Abstract: A medicine cassette 100 includes a side-wall constituent body 110, a first rotating body 120, a second rotating body 130 and a medicine discharging part 144c. The medicine cassette 100 can scrape up medicines prepared in a medicine containing part 182 along with a rotation of the first rotating body 120 to transfer and place the medicines onto the second rotating body 130 and transfer the medicines toward a downstream side of a rotational direction of the second rotating body 130 to discharge the medicines from the medicine discharging part 144c. An expanding portion 110a expanding toward an outer side of a radial direction of the second rotating body 130 is provided in the side-wall constituent body 110 on a lower side of the second rotating body 130.

Abstract: A seeding heart for a single-grain seeding machine comprising a seeding disc rotatable in a rotational direction (R) with a large number of seeding holes distributed concentrically with respect to the seeding disc along at least one seeding hole circle and at least one agitator shaft for the movement of the seed, said agitator shaft being disposed in a holding section for holding the seed on the seeding holes of the seeding disc, characterised in that the agitator shaft is constituted replaceable in a modular manner. A single-grain seeding machine including the seeding heart.

Abstract: A sowing heart control apparatus for controlling a sowing heart with a sowing heart monitoring apparatus having an evaluation unit for determining the occupancy of sowing holes of a rotating seed disk with a seed in operation. The evaluation unit delivers an actual value of the occupancy of one or more sowing holes. The sowing heart control apparatus, depending on a deviation of the actual occupancy value from a predetermined setpoint of the occupancy of one or more sowing holes, controlling actuating elements which influence the occupancy. The invention also relates to a sowing heart and a single seed drill.

Abstract: A direct drive seed metering device for sowing machines operated by vacuum or high pressure and driven by a coaxial electric motor with a seed metering disc for capturing seeds from a reservoir and laying the seed in a controlled manner in a furrow in the soil. The coaxial electrical motor couples directly and coaxially to the metering disc without the need for intermediate transmission elements, redactors, gears or timing belts, and the coaxial electrical motor is a toroidal electric motor with a perforated hollow rotor shaft which fluidly captures the seed with a vacuum or high pressure generating device.

Abstract: A singulating disc, carried by a housing, has a plurality of openings around its periphery. The disc rotates vertically through a pickup chamber of a hopper carried by the housing. A vacuum is pulled through the openings by a pump which is connected to the disc. Items are placed in the hopper and, via gravity, fall to the bottom of the hopper where they contact the periphery of the rotating disc. The vacuum at the openings attaches an item and holds it while the disc rotates. At the top of the disc's rotation, a diverter directs the item into a path depending on the results of a fragment detection and/or counting mechanism. Items that are allowed to pass by the diverter are scraped off the disc into another path by a scraper. Negative pressure is used to singulate and count a multitude of sizes and shapes of items with no calibration. Retractable paddles, a vacuum management system, and RFID tags may be incorporated.

Abstract: An implement drive arrangement for a wheel axle assembly pivotally connected to a housing. A drive element is supported on the axle for rotation with the wheel generally about the wheel axis. The housing rotatably supports a driven element for rotation about an axis generally fixed in relation to the housing. A free-floating connecting element is rotatably supported between the drive element and the driven element to facilitate relatively unimpeded pivoting of the axle and wheel relative to the housing. The connecting element has two degrees of freedom offset at 90° to one another and aligned radially relative to the axis of rotation to accommodate axle pivoting while assuring smooth transfer of power from the wheel to the driven element as the angular relationship changes between the axle and housing with movement of the wheel over irregular ground surfaces.

Abstract: A flat seed disk is provided with a series of circumferentially arranged seed retaining protrusions providing seed retention at locations offset axially from the remainder of the disk. The offset allows the seed to fall in the correct location of the seed tube to reduce unwanted seed bounce and provide better seed delivery to the ground and better seed spacing as compared to flat disks without the offset. In one embodiment, the protrusions have seed retaining faces opening generally in the direction of disk rotation. In other embodiments, the faces are angled away from the direction of rotation to reduce interference between released seed and adjacent protrusions, and trailing radial ledges can be provided to enhance seed retention.

