Abstract:
A bulk seed handler and dispenser or seed tender is provided for transporting bulk seed containers and for dispensing the seed within the containers into planting equipment. The bulk seed handling and dispenser of this invention is comprised of a trailer having a plurality of bulk seed containers mounted thereon, each of which is in communication with seed inlet openings formed in the deck of the trailer. Means is provided for simultaneously clamping the opposite sides of the containers to the deck. When the seed containers are placed on the deck, the doors which provide access to the slide gates thereof are on the driver&#39;s side of the trailer. A pair of hydraulic cylinders pivotally interconnect the upper auger conveyor section to the lower auger conveyor section for pivotally moving the upper auger conveyor section between a stowed position and an operative position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates to a bulk seed handling and dispensing system and more particularly to a system wherein a plurality of bulk seed containers are selectively vertically removably positioned on the deck of the trailer. More particularly, this invention relates to a system wherein the seed containers are clamped or held down onto the deck of the trailer by means of hook members. Even more particularly, this invention relates to a system wherein the slide gates of the seed container are accessible from the driver&#39;s side of the trailer. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Agricultural seeding machines such as a row crop planter or grain drill are used to place seeds at a desired depth within a plurality of parallel seed trenches. Historically, row crops such as corn are planted with row planters which normally consist of a plurality of spaced-apart planter units mounted on a supporting frame such as a tool bar or the like. Usually, each of the planter units includes a seed box or hopper thereon which must be filled with seed. Non-row crops such as wheat, soybeans, oats, barley, etc. are planted by means of grain drills. The grain drills include a seed hopper positioned thereon. In both types of planting, the seed boxes or hoppers must be filled with seed. In many cases, individual bags of seed are hand-carried to the planters with the seed being poured therefrom into the planter boxes or hoppers. In recent years, seed has been supplied to the farmers in bulk form, i.e., the seed is contained in large seed containers, sometimes called “totes”, carried on a trailer or the like and is dispensed therefrom to the planter boxes or hoppers by an auger conveyor. 
         [0005]    Applicant has previously received U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,971,324 and 6,994,039 on bulk seed handling and dispensing systems or seed tenders as they are sometimes called. Although the seed tenders of the above-identified patents have met with considerable success, it has been found that improvements may still be made on the same. In Applicant&#39;s previous seed tenders and in most prior art seed tenders, the deck of the trailer has upstanding and horizontally spaced-apart seed inlet openings formed thereon with the seed containers being slidably moved onto the deck of the trailer from one side thereof. As the seed containers are slidably moved onto the deck, the upper ends of the seed inlet openings are sometimes damaged. Further, it has been found that even a better way of holding or clamping the seed containers to the deck is desirable. Additionally, with the advent of larger diameter auger conveyors, it is desirable to provide a better way of pivotally moving the upper auger conveyor section with respect to the lower auger conveyor section. Even further, in most prior art seed tenders, the doors or slide gates of the seed containers are only accessible between the adjacent containers which makes it difficult to slidably move the slide gates of the containers. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summary is not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
         [0007]    A seed handling and dispensing apparatus for transporting bulk seed containers and for dispensing the seed within the containers into planting equipment is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a wheeled frame having a forward end, a rearward end, and first and second sides. The wheeled frame has a forwardly extending hitch for connection to a prime mover. A generally horizontally disposed deck is provided on the wheeled frame which defines a plurality of deck portions with each of the deck portions having a seed inlet opening provided thereon. The deck portions are adapted to have the bulk seed containers positioned thereon in a selectively removably vertical manner so as to communicate with the seed inlet openings. A first horizontally disposed and rotatable shaft is positioned below the deck inwardly of the first side of the wheeled frame with the first shaft having forward and rearward ends. The first shaft has a plurality of spaced-apart hold-down members secured thereto for rotation therewith. The deck has a plurality of first openings formed therein above the first hold-down members to permit the first hold-down members to pass therethrough. The first shaft is selectively rotatable to enable the first hold-down members to move between a first non-operative position and a second container hold-down position. 
         [0008]    A second horizontally disposed and rotatable shaft is positioned below the deck inwardly of the second side of the wheeled frame with the second shaft having forward and rearward ends. The second shaft has a plurality of spaced-apart second hold-down members secured thereto for rotation therewith. The deck has a plurality of second openings formed therein above the second hold-down members to permit the second hold-down members to pass therethrough. The second shaft is selectively rotatable to enable the second hold-down members to move between a first non-operative position and a second container hold-down position. When the first and second hold-down members are in their container hold-down positions, they engage the bulk seed containers to secure the containers to the deck. The first and second shafts are interconnected so that they are rotated in unison by means of a crank positioned at the forward end of the second shaft. 
         [0009]    In the preferred embodiment, the doors formed in the containers, which provided access to the slide gates thereon are positioned at the driver&#39;s side of the trailer. Further, the means which interconnects the upper and lower auger conveyor sections for pivotally moving the upper auger conveyor section with respect to the lower auger conveyor section comprises a pair of hydraulic cylinders pivotally secured thereto and extending therebetween. 
