Patent US3683583A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3683583A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus and method for making seed tape and the resulting seed tape
Assignee: Union Carbide Corp
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Filing: 1969-11-10
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Granted: 1972-08-15
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Expires: 1989-11-10
Abstract
Abstract A single strip passes while under tension and with a portion moistened through a generally V-shaped mandrel channel with a rounded lower end, and seeds are dropped into place on the tape. Then the tape is guided along a gradually deepened channel with widened lower portion and through a pair of generally circular eyes, each having a step. These eyes form the tape into an overlapped circular shape. A pair of rollers then flatten the tape and seal it closed, while retaining the overlap.
Inventors
- 👤 Troy Lee Cochran
- 👤 Melvin Douglas Kirkpatrick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 23:03
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B9/00; B65B9/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
A method for making seed tape for relatively large seeds so as to prevent undesired opening of the seam by the action of the seed on the tape, comprising the steps of: making one surface only of the tape tacky, forming a flat tape into a V-shape with straight upstanding sides and the tacky surface directed inwardly, dropping the seeds into the V at spaced intervals, guiding one side edge of the tape and directing the other side edge thereunder to form a substantially circular shape enclosing the seeds with a substantial overlap of one side edge by the other side edge, while contacting only the non-tacky surface during said forming, guiding, and overlapping, and then flattening the circle to provide two flattened faces with the overlap in the middle of one face sealing the tape closed and the seed substantially against the middle of the other face, thereby bringing the overlapped portion down against the seed.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
157 words
A method for making seed tape for relatively large seeds so as to prevent undesired opening of the seam by the action of the seed on the tape, comprising the steps of: making one surface only of the tape tacky, forming a flat tape into a V-shape with straight upstanding sides and the tacky surface directed inwardly, dropping the seeds into the V at spaced intervals, guiding one side edge of the tape and directing the other side edge thereunder to form a substantially circular shape enclosing the seeds with a substantial overlap of one side edge by the other side edge, while contacting only the non-tacky surface during said forming, guiding, and overlapping, and then flattening the circle to provide two flattened faces with the overlap in the middle of one face sealing the tape closed and the seed substantially against the middle of the other face, thereby bringing the overlapped portion down against the seed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of making the one surface tacky is done by moistening portions of one face of said tape, said tape being of a material made tacky by discreet moistening, and said flattening step includes closure of the moistened portion of the tape against another portion of the tape, so as to seal the tape closed at the overlapped portions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the tape, after being brought to its circular shape is brought into a smaller circle with more overlap, so that the tendency of the tape to depart from the circular shape before it can be flattened is restrained sufficiently to retain substantially the original degree of overlap provided when the tape is first brought into its circular shape.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
182 words
A method for making seed tape for relatively large seeds from polyoxyethylene strip, so as to prevent undesired opening of the seam by the spreading action of the seed on the tape, comprising the steps of: moistening a portion of said strip while it is flat, forming the flat strip into a generally V-shape, with a rounded vertex, dropping the seeds into the vertex at spaced intervals, further deepening and rounding the vertex, bringing the side edges of the strip directly from the V-shape around to provide a generally circular shape with an overlap of one side edge over the other side edge, increasing the overlap while decreasing the diameter of the circle so that relaxation before the next step results in restoring substantially the dimensions of the bringing step, then flattening the circle to provide two flattened faces with the overlap in the middle of one face and the seed substantially against the middle of the other face, thereby bringing the overlapped portion down against the seed, while sealing thE moistened portion against another portion of the tape at the overlap.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
182 words
A method for making seed tape for relatively large seeds from polyoxyethylene strip, so as to prevent undesired opening of the seam by the spreading action of the seed on the tape, comprising the steps of: moistening a portion of said strip while it is flat, forming the flat strip into a generally V-shape, with a rounded vertex, dropping the seeds into the vertex at spaced intervals, further deepening and rounding the vertex, bringing the side edges of the strip directly from the V-shape around to provide a generally circular shape with an overlap of one side edge over the other side edge, increasing the overlap while decreasing the diameter of the circle so that relaxation before the next step results in restoring substantially the dimensions of the bringing step, then flattening the circle to provide two flattened faces with the overlap in the middle of one face and the seed substantially against the middle of the other face, thereby bringing the overlapped portion down against the seed, while sealing thE moistened portion against another portion of the tape at the overlap.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1160278A
Cited
US3561187A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-15 | 1976-02-14 | 1976-08-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-15 | 1980-02-14 | 1980-08-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-15 | 1984-02-14 | 1984-08-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |