Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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The present invention relates to a
distributor for a single-seed seeding machine of the
succion type.
The invention applies more particularly
to the disk-type distributors of p-neumatic seeding
machines.
The maJor problem to be solved on this
type of seeding machine is that of seed selection by
the machine distributor whereof the apertured disk
should carry one single seed per aperture. The solution
of this problem involves both the seed-catching
effect of the succion apertures in the distributor
disk and the member for double seed reJeCtion,
hereinafter called selector,provided on modern seeding
machines.
In a known single-seed seeding machine,
as described in particular in French patent 1,208,202,
gripping of the seeds by the succion apertures in the
distributor disk is facilitated by a stirring action
exerted by a stirrer having blades which rotate
parallel to the disk. Selection is effected by ad~ustable
paddles in staggered positions on both sides of the path
of motion of the seeds carried by the distributor,
said palles defining a passageway and acting to radially
~oggle the packs of seeds bound or,to the succion
apertures alternately towards the center of the disk and
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towards the periphery thereof. This selection system
fails to be completely satisfactory in as much as
the stirrer does not push the seeds towards the dlsk
but drives them parallel to the latter,and also as
the packs of seeds bound onto the succion apertures are
Joggled but once in each direction ,this being in some
cases found insufficient.
In another improved single-seed seeding
machine,as described in particular in French patent
1,585,445,the seed stirriny in the reservoir ad~acent to
the carrier disk is also effected as previously parallel
to this disk,but the adJustable selection paddles of
the previous seeding machine were replaced by a selector
plate cut with saw-teeth so as to form a plurality of
successive slanted ramps having their apices in gradually
closer relati~nship to the succion apertures in the
distributor disk~ With this arrangement,the packs of
seeds caked onto the succion apertures are sub~ected
to a series of successive impacts which will cause the
packs to revolve on themselves and will bring forth the fall
of the seeds thrown off their balance. While this
arrangement is satisfactory,it will be noted that with
this selector plate,the seed packs are only pushed in a
single radial direction,either towards the center of the
distributor disk,or on the contrary towards the periphery
thereof,and this may give advantage to some seeds located
in a privile~ed position within the pack bound onto the
succion aperture.
The purpose ~ ~e present invention is
therefore to provide a distributor for a single-seed
seeding machine wherein the feeding of seeds to the
apertured distribution disk as well as the removal of
5 ~ double seeds bound onto the same succion aperture of this
disk are improved.
The succion type distributor for a single-
seed seeding machine according to the invention includes
a rotary distribution disk provided with a circular row
of apertures, a casing having its interior divided by
the disk into two adJacent enclosures whereof one acts
as a seed reservoir and the other, lying along a portion
of the path of motion of the disk apertures,constitutes
a succion chamber,a double-seed removing device
applied against the disk along the path of motion of
the apertures and a stirrer located in the seed reservoir
adJacent to said disk,the double seed removing device
consisting ~ainly of two ad~oining selector plates
pivoted at one end on the casing and so disposed as to
have one edge lying along the path of motion of the
distributor disk apertures, each of said edges being
provided with a plurality of successive pro~ections
extending radially towards said apertures, said proJections
of one plate being locatedlon one side of said path while
the proJections of the other plate are offset and
located on the opposite side in front of the gaps
between the proJections of said one plate.
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Preferably,the selector plates are hinged
about a common pin which is secured to the casing
adJacent to the periphery of the distribution disk and
extends at right angle to the latter,said plates extending
from their hinge pin in a direction opposite to that of
rotation of the disk.
Preferably,the distributor according to the
invention includes means for adJusting the relative
angular positions of the two selector plates,said
adJusting means mainly consisting of a lever which is
pivoted on the casing and provided with cams offset on
either side of the pivot pin of said lever,said cams
being accommodated in corresponding terminal recesses
provided in the plates at the ends thereof opposed to
their pivoted connections with the casing.
