Row unit and planter or seeding machine with such

The invention relates to a row planter or seeder device comprising at least one seed dispensing system; and at least one seed feeding system connected to said seed dosing system for receiving dispensed seeds therefrom, said seed feeding system comprising: a housing having an upper opening for receiving seeds from said dispensing system and a lower opening for unloading seeds from said housing, and means inside said housing for gripping seeds in said upper opening, moving the seed towards said lower opening, accelerating horizontal seed speed and unloading seeds through said bottom opening, where said means for gripping, moving, seed acceleration and discharge include an endless element wrapped around a first drive pulley and a second passive pulley, said endless element having a resilient gripping portion for gripping seeds. The invention further relates to a planter or seeder comprising such a row device.

[0002] An agricultural sowing machine, such as a row planter or cereal seeder, places the seeds at the desired depth in many parallel seed ridges formed in the soil. In the case of a row planter, many row seed drills are usually driven on the ground with wheels, rollers, ladder wheels, distribution boxes,

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Chains and the like or is driven by electric or hydraulic motors. Each row seed drill has a frame that is movably coupled to a mounted tool bar. The main seed tank, herbicide tank and insecticide tank can be located on this frame. When using herbicides and insecticides, the dosing mechanisms associated with dispensing the granulated product into the seed ridge are relatively simple. On the other hand, the mechanisms necessary for proper seed metering and seed metering at predetermined relative positions in the seed chock are relatively complex.

[0003] Mechanisms associated with seed dispensing and placement can generally be divided into seed dispensing system and seed placement system that are connected in series with each other. The seed dosing system receives the seeds loose from the seed hopper mounted on the planter frame or on the row equipment. Various types of seed dispensing systems can be used, such as seed discs, finger discs, seed discs, tapes, and the like. In the case of a dispensing system in the form of a seed disk, this seed disk is formed in that it has a plurality of seed cells spaced at certain intervals along the periphery of the disk. Seeds are moved to the seed cells, one or more seeds in each seed cell, depending on the size and configuration of the seed cell. To support

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For moving seeds to seed cells, a negative pressure or a positive difference in air pressure can be used in conjunction with the seed disc. Seeds are separated into single and unloaded at a predetermined speed into the placement system or delivery system.

[0004] The most common seed feeding system can be classified as gravity fall system. In the case of a gravitational downfall system, the seed tube has an inlet end that is located below the seed dispensing system. Separated into single, seeds from the seed metering system simply fall into the seed tube and fall under the force of gravity from its end for unloading into the seed ridge. The seed tube may have a backward curvature to reduce bouncing of seeds when hitting the seed bed bottom and give the seed a horizontal speed to reduce the relative speed between the seeds and soil. Undesirable deviations in the resulting soil spacing between the seeds can be attributed to the differences in how individual seeds leave the dispensing system and fall through the seed tube. Changes in distances deteriorate at higher field speeds, which enhance dynamic field conditions. Subsequent changes in seed spacing are caused by the natural difference in relative speed between seeds and soil as the seed drill drives through the field. This relative speed difference causes bounce

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Of individual seeds and their scattering in somewhat random arrangements as each seed stops in the ridge. [0005] Various attempts have been made to reduce the change in seed spacing resulting from gravitational decline. US Patent No. 6,681,706 presents two approaches. In one approach, a strip with scrapers is used to transport the seed from the metering unit to the soil, while in another approach, two belts are used to grip the seeds and transport them from the metering unit to the soil. Although these approaches make it possible to regulate seed paths and reduce variability due to dynamic events, none of these approaches are looking for a way to feed seeds with as little horizontal velocity as possible relative to soil. US Patent Nos. 6,651,570, 7,185,596 and 7,343,868 show a system for feeding seeds by means of a brush wheel located near the ground to regulate horizontal speed and guide the seeds when they leave the seeder. However, there is still a gravitational drop between the seed metering unit and the brush wheel, which causes the seed spacing to change.

[0006] Accordingly, one object of the invention is to provide a seed drill of the type mentioned above which eliminates one or more of said problems.

[0007] The object of the invention will be achieved by means of the concepts set out in claims 1 and 15. Further preferred embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.

