Systems and methods for producing seed pillows

An apparatus for producing seed pillows, comprising:

• an ultrasonic welding wheel configured to vibrate at a frequency that fuses a first water-soluble film to a second film;
• and
• a roller with a plurality of recesses located on an outer rim of the roller, each recess of the plurality of recesses including a hole through which suction is applied, and a seed cluster being disposed over a recess of the plurality of recesses between the first water-soluble film and the second film, wherein the roller is configured to:
• apply suction to the first water-soluble film,
• rotate through a contact point with the ultrasonic welding wheel, such that the ultrasonic welding wheel fuses the first water-soluble film to the second film without contacting the seed cluster to create a seed pillow, and
• stop the suction to the first water-soluble film to release the seed pillow from the recess.

A method for producing seed pillows, the method comprising:

• depositing a seed cluster on a first water-soluble film that is disposed on an outer rim of a roller with a plurality of recesses, the seed cluster being positioned over a recess of the plurality of recesses, and each recess of the plurality of recesses including a hole through which suction is applied;
• applying suction to the first water-soluble film through the hole of the recess to pull the first water-soluble film and the seed cluster into the recess;
• and
• rotating the roller through a contact point with an ultrasonic welding wheel to fuse edges of the first water-soluble film to edges of a second film without contacting the seed cluster to create a seed pillow.