Kinze Manufacturing, Inc. Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20150359166 | Seed Variety Changer For A Planter - A system for changing seed variety on a planter includes a plurality of row units with each row unit having a plurality of seed meters. Each seed meter has a guide for delivering seed to a transport belt and a switch that is activated and deactivated by a switch actuator on the belt. The belt has adjustable sidewalls, cover, and lugs. | 12-17-2015 |
20150319912 | FRONT FOLD IMPLEMENT FRAME WITH PIVOTAL DRAFT LINK CONNECTION - A forward folding agricultural implement frame has a center frame with pivotally connected wings that fold forward for storage and laterally for use. A pair of draft links connects the wings to a telescopic hitch that extends forward from the center frame. A pivot pin operably mounted to a forward portion of the telescopic hitch defines a generally vertical pivot axis. A pivot link is connected to the pivot pin to pivot about the generally vertical pivot axis. The pivot link having a first portion on one side of the pivot pin and a second portion on an opposite of the pivot pin from the first portion. The draft links are pivotally connected to the first and second portions of the pivot link. When the wings are flexed in opposite directions (or when one wing is neutral and the other wing is flexed), the pivot link will permit opposite relative movement of the draft link ends relative to the inner hitch, which reduces internal stress and prevents permanent strain of the components. | 11-12-2015 |
20150208573 | METER FOR DISPENSING A GRANULAR PRODUCT - A chemical granule metering system, for use on a row crop planter, allows for control of chemical granule drop rate. The chemical granule metering system also includes a motor permitting control of chemical granule drop rate by adjusting the rotational speed of the motor. An impeller for a chemical granule meter system having a plurality of apertures is optimized to allow a broad range of chemical granule flow rates, reduce or mitigate clogging, and reduce pulsing characteristics of the metering system. | 07-30-2015 |
20140109813 | AIR SEED METER WITH ADJUSTABLE SINGULATOR - A seed metering system, for use on a row crop planter, selects individual seeds from a seed reservoir and dispenses the seeds singularly at a controlled rate. A direct drive seed metering system includes a seed disc having a plurality of suction apertures with a recessed pocket adjacent to an aperture. The recessed pockets act to agitate seeds in the seed reservoir and to direct seed flow towards the apertures. A seed path relief system provides for allowing the placement of the seeds such that they are released from an outer edge of the seed disc. An adjustable seed singulator is mounted adjacent to the face of the seed disc where inner and outer blades are adjusted radially to compensate for the singulation of various seed sizes and shapes. The seed disc is driven via engagement of an internal gear with the external gear of an independent drive motor. | 04-24-2014 |
20140109812 | AIR SEED METER WITH INTERNAL DRIVE - A seed metering system, for use on a row crop planter, selects individual seeds from a seed reservoir and dispenses the seeds singularly at a controlled rate. A direct drive seed metering system includes a seed disc having a plurality of suction apertures with a recessed pocket adjacent to an aperture. The recessed pockets act to agitate seeds in the seed reservoir and to direct seed flow towards the apertures. A seed path relief system provides for allowing the placement of the seeds such that they are released from an outer edge of the seed disc. An adjustable seed singulator is mounted adjacent to the face of the seed disc where inner and outer blades are adjusted radially to compensate for the singulation of various seed sizes and shapes. The seed disc is driven via engagement of an internal gear with the external gear of an independent drive motor. | 04-24-2014 |
20140109811 | AIR SEED METER DISC WITH FLOW DIRECTING POCKETS - A seed metering system, for use on a row crop planter, selects individual seeds from a seed reservoir and dispenses the seeds singularly at a controlled rate. A direct drive seed metering system includes a seed disc having a plurality of suction apertures with a recessed pocket adjacent to an aperture. The recessed pockets act to agitate seeds in the seed reservoir and to direct seed flow towards the apertures. A seed path relief system provides for allowing the placement of the seeds such that they are released from an outer edge of the seed disc. An adjustable seed singulator is mounted adjacent to the face of the seed disc where inner and outer blades are adjusted radially to compensate for the singulation of various seed sizes and shapes. The seed disc is driven via engagement of an internal gear with the external gear of an independent drive motor. | 04-24-2014 |
20140109810 | AIR SEED METER HOUSING WITH SEED PATH RELIEF - A seed metering system, for use on a row crop planter, selects individual seeds from a seed reservoir and dispenses the seeds singularly at a controlled rate. A direct drive seed metering system includes a seed disc having a plurality of suction apertures with a recessed pocket adjacent to an aperture. The recessed pockets act to agitate seeds in the seed reservoir and to direct seed flow towards the apertures. A seed path relief system provides for allowing the placement of the seeds such that they are released from an outer edge of the seed disc. An adjustable seed singulator is mounted adjacent to the face of the seed disc where inner and outer blades are adjusted radially to compensate for the singulation of various seed sizes and shapes. The seed disc is driven via engagement of an internal gear with the external gear of an independent drive motor. | 04-24-2014 |
