Seed planting apparatus, systems and methods
US10405483B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 8, 2018 |
| Grant date | Sep 10, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 8, 2038 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA01C7/0445
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A seed meter includes a seed disc rotatable in a direction of rotation. The seed disc has a plurality of seed apertures defining a circular path as the seed disc rotates and on which seeds from a seed source are entrained. A singulator is disposed along to the circular path. The singulator has a plurality of outer lobes and a first orientation lobe located downstream of the outer lobes. As the entrained seeds rotate along the circular path, the first orientation lobe contacts the entrained seeds to change their orientation. In some embodiments, the first orientation lobe may be disposed to remove excess seeds from the apertures and a second orientation lobe may change the orientation of the entrained seed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.