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[0008] According to the invention, a row device of the above-mentioned type is provided, equipped with an endless element comprising a brush band, in which the gripping part consists of a plurality of bristles with distal ends on the inner surface of said housing and moving along it in as said belt is driven from said upper opening, wherein the seeds from said seed dispensing system are trapped by said bristles and said housing into said bottom opening to transfer the seeds to said bottom hole and to discharge the seeds through it. The gripping portion may adhere to the inner surface of said housing and move along it as long as said endless element is driven from said upper opening, where the seeds from said seed dispensing system are entrapped by said gripping portion and said housing to said bottom hole to transfer the seeds to said bottom hole and to unload the seeds through it. The endless element may comprise a brush band in which the gripping portion consists of a plurality of bristles with distal ends on the inner surface of said housing and moving along it as said belt is driven from said upper opening where the seeds from said seed dispensing system are trapped by said bristles and said housing into said bottom opening in the target

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Transferring the seeds to said bottom hole and unloading the seeds therethrough. The speed of the distal ends of said bristles when the seeds are captured therein is lower than the speed of the distal ends of said bristles when the seeds are unloaded. In addition, the seed dispensing system may include a dispensing disk. In addition, the row device may comprise a load wheel adjacent to said upper opening in the housing, arranged in said seed dispensing arrangement opposite the bristles for gripping the seed therebetween. Said load wheel can be driven by said metering disk. Seeds may be introduced into said bristles in a direction parallel to the length of said bristles or alternatively in a direction substantially perpendicular to the length of said bristles. It is also possible that the seeds are introduced into said bristles in an angle direction to the length of said bristles, in particular at an angle of about sixty degrees. The seed metering system may include a metering disk to which the seeds adhere under air pressure. Furthermore, it is possible for the seeds to be removed from the dosage element at least partly by means of said bristles. Seeds can be unloaded at a horizontal ground speed of approximately zero, said element endlessly defining a path for seeds along which the seeds are accelerated horizontally backwards to a speed equal to

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EP 2 213 152 B1 approximately the forward speed of the drill. The dispensing disc may define a first plane, and said endless element may define a second plane, substantially parallel to said first plane. The seed dispensing system may alternatively comprise a dispensing tape in which said endless element lies substantially in the same plane as said dispensing tape.

[0009] The invention also relates to a planter or seeder comprising at least one or more row equipment as defined above. Also disclosed is a method of feeding seeds from a soil metering device. This method comprises the following steps: removing the seed from the dispenser by gripping the seeds in the bristles of the brush belt and the housing; moving the seeds to the lower end of said housing; accelerating the seeds backwards in a horizontal direction; and unloading the seeds through an opening at the lower end of said housing. The method may further comprise an acceleration step which takes place by changing the direction of the seed path, the acceleration step being carried out by rotating the belt around the pulley, as a result of which the linear speed of the outer ends of the bristles is accelerated.

[0010] Said seed disc may have a generally flat configuration comprising a seed side and an opposite side, the seed side having a surface defining a reference plane near the periphery of the disc, an outer circumferential protrusion recessed from the plane

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EP 2 213 152 B1 thus forming a radially outwardly leading edge on the seed side of the disc along the radially inner edge of the projection, a circumferential row of spaced apart holes arranged around a circular path radially inward relative to the outwardly facing edge, the holes these pass through the shield from the seed side to the opposite side, and each hole on the seed side of the disc is surrounded by a conical recess axially entering the disc from the reference plane, the recess starting at the leading edge in the direction of rotation of the disc and becoming gradually deeper towards the trailing edge of the recess formed by a wall protruding axially from the bottom dimples to the reference plane and the wall extending in the longitudinal direction, mainly radially, and a projection extending axially outward from the reference plane adjacent to each wall immediately following that wall in the direction of rotation of the disc. These projections can be located radially inward with respect to the circular path of the holes and can be formed by projecting stakes. The wall at the trailing edge of the conical recess can be inclined to the radial direction, with the radially inner end of the wall leading radially outer end relative to the direction of rotation of the disc.