Since better accuracy in seed selection is
also related to better catching of said seeds by the
succion apertures during passage thereof within the
reservoir,the invention also provides for orienting
the axis of rotation of the stirrer in a direction
parallel to the plane of the distribution disk so that the
stirrer rotation will move the seeds towards the disk.
This preferred arrangement makes it possible,according
to the invention,to cause the ~tirrer to be driven by
the distr~bution disk itself through simple coupling means
arranged therebetween . Preferably,said coupling means
consist either of a roller made of a material having a
high coefficient of friction such as rubber,said roller
being mounted on the axis of rotation of the stirrer
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and rolling on the disk,or still of a pinion fast with
the stirrer shaft and a plurality of recesses provided
in a circular row in the disk about its axis of rotation,
so that the teeth of the stirrer will mesh with said
recesses~
The invention will now be described in more
details with reference to specific embodiments disclosed
by way of non restrictive example and shown on the
accompanying drawings,wherein:
Fig.l is a diagrammatical sectional view of a
distributor for a pneumatic seeding machine according to
the invention;
Fig.2 is an exploded perspective view of the
double seed removing device in the distributor of figure
1;
Fig.3 is a front view of this same double seed
removing device of figure 2;
Fig;4 is a side view of the removing device
of figure 3,
Fig.5 is a fragmentary view of the lower
distributor portion having the stirrer according to the
invention located therein,and
Fig.6 is a sectional view of the distributor in
figure 5 through the stirrer axis,along line VI-VI of
said figure
As shown in figure l,the single-seed pneumatic
seeding machine according to the invention comprises in
the conventional manner,such as described in particular in
French patents 1,208,202 and 1,585,415 whereof the
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specifications should be regarded as incorporated
herewith, a seed hopper 1 lying over a suc~ion type
distrlbutor 2 in turn located above a lower ploughshare 3
for cutting furrows in the ground,the assembly being
carried by a conventional chassis not shown.
The distributor 2 consists in known manner of a
casing 4 having its interior divided into two ad~acent
enclosures by a rotary distribution disk 5 provided about
its periphery with a circular row of apertures 6 and
rotating about a central shaft 7 rotatably driven by gears
not shown,and a universal ~oint ~ effecting coupling
with the P.T.O.,one wheel of the seeding machine or any ~
other member for providing a rotational speed proportional
to the speed of travel of the seeding machine. One of the
enclosures partitioned by disk 5 communicates with an
outlet at the bottom of hopper 1 and acts as a seed
reaervoir 9,while the other enclosure 10, also laterally
partitloned by disk 5,is connected through a hose 11 to a
succion source not shown and acts as a succion chamber,
said latter enclosure 10 extending circumferentially about
a ma~or portion of the path of travel of apertures 6
in the distribution disk 5,from the interior of the seed
reservoir 9 formed by the first enclosure to the lower
portion of the distributor.
2S Arranged in a manner known per se at the upper
portion of said distributor is a double-seed removing
device 12 of elongated shape which is applied against
the distribution disk 5 and lies in a circular arc about
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the path of motion of the apertures 6 in said disk. This
removing device 12 is pivoted on casing 4 about a pin 13
secured in close proximity to the periphery of disk 5
at right angle to the latter,and an adJusting lever 14,
also pivoted on the casing 4 of the distributor about a pin
15,permits to adJust the spacing between the castellated
edges of device 12 and the circular path of motion of the
succion apertures 6 in the distribution disk.
When said succion apertures 6 of disk 5 move
between the seed reservoir 9 and the adJacent succion
chamber lO,they catch by succion one or more seeds in the
reservoir 9 and carry them out from the latter to the
upper portion of the distributor where the packs of seeds
bound onto the succion apertures meet the successive
teeth of the removing device 12 whereby they are
~oggled and caused to revolve on themselves about the
succion aperture axis,being thus desintegrated. Those seeds
in the packs which are thrown out of their balance will be
freed under the repeated impacts imparted thereto and will
fall back in reservoir 9.
