Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
111171000 | Endless conveyor with traps | 20 |
20100107944 | Planter with Cup Belt Meter - A seed belt cup planter includes seed-intercepting indexing pocket structure facing an adjacent cup on the downward run of the belt towards a furrow for orienting the seed released from the adjacent cup relative to the furrow. In one embodiment, the indexing pocket structure is located on the underside of the cups and receives and orients a cylindrically shaped seed such as a short sugar cane billet. The seed pickup side of the cup is shaped to efficiently receive cylindrical seeds as well as round and oval seeds of differing sizes from a seed puddle. A divider located in the seed hopper between adjacent columns of cups helps channel the seed to the cups and limits pressure on the seed puddle. | 05-06-2010 |
20120067260 | PLANTING UNIT FOR A SEEDING MACHINE HAVING BLOCKING MEMBER TO CONTROL HAND-OFF OF SEED FROM A SEED METER TO A SEED DELIVERY SYSTEM - A planting unit for a seeding machine having a seed meter with a metering member that moves seed sequentially along a first path to a release position at which the seed is moving in a first direction and a delivery system adapted to take seed from the metering member at the release position and control movement of the seed from the seed meter to a discharge location adjacent a seed furrow formed in soil beneath the seeding machine. The delivery system, at the release position, moves seed in a second direction along a second path. A blocking member located adjacent the first path immediately preceding the release position prevents movement of the seed in the second direction until the seed has passed the blocking member | 03-22-2012 |
20120067261 | PLANTING UNIT FOR A SEEDING MACHINE HAVING A SEED METER WITH A DOWNWARDLY FACING METERING MEMBER AND A SEED DELIVERY SYSTEM - 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. | 03-22-2012 |
20120111247 | ROW UNIT FOR A SEEDING MACHINE - 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. | 05-10-2012 |
20120298023 | ROW UNIT FOR A SEEDING MACHINE - 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. | 11-29-2012 |
20130333602 | DROP TUBE SYSTEM FOR PLANTING FIELD SEEDS IN ROWS WITH DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF SEEDS - A system for planting seeds having a metering system positioned before a belt lowering system that has a sensor to detect the position of a seed on the belt lowering system. The rotational speed of the metering system and the belt lowering system are determined by the speed and location of a planter and the position of the seed on the belt lowering system to correct seed positioning with relation to a pre-mapped or selected field starting location. | 12-19-2013 |
20140144358 | TRANSITIONAL BLOCKING MEMBER OF PLANTING UNIT TO CONTROL HAND-OFF OF SEED FROM A SEED METER TO A SEED DELIVERY SYSTEM - A planting unit for a seed machine is described. The planting unit includes a seed meter with a metering member that moves seed along a first path to a release position, at which the seed is moving in a first direction. A delivery system receives seed from the metering member at the release position and moves the seed in a second direction by way of a brush belt with flexible bristles that sweep seed off the metering member. A blocking member has a blocking face adjacent the first path to prevent movement of the seed in the second direction until the seed has passed the blocking face, and to deflect a first portion of the flexible bristles. The blocking member includes a transition surface to allow the deflected bristles to return gradually to an un-deflected configuration as the bristles travel downstream of the blocking face. | 05-29-2014 |
20140182494 | WEAR LINER FOR SEED DELIVERY SYSTEM - A wear liner is described for a seed delivery system housing containing a transport mechanism for moving seed along a seed path through the delivery system housing. The liner may include a wear liner insert extending along a portion of the seed path within the delivery, the wear liner insert including a wear surface interposed between the transport mechanism and the seed delivery system housing to protect at least one of the seed and the seed delivery system housing from wear. In certain embodiments, various features of the liner may extend outside the seed delivery system housing, to further protect the housing. | 07-03-2014 |
20140196642 | PLANTING UNIT FOR A SEEDING MACHINE HAVING BLOCKING MEMBER TO CONTROL HAND-OFF OF SEED FROM A SEED METER TO A SEED DELIVERY SYSTEM - A planting unit for a seeding machine having a seed meter with a metering member that moves seed sequentially along a first path to a release position at which the seed is moving in a first direction and a delivery system adapted to take seed from the metering member at the release position and control movement of the seed from the seed meter to a discharge location adjacent a seed furrow formed in soil beneath the seeding machine. The delivery system, at the release position, moves seed in a second direction along a second path. A blocking member located adjacent the first path immediately preceding the release position prevents movement of the seed in the second direction until the seed has passed the blocking member | 07-17-2014 |
