Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120042813 | IN-GROUND SEED SPACING MONITORING SYSTEM FOR USE IN AN AGRICULTURAL SEEDER - A row crop unit for use in an agricultural seeder includes a furrow opener for opening a furrow in the soil, a seed metering system for metering seed to be placed in the furrow, and a seed placement system for placing seeds in the furrow. The seed placement system and the seed metering system are in communication with each other and at least in part define a seed travel path associated with the furrow. A furrow closer covers the seed in the furrow with soil. A seed temperature conditioner is associated with the seed travel path for varying a temperature of seed traveling through the seed travel path. A temperature sensitive sensor is positioned to sense seed which has been deposited in the furrow between the furrow opener and the furrow closer. An optional packaging tube holds a temperature sensor or sensor array. A lens is mounted with the same tube. A larger diameter tube may be positioned around the sensor packaging tube. A positive air pressure/air flow may be introduced between the two tubes. This positive air-flow forms a positive pressure and/or air flow barrier to push dust away from the sensor lens or sensor surface. | 02-23-2012 |
20120240838 | PLANTING UNIT FOR A SEEDING MACHINE HAVING A SEED METER AND SEED DELIVERY SYSTEM - A planting unit for a seeding machine is disclosed having a frame member and a seed meter mounted thereto. The seed meter has a housing and a metering member rotatably mounted therein. The metering member has a sidewall with an inner surface and an outer surface and a rim portion adjacent an outer edge of the sidewall. The inner surface of the side wall and the housing form a trough at a bottom portion of the metering member to hold a seed pool. A mechanical seed delivery system takes seed from the metering member and moves seed to a discharge location adjacent a seed furrow formed in soil beneath the seeding machine. | 09-27-2012 |
20120255475 | ROW UNIT FOR A SEEDING MACHINE HAVING ACTIVE DOWNFORCE CONTROL FOR THE CLOSING WHEELS - A planter row unit is disclosed having an active downforce control system for the closing wheels. This separate control of the downforce pressure for the closing wheels is provided from the row unit downforce control. A single operator input is used to set a desired downforce for all row units. The control system then operates to produce the desired downforce. Alternatively, the control system may display a downforce load to the operator who then manually makes adjustments as desired. | 10-11-2012 |
20130068144 | AIR PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL SEED METER - A seed meter for a seeding machine has a housing and a seed metering member rotationally mounted to the housing. The metering member has a sidewall with a radially inner surface and a radially outer surface with the inner surface of the sidewall having an outwardly flared rim portion extending both radially outward and axially to an outer edge. The rim portion has a plurality of apertures extending through the sidewall. The metering member is oriented at an angle to the vertical such that an upper portion of the metering member extends beyond a lower portion of the metering member. This orientation allows a seed delivery system to extend into the interior of the metering member and cooperate with the overhanging inside thereof to remove seed therefrom. | 03-21-2013 |
20130298810 | SEEDING MACHINE WITH SEED DELIVERY SYSTEM - A seeding machine with a seed meter and a seed delivery system for moving seed from a seed meter to a furrow formed in the soil. The delivery system has an endless member moving in a housing about pulleys to move seed from an upper opening in the housing to a lower discharge opening. In one embodiment, a loading wheel at the upper opening to the housing engages seed on a metering disk to move seed into the housing. The metering disk and housing can be arranged in planes parallel to one another. | 11-14-2013 |
20140014013 | Twin-row Multiple Variety Planter and Method of Use - A twin-row planter is shown configured to plant different varieties of seed. Each planting unit of the twin-row is separately controlled to turn on or off the seed meter of the planting unit. This enables operation of only one seed meter of the two planting units in each twin-row. With the planting units supplied with different varieties of seed, the variety being planted can be controlled by controlling the seed meters of the two planting units within the twin-row. | 01-16-2014 |
20140144357 | ALIGNMENT SYSTEM FOR A BLOCKING MEMBER OF A PLANTING UNIT - A alignment system is described for a blocking member for the transfer of seed from a seed meter with a seed meter housing to a delivery system with a delivery system housing. The blocking member may have a blocking face adjacent a seed path of the seed meter, the blocking face opening to a seed passage, and the seed passage extending through the blocking member to an interface with the delivery system housing. A first recess may be included on the blocking member, and a second recess may be included on the delivery system housing. When the seed passage of the blocking member is correctly aligned with the delivery system, a protrusion on the delivery system housing may be configured to seat firmly in the first recess and a protrusion on the seed meter housing may be configured to seat firmly in the second recess. | 05-29-2014 |
