1078results about "Single grain seeders" patented technology

Modern farming is currently being done by powerful ground equipment or aircraft that weigh several tons and treat uniformly tens of hectares per hour. Automated farming can use small, agile, lightweight, energy-efficient automated robotic equipment that flies to do the same job, even able to farm on a plant-by-plant basis, allowing for new ways of farming. A hybrid airship-drone has both passive lift provided by a gas balloon and active lift provided by propellers. A hybrid airship-drone may be cheaper, more stable in flight, and require less maintenance than other aerial vehicles such as quadrocopters. However, hybrid airship-drones may also be larger in size and have more inertia that needs to be overcome for starting, stopping and turning.

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.

An air seed meter for an agricultural planter includes a vacuum cover which has a central opening which exposes the central portion of the seed disc to the exterior. The central opening of the vacuum cover is centered on a location offset from the axis of rotation of the seed disc. This reduces disc wear at the disc-vacuum cover interface, and renders the disc more accessible for self-cleaning, visual inspection and verification of the proper disc. Openings in the central, open portion of the disc, the back wall of the seed housing and the side wall of the seed housing cooperate to equalize the air pressure in the seed reservoir to atmospheric pressure and reduce or eliminate reverse air currents in the discharge chute. An adjustable brush with three separate stations cooperates with an edge-release, beveled disc to apply a progressively more forceful singulation force to eliminate duplicate seeds.

A seeding apparatus comprising: (a) seed distribution metering means including a rotating drum (1) with apertures on its periphery and a vacuum generator for generating a suction pressure inside the drum (1) so that seeds are attracted to the apertures; (b) feeding system including a hopper (31), gravitational acceleration chamber (47), velocity controlling elements such as a flap (38) and continuous belts (41) for feeding seeds at a required amount and speed to the drum (1); (c) release mechanisms including an airjet (19) for releasing metered seeds from the drum (1) along a selected trajectory (15) while unselected seeds follow another trajectory (16). (d) delivery means including an adjustable flow venturi (62) and electronic sensor (66) for controlling delivery of metered seeds.

A seeding apparatus comprising: (a seed distribution metering means including a rotating d drum with apertures on its periphery and a vacuum generator for generating a suction pressure inside the drum so that seeds are attracted to the apertures; (b) feeding system including a hopper, gravitational acceleration chamber, velocity controlling elements such as a flap and continuous belts for feeding seeds at a required amount and speed to the drum; (c) release mechanisms including an air-jet for releasing metered seeds from the drum along a selected trajectory while unselected seeds follow another trajectory, delivery device including an adjustable flow venturi and electronic sensor for controlling delivery of metered seeds.

Method and apparatus for preparing and dispensing a combination of food products in a vending machine from a selection of components prepackaged in a plurality of trays sealed with a single peel off tape. The method comprises dispensing a top component onto a positioning releasable support and moving it into an oven, independently dispensing a tray with bottom component, sliding it to and raising into a moveable oven, independently heating components, removing components from ovens, moving said moveable oven out of the tray path, moving components to close proximity of each other and releasing top component into the tray. The apparatus has means for dispensing each of the individual components toward front of said vending machine; means for three-dimensional positioning of the releasable support for top components; means for bottom component tray lateral displacement; stationary oven, moveable oven, and an elevator laterally aligned with said product delivery opening.

An agricultural metering device with a variable geometry meter roller is provided. The agricultural metering device includes a meter roller having a plurality of flutes. An aggregate cross sectional area of the flutes increases along a longitudinal axis of the meter roller.

The invention belongs to agricultural seeding machinery, and in particular relates to a permanent-magnet magnetic-attraction precision seeding device. A semi-open type seed box is arranged on the side of a roller; the roller is fixedly connected with a transmission shaft and follows the transmission shaft to rotate in the single direction; the upper edge of the wall of the roller is uniformly provided with a plurality of through holes in the circumferential direction; a permanent-magnet magnetic attraction head, a magnetic-attraction-head jacket, a magnetic-attraction-head cover plate and a pressure spring are arranged in each through hole; one end of the permanent-magnet magnetic attraction head is arranged in the magnetic-attraction-head jacket, and the other end of the permanent-magnet magnetic attraction head passes through a center hole of the magnetic-attraction-head cover plate but does not exceed the upper surface of the magnetic-attraction-head cover plate; the pressure spring is positioned between the magnetic-attraction-head jacket and the cover plate; a cylindrical cam is hollowly sleeved on the transmission shaft and is fixed; the outline of the cylindrical cam consists of a circular arc surface and a platform surface; and the platform surface is partially arranged on the lower part of the cam. The seeding device has the advantages of improving the magnetic attractive force of the magnetic attraction head, reducing the content of iron powder needed by magnetic-powder coatings of seeds, reducing the structure size of seeding elements and conveniently realizing the automatic seed-taking function and automatic seeding function of the magnetic attraction head.

