Abstract: Crop input application systems, methods and apparatus are provided. In some examples, a blade is disposed to remove soil from a trench sidewall and deposit soil on top of a seed in the trench.

Abstract: An agricultural implement includes an electrically conducive ground engagement tool with an opening and a sensor having a first and second conductor. An insulative material extends around a periphery of the opening to a contact area, and a conductive material fills the opening and extends to the contact area to electrically couple the conductive material to the ground engagement tool. The first conductor electrically couples to the conductive material, and the second conductor electrically couples to the ground engagement tool. A controller may receive a signal from the sensor indicative of an electrical resistance between the first and second conductors, determine the ground engagement tool has worn past a threshold amount in response to receiving the sensor signal indicative of the electrical resistance being above a threshold value, and output an output signal in response to determining the ground engagement tool has worn past the threshold amount.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for depositing fertilizer and seed in a single-pass, double-shoot manner utilize a planting unit that includes a frame, a disk arrangement, first and second product delivery arrangements and a resilient mounting arrangement for attaching the second product delivery arrangement to the frame. The rotating disk cuts a furrow in a planting surface for receiving a first agricultural product such as fertilizer from the first product delivery arrangement. The second product delivery arrangement has a cutting edge that cuts a vertically and horizontally offset trench in a side wall of the furrow for receiving a second agricultural product such as seed. The resilient mounting arrangement provides limited resilient movement about a neutral position of the second product delivery arrangement under action of the soil on the second product delivery arrangement.

Abstract: The flatwork ironer comprises a heating cylinder (1), a plurality of conveying bands (2), defining said conveying bands (2) a plurality of zones in an introduction area of articles to be ironed, and a plurality of temperature sensors (3) of said heating cylinder (1), indication means for indicating at least one zone (5) of the conveying bands where the articles to be ironed must be placed according to the temperature detected by said plurality of sensors (3), wherein said indicating means are placed in said are for introducing the articles to be ironed. It permits to place correctly the articles to be ironed in the correct position not looking away from the introduction area.

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: A composite working tool, for example a ground engaging tool of an agricultural implement, features a body composed of a first material and an insert composed of a distinct second material of greater hardness than the first material to define wear resistant surfaces of the tool. The tool body has an opening recessed thereinto from an exposed exterior surface fully surrounding the opening on all sides thereof, and the insert is attached to the body in a position at least partially received within the opening, for example by brazing. The increases the wear life of the body and provides greater mounting strength over surface-mounted wear inserts of the prior art.

Abstract: A hand tool that digs a shallow trench and places drip irrigation tubing, cable, or electrical wire is disclosed. The invention simplifies the process of laying drip irrigation tubing, cable, or wire requires less labor, fewer materials, and is not as costly. The tool has a rubber handle, a steel tube shaft, a hard metal claw for slicing through dirt, and polyethylene flexible tubing for guiding irrigation hose or electrical cable into the dirt. It also has a small cylinder and set screw for holding the tubing, and easy replacement when it wears out.

Abstract: A method and apparatus (10) for forming in a single pass operation, a profiled planting mound for growing of a crop from planted seeds or billets by using a pair of spaced tools (37) to displace soil inwardly towards each other. A central bed is formed between the displaced soil onto which billets or seeds may be deposited through a guide or chute (13). Covering discs (78,79) are provided to move soil to cover the billets or seeds and a press wheel assembly (81) is used for pressing the soil in the mound and form the desired profile in the mound.

Abstract: A planting unit for depositing fertilizer and seed in a single pass, double shoot manner includes a rotating disc that cuts a furrow in a planting surface and a trailing seed boot, having a cutting edge, that cuts a vertically and horizontally offset trench in the furrow to form a seed bed in the planting surface. The disc has a mounting frame for mounting the disc to a linkage assembly that is, in turn, coupled to a toolbar mount. The seed boot is also attached to the mounting frame. This common attachment provides a relatively short and compact device without sacrificing fertilizer and seed stratification.

Abstract: An implement includes a frame configured to couple to a tool bar, a linkage coupled to the frame, and a ground engaging tool extending from a shank, wherein the shank is coupled to the linkage. The implement also includes a packer wheel configured to control a position of the ground engaging tool, wherein the packer wheel is positioned behind the ground engaging tool when the ground engaging tool is engaging the soil. Further, the implement includes an adjustment mechanism configured to allow for adjustment of the distance between the packer wheel and the ground engaging tool.

