Crop input variety selection systems, methods, and apparatus
First Claim
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1. An agricultural seed planter, comprising:
- a row unit configured to open a planting trench;
a first seed meter disposed to plant seeds in said trench;
a first electric drive configured to selectively drive a first seed disc in a first direction about a first axis of said first seed meter;
a second seed meter disposed to plant seeds in said trench;
a second electric drive configured to selectively drive a second seed disc in a second direction about a second axis of said second seed meter, said second axis parallel to said first axis and said second direction opposite said first direction; and
a controller in data communication with said first electric drive and said second electric drive, said controller configured to generate a drive command signal to alternatively drive said first electric drive and said second electric drive.
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Abstract
Systems, methods and apparatus are disclosed for selecting an agricultural input. First and second seed meters selectively meter seed from first and second sources, respectively, into a common planting trench. In some embodiments the seed meters are selectively operated by electric motors controlled with reference to a seed type prescription. In some embodiments the first and second seed meters deposit seeds along a common plane.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An agricultural seed planter, comprising:
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a row unit configured to open a planting trench; a first seed meter disposed to plant seeds in said trench; a first electric drive configured to selectively drive a first seed disc in a first direction about a first axis of said first seed meter; a second seed meter disposed to plant seeds in said trench; a second electric drive configured to selectively drive a second seed disc in a second direction about a second axis of said second seed meter, said second axis parallel to said first axis and said second direction opposite said first direction; and a controller in data communication with said first electric drive and said second electric drive, said controller configured to generate a drive command signal to alternatively drive said first electric drive and said second electric drive. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An agricultural seed planter, comprising:
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a row unit configured to open a planting trench; a first seed meter mounted to said row unit, said first seed meter having a first side housing; a first electric drive configured to selectively drive a first seed disc in a first direction about a first axis of said first seed meter; a second seed meter mounted to said row unit, said second seed meter having a second side housing, wherein said first side housing and said second side housing are joined together and share a common opening through which seeds are released by said first seed meter and said second seed meter along a common longitudinal vertical plane through said common opening and intersecting said trench; a second electric drive configured to selectively drive a second seed disc in a second direction about a second axis of said second seed meter, said second axis parallel to said first axis and said second direction opposite said first direction; a controller in data communication with said first electric drive and said second electric drive, said controller configured to alternately command said first and second electric drives to operate; and a seed conveyance device mounted to said row unit and disposed to receive said released seeds. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification