Seed-tape manufacturing machine

Claim 2

A seed-tape manufacturing machine, including in combination: a main frame having means for supporting an input reel of strip material at one end, means for supporting a take-up reel of seed tape at the other end, and a platform in between, drive and closure means on said platform for propelling the strip and for closing it together with a seed inside to complete the seed tape, a troughing block on said platform ahead of said drive and closure means and having a longitudinal groove that has a Vshaped lower portion with a central vertex, moistening means on said platform between said input reel and said block for moistening the upper surface of said strip, a round wire shaping member supported in line with said groove above said platform and over the vertex of said block near the end closer to said moistening means and contacting said moistened upper surface for forcing the moistened strip into said V-shaped lower portion, and a seed-depositing station between said shaping member and said drive and closure means.

Claim 3

The machine of claim 1 having a strip control member mounted on said block beyond said seed-depositing station, for engaging the edges only of said strip and centering the strip relative to said vertex, the unmoistened lower surface of said strip lying against said block in said groove as said strip passes said strip central member.

Claim 4

A seed-tape manufacturing machine, including in combination: a main frame having means for supporting an input reel of strip material at one end, means for supporting a take-up reel of seed tape at the other end, and a platform in between, drive and closure means on said platform for propelling the strip and for closing it together with a seed inside to complete the seed tape, a troughing block on said platform ahead of said drive and closure means and having a longitudinal groove that has a V-shaped lower portion with a central vertex, moistening means on said platform between said input reel and said block for moistening the upper surface of said strip, a wire shaping member supported above said platform and over the vertex of said block near the end closer to said moistening means for forcing the moistened strip into said V-shaped lower portion, and a seed-depositing station between said shaping member and said drive and closure means, said moistening means comprising a water receptacle resting on said platform, a tubular standard extending up from said platform, a column slidable and rotatable in said standard and removable therefrom, a frame secured to said column and extending horizontally therefrom, and a capillary wick held by said frame and having a portion overlying the water in said receptacle to take water therefrom and a portion which rests on and dispenses moisture to the upper surface of said strip.

Claim 5

A seed-tape manufacturing machine, including in combination: a main frame having means for supporting an input reel of strip material at one end, means for supporting a take-up reel of seed tape at the other end, and a platform in between, drive and closure means on said platform for propelling the strip and for closing it together with a seed inside to complete the seed tape, a troughing block on said platform ahead of said drive and closure means and having a longitudinal groove that has a V-shaped lower portion with a central vertex, moistening means on said platform between said input reel and said block for moistening the upper surface of said strip, a wire shaping member supported above said platform and over the vertex of said block near the end closer to said moistening means for forcing the moistened strip into said V-shaped lower portion, and a seed-depositing station between said shaping member and said drive and closure means, said moistening means comprising a water receptacle resting on said platform, a tubular standard extending up from said platform, a column slidable and rotatable in said standard and removable therefrom, a frame secured to said column and extending horizontally therefrom, and a capillary wick held by said frame and having a portion overlying the water in said receptacle to take water therefrom and a portion which rests on and dispenses moisture to the upper surface of said strip.

Claim 6

The machine of claim 3 wherein said wire shaping member has a longitudinally extending portion in line with said vertex, with an outboard end portion for contact with said tape and at the other end leading at a right angle to a horizontal portion whose end is secured to said column, and a sleeve secured to said column and to said frame in which said horizontal portion can rotate to give a torsion-spring-like yielding action.

Claim 7

The machine of claim 2 wherein said strip control member comprises a rod having a cross pin at one end and a notch in the upper portion of said troughing block for anchoring said rod against axial movement and for locating it longitudinally, said rod having a diameter which just bridges it across a portion of said block.

Claim 8

The machine of claim 5 wherein said troughing block has vertical walls above the V-shaped lower portion, extending up from the extremities of that portion and said rod''s diameter is smaller than the distance between said vertical walls of the troughing block, so that it engages the V-shaped lower portion.

Claim 9

The machine of claim 5 wherein said troughing block has vertical walls above the V-shaped lower portion, extending up from the extremities of that portion and said rod''s diameter equals the distance between said vertical walls and said rod has a second cross pin spaced from the first and supported by the block so that the rod is uniformly spaced above said vertex.

