# US 2019/0166754 A1 · Multiple Variety Seed Planter With Direct Vacuum System > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0166754 A1 - Document ID: US20190166754A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/833,068 - Filed: 2017-12-06 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-06 - Assignees: CNH Industrial America LLC - Applicants: CNH Industrial America LLC - Inventors: Chad M. Johnson; Johnathon Dienst; Marvin A. Prickel; Grant MacDonald; Jason T. Czapka; Michael J. Connors; Christopher Schoeny - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190166754A1 ## CPC - A01C 7/081: {Seeders depositing seeds in rows using pneumatic means} - A01C 21/005: {Following a specific plan, e.g. pattern} - A01C: PLANTING; SOWING; FERTILISING (parts, details or accessories of agricultural machines or implements, in general A01B51/00 - A01B75/00) ## Abstract A multiple variety planter is provided that has a direct vacuum system that allows for planting multiple varieties of seed while reducing occurrences of mis-planting events or planting inconsistencies such as multiples and skips by providing highly controllable seed meter vacuum performance characteristics that are controllable on a row-by-row basis. The direct vacuum system may include a vacuum unit at each row unit of the planter to apply a vacuum pressure to a seed meter at the row unit. Each vacuum unit may be individually and variably controlled to apply different vacuum pressures based on which seed variety is being planted with the respective seed meter at a given time. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A multiple variety seed planter with a direct vacuum system for planting multiple seed varieties in a single planting pass during row-crop planting of an agricultural field, the multiple variety seed planter comprising: a frame; multiple row units supported by the frame with each of the row units comprising: at least one seed storage compartment for storing the multiple seed varieties; a seed meter having a seed meter housing that defines a housing cavity and a metering member arranged for rotation in the housing cavity for singulating seed to be planted, a direct vacuum system that includes a vacuum unit at each of the multiple row units for applying a vacuum pressure to the corresponding seed meter; and a control system configured to control the vacuum unit at each of the multiple row units individually with respect to the other vacuum units of the other multiple row units, wherein, for each of the row units, the control system determines which of the multiple seed varieties is currently delivered by the corresponding seed meter to the agricultural field, and wherein the control system controls the vacuum unit based on which of the multiple seed varieties is currently delivered by the corresponding seed meter. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The multiple variety seed planter of claim 1, wherein the vacuum unit is configured to apply a first vacuum pressure to the seed meter when the seed meter delivers a first seed variety to the agricultural field and to apply a second vacuum pressure to the seed meter when the seed meter delivers a second seed variety to the agricultural field. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The multiple variety seed planter of claim 2, wherein the first and second seed varieties are different first and second sizes, and wherein the first and second vacuum pressures correspond to pressures for holding the first and second seed varieties of the different first and second sizes against the metering member while rotating through the housing cavity. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The multiple variety seed planter of claim 2, wherein the first and second seed varieties are different first and second shapes, and wherein the first and second vacuum pressures correspond to pressures for holding the first and second seed varieties of the different first and second shapes against the metering member while rotating through the housing cavity. ### Claim 5 A multiple variety seed planter with direct vacuum system for planting multiple seed varieties in a single planting pass during row-crop planting of an agricultural field, the multiple variety seed planter comprising: a frame; multiple row units supported by the frame and including, multiple seed storage compartments supported by the row units for separately storing at least a first seed variety and a second seed variety; a first row unit with a first seed meter that has a first metering member delivering the first seed variety as a current variety of the first row unit; a second row unit with a second seed meter that has a second metering member delivering the second seed variety as a current variety of the second row unit; and a direct vacuum system configured to apply vacuum pressure to the first and second seed meters and including, a first vacuum unit arranged at the first row unit to deliver vacuum pressure to the first seed meter at a first vacuum pressure that corresponds to a characteristic of the first seed variety; a second vacuum unit arranged at the second row unit to deliver vacuum pressure to the second seed meter at a second vacuum pressure that corresponds to a characteristic of the second seed variety. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The multiple variety seed planter of claim 5, wherein the characteristic is size, such that the first seed variety is a first size and the second seed variety is a second size, and wherein the different first and second vacuum pressures correspond to pressures for holding the first and second seed varieties of the first and second sizes against the first and second metering members to move through and be delivered out of the first and second seed meters. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The multiple variety seed planter of claim 5, wherein the characteristic is shape, such that the first seed variety is a first shape and the second seed variety is a second shape, and wherein the different first and second vacuum pressures correspond to pressures for holding the first and second seed varieties of the first and second shapes against the first and second metering members to move through and be delivered out of the first and second seed meters. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The multiple variety seed planter of claim 5, wherein the direct vacuum system is configured so that, when the first seed meter changes from delivering the first seed variety to the second seed variety, the first vacuum unit changes from delivering vacuum pressure from the first vacuum pressure to the second vacuum pressure; and when the second seed meter changes from delivering the second seed variety to the first seed variety, the second vacuum unit changes from delivering vacuum pressure from the second vacuum pressure to the first vacuum pressure. ### Claim 9 A method of planting multiple seed varieties during a single planting session with a multiple variety seed planter with a direct vacuum system, the method comprising: delivering seed of a first seed variety from a seed meter having a metering member of a row unit of a multiple variety planter; applying vacuum at a first vacuum pressure to the metering member of the seed meter to hold the seeds of the first seed variety against the metering member with the first vacuum pressure that corresponds to a characteristic of the first seed variety; switching delivery of seed to the seed meter from the first seed variety to a second seed variety; applying vacuum at a second vacuum pressure to the metering member of the seed meter to hold the seeds of the second seed variety against the metering member with the second vacuum pressure that corresponds to a characteristic of the second seed variety. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 further comprising: determining a mixture phase corresponding to a switchover event for changing between which of the first and second seed types is delivered from the seed meter and during which seeds of both of the first and second seed varieties are in a seed pool of the seed meter; and controlling a vacuum unit at the row unit based on the mixture phase. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 further comprising: wherein the vacuum unit is controlled to apply a greater one of the first and second vacuum pressures to the seed meter during the mixture phase. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein during the mixture phase, while applying the greater one of the first and second vacuum pressures to the seed meter, the method further comprises: evaluating occurrences of multiples corresponding to multiple seeds being released from the seed meter during a release event and when multiples are detected, and controlling the vacuum unit to decrease the vacuum pressure. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, the method further comprising, controlling the vacuum unit to decrease the vacuum pressure to an intermediate vacuum pressure that has a value between the first and second vacuum pressures. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, the method farther comprising, continuing to evaluate occurrences of multiples while the vacuum unit applies the intermediate vacuum pressure and when multiples are detected, controlling the vacuum unit to decrease the vacuum pressure to apply the lower one of the first and second vacuum pressures to the seed meter during the mixture phase. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 further comprising: wherein the vacuum unit is controlled to apply a lower one of the first and second vacuum pressures to the seed meter during the mixture phase. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein during the mixture phase, while applying the lower one of the first and second vacuum pressures to the seed meter, the method further comprises: evaluating occurrences of skips corresponding to no seeds being released from the seed meter during a release event, and when skips are detected, controlling the vacuum unit to increase the vacuum pressure. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, the method further comprising, controlling the vacuum unit to increase the vacuum pressure to an intermediate vacuum pressure that has a value between the first and second vacuum pressures. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, the method further comprising, continuing to evaluate occurrences of skips while the vacuum unit applies the intermediate vacuum pressure and when skips are detected, controlling the vacuum unit to increase the vacuum pressure to apply the greater one of the first and second vacuum pressures to the seed meter during the mixture phase.