Abstract: A seed boot assembly for a seeding machine includes a seed boot, a boot liner and a seed tube adapter. The seed boot has a seed passage extending from an inlet to an outlet. The boot liner extends within the seed passage between the inlet and the outlet. A seed tube adapter is coupled to the seed boot and/or the boot liner.

Abstract: At least one example embodiment discloses a seed monitoring system including a light source configured to emit light in an interior of a seed tube, a plurality of light receivers, each of the plurality of light receivers configured to receive light in at least two sectors of a plurality of sectors of a plane in the interior of the seed tube and generate a sensing signal corresponding to the received light, a processing system including a plurality of conditioning channels, the processing system configured to process the sensing signals to generate conditioned signals and a controller configured to generate a seed count value based on the generated conditioned signals.

Abstract: A seed delivery system for use in a seeding or planting machine that removes the seed from a seed meter by capturing the seed therefrom. The delivery system then moves the seed down to a lower discharge point and accelerates the seed horizontally rearward to a speed approximately equal to the forward travel speed of the seeding machine such that the seed, when discharged has a low or zero horizontal velocity relative to the ground. Rolling of the seed in the trench is thus reduced. Furthermore, as the seed only has a short drop from the outlet to the bottom of the seed trench, the seed has little vertical speed to induce bounce. The delivery system uses a brush belt to capture, move and accelerate the seed. By capturing the seed and moving it from the meter to the discharge, the seed is held in place relative to other seeds and the planter row unit. As a result, the seeds are isolated from row unit dynamics thereby maintaining seed spacing.

Abstract: A volumetric metering system for metering a product in an agricultural machine includes a roller element, a drive mechanism configured to rotationally drive the roller element to convey the product along a conveyance path to a product receiving component, and a guide element disposed on a side of the roller element. The guide element is configured to guide the product along the conveyance path, and is biased towards the roller element.

Abstract: A furrow following device includes an attachment bracket having a portion provided for attachment to a row unit of a planting machine. An arm is provided with a ground-facing surface for engagement with the soil during planting. A mount of the furrow following device has a first portion coupled to the attachment bracket, and a second portion at least partially defining a pivot connection with the arm. The pivot connection provides relative rotation between the arm and the mount. The mount is a compliant mount provided with a spring that exhibits an elastic bias force as the arm is raised toward the attachment bracket.

Abstract: A seed delivery system for a seeding machine having a seed meter comprises a housing that defines an upper seed loading area and a lower seed discharge area. A drive pulley is mounted to rotate with respect to the housing. A belt is supported for rotation by the drive pulley within the housing. A loading wheel is mounted to rotate with respect to the housing to transfer seeds from the seed meter into the belt at the seed loading area. The belt conveys the seeds through the housing as the belt travels from the seed loading area to the seed discharge area.

Abstract: At least one example embodiment discloses a seed monitoring system including a light source configured to emit light in an interior of a seed tube, a plurality of light receivers, each of the plurality of light receivers configured to receive light in at least two sectors of a plurality of sectors of a plane in the interior of the seed tube and generate a sensing signal corresponding to the received light, a processing system including a plurality of conditioning channels, the processing system configured to process the sensing signals to generate conditioned signals and a controller configured to generate a seed count value based on the generated conditioned signals.

Abstract: A seed firmer for pressing seeds into soil during planting. The seed firmer includes a mount for attachment to a row unit of a planting machine. An arm defines a ground-facing surface having at least one point of contact with the ground, including a rearmost ground contact point with respect to a direction of forward travel during planting operation. The ground-facing surface has a transition section directly trailing a rearmost ground contact point, the transition section can extending upwardly from the rearmost ground contact point with a radius no less than 25 mm. Also, in some constructions the rearmost section of the ground-facing surface defines a ratio of horizontal distance to vertical height that is no less than 1.2:1.

Abstract: A seed delivery system for use in a seeding or planting machine that removes the seed from a seed meter by capturing the seed therefrom. The delivery system then moves the seed down to a lower discharge point and accelerates the seed horizontally rearward to a speed approximately equal to the forward travel speed of the seeding machine such that the seed, when discharged has a low or zero horizontal velocity relative to the ground. Rolling of the seed in the trench is thus reduced. Furthermore, as the seed only has a short drop from the outlet to the bottom of the seed trench, the seed has little vertical speed to induce bounce. The delivery system uses a brush belt to capture, move and accelerate the seed. By capturing the seed and moving it from the meter to the discharge, the seed is held in place relative to other seeds and the planter row unit. As a result, the seeds are isolated from row unit dynamics thereby maintaining seed spacing.

