Seeding machine with seed delivery system

• US 9,861,031 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2015
• Issued: 01/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Garner, Elijah B., Thiemke, Daniel B., Rylander, David J., Mariman, Nathan A., Friestad, Michael E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Novosad, Christopher J.
• Application Number:
  US14/616,877
• Publication Number:
  US 20150216111A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,065 Days
• Field of Search: 111170-172, 111177-185, 111 14, 111 11, 111200, 111900
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 17/00 Fertilisers or seeders with centrifugal wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 21/00 Methods of fertilising , sowing or planting
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/008 Sod or grassland seeding A01C7/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/04 Single-grain seeders with or without suction devices
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/046 with perforated seeding discs
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/125 with bottom delivery of the seeds
• 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 7/166 Centrifugal distributors
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/20 Parts of seeders for conducting and depositing seed

Abstract

A seed delivery system for use in a seeding or planting machine that removes the seed from a seed meter by capturing the seed therefrom. The delivery system then moves the seed down to a lower discharge point and accelerates the seed horizontally rearward to a speed approximately equal to the forward travel speed of the seeding machine such that the seed, when discharged has a low or zero horizontal velocity relative to the ground. Rolling of the seed in the trench is thus reduced. Furthermore, as the seed only has a short drop from the outlet to the bottom of the seed trench, the seed has little vertical speed to induce bounce. The delivery system uses a brush belt to capture, move and accelerate the seed. By capturing the seed and moving it from the meter to the discharge, the seed is held in place relative to other seeds and the planter row unit. As a result, the seeds are isolated from row unit dynamics thereby maintaining seed spacing.

Claims

1. A seeding machine for a row unit having a seed meter with a plurality of apertures through which an air pressure differential is applied to retain seed thereon, the seed meter movable to convey seed from a seed reservoir, the seeding machine comprising:

a seed delivery apparatus comprising

an elongated housing having a first opening through which seed is received, a second opening through which seed exits, and an elongated interior chamber along which seed is conveyed from the first opening to the second opening,

a first pulley,

a second pulley,

an endless member driven by the first pulley and/or the second pulley, the endless member movable within the elongated interior chamber of the elongated housing to receive seed from the first opening and convey seed to the second opening; and

a loading surface movable with respect to the endless member and positioned to contact and initially guide seed from the seed meter into the seed delivery apparatus.

2. The seeding machine of claim 1, wherein the loading surface is configured to be driven.

3. The seeding machine of claim 1, wherein the loading surface is configured to be driven independently of the seed delivery apparatus.

4. The seeding machine of claim 1, wherein the loading surface is positioned to redirect seed from a first trajectory to a second trajectory intersecting the first opening.

5. The seeding machine of claim 1, wherein the loading surface is positioned adjacent to the first opening.

6. The seeding machine of claim 1, wherein the seed meter is configured to rotate about a first axis, and wherein the loading surface is configured to rotate about a second axis parallel with the first axis.

7. The seeding machine of claim 6, wherein the loading surface is configured to rotate in a same direction as the seed meter.

8. The seeding machine of claim 1, wherein the loading surface is the surface of a wheel or disk.

9. The seeding machine of claim 1, wherein the elongated housing forms an exit ramp at the second opening.

10. The seeding machine of claim 1, wherein the endless member is in the form of a bristle belt.

11. The seeding machine of claim 6, wherein the loading surface is configured to rotate in an opposite direction as the first and second pulley.

12. A method of delivering a seed from a seed meter to a furrow, the method comprising:

releasing the seed from the seed meter;

contacting the seed with a loading surface movable with respect to an endless member, the contacting initially guiding the seed from the seed meter toward the seed delivery apparatus;

receiving the seed in the seed delivery apparatus;

conveying the seed along a linear path toward an exit of the seed delivery apparatus; and

discharging the seed from the exit of the seed delivery apparatus to the furrow.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein conveying the seed along a linear path means conveying the seed on the endless member.

14. The method of claim 12, further including driving the loading surface about a first axis.

15. The method of claim 12, further including driving the loading surface independently of the seed delivery apparatus.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein contacting the seed with a loading surface movable with respect to the endless member comprises redirecting the seed from a first trajectory to a second trajectory intersecting an entrance of the seed delivery apparatus.

17. The method of claim 12, further including driving the loading surface about a first axis and driving the seed meter about a second axis in parallel with the first axis.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein driving the loading surface about a first axis means driving the loading surface in the same direction as the seed meter.