Systems and methods for spraying seeds dispensed from a high-speed planter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12514149-B2
Application number	US-202218146040-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 23, 2022
Priority date	Mar 22, 2019
Publication date	Jan 6, 2026
Grant date	Jan 6, 2026

Abstract

A planter system for planting seeds and spraying fluid includes a seeder assembly including a seed tube and a conveyor apparatus configured to propel or carry the seed through the seed tube. The planter system also includes a sensor configured to transmit a detection signal upon detection of the seed passing a detection location. The planter system also includes a control system configured to determine a travel time of the seed from the detection location to a furrow based on a baseline drop time for the seed, a baseline travel speed of the seeder assembly, and an operating travel speed of the seeder assembly. The control system is configured to transmit a control signal to a valve coupled to a nozzle assembly based on the travel time and the detection signal to spray the fluid on or adjacent the seed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A planter system for planting seeds and spraying a fluid, the planter system comprising:
a seeder assembly including:
a seed tube;
a conveyor apparatus including a source of pressurized fluid, wherein the conveyor apparatus is configured to propel the seed through the seed tube using the pressurized fluid;
a sensor configured to transmit a detection signal upon detection of the seed passing a detection location; a nozzle assembly configured to spray the fluid in response to receiving a control signal; a valve fluidly coupled with the nozzle assembly and configured to control fluid flow therethrough; and a control system communicatively coupled to the sensor and the valve, wherein the control system is configured to:
determine a travel time of the seed from the detection location to a furrow based on a baseline drop time for the seed, a baseline travel speed of the seeder assembly, and an operating travel speed of the seeder assembly; and
transmit the control signal to the valve based on the travel time and the detection signal to spray the fluid on or adjacent the seed.

2 . The planter system of claim 1 , wherein the control system is configured to calculate a quotient of the baseline travel speed and the operating travel speed.

3 . The planter system of claim 2 , wherein the control system is further configured to calculate the product of the baseline drop time and the quotient of the baseline travel speed and the operating travel speed to determine the travel time of the seed from the detection location to the furrow.

4 . The planter system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is located within or adjacent to the seed tube to detect the seed passing through the seed tube between a first end and a second end of the seed tube.

5 . A method for planting seeds and spraying fluid using a planter system including at least one seeder assembly, the method comprising:
dispensing a seed into a seed tube of the seeder assembly; propelling the seed through the seed tube using a pressurized fluid; detecting the seed passing a detection location; transmitting a detection signal to a control system upon detection of the seed passing the detection location; determining a travel time of the seed from the detection location to a furrow based on a baseline drop time for the seed, a baseline travel speed of the seeder assembly, and an operating travel speed of the seeder assembly; transmitting a control signal from the control system to a valve based on the travel time and the detection signal, wherein the valve is fluidly coupled to a nozzle assembly to control fluid flow therethrough; and actuating the valve upon receiving the control signal such that fluid is sprayed from the nozzle assembly on or adjacent to the seed.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein determining the travel time of the seed from the detection location to the furrow comprises calculating a quotient of the baseline travel speed and the operating travel speed.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein determining the travel time of the seed from the detection location to the furrow further comprises calculating the product of the baseline drop time and the quotient of the baseline travel speed and the operating travel speed.

8 . The method of claim 6 further comprising determining the operating travel speed of the seeder assembly based on a detected travel speed of the planter system and a location of the seeder assembly relative to a centerline of the planter system.

9 . The method of claim 6 , wherein detecting the seed passing through the seed tube comprises detecting the seed passing through the seed tube using a sensor positioned adjacent or within the seed tube between an inlet and an outlet of the seed tube.

10 . A planter system for planting seeds and spraying a fluid, the planter system comprising:
a plurality of row units, each row unit including:
a seed tube;
a conveyor apparatus including a source of pressurized fluid, wherein the conveyor apparatus is configured to propel the seed through the seed tube using the pressurized fluid; and
a sensor configured to transmit a detection signal upon detection of the seed passing a detection location; and
a control system communicatively coupled to the sensor of each row unit to receive the detection signal from the sensor of each row unit, wherein the control system is configured to determine, for each seeder assembly, a travel time of the seed from the detection location to a furrow based on a baseline drop time for the seed, a baseline travel speed of the seeder assembly, and an operating travel speed of the seeder assembly, wherein the operating travel speed of each seeder assembly is determined based on a location of the seeder assembly relative to a centerline of the planter system and a detected travel speed of the planter system.

11 . The planter system of claim 10 , wherein the control system is configured to calculate a quotient of the baseline travel speed and the operating travel speed.

12 . The planter system of claim 11 , wherein the control system is further configured to calculate the product of the baseline drop time and the quotient of the baseline travel speed and the operating travel speed to determine the travel time of the seed from the detection location to the furrow.

Assignees

• Capstan Ag Systems Inc

Inventors

• Madison Adam
• Moeder Anthony

Classifications

• A01C23/047

  Spraying of liquid fertilisers · CPC title

• A01C23/007

  Metering or regulating systems · CPC title

• A01C7/206

  Seed pipes · CPC title

• A01C7/105

  Seed sensors · CPC title

• A01C1/06

  Coating or dressing seed · CPC title