Background of the Invention

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a metering fertilizer dispenser for cultivated agricultural and forestry crops, and more particularly to a metering fertilizer dispenser for correctly measuring amount of fertilizer to be dispensed and dispensing fertilizer under soil surface. Description of Related Arts

In agricultural cultivation particularly in rubber cultivation, fertilizer placement method is a new practice manuring in activities. Fertilizer placement under the soil surface can give higher probability to feeder roots for absorbing nutrients due to greatest root proliferation is mostly at 0 to 7.5 cm of soil layer. The fertilizer placement method is carried out manually which require at least two workers to get an optimum productivity whereby one worker digging the soil and another worker filling in the fertilizer. Therefore, more workers are required for more than one hectare of manuring land. Several prior arts have disclosed application on apparatus for dispensing fertilizer. One of the prior arts is US patent no. 3179312 disclosed an apparatus for dispensing dry and fluent materials and more particularly to a fertilizer distributor. A fertilizer distributor comprises a hopper having a plurality of spaced discharge outlets at a bottom. The fertilizer distributor also having a shutter slidably mounted on the underside of said hopper and openings adapted to be moved in and out of register with the hopper outlets to regulate the flow of material from the hopper. The fertilizer distributor also comprise of an elongated pocket in said shutter at each opening and an elongated meter plate insertable dowardly in each pocket. Each plate having an opening adjacent one end which registers with the opening in its associated pocket when the plate is in one position and is out of register with the pocket opening when the plate is in second position, whereby selected openings in said shutter may be closed to prevent the discharge of material from related outlets in said hopper. However, the cited patent does not include features for digging the soil and cover the soil after placing the fertilizer. Hence, a worker is still required to complete the process of dispensing the fertilizer under the soil surface.

Another prior art of US patent no. 5452672 disclosed an apparatus for simultaneously drilling multiple holes in the earth in a selected pattern and dispensing a selected quantity of fertilizer into each hole. In operation, actuator of the apparatus is initially moved to the leftmost position by any suitable means such as a small hydraulic cylinder, an electrical solenoid or the like. This allows fertilizer from hopper to fill metering chamber with the chamber adjusted with adjustment bolt to provide the selected amount of fertilizer for the hole. After the holes are formed by the drilling assembly and the auger has returned to the initial position, each actuator is moved to the left to move hole out of alignment with, metering chamber and funnel mounted on housing by brackets. This allows material in chamber to drain through funnel into flexible tube through funnel and into the newly drilled hole. Actuator then moves channel back to the initial position for the metering chamber refills and is ready for next dispensing operation. However, the cited patent does not include the soil covering features in the cited invention. Hence, a worker is still required to complete the fertilizer dispensing task.

Accordingly, it can be seen in the prior arts that there exists a need to provide a machine for dispensing fertilizer under the soil surface without having to involve anyone for physically digging, measuring fertilizer amount, filling the fertilizer and finally covering digged soil filled by fertilizer.

Summary of Invention

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a fertilizer dispensing apparatus for dispensing fertilizer under the soil surface including a drilling means. It is also an objective of the present invention to provide a fertilizer dispensing apparatus dispensing a accurate amount of fertilizer.

It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide a fertilizer dispensing apparatus covers cavity filled by fertilizer with soil after dispensing fertilizer.

Accordingly, these objectives may be achieved by following the teachings of the present invention. The present invention relates to a metering fertilizer dispenser comprising: a body including a tank for storing fertilizer; a drilling means connected to the body for providing a cavity for the fertilizer; a metering dispensing means connected at a bottom of the tank for measuring fertilizer quantity and dispensing fertilizer into the cavity; characterized by: the metering dispensing means comprising a pair of plates each having an aperture for receiving and dispensing fertilizer, a metering canister disposed between the pair of plates and a dispenser actuator connected to the pair of plates for controlling movement of the pair of plates; and a soil covering means hinged to the body comprising a roller for filling the cavity with soil wherein the roller is retractable by a first pair of springs.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The features of the invention will be more readily understood and appreciated from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which:

Fig. 1 is a drawing showing an isometric view of a metering fertilizer dispenser. Fig. 2 is a drawing showing a side view of the metering fertilizer dispenser.

Fig. 3 is a drawing showing a top view of the metering fertilizer dispenser.

