ROW UNIT FOR A SEEDING MACHINE

• US 20120298023A1
• Filed: 08/10/2012
• Published: 11/29/2012
• 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.
• Granted Patent: US 8,522,699 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 111/171
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/042 using pneumatic means
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/127 Cell rollers, wheels, discs or belts

Abstract

A seeding machine row unit having a seed meter with an endless belt as a seed transport member. A pressure differential holds the seed onto the belt. The belt allows greater freedom in determining the location of the seed pick-up region and the seed release or removal region beyond the constraints of a fixed diameter seed disk. The row unit further includes a delivery system using a brush belt to move metered seed from the meter to the ground.

Claims

1. A row unit for a seeding machine comprising:

a seed meter having a metering member having apertures formed therein, means for moving the metering member such that the apertures move along a defined path having a seed pick-up region and a seed release region and means for creating a pressure differential on opposite sides of the metering member along at least the portion of the path between the seed pick-up region and the seed release region to adhere and retain seed on the metering member at the apertures; and

a seed delivery system receiving seed from the metering member, the delivery system having an endless member contained within a housing, the housing having an upper opening through which seed is received from the seed meter with the endless member entrapping the seed between the housing and the endless member wherein the endless member of the delivery system sweeps across the metering member to remove seed from the metering member.

2. A row unit for a seeding machine comprising:

a seed meter having a metering member having apertures formed therein, means for moving the metering member such that the apertures move along a defined path having a seed pick-up region and a seed release region and means for creating a pressure differential on opposite sides of the metering member along at least the portion of the path between the seed pick-up region and the seed release region to adhere and retain seed on the metering member at the apertures;

a seed delivery system receiving seed from the metering member, the delivery system having an endless member contained within a housing, the housing having an upper opening through which seed is received from the seed meter with the endless member entrapping the seed between the housing and the endless member; and

a transition member adjacent the metering member and extending between the metering member and the housing of the delivery system, the transition member having a surface over which the endless member of the delivery system moves the seed from the metering member in to the housing.

3. A row unit for a seeding machine comprising:

a seed meter having a metering member having apertures formed therein, means for moving the metering member such that the apertures move along a defined path having a seed pick-up region and a seed release region and means for creating a pressure differential on opposite sides of the metering member along at least the portion of the path between the seed pick-up region and the seed release region to adhere and retain seed on the metering member at the apertures; and

a seed delivery system receiving seed from the metering member, the delivery system having an endless member contained within a housing, the housing having an upper opening through which seed is received from the seed meter with the endless member entrapping the seed between the housing and the endless member wherein the endless member of the delivery system is a brush belt having bristles to entrap the seed and which bristles move over the surface of the metering member.

4. A row unit for a seeding machine comprising:

a seed meter having a metering member having apertures formed therein, means for moving the metering member such that the apertures move along a defined path having a seed pick-up region and a seed release region and means for creating a pressure differential on opposite sides of the metering member along at least the portion of the path between the seed pick-up region and the seed release region to adhere and retain seed on the metering member at the apertures; and

a seed delivery system receiving seed from the metering member, the delivery system having an endless member contained within a housing, the housing having an upper opening through which seed is received from the seed meter with the endless member entrapping the seed between the housing and the endless member wherein the metering member has a feature following each aperture along the defined path forming a confronting face to push seed on the aperture into the endless member of the delivery system.