[0011] However, the described invention includes a row device and a planter or seeder with such a row device,

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EP 2 213 152 B1 equipped with a seed feeding system which removes the seeds from the seed dispenser by gripping the seeds. This feeding system then moves the seeds down to the lower unloading point and accelerates the seeds backwards to a horizontal speed, which is approximately equal to the forward speed of the drill, so that the seeds, after unloading, have low or zero horizontal speed relative to the ground . The effect of the near-zero horizontal speed relative to the ground is to reduce seed rolling in the ridge. In addition, because the seeds are subject to controlled descent from the point where they are removed from the dispenser, to a point very close to the bottom of the ridge, the system becomes almost insensitive to field dynamics that affects the row device. The combination of controlled descent and unloading at substantially zero horizontal ground speed reduces the variation in seed spacing.

Fig. 1 is a top view of a planter having a seed feeding system according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the row device of the planter of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side view of the seed feeding system according to the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a top view of a row planter device showing the orientation of the dispensing system in one alternative embodiment of the dispensing system and delivery system of the present invention;

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Fig. 5 is a top view similar to Fig. 4 illustrating the administration system with the dispenser housing removed;

Fig. 6 is a side view of the row device of Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the seed disk used in the seed dispenser shown in Figs. 4-6;

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 of Fig. 7 illustrating the orientation of the seed disk and brush or seed delivery system according to the present invention;

Fig. 9 is a side view of the row device showing the orientation of the delivery system of the present invention and the seed dispenser in the form of a vacuum belt;

Fig. 10 is a side view of another orientation of the seed delivery system according to the invention with a seed dispenser in the form of a vacuum belt; and

Fig. 11 shows a side view of the orientation of a seed delivery system according to the invention with a finger collecting dispenser.

[0012] Referring to Fig. 1, an exemplary planter or seeder 10 including a seed feeding system according to the present invention is shown. Planter 10 includes a beam 12 for suspended tools as part of the planter frame 14. A number of planting rows 16 are mounted on the implement beam. Row devices 16 are usually identical for each planter, but there may be differences. The row device 16 is shown in more detail in Fig. 2. The row device 16 has a central element 20

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A frame having at its front end a pair of upwardly extending arms 21 (Fig. 4). The arms 21 connect to the parallelogram mechanism 22 for mounting the row device 16 to the beam 12 for suspended tools in order to perform relative up and down movement between the device 16 and the beam 12 for suspended tools in a known manner. The seeds are stored in the seed tank 24 and delivered to the seed dispenser 26. The seed dispenser 26 is of the type that uses a vacuum disc that is well known in metering seeds. Other types of dispensers can also be used. From the seed dispenser 26, the seeds are carried through a system 28 for feeding into a furrow, or a ridge, for planting, formed in the soil by the seed coulters 30. The front support wheels 32 adjust the depth of the ridge. Strewing discs 34 close the ridge above the seeds. The front support wheels 32 are attached to the frame member 20 by means of the arms 36. The attachment tool bar and the row implement are constructed so that they can move above the ground in the forward working direction, indicated by arrow 38.

[0013] The row device 16 further comprises a chemical tank 40, a ridge cleaning device 42 and a downward force generator 44. The row device 16 is shown as an example of an environment in which the dispensing system of the present invention is used. The present invention can be used in any of various types of machines

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For planting, such as, but not limited to, row planters, cereal seeders, pneumatic planters, and the like.

[0014] Referring to Fig. 3, the seed feeding system 28 is shown in more detail. The seed feeding system 28 includes a housing 48 disposed adjacent to the seed disk 50 for the seed dispenser. The seed disc 50 is generally a flat disc with a plurality of holes 52 adjacent the periphery of the disc. Seeds 56 are collected in the holes from the seed container and adhere to the target due to the difference in air pressure on the opposite sides of the target 50 in a known manner. This disc may have a flat surface where the holes 52 are located, or it may have seed cells surrounding the holes 52. The dial rotates clockwise when looking at Fig. 3 as shown by arrow 54. In the upper part of Fig. 3 shows seeds 56 adhering to the target.

[0015] The housing 48 of the seed supply system has a front and rear wall 49 and 51 spaced apart from each other and a side wall 53 between them. The top opening 58 in the side wall 53 of the housing draws seeds from the metering disk 50 into the housing. A pair of pulleys 60, 62 is mounted inside the enclosure 48. The pulleys 60, 62 support the belt 64 so that it rotates within the enclosure. One of the pulleys 60, 62 is a driving pulley, while the other is a passive pulley. The belt has a base element 66 for engaging with pulleys 60, 62 and extending from it elongated

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Bristles 70. These bristles are connected to the base element at the proximal or radially inner, ends of the bristles. The distal, or radially outer, bristle ends 74 touch or nearly touch the inner surface 76 of the sidewall 53 of the housing. The lower opening 78 of the housing is formed in the side wall 53 and is positioned as close as possible to the bottom of the seed coulter. As shown, the lower hole 78 is near or below the soil surface 82 adjacent the ridge. The side wall of the housing forms an outlet ramp 84 in the bottom opening 78.

[0016] Referring again to the upper part of Fig. 3, a load wheel 86 is located adjacent to the upper hole 58. The load wheel is located on the opposite side of the seed 56 than the brush 64 so that the seed path on the disc feeds the seed into the gap 88, formed between the loading wheel and the distal ends of 74 Szczecin 70. At the location of the slot 88, the air pressure difference on the seed disc 50 is erased, causing the seeds to be released from the holes 52 in the disk 50. The bottom surface of the load wheel, facing the seed disc 50, has cavities 90 formed therein. The cavities 90 enter seed agitators 92, protruding from the seed disc 50. Moving agitators drive the load wheel in a clockwise direction as a result of coupling with the recesses in the load wheel.

[0017] In operation, the belt 64 is rotated counterclockwise. Because the tape

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Curves around the pulleys, the bristles naturally open, i.e., they separate from each other as the distal ends of the bristles move a greater circumferential distance around the pulleys than the inner ends of the bristles on the base element of the belt. This has two beneficial effects as described below. The seeds are transferred from the seed dispenser to the feeding system because the seeds are fed through the disk to the slot 88. There, the seeds are removed from the seed disk between the load wheel and the bristles 70 to remove the seeds from the seed disk and from the seed dispenser. Seeds are trapped or trapped in the bristles by introducing the seeds into the bristles in the radial direction, i.e. from the ends of the bristles in a direction parallel to the length of the bristles. This occurs as soon as the seed path around the pulley 60 ends, when the bristle ends close back together, allowing the bristles to close and grip the seeds in them. As the tape continues to move, the bristles move or transfer the seeds down to the bottom opening of the housing. The side wall 53 of the housing interacts with the bristles 70 to hold the seeds in the bristles of the brush as the seeds move into the bottom hole.

[0018] The bottom hole 78 and the ramp 84 are located along the curved belt path around the pulley 62. In this way, the distal ends of the bristles cause the linear speed of the seeds to be accelerated relative to the speed of the element

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In this case, the basic strip 66 and housing, as shown by two arrows 94 and 96. The seeds are then driven by means of bristles on ramp 84 and unloaded through the bottom opening 78 into the seed coulter. The ramp angle 84 can be selected to give the desired ratio between vertical and horizontal seed speed when unloading. The forward direction of the row device is to the left in Fig. 3, as shown by arrow 38. On unloading, the horizontal component of the seed velocity in relation to the ground is minimized so as to reduce seed rolling in the ridge.

[0019] The belt shown in Fig. 3 has relatively long bristles. As a result of the long bristles and the seed loading point being at the end of the curved brush path around the pulley 60, the seeds are loaded into the belt while the bristles have reduced speed. Thus, the speed of the bristles during loading is slower than the speed of the bristles in the discharge opening when the belt runs around the pulley 62. This allows the seeds to be loaded into the belt at a relatively lower speed, while the seeds are unloaded at the lower end at the desired higher speed. As described above, it is preferred that the horizontal speed of the seed when unloading is equal to the speed of the planter moving forward, but towards the rear is such that the horizontal speed of the seed relative to the ground is close to or equal to zero. Long bristles can be used to increase the speed of the seeds as they move around the circle

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EP 2 213 152 B1. However, you can also use a brush with short bristles. For brushes with short bristles, there will be little acceleration of seed speed as the seed moves around the pulleys. The belt must be driven at a speed sufficient to produce the desired horizontal seed speed when unloading. Even with brushes with short bristles, the seeds are still accelerated horizontally. As the belt moves around the pulley, the direction of movement of the seeds changes from the predominantly vertical direction when the seeds are moved down from the seed dispenser to the predominantly horizontal direction when unloading. This accelerates the seed speed in the horizontal direction.