20140096983 | FORWARD ROTATING TRANSPORT AXLE - A forward folding implement is provided. The implement includes a telescoping tongue to allow forward folding wings of the implement. At one end of the tongue are positioned transport wheels that are used to level the height of the frame during planting to keep the row units at determined heights of the single plant uniform depth, while also providing a support for the implement during transport of the implement. A transport wheel rotating assembly is provided to rotate the transport wheels about a pivot point such that the transport wheels will adjust the height of the implement, and also increase or decrease the length of the wheelbase between the tractor tires and the transport tires to increase the maneuverability and transportability of the implement both within a field and outside a field. The assembly includes a linkage and a cylinder connected to the implement. | 04-10-2014 |
20130233580 | SMOOTH FORWARD FOLDING IMPLEMENT FRAME - A forward folding implement for connecting to a tow vehicle, such as a tractor, is provided. The implement includes a telescoping tongue for connection to the tow tractor. A main frame is connected to the telescoping tongue opposite the tow tractor and is supported by a plurality of wheels. Right and left wings are pivotally connected to the main frame and include a plurality of ground engaging tools attached thereto. First and second hydraulic cylinders are connected to the wings. The first cylinder pivots the wing about a vertical axis, while the second cylinder is configured to pivot the wing about a horizontal axis. The wings are raised about the horizontal axis before being placed in a transport position after being rotated about the vertical axis. | 09-12-2013 |
20130112122 | AGRICULTURAL DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING SOIL AND SEED CHARACTERISTICS AND ANALYZING THE SAME - Agricultural seed planting systems are provided. In some aspects, the system includes a processing unit, a frame, a furrow opener coupled to the frame for opening a furrow in soil, and a sensor in communication with the processing unit and adapted to sense a characteristic associated with seed planting. The sensor may generate a signal associated with the sensed characteristic and the processing unit may receive the signal. In some aspects, the sensed characteristic may be either a soil characteristic or a seed characteristic. Information associated with the sensed characteristic can be saved in memory for future use and to assist with more effective planting in the future. | 05-09-2013 |
20130112121 | DOWN AND/OR UP FORCE ADJUSTMENT SYSTEM - An agricultural device includes a number of row units that each includes a seed furrow opener that creates a furrow in the soil for seed placement. Each row unit is mounted to a toolbar of the device by means of a four-bar linkage which allows each row unit to move vertically to adjust to the contour of the soil independently of the other row units on the same toolbar. The four-bar linkages include one or more springs which work to transfer weight from the toolbar to the row unit. An actuator varies the tension in the spring thereby adjusting the down or up force applied to the row unit. | 05-09-2013 |
20130104785 | REMOTE ADJUSTMENT OF A ROW UNIT OF AN AGRICULTURAL DEVICE | 05-02-2013 |
20120067262 | SEED CHARACTERISTIC SENSOR - Seed meters, agricultural planters, and methods of planting seed are provided. Such meters, planters, and methods may include a housing defining a chamber, a seed disc rotatably coupled to the housing and at least partially positioned within the chamber with the seed disc adapted to engage a seed, and a sensor for detecting a characteristic of the seed after the seed disengages the seed disc and before the seed exits the seed meter. The sensor may be coupled to a seed chute of the seed meter and may detect a wide variety of seed characteristics such as seed position within the seed chute, seed size, and seed shape. The seed characteristic may be used to adjust operation of the seed meters, agricultural planters, and methods. In some instances, the adjustment may be manual. In other instances, the adjustment may be automatic. | 03-22-2012 |
20110226168 | LOW FRICTION SEED METER - The seed meter includes the combination of a vacuum housing and a seed disc coupled together in a sealed manner to form a vacuum chamber. Disposed within the vacuum chamber is a generally flat finger wheel having plural radially extending resilient fingers. Also disposed in the vacuum chamber is a fixed arm. A seed hopper is disposed adjacent the seed disc for providing seeds to an outer surface of the seed disc, with the seeds adhering to the plural spaced apertures on the seed disc's periphery with vacuum applied to the disc's inner surface. A rotary drive spindle rotates the vacuum housing, seed disc and finger wheel combination, with each resilient finger sequentially deflected by the fixed arm to sequentially engage each disc aperture, interrupting vacuum communication with each aperture, for sequentially releasing the seeds. | 09-22-2011 |
20110162566 | AIR ENTRAINMENT DEVICE FOR SEED DELIVERY - A seed delivery device including a frame defining at least one seed chamber. The frame includes a sidewall and an air permeable floor. Seed can be received and deposited on the air permeable floor through an input port. An air input channel is utilized to introduce an air stream into the seed chamber and direct it through the air permeable floor such that seed is lifted from the air permeable floor to an outlet port. An air bypass channel is configured to separate the air stream into a first stream that is directed through the air permeable floor and a second stream that is directed through the bypass channel and recombined with the first stream, at a point prior to the output port, to prevent excess accumulation of seed in the seed chamber. | 07-07-2011 |
