DRUM SEEDER
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention generally relates to farm machineries and equipment and more particularly to a drum seeder that is capable of directly seeding preferably rice, e g hybrid rice, on a paddy in the most effective and efficient way
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is well known in the art to which this invention appertains that drum seeders of the type identified above have been used in direct-seeding of rice on a paddy Although such type of seeders are much better than not using any machinery or equipment at all, they still have to be improved in the aspects of structural design and overall functionalities for a more effective and efficient operations and usage The very reason why direct-seeding effectiveness and efficiency are most important is that these factors have significant impact on farm productivity, specifically in terms of nei income and quality of yields
Existing drum seeders normally have plain cylindrical drum containers with clustered dispensing holes The problem with these drum containers is that they are not that effective or efficient enough in handling and dispensing the seeds, preferably rice, for planting purposes such as on a paddy Since the body make of the drum containers is characterized by plain horizontal circumferential walls and vertical end sections, there is tendency for the contained seeds therein not to go in the location of the holes or clog up against the vertical end sections, hence, seeds are not discharged or dislodged according to expected volume or seeding standard/parameter Furthermore, there remain much left-over seeds inside the drum containers during the planting process which requires or translates to longer working man-hours
There had been attempts to make the circumferential walls of the drum containers slightly tapered, but seed clogging or congestion still poses a
problem especially along the lower part or corner of the vertical end sections thereof The seeds tend to pile up along such portion of the containers in usage
Inasmuch as the partially burying of discharged seeds into furrows is concerned, there seems to be another problem in that the depth of the furrows are not made uniform or inconsistent affecting the overall seed germination efficiency
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention seeks to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a drum seeder that is provided with means for constantly divertingly redirecting and decongesting or unclogging, should there be any seed clogging or congestion, the contained sees inside the drum containers towards and/or at the location of the dispensing holes proximate the end sections thereof Such means is preferably in forms of generally funnel-shaped profiled end sections provided as inherent or built-in part of the drum containers formed by convergently tapering end face and circumferential surface thereof When in a bottom position, such structural configuration defines respective lowest portions at which the seeds are effectively and efficiently dispensed with through the holes disposed thereon Further, another form of the decongesting or unclogging means is a tapered protuberance provided inside the drum containers, preferably on the inside portion of the cover thereof, that is capable of decongesting and divertingly pushing aside the seeds towards the location of the holes that are momentarily at their lowest bottom position ready to discharge the seeds And to ensure a relatively higher seed germination rate or outcome, the seeder is preferably provided with a set of free-wheeling weighty furrowers, preferably filled up with sand, that gravitationally make furrows with uniform depths
It is therefore the primary object of the invention to provide a drum seeder, especially for direct-seeding of rice, e g hybrid rice, that is provided with versatile drum containers having generally funnel-shaped structured end
sections that effectively and efficiently facilitates the dislodgement or discharge of seeds via the dispensing holes thereof in usage
Another object thereof is to provide a drum seeder, especially for direct-seeding of rice, e g hybrid rice, that is capable of decongesting and divertingly redirecting the contained seeds inside the drum containers thereof for purposes of totally eliminating any seed left-over tendency during usage or planting operation
Still another object thereof is to provide a drum seeder that is capable of making furrows with uniform and sufficient depths to ensure a high seed germination rate/outcome and provide planted seed protection against rodents and birds
Yet another object thereof is to provide a drum seeder whose benefits and usage lead to better crop management and higher yields, helping farmers, i e rice farmers, save on seed requirement in broadcasting technology, and significantly reduce the need for manual labor needed in transplanting, as the drum seeder is so designed for hybrid rice planting with only 20 kgs hybrid rice seeds needed per hectare
A further object thereof is to provide a drum seeder that can be manufactured or mass-produced using indigenous materials and local know-how and technology, thus very practical and economical to commercialize locally and internationally
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention are better understood and appreciated from the following detailed description made in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which
FIG 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment or illustrative example of the present invention,
FIG 2 is a cross-sectional view thereof taken along line 2-2 of FIG 1,
FIG 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing a drum container thereof in an open position,
FIG 4 is a cross-sectional view (as viewed from the top direction) as referred to FIG 2 that is rotated downwardly 90 degrees clockwise putting the V-shaped protuberance or cover at the bottom side position,
Fig 5 is a partial cross-sectional view thereof taken along line 5-5 of FIG 1,and
Fig 6 is a partial cross-sectional view thereof taken along line 6-6 of FIG 1
