Patent Application
20190174669
The present invention generally relates to seeding devices and systems; and more particularly to a device for facilitating planting of seeds.
At present, it is frequently desirable to distribute a supply of seeds on a multi-segmented seeding tray prior to being transferred to a nursery or other suitable planting areas. With the aid of the seeding tray, the seeds can be arranged in a manner such that they will have sufficient space to evolve or develop. Owing to the size and typically large number of seeds to be distributed, the task of manually distributing the seeds, particularly by hand can be time consuming and arduous so as to ensure that the seeds are accurately allocated within each segment or compartment of the seeding tray. Inaccuracy and misplacing of seeds can result to disrupted growth and wastage of seed supply. To partially address this problem, a variety of machines and apparatuses have been developed to enable or offer an automated mechanism of seeds distribution in a seeding tray. However, a great majority of these machines comprises multiple complicated parts thereby a user may face difficulties in handling or manipulating them. Further, having multiple complicated parts normally results to complexity and substantial maintenance requirement.
An example of prior art seeding apparatus is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,573,609 issued to Tesch, whereby there is provided an apparatus for distributing seeds into proper position in a rectangular array on a flat or seed planting tray in a semi-automated process. The apparatus comprises two separate parts, one being a seed distribution tray having a flat top plate with a rectangular array of perforations therein of a size smaller than the seeds to be planted, and upright side walls surrounding the top plate on all sides, and a vacuum cleaner that is connected to the distribution tray by means of a hose, the vacuum cleaner for applying vacuum draw to the seed distribution tray. Perceptibly, with multiple separate parts, the apparatus is adapted in a manner such that it would have to be operated by two persons, one for handling the distribution tray to evenly allocate the seeds thereon, and for manipulating the vacuum supply. Such necessity can be extensively cumbersome in the event that only one operator is available for the seed planting task. Apart from this, mobility is limited as an operator is required to carry both separated parts—including the vacuum cleaner to the seeding location or area.
An object of the present invention is to mitigate at least one of the glaring shortcomings of conventional seeding devices and apparatuses as discussed above.
In one aspect, the present invention provides a portable seeding devise for seed planting in a seed tray comprising: a seed holding plate comprising perforations adapted for retaining a supply of seed on said plate and for distributing the seeds on said holding plate; a handle formed on the vacuum chamber adapted for single-handed manipulation of the seeding device a vacuum chamber adapted for accumulating vacuum pressure and is in contact with the seed holding plate; a vacuum generator integrally provided adjacent to the handle for applying a vacuum effect within the vacuum chamber; wherein upon applied vacuum effect within the vacuum chamber, vacuum draw is applied to the seeds on the holding plate such that the seeds are held onto the perforations of the seed holding plate; after which the device is held invertedly over the seed tray and the vacuum effect is ceased, the seeds are released from the perforations into the seed tray to plant the seeds.
Preferably, the seed holding plate further comprising a seed tray guide adapted to be slidable along at least one side surface of the vacuum chamber for aligning the seed holding plate with the seed tray.
Preferably, the vacuum chamber includes an extension formed on each sidewall adapted for receiving the seed tray guide to provide slidable movement along said extension.
In a preferred embodiment, the seed tray guide comprises an elongated bracket having an aperture and a locking mechanism for securing the elongated bracket at a predetermined position along the sidewalls of the vacuum chamber.
The locking mechanism includes a strip with notches, at least one end of the strip is adapted to be insertable through an aperture formed on the elongated bracket. To secure or lock the bracket at the predetermined position along the sidewall of the vacuum chamber, the strip is inserted into the aperture, and the notches preventing the withdrawal of the strip out of the aperture.
The portable seeding device further comprises a seed sump for storing or holding the seeds when the device is inverted over the seed tray. The seed sump is removably secured on at least one sidewall of the vacuum chamber.
Preferably, the seed tray guide comprises a pair of brackets; each of which is adapted to be slidable along at least one side surface of the seed holding plate and a locking mechanism for securing said brackets at a desired position along said sidewalls.
The seed tray guide permits adjustments based on a single axis or dual axis.
Preferably, the portable seeding device further comprising a power cord connected to the vacuum generator for providing electrical power supply to the vacuum generator.
The perforations on the seed holder plate are adapted for retaining a supply for seeds at varying sizes; and are formed space apart from each other at a predetermined distance.
In the preferred embodiment, the seed holding plate includes a perforated portion, and sidewalls extending vertically from the perforated portion, wherein the perforated portion of the seed holding plate is in contact with the vacuum chamber.
The vacuum chamber is sized to accommodate the seed holding plate and includes vacuum chamber includes a raised portion to accommodate the vacuum generator.
The embodiments of the present invention will be more understood by reference to the description below taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings herein:
In line with the above summary, the following description of a number of specific and alternative embodiments is provided to understand the inventive features of the present invention. It shall be apparent to one skilled in the art, however that this invention may be practiced without such specific details. Some of the details may not be described at length so as not to obscure the invention. For ease of reference, common reference numerals will be used throughout the figures when referring to the same or similar features common to the figures.
