CA-3104675-C - SEED SOWING APPARATUS

CA3104675CCA 3104675 CCA3104675 CCA 3104675CCA-3104675-C

Abstract

A seeding unit (142) comprising:a support; a soil opening member (143) mounted to the support; and a seed delivery outlet (146), defining an exit aperture for releasing seed; wherein the soil opening member (143) comprises: an upper part (144B) operative to form a seed collection slot in the ground; and a lower part (144C) laterally offset from the upper part (144B) and operative to form a deep rooting slot in the ground that is offset laterally from the seed collection slot.

Inventors

Simon Robert Frank Chaplin

Assignees

Simon Robert Frank Chaplin

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20190628
Priority Date: 20180713

Claims (1)

28 CLAIMS WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A seeding unit comprising: 5 a support; a soil opening member mounted to the support and operative to form a slot in the ground; and a seed delivery outlet, defining an exit aperture for releasing seed; wherein the soil opening member comprises: 10 an upper part operative to form a seed collection slot in the ground; and a lower part operative to form a deep rooting slot in the ground; and the seeding unit further comprises an elongate longitudinally extending slot engagement member operative to travel inside the slot beneath the seed delivery outlet and to cover an entrance to the deep rooting slot; 15 wherein the slot engagement member comprises an elongate plate extending longitudinally from a position in advance of the seed delivery outlet to a position trailing the seed delivery outlet, the elongate plate being configured to travel inside the deep rooting slot behind the lower part of the soil opening member and defining an upper edge operative to collect falling seed; 20 wherein the upper edge of the slot engagement member is configured to mix collected seed with the soil as the slot engagement member moves through the soil to prevent the collected seed dropping into the deep rooting slot once the slot engagement member has advanced beyond the location of the seed. 25 2. A seeding unit according to claim 1, wherein the upper edge of the slot engagement member is substantially level with the entrance to the deep rooting slot. 3. A seeding unit according to claim 1, wherein the upper edge of the slot engagement member comprises a bevelled edge operative to discourage seeds from bouncing upwards upon 30 striking the slot engagement member. 4. A seeding unit according to claim 3, wherein the upper edge of the slot engagement member includes a raised rear projection operative to divert seed toward side walls of the seed 29 collection slot. 5. A seeding unit according to claim 4, wherein the raised rear projection is located immediately trailing the bevelled edge. 6. A seeding unit according to claim 1, wherein the elongate plate extends longitudinally from the lower part of the soil opening member. 7. A seeding unit according to claim 6, wherein the elongate plate is integrally formed with 10 the lower part of the soil opening member. 8. A seeding unit according to claim 1, wherein the upper edge of the slot engagement member further comprises a soil disrupter operative to disrupt side walls of the seed collection slot. 9. A seeding unit according to claim 1, wherein the slot engagement member extends substantially along a full longitudinal length of the seed delivery outlet to a point rearward of the seed delivery outlet. 20 10. A seeding unit comprising: a support; a soil opening member mounted to the support and operative to form a slot in the ground; and a seed delivery outlet, defining an exit aperture for releasing seed; 25 wherein the soil opening member comprises: an upper part operative to form a seed collection slot in the ground; and a lower part operative to form a deep rooting slot in the ground; and the seeding unit further comprises an elongate longitudinally extending slot engagement member operative to travel inside the slot beneath the seed delivery outlet and to cover an 30 entrance to the deep rooting slot; wherein the slot engagement member is a compliant member having a leading end coupled to the seeding unit and a trailing end that is free to follow the path of the leading end. 11. A seeding unit according to claim 10, wherein the compliant member is selected from the group of: a chain; a cable; and a rope. 12. A seeding unit according to claim 10, wherein the slot engagement member is operative 5 to travel inside the seed collection slot. 13. A seeding unit according to claim 10, wherein the trailing end is configured to drop into the seed collection slot and travel along the entrance to the deep rooting slot. 10 14. A seeding unit comprising: a support; a soil opening member mounted to the support; and a seed delivery outlet, defining an exit aperture for releasing seed; wherein the soil opening member comprises: 15 an upper part operative to form a seed collection slot in the ground; and a lower part operative to form a deep rooting slot in the ground; wherein the soil opening member comprises a blade supported by a soil engaging tine and defining a soil engaging surface, wherein the upper part comprises a substantially upright upper blade part and the lower part comprising a substantially upright lower blade part, the lower 20 blade part being laterally offset from the upper blade part and operative to form a deep rooting slot that is offset laterally from the seed collection slot. 15. A seeding unit according to claim 14, wherein the upper part of the soil opening member is substantially laterally aligned with the exit aperture of the seed delivery outlet. 16. A seed sowing apparatus comprising: a frame defining a leading part supporting a soil opening stage and a trailing part supporting a soil closing stage trailing the soil opening stage, wherein the soil opening stage comprises a plurality of laterally spaced seeding units each as defined in one of claims 1, 10 or 30 14, wherein each seeding unit is configured to form a respective seeded trench in the ground when the apparatus is in use driven through soil in a forward direction of travel; wherein the soil closing stage comprises a plurality of laterally spaced soil deflection members each associated with a respective one of the seeding units, each soil deflection member 31 being spaced laterally from the soil opening member of its respective seeding unit and configured to deflect soil toward the seeded trench formed by the seeding unit. 17. A method of sowing seed, comprising: 5 providing seed sowing apparatus comprising a plurality of seeding units as defined in one of claims 1, 10 or 14; and forming a plurality of seeded trench sections in soil. 18. A method of sowing seed, comprising: 10 providing seed sowing apparatus as defined in claim 16; and using the seed sowing apparatus to: form a plurality of seeded trench sections in soil; and subsequently form adjacent each seeded trench section an unseeded soil displacement trench section, the unseeded soil displacement trench section being positioned relative to the 15 seeded trench section such that soil displaced during formation of the unseeded soil displacement trench section covers the adjacent seeded trench section.

