agitator to break-up clods and ensure free flow though the distribution system. On the
bottom of the hopper are a certain number of rectangular slots (8, 9 or 11 depending on
the width of the Green-Rite) to allow material passage. The
seed cups
mounted under
the hopper, which are made entirely of non-corrosive material (nylon and fibreglass),
contain an internal gear that rotates inside a housing. The amount of this gear inside the
housing is regulated by a calibration handle on the rear of the hopper. The position of
the handle, which has a scale of 0 to 6, determines the amount of seed collected
(see
fig. 8)
. The seed cups are a force feed system driven by the roller.
The material is held inside the groove of the gear until the groove rotates to the opening
at the bottom of the hopper. This rotation is driven by the roller as it moves along the
ground. When the handle is in position “0” the gear is completely outside the seed cup
and no seed is collected, with the handle in position “6” the gear is totally inside the cup
and distributes at its maximum potential
(see fig. 8)
. A secondary regulation is the lever
located on the side of each cup housing. This controls the position of the cleanout gate
(top, middle, and bottom). Its position is determined by the size and shape of the
material being dispersed
(see fig. 9)
. The top position is for the smaller seeds, middle
for the medium sized seed and bottom for larger seeds. Attached to the bottom of each
cup is flexible tubing that the material flows through. As the material exits, it hits a split
ring which divides the flow until it hits a splash pan and uniformly spreads over the
entire working width of the Green-Rite.
The hopper is ground driven by the roller which comes with two separate chains with
automatic chain tensioners.
Although in essence a broadcast seder, the Green-Rite has all the technology to ensure
a precise calibrated flow. Being ground driven, the disbursement of the material in the
hopper is totally independent from the tractor
PTO
or the ground speed. This is
regulated solely by the regulation levers of the seed cups and hopper.
O
PERATION
17
R
OTOMEC
G
REEN
-R
ITE
O
PERATOR
’
S
M
ANUAL
1
2
3
4
Fig. 9
1. seed cup
2. gear support
3. drive shaft bushing
4. seed cup regulation lever