The last seed remaining on the succion aperture
which is moving under the removal device 12 has then an
opportunity to assume a correct position onto the aperture
where it is firmly held,whereby it is enabled to continue
its motion to the bottom of the distributor where the
succion chamber 10 is interrupted and the apertures 6 in
the disk move through an unobstructed area wherein both sides
of disk 5 are subJected to atmospheric pressure. Since the
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~ 6~ )9
succion is then released from apertures 6,the carried
seed will be freed and fall between the ploughshare blades
within the furrow cut by ploughshare 3.
Such as shown more especially on figures 2,3 and
4, the double-seed removing device according to the
invention mainly consists of two selector plates 16 and 17 ,
of a pivot pin 13 force-fitted into a hole 18 provided
in the distributor casing 4 close to the periphery of
apertured sik 5,and of an adJustment lever 14 pivoted about
a pin 15 which is force-fitted into a hole 19 provided
in casing 4 close to the edge of apertured disk 5,said
lever 14 being provided with two cams 20 and 21 located in
offset positions on either sides of the pivot hole 22
crossed by pin 15. Both cams 20 and 21 have the shape
of a circular disk and are adJoining.
Selector plate 16 is elongated and its end
located upstream with respect to the direction of rotation
of disk 5 is bifurcated and provided with a notch 23 for
accomodating cam 20 of lever 14.The downstream end of
plate 16 is provided with a pivot hole 24 which ls crossed
by pin 13.The edge 25 of plate 1~ which faces distribution
disk 5 is incurved with a curvature substantially
equal to that of the path of motion of the succion
apertures 6 of disk 5 and is provided with evenly spaced
pro~ecting studs 26 extending towards said path of motion
of apertures 6,their edges 27 facing said apertures
being slightly slanted obliquely to said path of motion.
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The second distributor plate 17,which i~ adJa-
cent to plate 16,has generally the same shape as the
latter and also includes a bifurcated upstream end
provided with a notch 28 for accomodating cam 21 of lever 14
and a downstream end provided with a pivot hole 29 which
is crossed by pin 13. Its edge 30 facing disk 5 is also
incurved with a radius of curvature close to that of the
path of motion of apertures 6 and is also provided with
studs 31 ~ evenly spaced as to be interposed between
the studs 26 of plate 16 when the two plates are adJacent.
That portion of plate 17 as includes the edge 30
provided wi~h the studs 31 is stamped and offset with
respect to both ends of said plate 17 so that,when the
two plates 16 and 17 are brought together,only the
terminal portions of plate 17 are applied on plate 16,while
the central portions provided with the studs remain
slightly spaced from each other in two parallel planes.
In its assembled position,plate 16 is applied
against disk 5 so that the succion apertures 6 will move
past the slanted edges 27 of studs 26 whlch all lie on the
same side of the path of motion of the apertures,e.g.
on the outer side in the embodiment shown. With a
view to have the studs 31 of the ad~oining plate 17 also
applied against disk 5 and to have their terminal edges
also located close to the path of motion of the succion
apertures in the disk and on the side of said path opposite
to the studs 26 of plate l~,said studs 31 are bent down
inwardly in hook-shape so as to have their terminal portion
32 substantially located in the same plane as studs 26
!1 ~l6(~1V~3
of plate 16,viz.in the plane of disk 5.
Upon assembly of both plates 16 and 17 of device 12,
the path of motion of succion apertures 6 of disk 5
is bordered by a double series of studs 26 and 31
alternately disposed on both sides of said path. Since the
two plates 16 and 17 are pivoted about pin 13 which is
fitted in hole 18 at right angle to the plane of disk 5,
it is possible , by angular adJustment of said plates,to
move simultaneously studs 26 and 31 closer to or farther
from the path of motion o~ succion apertures 6. This
adJustment is provided by means of lever 14 rotating
about its hinge~5 and acting on plates 16 and 17 through
the two cams 20 and 21 accommodated in notches 23 and 28
respectively,pivotal motion of said lever causing a
~aw-like opening or closing motion of the two plates
which results in broadening or narrowing of the wedge-
shaped passageway between the opposite rows of studs 26
and 31.It will be noticed that said passageway is funnel-
shaped and tapers off in the direction of rotation of disk 5
so that the seed selectlon becomes more and more severe
as the packs of seeds bound onto apertures 6 advance
between said opposite rows of alternating studs.