Claim 10

The machine of claim 1 wherein there is a stationary store of seeds and a rotating, generally horizontal seed dispenser having a series of pickup devices, means for dipping each pickup device into said store to pick up said seeds individually from said store, and means for dipping each pickup device into said troughing block for dropping its seed on said strip at said seed depositing station.

Claim 11

The machine of claim 8 wherein said seed dispenser comprises a rotating disc having a plurality of radially extending arms held removably to its outer periphery, each arm having a pneumatically operated nozzle attached thereto, and pneumatic means for applying vacuum to the nozzle when the arm overlies the store of seeds, for holding the vacuum until the nozzle enters the troughing block, and then for bleeding the vacuum to atmospheric pressure at said nozzle to release the seed therefrom.

Claim 12

A seed-tape manufacturing machine, including in combination: a main frame having means for supporting an input reel of strip material at one end, means for supporting a take-up reel of seed tape at the other end, and a platform in between, drive and closure means on said platform for propelling the strip and for closing it together with a seed inside to complete the seed tape, a troughing block on said platform ahead of said drive and closure means and having a longitudinal groove that has a V-shaped lower portion with a central vertex, moistening means on said platform between said input reel and said block for moistening the upper surface of said strip, a wire shaping member supported above said platform and over the vertex of said block near the end closer to said moistening means for forcing the moistened strip into said V-shaped lower portion, a seed-depositing station between said shaping member and said drive and closure means, a stationary store of seeds, a rotating, generally horizontal seed dispenser having a rotating disc having a plurality of radially extending arms held removably to its outer periphery, each arm having a pneumatically operated nozzle attached thereto, means for dipping each said nozzle into said store to pick up said seeds individually from said store, means for dipping each said nozzle into said troughing block for dropping its seed on said strip at said seed depositing station, and pneumatic means for applying vacuum to the nozzle when the arm overlies the store of seeds, for holding the vacuum until the nozzle enters the troughing block, and then for bleeding the vacuum to atmospheric pressure at said nozzle to release the seed therefrom, each said arm having a dummy member like said arm and said pneumatic pressure means comprising a flexible conduit detachable from and attachable to said nozzle and, alternately, said dummy member.

Claim 13

A seed-tape manufacturing machine, including in combination: a main frame having means for supporting an input reel of strip material at one end, means for supporting a take-up reel of seed tape at the other end, and a platform in between, drive and closure means on said platform for propelling the strip and for closing it together with a seed inside to complete the seed tape, a troughing block on said platform ahead of said drive and closure means and having a longitudinal groove that has a V-shaped lower portion with a central vertex, moistening means on said platform between said input reel and said block for moistening the upper surface of said strip, a wire shaping member supported above said platform and over the vertex of said block near the end closer to said moistening means for forcing the moistened strip into said V-shaped lower portion, a seed-depositing station between said shaping member and said drive and closure means, a stationary store of seeds, a rotating, generally horizontal seed dispenser having a rotating disc having a plurality of radially extending arms held removably to its outer periphery, each arm having a pneumatically operated nozzle attached thereto, means for dipping each said nozzle into said store to pick up said seeds individually from said store, means for dipping each said nozzle into said troughing block for dropping its seed on said strip at said seed depositing station, and pneumatic means for applying vacuum to the nozzle when the arm overlies the store of seeds, for holding the vacuum until the nozzle enters the troughing block, and then for bleeding the vacuum to atmospheric pressure at said nozzle to release the seed therefrom, each said arm having a dummy member like said arm and said pneumatic pressure means comprising a flexible conduit detachable from and attachable to said nozzle and, alternately, said dummy member.

Claim 14

A seed-tape manufacturing machine, including in combination: a main frame having means for supporting an input reel of strip material at one end, means for supporting a take-up reel of seed tape at the other end, and a platform in between, drive and closure means on said platform for propelling the strip and for closing it together with a seed inside to complete the seed tape, a troughing block on said platform ahead of said drive and closure means and having a longitudinal groove that has a V-shaped lower portion with a central vertex, moistening means on said platform between said input reel and said block for moistening the upper surface of said strip, a wire shaping member supported above said platform and over the vertex of said block near the end closer to said moistening means for forcing the moistened strip into said V-shaped lower portion, a seed-depositing station between said shaping member and said drive and closure means, a stationary store of seeds, a rotating, generally horizontal seed dispenser having a rotating disc having a plurality of radially extending arms held removably to its outer periphery, each arm having a pneumatically operated nozzle attached thereto, means for dipping each said nozzle into said store to pick up said seeds individually from said store, and means for dipping each said nozzle into said troughing block for dropping its seed on said strip at said seed depositing station, and pneumatic means for applying vacuum to the nozzle when the arm overlies the store of seeds, for holding the vacuum until the nozzle enters the troughing block, and then for bleeding the vacuum to atmospheric pressure at said nozzle to release the seed therefrom, said means for dipping comprising a stationary cam, and a cam follower on each said arm.