Abstract: An opener for depositing fertilizer and seed in a single pass, double-shoot manner includes a rotating disc that cuts a furrow in a planting surface, a fertilizer tube that drops fertilizer into the furrow, and a trailing seed tube assembly, having a cutting edge, that cuts a vertically and horizontally offset trench in the furrow to form a seed bed in the planting surface onto which seed is deposited. The seed trench provides a seed bed that is offset from the bottom of the furrow to provide horizontal and vertical stratification of the seed and fertilizer.

Abstract: A planting unit for depositing fertilizer and seed in a single pass, double shoot manner includes a rotating disc that cuts a furrow in a planting surface and a trailing seed boot, having a cutting edge, that cuts a vertically and horizontally offset trench in the furrow to form a seed bed in the planting surface. The disc has a mounting frame for mounting the disc to a linkage assembly that is, in turn, coupled to a toolbar mount. The seed boot is also attached to the mounting frame. This common attachment provides a relatively short and compact device without sacrificing fertilizer and seed stratification.

Abstract: A furrow opener comprises an opener body for mounting on a cultivator shank for movement therewith in a forward working direction and which supports a knife on a front end to deposit a fertilizer row and a wing attachment at a rear end to deposit paired seed rows in the ground. The bottom side of the opener body is stepped in profile between the knife and the wing attachment to comprise an enclosed front portion extending generally horizontally rearward from the knife, a step portion which extends upward from the front portion and primarily locates a fertilizer outlet therein and a rear portion extending generally rearward from the step portion to the rear of the opener body. The fertilizer outlet in the step portion primarily faces rearwardly and is more vertical in orientation than the enclosed front portion of the bottom side of the opener body ahead of it to shield the fertilizer outlet from the wake of earth displaced by the knife.

Abstract: A method and apparatus (10) for forming in a single pass operation, a profiled planting mound for growing of a crop from planted seeds or billets by using a pair of spaced tools (37) to displace soil inwardly towards each other. A central bed is formed between the displaced soil onto which billets or seeds may be deposited through a guide or chute (13). Covering discs (78,79) are provided to move soil to cover the billets or seeds and a press wheel assembly (81) is used for pressing the soil in the mound and form the desired profile in the mound.

Abstract: A knife opener includes a pair of flared blades designed to cut spaced, but paired furrows. The knife opener is particularly well-suited for use in no-till or minimum-till agricultural operations primarily in conjunction with seed and/or fertilizer placement adjacent a soil cut-line generally in the direction of travel. In addition to being angled away from the main body of the knife, one of the blades is angled forward and the other blade is angled rearward. Seed and/or fertilizer dispensing receivers may be associated with each of the blades.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling the placement of seeds deposited by a seed placement device in a furrow. The apparatus comprise a guide member connected to the seed placement device adjacent an exit of the seeds from the placement device adapted to urge seeds discharged from the exit toward a sidewall of the furrow. The guide member of the present invention acts to stop seeds from bouncing off the sidewalls of the furrow and into the centre of the furrow. The guide member organizes the seeds to create one or more seed rows where the seeds are optimally positioned and prevents seeds from ending up in the middle of the furrow. If a fertilizer row is present below the seed furrow, this prevents damage to the seeds by preventing them from being too close to the fertilizer. The guide member also stops the seeds from being swept back into the central region of the furrow with the loose soil that flows back into this area after the knife implement has passed.

Abstract: A furrow opener device includes a disc arranged to open a primary furrow in the ground. A scraper body has a leading scraper edge supported alongside the disc to scrape the disc. A wing member is supported on a bottom portion of the scraper body in proximity to a bottom end of the disc and extends laterally outwardly away from the disc so as to be arranged to open a groove in the primary furrow projecting laterally to one side of the primary furrow, and a tube extends generally downward to an output opening located adjacent the wing member and is arranged for depositing product into the groove. A packer wheel is arranged in a first configuration where depth of disc penetration is gauged by a gauge wheel adjacent to the furrow opener and in a second configuration in which depth is gauged by the packer wheel.

Abstract: A mutually-engageable or interlocking connection between a seed tube guard and a frame member mounted to a seed planting machine. The mutually-engageable connection includes a yoke having a front journal and a rear journal with a gap, the yoke, carried on the frame member, and a pin connected to a neck, carried by the guard. The pin is sized to fit between and into the front and rear journals, wherein the neck has a thickness less than a width of the gap in order to slide though the gap during installation, and a length to fit between and through the front and rear journals.

