Abstract:
A seed dispenser and conveyance system for agricultural machinery that encompasses a circular structural base ( 20 ) with lid ( 22 ), and an angled vertical base ( 21 ) with lid ( 23 ), on the upper part of the base ( 20 ) presenting a seed box ( 30 ), a vacuum turbine ( 40 ) and a cut disk ( 50 ), with the system activated by a bar ( 223 ) and gear ( 222 ) which rotate the selection disk (V 1 ) in a clockwise movement, transmitting the movement to the hollowed gears (B 1,  C 1,  D 1  and E 1 ) with gaps that convey the seed ( 60 ) to the seeding ramp ( 211 ), producing synchronized movements in opposed ways, uniformly conveying the seeds and not being subject to trepidation in the seeding line or any type of lateral, frontal and rear inclination, thus reducing the seed variation coefficient in the seeding line.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention describes a seed dispenser and conveyance system for agricultural machinery. More specifically, it encompasses a system of hollowed gears with curved, square, oblique or rectangular positioners between its gaps, which transport the seeds from the selection system to the seeding groves, producing synchronized movements in opposite directions, uniformly conveying the seeds, not being subject to trepidation in the seeding line or to any type of lateral, frontal or rear inclination, besides maintaining the correct distance until the seeding groves, reducing the seed variation coefficient in the seeding line. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    During the sowing process, it is well known that seed quality and distribution in the soil are paramount for a good performance. It is estimated that, for each failure percentage during sowing (dig with no seed), or for each percentage of “double” seeding (two seeds per dig) there is a 3.3% loss in productivity. 
         [0003]    Furthermore, there is a greater loss due to the irregular distancing of the seeds, that is, the variation coefficient (VC) of the distancing between seeds, resulting in a productivity loss of 1.5 to 3 bags per hectare for each 10% variation of the VC. 
         [0004]    Nowadays, the seeders are composed of a seed conveyor from the selection system to the seeding groove. The seed is transported from the conveyor tube to the internal system, free-falling from an average height of seven hundred millimeters until the seeding groove. This system, besides providing uneven distribution and high variation coefficient due to the disorderly fall of seeds, does not present any regulation device to control the deposit of seeds, and may also have sensors in the center of the conveyor tube that prevent the seed from sliding straightforwardly in the seeding groves, resulting in an uneven deposit. 
         [0005]    These systems operate with a variation of the variation coefficient (VC) from 30% to 80%, presenting a productivity loss of 4.5 to 25 bags per hectare. 
         [0006]    Therefore, the present invention is a seed dispenser and conveyance system for agricultural machinery developed with a set of hollowed gears and curved, square, oblique or rectangular positioners between its gaps which, through synchronized counter-clockwise and clockwise movements, regulate the fall of seeds in the seeding line, reducing to almost zero the variation coefficient, since it places the seeds in the correct spaces, minimizing the uneven distribution, eliminating bounce and contributing to the improvement of productivity per hectare. 
         [0007]    Furthermore, the gears prevent obstruction for being grooved or hollowed and cleaned by the scrapers or ejectors, being able to stand any ascending, descending or lateral movement of the seeder without affecting the precision of the system. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  presents a perspective frontal view of the seed dispenser and conveyance system in agricultural machinery. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  presents a posterior view of the seed dispenser and conveyance system, showing the disks and gearing system. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  presents a zoomed perspective posterior view of the gearing system. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  details the circular structural base ( 20 ) and the angled vertical base ( 21 ) with lid ( 22 ) and ( 23 ). 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  details the selection disk (V 1 ) and the set of hollowed disks (B 1 , C 1 , D 1  and E 1 ). 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  details the selection disk (V 1 ) with the hollowed disk (B 1 ), and the  FIG. 6A  details the hollowed disk (E 1 ) and seeding ramp ( 211 ). 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  presents a zoomed posterior view of the structural base ( 20 ) and lid ( 22 ), and  FIG. 7A  shows the vacuum sealing system. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  presents a frontal view of the system with the coil details ( 73 ) and ejection gears ( 70 ). 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  details the ejection gears ( 70 ) and the dispenser system for agricultural machinery. 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  presents a zoomed posterior view of the system, highlighting the eliminators of double seeds ( 205  and  206 ). 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  presents a frontal view of the selection disk (V 1 ) with wavy edges (V 4 ), and the hollowed disk (B 1 ) with wavy edges (B 5 ). 
