Agricultural system with automated interchange of modular product containers

Abstract

An agricultural system includes an agricultural product supply station, an autonomous agricultural machine, a plurality of product containers, and a powered transfer mechanism. The machine is operable to advance across a field while dispensing product. The product containers are configured to be removably stored by the supply station in a stored position and used interchangeably with the machine. Each container is configured to contain product and operably couple to the machine to dispense product thereto. Each container is shiftable between a machine-coupled position and the stored position. The container is attached to the machine in the machine-coupled position and detached from the machine in the stored position. The transfer mechanism is operably supported by at least one of the supply station and the implement and is configured to shift each container between the machine-coupled and stored positions.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62 / 535,702, filed Jul. 21, 2017, entitled MOBILE AUTONOMOUS SEEDING SYSTEM, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference herein.[0002]This application is being filed contemporaneously with U.S. Nonprovisional Application Serial No. ______ (Docket No. 49880-US-A), entitled AUTONOMOUS AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT WITH MODULAR PRODUCT CONTAINER; U.S. Nonprovisional Application Serial No. ______ (Docket No. 49880-US-C), entitled PORTABLE STATION FOR MODULAR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT CONTAINERS; and U.S. Nonprovisional Application Serial No. ______ (Docket No. 49880-US-D), entitled SYSTEM AND COMPUTER-IMPLEMENTED METHOD FOR FACILITATING TRANSFERS OF PRODUCT CONTAINERS BETWEEN A STATION AND AN AUTONOMOUS MACHINE, each of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference herein.BACKGROUND1. Field[0003]The present invention relates generally to agricultural imp...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides an agricultural system that overcomes the limitations of prior art implements. It includes an agricultural product supply station, an autonomous agricultural machine, multiple removable product containers, and a powered transfer mechanism. The machine is designed to move across a field and dispense agricultural products from the containers. The containers can be easily attached and detached from the machine and shrew shifted between a usable position and a stored position. The technical effects include improved efficiency, flexibility, and durability.

Problems solved by technology

However, prior art planters and seeders are known to have various deficiencies.

Furthermore, conventional processes for refilling seed and fertilizer boxes on a planter are notoriously slow and labor-intensive.

These and other disadvantages associated with the process of refilling an implement with agricultural products are equally relevant to implements that are autonomously advanced along a field and are similarly problematic.

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