Seed delivery apparatus, systems, and methods

• US 9,578,802 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2015
• Issued: 02/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Precision Planting LLC (AGCO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Precision Planting LLC (AGCO Corporation)
• Inventors: Radtke, Ian R., Hodel, Jeremy J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Novosad, Christopher J
• Application Number:
  US14/667,293
• Publication Number:
  US 20150195988A1
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 111/170, 111/171, 111/177, 111/185, 111/200, 111/900, 701/50
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 19/02 by a motor
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 21/00 Methods of fertilising , sowing or planting
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/0445 Seed ejectors
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/046 with perforated seeding discs
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/102 Regulating or controlling the seed rate
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/105 Seed sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/12 Seeders with feeding wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/127 Cell rollers, wheels, discs or belts
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/16 Seeders with other distributing devices, e.g. brushes, discs, screws or slides
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/163 Gravity distributors
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/20 Parts of seeders for conducting and depositing seed

Abstract

A seed delivery apparatus and methods in which a seed conveyor delivers seed from a metering device to a furrow in a controlled manner to maintain seed placement accuracy within the furrow.

Claims

1. A seed delivery apparatus to deliver seed to a planting surface, comprising:

a seed meter configured to entrain and release the seed from a seed disc at a seed release location;

a seed conveyor disposed to receive the seed after the seed is released from said seed disc at an upper end of said seed conveyor, said seed conveyor including a belt configured to convey the seed from said upper end to a lower end of said seed conveyor and release the seed with a rearward velocity relative to said seed conveyor;

a first loading wheel disposed adjacent to said seed release location, said first loading wheel being driven for rotation, wherein said first loading wheel is disposed to urge the seed toward the belt; and

a second loading wheel disposed adjacent to said first loading wheel such that a gap between said first loading wheel and said second loading wheel is disposed adjacent to said seed release location.

2. The seed delivery apparatus of claim 1, further including:

a surface disposed to guide the seed toward said first loading wheel.

3. The seed delivery apparatus of claim 2, wherein the seed travels in a circular seed path while entrained on said seed disc, and wherein said surface intersects said circular seed path.

4. The seed delivery apparatus of claim 1, further including:

a surface disposed to guide the seed toward said gap.

5. The seed delivery apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first loading wheel is compressed radially as the seed enters said gap.

6. The seed delivery apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first loading wheel and said second loading wheel are disposed to eject the seed along a seed path.

7. The seed delivery apparatus of claim 6, wherein said seed path intersects a descending portion of said belt.

8. The seed delivery apparatus of claim 6, wherein the seed freefalls along said seed path.

9. The seed delivery apparatus of claim 1, further including a seed sensor disposed to detect passing seeds on the belt.

10. The seed delivery apparatus of claim 9, further including:

a first sidewall disposed laterally adjacent to said belt on a first side, said first sidewall having a first sensor opening; and

a second sidewall disposed laterally adjacent to said belt on a second side, said second sidewall having a second sensor opening substantially aligned with said first sensor opening,

wherein said seed sensor comprises an optical transmitter mounted to the first sidewall and an optical receiver mounted to the second sidewall, said optical transmitter being disposed to send an optical signal through said first sensor opening and said second sensor opening, said optical receiver being disposed to receive said optical signal.

11. A seed delivery apparatus to deliver seed to a planting surface, comprising:

a seed meter configured to entrain and release the seed from a seed disc at a seed release location;

a seed conveyor disposed to receive the seed after the seed is released from said seed disc at an upper end of said seed conveyor, said seed conveyor including a belt configured to convey the seed from said upper end to a lower end of said seed conveyor and release the seed with a rearward velocity relative to said seed conveyor;

a first loading wheel disposed adjacent to said seed release location, said first loading wheel being driven for rotation, wherein said first loading wheel is disposed to urge the seed toward the belt;

a motor configured to drive an output gear;

a first loading wheel drive gear configured to drive said first loading wheel; and

a conveyor drive gear configured to drive said belt, wherein said motor operably drives said first loading wheel drive gear, and wherein said motor operably drives said conveyor drive gear.

12. The seed delivery apparatus of claim 11, further including:

a second loading wheel disposed adjacent to said first loading wheel such that a gap between said first loading wheel and said second loading wheel is disposed adjacent to said seed release location; and

a second loading wheel drive gear configured to drive said second loading wheel,

wherein said motor operably drives said second loading wheel drive gear and wherein said motor operably drives said conveyor drive gear.

13. The seed delivery apparatus of claim 12, wherein said first loading wheel has a first tangential speed at an outer perimeter of the first loading wheel, wherein said second loading wheel has a second tangential speed at an outer perimeter of the second loading wheel, and where said first tangential speed is approximately equal to said second tangential speed for each speed of said motor.

14. The seed delivery apparatus of claim 13, wherein said first loading wheel is compressed radially as the seed enters said gap.

15. The seed delivery apparatus of claim 12, further including:

a surface disposed to guide the seed toward said gap.