Abstract: A dual material dispensing assembly mountable to a frame for pulling assembly across the ground. The assembly includes an elongate main member having a first end mountable to the frame and a second end pivotally connected to a packer arm at a pivotable joint. A first dispensing implement for dispensing fertilizer to a first depth in the ground is mounted to the main member between the first and second ends. A second dispensing implement for dispensing seed to a second depth, different than the first depth, is mounted to the packer arm. The pivotable joint is intermediate the first and second dispensing implements. There is also a lock for preventing pivoting of the pivotable joint. A packer wheel is mounted to the packer arm at a second end whereby pivoting of the packer arm with respect to the main member at the pivotable joint acts to vary the first and second depths of the by the same amount.

Abstract: The efficiency of a John Deere planter to plant corn seed is improved where the planter is of the type having a vacuum operated metering unit enclosing a seed disk and a double eliminator. To improve the efficiency a kit is provided including an improved seed disk, an improved double eliminator, and an alignment tool for properly aligning the double eliminator with respect to the seed disk. When the parts are installed and properly aligned the planter can accept corn seed in the range of 1200 seeds per pound to 2800 seeds per pound without requiring readjustment of the vacuum setting or replacing the seed disk.

Abstract: A seeding machine includes at least one seed metering system and at least one seed placement system. Each seed placement system is in communication with a corresponding seed metering system. Each seed placement system includes a housing having a seed slide, and a wheel at least partly disposed within the housing. The wheel has a circumferential periphery with a plurality of contiguous disc joint surfaces. The periphery is positioned adjacent to at least part of the seed slide. The invention comprises, in another form thereof, a method of placing seeds with a seeding machine in a trench formed in soil. Seeds are received at a predetermined rate at a seed placement system. The seed placement system includes a seed slide, and a wheel having a conferential periphery position closely adjacent to at least part of the seed slide. The seeds are engaged at the predetermined rate against the wheel periphery. The seeds are carried past a closely adjacent area of the seed slide using the wheel periphery.

Abstract: A gearbox is drivingly coupled to a seed meter by a drive element. The drive element comprises a drive shaft on which is mounted a multifaceted sleeve. The multifaceted sleeve is pinned to the drive shaft by a cotter pin. The cotter pin provides torque protection by defining a torque transmission limit. The multifaceted sleeve is driven by a gearbox output. The gearbox output is provided with a hexagonal opening into which the hexagonal sleeve is received. The drive shaft is provided with a drive coupling. The drive coupling comprises an annular axially extending bore having aligned transversely extending apertures passing therethrough. The drive coupling is coupled to the spindle of the seed meter. The spindle is received in the bore. A readily releasable pin extends between the drive shaft and spindle.

Abstract: A garlic upright-positioning and planting device has a simple structure by which a garlic clove can be planted while the garlic clove is kept at its upright posture with its blunt root portion directed toward the ground. There is provided a garlic planting device for planting garlic cloves while maintaining an upright state, which comprises at least one guiding hopper for guiding a garlic clove with a root portion directed in a downward direction, and a planter for planting the garlic clove supplied from each of the guiding hoppers.

Abstract: Seeding apparatus has an opener mounted on the main frame in such a manner that the driven sprocket of a seed metering device on the opener moves slightly toward and away from the axis of the drive sprocket on the main frame as the opener moves up and down relative to the frame during changes in ground contour. To prevent the driving tight stretch of the drive chain between the drive sprocket and driven sprocket from undergoing significant length change during such movement of the opener relative to the frame, the tight stretch is trained around intermediate guide structure in such a manner that the different portions of the tight stretch thus defined all stay substantially constant in length at all times. An arrangement for use with a parallel linkage mounting of the opener has guides on the main frame and the opener that keep the chain portion spanning the frame and opener substantially parallel to the links of the linkage and of substantially the same length as such links.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a seed drill comprising at least one metering device driven by a mechanism equipped with an input shaft, with a pinion and with a control handle. The seed drill is notable in that the control handle is connected in terms of rotation to the input shaft. The present invention makes it easier to check the operation of the metering device.

Abstract: A singulating brush for a finger pickup seed meter comprising a flat carrier on which two sets of bristles are mounted. The flat carrier defines two mounting positions for the singulating brush. In its first mounting position the first set of bristles of the singulating brush contact the seed engaging spoons of the radially extending fingers for dislodging extraneous seed. In is second mounting position the second set of bristles of the singulating brush contact the seed engaging spoons of the radially extending fingers for dislodging extraneous seed. The first set of bristles is stiffer than the second set of bristles.

