Versatile no-till seed planter

Abstract

Various seed planter embodiments may comprise a frame including a main frame section and a furrowing disk frame section. A plurality of planter assemblies may be connected to the main frame section, and a plurality of furrowing disks may be connected to the furrowing disk frame section. At least one linkage may connect the main frame section and the furrowing disk frame section, and at least one motor may be configured to move the furrowing disk frame section with respect to the main frame section, wherein the at least one linkage permits the furrowing disk frame section to move to a low position for no-till planting and move to a high position for prepared seed beds or conventional planting.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A seed planter, comprising:
 a frame;   a seed box on the frame, the seed box including a plurality of seed openings;   a plurality of seed meters, each seed meter configured to control one of the seed openings;   a seed shaft configured to be linearly shifted to control the plurality of seed meters between open and closed positions;   a shifter assembly configured to linearly shift the seed shaft to control the seed meters, where the shifter assembly includes:
 a handle; 
 a cradle portion attached to the handle; 
 a bearing structure configured to receive the seed shaft; and 
 a shaft collar configured to receive the bearing structure and pivotally connected to opposing sides of the cradle portion, wherein the cradle portion includes slotted openings in the opposing sides to permit translational motion of the shaft collar with respect to the cradle portion. 
   
     
     
         2 . The seed planter of claim  15 , wherein the handle is connected to a mount at a pivot point, the handle is configured to rotate about the pivot point to provide arcuate motion to the cradle portion, and the connection between the shaft collar and the cradle portion translate the arcuate motion into linear motion to shift the seed shaft. 
     
     
         3 . The seed planter of claim  15 , wherein the shaft collar includes a two piece shaft collar configured to receive the bearing structure. 
     
     
         4 . The seed planter of claim  15 , wherein a first screw on a first side of the cradle portion and a second screw on an opposing second side of the cradle portion pivotally connect the shaft collar to the cradle portion, wherein the first screw and the second screw provide the shaft collar with an axis of rotation with respect to the cradle portion.