A seed delivery system is provided that includes a row crop seed planter having a seed meter that can pneumatically deliver seeds to the agricultural field at a rearward velocity that matches a forward velocity of the planter. The seed meter may include a positive pressure source that pressurizes the seed meter and creates an airflow out of a seed tube of the seed meter that carries the individual seeds out of the seed tube at a rearward velocity that is automatically adjusted to match a forward velocity of the seed planter and tractor.

The efficiency of a John Deere planter to plant corn seed is improved where the planter is of the type having a vacuum operated metering unit enclosing a seed disk and a double eliminator. To improve the efficiency a kit is provided including an improved seed disk, an improved double eliminator, and an alignment tool for properly aligning the double eliminator with respect to the seed disk. When the parts are installed and properly aligned the planter can accept corn seed in the range of 1200 seeds per pound to 2800 seeds per pound without requiring readjustment of the vacuum setting or replacing the seed disk.

The invention discloses a precise seeds sowing device for growing seedlings of an aperture disk, which comprises a seeds box, an outlet aperture adjuster, a curtain flow stabilizing plate, a seeds sowing bracket, a pneumatic distribution system and a pneumatic adjustment system; and the outlet aperture adjuster is used for adjusting the size of an outlet of the seeds box, and the seeds are distributed by means of single seed, are orderly arranged and are basically even in density under the action of the curtain flow stabilizing plate after the seeds are flowed out. The pneumatic adjustment system comprises an air compressor and an air pressure adjusting loop connected with the air compressor, wherein a pneumatic distribution central shaft and a rotary drum are divided into a negative pressure cavity and a positive pressure cavity by a seal clapboard: the positive pressure cavity is directly communicated with the atmosphere, the seeds are discharged by means of pressure release when the rotary drum is rotated to the positive pressure cavity, and the seeds are absorbed when the rotary drum is rotated to the negative pressure cavity, therefore, the seeds charge and the seeds absorption are alternately preformed under the continuous rotation of the rotary drum. The device is reasonable in structure, and is novel and simple in principle, so that the precise seeds-sowing is directly realized under the self gravity of the seeds and the free movement of the seeds, and the requirement for applying an outer force such as the vibration and the like in the other various seedlings-growing modes is overcome.

An automated vending machine that can be selectively configured to include one or several temperature zones. A single refrigeration system and universal interior allows easy and economical assembly into a one, two, or three temperature zone machine. Thermal breaks and dividers are used to partition zones, when needed. The basic vending machine cabinet, dispensers, and controls are not changed between configurations. In one aspect, a universal air duct can be used for all three configurations, with minor changes.

A seed meter control system is provided that allows for controlling seed meters of a row crop planter in a manner that reduces frequency of skip occurrences in which no seeds are delivered during a delivery event and double occurrences in which more than one seed is delivered during a delivery event. A target seeding session performance may be compared with an observed seeding session performance value and a delivery anomaly value to determine whether to make a corrective action by controlling at least one of the seed meters.

The present invention relates to a kiosk that dispenses products with no moving parts. The kiosk can dispense a rental product, and the rental product can be returned via a mail service, or it can be retained for a purchase price. The kiosk comprises a removable cartridge containing the products, and the cartridge can be readily replaced with a new cartridge to replenish the inventory of products in the kiosk.

Metering devices for an agricultural implement are provided for applying a field input, for example, pneumatically delivered granular product including seed or fertilizer or sprayed liquid product including fertilizer and the like, to an agricultural field. In the applying of the field input, the rate of application of the dispensers of one section of the implement can be collectively varied in relation to the rate of application of the dispensers of a different section of the implement frame.