[0020] By means of the feeding system 28, the seeds are picked up by the feeding system to remove the seeds from the seed dispenser. Then the seeds are moved by the feeding system to the seed unloading point, where the seeds are accelerated horizontally backwards relative to the housing. From the seed dispenser to unloading, the seed path is controlled by the feeding system, thus maintaining the relative spacing between the seeds.

[0021] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the seed disk and the front and rear walls 49, 51 of the housing 48 lie in planes that are generally parallel to each other. As shown, the plane of the delivery system is

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EP 2 213 152 B1 generally parallel to the direction of travel of the row device. Other relationships between the seed metering unit and the feeding system are shown and described below.

[0022] As shown in Fig. 3, the side wall 53 is divided by the upper and lower openings 58, 78 into two segments, 53a and 53b. Segment 53a is located between the upper and lower opening in the direction of belt travel, while segment 53b is between the lower and upper opening in the direction of the belt travel. The side wall 53 has slots that form the upper and lower apertures. However, it should be understood that the delivery system will operate without the sidewall segment 53b. It is only segment 53a that works together with the belt bristles to feed the seed from the dispenser to the seed ridge. Thus, the term "top hole" should be understood to mean the open area in front of the sidewall segment 53a in the direction of belt run, and the term "bottom hole" means the open area after the sidewall segment 53a in the direction of belt run.

[0023] Referring to Figs. 4-7, there is shown a feeding system 28 in combination with a seed dispenser and row device structure in an alternative seed dispenser system and feeding system 28. The seed dispenser 200 is shown mounted on a row device with seed disc 202 in a vertical arrangement, but at an angle to the forward direction indicated by arrow 38. Fig. 4 shows the orientation of the seed dispenser in a row device without a feeding system 28. The seed dispenser includes a housing having two halves

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204 and 206 removably connected to each other in a known manner. The seed dispenser is driven via a 208 drivetrain coupled to a drive cable, not shown.

[0024] Fig. 5 only shows the seed disc 202 with the seed dispensing system 28. As mentioned earlier, the seed disc 202 is in a vertical position, but not in a plane not parallel to the direction 38 forward. Instead, the dispenser is oriented so that the disc is at an angle of 60 ° to the forward direction when viewed from above. The seed feeding system 28 is generally identical to the system shown in Fig. 3 and is driven by the engine 65. The delivery system, including brush band 64, is generally vertical and aligned with the forward and backward direction of the planter so that the angle between the brush and the seed disc is approximately 60 °. The angle between the feeding system and the seed disc causes a partial "lateral" feed to the brush. That is, the seeds are fed to the brush at an angle to the longitudinal direction of the bristles. This is different than in Fig. 3, where the seeds enter the brush in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the brush bristles. If the brush and seed disc were oriented at an angle of 90 ° to each other, a full lateral feed would be generated at which the seeds would enter the brush perpendicular to the bristles.

[0025] Seed disc 202 is shown enlarged on

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Figures 7 and 8. Disc 202 has opposite sides, a vacuum side 216 and a seed side 218. Seed side 218 has a surface 219 near the periphery that defines a reference plane. The reference plane will be used to describe the properties of the target near the perimeter of the target. An outer circumferential projection 220 is recessed from the reference plane. The circumferential projection 220 forms a radially outward edge surface 222. A circumferential row of spaced holes 224 is arranged radially inwardly around the edge surface 222. Each hole passes through the disk between the vacuum side 216 and the seed side 218. A radially elongated cavity 226 is radially inward with respect to each hole 224. The cavity 226 is recessed axially in the target from the reference plane. During operation, the disc rotates counterclockwise as indicated by arrow 228. During rotation, the recesses 226 mix the seeds in the seed hopper. [0026] Each opening 224 surrounds a conical recess or shallow seed cell 232 that axially extends into the target from the reference plane. Seed cell 232 begins at the leading edge 234 in the direction of rotation of the disc and gradually goes deeper towards the seed side 218 to the trailing edge formed by the axially projecting wall 236. The conical recess or seed cell 232 reduces the vacuum needed to collect and hold the seeds in the holes 224.