Fig. 4 is a drawing showing a front view of the metering fertilizer dispenser.

Fig. 5 is a drawing showing an isometric view of a metering dispensing means.

Fig. 6 is a drawing showing a side view of the metering dispensing means.

Fig. 7a and Fig. 7b is a drawing showing a preferred embodiment for positioning a metering canister of the metering dispensing means during filling up fertilizer. Fig. 8a and Fig. 8b is a drawing showing a preferred embodiment for positioning a metering canister of the metering dispensing means during dispensing fertilizer. Fig. 9 is a drawing showing an isometric view of a soil covering means.

Fig. 10 is a drawing showing an isometric view of a controller.

Detailed Description of the Invention

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting but merely as a basis for claims. It should be understood that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modification, equivalents and alternatives falling within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. As used throughout this application, the word "may" is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words "include," "including," and "includes" mean including, but not limited to. Further, the words "a" or "an" mean "at least one" and the word "plurality" means one or more, unless otherwise mentioned. Where the abbreviations or technical terms are used, these indicate the commonly accepted meanings as known in the technical field. 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 present invention will now be described with reference to Figs. 1-10.

The present invention relates to a metering fertilizer dispenser (100) comprising:

a body (1) including a tank (11) for storing fertilizer;

a drilling means (2) connected to the body (1) for providing a cavity for the fertilizer;

a metering dispensing means (3) connected at a bottom of the tank (1 1 ) for measuring fertilizer quantity and dispensing fertilizer into the cavity;

characterized by:

the metering dispensing means (3) comprising a pair of plates (31 ) each having an aperture (32) for receiving and dispensing fertilizer, a metering canister (33) disposed between the pair of plates (31 ) and a dispenser actuator (34) connected to the pair of plates (31 ) for controlling movement of the pair of plates (31 ); and

a soil covering means (5) hinged to the body (1 ) comprising a roller (51 ) for filling the cavity with soil wherein the roller (51 ) is retractable by a first pair of springs (52).

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fertilizer may be applied at a side of planted rows where the metering fertilizer dispenser (100) is preferably driven alongside the planted rows. In a preferred embodiment of the metering fertilizer dispenser (100), the body (1) further comprises a carriage shaft (12) for connecting the metering fertilizer dispenser (100) to a vehicle. The vehicle in the preferred embodiment may be a tractor providing power and traction force for pulling the metering fertilizer dispenser (100) during fertilization activities. In a preferred embodiment, the carriage shaft (12) may be connected to the vehicle by any means, including fasteners such as screws or bolts.

In a preferred embodiment of the' metering fertilizer dispenser (100), the metering fertilizer dispenser (100) further comprises a plurality of wheels (10) to provide mobility to the metering fertilizer dispenser (100). As shown in Fig. 1 , the metering fertilizer dispenser (100) is preferably having a pair of rear wheels and a pair of front wheels. The pair of rear wheels is preferably larger than the front wheel as to keep the metering fertilizer dispenser (100) from getting stuck when the metering fertilizer dispenser (100) going through deep ruts on a field. In addition to that, smaller front wheel allows easy steering for the metering fertilizer dispenser (100).

In a preferred embodiment of the metering fertilizer dispenser (100), the drilling means (2) comprises a vertical track (22), a slidable platform (20) having a drill bit (21) , a drill actuator (23) for controlling vertical movement of the slidable platform (20) along the vertical track (22) and a motor (24) for driving the drill bit (21) to provide a cavity for the fertilizer. In a preferred embodiment, the drill bit (21) is an auger with helical screw blade acting as a screw conveyor to remove soil underground and provide cavity for the fertilizer. A belt preferably made of rubber (25) as shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 is preferably used to couple the drill bit (21) to the motor (24) as a source of motion to transmit power from the motor (24) for rotating the drill bit (21). In a preferred embodiment, the motor (24) may be powered by a power source from the vehicle driving the metering fertilizer dispenser (100).