Claim 15

A seed-tape manufacturing machine, including in combination: a main frame having means for supporting an input reel of strip material at one end, means for supporting a take-up reel of seed tape at the other end, and a platform in between, drive and closure means on said platform for propelling the strip and for closing it together with a seed inside to complete the seed tape, a troughing block on said platform ahead of said drive and closure means and having a longitudinal groove that has a V-shaped lower portion with a central vertex, moistening means on said platform between said input reel and said block for moistening the upper surface of said strip, a wire shaping member supported above said platform and over the vertex of said block near the end closer to said moistening means for forcing the moistened strip into said V-shaped lower portion, a seed-depositing station between said shaping member and said drive and closure means, a stationary store of seeds, a rotating, generally horizontal seed dispenser having a rotating disc having a plurality of radially extending arms held removably to its outer periphery, each arm having a pneumatically operated nozzle attached thereto, means for dipping each said nozzle into said store to pick up said seeds individually from said store, and means for dipping each said nozzle into said troughing block for dropping its seed on said strip at said seed depositing station, and pneumatic means for applying vacuum to the nozzle when the arm overlies the store of seeds, for holding the vacuum until the nozzle enters the troughing block, and then for bleeding the vacuum to atmospheric pressure at said nozzle to release the seed therefrom, said means for dipping comprising a stationary cam, and a cam follower on each said arm.

Claim 16

The machine of claim 11 wherein said arms are held to said disc by an elastic band that urges their cam followers against said cam.

Claim 17

A seed-tape manufacturing machine, including in combination: a main frame having means for supporting an input reel of strip material at one end, means for supporting a take-up reel of seed tape at the other end, and a platform in between, drive and closure means on said platform for propelling the strip and for closing it together with a seed inside to complete the seed tape, a troughing block on said platform ahead of said drive and closure means and having a longitudinal groove that has a V-shaped lower portion with a central vertex, moistening means on said platform between said input reel and said blOck for moistening the upper surface of said strip, a wire shaping member supported above said platform and over the vertex of said block near the end closer to said moistening means for forcing the moistened strip into said V-shaped lower portion, a seed-depositing station between said shaping member and said drive and closure means, and aligning means comprising a flanged spool mounted adjacent said input reel and a fine adjustment means mounted on said platform between said moistening means and said troughing block comprising an angularly disposed horizontal member engaging the full bottom surface of the strip and means for shifting the angle thereof and for securing it at any desired angular position.

Claim 18

A seed-tape manufacturing machine, including in combination: a main frame having means for supporting an input reel of strip material at one end, means for supporting a take-up reel of seed tape at the other end, and a platform in between, drive and closure means on said platform for propelling the strip and for closing it together with a seed inside to complete the seed tape, a troughing block on said platform ahead of said drive and closure means and having a longitudinal groove that has a V-shaped lower portion with a central vertex, moistening means on said platform between said input reel and said blOck for moistening the upper surface of said strip, a wire shaping member supported above said platform and over the vertex of said block near the end closer to said moistening means for forcing the moistened strip into said V-shaped lower portion, a seed-depositing station between said shaping member and said drive and closure means, and aligning means comprising a flanged spool mounted adjacent said input reel and a fine adjustment means mounted on said platform between said moistening means and said troughing block comprising an angularly disposed horizontal member engaging the full bottom surface of the strip and means for shifting the angle thereof and for securing it at any desired angular position.