Abstract: An equidistant planting system for accurately placing seeds in a furrow thereby providing increased crop yields. The inventive device includes a rim member having a lower opening, a main disk rotatably positioned within the rim member, a plurality of feeder tubes attached to the main disk, a center disk secured to the main disk having a plurality of receiving channels that correspond with each of the feeder tubes, a plurality of first apertures extending through the center disk and the main disk adjacent each of the receiving channels, and a manifold having an end cutout rotatably positioned about the center disk. The manifold is fluidly connected to a seed tube and an air tube wherein the air tube provides pressurized air to the manifold which escapes through the first apertures creating a vertex within the distal portion of the receiving channels which retains the seeds in the proper position.

Abstract: An air seeder singulation system for evenly dispensing seed amongst a plurality of rows. The inventive device includes a vacuum drum rotably mounted within a pressurized housing, a supply tube is connected to the housing and to a manifold to provide pressurized and seed to the housing, a vacuum seed connected to the vacuum drum along the vacuum drum's rotational axis whereby the vacuum tube is connected to a vacuum source, a vacuum channel within an outer periphery of the vacuum drum, a band member containing a plurality of apertures at a specified distance apart, and a seed tube extending into the housing with an engaging end near the band member for plucking the seeds attached to the band member. The seeds are then dispensed through the seed tube into a furrow created by a conventional disk opener. A plurality of the inventions are to be aligned with one another with the respective vacuum tubes interconnected.

Abstract: Distributor for a seed spacing drill, including a casing having an overall cylindrical shape, inside of which a flat distributor disc is rotatably mounted. The disc is equipped with circumferentially-spaced holes which have dimensions smaller than the seeds to be distributed. The distributor disc separates a seed container from a auction device so that the holes are subjected to a depression for retaining the seeds taken up from the container during at least a part of their angular travel. A deflector member is provided to eliminate double seeds. A device is provided for discharging the seeds. The distributor disc includes at least two coaxial circular rows of holes which are subjected to the suction or depression until the holes register with the discharge device. The deflector is located, relative to the said distributor disc, so as to act only on the seeds located in the holes of the outermost or the innermost row.

Abstract: A single-seed dispenser of a pneumatic precision sower includes a seed supply container, a housing defining a suction chamber, and rotatable perforated dispenser disc interposed between the supply container and the housing. At least one partition member is disposed at the rear surface of the disc in the housing wherethrough air is aspirated for drawing the seeds onto the disc. The partition member(s) covers only portions of the perforations at least over the circumferential extent of the disc over which suction in the suction chamber acts through the perforations. Thus, elongate very narrow seeds are prevented from passing through the perforations. A drive disc for driving the dispenser disc includes pins projecting through bores in the dispenser disc not only to transmit rotation of the driver disc to the dispenser disc but also to agitate the seeds in the bottom of the seed supply container. A stripper for stripping excess seeds from the dispenser disc includes two spaced apart plates.

Abstract: A seeder designed to seed all types of terrain including remote disrupted areas such as pipelines, oil wells, and the like. The seeder has a seeder box that is designed to be carried on the front of a vehicle and soil firming wheels on a drawbar that is pulled behind the vehicle. The seeder box has flexible discharge tubes that prevent influence from the wind on the seed being discharged and that are flexible and provide random, non-symmetrical planting. The seeder box can include more than one section, with each section having a hinged support providing positioning in horizontal or inclined planes. The press rings are associated with a mounting frame on the drawbar that allows each ring to adjust vertically according to the contour of the seeded ground. The drawbar supports a harrow ahead of the soil firming rings and also may support an auxiliary seeder.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a seed meter for corn. The seed meter comprises a stationary casing with two rotatably mounted discs. The casing is provided with a seed receiving zone in communication with a inlet, and a seed discharge zone in communication with an outlet. The casing is also provided with a stationary camming surface. The first disc is provided with a plurality of spring biassed selector pins. Each pin has an engagement surface and a cam follower surface. The cam follower surface engaging the camming surface. The second disc which rotates with and is parallel to the first disc is provided with a plurality of seed cells corresponding to the selector pins. A flexible and resilient membrane covers the seed cells. In operation, the discs are continuously rotated through the seed receiving and discharge zones. As a selector pin is driven towards the corresponding seed cell by the camming surface, the pin traps a single seed in the membrane covered seed cell.