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Before describing the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the phraseologies and terminologies employed herein are for purposes of description only to support an enabling disclosure, thus should not be regarded as limiting
Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference numerals designate the same parts or elements all throughout the description, there is shown in FIG 1 a drum seeder 10 comprising one or more generally cylindrical seed-dispensing drum containers 11 that are longitudinally and fixedly mounted together axially at pre-determined intervals into an axle member 12 in a series set-up by a fastening means (not shown) in preferred forms such as bolt and nuts, screws and wing nuts, among others The axle member 12 is fixedly secured at the end portions thereof to a pair of wheel members 13 that also serve as mud floaters when used on a paddy This set¬up results in a structure wherein both the drum containers 11 and wheel members 13 are directly engaged through the axle member 12 to rotate simultaneously with the same rotational speed and/or displacements A handle means 14, preferably in a form of a U-shaped tubular framework 14a, is provided or attached along the length of the axle member 12 to enable the user to pull the drum seeder along the direction or path of the wheels The drum containers 11 comprise a closeable mid-section opening 15 with a lockable cover 15a, preferably of a hinged type, and multiple seed-dispensing holes 16 Optionally, based on a preferred application or usage as on a
paddy, there is further provided a set of furrowers 17 downwardly provided to the axle member 12 and in alignment with the holes 16 purposely for making furrows F into which dislodged seeds S are made to freely fall
As shown in FIG 1, the axle member 12 is preferably an assembly of tubular members and connectors fastened together using any form of the fastening means as aforementioned, and the set of furrowers 17 is securely and pivotably attached together and to the axle member 12 by respective supporting tubular structure 17b
Further to the description above that describes how certain known elements and features of the invention are structurally interrelated, the drum seeder 10 is characterized by generally funnel-shaped profiled end sections 18 of the drum containers 11 formed by convergently tapering end face 19 and circumferential surface 20 thereof In operation or usage, such end sections 18 define, when in a bottom position, respective lowest portions 21 at which the seeds S are effectively and efficiently dispensed with or discharged through the holes 16 disposed thereon as shown by arrows A and B in FIG 2 This structural configuration or body profile of the drum containers 11 that generally embodies a narrow mid section 18a and wider end sections 18 bounded by a slanted or tapered end face 19 is mainly for facilitating for facilitating a proper and efficient release or discharge of seeds S onto the field, while at the same time preventing any unused seeds remaining inside thereof in usage
The dispensing holes 16 are disposed at a pre-determined interval along the circumferential surface 20 proximate the respective end sections 18 where the convergence of the tapering end face 19 and circumferential surface 20 lies as shown in FIGs 2 and 4 For a preferred application which is seeding rice, i e hybrid rice, the interval for about an 8-inch diameter drum container is preferably in the range of about 5 cm to about 8 cm, in which the more preferred interval is about 7 cm, and the hole diameter size is preferably about 1 cm When properly used or operated, the drum seeder 10 produces a

seeding of 1-2 seeds 20 cm x 20 cm apart This set-up makes the drum seeder 10 a convenient technology so designed for hybrid rice planting with only 20 kgs of hybrid rice seeds, e g Pioneer ® hybrid rice seeds, needed per hectare Hence, the use of the drum seeder 10 leads to better crop management and higher yields It helps farmers, i e rice farmers, save on seed requirement in broadcasting technology, and significantly reduces the need for manual labor needed in transplanting
In addition to the funnel-shaped profiled end sections 18, there is further preferably provided at least a tapered protuberance 22 being integrated as part of the inside portion of the drum containers 11 The protuberance 22 has the position and/or orientation thereof being pre¬determined based on the direction of rotation (shown by an arrow C1) of the containers 11 or wheel members 13 This being so, the resulting set-up would be that for each turn of the containers 11, the protuberance 22 decongestively and divertingly pushes aside the seeds towards the location of the seed dispensing holes 16 that are momentarily at their lowest bottom position as shown in FIG 4 (viewed from the top) ready to discharge the seeds S as shown by seed-movement directional arrows C2 Preferably, the protuberance 22 which has a generally V-shaped form is provided integrally to the cover 15a of the drum container's closeable opening 15 to form as built-in part of the inside portion thereof, pointing towards the direction of rotation of the containers 11 Actually, the protuberance 22 inherently defines, at the opposite outside portion of the cover 15a, a hollow portion 23 upwardly bounded by a wedged tongue section 24 serving as the cover's pullable knob handle 25 All elements 23, 24 and 25 are signified by invisible pointing lines in FIGs 2 and 3 to indicate that such elements are at the back side of the drum container 11 as shown
Further, the furrowers 17 comprise a relatively weighty body 17a whose weight is sufficient enough, preferably achieved by filling it up with weighty materials such as sand 28, to make furrows on a paddy by gravity as
