Seed meter with multiple sensors for seed cell status monitoring
First Claim
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1. A vacuum seed meter, comprising:
- a housing defining a seed chamber wall and a vacuum channel wall;
a seed transport member having seed cells defined as openings through a perimeter region of the seed transport member, the seed transport member is disposed between the seed chamber wall and the vacuum channel wall, the seed transport member is spaced apart from the seed chamber wall to define a seed chamber between the seed transport member and the seed chamber wall, and the seed transport member is spaced apart from the vacuum channel wall to define a vacuum channel between the seed transport member and the vacuum channel wall, wherein the seed transport member is rotatably carried within the housing such that during each complete rotation of the seed transport member each of the seed cells successively passes through at least the following zones within the seed meter;
a seed acquisition region and a post-delivery region; and
a plurality of sensors, each of the plurality of sensors having a detection zone disposed within the housing, the detection zone of at least one of the plurality of sensors being targeted so that during each complete rotation of the seed transport member within the housing a discernible feature of the seed transport member passes through the detection zone of the at least one of the plurality of sensors;
wherein;
the detection zone of a first sensor of the plurality of sensors is disposed within the post-delivery region;
the detection zone of a second sensor of the plurality of sensors is disposed within the seed acquisition region; and
the detection zone of a third sensor of the plurality of sensors is disposed within an intermediate region that is successively intermediate the seed acquisition region and the post-delivery region during each complete rotation of the seed transport member within the housing.
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Abstract
A vacuum seed meter includes a vacuum channel and a seed transport member having seed cells defined as openings through a perimeter region of the seed transport member, which rotates through the vacuum channel. The seed meter includes a plurality of sensors, each of the plurality of sensors targeting a different location within the seed meter. Each of the plurality of sensors connected to send signals to a controller that evaluates whether each seed cell passing through these locations is filled or empty.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A vacuum seed meter, comprising:
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a housing defining a seed chamber wall and a vacuum channel wall; a seed transport member having seed cells defined as openings through a perimeter region of the seed transport member, the seed transport member is disposed between the seed chamber wall and the vacuum channel wall, the seed transport member is spaced apart from the seed chamber wall to define a seed chamber between the seed transport member and the seed chamber wall, and the seed transport member is spaced apart from the vacuum channel wall to define a vacuum channel between the seed transport member and the vacuum channel wall, wherein the seed transport member is rotatably carried within the housing such that during each complete rotation of the seed transport member each of the seed cells successively passes through at least the following zones within the seed meter;
a seed acquisition region and a post-delivery region; anda plurality of sensors, each of the plurality of sensors having a detection zone disposed within the housing, the detection zone of at least one of the plurality of sensors being targeted so that during each complete rotation of the seed transport member within the housing a discernible feature of the seed transport member passes through the detection zone of the at least one of the plurality of sensors; wherein; the detection zone of a first sensor of the plurality of sensors is disposed within the post-delivery region; the detection zone of a second sensor of the plurality of sensors is disposed within the seed acquisition region; and the detection zone of a third sensor of the plurality of sensors is disposed within an intermediate region that is successively intermediate the seed acquisition region and the post-delivery region during each complete rotation of the seed transport member within the housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A planting implement, comprising:
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a frame that carries at least one row unit, a furrow opener disc, at least one seed hopper, and a seed meter; wherein the seed meter includes; a housing defining a seed chamber wall and a vacuum channel wall; a seed transport member having seed cells defined as openings through a perimeter region of the seed transport member, the seed transport member is disposed between the seed chamber wall and the vacuum channel wall;
the seed transport member is spaced apart from the seed chamber wall to define a seed chamber between the seed transport member and the seed chamber wall; and
the seed transport member is spaced apart from the vacuum channel wall to define a vacuum channel between the seed transport member and the vacuum channel wall, wherein the seed transport member is rotatably carried within the housing such that during each complete rotation of the seed transport member each of the seed cells successively passes through at least the following zones within the seed meter;
a seed acquisition region and a post-delivery region;a plurality of sensors, each of the plurality of sensors having a detection zone disposed within the housing, the detection zone of at least one of the plurality of sensors being targeted so that during each complete rotation of the seed transport member within the housing a discernible feature of the seed transport member passes through the detection zone of the at least one of the plurality of sensors; wherein; the detection zone of a first sensor of the plurality of sensors is disposed within the post-delivery region; the detection zone of a second sensor of the plurality of sensors is disposed within the seed acquisition region; and the detection zone of a third sensor of the plurality of sensors is disposed within an intermediate region that is successively intermediate the seed acquisition region and the post-delivery region during each complete rotation of the seed transport member within the housing. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification