Row unit for a seeding machine with dual seed meters

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9795078-B2
Application number	US-201514869693-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 29, 2015
Priority date	Nov 7, 2014
Publication date	Oct 24, 2017
Grant date	Oct 24, 2017

Abstract

A row unit for a seeding machine includes a frame and a seed meter coupled to the frame. The seed meter has a metering member for singulating seeds. The metering member has a groove recessed from a surface of the metering member. The row unit also includes a ramp surface for guiding the singulated seeds from the metering member, the ramp surface being at least partially disposed in the groove.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A row unit for a seeding machine comprising:
a frame;
a seed meter coupled to the frame, the seed meter having a metering member rotatable about an axis and having apertures for singulating seeds, the metering member having a groove recessed from a surface of the metering member; and
a ramp surface for guiding the singulated seeds from the metering member, wherein the ramp surface is at least partially disposed in the groove and disposed entirely radially outside the apertures for singulating seeds.

2. The row unit for a seeding machine of claim 1 , wherein the groove is substantially arcuate with respect to the axis such that the ramp surface frictionally engages the metering member in the groove as the metering member rotates.

3. The row unit for a seeding machine of claim 2 , wherein the groove is substantially circular.

4. The row unit for a seeding machine of claim 1 , wherein the ramp surface is disposed flush with or recessed from the surface of the metering member.

5. The row unit for a seeding machine of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of apertures are configured for attracting seeds at least in part by a pressure differential.

6. The row unit for a seeding machine of claim 1 , wherein a distal end of the ramp surface is disposed in the groove.

7. The row unit for a seeding machine of claim 6 , wherein the ramp surface is inclined.

8. The row unit for a seeding machine of claim 6 , wherein the ramp surface is substantially arcuate.

9. The row unit for a seeding machine of claim 6 , further comprising a seed delivery mechanism having a conduit for dispensing singulated seeds from the seeding machine, wherein the ramp surface is inclined from the metering member to the seed delivery mechanism for guiding singulated seeds toward the conduit.

10. The row unit for a seeding machine of claim 1 , further comprising a seed loader having a movable sweeper for engaging the singulated seeds and an outlet opening for releasing the singulated seeds from the seed loader, wherein the sweeper is configured to cooperate with the ramp surface to guide the singulated seeds to the outlet opening.

11. A row unit for a seeding machine comprising:
a first seed meter having a first metering member for moving seeds sequentially from a first seed pool;
a second seed meter having a second metering member for moving seeds sequentially from a second seed pool;
a seed delivery mechanism having a conduit for discharging seeds from the seeding machine;
a first ramp surface for guiding the seeds from the first metering member towards a drop off location at which the seeds are received by the conduit; and
a second ramp surface for guiding the seeds from the second metering member towards the drop off location at which the seeds are received by the conduit;
wherein the drop off location is disposed between the first and second ramp surfaces.

12. The row unit for a seeding machine of claim 11 , wherein the conduit is disposed between the first and second ramp surfaces.

13. The row unit for a seeding machine of claim 11 , wherein the conduit is in engagement with the first and second ramp surfaces.

14. The row unit for a seeding machine of claim 11 , wherein the first metering member includes a first groove recessed from a surface of the first metering member, wherein the second metering member includes a second groove recessed from a surface of the second metering member, wherein the first ramp surface is disposed at least partially in the first groove, and wherein the second ramp surface is disposed at least partially in the second groove.

15. The row unit for a seeding machine of claim 14 , wherein the first and second ramp surfaces are disposed flush with or recessed from the respective surface of the respective metering member.

16. The row unit for a seeding machine of claim 14 , wherein the first and second metering members are rotatable about respective axes, and wherein the first and second grooves are substantially arcuate with respect to the respective axes such that the first and second ramp surfaces frictionally engage the respective first and second metering members during rotation of the first and second metering members.

17. The row unit for a seeding machine of claim 16 , wherein the first and second grooves are substantially circular.

18. The row unit for a seeding machine of claim 11 , further comprising a seed loader disposed between the first and second seed meters, the seed loader having a movable sweeper for engaging the seeds from the first and second seed meters and an outlet opening for releasing the seeds from the seed loader, wherein the sweeper is configured to cooperate with the first and second ramp surfaces to guide the seeds to the outlet opening.

19. The row unit for a seeding machine of claim 18 , wherein the sweeper is rotatable about an axis, and wherein the first and second ramps are substantially arcuate about the axis.

20. The row unit for a seeding machine of claim 19 , wherein each of the first and second ramps is inclined from the respective seed meter towards the outlet opening.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Garner Elijah B
• Felton Keith L
• Helmick Kriss
• Natarajan Kamalakannan

Classifications

• A01C7/20 Primary

  Parts of seeders for conducting and depositing seed · CPC title

• A01C7/046

  with perforated seeding discs · CPC title

• A01C7/0445

  Seed ejectors · CPC title