Pre-metering System for Multi-Seed Planter Accuracy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modern farming practices face challenges in maintaining precise seed depth placement and spacing accuracy when operating at faster travel speeds, especially in fields with varying soil types and management zones, as existing planters require manual cleaning or separate seed meters for different seed varieties.

Innovation Solution

A pre-metering system that selectively feeds different types of seeds into seed meters based on position, seed type, planting rate, and ground speed, using feeder wheels and sensors to manage seed delivery and minimize seed mixing and changeover time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single bulk fill hopper is used for multiple seed varieties, then device complexity is reduced, but seed mixing occurs and planting precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehopper configurationVSAvoidseed placement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The single bulk fill hopper is segmented into multiple compartments, each dedicated to storing a specific seed variety. This segmentation prevents seed mixing while maintaining the simplicity of a single hopper structure, resolving the contradiction between device simplicity and planting precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Feeder wheels are introduced as intermediary components between the segmented hopper compartments and the seed meter. These feeder wheels selectively transfer specific seed varieties to the appropriate seed meters, preventing seed mixing while maintaining device simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the planter operates at faster travel speeds, then productivity increases, but seed depth placement precision and spacing accuracy deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplanting speedVSAvoidseed depth and spacing accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Seeds are pre-sorted into different compartments before reaching the seed meter. This preliminary action ensures that the correct seed variety is already in position, allowing the seed meter to operate accurately even at higher travel speeds without compromising planting precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The segmented hopper system enables continuous operation with multiple seed varieties without requiring stopping or manual intervention. Seeds flow continuously from the appropriate compartment through the feeder wheel to the seed meter, maintaining both high speed and precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Manufacturing precision

If separate seed meters are used for different seed varieties, then planting precision is maintained, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseed placement accuracyVSAvoidseed meter configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A single seed meter is designed to handle multiple seed varieties by receiving seeds from different feeder wheels. This multi-functional design maintains planting precision for different seed types while avoiding the complexity and cost of multiple separate seed meters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Feeder wheels serve as intermediaries that deliver different seed varieties to a single seed meter. This intermediary system allows one seed meter to perform the function of multiple seed meters, reducing device complexity while maintaining precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Adaptability or versatility

If manual cleaning of the hopper is required for variety changes, then seed variety switching is possible, but loss of time and productivity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseed variety switching capabilityVSAvoidchangeover time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The hopper is segmented into multiple compartments that can be independently filled with different seed varieties. This segmentation allows for quick variety changes by simply switching which compartment feeds the seed meter, eliminating the need for manual cleaning and reducing changeover time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different seed varieties are pre-loaded into separate compartments before operation. This preliminary action enables instant variety switching by changing the active compartment, eliminating the time-consuming manual cleaning process and maintaining continuous productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10649473B2Pre-metering system for feeding different types of seed into a seed meter

Publication Date: 2020.05.12 BLUE LEAF I P INC

AI summary

A pre-metering system for feeding different types of seed into a seed meter of a planter includes separate feeder wheels that are selectively rotated to deliver different types of seed from on-row storage into the seed meter at a given time. The feeder wheels may be supported by a feeder wheel carrier that may also support various wall and ramped structures, such as upright divider walls and sloped walls that maintain separation between the different types of seeds in the on-row storage and direct the different types of seed toward the individual feeder wheels.