20140290546 | SEEDING MACHINE WITH SEED DELIVERY SYSTEM - A seeding machine with a seed meter and a seed delivery system for moving seed from a seed meter to a furrow formed in the soil. The delivery system has an endless member moving in a housing about pulleys to move seed from an upper opening in the housing to a lower discharge opening. In one embodiment, a blocking loading surface guides seed from the metering member of the seed meter and into the delivery system. | 10-02-2014 |
20140352586 | 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. | 12-04-2014 |
20150013581 | PLANTING UNIT FOR A SEEDING MACHINE HAVING A SEED METER AND SEED DELIVERY SYSTEM - A planting unit for a seeding machine is disclosed having a frame member and a seed meter mounted thereto. The seed meter has a housing and a metering member rotatably mounted therein. The metering member has a sidewall with an inner surface and an outer surface and a rim portion adjacent an outer edge of the sidewall. The inner surface of the side wall and the housing form a trough at a bottom portion of the metering member to hold a seed pool. A mechanical seed delivery system takes seed from the metering member and moves seed to a discharge location adjacent a seed furrow formed in soil beneath the seeding machine. | 01-15-2015 |
20150144041 | DROP TUBE SYSTEM FOR PLANTING FIELD SEEDS IN ROWS WITH DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF SEEDS - A system for planting seeds having a metering system positioned before a belt lowering system that has a sensor to detect the position of a seed on the belt lowering system. The rotational speed of the metering system and the belt lowering system are determined by the speed and location of a planter and the position of the seed on the belt lowering system to correct seed positioning with relation to a pre-mapped or selected field starting location. | 05-28-2015 |
20150296704 | SEEDING MACHINE WITH SEED DELIVERY SYSTEM - 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. | 10-22-2015 |
20150305231 | SEEDING MACHINE WITH SEED DELIVERY SYSTEM - 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. | 10-29-2015 |
20150319916 | SEED VALVE AND PLANTING METHOD FOR MULTIPLE SEED TYPES - Various planting machines and planting methods are described. A planting method may include filling a seed pool with first-type seed, metering the first-type seed from the seed pool with a metering member, and then evacuating the first-type seed from the seed pool. The method may further include filling the seed pool with second-type seed, metering the second-type seed with the metering member, evacuating the second-type seed from the seed pool, and then refilling the seed pool with the first-type seed. First-type and second-type seed may be evacuated to separate temporary storage chambers, and the seed pool may be filled from the temporary storage chambers, as well as from bulk storage containers. A seed valve of a planting machine may include temporary seed storage chambers for different seed types. The seed valve may fill and evacuate a seed pool through rotation of various valve members and selective application of a vacuum. | 11-12-2015 |
20150319919 | AGRICULTURAL ROW UNIT SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND APPARATUS - A row unit for an agricultural planter having features for releasably operably coupling a seed meter of the row unit to a seed deposition apparatus of the row unit such as a seed conveyor, seed tube or the like. Apparatus are provided for tipping a seed meter of the hopper for disengagement from the seed deposition apparatus. Apparatus are provided for biasing the seed deposition apparatus into operative engagement with the seed meter. The row unit includes features such as latches for releasably operably coupling the row unit to crop input and vacuum supply lines. Apparatus are provided for tipping a seed meter of the hopper for disengagement from the crop input and vacuum supply lines. Systems are provided for supplying vacuum and crop inputs to the seed meter via the releasably engageable apparatus. | 11-12-2015 |
20150334913 | DIRECT DRIVE SEED METERING DEVICE - A direct drive seed metering device for sowing machines operated by vacuum or high pressure and driven by a coaxial electric motor, comprising a seed metering disc for capturing seeds from a reservoir and laying them in a controlled manner in a furrow in the soil, where in the coaxial electrical motor couples directly and coaxially to the metering disc without the need for intermediate transmission elements, redactors, gears or timing belts, and where said coaxial electrical motor is a toroidal electric motor with a hollow rotor shaft, which fluidly connects said seed capturing means with a vacuum or high pressure generating means. | 11-26-2015 |
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 |
20160029552 | SEED VARIETY CHANGER FOR A PLANTER - A planting system and method for planting multiple seed varieties is provided. The planting system includes a planter having a plurality of tanks and a plurality of row units. A plurality of seed meters are included in of the plurality of the row units. The seed meters are aligned in a non-horizontal configuration within each row unit, and one of the plurality of meters is operated at a time to plant a seed variety associated with the meter being operated. | 02-04-2016 |