Seed delivery apparatus, systems, and methods

A seed delivery apparatus to deliver seed to a planting surface, comprising:

• a seed meter including a seed disc rotatable about a central axis in a direction of rotation, the seed disc having an array of radially spaced seed apertures onto which seed is entrained on a seed face of the seed disc, whereby as the seed disc rotates in the direction of rotation, each entrained seed on the seed face of the seed disc is carried in the direction of rotation before being released from the seed disc upon passing at a seed release location defined by at an intersection of a horizontal seed release axis and a vertical seed release axis;
• a seed conveyor disposed laterally adjacent to the seed face of the seed disc and configured to receive the seed after the seed is released from the seed disc at an upper end of the seed conveyor and convey the seed from the upper end to a lower end of the seed conveyor and release the seed with a rearward velocity relative to the seed conveyor, the seed conveyor including:
• a first sidewall;
• a second sidewall;
• an upper pulley rotatably supported between the first sidewall and the second sidewall at an upper end of the seed conveyor;
• a lower pulley rotatably supported between the first sidewall and the second sidewall at at a lower end of the seed conveyor;
• a belt disposed around the upper pulley and the lower pulley between the first sidewall and the second sidewall;
• a conveyor motor driving rotation of one of the upper and lower pulleys to cause rotation of the belt in a rotational direction to carry the seed downwardly from the upper end of the seed conveyor toward the lower end of the seed conveyor, defining a seed conveyance side of the seed conveyor;
• a guide surface extending along the seed conveyance side of the seed conveyer between the first sidewall and the second sidewall, an upper end of the guide surface including an upper angled portion defining a seed inlet of the seed conveyor, the upper angled portion extending vertically above the horizontal seed release axis.