Claim 19

A seed-tape manufacturing machine having a main frame with means for supporting an input reel of strip material at one end, means for supporting a take-up reel of seed tape at the other end, a platform in between, and a pair of wheels on said platform, one driven and one idling, and urged toward the driven wheel, for propelling the strip and closing it between them to complete the seed tape, including in combination: a troughing block on said platform ahead of said wheels and having a longitudinal groove that has a V-shaped lower portion with a central vertex, moistening means on said platform between said input reel and said block and near said block, having a wick for moistening the upper surface of said strip, and supporting a round wire shaping member supported in line with said groove above said platform and over the vertex of said block and contacting said moistened upper surface for forcing the moistened strip into said V-shaped lower portion, a seed-depositing station along said block between said shaping member and said wheels, and a strip control member mounted on said block beyond said seed-depositing station, for engaging the edges only of said strip and centering the strip relative to said vertex, the unmoistened lower surface of said strip lying against said block in said groove as said strip passes said strip control member.

Claim 20

A seed-tape manufacturing machine having a main frame with means for supporting an input reel of strip material at one end, means for supporting a take-up reel of seed tape at the other end, a platform in between, and a pair of wheels on said platform, one driven and one idling, and urged toward the driven wheel, for propelling the strip and closing it between them to complete the seed tape, including in combination: a troughing block on said platform ahead of said wheels and having a longitudinal groove that has a V-shaped lower portion with a central vertex, moistening means on said platform between said input reel and said block and near said block, having a wick for moistening the upper surface of said strip, and supporting a round wire shaping member supported in line with said groove above said platform and over the vertex of said block and contacting said moistened upper surface for forcing the moistened strip into said V-shaped lower portion, a seed-depositing station along said block between said shaping member and said wheels, and a strip control member mounted on said block beyond said seed-depositing station, for engaging the edges only of said strip and centering the strip relative to said vertex, the unmoistened lower surface of said strip lying against said block in said groove as said strip passes said strip control member.

Claim 21

A seed-tape manufacturing machine having a main frame with means for supporting an input reel of strip material at one end, means for supporting a take-up reel of seed tape at the other end, a platform in between, and a pair of wheels on said platform, one driven and one idling, and urged toward the driven wheel, for propelling the strip and closing it between them to complete the seed tape, including in combination: a troughing block on said platform ahead of said wheels and having a longitudinal groove that has a V-shaped lower portion with a central vertex, moistening means on said platform between said input reel and said block and near said block, having a wick for moistening the upper surface of said strip, and supporting a wire shaping member supported above said platform and over the vertex of said block for forcing the moistened strip into said V-shaped lower portion, said moistening means comprising a water receptacle resting on said platform having a vertical slot extending down to a desired level, a tubular vertical standard, a column slidable and rotatable in said standard and removable therefrom, a frame secured at one end of said column, a capillary wick held by said frame and having a portion which enters said open end portion to take water therefrom and a portion which rests on and dispenses moisture to the upper surface of said strip, a seed-depositing station along said block between said shaping member and said wheels, and a strip control member mounted on said block beyond said seed-depositing station, for engaging the edges of said strip and centering the strip relative to said vertex.

Claim 22

A seed-tape manufacturing machine having a main frame with means for supporting an input reel of strip material at one end, means for supporting a take-up reel of seed tape at the other end, a platform in between, and a pair of wheels on said platform, one driven and one idling, and urged toward the driven wheel, for propelling the strip and closing it between them to complete the seed tape, including in combination: a troughing block on said platform ahead of said wheels and having a longitudinal groove that has a V-shaped lower portion with a central vertex, moistening means on said platform between said input reel and said block and near said block, having a wick for moistening the upper surface of said strip, and supporting a wire shaping member supported above said platform and over the vertex of said block for forcing the moistened strip into said V-shaped lower portion, said moistening means comprising a water receptacle resting on said platform having a vertical slot extending down to a desired level, a tubular vertical standard, a column slidable and rotatable in said standard and removable therefrom, a frame secured at one end of said column, a capillary wick held by said frame and having a portion which enters said open end portion to take water therefrom and a portion which rests on and dispenses moisture to the upper surface of said strip, a seed-depositing station along said block between said shaping member and said wheels, and a strip control member mounted on said block beyond said seed-depositing station, for engaging the edges of said strip and centering the strip relative to said vertex.

Claim 23

The machine of claim 15 having a horizontal sleeve secured to said column and to said frame, said wire shaping member having a longitudinal portion and a transverse portion, said transverse portion extending through said sleeve and secured to said Column, to compact a torsion-spring action to the outer end of said longitudinal portion.

