Agitator assembly for a seed metering mechanism
US5839378A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 20, 1996 |
| Grant date | Nov 24, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 20, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA01C7/0443
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A seed agitating assembly for a seed metering mechanism including a housing with a seed reservoir area wherein a mass of seeds are held and a rotatable seed disc internally carried by the housing. The seed disc is provide with a circular array of holes or throughopenings for captively transferring seeds from the seed reservoir to a seed discharge area on the seed metering mechanism. The seed discharge area is typically arranged in spaced relation from the seed reservoir. A rotary drive shaft extends endwise through the housing for imparting rotational movements to the seed disc. According to the present invention, a seed agitator assembly is provided for stirring or agitating the seeds in the seed reservoir. The seed agitating assembly includes a generally circular or plate-like member that is operably coupled to the drive shaft. The seed agitating assembly further includes a plurality of flexible arms carried by and radially extending beyond the periphery of the plate-like member for agitating the seeds in the seed reservoir as the plate-like member is rotatably propelled by the drive shaft.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.