The drill bit (21), the drill actuator (23) and the motor (24) are connected to the slidable platform (20). The slidable platform (20) is moved along the vertical track

(22) for the drill bit (21) to provide a cavity in the soil by means of the drill actuator (23). In a preferred embodiment, movement of the drill bit (21) is limited by a solenoid switch (not shown). However, person skills in the art may appreciate that the solenoid switch may be incorporated with a sensor for controlling downward and upward movements along the vertical slidable frame (22). In a preferred embodiment, two switches are preferably located at two different places; one at the top of the vertical slidable frame (22) to stop the upward movement and the other one at the bottom of the vertical slidable frame (22) to stop the downward movement. In a preferred embodiment, the drill actuator (23) is hydraulically powered. In a preferred embodiment, the metering fertilizer dispenser (100) is connected to the bottom of the tank (11) as shown in Fig. 2 for the fertilizer to fall into the metering canister (33) gravitationally from the tank (11). The metering canister (33) is disposed between the pair of plates (31) as shown in Fig. 6. Preferably the pair of plates (31) comprises an upper plate and a bottom plate sandwiching the metering canister (33). In a preferred embodiment of the metering fertilizer dispenser (100), the metering canister (33) is a detachable cylinder for measuring an amount of fertilizer. The fertilizer to be dispensed is received by the metering canister (33) from the tank (11) and the amount of said fertilizer is determined by the size of the metering canister (33). The detachable cylinder may be provided in various sizes to measure different amounts of fertilizer. As shown in Fig 5, each of the pair of plates (31) having an aperture (32) for receiving and dispensing the fertilizer. In a preferred embodiment, the aperture (32) of an upper plate is for receiving fertilizer from the tank (11) to the metering canister (33) and the aperture (32) of a bottom plate is for dispensing the measured fertilizer. In a preferred embodiment as shown in Fig. 7a to Fig. 8b, the aperture (32) on the upper plate is offset from the aperture (32) on the bottom plate of the pair of plates (31). Therefore in Fig. 7a and 7b when the metering canister (33) is aligned with the aperture (32) on the upper plate, the metering canister (33) is offset from the aperture (32) on the bottom plate. This enables an amount of fertilizer to be received and measured by the metering canister (33) without dispensing said fertilizer. Then (as shown in Fig. 8a and 8b), the pair of plates (31) moves to align the aperture (32) on the bottom plate with the metering canister (33). This results the fertilizer in the metering canister (33) to be dispensed.

In a preferred embodiment, the pair of plates (31) is coupled to each other at one end of each of the plates (31) and preferably forms a C-channel as shown in Fig. 7b and 8b. In a preferred embodiment, the coupled end of the pair of plates (31) is connected to the dispenser actuator (34) for moving the pair of plates (31) simultaneously. In a preferred embodiment of the metering fertilizer dispenser (100), the dispenser actuator (34) pushes the pair of plates (31) for filling up the metering canister (33) with fertilizer or dispensing the fertiliser in the metering canister (33). In a preferred embodiment of the metering fertilizer dispenser (100), the metering dispensing means (3) further comprises a second pair of springs (35) connected to the pair of plates (31) to retract the pair of plates to an initial position for dispensing the fertiliser in the metering canister (33) or filling up the metering canister (33) with fertilizer.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention as shown in Fig. 7a and Fig. 7b, the pair of plates (31 ) is at the initial position wherein the metering canister (33) is filled with fertilizer. Then the dispenser actuator (34) pushes the pair of plates (31 ) for dispensing said fertilizer in the metering canister (33) as shown in Fig. 8a and Fig. 8b. In the preferred embodiment, the second pair of springs (35) then retracts the pair of plates (31 ) to the initial position.

Alternatively in another embodiment (not shown), the initial position may be the position of the pair of plates (31 ) to dispense said fertilizer wherein the dispenser actuator (34) pushes the pair of plates (31 ) for filling up the metering canister (33) with fertilizer. In said embodiment, the second pair of springs (35) then retracts the pair of plates to the initial position for dispensing said fertiliser. In a preferred embodiment, the dispenser actuator (34) is hydraulically powered.

In a preferred embodiment of the metering fertilizer dispenser (100), the metering dispensing means (3) further comprises a pipe (7) for transferring the fertilizer from the metering dispensing means (3) into the cavity. In a preferred embodiment, the pipe (7) is preferably mounted at the aperture (32) of the bottom plate as shown in Fig. 2 for transferring the fertilizer dispensed from the metering canister (33) into the cavity.

