Patents Examined by Ian A Normile
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Patent number: 11707011Abstract: A single disk fertilizer opener assembly for opening a trench in soil includes a frame support and a cutting disk for forming the trench. The cutting disk is coupled to an axle and rotates about the axle as the assembly moves in a working direction. The assembly also includes a first arm pivotally coupled to the frame support and the axle, and a second arm pivotally coupled to the frame support at a location spaced from the first arm. A bracket is coupled to the axle and the second arm, and a scraper is coupled to the bracket and disposed substantially perpendicularly to the working direction.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2019Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: Pablo Petenon, Rogerio Kroth, Elijah B. Garner, Dnyanesh Dhobale, Kamalakannan Natarajan
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Patent number: 11700784Abstract: Soil conditioner injection systems that can provide a variety of benefits, including the fast and efficient amendment of soil with soil conditioner without requiring tillage and in a manner that significantly reduces or eliminates any inadvertent runoff of the soil conditioner, for example, from rain. In some examples the soil conditioner injection systems of the present disclosure include soil conditioner injectors that include a soil plug remover configured to remove a first volume of soil from a first location and a sleeved hammer configured to form a recess in soil and inject soil conditioner into the recess.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2020Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Inventor: Roger Pion
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Patent number: 11678600Abstract: A system for sensing characteristics of a trench in a soil surface during planting operations. A trench opening assembly opens a trench in the soil surface as the trench opening assembly moves in a forward direction of travel. A trench closing assembly disposed rearward of the trench opening assembly closes the opened trench with soil. One or more sensors may be disposed on an appurtenance disposed in said trench configured to provide characteristics of an area of the open trench or an area of the trench closed with soil by the trench closing assembly or a sensor may be disposed outside of said trench configured to provide characteristics of an area of the trench closed with soil or a combination of the sensors may be disposed in the trench and outside of the trench.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2018Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Assignee: Precision Planting LLCInventors: Dale Koch, Jason Stoller, Todd Swanson, Michael Strnad, Matthew Morgan, Ian Radtke, Timothy Kater, Jeremy Hodel
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Patent number: 11672196Abstract: A seed conveyor assembly that delivers seed to a planting surface in a controlled manner to maintain seed placement accuracy within a trench. In one embodiment, a seed guide for a seed conveyor assembly includes a relief portion and an introduction portion that includes at least one protrusion. The protrusion is angled from a side of the introduction portion toward the center of the introduction portion. The end of the protrusion is proximate the center of the introduction portion being further from the relief portion.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2017Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: Precision Planting LLCInventors: Ian Radtke, Kent Levy
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Patent number: 11665993Abstract: A seed placement unit including a body, a seed channel and a placement chamber, the seed channel extending from a first end, open to the exterior of the body for seed input, to a second end, open to the exterior of the body adjoining the placement chamber, for seed output. A guidance wheel intersects the seed channel and has at least one opening to receive a seed within the seed channel and carry it through the seed channel as the guidance wheel is rotated by a Geneva gear or other suitable mechanism. A closing wheel mechanism in the placement chamber rotates in synchronism with the guidance wheel to receive a seed from the seed channel and transfer the seed to the seed output opening. The seed placement unit may be carried on an agricultural vehicle or other mobile conveyance.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2018Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: AGCO International GmbHInventor: Johannes Utz
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Patent number: 11653591Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a seed firmer having a resilient portion and a firming portion that are molded together into a unitary part with each portion being a different material.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2018Date of Patent: May 23, 2023Assignee: Precision Planting LLCInventors: Brian McMahon, Todd Swanson, Michael Strnad
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Patent number: 11632899Abstract: A seed planter meter that orients plant seed and a delivery mechanism which can transport the seed to the soil while maintaining the seed's orientation during transport to the soil and encapsulation in the soil.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2019Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Inventor: Luke Tyler Bredeweg