Abstract: A grass planting apparatus which is adapted for connection to a tractor or other motor vehicle and which is well suited for no till operation in the planting of warm season and other Grasses is disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a frame having mounted thereon a forward set of cutting coulters, a rear set of planting coulters and a set of furrowers positioned at the mid-portion of the frame. The planting coulters are employed in conjunction with a set of agitator feeders which may be in the form of elongated kicker tines. A feeder trough for the grasses to be planted has openings therein to receive the planting coulters and for passage of the grass materials through the bottom of the trough.

Abstract: An apparatus for sowing granular material, particularly in combination with a harrow, including a storage hopper (1) which at its outlet is provided with at least one injector (4) operated by a blower (6) and connected with a transport conduit (5) leading to a number of seed shares (15) and provided with a cam or cellular wheel for metering the granular material, the transport conduit (5) being connected with a metering device (2) divided by a perforated plate (11) into a granulate compartment (12) communicating with the conduit (5) and an air compartment (13) from which hoses (14) extend to their respective seed share (15) and which over cam or cellular wheels (10) is in communication with the granulate compartment (12) and through a conduit (16) is connected with the blower (6) in front of the injector (4).

Abstract: The distributor comprises a generally cylindrical case which is formed by a housing (1) and a cover (4) between which is rotatively mounted a distributor disk (18) provided with circumferentially spaced-apart orifices (48, 50). Inside the housing, a partition (24) defines a depression passageway (26) in communication with a suction duct (2). The passageway (26) includes a wide upper part (27) in the shape of a crescent which is extended at both ends by a narrow branch (28, 30). Formed in the upper part of the descending branch (30), relative to the direction of rotation of the disk (18), is a cavity (32, 33) for receiving a removable element (34) for isolating this branch from the source of depression. The inner wall of the passageway is provided with an air intake (39) whose opening is adjustable.

Abstract: A seed meter for a row crop planter unit having a seed disc rotating in a vertical plane includes improvements for seating individual seeds in seed cells on the periphery of the seed disc as the seed disc rotates through the seed reservoir. The improvements also include a barrier brush for preventing seeds from entering the delivery tube directly from the reservoir, and a brush holder which limits the effective width of a peripheral retainer brush so that the retainer brush cannot retain two seeds simultaneously in the same seed cell.

Abstract: A seed dispenser is provided for an agricultural planter and is designed to dispense seeds of substantially uniform size and shape, to which end the dispenser has a drum-like casing provided with horizontally spaced apart upright walls spanned and joined by a cylindrical wall that together define a seed-receiving chamber within which runs a circular plate or disk whose rim is formed with seed cells of uniform size and shape according to the size and shape of the seeds, the cells being uniformly angularly spaced about the rim of the plate and adapted to pick up seeds, one per cell, at the lower part of the chamber and to convey to seeds upwardly and around and past the upper portion of the chamber, ultimately releasing the seeds through an outlet opening for discharge to the ground.

Abstract: A clutch arrangement for a particulate chemical meter for use in a planter includes an axially and rotationally moveable shaft having a coupler on a first end and a knob on a second end thereof. The clutch shaft is inserted through and coupled to a chain-driven sprocket and sprocket sleeve combination. A coiled spring disposed about the shaft urges the shaft toward and in engagement with a dispensing rotor of the chemical meter for dispensing an insecticide or herbicide. Rotation of the knob in a first direction causes a roll pin inserted through the shaft of the clutch to ride up a cam surface disposed on an end of the sprocket sleeve for axially displacing the clutch shaft and disconnecting it from the rotor. Further rotational displacement of the knob positions the shaft roll pin in a notch also disposed on the end of the sprocket sleeve for maintaining the clutch disengaged.

Abstract: A potato planter (10) having a horizontally disposed auger housing (23) divided longitudinally into two halves by separator plate (37), said housing being open at the top at the forward end for receiving seed potatoes from seed hopper (11) and open at the bottom at the rearmost end for dropping seed potatoes into a planting furrow. A pair of primary single blade augers (20) disposed for axial rotation within said housing along and adjacent to each side of separator place (37). A pair of secondary filler blade augers (21), each in interfitting parallel axial relationship with a primary auger so as to interfit the filler blade of a secondary auger between the reach of the blade of each primary auger so as to form a plurality of traveling compartments between the unfilled reaches of the blade of the primary augers and the sides of the separator plate for transporting seed potatoes from the forward end of the auger housing to the rearmost opening.