Abstract: A ground engaging tip for a seed boot attachment for depositing a seed within a furrow. The tip including a conical shape member formed of three generally planar shape side surfaces wherein two of the side surfaces meet to form an inclined leading edge extending from a tip of the conical shape member; and at least one wear resistant insert. The insert is secured to the leading edge of the ground engaging tip and includes a generally elongated bar having a leading end, a trailing end and three connecting side surfaces, a first side, second side and third side. The first, second and third side surfaces form a bar having a generally triangular cross-section, wherein the leading end of the bar is angled.

Abstract: A ground engaging tip for a seed boot attachment for depositing a seed within a furrow. The tip including a conical shape member formed of three generally planar shape side surfaces wherein two of the side surfaces meet to form an inclined leading edge extending from a tip of the conical shape member; and at least one wear resistant insert. The insert is secured to the leading edge of the ground engaging tip and includes a generally elongated bar having a leading end, a trailing end and three connecting side surfaces, a first side, second side and third side. The first, second and third side surfaces form a bar having a generally triangular cross-section, wherein the leading end of the bar is angled.

Abstract: A furrow opener for attachment to a cultivator shank has a delivery tube located in front of the shank and close to the shank to facilitate trash flow around the shank. The product delivered can fall directly behind the furrow making device without negotiating an upward curve. A second delivery tube can be mounted behind the shank, and an economical manufacture of the opener is provided.

Abstract: A seed boot attachment for depositing a seed within a furrow including a synclinal shape housing extending to a forward point, furrow forming points extending rearwardly and downwardly from opposing side edges of a bottom surface of the housing, and at least one wear resistant insert secured to at least one of the side member of the furrow forming point, the insert comprising a truncated polyhedron, having a top face of a triangular shape, an opposing flat bottom face of a triangular shape and angled side faces extending between the peripheral edges of the top and bottom faces wherein at least two of the outer corners of the polyhedron are radiused.

Abstract: A shank-mounted opener assembly connected to a seed distribution system is provided for both till and no-till operations. The opener assembly includes a spike member that is supported on the shank, a firming point, a seed sensor connected to the seed supply, a seed boot, a seed locking mechanism, and a multi media delivery tube assembly. The seed boot encloses the seed sensor and includes a pair of lateral side walls. The seed boot protects the seed sensor from moving soil and debris. The seed locking mechanism pushes the seed into the soil and forms a shallow layer of soil over the seed dispensed through the seed sensor. If desired, assistive media can be dispensed into the furrow at the same time as seeding. The assistive media are dispensed through the multi-media delivery tube assembly. The assistive media are not dispensed to the furrow until after the seed locking mechanism covers the seed with a shallow layer of soil.

Abstract: A seed and fertilizer boot is mounted on a conventional cultivator shank. The boot has side-by-side fertilizer and seed tubes. One tube leads to a downwardly and rearwardly sloping delivery spout while the other delivery tube projects below the delivery spout. A flat knife is mounted on the front of the straight delivery tube to form a narrow furrow immediately in front of the associated delivery tube for receiving seed or fertilizer from the tube. The knife is adjustable along the tube so that its depth can be adjusted to compensate for wear. A second knife extends along the front face of the delivery spout to form a second furrow immediately beside the first furrow. This closes the first furrow and packs the soil onto the planted seed or fertilizer. The second knife also provides a shallower furrow for planting fertilizer or seed as the case may be. Like the first knife, the second knife is adjustable. Where desired, a skid-type packer can be mounted on the shank to close the furrows.

Abstract: Cultivating apparatus for leveling, cultivating, and resowing lawns or fields. The cultivating apparatus includes: a row of ripping tines arrayed across the front of the apparatus, which are arranged to freely pivot forward and upward in use, to release clogged soil or other material by reversing, when necessary. A levelling plate is provided immediately behind the tines. An adjustment system is provided for an elongated horizontal rack of cultivating discs, by which the rack may be raised and lowered accurately and evenly at both ends, so as to maintain a correct, horizontal orientation. A corresponding adjustment system on an array of outlets from an elongated seedbox allows all the outlets to be opened or closed equally.

Abstract: A seed boot for depositing a seed within a furrow including spaced side members, a face plate extending between forward edges of the side members, and a rear spacer member extending between rearward edges of the side members, and a wear insert secured to each of the side members of the seed boot. The insert includes an elongated rectangular bar having a top and bottom surface, a leading and trailing face and longitudinal side faces extending between and around the peripheral edges of the top and bottom surfaces.