# US 12,108,699 B2 · Implements and application units to actuate at least one applicator arm for placement of applications with respect to agricultural plants of agricultural fields

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 12,108,699 B2
- Document ID: US12108699B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/094,150
- Filed: 2017-04-18
- Published: 2019-05-09
- Granted: 2024-10-08
- Earliest claimed: 2016-04-18
- Assignees: Precision Planting LLC
- Applicants: Precision Planting LLC
- Inventors: Paul Wildermuth; Jason Stoller; Ian Radtke
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12108699B2

## CPC

- A01C 23/047: {Spraying of liquid fertilisers}
- A01B 49/06: for sowing or fertilising
- A01C 5/064: {with rotating tools}
- A01C 5/066: {Devices for covering drills or furrows}
- A01C 21/00: Methods of fertilising {, sowing or planting}
- A01C 21/002: {Apparatus for sowing fertiliser; Fertiliser drill}
- A01C 23/006: {Distribution of liquid fertilisers by gravity flow}
- A01C 23/007: {Metering or regulating systems}
- A01C 23/023: {for liquid or gas fertilisers}
- A01C 23/025: {Continuous injection tools}
- A01C 23/04: Distributing under pressure; Distributing mud; Adaptation of watering systems for fertilising-liquids
- A01M 7/00: Special adaptations or arrangements of liquid-spraying apparatus for purposes covered by this subclass
- A01M 7/0014: {Field atomisers, e.g. orchard atomisers, self-propelled, drawn or tractor-mounted}
- A01M 7/0042: {Field sprayers, e.g. self-propelled, drawn or tractor-mounted}
- A01M 7/005: {Special arrangements or adaptations of the spraying or distributing parts, e.g. adaptations or mounting of the spray booms, mounting of the nozzles, protection shields (nozzles, spray heads or other outlets B05B1/00; spray pistols B05B9/01)}
- A01M 7/006: {Mounting of the nozzles}
- A01M 7/0075: {including folding means}
- A01M 7/0089: {Regulating or controlling systems (the delivery being related to the movement of a vehicle B05B9/06)}
- A01M 21/043: {by chemicals}
- B05B 1/1636: {by relative rotative movement of the valve elements (B05B1/1672 takes precedence)}
- B05B 1/20: Perforated pipes or troughs, e.g. spray booms; Outlet elements therefor
- A01B 79/005: {Precision agriculture}
- A01C 7/06: Seeders combined with fertilising apparatus
- A01C: PLANTING; SOWING; FERTILISING (parts, details or accessories of agricultural machines or implements, in general A01B51/00 - A01B75/00)
- A01B: SOIL WORKING IN AGRICULTURE OR FORESTRY; PARTS, DETAILS, OR ACCESSORIES OF AGRICULTURAL MACHINES OR IMPLEMENTS, IN GENERAL (making or covering furrows or holes for sowing, planting or manuring A01C5/00; mowers convertible to soil working apparatus or capable of soil working A01D42/04; mowers combined with soil working implements A01D43/12; soil working for engineering purposes E01, E02, E21)
- A01M: CATCHING, TRAPPING OR SCARING OF ANIMALS (appliances for catching swarms or drone-catching A01K57/00; fishing A01K69/00 - {A01K99/00}; biocides, pest repellants or attractants A01N); APPARATUS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF NOXIOUS ANIMALS OR NOXIOUS PLANTS
- B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D)

## Abstract

Described herein are implements and applicators for placement of fluid applications with respect to agricultural plants of agricultural fields. In one embodiment, a fluid applicator for applying fluid to plants in rows in a field includes at least one applicator arm that is actuated by an actuator to move the applicator arm from a position in the row between plants to a position adjacent to the plant.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A fluid applicator for applying fluid to first and second rows of plants in a field comprising:
a base or bracket to be positioned in proximity to a ground surface and in between a first row of plants and a second row of plants while in operation, wherein the first row of plants and the second row of plants are directly adjacent to each other, and wherein there is a middle of a row between the first row of plants and the second row of plants;
a first applicator arm coupled to the base or bracket;
a first pivot disposed on the base or bracket, wherein the first applicator arm is configured to be actuated by a first actuator to rotate the first pivot for rotating the first applicator arm with respect to the base or bracket from a position towards the middle of a row that is laterally offset from the first and second rows of plants for no fluid application to a position with an outward bias that is laterally adjacent to plants of the first row of plants for fluid application;
a second applicator arm coupled to the base or bracket;
a second pivot disposed on the base or bracket, wherein the second applicator arm is configured to be actuated by a second actuator to rotate the second pivot for rotating the second applicator arm with respect to the base or bracket from a position towards the middle of the row that is laterally offset from the first and second rows of plants for no fluid application to a position within an outward bias that is laterally adjacent to plants of the second row of plants for fluid application, wherein the fluid applicator including the first applicator arm, the first actuator, the second applicator arm, and the second actuator is disposed in row between the first and second rows of plants in operation, and wherein the base or bracket is a unitary component
a second base or second bracket to be positioned in proximity to the ground surface and in between a third row of plants and a fourth row of plants while in operation, wherein the third row of plants and the fourth row of plants are directly adjacent to each other, and wherein there is a middle of a row between the third row of plants and the fourth row of plants;
a third applicator arm coupled to the second base or second bracket;
a third pivot disposed on the second base or second bracket, wherein the third applicator arm is configured to be actuated by a third actuator to rotate the third pivot for rotating the third applicator arm with respect to the second base or second bracket from a position towards the middle of a row that is laterally offset from the third and fourth rows of plants for no fluid application to a position with an outward bias that is laterally adjacent to plants of the third row plants for fluid application;
a fourth applicator arm coupled to the second base or second bracket;
a fourth pivot disposed on the second base or second bracket, wherein the fourth applicator arm is configured to be actuated by a fourth actuator to rotate the fourth pivot for rotating the fourth applicator arm with respect to the second base or second bracket from a position towards the middle of a row that is laterally offset from the third and fourth rows of plants for no fluid application to a position with an outward bias that is laterally adjacent to plants of the fourth row plants for fluid application; and wherein the second base or second bracket is a unitary component.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The fluid applicator of claim 1, wherein the bracket is coupled to the first and second actuators, wherein the bracket is disposed between the first and second rows of plants in operation, wherein the position towards a middle of a row that is laterally offset from the first and second rows of plants is approximately equidistant to each of the first and second rows of plants.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The fluid applicator of claim 1, wherein the position in the row is above ground.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The fluid applicator of claim 1, wherein the position towards a middle of a row that is laterally offset from the first and second rows of plants for the first applicator arm is a storage position for transport and no fluid application that is above ground.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The fluid applicator of claim 1, wherein the first actuator is connected to an arm to actuate the first pivot.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The fluid applicator of claim 1, wherein the second actuator is connected to an arm to actuate the second pivot.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The fluid applicator of claim 1, wherein the first actuator is a fluid actuator, wherein the fluid actuator includes a fluid inlet connected to a fluid source, the fluid actuator includes a piston actuating a piston arm, the piston arm connected to the first pivot, a bias biasing the piston in an opposite direction to the fluid, such that when fluid is flowing to the fluid inlet, fluid is flowing into the fluid actuator to bias the first applicator arm towards the plants.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The fluid applicator of claim 1, wherein the first actuator is a solenoid.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The fluid applicator of claim 1, wherein the first actuator is an electric motor.