Abstract: A metering and dibbing assembly for use in a dibber drill comprises a rotary feed section, inlet means for introducing seed at successive seed-retaining locations in the rotary feed section, a rotary dibber section having a plurality of dibber elements at least in part housed in radially disposed bores in the dibber section, and cam means operative to withdraw successive dibber elements to allow the transfer of seed from the feed section into the associated bores for these elements and thereafter to move the dibber elements in a radially outward movement so as to press the seed into the ground.

Abstract: The distributor comprises a generally cylindrical case which is formed by a housing (1) and a cover (4) between which is rotatively mounted a distributor disk (18) provided with circumferentially spaced-apart orifices (48, 50). Inside the housing, a partition (24) defines a depression passageway (26) in communication with an suction duct (2). The passageway (26) includes a wide upper part (27) in the shape of a crescent which is extended at both ends by a narrow branch (28, 30). Formed in the upper part of the descending branch (30), relative to the direction of rotation of the disk (18), is a cavity (32, 33) for receiving a removable element (34) for isolating this branch from the source of depression. The inner wall of the passageway is provided with an air intake (39) whose opening is adjustable.

Abstract: A planter for placement of plants in spaced parallel rows in the soil has a plant dispenser fed manually or automatically from a plant supply and delivering to a furrow-opening coulter assembly and press wheels. The plant dispenser comprises a drum having an internal impeller defining plant-receiving chutes through which the plants pass, and thence downwards and outwards through an opening in the drum. The coulter assembly has reciprocated coulter side plates which receive and support each plant in a receiving zone between them, and by forward movement relative to the plant and relative to a fixed placement member located in front of the plant, allow soil to flow back to cover the plant's root ball. The press wheels are mounted with a variable caster angle to vary their soil-gathering affect. A hitch has twin parallel toolbars whereby the row units are freely laterally position-adjustable even across the tractor hitch.

Abstract: In a seed meter in which individual seeds from a seed mass within a first chamber on a first side of a seed disk rotatably mounted within a housing are transported by at least one circumferential row of apertures within the seed disk to a separate seed discharge area within the first chamber by the reduced pressure of a vacuum source coupled to a second chamber within the housing and on the opposite side of the seed disk from the first chamber, a brush and wiper arrangement mounted within a third chamber within and sealed from the second chamber and located opposite the seed discharge area bears against the second side of the seed disk to aid in dislodging and expelling debris from the apertures in the seed disk. The brush and wiper arrangement includes at least one circular brush rotatably mounted within the third chamber and a spring arrangement for biasing the circular brush and an adjacent circular band against the second surface of the seed disk at the at least one row of apertures.

Abstract: In a sowing assembly for single-seed sowing machines, the housing forms a vacuum chamber (1). In the housing is mounted a drive shaft (4) which carries a mounting plate (7) to which is in turn releasably fixed an apertured plate (8) whose radially outer edge is supported on a seal (10) located at the edge of the vacuum chamber (1). A pot-shaped cover member (31) which is supported on the edge of the vacuum chamber (1) forms a seed holding chamber (44) which communicates with a seed receptacle (37).

Abstract: The farm implement for distributing particles such as seeds or granular fertilizers has an apparatus for splitting a single particle-entraining air stream into a plurality of individual streams containing uniform and randomly divided quantities of particles. The apparatus has a horizontally disposed corrugated pipe in downstream communication with the conduit for providing a uniform flow of particles to a horizontally disposed, tubular, stream splitting distribution body. The distribution body has a transition section that progressively and symmetrically changes in a downstream direction from a circular configuration toward a generally flat, rectangular configuration, a generally flat transfer section that leads from the transition section and spreads symmetrically laterally outwardly in a downstream direction, and a single layer of generally horizontally disposed outlet tubes at the downstream end of the transfer section.

Abstract: Hopper and meter support structure for easy removal of hopper and metering mechanisms to facilitate converting a complete grain drill or similar implement from one row spacing to another. A molded plastic hopper rests on transversely extending beam members of the grain drill main frame and includes lower flanges supported on two lower tubular beam members. The metering mechanism includes flanges which are sandwiched between the tubular beams and the hopper flanges, and these components are held in position by angles which are removeably attached to the lower beams. By simply removing the angles, the entire hopper and meter support structure may be lifted from the beam members.

