Seed placement device
AssigneeDeere & Company
InventorsRobert T. Casper, Elijah B. Garner, Dnyanesh Dhobale, Stanley R. Borkgren
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A seed placement device connected to a machine to transfer seed to a furrow includes a housing having a first opening through which seed is received and a second opening through which seed is discharged. An endless member positioned within the housing, and a drive member that controls movement of the endless member in cooperation with movement of the machine. The machine operates in a seeding direction at a travel speed, and the endless member discharges seed at a discharge speed and in a discharge direction. The discharge direction is approximately opposite to the seeding direction, and the discharge speed of the seed is at least 1.2 times the travel speed of the machine.
Claims20
A seed placement device configured to be connected to a seeding machine to transfer seed to a furrow, the seed placement device comprising:
- a housing having a first opening through which seed is received and a second opening through which seed is discharged;
- an endless member positioned within the housing;
- a drive member configured to control movement of the endless member in cooperation with movement of the seeding machine, wherein the seeding machine is operable in a seeding direction at a travel speed;
- and
- a seed capture device configured to retain seeds within the furrow, wherein the seed capture device comprises a press wheel,
- wherein the endless member is configured to discharge seed into a point where the seed capture device contacts a bottom of the furrow at a discharge speed and in a discharge direction, wherein the discharge direction is approximately opposite to the seeding direction, and wherein the discharge speed of the seed is between 1.1 and 10 times the travel speed of the machine.
A seeding machine configured to move along a ground surface in a seeding direction at a seeing speed and to transfer seed to a furrow, the seeding machine comprising:
- a seed placement device connected to the machine for movement along the ground surface with the machine, the seed placement device including:
- a housing having a first opening through which seed is received and a second opening through which seed is discharged;
- an endless member positioned within the housing;
- a drive member configured to control movement of the endless member in cooperation with movement of the machine, wherein the endless member is configured to discharge seed in a discharge direction at a discharge speed, wherein the discharge direction is approximately opposite to the seeding direction, and wherein the discharge speed of the seed is between 1.1 and 10 times the seeding speed of the machine;
- and
- a seed capture device configured to retain seeds within the furrow, wherein the seed capture device comprises a press wheel, wherein the endless member is configured to discharge seeds into a point where the seed capture device contacts a bottom of the furrow.
A seed placement device configured to be connected to a machine to transfer seed to a furrow, the seed placement device comprising:
- a hopper configured to store and deliver seed;
- a metering member including a plurality of apertures each sized to receive one or more seeds from the hopper and to dispense the one or more seeds;
- an endless member positioned to receive the one or more seeds from the metering member and configured to discharge the one or more seeds into the furrow;
- a variable speed drive member configured to control movement of the endless member in cooperation with movement of the machine, wherein the machine is operable in a seeding direction at a seeding speed, wherein the endless member is configured to discharge seed in a discharge direction at a discharge speed while the machine travels at the seeding speed, wherein the discharge direction is approximately opposite to the seeding direction, and wherein the discharge speed is between 1.1 and 10 times the seeding speed;
- and
- a seed capture device configured to retain seeds within the furrow, wherein the seed capture device comprises a press wheel, wherein the endless member is configured to discharge seeds into a point where the seed capture device contacts a bottom of the furrow.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.