Systems, implements, and methods for passive seed orientation within agricultural fields
AssigneePrecision Planting LLC
InventorsDale KOCH, Jeremy HODEL, Todd SWANSON, Ian RADTKE
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Described herein are systems, implements, and methods for seed orientation during planting operations of agricultural plants of agricultural fields. In one embodiment, a seed firmer includes a base support to be positioned in operation in proximity to a trench for planting seed in the trench and a lower member integrated with the base support or coupled to the base support. The lower member includes a non-planar ground contacting lower surface to adjust an orientation of the seed to a desired seed orientation within the trench and to position the seed within the trench at a desired depth.
Claims20
A seed firmer comprising:
- a base support to be positioned in operation in proximity to a trench for planting seed in the trench;
- and
- a lower member integrated with the base support or coupled to the base support, the lower member includes a non-planar ground contacting lower surface disposed on a side of the lower member adjacent to a first wall of the trench to adjust an orientation of the seed to a desired seed orientation within the trench and to position the seed within the trench at a desired depth.
A row unit comprising:
- a seed meter for depositing seeds in a trench;
- and
- a seed firmer to resiliently engage a bottom of the trench in order to press the seeds into soil, the seed firmer comprises a first vision system in operation to determine pre-orientation data for a first seed in a pre-orientation position in the trench and a seed orientation functionality to adjust an orientation of a second seed to a desired seed orientation within the trench if desired based on the pre-orientation data for the first seed in the pre-orientation position.
An implement comprising:
- a frame;
- and
- a plurality of row units coupled to the frame, each row unit includes a seed firmer to resiliently engage a bottom of a trench in order to press seeds into soil, the seed firmer comprises a first vision system in operation to determine pre-orientation data for a first seed in a pre-orientation position in the trench and a seed orientation functionality to adjust an orientation of a second seed to a desired seed orientation within the trench if desired based on the pre-orientation data for the first seed in the pre-orientation position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.