PLANTING UNIT FOR A SEEDING MACHINE HAVING A SEED METER WITH A DOWNWARDLY FACING METERING MEMBER AND A SEED DELIVERY SYSTEM

• US 20120067261A1
• Filed: 03/25/2011
• Published: 03/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: GARNER, ELIJAH, FRIESTAD, MICHAEL E., MARIMAN, NATHAN A., ZUMDOME, LEE E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,800,457 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 111/171
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/042 using pneumatic means
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/0445 Seed ejectors
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/046 with perforated seeding discs
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/127 Cell rollers, wheels, discs or belts
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/20 Parts of seeders for conducting and depositing seed

Abstract

A planting unit for a seeding machine having a seed meter with a metering member. The metering member has a sidewall with inner and outer surfaces and apertures extending through the sidewall. The metering member is adapted to adhere seed to the apertures to sequentially move seed to a release position at which the inner surface of the sidewall is facing downward such the seed is hanging beneath the sidewall. A mechanical seed delivery system takes seed from the metering member at the release portion and controls movement, of seed from the seed meter to a discharge location adjacent a seed furrow formed in soil beneath the seeding machine.

Claims

1. A planting unit for a seeding machine comprising:

a seed meter having a metering member with a Sidewall having inner and outer surfaces and apertures extending through the sidewall, the metering Member adapted to adher seed to the apertures to sequentially move seed to a release position at which the inner surface of the sidewall is facing downward such the seed is hanging beneath the sidewall; and

a mechanical seed delivery, system adapted to take seed from the metering member at the release position and move seed from the seed meter to a discharge location adjacent a seed furrow formed in soil beneath the seeding machine.

2. The planting unit of claim 1 wherein the delivery system comprises a brush belt having bristles that sweep over the metering member sidewall at the release position to take seed from the metering member and move the seed to the discharge location.

3. The planting unit of claim 2 wherein the brush bristles sweep over the sidewall at an angle of at least 35°

relative to a travel direction of seed on the metering member.

4. The planting unit of claim 2 wherein the brush bristles sweep seed the sidewall in a direction that is between 50°

and 80°

to the direction of travel of the seed on the metering, member.

5. The planting unit of claim 2 wherein the metering member includes a projection behind apertures in a direction of rotation of the metering member, the projections adapted to push seed into the bristles of the brush belt.

6. The planting unit of claim 2 wherein seed enters the bristles of the brush belt at distal ends of the bristles.

7. The planting unit of claim 1 wherein the seed meter includes a housing which together with the metering member is adapted to hold a seed pool at a lower end of the metering member with the release position located above a portion of the seed pool.