The operation of the selection device according to
the invention may be easily understood.
The aggre gates of seeds bound on the succion
apertures 6 of disk 5 are successively and alternately
knocked,on the one hand,by the edges 27 of studs 26 which push
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back said aggregates toward5the center of the disk and
cause them to rotate clockwise and,on the other hand,
by the ends 32 of the opposite studs 31 which,contrarily,
push back said aggregates outwardly and towards the
disk periphery and cause them to rotative anti-clockwise.
The seed packs thus knocked about and alternately ~oggled
in one direction,then another,experience successive
losses of those seeds which are out of balance until they
only retain,at the outlet of removal device 12 ,one
single seed which,due to its prixiledged location at
the center of the succion aperture,was able to withstand
the repeated impacts of the device without being eJected.
In operation,the angle formed between the two plates 16
and 17 remains constant and lever 14 is locked.However,
in case the type and size of seeds is changed,variation
of said angle between the two plates is possible by
pivotal motion of lever 14 about its pin 15.
To further improve seed selection and avoid
double seeds on a single succion aperture,provision is
also made according to the invention for correctly
locating the seeds on the apertures as soon as they are
caught in the seed-box for,when a seed is perfectly
positionned onto its succion aperture,it acts to
substantially wholly mask the same,thereby preventing
succion of a second seed,this avoiding the need
to subsequently remove the latter.
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Consequently,to improve the catching action,
provision is also made according to the invention ~or
promoting seed stirring in the seed reservoir ,especially
by pushing the seeds towardsthe distribution disk by
means of a stirrer which rotates about an axis
subst-an`tially parallel to the plane of the disk.
As shown in figures 5 and 6 ,the distributor
according to the invention includes,within the interior
and at the lowerPrtin of the seed-box in casing 4,a
stirrer 33 provided with stirring paddles 34 and ~ounted
on one end of a shaft 35 which is provided at its
other end with a toothed pinion 36. Shaft 35 is rotatably
mounted in parallel relationship to the plane of
distribution disk 5 in a plain bearing 37 supported by the
wall of the distributor casing 4.To effect rotational
dr~ve of stirrer 33,distribution disk 5 is provided with a
circular row of recesses 38 tsee figure 5)which are evenly
spaced all around the central axle 7 of the disk,the
teeth of pinion 36 fa5t with the stirrer shaft 7 meshing
with said recesses 38 in such manner that rotation of
disk 5 causes simultaneous rotation of stirrer 33 which has
its paddles 34 located at the succion apertures 6
and push the seeds towards the latter.
It will be noticed that with a stirrer
specifically arranged according to the invention,i.e.
rotating about an axis which is parallel to the plane of
the disk,it is possible to ~rive said stirrer by means of
the disk itself and to suppress any idle gearing.
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Alternately,the pinion 36 keyed on stirrer
shaft 35 as well as the recesses 38 in the distribution
disk may be replaced by a mere roller of a material having
a high coefficient of friction,such as rubber,keyed on
shaft 35 of stirrer 33 and applied on the face o~ disk so
as to effect transmission of motions by frictional contact.
It will be understood that the scope of the
invention is not limited to the sole embodiment described
above by way of non restrictive example,but extends to
every modified embodiment only differing therefrom by
constructional details.
Thus,in partlcular,the two selector plates 1~ and
17 may be used to effect seed selection along two
distinct concentric rows of succion apertures,instead of a
single circular row,each selector plate being associated
with one particular row while there is but one selection
ad~ustment which is carried out through a single
adJustment lcver. In this case,to avoid that the excess
of seeds removed from the outer row o~ succion apertures
should fall on the inner row of apertures and be sucked
again without possible subsequent removal,the last
effective stud in the direction of disk rotation should
belong to the selector plate associated with the inner
aperture row.
