Method of and apparatus for making seed tape

Claim 3

A method as defined in claim 1 characterized by forming said seed retaining pockets by heating said first tape, drawing a vacuum on said tape and thereafter cooling the tape.

Claim 4

A method as defined in claim 1 characterized by sealing said firSt and second tapes together by applying heat to the moving tapes.

Claim 7

The invention defined by claim 4 characterized by catching those seeds not caught in said recesses and returning them to said continuous stream.

Claim 8

Apparatus for manufacturing seed tape comprising, a seed dispensing station, means for moving a first elongate strip of water soluble tape at a constant speed beneath said seed dispensing station, means upstream of the dispensing station for forming a series of substantially uniformly spaced seed retaining pockets in said first tape, means for selecting certain of said seeds from said seed dispensing station and depositing a seed in each pocket comprising a seed wheel rotating on a horizontal axis having seed pickup means at uniformly spaced intervals about the wheel periphery, said seed dispensing station being positioned above said seed wheel to deposit seeds by gravity thereon, means for moving a second elongate strip of water soluble tape synchronously with said first tape and into juxtaposition with the first tape at a point downstream of said seed dispensing station, and means for sealing said first and second tapes together to provide a series of closed seed containing pockets spaced uniformly along said tapes.

Claim 9

Apparatus for manufacturing seed tape comprising, a seed dispensing station, means for moving a first elongate strip of water soluble tape at a constant speed beneath said seed dispensing station, means upstream of the dispensing station for forming a series of substantially uniformly spaced seed retaining pockets in said first tape, means for selecting certain of said seeds from said seed dispensing station and depositing a seed in each pocket comprising a seed wheel rotating on a horizontal axis having seed pickup means at uniformly spaced intervals about the wheel periphery, said seed dispensing station being positioned above said seed wheel to deposit seeds by gravity thereon, means for moving a second elongate strip of water soluble tape synchronously with said first tape and into juxtaposition with the first tape at a point downstream of said seed dispensing station, and means for sealing said first and second tapes together to provide a series of closed seed containing pockets spaced uniformly along said tapes.

Claim 10

Apparatus as defined in claim 6 characterized in that said seed pickup means each comprises a radially opening aperture connected to a source of vacuum and sized to retain a single seed against the marginal edges of the aperture.

Claim 11

Apparatus as defined in claim 6 characterized in that a source of seeds is provided, together with means for delivering seeds from said source to said seed dispensing station.

Claim 12

Apparatus as defined in claim 8 characterized in that means are provided for returning excess seeds deposited on said seed wheel from said seed dispensing station back to said source of seeds.

Claim 13

Apparatus as defined in claim 6 characterized in that said means for forming said seed retaining pockets in the first tape comprises a wheel rotating on a horizontal axis generally beneath and in radial alignment with said seed wheel, said pocket wheel having a uniformly spacedapart series of pockets opening through its periphery, with each pocket connectable to a source of vacuum, and means for entraining said first tape over said pocket wheel.

Claim 14

Apparatus as defined in claim 10 characterized in that heating means are provided for softening said tape prior to the forming of said pockets.

Claim 15

Apparatus as defined in claim 6 characterized in that said means for sealing the first and second tapes together comprises tape heating means mounted adjacent said pocket wheel for beating the juxtaposed tapes on the wheel.

Claim 16

Apparatus for manufacturing seed tape from a pair of elongate strips of water soluble tape material, comprising: a generally upright support; a seed dispensing wheel mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis on said support and having a plurality of seed pickup means Spaced apart uniformly around its circumference for picking up seeds by vacuum during a portion of wheel rotation and releasing seeds at a predetermined point of wheel rotation; a pocket forming wheel mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis on said support beneath and in radial alignment with the seed wheel and tangent thereto, said pocket wheel having a plurality of pockets opening through its periphery corresponding in position and arrangement to said seed pickup means; drive means coupled to both of said wheels for rotating them synchronously; means for moving a first strip of tape along the periphery of said pocket wheel at a speed corresponding to the peripheral speed of the wheel; means associated with said pocket wheel for deforming said first tape into said wheel pockets to form seed retaining pockets in said tape; a source of seeds; means for delivering a stream of free falling seeds from said source and depositing the seeds on the seed wheel for pick up by said pickup means; said wheels being relatively positioned for deposition of a seed from said seed wheel into each tape pocket along said pocket wheel upon rotation of the wheels; means for moving a second water soluble strip of tape synchronously with said first strip of tape and into juxtaposition therewith after deposition of seeds in the pockets of the latter; and means for sealing said two tapes together to close said pockets with seeds enclosed therein.

Claim 17

Apparatus for manufacturing seed tape from a pair of elongate strips of water soluble tape material, comprising: a generally upright support; a seed dispensing wheel mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis on said support and having a plurality of seed pickup means Spaced apart uniformly around its circumference for picking up seeds by vacuum during a portion of wheel rotation and releasing seeds at a predetermined point of wheel rotation; a pocket forming wheel mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis on said support beneath and in radial alignment with the seed wheel and tangent thereto, said pocket wheel having a plurality of pockets opening through its periphery corresponding in position and arrangement to said seed pickup means; drive means coupled to both of said wheels for rotating them synchronously; means for moving a first strip of tape along the periphery of said pocket wheel at a speed corresponding to the peripheral speed of the wheel; means associated with said pocket wheel for deforming said first tape into said wheel pockets to form seed retaining pockets in said tape; a source of seeds; means for delivering a stream of free falling seeds from said source and depositing the seeds on the seed wheel for pick up by said pickup means; said wheels being relatively positioned for deposition of a seed from said seed wheel into each tape pocket along said pocket wheel upon rotation of the wheels; means for moving a second water soluble strip of tape synchronously with said first strip of tape and into juxtaposition therewith after deposition of seeds in the pockets of the latter; and means for sealing said two tapes together to close said pockets with seeds enclosed therein.

Claim 18

Apparatus as defined in claim 13 characterized in that said seed wheel pickup means comprises a series of uniformly spaced apertures opening radially through the wheel periphery and passage means establishing communication between said apertures and a source of vacuum.

Claim 19

Apparatus as defined in claim 14 characterized in that said passage means includes a stationary commutator member having an arcuate passageway and passageway means in said rotary seed wheel communicating with said apertures and with said commutator.

Claim 20

Apparatus as defined in claim 15 characterized in that said member is floatingly secured to said support and is spring biased into engagement with said seed wheel.

Claim 21

Apparatus as defined in claim 16 characterized in that said arcuate commutator passage comprises a groove in the commutator surface adjacent the seed wheel.

Claim 22

Apparatus as defined in claim 13 characterized in that said seed dispensing wheel has a plurality of rows of said seed pickup means and said pocket forming wheel has a corresponding number of rows of pockets, whereby a plurality of seed tapes are formed simultaneously.

Claim 23

Apparatus as defined in claim 18 characterized in that tape slitting means is positioned downstream of said tape sealing means for separating the sealed tapes into said plurality of seed tapes.