Claim 24

A seed-tape manufacturing machine having a main frame with means for supporting an input reel of strip material at one end, means for supporting a take-up reel of seed tape at the other end, a platform in between, and a pair of wheels on said platform, one driven and one idling, and urged toward the driven wheel, for propelling the strip and closing it between them to complete the seed tape, including in combination: a troughing block on said platform ahead of said wheels and having a longitudinal groove that has a V-shaped lower portion with a central vertex, moistening means on said platform between said input reel and said block and near said block, having a wick for moistening the upper surface of said strip, and supporting a wire shaping member supported above said platform and over the vertex of said block for forcing the moistened strip into said V-shaped lower portion, a seed-depositing station along said block between said shaping member and said wheels, and a strip control member mounted on said block beyond said seed-depositing station, for engaging the edges of said strip and centering the strip relative to said vertex, said strip control member comprising a cylindrical rod having a through pin at one end and a notch in said troughing block for anchoring said rod against axial movement and for locating it longitudinally, said rod being a diameter which is smaller than the width of said V-shaped lower portion of the troughing block so that it engages said V-shaped lower portion.

Claim 25

A seed-tape manufacturing machine having a main frame with means for supporting an input reel of strip material at one end, means for supporting a take-up reel of seed tape at the other end, a platform in between, and a pair of wheels on said platform, one driven and one idling, and urged toward the driven wheel, for propelling the strip and closing it between them to complete the seed tape, including in combination: a troughing block on said platform ahead of said wheels and having a longitudinal groove that has a V-shaped lower portion with a central vertex, moistening means on said platform between said input reel and said block and near said block, having a wick for moistening the upper surface of said strip, and supporting a wire shaping member supported above said platform and over the vertex of said block for forcing the moistened strip into said V-shaped lower portion, a seed-depositing station along said block between said shaping member and said wheels, and a strip control member mounted on said block beyond said seed-depositing station, for engaging the edges of said strip and centering the strip relative to said vertex, said strip control member comprising a cylindrical rod having a through pin at one end and a notch in said troughing block for anchoring said rod against axial movement and for locating it longitudinally, said rod being a diameter which is smaller than the width of said V-shaped lower portion of the troughing block so that it engages said V-shaped lower portion.

Claim 26

A seed-tape manufacturing machine having a main frame with means for supporting an input reel of strip material at one end, means for supporting a take-up reel of seed tape at the other end, a platform in between, and a pair of wheels on said platform, one driven and one idling, and urged toward the driven wheel, for propelling the strip and closing it between them to complete the seed tape, including in combination: a troughing block on said platform ahead of said wheels and having a longitudinal groove that has a V-shaped lower portion with a central vertex, vertical walls extending up from the extremities of said V-shaped lower portion, moistening means on said platform between said input reel and said block and near said block, having a wick for moistening the upper surface of said strip, and supporting a wire shaping member supported above said platform and over the vertex of said block for forcing the moistened strip into said V-shaped lower portion, a seed-depositing station along said block between said shaping member and said wheels, and a strip control member mounted on said block beyond said seed-depositing station, for engaging the edges of said strip and centering the strip relative to said vertex, said strip control member comprising a rod having two spaced-apart through pins, a notch in said troughing block in which one said pin fits for anchoring said rod against axial movement, said rod having a width substantially the same as the distance between the vertical walls, and the second pin resting on said troughing block at a desired height and assuring that the rod rests at a uniform height above the vertex of said block.

Claim 27

A seed-tape manufacturing machine having a main frame with means for supporting an input reel of strip material at one end, means for supporting a take-up reel of seed tape at the other end, a platform in between, and a pair of wheels on said platform, one driven and one idling, and urged toward the driven wheel, for propelling the strip and closing it between them to complete the seed tape, including in combination: a troughing block on said platform ahead of said wheels and having a longitudinal groove that has a V-shaped lower portion with a central vertex, vertical walls extending up from the extremities of said V-shaped lower portion, moistening means on said platform between said input reel and said block and near said block, having a wick for moistening the upper surface of said strip, and supporting a wire shaping member supported above said platform and over the vertex of said block for forcing the moistened strip into said V-shaped lower portion, a seed-depositing station along said block between said shaping member and said wheels, and a strip control member mounted on said block beyond said seed-depositing station, for engaging the edges of said strip and centering the strip relative to said vertex, said strip control member comprising a rod having two spaced-apart through pins, a notch in said troughing block in which one said pin fits for anchoring said rod against axial movement, said rod having a width substantially the same as the distance between the vertical walls, and the second pin resting on said troughing block at a desired height and assuring that the rod rests at a uniform height above the vertex of said block.