         [0010]    It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide an improved seed handling and dispensing apparatus for transporting bulk seed containers and for dispensing the seed within the containers into planting equipment. 
         [0011]    A further object of the invention is to provide a seed handling and dispensing apparatus of the type described wherein the containers are vertically removably positioned on the deck so as to communicate with seed inlet openings provided on the deck of the trailer. 
         [0012]    A further object of the invention is to provide a seed handling and dispensing apparatus of the type described wherein both sides of the containers on the deck of the trailer are simultaneously clamped or held down onto the deck of the trailer. 
         [0013]    A further object of the invention is to provide a seed handling and dispensing apparatus of the type described wherein the doors which provide access to the slide gates of the containers are accessible from the driver&#39;s side of the trailer. 
         [0014]    A further object of the invention is to provide a seed handling and dispensing apparatus of the type described including an improved means for pivoting the upper auger conveyor section relative to the upper auger conveyor section. 
         [0015]    These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified. 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the seed handling and dispensing apparatus of this invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of the deck of the seed handling and dispensing apparatus with portions thereof cutaway to more fully illustrate the invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view which illustrates a portion of the means for simultaneously moving the hold-down members at each side of the trailer between their stowed positions below the deck and the operative positions; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a partial rear perspective view of the deck of the apparatus with portions thereof cutaway to more fully illustrate the invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating the pair of cylinders which pivotally secure the upper auger conveyor section to the lower auger conveyor section to pivotally move the upper auger conveyor section relative to the lower auger conveyor section; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a rear perspective view of the apparatus of this invention having seed containers or totes mounted thereon. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0023]    Embodiments are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying figures, which form a part hereof and show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. These embodiments are disclosed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. However, embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense in that the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims. 
         [0024]    The seed dispensing cart, caddy, trailer, system or apparatus of this invention is generally designated by the reference numeral  10 , which is designed for transporting bulk seed containers  12 ,  13 ,  14  and  15 , which are normally identical to each other, and for dispensing the seed within the containers into seed boxes or hoppers of planting equipment such as row crop planters or grain drills. The containers  12 ,  13 ,  14 , and  15  are sometimes referred to as totes and are readily available from one or more manufacturers. The containers are usually constructed of plastic. Each of the containers or totes  12 ,  13 ,  14  and  15  include a sloped floor  16  so that the seed therein will gradually flow to the discharge opening  18  which is selectively closed by a manually operated slide gate  20  which is accessible from one side of the container  12  through an opening  22  at one side thereof. The openings  22  of the containers are accessible from the driver&#39;s side of the apparatus. Each of the containers includes lower end portions or feet  24  and  26  at the sides thereof. In some cases, the feet  24  and  26  are created by pockets or the like formed in the lower ends of the containers. 
         [0025]    The seed cart, caddy, apparatus, system or trailer will be referred to herein for purposes of description, as a “trailer”. Trailer  10  includes a wheeled frame  28  supported by wheels  30  and  32  at each side thereof. Preferably, the front wheels  30  include brakes. A forwardly extending tongue or hitch  34  is provided on the wheeled frame  28  so that the trailer may be towed by a prime mover such as a truck, pickup, tractor, etc. An internal combustion engine  36  is mounted on the wheeled frame  28  for powering the conveyor augers such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,971,324 and 6,994,039. It is preferred that an internal combustion engine  36  be utilized but the power source for the conveyor augers could be electrically driven, hydraulically driven or combinations thereof. Further, if the trailer  10  is being pulled by a tractor or the like, the source of power for the conveyor augers could be tractor power-take-off (PTO). 
         [0026]    For purposes of description, the trailer  10  will be described as having a forward end  40 , a rearward end  42 , a left side  44  and a right side  46 . Trailer  10  is provided with a generally horizontally disposed deck  48  which defines deck portions  50 ,  52 ,  54  and  56 . Deck portions  50  and  52  are separated by an upstanding and elongated support  58  while deck portions  52  and  54  are separated by an elongated upstanding support  60 . Deck portions  54  and  56  are separated by an elongated upstanding support  62 . Upstanding plates  64 ,  66  and  68  are positioned at the left sides of the members  58 ,  60  and  62  respectively to prevent movement of the containers to the left when they are positioned on the deck  48 . A front stop or wall  70  is provided at the forward end of deck portion  50  while a stop or wall  72  is provided at the rearward end of deck portion  56 . A plate  74  is positioned at the left end of wall  70  while plate  76  is positioned at the left end of wall  72 . 
