Patent · US Expired

Seed planter

US4411205A · kind A · utility

11Cited by
5References
15Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateSep 30, 1982
Grant dateOct 25, 1983
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 30, 2002

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S111/915
  • WIPO fieldOther special machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A seed planter of the type primarily intended for use in automatically depositing seeds into seedling flats. The seed planter basically comprises a support frame including a conveyor for moving the seedling flats containing a growing medium therealong. Operatively mounted on the support frame in communicating relation to the seedling trays are an automatic dibbler for preparing the growing medium to receive the seeds and a seed delivery station for automatically depositing seeds into the dibbled flat. Operation of the seed planter is entirely automatic, and its operating cycle as well as the structural elements of the dibbler and the seed delivery system may be modified to accomplish automatic planting of flats of various sizes and configurations, and to accomodate seeds of different sizes. In an alternate embodiment, the seed planter further includes a finisher station disposed downstream of the seed delivery system whereby a relatively small quantity of growing medium is placed in the flats above the now-planted seeds.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.