Claim 28

The machine of claim 14 wherein said seed depositing station incorporates a rotating generally horizontal seed dispenser and a stationary store of seeds, said seed dispenser having a series of nozzles and means for dipping said nozzles into said store for picking up seeds individually from said store and means for dipping said nozzles into said troughing block for dropping the seeds on said strip at said seed depositing station.

Claim 29

The machine of claim 19 wherein said seed dispenser comprises a rotating disc having a plurality of individually removable radially extending arms each having said nozzle attached thereto and a cam follower thereon, a stationary cam ring above said disc havIng a cam-shaped periphery and serving as the means causing the dipping of the nozzles, and a springy yieldable band holding said arms to said disc and said cam followers against said cam.

Claim 30

A seed-tape manufacturing machine having a main frame with means for supporting an input reel of strip material at one end, means for supporting a take-up reel of seed tape at the other end, a platform in between, and a pair of wheels on said platform, one driven and one idling, and urged toward the driven wheel, for propelling the strip and closing it between them to complete the seed tape, including in combination: a troughing block on said platform ahead of said wheels and having a longitudinal groove that has a V-shaped lower portion with a central vertex, moistening means on said platform between said input reel and said block and near said block, having a wick for moistening the upper surface of said strip, and supporting a wire shaping member supported above said platform and over the vertex of said block for forcing the moistened strip into said V-shaped lower portion, a seed-depositing station along said block between said shaping member and said wheels, a strip control member mounted on said block beyond said seed-depositing station, for engaging the edges of said strip and centering the strip relative to said vertex, and aligning means comprising a flanged spool mounted adjacent the input reel and a fine adjustment means mounted between said moistening means and said troughing block comprising an horizontally disposed member engaging the bottom surface of the strip at that point and means for determining and setting the angle at which said member extends relative to the flow path of said strip.

Claim 31

A seed-tape manufacturing machine having a main frame with means for supporting an input reel of strip material at one end, means for supporting a take-up reel of seed tape at the other end, a platform in between, and a pair of wheels on said platform, one driven and one idling, and urged toward the driven wheel, for propelling the strip and closing it between them to complete the seed tape, including in combination: a troughing block on said platform ahead of said wheels and having a longitudinal groove that has a V-shaped lower portion with a central vertex, moistening means on said platform between said input reel and said block and near said block, having a wick for moistening the upper surface of said strip, and supporting a wire shaping member supported above said platform and over the vertex of said block for forcing the moistened strip into said V-shaped lower portion, a seed-depositing station along said block between said shaping member and said wheels, a strip control member mounted on said block beyond said seed-depositing station, for engaging the edges of said strip and centering the strip relative to said vertex, and aligning means comprising a flanged spool mounted adjacent the input reel and a fine adjustment means mounted between said moistening means and said troughing block comprising an horizontally disposed member engaging the bottom surface of the strip at that point and means for determining and setting the angle at which said member extends relative to the flow path of said strip.

Claim 32

A machine for making seed tape from a strip of water-soluble polymer, including in combination: a main frame having a platform and side walls, first and second arms secured to opposite said side walls and extending out therefrom, said first arm having means for rotatably supporting an input reel, said second arm having means for rotatably supporting a take-up reel, a flanged guide roller rotatably supported by said first arm for aligning the strip fed from said input reel relatively to subsequent members, moistening means mounted on said platform in alignment with said roller for moistening an upper surface only of said strip, a troughing block mounted on said platform in alignment with said roller and said moistening means and comprising a bar having an upper surface provided with a troughing groove V-shaped at its bottom and extending up beyond the outer ends of the V, the vertex of the V being in alignment with the center line of said roller and moistening means, said block having an entrance end, an exit end, and a seed-dispensing station between its ends where seed is dropped onto the moistened tape while the tape is troughed like the walls of said groove, a wire shaping member supported above and aligned with the V-shaped groove near said entrance end for engagement with the upper moistened surface of said strip and forcing the central portion threeof down into the vertex of the V, a control member mounted on said troughing means after the seed-dispensing station and engaging the upper edges of the troughed strip to assure that they are equally aligned with respect to their center line, drive and closure means on said platform between said exit end and said second arm, comprising two horizontally mounted wheels having resilient peripheries and rotatable about vertical axes, one said wheel being a drive wheel mounted on a fixed axis and driven to supply the force for propelling the strip and the other said wheel being an idler wheel mounted on a pivoted arm and spring urged toward the other wheel so that the strip passes between them for driving and is also closed together as flattened seed tape with the seed near a creased centerfold and the edges sealed together by pressure and moisture, main drive means for propelling said drive wheel, and transmission means including a slip belt connecting said main drive means to said means for rotatably driving said take-up reel through said slip belt for causing the peripheral speed of the tape to be at all times faster than said drive wheel''s peripheral speed, said slip belt enabling the pull of the tape to slow down said take-up reel so that the peripheral speed of the tape is actually substantially equal to that at the drive wheel.

