Crop input variety selection systems, methods, and apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10159176-B2
Application number	US-201515545467-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 21, 2015
Priority date	Jan 22, 2015
Publication date	Dec 25, 2018
Grant date	Dec 25, 2018

Abstract

A seed meter comprising a seed handler comprising a cylinder comprising a plurality of seed chambers. The seed handler rotates the cylinder to sequentially position each seed chamber in a ‘loading’ position wherein each seed chamber receives a sets of seeds, a ‘planting’ position wherein seeds from each seed set are parsed, and an ‘evacuation’ position wherein any seeds remaining in each chamber are evacuated from each chamber. The seed meter additionally comprises a seed separator comprising a seed disc. The seed disc rotates, parses seed from each seed chamber, and transports the seeds to the exit chute. Importantly, the seed meter is structured and operable to substantially simultaneously, receive the sets of seed in the respective chamber positioned in the ‘loading’ position, parse the seeds from the respective chamber positioned in the ‘planting’ position, and evacuate the remaining seed from the respective chamber positioned in the ‘evacuation’ position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A seed meter, said seed meter comprising:
a seed handler, the seed handler comprising a cylinder, the cylinder comprising a plurality of seed chambers, the seed handler structured and operable to incrementally rotate the cylinder to sequentially position each seed chamber in a ‘loading’ position wherein each seed chamber receives a sets of seeds, sequentially position each seed chamber in a ‘planting’ position wherein a particular number of seeds from each seed set are parsed from each seed chamber and transported to an exit chute for planting, and sequentially position each seed chamber in an ‘evacuation’ position wherein any seeds remaining in each chamber after parsing are evacuated from each chamber; and
a seed separator operably coupled to the seed handler, the seed separator structured and operable to parse a particular numbers of seed from each seed chamber and transport the seed to the exit chute as each seed chamber is incrementally rotated into the ‘planting’ position,
wherein the seed meter is structured and operable to substantially simultaneously, receive the sets of seed in the respective chamber positioned in the ‘loading’ position, parse the seeds from the respective chamber positioned in the ‘planting’ position, and evacuate the remaining seed from the respective chamber positioned in the ‘evacuation’ position.

2. The meter of claim 1 , wherein each chamber comprises:
a top opening formed in a cylindrical side of the cylinder through which each seed set is deposited into the respective chamber; and
a bottom opening formed in a front panel of cylinder through which seed is presented to the seed separator for parsing.

3. The meter of claim 2 , wherein the cylinder further comprises a plurality of singulator bins, each singulator bin disposed on a front panel of the cylinder radially outward from a respective one of the chamber bottom openings.

4. A seed meter, said seed meter comprising:
a seed handler, the seed handler comprising a cylinder, the cylinder comprising a plurality of seed chambers, the seed handler structured and operable to incrementally rotate the cylinder to sequentially position each seed chamber in a ‘loading’ position wherein the seed chamber receives a set of seeds, sequentially position each seed chamber in a ‘planting’ position wherein a particular number of seeds from each seed set are parsed from the seed chamber and transported to an exit chute for planting, and sequentially position each seed chamber in an ‘evacuation’ position wherein any seeds remaining in the chamber after parsing are evacuated from the chamber; and
a seed separator operably coupled to the seed handler, the seed separator comprising a seed disc rotationally disposed within a separator housing, the seed disc comprising a plurality of seed apertures disposed along an outer edge portion of the seed disc, the seed separator structured and operable rotate the seed disc such that seeds from each seed set are entrained on the seed apertures, via a vacuum supplied at each seed aperture, to parse the particular numbers of seed from each seed chamber and transport the seed to the exit chute as each seed chamber is incrementally rotated into the ‘planting’ position,
wherein the seed meter is structured and operable to substantially simultaneously, receive the sets of seed in the respective chamber positioned in the ‘loading’ position, parse the seeds from the respective chamber positioned in the ‘planting’ position, and evacuate the remaining seed from the respective chamber positioned in the ‘evacuation’ position.

