Seed meter with flexible seed disc

Abstract

A seed meter for use in an agricultural seeding machine includes a housing having an inner chamber and one or more deflectors within the inner chamber, and a seed disc rotatably carried by the housing. The seed disc includes at least a portion thereof formed from a flexible material which is deflectable by the one or more deflectors during rotation within the housing.

1 . A seed disc for use within a seed meter of an agricultural seeding machine, said seed disc comprising: a substantially rigid hub and a disc extending radially from said hub, said disc including at least a portion thereof comprised of a flexible material which is laterally deflectable during rotation within said seed meter. 
   
   
       2 . The seed disc of  claim 1 , wherein said flexible disc is one of entirely flexible and partially flexible in at least one radially isolated portion. 
   
   
       3 . The seed disc of  claim 2 , wherein said hub is comprised of one of steel and a rigid plastic. 
   
   
       4 . The seed disc of  claim 1 , wherein said flexible material is one of a urethane, thin stainless steel, rubber and plastic.