Claim 33

A machine for making seed tape from a strip of water-soluble polymer, including in combination: a main frame having a platform and side walls, first and second arms secured to opposite said side walls and extending out therefrom, said first arm having means for rotatably supporting an input reel, said second arm having means for rotatably supporting a take-up reel, a flanged guide roller rotatably supported by said first arm for aligning the strip fed from said input reel relatively to subsequent members, moistening means mounted on said platform in alignment with said roller for moistening an upper surface only of said strip, a troughing block mounted on said platform in alignment with said roller and said moistening means and comprising a bar having an upper surface provided with a troughing groove V-shaped at its bottom and extending up beyond the outer ends of the V, the vertex of the V being in alignment with the center line of said roller and moistening means, said block having an entrance end, an exit end, and a seed-dispensing station between its ends where seed is dropped onto the moistened tape while the tape is troughed like the walls of said groove, a wire shaping member supported above and aligned with the V-shaped groove near said entrance end for engagement with the upper moistened surface of said strip and forcing the central portion threeof down into the vertex of the V, a control member mounted on said troughing means after the seed-dispensing station and engaging the upper edges of the troughed strip to assure that they are equally aligned with respect to their center line, drive and closure means on said platform between said exit end and said second arm, comprising two horizontally mounted wheels having resilient peripheries and rotatable about vertical axes, one said wheel being a drive wheel mounted on a fixed axis and driven to supply the force for propelling the strip and the other said wheel being an idler wheel mounted on a pivoted arm and spring urged toward the other wheel so that the strip passes between them for driving and is also closed together as flattened seed tape with the seed near a creased centerfold and the edges sealed together by pressure and moisture, main drive means for propelling said drive wheel, and transmission means including a slip belt connecting said main drive means to said means for rotatably driving said take-up reel through said slip belt for causing the peripheral speed of the tape to be at all times faster than said drive wheel''s peripheral speed, said slip belt enabling the pull of the tape to slow down said take-up reel so that the peripheral speed of the tape is actually substantially equal to that at the drive wheel.

Claim 34

The machine of claim 22 having means enabling swinging each of said first and second arms flat against said side walls when not in use.

Claim 35

The machine of claim 22 having a fine-adjustment means mounted on said platform in between said moistening means and said entrance end and having a horizontal rod extending at an angle relative to said strip and engaging the full width of the lower unmoistened surface of said strip and means for adjusting the angle, to effect the training of said strip in said troughing means.

Claim 36

The machine of claim 22 wherein said moistening means comprises a water receptacle resting on said platform having a vertical slot, a tubular vertical standard extending up from said platform and having an open slot providing a first shoulder and a second shoulder thereabove, a column slidable and rotatable in said standard and removable therefrom, a horizontal member secured to said column and resting on each said shoulder, on the first shoulder for operation and on the second shoulder for pauses during operation, a stepped capillary wick held by said horizontal member, said step providing a lower portion which enters said slot to take water from said receptacle, and an upper portion which rests on and dispenses moisture to the upper surface of said strip when said horizontal member rests on said first shoulder.

Claim 37

The machine of claim 25 wherein said horizontal member comprises a sleeve and said wire shaping member has a longitudinal portion aligned with said groove and a transverse portion extending through said sleeve and secured to said column, thereby providing a torsion suspension for the outboard end of said longitudinal portion.