         [0027]    Front deck portion  50  is provided with a seed inlet opening  78  which is in communication with the discharge opening  18  of container  12 . Similarly, seed inlet openings  80 ,  82  and  84  are provided on the deck portions  52 ,  54  and  56  respectively with those openings being in communication with the discharge openings in the containers  13 ,  14  and  15  respectively. The lower ends of the seed inlet openings  78 ,  80 ,  82  and  84  are in communication with an elongated auger system as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,994,039, which is incorporated herein by reference to complete the disclosure hereof. The forward end of the floor auger or conveyor is in communication with a lower auger section  86  of a conveyor screw auger  88 . The conveyor screw auger  88  also includes an upper auger section  90  which is selectively pivotally secured to the upper end of auger section  86  by a hinge  92 . A pair of hydraulic cylinders  94  and  96  are pivotally connected to and extend between the auger sections  86  and  90  for pivotally moving auger section  90  from the folded position of  FIG. 1  to a position wherein it extends from auger section  86  in a parallel manner. The numeral  98  refers to a discharge chute which is movably secured to the upper end of auger section  90 . The conveyor auger  88  is powered by the internal combustion engine  36  in the same manner as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,994,039, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference to complete this disclosure. 
         [0028]    In the prior art, the seed containers were slid onto the deck portions from one side thereof so as to pass over the inlet openings on the deck portions. However, as the seed containers are slidably moved over the inlet openings, the inlet openings are frequently damaged. Thus, in this invention, the seed containers are lowered directly from above onto the seed inlet openings so that the inlet openings are not damaged during the positioning of the containers on the deck and the removal of the containers from the deck. 
         [0029]    Each of the deck portions  50 ,  52 ,  54  and  56  are provided with a pair of elongated slots or openings  100  formed therein inwardly of the left side thereof. Each of the deck portions  50 ,  52 ,  54  and  56  are also provided with a pair of elongated slots or openings  102  formed therein inwardly of the right side thereof. An elongated shaft or rod  104  extends longitudinally beneath the deck  48  and is suitably rotatably secured thereto about its longitudinal axis. A plurality of generally L-shaped or hook-shaped hold-down members  106  are secured to the shaft  104  so as to be movable therewith. The shaft  104 , as will be described hereinafter, is rotatable from a first position wherein the hold-down members  106  do not protrude upwardly through the openings  100  to a position wherein the hold-down members  106  protrude upwardly through the opening  100  for engagement with the feet  24  of the containers to hold down the containers on the deck  48  against movement. Similarly, a longitudinally extending shaft  108  is positioned beneath deck  48  inwardly of side  46  and has a plurality of spaced-apart hold-down members secured thereto for movement therewith. The hold-down members  110  may be moved upwardly through the slots  102  in the same fashion as hold-down members  106  are movable with respect to the openings  100 . The hold-down members  110  are adapted to engage the feet or the container associated therewith as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0030]    As seen in  FIG. 3 , the forward end of shaft  108  protrudes forwardly from a bulkhead  112  at the forward end of deck portion  50 . A link  14  has one end thereof welded to the forward end of shaft  108  so as to extend transversely therefrom. The numeral  116  refers to a crank having one end thereof secured to the forward end of shaft  108 . The shank portion  118  of crank  116  is adapted to be received within a slot  120  formed in channel  122  as seen in  FIG. 3 . When the shank portion  118  is received within the slot  120 , the same may be locked therein by pivotally moving the locking lever  124  from the position illustrated in  FIG. 3  to a position over the upper end of the slot  120  and secured thereto to prevent the crank  116  from moving from the position illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0031]    One end of an elongated bar  126  is pivotally secured to the outer end of link  114  by bolt or pin  128 . The other end of bar  126  is pivotally secured to the outer end of a link  129  at  130  as seen in  FIG. 2 . Link  129  is welded to the forward end of shaft  104 . Thus, when the crank  116  is in the position of  FIG. 2 , the hold-down members  106  and  110  will be in engagement with the lower ends of the seed containers. When it is desired to remove the seed containers from the trailer, the locking lever  124  is pivotally moved to its open position and the crank  116  is pivotally moved from the position of  FIG. 2  to an upper position so that the hold-down members  106  and  110  pivotally move from the holding or clamping position to a position below the deck which is illustrated by the broken line arrows in  FIG. 2 . The seed container may then be raised from the deck  48  by a fork lift, crane, etc. When it is desired to install a filled seed container on the deck, the crank  116  will be rotated which causes the shafts  104  and  108  to pivotally move the hold-down members  106  and  110  from their stowed or stored position to the clamping or holding position of  FIG. 2 . 
         [0032]    Thus it can be seen that a novel seed dispensing cart, caddy, trailer, system or apparatus  10  has been provided which represents a distinct improvement over the prior art. First, by being able to directly lower the seed containers onto the deck without sliding the same over the seed inlet openings, damage to the seed inlet openings is prevented. Further, by arranging the containers on the deck so that the gates  20  may be accessed from the driver&#39;s side of the trailer makes the opening and closing of the gates  20  a more simple step than having to reach between the containers in an attempt to open the slide gates  20 . Further, the left and right sides of the containers are able to be secured to the deck simultaneously from the forward end of the deck through the use of the crank  116 . Additionally, the use of two hydraulic cylinders  94  and  96  to pivotally move the auger section  90  with respect to the auger section  86  makes for a more smoother and more stable pivoting operation. 
         [0033]    Thus it can be seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives. 
         [0034]    Although the invention has been described in language that is specific to certain structures and methodological steps, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific structures and/or steps described. Rather, the specific aspects and steps are described as forms of implementing the claimed invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.