# US 10,765,057 B2 · Seed delivery apparatus, systems, and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,765,057 B2 - Document ID: US10765057B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/871,048 - Filed: 2018-01-14 - Published: 2018-06-07 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-07-14 - Assignees: Precision Planting LLC - Applicants: Precision Planting LLC - Inventors: Ian Radtke; Todd Swanson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10765057B2 ## CPC - A01C 7/105: {Seed sensors} - A01C 7/0445: {Seed ejectors} - A01C 7/046: {with perforated seeding discs} - A01C 7/16: Seeders with other distributing devices, e.g. brushes, discs, screws or slides - A01C 7/20: Parts of seeders for conducting and depositing seed - A01C 19/02: by a motor - A01C: PLANTING; SOWING; FERTILISING (parts, details or accessories of agricultural machines or implements, in general A01B51/00 - A01B75/00) ## Abstract A seed delivery apparatus and methods in which a seed conveyor delivers seed from a metering device to a trench in a controlled manner to maintain seed placement accuracy within the trench. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A seed delivery apparatus, comprising: a seed meter configured to entrain seeds on a seed disc and to release said entrained seeds at a seed release location; and a seed conveyor assembly having an upper end disposed to receive the released seed, said seed conveyor assembly including: a housing; a seed conveyor having an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surface having a plurality of inwardly projecting spaced teeth defining sequential belt gaps, said outer surface having a plurality of outwardly projecting spaced flights defining sequential flight gaps which receive the released seed; an upper pulley having a first set of radially arranged pulley teeth and a second set of radially arranged pulley teeth angularly offset from said first set of radially arranged pulley teeth, each of said first and second set of radially arranged pulley teeth alternatingly engaging said sequential belt gaps; and a cleaning strip fixedly attached to said housing and disposed adjacent to said upper pulley to clean debris from said upper pulley; wherein said cleaning strip extends arcuately forwardly along a direction of rotation of said upper pulley. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The seed delivery apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: an agitation strip disposed to agitate seeds conveyed by said conveyor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The seed delivery apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a loading wheel disposed to introduce said released seeds into said flight gaps of said conveyor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The seed delivery apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a seed guide disposed to guide said released seeds introduced by said loading wheel into said flight gaps of said seed conveyor, wherein said seed guide includes a relief portion and an introduction portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The seed delivery apparatus of claim 4, wherein said relief portion is disposed radially farther from the upper pulley than the introduction portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The seed delivery apparatus of claim 4, wherein said relief portion extends arcuately along a path substantially parallel to the path of said flights passing said relief portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The seed delivery apparatus of claim 4, wherein said introduction portion urges said seeds in a direction toward said conveyor and into one of said flight gaps. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The seed delivery apparatus of claim 3, wherein said loading wheel comprises a plurality of radial fingers. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The seed delivery apparatus of claim 8, wherein said fingers have a sinusoidal configuration. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The seed delivery apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a seed sensor configured to detect said entrained seeds before said seed release location. ### Claim 11 A seed delivery apparatus comprising: a seed meter configured to entrain seeds on a seed disc and to release said entrained seeds at a seed release location; and a seed conveyor assembly having an upper end disposed to receive the released seed, said seed conveyor assembly including: a seed conveyor having an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surface having a plurality of inwardly projecting spaced teeth defining sequential belt gaps, said outer surface having a plurality of outwardly projecting spaced flights defining sequential flight gaps which receive the released seed; an upper pulley having a first set of radially arranged pulley teeth and a second set of radially arranged pulley teeth angularly offset from said first set of radially arranged pulley teeth, each of said first and second set of radially arranged pulley teeth alternatingly engaging said sequential belt gaps; and a cleaning strip disposed adjacent to said upper pulley to clean debris from said upper pulley, wherein said first set of pulley teeth and said second set of pulley teeth are laterally offset by a rim. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The seed delivery apparatus of claim 11, wherein said inner surface of said seed conveyor includes a slot which receives said rim.