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Patent number: 11627695Abstract: Sowing element for precision agricultural seeders comprising a device for selecting the seed, of the type which is formed of a perforated disc having opposing faces that are subject to a pressure differential and a pressurisation device associated with the disc for applying the pressure differential to the faces of the disc, the pressurisation device including a pressurisation bell combined with the disc so as to pneumatically couple thereto in order to guarantee said pressure differential, wherein the bell is rotatably idle with respect to the disc.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2018Date of Patent: April 18, 2023Assignee: Machio Gaspardo S.P.A.Inventors: Gianfranco Donadon, Luigi Giovanni Bot, Bruno Miolo
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Patent number: 11622496Abstract: An agricultural planting or seeding implement having a ground engaging tool that forms an opening along an axis in the soil, a sensor disposed aft of the ground engaging tool, and a row unit disposed aft of both the ground engaging tool and the sensor relative to a direction of travel of the agricultural planting or seeding implement. The sensor engages with the ground at a depth within the opening and generates a signal indicative of a soil property of the ground.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2019Date of Patent: April 11, 2023Assignee: CNH INDUSTRIAL CANADA, LTD.Inventor: Trevor Lawrence Kowalchuk
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Patent number: 11612100Abstract: A converging row unit for planting seed potatoes includes a plurality of linear arrays of seed cups, each array disposed upon a flexible endless belt and having an upwardly moveable portion and a downwardly moveable portion. The upwardly moveable portion passes through a seed pick region wherein each seed cup can draw a seed, while the downwardly moveable portion progresses to a point of discharge of the seed. The upwardly movable portion is characterized by the linear arrays being laterally spaced apart from each other. The downwardly moveable portion is characterized by the seed cups of the plurality of linear arrays being alternately interleaved together in a single converged linear array extending to the point of discharge.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2019Date of Patent: March 28, 2023Inventors: Rainer Borgmann, Evan Steel
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Patent number: 11612098Abstract: A soil apparatus (e.g., seed firmer) having a locking system is described herein. In one embodiment, the soil apparatus includes a lower base portion for engaging in soil of an agricultural field, an upper base portion, and a neck portion having protrusions to insert into the lower base portion of a base and then lock when a region of the upper base portion is inserted into the lower base portion and this region of the upper base portion presses the protrusions to lock the neck portion to the upper base portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2020Date of Patent: March 28, 2023Assignee: Precision Planting LLCInventors: Michael Strnad, Matthew Morgan, Dale M. Koch
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Patent number: 11596094Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a device that allows a tire to adequately clean a soil cutting disc, maintains the critical seed planting depth, or prevents (1) punctures, (2) soil compaction, (3) premature wear, (4) tire readjustment, (5) operational problems, (6) rough surfaces that fill with mud and debris, and (7) tire removal to clean the gauge wheel or remove buildup. The present invention also provides a device with a gauge wheel for controlling the depth of a furrow created by a soil cutting disk that has one or more of these features. More specifically, the present invention comprises a gauge wheel assembly for farming with a centrally positioned hub, a plurality of spokes extending from the hub to at least one ground contacting finger that extend to an inner circular ring around the circumference.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2019Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Inventor: Matthew Hornung
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Patent number: 11596096Abstract: A mini-hopper for an agricultural row unit that has a fill tube supplying material to a hopper. A backflow preventer is disposed in the fill tube or in a line to the inlet to prevent flow of material from the mini-hopper through the fill tube when the mini-hopper is in a transport position.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2018Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Assignees: Precision Planting LLC, AGCO do Brasil Soluções Agrícolas Ltda.Inventors: Jeremy Hodel, Timothy Kater, Tracy Leman, Jarlis Luiz Matter
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Patent number: 11589498Abstract: A planter system for planting seeds and dispensing a fluid includes a seeder assembly including a seed meter configured to dispense a group of seeds through a seed tube, a nozzle assembly configured to dispense the fluid in response to receiving a control signal, and a sensor configured to transmit detection signals upon detection of the first and last seeds passing through the seed tube. The planter system further includes a control system communicatively coupled to the sensor to receive the detection signals from the sensor and identify a trigger time based on the detection time of the first seed, the detection time of the last seed, or a time between the detection times. The control system transmits the control signal to the nozzle assembly based on a number of seeds in the group and the trigger time to apply the fluid on or adjacent the group of seeds.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2020Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: Capstan Ag Systems, Inc.Inventors: Adam Madison, Michael Schwegman, Anthony Moeder
