Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
A planter comprising a supporting structure having at least one rotatable ground-engaging wheel adapted to rotate in response to movement of the supporting structure over a seed bed with a plastic mulch film thereon, a bullet-shaped burner mounted on said supporting structure and driven by said wheel to form a hole through the plastic mulch film and form a cavity in the underlying seed bed, a hopper mounted on said supporting structure providing a supply of germinated seed and gel, means to discharge a quantity of seed and gel through each hole formed in the mulch film and into the cavity in the seed bed, a hopper on said supporting structure for a growth enhancing media and means driven by said wheel to discharge a quantity of said media through each of the holes formed in the mulch film into the cavity in the seed bed immediately after the germinated seed and gel has been deposited therein.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
157 words
A planter comprising a supporting structure having at least one rotatable ground-engaging wheel adapted to rotate in response to movement of the supporting structure over a seed bed with a plastic mulch film thereon, a bullet-shaped burner mounted on said supporting structure and driven by said wheel to form a hole through the plastic mulch film and form a cavity in the underlying seed bed, a hopper mounted on said supporting structure providing a supply of germinated seed and gel, means to discharge a quantity of seed and gel through each hole formed in the mulch film and into the cavity in the seed bed, a hopper on said supporting structure for a growth enhancing media and means driven by said wheel to discharge a quantity of said media through each of the holes formed in the mulch film into the cavity in the seed bed immediately after the germinated seed and gel has been deposited therein.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
101 words
The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said means to discharge a quantity of germinated seed and gel includes a flexible tube extending from the hopper and terminating in a downwardly directed discharge nozzle, a squeeze tube pump receiving said tube and discharging a predetermined quantity of material in the tube for each cycle of operation of the pump and means driving the pump in timed relation to the burner for discharging the measured quantity of germinated seed and gel through each of the holes in the mulch film and into each of the cavities formed in the seed bed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
77 words
The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said last-named means including a rotatable plate in the hopper having a trap chamber for selective alignment between misaligned top and bottom apertures for discharging a predetermined quantity of media for each cycle of movement of the rotatable plate, a drop tube for the media from the hopper to a point adjacent the plastic film mulch, and means driven by said wheel to open and close the drop tube.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
The structure as defined in claim 3 wherein said means to open and close the drop tube includes a closure flap at the lower end thereof, a rod attached to the flap and extending alongside the drop tube, means driven from the wheel to reciprocate the rod to move the flap between closed and open positions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The structure as defined in claim 4 wherein said burner, discharge nozzle and lower end of the drop tube are in longitudinal alignment with the nozzle and the flap being closely adjacent each other.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The structure as defined in claim 5 wherein said rotatable plate includes a vertically disposed rotatable shaft connected thereto, a gear box connected with said vertical shaft, said gear box including an input connected to the drive wheel through a sprocket and chain drive.