Seeding system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A product distribution system comprising:
- a product on demand pick-up assembly including a hopper, the hopper configured such that an air stream flowing into the product on demand pick-up assembly entrains product therein and conveys product downstream through a plurality of conduits, the product on demand pick-up assembly further including a mini-hopper positioned downstream of the hopper and configured to receive a portion of the product;
a singulating meter in communication with the mini-hopper via a mini-hopper outlet;
a container for storing of product prior to delivery of product to the pick-up assembly; and
a meter and conveyor assembly configured to move product from the container to the pick-up assembly hopper such that an amount of product greater than a predetermined quantity is maintained in the pick-up assembly hopper during operation of the system,wherein the pick-up assembly includes a plurality of nozzles, each nozzle of the plurality of nozzles defining an inlet for air, an outlet for air and entrained product, and an entrainment zone between the inlet and outlet, wherein product in the entrainment zone is entrained in an air stream passing from the inlet to the outlet.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A product distribution system includes a product on demand pick-up assembly including a hopper. The hopper is configured such that an air stream flowing into the pick-up assembly entrains product therein and conveys product downstream through a plurality of conduits. The product distribution system further includes a container for storing product prior to delivery of product to the pick-up assembly and a meter and conveyor assembly configured to move product from the container to the pick-up assembly hopper such that an amount of product greater than a predetermined quantity is maintained in the pick-up assembly hopper during operation of the system.
-
Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A product distribution system comprising:
-
a product on demand pick-up assembly including a hopper, the hopper configured such that an air stream flowing into the product on demand pick-up assembly entrains product therein and conveys product downstream through a plurality of conduits, the product on demand pick-up assembly further including a mini-hopper positioned downstream of the hopper and configured to receive a portion of the product; a singulating meter in communication with the mini-hopper via a mini-hopper outlet; a container for storing of product prior to delivery of product to the pick-up assembly; and a meter and conveyor assembly configured to move product from the container to the pick-up assembly hopper such that an amount of product greater than a predetermined quantity is maintained in the pick-up assembly hopper during operation of the system, wherein the pick-up assembly includes a plurality of nozzles, each nozzle of the plurality of nozzles defining an inlet for air, an outlet for air and entrained product, and an entrainment zone between the inlet and outlet, wherein product in the entrainment zone is entrained in an air stream passing from the inlet to the outlet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A product distribution system comprising:
-
a product on demand pick-up assembly including a hopper, the hopper configured such that an air stream flowing into the product on demand pick-up assembly entrains product therein and conveys product downstream through a plurality of conduits; a container for storing of product prior to delivery of product to the pick-up assembly; and a meter and conveyor assembly configured to move product from the container to the pick-up assembly hopper such that an amount of product greater than a predetermined quantity is maintained in the pick-up assembly hopper during operation of the system, wherein the pick-up assembly includes a plurality of nozzles each defining an inlet for air, an outlet for air and entrained product and an entrainment zone between the inlet and outlet where product in the entrainment zone is entrained in an air stream passing from the inlet to the outlet, and wherein the plurality of nozzles are arranged in both horizontal and vertical arrays.
-
-
14. A product distribution system comprising:
-
a product on demand pick-up assembly including a hopper, the hopper configured such that an air stream flowing into the product on demand pick-up assembly entrains product therein and conveys product downstream through a plurality of conduits, the product on demand pick-up assembly further including a mini-hopper positioned downstream of the hopper and configured to receive a portion of the product; a singulating meter in communication with the mini-hopper via a mini-hopper outlet; a container for storing of product prior to delivery of product to the pick-up assembly; and a meter and conveyor assembly configured to move product from the container to the pick-up assembly hopper such that an amount of product greater than a predetermined quantity is maintained in the pick-up assembly hopper during operation of the system, wherein the pick-up assembly includes a nozzle assembly having an upstream sidewall, a downstream sidewall, a bottom wall and open upper end, the upstream sidewall having a plurality of air inlets and the downstream sidewall having a plurality of air and entrained product outlets with an outlet opposite each inlet whereby air flowing through each inlet passes over the bottom wall to pick-up product and then carries the entrained product through a respective air and entrained product outlet. - View Dependent Claims (15)
-
Specification