Improvements in Machines for Sowing Seeds.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Apr., 1893-Accepted, 17th June, 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Sowing Seeds.
1, OSKAR BERTHOLD RUPPE, a member of the firm of A. Ruppe & Son of
15, Muhlenstrasse, Apolda, Germany, Manufacturer of Agricultural Implements,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to seed-sowing machines or drill ploughs and consists of
what may be termed a universal seed conveying or feeding device which simply by
shifting a shaft or a spring or both may be so adjusted as to suit produce of every
description and variety capable of being sown in drills from the largest grades of
pulse (such as beans, pease) down to cereals (such as wheat, rye) and even the
smallest grain (such as poppy-seed) without in any way lessening the advantages
resulting from sowing in drills or rows one of which is that the seed is prevented
from accumulating at one point to the detriment of the resulting crop.
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings,
in which Figs. 1 to 6 illustrate the construction of the sowing machine,
Fig. 1 being a side view,
Fig. 2 a plan, and
Fig. 3 a front view of the adjustable device.
Fig. 4 is a section on line a-b Fig. 2.
Fig. 5 is a section on line c-d Fig. 4, showing the grooved or fluted feeding
wheels out of gear, and
Fig. 6 is the same sectional view as Fig. 5 only with the feeding wheels thrown
into gear.
In the seed-sowing machines hitherto used inconvenience has been caused because
grooved feeding wheels or rollers of a special shape or pitch had usually to be
mounted on the sowing shaft for each grade or description of seed which operation
involved considerable loss of time.
The object of the present invention is (inter alia) to remedy this drawback and
is accomplished by the following arrangement:
A greater or less number of sowing troughs or hoppers A according to the
length of the sowing machine are arranged on or in the frame of the machine. To
these hoppers A blocks B and C are screwed serving at the same time as bearings
for the sowing shaft e and as stops for limiting the extent of displacement of the
said shaft.
The shaft e is provided with a longitudinal groove in which is adjustably
embedded a longitudinally extending slide bar or key f
I
On to the said shaft e are also keyed rings g the inner circumferences of which
are provided with notches corresponding to the ribs of the grooved feeding
wheels i.
The feeding wheels i and k are rigidly connected with the bar and the said
wheels i are adapted to move within (.e. slide in and out of) the rings g.
The wall of the sowing hopper frame carries a spring controlled and yielding
plate or edge for the purpose of equalizing the discharge of the seed and of
affording a yielding passage for pieces of stone or other foreign bodies or impurities
which may accidentally have been mixed with the seed so as to protect the
feeding wheels from damage.
The door m which while the machine is in operation is kept closed by the bolt
or catch n, may be opened when the machine is at rest and when it is desired to
remove from the sowing hopper any seed etc. still remaining therein.

page_text: The sowing shaft e and slide fare each fitted with a separate adjusting device
so that both parts may be adjusted either separately or simultaneously.
The operation is as follows:-
The seed to be sown is placed in the chamber Z through the inlet E. The
grooved conveyor wheels or i as they rotate carry it to the outlet O through
which it drops on the soil.
When it is desired to sow such large-sized produce as beans pease etc. the
shafte together with the rings g wedged thereon is brought into the position shown
in Fig. 2 and by the corresponding adjustment of the slide the wheel k is moved
up to inlet orifice E. Small grain such as corn and the like is provided for by so
adjusting the slide as to bring the wheel i in front of the inlet (Fig. 3). By
suitably adjusting the rings y upon the ribbed wheels i the machine may be set for
sowing the smaller grades of seed for which purpose the said wheels and rings g
need only be rotated. In the case of very small seed the shafte is so shifted as
to bring the ring g in front of the inlet orifice when by rotating the said shaft the
ribs of the feeding wheels convey the seed to the outlet.
Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate the arrangement of the rings g in combination with the
ribbed wheels i and k.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1. In a machine for sowing seeds-the combination of a conveying drum or
wheel such as for large grades of seed and of another conveying drum or wheel
such as for small grades of seed both rigidly connected with a slide bar or key
such as which latter is adjustably fitted within a longitudinal groove provided in
the revolving shaft e together with a hollow cylindrical adjusting drum such as g
on the said shaft e with which it is rigidly connected for the double purpose of
rendering the machine adjustable for various grades of seed and in the case of
small grades enabling the quantities of seed sown to be controlled substantially in
the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated by way of
example in the drawings hereunto annexed.
2. In a device or machinery of the character claimed in the above claim-the
arrangement and combination therewith of an inclined equalizing spring mounted
hinged plate having its upper and free edge capable of yielding which in con-
junction with horizontal blades or ladles secured to the conveyor drum i is adapted
to control and render uniform the quantity of seed sown-whilst its yielding free
edge prevents damage to the working parts substantially in the manner and for
the purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated in the drawings hereunto
annexed.
Dated thin 10th dox of Ail 1000
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.