Seed placement system for use in a seeding machine
AssigneeDeere & Company
InventorDaniel B. Thiemke
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A seeding machine includes at least one seed metering system and at least one seed placement system. Each seed placement system includes a seed slide and a wheel. The wheel includes a structural hub, a resilient middle layer positioned radially around the hub, and a gripping outside layer positioned radially around the middle layer. The gripping outside layer has a circumferential periphery which is positioned adjacent to at least part of the seed slide. The circumferential periphery has a plurality of contiguous disc joint surfaces.
Claims39
A seeding machine, comprising:
- at least one seed metering system;
- and
- at least one seed placement system, each said seed placement system being in communication with a corresponding said seed metering system, each said seed placement system including:
- a seed slide;
- and
- a wheel having a structural hub, a resilient middle layer positioned radially around said hub, and a gripping outside layer positioned radially around said middle layer, said gripping outside layer having a circumferential periphery positioned adjacent at least part of said seed slide, said circumferential periphery having a plurality of contiguous disjoint surfaces.
A seed placement system for use in a seeding machine, comprising:
- a seed slide;
- and
- a wheel having a structural hub, a resilient middle layer positioned radially around said hub, and a gripping outside layer positioned radially around said middle layer, said gripping outside layer having a circumferential periphery positioned adjacent at least part of said seed slide, said circumferential periphery having a plurality of contiguous disjoint surfaces.
A seed regulator in a seeding machine, comprising a wheel having a structural hub, a resilient middle layer positioned radially around said hub, and a gripping outside layer positioned radially around said middle layer, said gripping outside layer having a circumferential periphery with a plurality of contiguous disjoint surfaces.
A method of placing seeds with a seeding machine in a trench formed in soil, comprising the steps of:
- receiving seeds at a predetermined rate at a seed placement system, said seed placement system including a seed slide, and a wheel having a structural hub, a resilient middle layer positioned radially around said hub, and a gripping outside layer positioned radially around said middle layer, said gripping outside layer having a circumferential periphery positioned closely adjacent at least part of said seed slide, said circumferential periphery having a plurality of contiguous disjoint surfaces;
- engaging the seeds at the predetermined rate against said wheel periphery;
- carrying the seeds past at least part of said seed slide with said wheel periphery while maintaining the seeds in contact with said seed slide;
- accomodating orientation and size variations of the seeds by locally deflecting said resilient middle layer during said carrying step;
- and
- releasing the seeds from said wheel periphery.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.