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The seed cell also allows lower seed deposition relative to the seed side 218 of the disc, allowing seed retention, while the single seed separator removes the grouped of two or more seeds from holes 224. In addition, the wall 236 of the cavity mixes the seeds in the seed hopper. additionally supporting seed collection. Wall 236 extends longitudinally in a predominantly radial direction as shown by dashed line 238. The walls 236, which are predominantly radial, are inclined with respect to the radial direction such that the inner end of the wall 236 guides the outer end of the wall in the direction of rotation. Directly behind each wall 236, as the disc rotates, there is a protrusion, or a standing pin 240, extending axially from the seed side of the disc. Pins 240 act on the seeds in the seed tank by mixing them to assist in the collection of seeds. The pins 240 are slightly radially inward in relation to the circular path of the holes 224 to avoid collision with the seed separation device.

[0027] Referring to Fig. 8, it shows a disk 202 in operation and in position relative to the tape 64 in the delivery system 28. As seeds 244 are moved through brush bristle disc 202, wall 236 and pins 240 act to push seeds 244 into bristles bristle 64 and help keep the seeds from being pushed out of the disc after the seed has first contacted the bristles.

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After introducing the seeds into the bristles of the brush, the negative pressure from the opposite side of the disc is cut off, allowing the brush to sweep the seeds from the disc in a predominantly radial direction with respect to the disc. The insert 246 lies on the projection 220 where the seeds are released to hold the seeds in the bristles of the brush during transfer between the disk and sidewall 53 (Fig. 3) of the delivery system housing. Disc 202 is inclined to the length of the brush bristles at approximately an angle of 60 degrees. This results in partial lateral introduction of the seeds into the brush bristles. [0028] Fig. 9 shows a system 28 for feeding seeds in the form of a brush band in combination with a vacuum belt dispensing system having a dispensing belt 302, which also uses a differential pressure of air to hold the seeds on the belt 302. The belt 302 collects the seeds in the collection area 304 at the lower forward location of the belt path and transports them to the feeding system in the release area 306 at the upper rear location of the belt path. In this system of the tape dispenser and the brush delivery system, the delivery system is again partly cross-fed with seeds from the dispenser.

[0029] Fig. 10 shows another embodiment of the delivery system together with the vacuum dispensing belt. The delivery system 28 is aligned with the tape dispenser 124. This allows the distal ends of the brush bristles to sweep over the surface of the dispensing belt 124 to be removed from it.

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Seeds. The dispensing belt 124 is wrapped around the pulleys 128. The dispensing belt 124 is similar and works like the above-mentioned belt 302.

[0030] The feeding system of the present invention can also be used with seed dispensers other than dispensers operating on the basis of an air pressure difference. For example, referring to Fig. 11, it shows a finger collecting dispenser 130, such as that described in US Patent No. 3,552,601 and incorporated herein by reference. Seeds are ejected from the dispenser through the opening 132. The feeding system 134 has a brush band 136 wrapped around pulleys 138 and 140. As shown, pulley 138 has a common drive shaft with finger pickup dispenser 130. A planetary gear such as a spherically variable transmission or a three-speed hub can be used to drive belt 136 at a different speed than the dispenser 130. The housing of the delivery system includes a side wall 142. A ramp 146 is formed at the bottom end of the wall 142 adjacent the bottom opening 148. An upper opening is formed at the upper end of the feeding system in the rear wall of the housing adjacent the opening 132 through which the seeds are thrown from the seed dispenser. Seeds are introduced transversely to the brush bristles, completely in the transverse feeding system. As in other embodiments, the seeds are gripped in the bristles of the brush, moved down to the bottom hole, accelerated back and unloaded through the hole

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Lower 148.

[0031] The endless element of the delivery system is described as being a brush strip with bristles. In a broad sense, the bristles form the outer perimeter of adjacent detachable surfaces that collect and capture seeds. While bristle brushes are the preferred solution and can be natural or synthetic, other types of materials can be used to grip the seeds, such as a foam cushion, a porous foam cushion, a mesh cushion or a fiber cushion.

[0032] With the description of the preferred embodiment, it can be seen that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Deere & Company

Proxy:

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