20140144358 | TRANSITIONAL BLOCKING MEMBER OF PLANTING UNIT TO CONTROL HAND-OFF OF SEED FROM A SEED METER TO A SEED DELIVERY SYSTEM - A planting unit for a seed machine is described. The planting unit includes a seed meter with a metering member that moves seed along a first path to a release position, at which the seed is moving in a first direction. A delivery system receives seed from the metering member at the release position and moves the seed in a second direction by way of a brush belt with flexible bristles that sweep seed off the metering member. A blocking member has a blocking face adjacent the first path to prevent movement of the seed in the second direction until the seed has passed the blocking face, and to deflect a first portion of the flexible bristles. The blocking member includes a transition surface to allow the deflected bristles to return gradually to an un-deflected configuration as the bristles travel downstream of the blocking face. | 05-29-2014 |
20140165889 | SEEDING MACHINE FOR PLANTING MULTIPLE SEED VARIETIES AND PERCRIPTION FOR MULTIPLE VARIETIES SEEDING MACHINE - A seeding machine, such as a row crop planter, is described which is adapted to switch between two or more seed varieties as the machine traverses a field. The control system uses a programmed quantity of seed representing a number of seeds in the seed meter that need to be substantially consumed once the flow of a first seed variety is stopped before introducing a second seed variety to minimize seed mixing. The seed quantity can be determined by a calibration process or published from the manufacturer or third parties. The seed quantity can also be part of a seeding prescription that includes assignment of where each seed variety is to be planted in a field. The seed quantity and the distance traveled to empty the meter can be used to optimize the planting operation including the machine direction which can also be part of the prescription. | 06-19-2014 |
20140165891 | SEEDING MACHINE FOR PLANTING MULTIPLE SEED VARIETIES - A seeding machine, such as a row crop planter, is described which is adapted to switch between two or more seed varieties as the machine traverses a field. The control system uses a programmed quantity of seed representing a number of seeds in the seed meter that need to be substantially consumed once the flow of a first seed variety is stopped before introducing a second seed variety to minimize seed mixing. The seed quantity can be determined by a calibration process or published from the manufacturer or third parties. The seed quantity can also be part of a seeding prescription that includes assignment of where each seed variety is to be planted in a field. The seed quantity and the distance traveled to empty the meter can be used to optimize the planting operation including the machine direction which can also be part of the prescription. | 06-19-2014 |
20140174330 | PLANTER AND SEED METER FOR PLANTING MULTIPLE SEED VARITIES - A seed planter and seed meter for planting different seed varieties based on the location of the machine in a field. A movable gate switches between seed varieties. The gate in one embodiment has three positions; one position opening a first seed passage to the meter and closing a second seed passage, a second position opening the second seed passage and closing the first seed passage and a third position closing both the first and second seed passages. Two other gate embodiments have only two positions, each position opening one seed passage and closing the other. | 06-26-2014 |
20140196642 | PLANTING UNIT FOR A SEEDING MACHINE HAVING BLOCKING MEMBER TO CONTROL HAND-OFF OF SEED FROM A SEED METER TO A SEED DELIVERY SYSTEM - A planting unit for a seeding machine having a seed meter with a metering member that moves seed sequentially along a first path to a release position at which the seed is moving in a first direction and a delivery system adapted to take seed from the metering member at the release position and control movement of the seed from the seed meter to a discharge location adjacent a seed furrow formed in soil beneath the seeding machine. The delivery system, at the release position, moves seed in a second direction along a second path. A blocking member located adjacent the first path immediately preceding the release position prevents movement of the seed in the second direction until the seed has passed the blocking member | 07-17-2014 |
20140290546 | SEEDING MACHINE WITH SEED DELIVERY SYSTEM - A seeding machine with a seed meter and a seed delivery system for moving seed from a seed meter to a furrow formed in the soil. The delivery system has an endless member moving in a housing about pulleys to move seed from an upper opening in the housing to a lower discharge opening. In one embodiment, a blocking loading surface guides seed from the metering member of the seed meter and into the delivery system. | 10-02-2014 |
20150013581 | PLANTING UNIT FOR A SEEDING MACHINE HAVING A SEED METER AND SEED DELIVERY SYSTEM - A planting unit for a seeding machine is disclosed having a frame member and a seed meter mounted thereto. The seed meter has a housing and a metering member rotatably mounted therein. The metering member has a sidewall with an inner surface and an outer surface and a rim portion adjacent an outer edge of the sidewall. The inner surface of the side wall and the housing form a trough at a bottom portion of the metering member to hold a seed pool. A mechanical seed delivery system takes seed from the metering member and moves seed to a discharge location adjacent a seed furrow formed in soil beneath the seeding machine. | 01-15-2015 |