Seed tender with automatic conveyor positioning

A seed tender comprising:

• a supplying container configured to hold seed;
• a conveyor operatively coupled to the supplying container and configured to transfer the seed from the supplying container to a receiving container and configured to rotate about a first axis of rotation, a second axis of rotation, and a third axis of rotation, and to be selectively moved into at least one of a transport position, an unload position, or a self-fill position;
• a first actuator operatively coupled to the conveyor and configured to selectively control the movement of the conveyor about the first axis of rotation when the first actuator is energized;
• a second actuator operatively coupled to the conveyor and configured to selectively control the movement of the conveyor about the second axis of rotation when the second actuator is energized;
• a third actuator operatively coupled to the conveyor and configured to selectively control the movement of the conveyor about the third axis of rotation when the third actuator is energized;
• a sensor system configured to detect at least one of an object in a path of movement of the conveyor, a position of the conveyor, or an orientation of the conveyor;
• and
• an electronic control unit configured to receive a signal from the sensor system and to selectively energize and de-energize the first actuator, the second actuator, and the third actuator based at least in part on the signal from the sensor system;
• wherein the controlled movement of the conveyor caused by the first actuator, the second actuator, and the third actuator is at least partially based on at least one of the detected object, the detected position of the conveyor, or the detected orientation of the conveyor.

A seed tender comprising:

• a frame;
• a supplying container coupled to the frame and configured to hold seed;
• a support arm movably coupled to at least one of the frame or the supplying container;
• a conveyor configured to transfer the seed from the supplying container to a receiving container, the conveyor being movably coupled to the support arm, and the conveyor being configured to rotate about a first axis of rotation, a second axis of rotation, and a third axis of rotation and to be selectively moved into at least one of a transport position, an unload position, or a self-fill position;
• a first actuator coupled to at least one of the frame, the supplying container, the support arm, or the conveyor and configured to selectively control the movement of the conveyor about the first axis of rotation when the first actuator is energized;
• a second actuator coupled to at least one of the frame, the supplying container, the support arm, or the conveyor and configured to selectively control the movement of the conveyor about the second axis of rotation when the second actuator is energized;
• a third actuator coupled to at least one of the support arm or the conveyor and configured to selectively control the movement of the conveyor about the third axis of rotation when the third actuator is energized;
• a sensor system configured to detect at least one of an object in a path of movement of the conveyor, a position of the conveyor, or an orientation of the conveyor;
• and
• an electronic control unit configured to receive signals from the sensor system and to energize the first actuator, the second actuator, and the third actuator based at least in part on the signal from the sensor system;
• wherein the controlled movement of the conveyor caused by the first actuator, the second actuator, and the third actuator is at least partially based on at least one of the detected object, the detected position of the conveyor, or the detected orientation of the conveyor.

A method of positioning a conveyor, the method comprising:

• detecting at least one of an object in a path of movement of a conveyor, a position of the conveyor, or an orientation of the conveyor;
• selectively energizing and de-energizing a first actuator to selectively move the conveyor around a first axis of rotation based at least in part on the detected object, the detected position of the conveyor, or the detected orientation of the conveyor;
• and
• selectively energizing and de-energizing a second actuator to selectively move the conveyor around a second axis of rotation based at least in part on the detected object, the detected position of the conveyor, or the detected orientation of the conveyor.