Seed placement system for use in a seeding machine

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 housing having a seed slide said seed slide configured to guide a seed in a trajectory path, said seed slide having a concave shape in a direction along said trajectory path and a concave shape in a direction normal to said trajectory path;
• and
• a wheel at least partly disposed within said housing, said wheel having a circumferential periphery with a plurality of contiguous disjoint surfaces, said periphery being positioned adjacent at least part of said concave shapes of said seed slide, said wheel comprises a brush wheel, and said plurality of disjoint surfaces comprise a plurality of generally radially extending bristles at said periphery.

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 housing having a seed slide, said seed slide configured to guide a seed in a trajectory path, said seed slide having a concave shape in a direction along said trajectory path and a concave shape in a direction normal to said trajectory path;
• and
• a wheel at least partly disposed within said housing, said wheel having a circumferential periphery with a plurality of contiguous disjoint surfaces, said periphery being positioned adjacent at least part of said concave shapes of said seed slide, said wheel periphery comprises one of bristles, a foam pad, an expanded foam pad, a mesh pad, a fiber pad and a grit layer.

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 housing having a seed slide, said seed slide configured to guide a seed in a trajectory path with a concave surface in a direction along said trajectory path and a concave shape in a direction normal to said trajectory path;
• and
• a wheel at least partly disposed within said housing, said wheel having a circumferential periphery with a plurality of contiguous disjoint surfaces, said periphery being positioned adjacent at least part of said concave surface of said seed slide, said seed slide includes opposite sides, and said housing further includes a pair of side plates positioned on said opposite sides of said seed slide.

A seed placement system for use in a seeding machine, comprising:

• a seed slide configured to guide a seed in a trajectory path, said seed slide having a concave surface in a direction along said trajectory path and a concave shape in a direction normal to said trajectory path;
• a wheel having a circumferential periphery with a plurality of contiguous disjoint surfaces, said periphery being positioned closely adjacent at least part of said concave surface of said seed slide;
• and
• a deflector positioned in association with said wheel for deflecting a portion of said plurality of disjoint surfaces at said wheel periphery.

A seed placement system for use in a seeding machine, comprising:

• a seed slide configured to guide a seed in a trajectory path, said seed slide having a concave surface in a direction along said trajectory path and a concave shape in a direction normal to said trajectory path;
• a wheel having a circumferential periphery with a plurality of contiguous disjoint surfaces, said periphery being positioned closely adjacent at least part of said concave surface of said seed slide, said wheel comprises a brush wheel, and said plurality of disjoint surfaces comprise a plurality of generally radially extending bristles at said periphery;
• and
• a deflector positioned in association with said wheel for deflecting a portion of said plurality of disjoint surfaces at said wheel periphery.

A seed placement system for use in a seeding machine, comprising:

• a seed slide configured to guide a seed in a trajectory path, said seed slide having a concave surface in a direction along said trajectory path and a concave shape in a direction normal to said trajectory path;
• a wheel having a circumferential periphery with a plurality of contiguous disjoint surfaces, said periphery being positioned closely adjacent at least part of said concave surface of said seed slide, said wheel periphery comprises one of bristles, a foam pad, an expanded foam pad, a mesh pad, a fiber pad and a grit layer;
• and
• a deflector positioned in association with said wheel for deflecting a portion of said plurality of disjoint surfaces at said wheel periphery.

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, said seed slide configured to guide a seed in a trajectory path having a concave surface in a direction along said trajectory path and a concave shape in a direction normal to said trajectory path, and a wheel having a circumferential periphery positioned closely adjacent at least part of said seed slide;
• engaging the seeds at the predetermined rate against said wheel periphery;
• carrying the seeds past a closely adjacent area of said concave surface of said seed slide using said wheel periphery;
• and
• releasing the seeds from said wheel periphery.