

an exterior cover adapted to be disposed and secured over said member of impact absorbing material.

17. The kit of claim 15 further comprising:

fastening means for securing at least said member of impact absorbing material to said back panel.

18. A seed selecting and dispensing mechanism comprising:

a seed meter having a backing plate with a seed discharge opening therein, said seed meter adapted to select individual seeds from a seed reservoir and discharge said individual seeds through said seed discharge opening in said backing plate;

a seed belt housing adapted to receive said individual seeds from the seed meter and convey said seeds, individually and in sequence, for dispensing into a seed tube, said seed belt housing including a front panel having a seed receiving opening aligned with said seed discharge opening in said seed meter backing plate for receiving said seeds discharged by said seed meter, said seed belt housing having a back panel with an area spaced in opposition to said seed receiving opening;

said back panel having an impact absorbing material disposed at least at said area in opposition to said receiving opening whereby said impact absorbing material absorbs seed impact.

19. The seed selecting and dispensing mechanism of claim 18 wherein said impact absorbing material is secured to a back face of said back panel over an opening in said back panel at least at said area in opposition to said seed receiving opening.

20. The seed selecting and dispensing mechanism of claim 19 further comprising an exterior cover secured over said impact absorbing material.

21. The seed selecting and dispensing mechanism of claim 18 wherein said back panel includes a recess in a front face of said back panel at least at said area in opposition to said seed receiving opening and wherein said impact absorbing material is secured within said recess.

22. The seed selecting and dispensing mechanism of claim 18 wherein the impact absorbing material is integral with said back panel at least at said area in opposition to said seed receiving opening.

23. The seed selecting and dispensing mechanism of claim 18 wherein said back panel is comprised of said impact absorbing material.