Patents Examined by Nathon Mammen
  • Patent number: 6581532
    Abstract: A seeding machine having a main seed hopper is in communication with a planting unit by a flexible tube. The planting unit has a horizontal working position and a vertical transport position. The main hopper supplies seed by gravity to the planting unit through the flexible tube. The planting unit comprises a unit hopper and a seed meter. Seed is metered by the seed meter before being discharged to a seed tube and eventually a planting furrow. Seed from the flexible tube passes through the unit hopper to the seed meter. The unit hopper is provided with a baffle. Seed passing through the unit hopper to the seed meter passes beneath the concave surface of the baffle. As the planting unit is pivoted from its horizontal working position to its vertical transport position seed from the seed meter flows over the top of the baffle and is held in the unit hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Matthew Brian Hagen, James Irwin Lodico