The invention discloses a garlic seeder which comprises a rack, a single seed grain taking device is arranged above the rack, a vertical planting device is arranged below the rack, a garlic bulbil direction control device matched with the two devices is arranged between the single seed grain taking device and the vertical planting device, and a drive assembly provides power for the single seed grain taking device, the vertical planting device and the garlic bulbil direction control device. By using the garlic seeder disclosed by the invention, seeding is uniform, the garlic bulbil direction is controlled stably, and the staggered upright sowing of seeds in adjacent rows can be realized, thereby facilitating the growth of garlics and the implementation of mechanized harvesting of garlics.

Agricultural machine embracing at least one drilling unit including a support device as well as a seed metering device. The drilling unit is movably connected with a structural member embraced by the agricultural machine. The seed metering device is fixedly connected with the support device of the drilling unit and the seed metering device includes a chamber for seeds arranged to be supplied with a positive pressure where the seed metering element constitutes a wall limiting the chamber and in which holes or recesses are arranged. The holes / recesses connect the chamber with the surroundings, with the purpose of, by the pressure difference developed hereby, attaching and transporting seeds at the holes / recesses of the seed metering element. A seed metering line has an inlet in the chamber, with the purpose of, by the positive pressure in the chamber, creating an air flow for the transportation of the seeds from the chamber through the seed metering line to a drill furrow.

A nurse receiver header for an agricultural planting implement is cooperable with a nurse mechanism that conveys seeds entrained in an air stream from a central hopper. A receiver is positioned at the planting mechanism to receive the seeds entrained in the air stream and accumulate a supply of seeds for utilization by the associated planting mechanism. The receiver header includes a plurality of legs and a rotatable baffle positioned internally at an uppermost position of at least one leg of the receiver header. The baffle is pivoted by an external lever that is positioned in the same orientation as the baffle to indicate the position of the baffle. The header can be placed in a closed configuration by positioning the baffle across the leg to be blocked. When in an open configuration, the baffle is positioned parallel to the leg and all of the legs of the header are open.

A sensor and sensor mount assembly are described. The sensor may include a sensor body, window, and frame. When the sensor is mounted to a seed delivery system, an alignment tab or recess on the sensor or the delivery system may mate with an alignment recess or tab included on the other of the sensor and the delivery system. The sensor frame may include a side flange proximate the sensor window, which may seat in a recess on the delivery system when the sensor is mounted to the delivery system. A mounting tab or groove on one of the sensor or the delivery system may be oriented at an oblique angle with respect to a seed path, and may seat in an obliquely angled mounting groove or tab included on the other of the sensor or the delivery system, in order to mount the sensor to the delivery system.

An agricultural planter includes a plurality of row units attached to a toolbar. The row units include seed meters in seed meter housings for receiving, singulating, and dispensing seed or other particulate. The seed meters include a circular seed disc with a seed path for receiving the seed in the seed meter housing. Integrated with the seed meter, such as at the housing, is an electric pressure source dedicated for providing a pressure differential for the seed meter or meters at a particular location on the planter. The pressure source can be positive or negative to temporarily adhere seed to the seed disc of the meter. A single pressure source can provide the pressure differential to a single meter or to multiple meters or discs at a row unit.

A planting implement is configured with a cleanup system for the removal of product associated with operation of the planting implement. The planting implement generally includes a fluid pressure source in combination with at least one planting unit configured to deposit the product at a controlled rate in an agricultural field. The cleanup system generally includes a product separator with an inlet line and a collection line. The inlet line communicates the vacuum pressure generated by the pressure source to the product separator. The collection line communicates the vacuum pressure at the product separator to a location of the product on the planting implement. The vacuum pressure at the collection line is operable to entrain the product in a combined product and forced air stream that is conveyed by the collection line for removal at the product separator.

A seed handling tool includes a handle connected to a working body. The working body includes a working surface, which further includes a plurality of seed retention points. A seed retention source is provided to allow the seed handling tool to pick up and retain seeds at the seed retention points. In some embodiments, the seeds may also be released from the seed retention points. A method for retaining a plurality of seeds by the seed handling tool includes moving the seed handling tool to a position where the working surface is adjacent to a plurality of seeds, and picking up and retaining seeds at a plurality of seed retention points fixed at the working surface. In some embodiments, the method may also include releasing the plurality of seeds from the seed retention points.