Seed and fertilizer-metering apparatus

Claim 2

A seed and/or fertilizer feed means comprising: a. a frame adapted to have transportation means attached thereto for moving said seed and/or fertilizer means across the ground; b. a hopper supported and carried by said frame and having a longitudinal feed slot in its bottom portion; c. a housing connected to said hopper extending from and bridging said feed slot, said housing having a peripherally located outlet slot circumferentially offset in position from said feed slot; d. rotatable means journally mounted in said housing and including means forming in the periphery of said rotating means a circumferentially continuous slot iN a plane oblique to the axis of said rotating means and in communication with said feed slot and said outlet slot and extending laterally of said feed slot; and e. means to rotate said rotatable means with respect to said housing whereby in operation material to be fed is picked up by said continuous slot as it passes by said feed slot and is discharged therefrom as it passes said outlet slot in said housing.

Claim 3

The feed means, as set forth in claim 1, in which said rotatable means comprises: a. an axle; b. a first member fixed on said axle; and c. a second member fixed on said axle and longitudinally spaced from said first member to form said peripheral continuous slot.

Claim 4

The feed means, as set forth in claim 2, in which said members having oblique parallel-facing surfaces, wherein said continuous slot extends obliquely about said axle and an entrance portion thereof when rotated moves longitudinally of said hopper feed slot.

Claim 5

The feed means, as set forth in claim 1, including dispensing means depending from said housing in communication with said outlet slot and a press wheel rotatably attached to said frame and adapted to be rotated into ground-engaging position, said press wheel being aligned with said dispensing means, said means to rotate said rotatable means comprising means connected to and being responsive to rotation of said press wheel in said ground-engaging position.

Claim 6

The feed means, as set forth in claim 1, in which said housing outlet slot is offset approximately 135* from said feed slot in the direction of rotation of said rotatable means.

Claim 7

The feed means, as set forth in claim 1, in which said rotatable means continuous slot traces a continual ellipse during rotation whereby said continuous slot moves longitudinally of said feed slot to provide a wobble-free action.

Claim 8

The feed means of claim 1 further comprising: a plurality of spacer members positioned within the opening at the bottom of said hopper and connected to said hopper to form a plurality of outlets therein; a plurality of housings connected to the bottom of said hopper, each of said housings being in flow communication with an outlet of said hopper and in flow communication with said hopper, said housings each having an outlet positioned at an angle of approximately 135* with respect to a corresponding outlet of said hopper; a rotatable means positioned within each of said housings; comprising each of said rotatable means comprising a rotatable shaft extending lengthwise of its housing and having feeding devices attached thereto, each of said feeding devices comprising two adjustable members having smooth peripheral faces and provided with coacting faces in parallel-spaced relation and arranged obliquely to the axis of said shaft, said rotatable shaft being operated in response to a driving means connected thereto, thereby causing said feeding devices to be rotated; and a plurality of dispensing means connected to said housings and in flow communication with said outlets therein, including a flexible tubular conduit connected at its lower end to a furrow means, a plurality of press wheels connected to said frame and positioned behind said dispensing means to pack the earth moved by said furrowing means, thereby facilitating germination of seed, and a drive gear means connected to at least one of said press wheels and carried thereby, said drive gear means cooperating with said driving means of said rotatable means connected to and carried by said rotatable shaft to cause said rotatable shaft and, thus, said rotatable means to rotate.