In a preferred embodiment of the metering fertilizer dispenser (100), the drill actuator (23) and the dispenser actuator (34) are controlled by hydraulic valves (6). In one preferred embodiment, the hydraulically powered drill actuator (23) is controlled by the hydraulic valves (6) as shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 4 in order for the slidable platform (20) to vertically move along the vertical track (22) for creating a cavity in the soil. In a preferred embodiment, the hydraulically powered dispenser actuator (34) is controlled by the hydraulic valves (6) to push the pair of plates (31 ).

The metering fertilizer dispenser (100) of the present invention may be manually or automatically operated. In a preferred embodiment of the metering fertilizer dispenser (100), the metering- fertilizer dispenser (100) further comprises a programmable logic controller (4) for controlling operations of the metering fertilizer dispenser (100). In one preferred embodiment, the programmable logic controller (4) may be used for controlling amount of fertilizer measured for the metering canister (33) by controlling movement of the dispenser actuator (34) for pushing the pair of plates (31 ). In another embodiment, the programmable logic controller (4) may also be used for controlling timing of the drill actuator (23) and dispenser actuator (34) so that the fertilizer may be dispensed accurately at the cavity provided by the drilling means (2). In other embodiment, the programmable logic controller (4) may as well be used for controlling movement of the drill actuator (23) and hence setting depth of the cavity in the soil. Fig. 9 shows a preferred embodiment of the programmable logic controller (4) for the present invention.

In a preferred embodiment, the soil covering means (5) hinged to the body (1 ) as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 fills the cavity with the soil drilled by the drilling means (2) to cover back the cavity. The drilled soil is preferably swept by the roller (51 ) as the metering fertilizer dispenser (100) moves forward. The roller (51 ) may be retracted back to an initial position by the first pair of springs (52) as shown in Fig. 8 if the roller (51 ) is stuck with rough surface such as rocks and hence give a flexibility to operate on a farmland. Therefore, no extra manpower is required to cover the cavity with soil at the end of fertilization process. In the preferred embodiment, the metering fertilizer dispenser (100) completes a whole process of fertilization activity from drilling the soil for providing a cavity, measures fertilizer amount for each cavity, dispensing fertilizer into cavity provided and covering the cavity with soil.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, operation of the metering fertilizer dispenser (100) begins with creating a cavity in the soil for the fertilizer. The drill bit (21 ) is used to remove soil from the ground to create the cavity by means of the motor (24). Simultaneously, the slidable platform (20) is moved along the vertical track (22) by the hydraulic drill actuator (23) in order for the drill bit (21 ) to create a cavity to a predetermined depth. The upward and the downward movement of the slidable platform (20) along the vertical track (22) are limited by the solenoid switch wherein depth of the cavity is preferably set by the programmable logic controller (4).

In the meantime, the fertilizer is preferably ready to be filled into the cavity. At the initial position, the aperture (32) of the upper plate is aligned with the metering canister (33) and the bottom plate is close. Thus, the fertilizer is filled in the metering canister (33). After the metering canister (33) is full with the fertilizer and the drilling process is complete, the dispenser actuator (34) pushes the pair of plates (31) for dispensing the fertiliser in the metering canister (33). At this position, the upper plate is close and the bottom plate is aligned to the pipe (7) for transferring the fertilizer from the metering dispensing means (3) into the cavity. After dispensing said fertilizer, the second pair of springs (35) retracts the pair of plates (31) to the initial position and closed the path from the metering canister (33) to the pipe (7). The soil covering means (5) will cover the cavity filled by the fertilizer by sweeping the drilled soil back into cavity as the metering fertilizer dispenser (100) moves forward. Finally, the metering fertilizer dispenser (100) is ready for next fertilization operation.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, also shown in the appended figures, it will be apparent for those skilled in the art that many variations and modifications can be done within the scope of the invention as described in the specification and defined in the following claims.

Description of the reference numerals used in the accompanying drawings according to the present invention:

Reference

Description

Numerals

100 metering fertilizer dispenser

1 body

2 drilling means

3 metering dispensing means

4 programmable logic controller

5 soil covering means

6 hydraulic valves

7 pipe

10 a plurality of wheels

1 1 tank

12 carriage shaft

20 slidable body

21 drill bit

22 vertical track

23 drill actuator

24 motor

25 belt

31 a pair of plates

32 aperture

33 metering canister

34 dispenser actuator

35 second pair of springs

51 roller

52 first pair of springs