shown in FIGs 1, 5 and 6 To minimize drag in usage, the body 17a is characterized by a generally teardrop-shaped or avocado-shaped profile with roundly contoured furrowing edges 17c In order to provide the furrows F with more or less uniform depths, the furrowers 17 are each provided with a means 26 for controlling the depth of the furrows F It is a preference herein that the means 26 is in a form of oppositely and horizontally extending integral flanged floaters 27 provided along the lower portion of the furrower 17 at a pre-determined distance, which is equal to the depth of the furrows 17, from the furrowing edge 17c thereof For operation effectiveness and efficiency, the set of furrowers 17 is pivotably mounted in a free-wheeling manner to the axle member 12 as shown by an arrow D Using the furrowers 17 results in rice seeds being seeded/planted in straight lines or rows, facilitating field maintenance that enables or allows easy mechanical weeding in between rows
Overall, the above-discussed features of the invention that relate to direct-seeding make it much better to use and far more advantageous compared to broadcasting and transplanting methodologies of planting, most especially for rice seed planting using the preferred hybrid rice seeds In fact, with the effectiveness and efficiency of using the drum seeder 10, comparative studies show that farmers earn a net income of about 25 % to 30 % higher than with the use of the broadcasting and transplanting methods
In operation, the drum seeder 10 is hand-carried to the fieid and has its drum containers 11 filled up with sufficient amount of rice seeds S through the closeable opening 15 After locking the cover 15a of the opening 15, the drum seeder 10 is properly positioned in the field or paddy and is pulled onwards towards the other side of the field, while letting or discharging the seeds out of the seed dispensing holes 16 while the drum containers 11 rotate with the wheel members 13
The invention can be conveniently and practically made of any suitable materials, but hard plastic material is a most preferred material therefor With
plastic material, the drum seeder 10 becomes ergonomically portable and lightweight and easy and cheaper to fabricate using local materials and technology With its versatile and peculiar features, the invention can be used either for dry land or wet land seeding operations
Before defining the scope of the following claims, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its applications to the details of the illustrative examples or variations set forth in the preceding description and drawings It is to be noted that the invention is capable of other variations or embodiments and limitless applications not disclosed herein Further, the invention is likewise capable of being practiced and carried out in various ways falling within the teaching and scope of the following claims

WE CLAIM:
1. A drum seeder comprising one or more generally cylindrical seed-dispensing drum containers having lockably closeable mid-section opening and seed dispensing holes and being longitudinally and fixedly mounted together spacedly and axially in series into an axle member by a fastening means, said axle member being fixedly secured at the end portions thereof to a pair of wheel members also serving as mud floaters such that both the drum containers and wheel members have the same rotational displacements, a handle means provided along the length of said axle member for pulling the drum seeder along the direction of the wheels in usage, optionally a set of furrowers downwardly provided to said axle member in alignment with said holes for making furrows into which the dislodged seeds are made to fall; characterized in that said drum containers comprise generally funnel-shaped profiled end sections formed by convergently tapering end face and circumferential surface thereof that define, when in a bottom position, respective lowest portions at which the seeds are effectively and efficiently dispensed with through said holes disposed thereon.
2. A drum seeder according to claim 1 further comprising at least a tapered protuberance provided integrally inside said drum containers in a pre¬determined position and orientation based on the direction of rotation such that for each turn of said containers, said protuberance is capable of decongestively and divertingly pushing aside the seeds towards the location of the seed dispensing holes that are momentarily at their lowest bottom position ready to discharge the seeds.
3. A drum seeder according to claim 2 wherein said protuberance has a generally V-shaped form and is provided integrally as part of the inside portion of a cover of the drum container's closeable opening, pointing to the direction of rotation; said protuberance defining at the opposite outside portion of said cover a hollow portion upwardly bounded by a wedged tongue section serving as the cover's pullable handle.
4. A drum seeder according to claim 1 wherein said furrowers comprise a relatively weighty body whose weight is sufficient enough to gravitationally make furrows on a paddy, and which is provided with a means for controlling the depth of the furrows.
5. A drum seeder according to claim 4 wherein said means for controlling the depth of the furrows is in a form of oppositely and horizontally extending integral flanged floaters provided along the lower portion of the furrower at a pre-determined distance from the furrowing edge thereof.

6. A drum seeder according to claim 4 wherein said body is filled up with weighty materials preferably sand.
7. A drum seeder according to claim 4 wherein said body has a generally teardrop-shaped or avocado-shaped profile characterized by roundly contoured furrowing edges.
8. A drum seeder according to claim 1 wherein said dispensing holes are disposed at a pre-determined interval along the circumferential surface proximate the respective end sections where the convergence of said tapering end face and circumferential surface lies.
9. A drum seeder according to claim 8 wherein said interval is preferably in the range of about 5 cm to about 8 cm, and more preferably about 7 cm; and said holes have diameter size of preferably about 1 cm.
10. A drum seeder according to claim 1 wherein said set of furrowers are pivotably mounted in a free-wheeling manner to said axle member.