5. The meter of claim 4 , wherein each chamber comprises:
a top opening formed in a cylindrical side of the cylinder through which each seed set is deposited into the respective chamber; and
a bottom opening formed in a front panel of cylinder through which seed is presented to the seed disc for parsing.

6. The meter of claim 5 further comprising a plurality of pre-singulators attached to the front panel of the cylinder adjacent each bottom opening, each pre-singulator structured and operable to dislodge ‘stacked’ seeds that are lifted and removed from the respective seed set by a seed entrained on a seed aperture of the seed disc.

7. The meter of claim 5 further comprising a singulator disposed within the separator housing in proximity to a face of the seed disc and in proximity to a circular path of the entrained seeds as the seed disc parses seed from the respective chamber and transports the entrained seeds to the exit chute, the singulator structured and operable to dislodge seed in excess of one that are entrained on any seed aperture.

8. The meter of claim 7 , wherein the cylinder comprises a plurality of singulator bins, each singulator bin disposed on a front panel of the cylinder radially outward from a respective one of the chamber bottom openings.

9. The meter of claim 8 further comprising a diverter disposed within the separator housing adjacent the singulator and above the singulator bin of the receptacle in the ‘planting’ position, the diverter structured and operable to deflect seeds dislodged by the singulator into one of the chamber in the ‘planting’ position or the corresponding singulator bin.

10. A seed planting system, said system comprising:
a seed source structured and operable to retain a plurality of seeds and to controllably dispense a plurality of sets of seeds; and
a seed meter fluidly connected to the seed source for receiving each set of seeds dispensed from the seed source, said seed meter comprising:
a seed handler, the seed handler comprising a cylinder, the cylinder comprising a plurality of seed chambers, the seed handler structured and operable to incrementally rotate the cylinder to sequentially position each seed chamber in a ‘loading’ position wherein the seed chamber receives a set of seeds, sequentially position each seed chamber in a ‘planting’ position wherein a particular number of seeds from each seed set are parsed from the seed chamber and transported to an exit chute for planting, and sequentially position each seed chamber in an ‘evacuation’ position wherein any seeds remaining in the chamber after parsing are evacuated from the chamber; and
a seed separator operably coupled to the seed handler, the seed separator comprising a seed disc rotationally disposed within a separator housing, the seed disc comprising a plurality of seed apertures disposed along an outer edge portion of the seed disc, the seed separator structured and operable rotate the seed disc such that seeds from each seed set are entrained on the seed apertures, via a vacuum supplied at each seed aperture, to parse the particular numbers of seed from each seed chamber and transport the seed to the exit chute as each seed chamber is incrementally rotated into the ‘planting’ position,
wherein the seed meter is structured and operable to substantially simultaneously, receive the sets of seed in the respective chamber positioned in the ‘loading’ position, parse the seeds from the respective chamber positioned in the ‘planting’ position, and evacuate the remaining seed from the respective chamber positioned in the ‘evacuation’ position.

11. The meter of claim 10 , wherein each chamber comprises:
a top opening formed in a cylindrical side of the cylinder through which each seed set is deposited into the respective chamber; and
a bottom opening formed in a front panel of cylinder through which seed is presented to the seed disc for parsing.

12. The meter of claim 11 further comprising a plurality of pre-singulators attached to the front panel of the cylinder adjacent each bottom opening, each pre-singulator structured and oper

Assignees

• Monsanto Technology Llc

Inventors

• Baitinger David J
• Borrowman Eric L
• Heathcote Chad A
• Thielen Andrew D

Classifications

• A01C5/064

  with rotating tools · CPC title

• A01C15/006

  Hoppers · CPC title

• A01C21/00

  Methods of fertilising {, sowing or planting} · CPC title

• A01C7/105 Primary

  Seed sensors · CPC title

• A01C7/046

  with perforated seeding discs · CPC title