Press weeder

Claim 2

Apparatus for use with a seeding machine having means for forming a plurality of aligned furrows and means for placing those seeds in said aligned furrows, the apparatus comprising: a. frame means adapted for connection to a trailing portion of the seeding machine; b. an elongated rod weeding member of angular cross section rotatably carried by the frame means in a generally horizontal position transverse to the line of seeding machine movement; c. drive means on said frame members for rotating the rod weeding member; d. and a plurality of press wheels rotatably mounted on the rod weeding member, each of said press wheels being disposed for alignment with a furrow forming means, and constructed and arranged to roll in a formed furrow in pressing engagement therewith; e. the radius of each press wheel being less than the furrow depth to permit rotating engagement of the rod weeding member with the soil between furrows as the press wheel engages the furrow bottom.

Claim 3

The apparatus defined by claim 1, wherein the elongated rod weeding member is square in cross section.

Claim 4

The apparatus defined by claim 1, wherein the elongated rod weeding member comprises a plurality of rod segments flexibly connected to compensate for terrain irregularities.

Claim 5

The apparatus defined by claim 3, wherein the plurality of rod segments are universally connected.

Claim 6

The apparatus defined by claim 1, wherein each of the press wheels comprises: a. an inner race affixed to the rod weeding member and rotatable therewith; b. and an outer race rotatably carried by the inner race.

Claim 7

The apparatus defined by claim 5, wherein the outer race is carried on the inner race by a plurality of roller bearings, and further comprising sealing means for protecting the roller bearings from dirt and the like.

Claim 8

The apparatus defined by claim 1, wherein the frame means is adapted for pivotal movement with respect to the seeding machine on an axis essentially parallel to the rod weeding member.

Claim 9

The apparatus defined by claim 7, wherein the frame means comprises: a. a plurality of first bracket members each affixed to a furrow forming means; b. and a plurality of second bracket members each pivotally connected to one of said first bracket members; c. the rod weeding member being rotatably carried by said plurality of second bracket members.

Claim 10

The apparatus defined by claim 8, wherein each of said second bracket members further comprises a rotatable spool member having a central opening conforming to the cross sectional shape of the rod weeding member, the rod weeding member extending through each of said central openings.

Claim 11

The apparatus defined by claim 8, and further comprising means for biasing the second bracket member downward.

Claim 12

The apparatus defined by claim 1, wherein the drive means comprises: a. a drive wheel constructed and arranged for engagement with the ground and to be rotated thereby with advancing movement; b. a first drive member mounted for rotation with the drive wheel; c. a second drive member mounted for rotation with the rod weeding member; d. and connection means operably connecting the first and second drive members.

Claim 13

The apparatus defined by claim 11, wherein the drive means further comprises a casing enclosing the first and second drive members and the connection means.

Claim 14

The apparatus defined by claim 11, wherein the first and second drive members comprise sprockets and the connection means comprises an endless chain.

Claim 15

The apparatus defined by claim 1, wherein each of said press wheels is freely rotatable on the rod weeding member.

Claim 16

A seeding machine comprising: a. wheeled frame means; b. a plurality of furrow blades carried by the frame means in spaced relation to form a plurality of aligned furrows; c. seeding means carried by the frame means in trailing relation to the furrow blades for placing seeds in formed furrows; d. an elongated rod weeding member of angular cross section rotatably carried by support means affixed to a plurality of the furrow blades, the rod weeding member being disposed in trailing relation to the seeding means in a generally horizontal position transverse to the line of seeding machine movement; e. drive means on said frame members for rotating the rod weeding member; f. and a plurality of press wheels rotatably mounted on the elongated rod weeding member, each of said press wheels being disposed in alignment with one of the furrow blades and constructed and arranged to roll in a formed furrow in pressing engagement therewith; g. the radius of each press wheel permitting being less than the furrow depth to permit rotating engagement of the rod weeding member with the soil between furrows as the press wheel engages the furrow bottom.

Claim 17

A seeding machine comprising: a. wheeled frame means; b. a plurality of furrow blades carried by the frame means in spaced relation to form a plurality of aligned furrows; c. seeding means carried by the frame means in trailing relation to the furrow blades for placing seeds in formed furrows; d. an elongated rod weeding member of angular cross section rotatably carried by support means affixed to a plurality of the furrow blades, the rod weeding member being disposed in trailing relation to the seeding means in a generally horizontal position transverse to the line of seeding machine movement; e. drive means on said frame members for rotating the rod weeding member; f. and a plurality of press wheels rotatably mounted on the elongated rod weeding member, each of said press wheels being disposed in alignment with one of the furrow blades and constructed and arranged to roll in a formed furrow in pressing engagement therewith; g. the radius of each press wheel permitting being less than the furrow depth to permit rotating engagement of the rod weeding member with the soil between furrows as the press wheel engages the furrow bottom.

Claim 18

The apparatus defined by claim 15, wherein the support means is constructed to permit pivotal movement of the rod weeding member with respect to the furrow blades on an axis essentially parallel to the axis of the rod weeding member.

Claim 19

The apparatus defined by claim 16, and further comprising means for raising and lowering the rod weeding member about said pivotal axis between position of engagement and nonengagement with the soil.

Claim 20

The apparatus defined by claim 15, wherein each of said press wheels is freely rotatable on the rod weeding member.