The seeding device of the present invention is adapted to be portable, lightweight and can be operated single-handedly. All members of the seeding device are constructed from plastic material and can be easily detached hence enabling modularity for ease of maintenance.
As best illustrated in
Now referring to
The seed plate 20 comprises a perforated portion 20b, whereby the perforated portion 20b of the seed holding plate 20 is adapted to be engage-able with the Vacuum chamber 25 and secured thereto by suitable fastening means. The seed holding plate 20 can be constructed by any conventional machining process.
As shown in
In one embodiment, to provide a second axis of adjustment, the seed tray guide 26 comprises a pair of elongated brackets 26a; each of which is adapted to be slidable along at least one side surface of the vacuum chamber 25 and a locking mechanism for securing said brackets 26a at a desired position along said sidewalk 44 of the vacuum chamber 25. Each of the elongated brackets 26a includes an aperture 41 accordingly sized to receive a member of the locking mechanism to secure the position of the bracket 26a onto the sidewall of the vacuum chamber 25. Each of the brackets 26a is attached to the sidewall 44 in a snap-fit manner, hence locking the bracket 26a in position.
In a preferred embodiment, the locking mechanism 26b includes an elongated strip 42 having a plurality of regularly spaced notches 43. In order to secure a bracket 26a at a desired predetermined position, one end of the elongated strip 42 is inserted into the aperture 41 and the movement of the strip 42 is restricted by means of the notches 43, thereby locking the bracket 26a at the current position. To lock the bracket 26a at the predetermined position along the sidewall of the vacuum chamber, the strip is inserted into the aperture, and the notches preventing the withdrawal of the strip out of the aperture. The adjustment of the bracket along the strip provides a second mechanism of adjusting or aligning the tray guide to the seeding tray.
With reference now to
In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the vacuum chamber 25 is a hollow member and generally rectangular in shape with sidewalls 44 and at least one surface is adapted to receive the seed holding plate 20. The inner surface of the chamber 25 is accordingly adapted to provide support for the flexible perforated portion 20b of the seed holding plate 20 during vacuum draw. In one embodiment, the vacuum chamber 25 is constructed with thin but wide surface so as to maintain the optimal volume of vacuum area. As seen in
Referring to
In accordance with the preferred embodiment, a top surface the vacuum chamber 25 includes a portion to accommodate an integral vacuum generator 30 for creating a vacuum environment within the vacuum chamber 25, while a bottom surface is in contact with seed holding plate 20, and more particularly the perforated surface 20b of the seed holding plate 20. In the preferred embodiment, there is provided a raised portion sufficiently sized to accommodate the vacuum generating means 30, whereby the raised portion is positioned in relation to the seed holding plate 20 such that the vacuum created is applied to the perforated surface 20b of the seed holding plate 20.
Now referring to
The vacuum generator 30 further includes a handle 35 adapted for a single-handed manipulation of the seeding device 100. Accordingly, the vacuum generator 30 maybe integrally formed adjacent to the handle 35. In the preferred embodiment, the handle 35 is positioned centrally and is extending upwardly from the top surface of the vacuum chamber 25. To ease manipulation and handling of the seeding device, the handle 35 is configured to fit the size of male adult hand grip and permitting an ON-OFF switch reach to activate and inactivate the seeding device 100. It is adapted such that the device 100 can be held by both left-handed and right-handed operator. The ON-OFF switch may be located at position on the handle 35 that is easily reachable when holding the device 100. In one example of geometrical configuration, the handle 35 comprises a pair of arch-like members positioned perpendicular to each other forming an X-shape configuration to create a solid holding feature.
The seeding device 100 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention further comprises a seed sump 50, adapted to be removably or detachably secured to at least one sidewall of the vacuum chamber 25. The seed sump 50 as shown in
The securement of the seed sump 50 to the vacuum chamber 25 aids to hold the seed holding plate 20 in place in relation to the vacuum chamber 25.
Upon assembled, the vacuum chamber 25 with the integral vacuum generator 30 are positioned and detachably secured over the seed holding plate 20, wherein upon applied vacuum effect within the vacuum chamber 25, vacuum draw is applied to the seeds on the holding plate 20 such that the seeds are held onto the perforations of the seed holding plate after which the device is held over the seed tray and the vacuum effect is ceased, the seeds are released from the perforations into the seed tray to plant the seeds.
As would be apparent to a person having ordinary skilled in the art, the afore-described methods and components may be provided in many variations, modifications or alternatives to existing seeding devices. The principles and concepts disclosed herein may also be implemented in various manner which may not have been specifically described herein but which are to be understood as encompassed within the scope and letter of the following claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PI 2016702905 | Aug 2016 | MY | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/MY2017/000029 | 8/9/2017 | WO | 00 |