Abstract: A seed delivery system for use in a seeding or planting machine that removes the seed from a seed meter by capturing the seed therefrom. The delivery system then moves the seed down to a lower discharge point and accelerates the seed horizontally rearward to a speed approximately equal to the forward travel speed of the seeding machine such that the seed, when discharged has a low or zero horizontal velocity relative to the ground. Rolling of the seed in the trench is thus reduced. Furthermore, as the seed only has a short drop from the outlet to the bottom of the seed trench, the seed has little vertical speed to induce bounce. The delivery system uses a brush belt to capture, move and accelerate the seed. By capturing the seed and moving it from the meter to the discharge, the seed is held in place relative to other seeds and the planter row unit. As a result, the seeds are isolated from row unit dynamics thereby maintaining seed spacing.

Abstract: A seed delivery system for use in a seeding or planting machine that removes the seed from a seed meter by capturing the seed therefrom. The delivery system then moves the seed down to a lower discharge point and accelerates the seed horizontally rearward to a speed approximately equal to the forward travel speed of the seeding machine such that the seed, when discharged has a low or zero horizontal velocity relative to the ground. Rolling of the seed in the trench is thus reduced. Furthermore, as the seed only has a short drop from the outlet to the bottom of the seed trench, the seed has little vertical speed to induce bounce. The delivery system uses a brush belt to capture, move and accelerate the seed. By capturing the seed and moving it from the meter to the discharge, the seed is held in place relative to other seeds and the planter row unit. As a result, the seeds are isolated from row unit dynamics thereby maintaining seed spacing.

Abstract: A seeding machine with a seed meter and a seed delivery system for moving seed from a seed meter to a furrow formed in the soil. The delivery system has an endless member moving in a housing about pulleys to move seed from an upper opening in the housing to a lower discharge opening. In one embodiment, a loading wheel at the upper opening to the housing engages seed on a metering disk to move seed into the housing. The metering disk and housing can be arranged in planes parallel to one another.

Abstract: A row unit for a seeding machine includes a first seed meter having a first metering member for singulating seeds and a second seed meter having a second metering member for singulating seeds. A motor is operably coupled to the first and second seed meters to selectively drive the first seed meter or the second seed meter.

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.

Abstract: Various planting machines and planting methods are described. A planting method may include filling a seed pool with first-type seed, metering the first-type seed from the seed pool with a metering member, and then evacuating the first-type seed from the seed pool. The method may further include filling the seed pool with second-type seed, metering the second-type seed with the metering member, evacuating the second-type seed from the seed pool, and then refilling the seed pool with the first-type seed. First-type and second-type seed may be evacuated to separate temporary storage chambers, and the seed pool may be filled from the temporary storage chambers, as well as from bulk storage containers. A seed valve of a planting machine may include temporary seed storage chambers for different seed types. The seed valve may fill and evacuate a seed pool through rotation of various valve members and selective application of a vacuum.

Abstract: An agricultural seeding machine comprises, in one example, a seed delivery system configured to deliver seeds to at least one trench by two or more substantially gravity-drop channels, and a seed metering system comprising a rotating meter element configured to singulate seeds from a seed source into the two or more channels.

Abstract: At least one example embodiment discloses a seed monitoring system including a light source configured to emit light in an interior of a seed tube, a plurality of light receivers, each of the plurality of light receivers configured to receive light in at least two sectors of a plurality of sectors of a plane in the interior of the seed tube and generate a sensing signal corresponding to the received light, a processing system including a plurality of conditioning channels, the processing system configured to process the sensing signals to generate conditioned signals and a controller configured to generate a seed count value based on the generated conditioned signals.

Abstract: A seeding machine with a seed meter and a seed delivery system for moving seed from a seed meter to a furrow formed in the soil. The delivery system has an endless member moving in a housing about pulleys to move seed from an upper opening in the housing to a lower discharge opening. In one embodiment, a loading wheel at the upper opening to the housing engages seed on a metering disk to move seed into the housing. The metering disk and housing can be arranged in planes parallel to one another.

Abstract: A seed-double eliminator and planting unit for a seeding machine have an aperture in a seed-carrying surface of a metering member of the seeding machine. A paddle is included on the metering member, the paddle extending away from the seed-carrying surface toward a seed path. At least one seed-double projection is included on the metering member between the aperture and the paddle, the at least one seed-double projection preventing retention on the metering member of at least one seed of a seed double pair.

Abstract: An agricultural planting machine is described. In one example, the machine comprises a trench opener configured to open a trench, and a trench depth sensing system comprising a ground-engaging component and a trench depth sensor configured to generate a signal indicative a displacement of the ground-engaging component by directly sensing a surface of the ground engaging component. In one example, an agricultural planting machine comprising a trench opener configured to open a trench, and a trench depth sensing system comprising a ground-engaging component and a capacitive sensor comprising a transmitter element driven by an input signal to generate an electric field and a receiver element configured to generate an output signal based on a capacitive coupling between the transmitter and receiver elements, wherein the capacitive coupling changes based on movement of the ground-engaging component within the electric field.