Abstract: An improved, more versatile applicator (10) for precisely dispensing granular chemicals, fertilizers or seed, includes a hopper (14) with a metering assembly (40) mounted over a material discharge opening (34) in an inclined wall of the closed, convergent bottom end (18) of the hopper. The metering assembly (40), which is preferably removably secured to the hopper (14), includes a plurality of individual sets of metering wheels (64), receivers (56) and gate plates (60) for precise control and more tolerance to tilt. The metering assembly (40) is also adapted to facilitate thorough clean-out of the hopper (14) as well as removal and replacement of the metering wheels (64) without emptying the hopper.

Abstract: A seed dispensing mechanism for a precision row crop planter employs a pressure differential to cause seeds to be held to a series of seed apertures in a rotary disc. The disc is of stainless steel of very thin gauge whereby the disc deforms under the pressure differential to provide a degree of self sealing. The apertures in the disc are formed by chemical etching. A singulator mechanism for removing excess seeds from the apertures comprises singulator members on opposite sides of the row of apertures and presenting a curved profile to the seeds and defining a throat of which the width can be adjusted by a single knob through a high ratio adjustment mechanism.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating and distributing granular goods includes a housing and a bucket wheel rotatable in the housing, the bucket wheel having an outer receiving side and an inner side along with a plurality of spaced-through holes extending between the inner side and the receiving side. An intake on the housing supplies granular goods to the receiving side of the bucket wheel and a discharge on the housing discharges the granular goods from the housing, the discharge being circumferentially spaced from the intake. An ejector is disposed within the bucket wheel and faces the inner side of the bucket wheel while a conduit supplies compressed air to the ejector, the ejector having a compressed air outlet directed toward the inner side of the bucket wheel such that the compressed air passing through the outlet acts on the through holes during rotation of the bucket wheel.

Abstract: A selector device for a distributor of a so-called "single-seed" seed drill. It comprises a transportation member, a surface of which moves continuously between a seed hopper and a transportation device with, in that surface, orifices communicating with a vacuum source for maintaining by suction the seeds against that surface. A groove formed on the distributor surface extends over the suction orifice, the axis of the groove being perpendicular to the path of travel of the suction orifice, with a deflector the limit of the action range of which is clear from the path of travel of the axis of the suction orifices by about the radius of a seed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improved peanut seed meter including a peanut hopper bottom having an outer disposed ring for engaging the seed hopper, and an inner disposed dome to define a peanut seed feeding space there-between. The hopper bottom and the dome are connected by a seed drop cover, defining a volume thereunder. A floor plate is disposed beneath the peanut hopper bottom and includes a seed drop aperture thereon. A generally truncated cone-shaped rotating seed plate is disposed above the floor plate and has means thereon for receiving individual seeds. A generally half crescent-shaped taper gate extends from the seed drop cover and around the dome for gating off a portion of the peanut seeds from those being rotationally carried by the rotating seed plate, and to permit a second portion of the peanut seeds to pass therebeneath to the seed drop aperture of the floor plate for planting.

Abstract: A dispenser that includes a vertical wall, a selector drum having an open end mounted for rotation in sealing relationship on the wall, the drum having circumferentially spaced openings about its periphery for seeds, a seed hopper having a conduit for supplying seeds to the interior of the drum through an opening in the wall, a blower fan supplying air to the interior of the drum through an opening in the wall, seed cut-off and singling structure for removing extra seeds picked up by the openings in the rotating drum, and a seed discharge structure located 90.degree.

Abstract: The invention relates to a suction-type distributor for a single-seed seeder with a rotary apertured disk. The distributor 2 includes an aperture disk 5 rotating in a casing 4 and two adjoining selector plates 16 and 17 pivoted at 13 from the casing and provided with alternate projections 26 and 31 spaced on their edges extending around the path of apertures 6 on disk 5 so as to straddle said path, the relative angular position of the two plates being adjusted by means of a single lever 14 provided with cams 20 and 21 and pivoted at 15 on casing 4.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved seed sower unit and an improved seed supply hopper for the head. Opposed vacuum disc-type sower units are mounted in a frame. A seed hopper is mounted on a separate subframe. The hopper subframe has mounting notches which rest on stub pins projecting from the main frame. A latch mechanism holds the seed hopper subframe in place during operation. By opening the latch, the subframe with the seed hopper can be lifted vertically from between the sower discs to permit ready access for cleaning or repair. The seed hopper portion has a sloping bottom member adapted to fit between the sower discs to form a seed trough. This sloping member has a gate so that seed can be easily drained from the system into a container without loss. An optional second gate enables the seed hopper to be isolated from the seed trough. By making the seed hopper vertically removable, the sower units may be located in close proximity to each other, thus enabling similarly close crop row spacing.