           [0019]      FIG. 12  presents a posterior view of the circular structural base ( 20 ) with the seed conveyor tube ( 80 ), and  FIG. 12A  presents a frontal view of the circular structural base ( 20 ) with the seed conveyor tube ( 80 ). 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    The seed dispenser and conveyance system for agricultural machinery, object of the present invention, is composed of a chassis ( 10 ) that sustains the circular structural base ( 20 ) containing a lid ( 22 ) and an angled vertical base ( 21 ) containing a protection lid ( 23 ); the circular structural base ( 20 ) with lid ( 22 ) presents, on its upper part, a seed box ( 30 ), a vacuum turbine ( 40 ) which feeds and generates suction in the seed dispenser through a vent ( 41 ) connected to the circular base ( 20 ), and a cut disk ( 50 ), uniformly distributing the seeds ( 60 ) in the soil. 
         [0021]    The circular structural base ( 20 ) presents an internal selection disk (V 1 ) with spaces (V 2 ) that receive the seeds ( 60 ) from the seed box ( 30 ), and dents (V 3 ), which transmit the movement to the hollowed gears (B 1 ). The selection disk (V 1 ) presents a wavy external edge (V 4 ) which fits the wavy edge (B 5 ) of the gear (B 1 ), allowing the selection disk (V 1 ) to fit the exact space of the gear (B 1 ), ensuring that the seeds ( 60 ) are conveyed from the selection disk (V 1 ) to the gaps (B 2 ) along the gear (B 1 ), maintaining the operation synchronism of the seed dispenser and conveyance system. 
         [0022]    The angled vertical base ( 21 ) presents an internal set of interconnected hollowed gears (B 1 , C 1 , D 1  and E 1 ) which direct the seeds ( 60 ) from the selection disk (V 1 ) to the seeding gap near the soil. 
         [0023]    The hollowed gear (B 1 ) presents a gap (B 2 ) to receive the seeds from the selection disk (V 1 ), a movement gear (B 3 ) connected to the dents (V 3 ) disposed in the selection disk (V 1 ), which enable the hollowed disk (B 1 ) and the gear (B 4 ) to move, transmitting the movement to the disk (C 1 ). The hollowed gear (B 1 ) presents a wavy external edge (B 5 ) which fits the wavy edge (V 4 ) of the selection disk (V 1 ), maintaining the operation synchronism of the seed dispenser and conveyance system. 
         [0024]    The hollowed gear (C 1 ) present a gap (C 2 ) to receive the seeds from the hollowed gear (B 1 ), a movement gear (C 3 ) connected to the dents (B 4 ) disposed in the hollowed gear (B 1 ), which enable the movement of the hollowed disk (C 1 ), and a movement gear (C 4 ), which transmits the movement to the gear (D 1 ). 
         [0025]    The hollowed gear (D 1 ) presents a gap (D 2 ) to receive the seeds from the hollowed gear (C 1 ), a movement gear (D 3 ) connected to the dents (C 4 ) disposed in the hollowed gear (C 1 ), which enable the movement of the hollowed gear (D 1 ), and a movement gear (D 4 ), which transmits the movement to the gear (E 1 ). 
         [0026]    The hollowed gear (E 1 ) presents a gap (E 2 ) to receive the seeds from the hollowed gear (D 1 ), a movement gear (E 3 ) connected to the dents (D 4 ) disposed in the hollowed gear (D 1 ), which enable the movement of the hollowed gear (E 1 ), directing the seeds ( 60 ) to the seeding gap. 
         [0027]    The circular structural base ( 20 ) presents, in its internal structure, a pair of rubbers ( 201 ) with a variable fitting system ( 202 ) that allows the alteration of the point of release of the seeds for 6 hours. Furthermore, it presents a protrusion ( 203 ) that fits the lid ( 22 ), allowing for an easy fit, and on the front it presents a fit whole ( 204 ) for the pipes ( 41 ) from the vacuum turbine ( 40 ). 
         [0028]    The lid ( 22 ) fits the circular structural base ( 20 ) through couplings ( 221 ), which are connected to the protrusions ( 203 ) of the base ( 20 ). On the posterior there is a fraction gear ( 222 ) with an activation bar ( 223 ), transmitting the movement to the selection disk (V 1 ), providing movement and activating the entire system. 
