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US 11,076,525 B2Granted
Self-propelled seed planter
AssigneeAGCO International GmbH
InventorsThiemo Buchner, Johannes Utz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A self-propelled seeding vehicle includes a seed sorting and placement unit controlled by an on-board control system. The control system further controls a motive power unit operable to cause the vehicle to controllably traverse an area of ground to be seeded. The control system is further operable to control the sequential depositing of seeds independently of the speed of traversal of the ground by the vehicle.
Claims11
A self-propelled seeding vehicle comprising:
- a control system and motive power unit operable to cause the vehicle to controllably traverse an area of ground to be seeded;
- a seed tank;
- a metering system configured to receive seeds from the seed tank and output a succession of individual seeds;
- a seed placement unit coupled to receive the individual seeds from the metering system and sequentially deposit the individual seeds on the ground under control of the control system;
- and
- a position determination system;
- wherein the control system is operable to control the depositing of seeds independently of a ground speed of the vehicle;
- and
- wherein the control system is operable to compare a recorded deposit location for a seed with a predetermined deposit location for that seed and, in the event of a mismatch, vary at least one of the ground speed of the vehicle and an operating speed of the seed placement unit to correct the mismatch for subsequently deposited seeds.
6 more elements
A self-propelled seeding vehicle comprising:
- a control system and motive power unit operable to cause the vehicle to controllably traverse an area of ground to be seeded;
- a seed tank;
- a metering system configured to receive seeds from the seed tank and output a succession of individual seeds;
- and
- a seed placement unit coupled to receive the individual seeds from the metering system and sequentially deposit the individual seeds on the ground under control of the control system, the seed placement unit comprising a punch seeding seed placement unit pivotably mounted to the vehicle and movable from an operating position, in which a cam-controlled puncher in a punch shaft extends downwardly from the vehicle, to a non-operating position in which the cam-controlled puncher in the punch shaft extends generally horizontally;
- wherein the control system is operable to control the depositing of seeds independently of a ground speed of the vehicle.
3 more elements
A self-propelled seeding vehicle comprising:
- a control system and motive power unit operable to cause the vehicle to controllably traverse an area of ground to be seeded;
- a seed tank;
- a metering system configured to receive seeds from the seed tank and output a succession of individual seeds;
- a seed placement unit coupled to receive the individual seeds from the metering system and sequentially deposit the individual seeds on the ground under control of the control system, wherein the seed placement unit is positionally adjustable relative to the vehicle;
- and
- a position determination system;
- wherein the control system is operable to control the depositing of seeds by moving the vehicle to a predetermined position and adjusting the position of the seed placement unit.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.