AN IMPROVED SOWING MACHINE
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Marino Tardioli, of Piticchio, Commune of
Arcevia, Province of Ancona, in the Kingdom of Italy, Agricultural
Implement Maker, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED SOWING
MACHINE."
Sealed the 3rd March 1874, and dated the 4th September 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Marino Tardioli at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
4th September 1878.
I, MARINO TARDIOLI, of Piticchio, Commune of Arcevia, Province
of Ancona, in the Kingdom of Italy, Agricultural Implement Maker,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED
SOWING MACHINE," to be as follows :-
My improved sowing machine is composed of a traction apparatus
consisting of a two wheeled vehicle-to which a third wheel may be
applied to act as a fore carriage, see accompanying Sheet of Drawing.

page_text: The iron axle which carries the sowing pulleys, No. 1 (Figures 2 and
3), is sometimes free and sometimes dependent upon the action of the
wheels.
In the first case the wheels turn round the axle which remains
immovable, simple traction being obtained by this arrangement.
5
In the second case the axle receives a rotary motion from the wheels
by the meeting of one of the four teeth of the stud, No. 2 (Fig. 4),
fixed at the right end of said axle with the teeth of a catch, No 3
(Figures 2, 3, and 4), which slides according to the direction given to it
by the corresponding spokes of the wheel upon which it is fitted, the 1
result of this connection of the pulleys and the axle of the machine
being that it works as a sowing machine.
The sowing pulleys are of cast iron and have on their circumference
a series of small cups or basins at equal distances apart, and of a trian-
gular form slightly hollowed out at the base. Under the rotary motion 1
transmitted to them by the axle when in gear with the driving wheels,
the pulleys take from these cups the seed delivered through cor-
responding openings made in the hopper, No. 14 (Figures 1, 2, 3), and
then spread it over the soil with great precision.
A series of india-rubber bands of rectangular shape (one to each 2
pulley), No. 4 (Fig. 2), is fixed on the inside of the hopper; their
action upon the cups regulated by adjusting screws, No. 5 (Fig. 2),
serves to fix the exact quantity of seed to be used; further the move-
ment of the sowing pulleys is regulated and the delivery of the seed is
invariably the same.
2
The hopper is divided into as many compartments as there are sowing
pulleys, and on the insides of each of these compartments are drawn
horizontal lines of demarcation which from the one to the other indicate
the capacity of a quart, or any other measurement, whereby an exact
account may be kept of the quantity of seed confided to the machine 3
and the quantity of this same seed spread by it upon the ground.
The openings or valves, No. 15 (Fig. 3), serve to open or close com-
munication between the hoppers and the pulleys.
When the sowing pulleys having received at top the seed delivered
from the grain compartments, have made half a revolution, this seed falls 3

page_text: into a funnel (one to each pulley), No. 12 (Figures 2, 3, and 4), which
is immediately beneath, and the seed is thus led to the furrowing shares.
These furrowing shares, No. 7 (Figures 2, 3, and 4), one to each pulley
and placed in the same plane, open the ground in parallel furrows in
which the seed is deposited regularly and in a continuous manner. The
furrows are more or less deep accordingly as the shifting counterweight,
No. 7, B (Fig. 4), bears more or less upon the back arm of the share.
On the fore arm is fixed a small coulter, 7 A (Fig. 4), which is used
to clear the ground in front from all weeds and roots which would
interfere with the share, so that this latter only meets a lightened

page_text: The lever, No. 10 (Figures 2 and 4), acts to lift and lower the
furrowing shares, 7 and 7 A, and on the arrangements of extirpator, 6 A,
and harrow 6 B.
The levers, Nos. 10 and 11 (Figures 2 and 4), are themselves fixed
and regulated by the chain, No. 20 (Fig. 4).
Finally, the beam is so balanced as to permit the substitution of
horse in lieu of bullock draught.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Marino Tardioli in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 4th March 1874,
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MARINO
TARDIOLI, of Piticchio, Commune of Arcevia, Province of Ancona, in
the Kingdom of Italy, Agricultural Implement Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-seventh
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Marino Tardioli, Her special licence that I
the said Marino Tardioli, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Marino Tardioli, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED SOWING MACHINE," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Marino Tardioli, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: agent and the special form given to the cups or bowls constitute the
main features of novelty of my improved sowing machine.
The hopper is divided into as many compartments as there are sowing
pulleys, and on the inside of each of these compartments are drawn
horizontal lines of demarcation which from the one to the other indicate
the capacity of a quart, or any other measurement, whereby an exact
account may be kept of the quantity of seed confided to the machine
and the quantity of this same seed spread by it upon the ground.
The openings or valves, No. 15 (Fig. 3), serve to open or close com-
munication between the hoppers and the pulleys.
When the sowing pulleys having received at top the seed delivered
from the grain compartments, have made half a revolution this seed falls
into a funnel (one to each pulley), No. 12 (Figures 1, 2, and 3), which
is immediately beneath and the seed is thus led to the furrowing shares.
These furrowing shares, No. 7 (Figures 1, 2, and 3), one to each pulley
and placed in the same plane, open the ground in parallel furrows, in
which the seed is deposited regularly and in a continuous manner. The
furrows are more or less deep accordingly as the shifting counterweight,
No. 7 B (Figures 1 and 3), bears more or less upon the back arm of
the share. On the fore arm is fixed a small coulter, 7 A. (Fig. 1), which
is used to clear the ground in front from all weeds and roots which
would interfere with the share so that this latter only meets a lightened
soil.

page_text: 8°. The lever, No. 11 (Figures 1 and 3) acts upon the back harrows,
Nos. 8 and 9, and on the tracer, No. 13 (Fig. 1), which it (lifts or lowers
at will.
The operation of sowing may be completed in all its details by
means of supplementary apparatuses annexed to this improved sowing
machine and which justify the name of the multiple sowing machine
which I have given to it. There is, firstly, the extirpator, No. 6 A
(Fig. 1), the spades of which may perform the same services as horse
pickers. Then the crushing or scarifying roller, No. 6 B (Fig. 4),
composed of 14 toothed discs arranged two and two in seven independent
couples. These apparatuses form part of the sower to which they are
attached by means of the movable iron framing, No. 6 (Fig. 1).
The lever, No. 10 (Fig. 1), acts to lift and lower the furrowing shares
7 and 7 A, and on the arrangements of extirpator 6 A, and scarifying
roller, 6 B.
The levers, Nos. 10 and 11 (Figures 2 and 4), are themselves fixed
and regulated by the chain, No. 20 (Fig. 1).
Finally, the beam, No. 21 (Fig. 1), is so balanced as to permit the
substitution of horse in lieu of bullock draught.
The dimensions of the machine are as follows:-Length about 6 ft.
6 in. (200), not including the beam; breadth, 5 ft. 2 in. (1ª 60);
height, 89 in. (1º 00).
The materials used in the construction of my sowing machine are
wood, and cast and wrought iron.
The strength required in an apparatus of this nature is obtained by
the skilful combination of its parts. Repairs are rendered easy by the
good arrangement of the parts.
The draught requires but one pair of bullocks when the machine
works simply as a sower, but two will be needed for the complete
apparatus.
In every case one labourer will suffice to attend to the hopper and
drive the team.
By the aid of my sower a broad-cast sowing may be operated as well
as a sowing in lines. The distances from one furrow to the other
are always equal, however far apart, whether 8 inches (0" 20) or 47
(1º 20).

page_text: Lastly, a great advantage of this machine is that inequality of the
ground is no obstacle, it is not more difficult to sow a slope than a level
whatever may be the degree of inclination.
In witness whereof, I, the said Marino Tardioli, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.