Planter seed conveyor system
AssigneeHarvest International, Inc.
InventorsJeffrey Alan Sivinski, Byron James Friesen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An agricultural bulk seed planter includes a toolbar assembly with a frame, a bulk seed hopper mounted on the frame, a series of row planters mounted on the frame, with each row planter having a seed meter, and a series of mechanical conveyors extending between the frame and the seed meters. Each conveyor has an inlet to receive seed from the hopper and an outlet to discharge seed to one of the seed meters. The seed meter includes a seed level or volume sensor, which sends signals to a remote controller, which in turn adjusts the operation of the conveyors to maintain a proper seed level or volume in the seed meters.
Claims28
A bulk seed planter system, comprising:
- a tool bar assembly with a frame;
- a bulk seed hopper on the frame and having a seed outlet;
- a row planter on the frame and having a seed meter;
- and
- a mechanical conveyor mounted to the frame and having an inlet to receive seed from the bulk seed hopper and an outlet to discharge seed into the seed meter.
A method of conveying seed from a bulk seed hopper on a frame of a tool bar to a seed meter on a planter row on the frame, comprising:
- dropping seed from an outlet on the bulk seed hopper into a mechanical conveyor mounted on the frame;
- transporting the seed on the conveyor;
- and
- dropping seed from an outlet on the conveyor into the seed meter.
A mechanical conveyor assembly for transporting seeds from a hopper on an agricultural planter frame to a seed meter on row unit on the frame, the mechanical conveyor assembly comprising:
- a conveyor having an inlet and an outlet;
- a hose connected the hopper and to the inlet of the conveyor;
- a hose to connect the outlet of the conveyor and to the seed meter;
- and
- a belt extending between the inlet and the outlet to carry the seeds from the hopper to the seed meter.
An agricultural seed planter, comprising:
- a hopper to hold seed;
- a plurality of seed meters to dispense seed;
- and
- a plurality of mechanical conveyors adapted to receive seed from the hopper, and each conveyor being associated with one of the seed meters to direct seed from the hopper to the associated seed meter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.