         [0029]    The seed dispenser and conveyor system is activated through the traction gear ( 222 ), which transmits the movement to the selection disk (V 1 ) through an activation bar ( 223 ), performing the clockwise movement of the disk (V 1 ). 
         [0030]    Pipes ( 41 ) are attached to the posterior part of the circular structural base ( 20 ), connected from the vacuum turbine ( 40 ), which generates vacuum suction inside the circular base ( 20 ) when attached to the lid ( 22 ), with the vacuum generated by a pair of rubbers ( 201 ). When the selection disk (V 1 ) moves, it moves with its gaps (V 2 ) between the pair of rubbers ( 201 ), positioning with the vacuum the seeds ( 60 ) from the seed box ( 30 ) in the gaps (V 2 ) of the selection disk (V 1 ), with the suction generated by the vacuum turbine ( 40 ) fixing the seed ( 60 ) in the gap (V 2 ) of the selection disk (V 1 ). 
         [0031]    The system presents eliminators of double seeds ( 205 ) and ( 206 ), disposed inside the base ( 2 ), releasing the sees one by one in the gaps (B 2 ) of the hollowed gear (B 1 ), presenting a dispensing position of 6 hours, according to the setting of the variable fitting system ( 202 ). 
         [0032]    The hollowed gear (B 1 ), with a counter-clockwise movement, receives the seeds ( 60 ) in its gaps (B 2 ) and directs them to the hollowed gear (C 1 ). The disks (V 1 ) and the gear (B 1 ) present wavy edges (V 4 ) and (B 5 ), which allow for the operation synchronism of the seed dispenser and conveyor system. 
         [0033]    The hollowed gear (C 1 ), with a clockwise movement, receives the seeds ( 60 ) in its gaps (C 2 ) and directs them to the hollowed gear (D 1 ). 
         [0034]    The hollowed gear (D 1 ), with a counter-clockwise movement, receives the seeds ( 60 ) in its gaps (D 2 ) and directs them to the hollowed gear (E 1 ). 
         [0035]    The hollowed gear (E 1 ), with a clockwise movement, receives the seeds ( 60 ) in its gaps (E 2 ) and directs them to the seeding ramp ( 211 ), with approximately 50 mm of the seeding groove in the soil, with uniform distancing and distribution. 
         [0036]    The seeding ramp ( 211 ) presents a coil mechanism ( 212 ) to place the seeds, enabling the uniform release with the correct seeding space. 
         [0037]    The hollowed gears (B 1 , C 1 , D 1  and E 1 ) present ejection gears ( 70 ) in the internal part of each disk, with the ejection gears ( 70 ) fitting the gaps (B 2 , C 2 , D 2  and E 2 ) of the gears (B 1 , C 1 , D 1  and E 1 ), preventing the seeds from remaining stuck and not being conveyed to the seeding ramp ( 211 ) with a coil ( 212 ). 
         [0038]    The seed conveyor ( 71 ) is attached to the ejection gears ( 70 ), being connected to the gear ( 70 ) by the coupling arm ( 72 ), with both the gear ( 70 ) and the conveyor ( 71 ) pressed to remain in their position by the coil ( 73 ) and the support ejection gear ( 74 ), transferring all the seeds from the hollowed gears (B 1 , C 1 , D 1  and E 1 ) to the seeding ramp ( 211 ). 
         [0039]    Alternatively, the number of hollowed gears (B 1 , C 1 , D 1  and E 1 ) may be varied according to the need and space of the seeding machinery, and some gears may be added or removed, but they must be synchronized with the selection disk (V 1 ). 
         [0040]    Alternatively, the seed dispenser and conveyance system allows the angled base ( 21 ) with hollowed gears (B 1 , C 1 , D 1  and E 1 ) to be replaced by a seed conveyor tube ( 80 ), attached to the circular structural base ( 20 ) with a selection disk (V 1 ). For this system to function, it uses a seed conveyor with self-adjustable pressure ( 81 ), allowing the seeds to be released in the very center of the conveyor tube ( 80 ). In order to use this system, it is necessary to adjust the variable fitting system ( 202 ) disposed near the rubbers ( 201 ) of the circular base ( 20 ), adjusting the vacuum cut in 5 hours, reducing the free-fall height of the seeds in approximately 150 mm to the soil, with less rebound and a better seed distribution, according to the descriptions of  FIGS. 12 and 12A .