Soil moisture-based planter downforce control
First Claim
1. A seeding machine comprising:
- a controller having a processor configured to;
detect a moisture level with a moisture sensor coupled to a row unit on the seeding machine;
determine whether the moisture level is above a predetermined threshold;
in response to determining that the moisture level is above a predetermined threshold, decrease a downforce on the row unit; and
after decreasing the downforce, detect that the moisture level has fallen below the predetermined threshold and then increase the downforce on the row unit.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A seeding machine includes a main frame, and a row unit coupled to the main frame. The row unit has a row unit frame, a gauge wheel coupled to the row unit frame, and a furrow opener coupled to the row unit frame, the furrow opener having a stationary or rotating surface that contacts and moves soil. The row unit also includes a furrow closer, the furrow closer having a stationary or rotating surface that contacts and presses soil. The seeding machine also includes a downforce adjustment system for adjusting an amount of downforce applied to the row unit, the downforce adjustment system including a moisture sensor, a controller configured to receive a signal from the moisture sensor, and an actuator configured to change the amount of downforce applied to the row unit based on the signal received by the controller.
25 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A seeding machine comprising:
a controller having a processor configured to; detect a moisture level with a moisture sensor coupled to a row unit on the seeding machine; determine whether the moisture level is above a predetermined threshold; in response to determining that the moisture level is above a predetermined threshold, decrease a downforce on the row unit; and after decreasing the downforce, detect that the moisture level has fallen below the predetermined threshold and then increase the downforce on the row unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A seeding machine comprising:
a controller having a processor configured to; detect a moisture level with a moisture sensor coupled to a row unit on the seeding machine; determine whether the moisture level is below a predetermined threshold; in response to determining that the moisture level is below a predetermined threshold, increase a downforce on the row unit; and after increasing the downforce, detect that the moisture level has risen above the predetermined threshold and then decrease the downforce on the row unit. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
Specification