Abstract: A planting machine wherein its planter wheel and a packer wheel trailing the same respectively have peripheral velocities greater and less than the speed of advance of the machine. Shoes on the former open the ground and deposit a seed therein on relative rearward movement, with feet on the packer wheel covering deposited seeds on forward movement thereof relative to the ground. The drives for the planter and packer wheels are interconnected to minimize the overall power requirement. Seeds are dispensed from a hopper to a position adjacent the axle of the planter wheel and spirally nested delivery tubes gravitationally deliver the dispensed seeds to the planter shoes in an arrangement such that a seed is delivered to a shoe only after a predetermined advance of the seed has occurred subsequent to its having been dispensed.

Abstract: An adjustable and flexible metering gate for a fluted feed cup assembly on a grain drill. The metering gate is fabricated from a flexible material, and the adjusting lever for the gate is located on the side of the cup opposite the portion of the fluted feed roll which is exposed to the grain so that the gate can flex and pass foreign objects without damage and then return to its original position. The feed cup is fabricated from plastic.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a seeding machine of the pneumatic ejection type. The seeding machine includes an apertured distributor disk 2 which rotates past a suction chamber 3 terminating in an end wall 4, and an ejector venturi 1 is juxtaposed to the side of disk 2 opposite to chamber 3, neck 7 of said venturi being located in line with the end of said chamber and having an inlet port 8 which straddles the path of travel 5 of the suction apertures in disk 2. The machine has an application to the sowing of light seeds such as vegetable seeds.

Abstract: A ball injector for feeding balls to the ball gun of a ballistic printer in which a ball guide or separator is provided with a passage for receiving balls, a rotary saw blade whose teeth extend into the passage is driven to supply balls trapped between the teeth of the blade to the passage. To prevent jamming of a ball between one of the teeth and the passage entrance, a barrier having a resilient leading edge is disposed along the ball path portion adjacent the passage entrance. Preferably the resilient edge has a small radius of curvature and is disposed obliquely relative to the ball path.

Abstract: A seed singulator uses two opposing surfaces, one of which has a groove extending across it dimensioned to receive seeds in a single file. The two surfaces are moved relative to each other, with the groove having an angled relationship of less than 90.degree. with the relative direction motion of the two surfaces. Variation of the angle controls spacing between seeds independently of the velocity of relative movement between the surfaces. The surfaces are preferably flat with a centrally disposed seed containing area and the groove extending from that area to the periphery of the surfaces for discharge of the seed. In this form, the relative motion between the surfaces is preferably rotary to provide continuous operation.

Abstract: Racemic or optionally active 2-(propargyloxyimino)-1,7,7-trimethyl-bicyclo[2,2,1]heptane of the formula (I) ##STR1## or a mixture of these isomers is prepared by reacting a racemic or optically active 1,7,7-trimethyl-bicyclo[2,2,1]heptane derivative of the general formula (II), ##STR2## wherein Y stands for oxygen atom, sulfur atom or oxime group, with a propyne derivative of the general formula (III),R--CH.sub.2 --C.tbd.CH (III)whereinR stands for halogen atom or aminooxy group, with the proviso that if Y represents oxime group, R may stand only for halogen, and if R represents aminooxy group, Y may stand only for oxygen or sulfur atom.The resulting product is new and possesses strong plant growth promoting and insecticidal effects.This is a division of application Ser. No. 065,156, filed Aug. 9, 1979, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,244,888, Jan. 13, 1981.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously metering seeds onto a seedbed and simultaneously pressing the seeds into the soil. The seed planting apparatus includes a drum adapted to be moved in rolling contact across the seedbed, and which transports seeds on its peripheral wall from a hopper to the seedbed. The seeds are retained against apertures in the peripheral wall by means of a vacuum transmitted to the apertures through manifolds within the drum that are interconnected with a vacuum pump by means of individual hoses. A cam interrupts the vacuum by compressing the hoses when the seed-bearing apertures contact the seedbed, thereby releasing the seeds and pressing them into the soil. The seeds are preferably placed on the seedbed in a uniformly spaced array predetermined by the uniform alignment and spacing of the apertures on the wall of the drum.