Abstract: A vacuum seed metering mechanism arranged in combination with a seed hopper for uniformly dispensing seeds to the ground. The seed metering mechanism comprises a rotational distributor disc provided with a circular row of openings toward a periphery of the disc. The disc carries seeds from a seed reservoir to a seed discharge area under the influence of pressure differential. The disc is rotatably mounted in a housing whose interior is divided by the seed disc into the seed reservoir, on one side of the seed disc, and a suction chamber, lying around a portion of the path of movement of the openings in the seed disc. A salient feature of the present invention relates to the provision of an apparatus for imparting vibrations to the housing for facilitating the release of seeds from the openings in the disc in the discharge area of the seed.

Abstract: The invention is a seed metering device for metered discharging of agricultural seeds and the like. The seed metering device is designed to collect seed in a singular or group fashion and deposit the same at predetermined and accurate intervals in a seed trench. The device includes a seed disk which contains a plurality of seed containment pockets. These pockets can be depressurized by imparting a partial vacuum. The seed disk sits between a manifold and a housing which define a seed collection area and a seed release area. Seed enters the seed collection area through a seed intake opening in the upper portion of the housing. This portion opens to a seed downfall region that widens into the seed collection area. As the disk rotates between the seed collection area and the seed release area, the seed pockets contained on the seed disk are pressurized thereby acquiring a seed and carrying or conveying the seed to the seed release point.

Abstract: Apparatus for planting seeds or bulbs (e.g., potatoes, onions, flowers, etc.) using a seed metering mechanism which relies upon a vacuum to select seeds out of a hopper. The apparatus includes a plurality of arms extending radially outward from an axis, a cup secured to the outer end of each arm and a vacuum communicating with each cup such that a seed contacted by the cup in the hopper is retained in the cup by atmospheric pressure. When the arms are rotated, the cups pass through the hopper so that each cup can contact the seeds and retain one seed in the cup. At a designated point outside the hopper the seed is released so that it can pass through a spout or chute and into a furrow in the soil.

Abstract: A circumferential seal for the clearance space or gap between a vacuum pressure chamber formed by a trough-shaped casing and a revolving transporting disk of a metering device for sealing the vacuum pressure chamber, and preferably, it is used for a single-grain sowing machine.

Abstract: The invention is a seed metering device for metered discharging of agricultural seeds and the like. The seed metering device is designed to collect seed in a singular or group fashion and deposit the same at predetermined and accurate intervals in a seed trench. The device includes a seed disk which contains a plurality of seed containment pockets. These pockets can be depressurized by imparting a partial vacuum. The seed disk sits between a manifold and a housing which define a seed collection area and a seed release area. Seed enters the seed collection area through a seed intake opening in the upper portion of the housing. This portion opens to a seed downfall region that widens into the seed collection area. As the disk rotates between the seed collection area and the seed release area, the seed pockets contained on the seed disk are pressurized thereby acquiring a seed and carrying or conveying the seed to the seed release point.

Abstract: A device for sealing the seed meter from the seed hopper of the agricultural planting unit when the unit is pivoted form its vertical planting configuration to its horizontal transport configuration. The device comprises a resilient and elastic sealing diaphragm that is located in the seed meter across from the seed meter disc. A pivotable frame is located in the other side of the diaphragm away from the seed meter disc and is used to expand the diaphragm so that it contacts the seed meter disc and seals the seed meter form the seed hopper. A counterweight is mounted to the pivotable frame for automatically pivoting the frame and sealing the seed meter when the planting unit is moved from its vertical planting configuration to its horizontal transport configuration.

Abstract: A precision-type single-seed planter has seed distributor in the form of a disk provided with elongate perforations of a narrow width, which cooperate with a seed container and an air suction device. Because the perforations in the disk have an elongate shape and a small cross section even large seeds can be held on the disk by suction at each of the perforations whereas smaller seeds will also be held without being able to pass through the perforations. A selector element cooperates with the disk by throttling the suction effected on the seeds through the perforations so that only individual ones of the seeds, particularly the smaller seeds, are adhered at each perforation. An optimum seed separation and single-seed distribution effect is thus achieved, regardless of the size and shape of the seeds.

Abstract: Device to stir and feed seeds for pneumatic distributors of sowing machines, which is included in a first chamber (31) for the receipt of seeds (18), a continuously rotatable body (27) being included between a drive shaft (26) that sets in rotation a perforated disk (21) and the sidewall (35) of the first chamber (31), the rotatable body (27) comprising at least two substantially filiform, elongate, resilient projections (28) extending substantially so as to have to become substantially arcuate in order to be able to rotate together with the rotatable body (27), the projections (28) cooperating with a space (30) for the entry of seeds into the first chamber (31) for the receipt of seeds.

Abstract: The invention provides a pneumatic seeder wherein the various functions are controlled by electronic means. The seed distributors are operated by as many direct current motors, controlled by an electronic device as a function of the forward speed of the seeder, which speed is detected by an encoder. Electronic devices are also used for controlling both the sowing depth and the devices that adjust the seed fall.

Abstract: A hydro-pneumatic method and apparatus for singulation and delivery of uncoated capsules that consist of gel-encapsulated propagules. The capsules are flowed in water to a metering zone, where a metering disc picks up capsules one at a time successively by vacuum from the metering zone while spacing the capsules at regular intervals. The disc carries the capsules from the water, and then positively blows them from the vacuum at the regularly spaced intervals.

Abstract: A seed singulator for an agricultural planter uses a housing with a seed cavity to which seed and compressed air is delivered and a disc with seed pockets which, in rotating, pick up seed kernels from the seed cavity and drop them at equally spaced intervals. A wear ring prevents the rotating disc from wearing the singulator housing and a resilient air cutoff pad has radial extensions which extend between sealing surfaces on the housing and the wear ring whereby seeds are prevented from wedging between the air cutoff pad and the side walls of the groove in which the pad is installed. The trailing edge of the air cutoff pad has coplanar segments in angular relation to one another which serve to accurately space the seed when using a seed disc with multiple annular rows of seed pockets.

Abstract: A device for sowing individual seed grains spaced from each other comprises a discharge disc which constitutes the rear wall of a seed box and has suction openings for sucking the seed grains and discharges the grains seed through a discharge passage of the box. To ensure that only a single grain will be discharged at a time, the discharge disc consists of two parts, namely, a disc body which communicates with the suction fan, and a disc blade which contacts the disc body on the side facing the supply of seeds in the seed box. One part is stationary and has a guide slot, which defines the discharge path. The other part is rotatably mounted and has peripherally spaced apart entraining slots, each of which extends throughout the radial extent of the guide slot.