Patent ID: 6477967
Filing Date: 2002-11-12
Classification: A01C

Abstract:
A seed planter of the type that is pulled behind a tractor and that deposits seeds into an underlying trench in soil, the seed planter comprising:(a) a seed hopper for holding a quantity of seeds; (b) a seed meter for metering the flow of seeds to be planted which drops seed into a seed conveyor; (c) a trench former for forming an underlying trench in the soil; (d) a seed conveyor comprising a pair of rotating seed placement discs located behind the trench former for conveying seeds from the seed meter into the trench at regular intervals, the seed placement discs having resilient annular rings attached to the perimeter of their inner facing sides, the rings being compressed together during a portion of their rotation below the seed meter and being spaced apart at a later portion of their rotation, such that a seed dropping from the seed meter is secured between the compressed rings and is then released to drop into the underlying trench as the rings separate; and (e) a trench closer located behind the seed placement discs for closing the trench and compacting the soil over the planted seeds.