20110000409 | AIR PRESSURE DISSIPATOR FOR AIR SEED DELIVERY SYSTEM - In an air pressurized system for use in delivering seeds in an agricultural planter from a main hopper to plural remote bins each associated with a respective seed discharge unit, an air/seed mixture is provided to a seed discharge unit via an air pressure dissipator which vents the air to the atmosphere in controlling the rate at which seed is delivered to the seed discharge unit. The air pressure dissipator includes an upper, angled tube having an outwardly tapered lower end adapted to receive an upper end of a perforated screen tube which extends into the seed discharge unit. As the seed discharge unit fills with seed during operation, the air pressure dissipator regulates the air flow entraining and transporting the seed by directing a portion of the air to the atmosphere when necessary to provide seed to the seed discharge unit to substantially match the seed discharge rate. | 01-06-2011 |
20100254792 | GRAIN WAGON WITH EXTERNAL LIFT AUGER - A mobile cart having a bin attached to a support frame with wheels for transport includes front, rear and left and right panels and is open at the top for receiving particulate material, with the panels having inwardly tapered lower portions terminating in a bottom panel of reduced size. A lower section of an unload auger is attached to an outer front corner of the bin and is in communication with a floor auger into which grain is deposited by gravity via an aperture in the bottom panel, while an upper section of the unload auger pivotally coupled to the lower section is movable between a folded transport/storage configuration where the unload auger is confined entirely within the wagon's front profile and an extended, discharge configuration where the auger's discharge end is located lateral to and forward of the bin for ease of viewing by an operator. | 10-07-2010 |
20100006016 | AGRICULTURAL PLANTER - An agricultural implement pulled by a traction vehicle is convertible between use and transport configurations. The implement includes a carrier frame coupled to the vehicle via the combination of a hitch and a draft tongue having an aft portion pivotally coupled to the carrier frame and including a generally vertical cornered post rotatable about a vertical pivot axis. A lift frame having plural spaced row units includes an integral center frame section with a sleeve closely engaging and vertically slideable along the cornered post. A first displacement arrangement moves the aft portion of the draft tongue between the use position and a first elevated position for avoiding obstructions and to facilitate turning in a field, while second and third displacement arrangements respectively raise the lift frame higher on the vertical post and rotate the post and lift frame about the vertical axis to a longitudinal position for transport. | 01-14-2010 |
20090110526 | AUGER WAGON WITH FOLDING LIFT AUGER AND RETRACTING DELIVERY HOOD - An agricultural auger wagon includes a horizontal floor auger and a forward lift auger for delivering grain to a transport vehicle. The lift auger is a folding auger which includes a fixed lower auger section and an upper auger section mounted above the lower auger section in use. The upper auger section is moved by an hydraulic cylinder between the upright delivery position for delivering the contents of the wagon to an adjacent transport vehicle, such as a truck, and a folded transport position. The folding upper auger section has a retractable delivery hood. In the use or delivery position, the upper and lower left auger sections are aligned for delivering product. During the movement of the upper auger section to the delivery position, the delivery hood is moved by linkage to the distal upper end of the upper auger section for maximum height and reach in delivering grain to an adjacent vehicle. To place the lift auger assembly in the transport position, an hydraulic cylinder pivots the upper auger section from the raised, delivery position to a horizontal transport position in which the upper, moveable auger section lies immediately in front of the wagon in a generally horizontal disposition with its axis extending transverse of the direction of travel. A linkage is actuated by the folding action of the upper auger section to move the delivery hood along the upper auger housing to reduce the overall length of the upper auger section in transport while increasing its reach in the delivery position. | 04-30-2009 |
20090078179 | AIR SEED METER WITH DEBRIS CLEARING DEVICE - An air seed meter having a rotating disc with seed openings arranged in a circumferential pattern includes a holder adapted to be mounted to the meter housing and carries two balls spring-biased to reciprocate and enter the seed openings as they pass and clear debris from the openings. The balls may also engage dimples on the seed disc located between seed openings or groups of seed openings (in the case of a hill drop planter) in the disc as it rotates to cause vibration in the disc to promote the release of seeds as they exit the vacuum chamber. | 03-26-2009 |
20080295751 | PNEUMATICALLY POWERED SEED DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR AGRICULTURAL PLANTER - A pneumatically powered seed delivery system for an agricultural planter includes an air lock between a main seed hopper and the forced air delivery system. The air lock accurately meters the seed and isolates the interior of the seed hopper from the forced air delivery system. Seed is delivered to individual planter row units, each including an air horn having a buffer reservoir for storing and feeding seed to the associated seed meter under controlled conditions, and a seed routing conduit for carrying seed not deposited in a given seed meter to the other row units downline. | 12-04-2008 |
20080257573 | PLANTER WITH REMOTE HYDRAULIC FEED - An agricultural implement, such as a planter, having a telescoping tongue for placing the implement in either a transport or field use configuration, includes an hydraulic pump located on the planter frame, preferably toward the rear, for powering the planting functions. A mechanical drive line from the PTO of the tractor to the remote hydraulic pump is disengaged as the planter frame begins to move from the planting position. The drive line permits the tractor to make full 90° turns in the field. | 10-23-2008 |