Abstract: A flat seed disk is provided with a series of circumferentially arranged seed retaining protrusions providing seed retention at locations offset axially from the remainder of the disk. The offset allows the seed to fall in the correct location of the seed tube to reduce unwanted seed bounce and provide better seed delivery to the ground and better seed spacing as compared to flat disks without the offset. In one embodiment, the protrusions have seed retaining faces opening generally in the direction of disk rotation. In other embodiments, the faces are angled away from the direction of rotation to reduce interference between released seed and adjacent protrusions, and trailing radial ledges can be provided to enhance seed retention.

Abstract: A flat disk type circular seed disk is provided with a series of circumferentially arranged seed attracting apertures. The apertures are spaced along a circumferential rim offset axially from the remainder of the disk to approximate the seed release location and characteristics of a cell type seed disk. The offset allows the seed to fall in the correct location of the seed tube to reduce or eliminate unwanted seed bounce and provide better seed delivery to the ground and better seed spacing as compared to flat disks without the offset. In one embodiment, the rim has a surface angled with respect to the rotational plane of the seed disk to impart an axial component to the seed trajectory. A tortuous wall between the rim and the remainder of the disk provides seed agitation.

Abstract: An agricultural seeding machine movable in a planting direction includes a frame; a disc opener assembly carried by the frame and having a first axis of rotation; a gauge wheel assembly carried by the frame and having a second axis of rotation, and a press wheel assembly carried by the frame and having a third axis of rotation. The second axis is positioned forward of the first axis relative to the planting direction. The gauge wheel assembly overlaps the disc opener assembly relative to the planting direction. The third axis is positioned rearward of the first axis relative to the planting direction. The press wheel assembly overlaps the disc opener assembly relative to the planting direction.

Abstract: A seed tube for an agricultural seeding machine includes a side wall having at least a portion thereof formed from a transparent material. A sensor includes a transmitter which is positioned adjacent an outside of the side wall, and operates through the transparent material.

Abstract: A product-on-demand delivery system applies an agricultural product, such as seed, to a field. The system includes a frame that mounts a main hopper, a splitter fitting, a primary product hose, a secondary product hose, a primary application unit and a secondary application unit. The main hopper has an air nozzle wherein an air stream through the air nozzle entrains product within the air stream and delivers the air/product to the primary outlet hose. The splitter fitting has a splitter inlet flow-connected to the primary product hose and two splitter outlets flow-connected to the application units. The secondary application unit is coupled to the primary product supply hose by the secondary product hose connected at an outlet branch. The outlet branch is connected at an angle such that a product flow velocity vector in the primary product supply hose at the outlet branch is at an obtuse angle to a flow velocity vector of product flowing through the outlet branch.

Abstract: A product-on-demand delivery system for agricultural product overcomes the problem of over pressuring near application units in order to achieve sufficient pressure to feed further application units. The invention provides two or more main hoppers, each hopper pressurized to a different level by a fan that charges the air nozzles on the hoppers. The near row application units have product delivery hoses that are coupled to a first hopper. The far row application units have longer product delivery hoses that are coupled to a second hopper. The fan charging the second hopper is configured to pressurize the second hopper to a higher pressure than the pressure of the first hopper. The invention provides separate product-on-demand delivery systems to better control the product flow to the row application units on the machine. A product-on-demand delivery system is also provided that can dispense two different products from two main hoppers operated at different pressures.