Description

1 TITLE: SEED SOWING APPARATUS DESCRIPTION 15 The present invention relates to seed sowing apparatus. A variety of types of seed sowing ( or "seed drill") devices are known in the art. Typically such devices comprise a tractor-towable frame supporting a leading soil opening/seed depositing stage followed by a trailing soil closing stage. The soil opening stage may take various forms but typically comprises a plurality of 20 laterally spaced soil opening members each associated with a seed delivery outlet connected to a seed source (typically a metered seed supply). In one well known arrangement, the soil opening stage comprises rows of drilling tines each operative to form a trench for receiving seeds via the seed delivery outlet. Typically the soil closing stage comprises a roller or wheel for compacting soil parted 25 by the soil opening stage. One problem with known seed drill devices is that seed drilling may only be performed when soil conditions are suitable. If the soil is too wet, the roller or wheel of the soil closing stage will quickly become clogged preventing optimal operation. This problem is particularly acute in the case of heavy (e.g. high clay content) soils. 30 Another problem is ensuring that seed is planted at an optimal depth in the ground to encourage germination whilst enabling good root formation. The present inventor has identified the need for an improved seed sowing device that overcomes or at least alleviate problems associated with the prior art. 2 In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a seeding unit comprising: a support ( e.g. frame mounting part for attaching the seeding unit to a towable frame); a soil opening member mounted to the support; and a seed delivery outlet, defining an exit aperture for releasing seed; characterised in that the soil opening member comprises: an 5 upper part (e.g. upper upright part) operative to form a seed collection slot in the ground; and a lower part (e.g. lower upright part) laterally offset from the upper part and operative to form a deep rooting slot in the ground that is offset laterally from the seed collection slot. In this way, a seeding unit is provided with a soil opening member that forms a trench with a relatively shallow depth region for collecting seed and an adjacent deeper slot for IO receiving root growth. In one embodiment, the lower part is substantially laterally offset from the upper part ( e.g. substantially fully laterally offset from the upper part). In one embodiment, the upper part of the soil opening member is substantially laterally aligned with the exit aperture of the seed delivery outlet. 15 In one embodiment, the lower part is substantially longitudinally aligned with the upper part. In one embodiment, the soil opening member comprises a blade supported by a soil engaging tine (e.g. leg tine). In one embodiment, the upper part is an upper blade part and the lower part is a lower 20 blade part. In one embodiment, the blade defines a leading forward facing soil engagement surface and the soil engaging tine defines a trailing forward facing soil engagement surface. In one embodiment, the trailing forward-facing soil engagement surface of the soil engaging tine extends substantially perpendicular to the forward direction. 25 In one embodiment, the blade is positioned wholly or substantially in advance of the soil engaging tine (e.g. mounted to a front face of the soil engaging tine). In one embodiment, the soil engaging tine has a width ( e.g. an effective width) in the direction of travel greater than a width (e.g. an effective width) of the blade. In one embodiment, the upper blade part projects downwardly beyond ( e.g. substantially 30 beyond) a lower edge of the soil engaging tine (e.g. to form a leading trench). In this way, the blade will penetrate deeper into the soil to form a relatively deep but typically narrow trench. In one embodiment, the upper blade part comprises a substantially upright upper blade part. 3 In one embodiment, the lower blade part comprises a substantially upright lower blade part. In one embodiment, the lower blade part is connected to the upper blade part by a laterally extending blade portion. 5 In one embodiment, one or more of the upper blade part, the lower blade part and the laterally extending blade portion define a bevelled leading edge ( e.g. double-bevelled leading edge). In one embodiment, the laterally extending blade portion is inclined relative to vertical. In one embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a seed deflector configured to IO deflect seed exiting the seed delivery outlet towards the seed collection slot formed by the upper part of the soil opening member. In this way, the seed deflector acts to reduce the likelihood of seed falling into the deep rooting slot formed by the lower part of the soil opening member. In one embodiment, the seed deflector defines a longitudinally extending deflection surface. 15 In one embodi