# US 11,297,762 B2 · Row unit for a seeding machine with pneumatic seed loading > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,297,762 B2 - Document ID: US11297762B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/888,868 - Filed: 2018-02-05 - Published: 2019-08-08 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2018-02-05 - Assignees: Deere & Company - Applicants: Deere & Company - Inventors: Elijah B. Garner; Stanley R. Borkgren; Cary S. Hubner; Beth A. Wolfs; Michael E. Frasier; Joseph W. Migliorini - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11297762B2 ## CPC - A01C 7/20: Parts of seeders for conducting and depositing seed - A01C 7/0445: {Seed ejectors} - A01C 7/046: {with perforated seeding discs} - A01C 7/206: {Seed pipes} - A01C: PLANTING; SOWING; FERTILISING (parts, details or accessories of agricultural machines or implements, in general A01B51/00 - A01B75/00) ## Abstract A row unit for a seeding machine includes a seed reservoir and a seed meter having a metering member with a seed side facing the seed reservoir, a non-seed side opposite the seed side, and a plurality of apertures. The seed meter is operable by pressure differential between the non-seed side and the seed side to adhere seeds to the seed side and move seeds from the seed reservoir. A conduit has a venturi with a throat disposed adjacent the metering member. The throat presents an opening directed toward the seed side and the plurality of apertures. The opening is configured to receive a seed adhered to one aperture of the plurality of apertures. An air pressure source is configured to provide greater than atmospheric air pressure on the non-seed side such that during operation of the row unit an air stream passes through the one aperture toward the opening. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A row unit for a seeding machine, the row unit comprising: a seed reservoir; a seed meter including a metering member having a seed side facing the seed reservoir, a non-seed side opposite the seed side, and a plurality of apertures extending from the seed side to the non-seed side, the seed meter operable by pressure differential between the non-seed side and the seed side to adhere seeds to the seed side and move seeds from the seed reservoir; a conduit having a venturi with a throat disposed adjacent the metering member, the throat presenting an opening directed toward the seed side and the plurality of apertures, the opening configured to receive a seed adhered to one aperture of the plurality of apertures; and an air pressure source configured to provide greater than atmospheric air pressure on the non-seed side such that during operation of the row unit an air stream passes through the one aperture toward the opening. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The row unit of claim 1, wherein the conduit is fluidly coupled to the air pressure source. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The row unit of claim 1, wherein the air pressure source is a first air pressure source, and wherein the conduit is fluidly coupled to a second air pressure source. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The row unit of claim 1, further comprising: an outlet for discharging the seeds; and an air brake disposed proximate the outlet for reducing an air speed from the outlet. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The row unit of claim 1, wherein an outlet for discharging the seeds is disposed at a furrow in the soil for directing seeds into the furrow, the row unit further comprising a press wheel disposed proximate the outlet for pressing the seeds into the furrow. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The row unit of claim 1, wherein the seed meter is a vacuum seed meter including a blower having an intake side and an outlet side, the intake side configured to provide a lower than atmospheric pressure on a portion of the non-seed side, wherein an air pressure source for the conduit is the outlet side of the blower. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The row unit of claim 1, further comprising a nozzle disposed on the non-seed side of the metering member and configured to focus the greater than atmospheric air pressure towards the one aperture. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The row unit of claim 1, further comprising a nozzle disposed on the non-seed side of the metering member and configured to focus the greater than atmospheric air pressure through the one aperture, wherein the nozzle is rotatably mounted. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The row unit of claim 1, further comprising a wheel in fluid communication with the air pressure source, the wheel including a rotatably mounted hub having a plurality of nozzles projecting therefrom, each nozzle configured to focus the greater than atmospheric air. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The row unit of claim 9, wherein the hub is configured to be driven by meshing of the plurality of nozzles with the metering disk. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The row unit of claim 1, further comprising a fixed blade positioned to mechanically guide the seeds from the metering member into the opening. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The row unit of claim 1, wherein the metering member is a first metering member, and wherein the seed meter assembly further includes a second metering member, the conduit being disposed between the first and second metering members. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The row unit of claim 1, wherein the seed meter is a vacuum seed meter including a blower configured to provide a lower than atmospheric pressure region on a first portion of the metering member, a second portion of the metering member being disposed circumferentially adjacent the lower than atmospheric pressure region, the opening being disposed adjacent the second portion of the metering member. ### Claim 14 A row unit for a seeding machine, the row unit comprising: a seed reservoir; a seed meter including a metering member having a seed side facing the seed reservoir, a non-seed side opposite the seed side, and a plurality of apertures extending from the seed side to the non-seed side, the seed meter operable by pressure differential between the non-seed side and the seed side to adhere seeds to the seed side and move seeds from the seed reservoir; a venturi with a throat disposed adjacent the metering member, the throat presenting an opening directed toward the seed side and the plurality of apertures, the opening configured to receive a seed adhered to one aperture of the plurality of apertures; and a source of air at greater than atmospheric pressure, the source configured to generate an air flow from the non-seed side through the one aperture toward the opening, such that the seed is directed away from the metering member and into the opening. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The row unit of claim 14, wherein the venturi is in fluid communication with the source of air. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The row unit of claim 14, wherein the source of air is a first source of air, and wherein the venturi is in fluid communication with a second source of air. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The row unit of claim 14, wherein the air flow travels through a conduit. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The row unit of claim 17, wherein a nozzle is fluidly coupled to the conduit and disposed on the non-seed side. ### Claim 19 A method for displacing seeds from a metering member in a seeding machine, the seeding machine having a seed reservoir, a seed meter assembly including the metering member having a seed side facing the seed reservoir, a non-seed side opposite the seed side, and a plurality of apertures extending from the seed side to the non-seed side, the metering member operable to selectively transport seeds from the seed reservoir, the method comprising: generating a pressure differential across at least some of the plurality of apertures for adhering seeds to the metering member; directing air through a venturi having a throat and an opening adjacent the seed side of the metering member for receiving seeds from the metering member; and directing air from the non-seed side through one aperture of the plurality of apertures to transfer a seed away from the metering member and into the opening.