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Patent number: 11553640Abstract: An agricultural implement wear monitoring system that monitors a first component of an agricultural implement. A sensor detects and emits a signal indicative of a first geometric dimension of the first component and/or a second geometric dimension of the first component relative to a second component. A controller couples to the sensor. The controller monitors the first geometric dimension and/or the second geometric dimension, and in response to a detected change in the first geometric dimension and/or the second geometric dimension determines a remaining service life of the first component.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2019Date of Patent: January 17, 2023Assignee: CNH INDUSTRIAL CANADA, LTD.Inventors: Matthew Stuart Naylor, Graham Douglas Stuart
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Patent number: 11547039Abstract: A fully-automatic transplanting combined machine includes a traction apparatus, operation apparatus and a control system. The operation apparatus is mounted on the traction apparatus with a main body frame and is towed behind the traction apparatus. The operation apparatus includes a rotary tillage furrowing system, a system for slightly preparing soil and opening narrow furrows, a planting system, and a soil covering compacting system which are arranged successively from front to back. The planting system includes more than one planting unit. The fully-automatic transplanting combined machine is capable of orderly performing rotary tillage, cleaning stubble, leveling a border check, opening a furrow, cutting narrow slits, transplanting, covering soil, compacting soil in untilled soil at one process, so as to create the soil requirements for high-speed transplanting of blanket seedlings such as rape and other crops.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2020Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: Nanjing Institute of Agricultural Mechanization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural AffairsInventors: Chongyou Wu, Qing Tang, Jun Wu, Min Zhang, Gang Wang, Lan Jiang
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Patent number: 11533837Abstract: A planter system for planting seeds and spraying fluid includes a seeder assembly including a seed tube, a seed meter configured to dispense a seed into the seed tube, and a conveyor apparatus configured to 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.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2020Date of Patent: December 27, 2022Assignee: Capstan Ag Systems, Inc.Inventors: Adam Madison, Anthony Moeder
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Patent number: 11528839Abstract: A planting system for a combine in embodiments of the present invention may have one or more of the following elements: (a) a soil opening system having one or more soil openers operably connected to one or more mounting arms operably attached to the combine, (b) a seed handling system having one or more seed dispensers with one or more seed tubes operably connected to the one or more seed dispensers and a seed reservoir adapted for housing cover crop seed, and (c) a control system having one or more actuators operably connected to one or more controllers, wherein at least one of the sets of soil openers and sets of seed dispensers is operably attached to a header of the combine.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2019Date of Patent: December 20, 2022Assignee: MAX AND CINDY PITT, LLCInventor: Max Pitt
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Patent number: 11523554Abstract: A dual seed meter having a metering housing having first and second seed disks with a plurality of openings arranged along a curved path of each disk, wherein the disks overlap to form a convergence region such that seed traveling along the curved paths is delivered to a single point. Certain implementations also have a vacuum chamber defined between a first wall of the metering housing and the first and second seed disks and a seed chamber defined between a second wall of the metering housing and the first and second seed disks.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2020Date of Patent: December 13, 2022Assignee: Ag Leader TechnologyInventor: Brett Buehler
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Patent number: 11516960Abstract: A gauge wheel (1) for use in controlling the depth of a furrow formed by at least one planting member of cultivation equipment includes a hub member (5) having a central hub and an outer peripheral portion (9); and a resilient coil member (3). The resilient coil member (3) includes a plurality of coil windings (17) which extend closely adjacent to the outer peripheral portion (9) of the hub member (5) and which define an outer periphery of the gauge wheel (1). The coil member (3) is connected at or adjacent one end thereof to the hub member (5). In use, the resilient coil member engages the soil on a side of the furrow and controls the depth by which the at least one planting member cuts into the soil to form the furrow. There is also provided a coulter gauge wheel which includes a coulter disc and at least one gauge wheel as described above.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2018Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Inventors: Paul Edward Ryan, Yan Wang