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EP-4736613-A1 - SEED METER ASSEMBLY

EP4736613A1EP 4736613 A1EP4736613 A1EP 4736613A1EP-4736613-A1

Abstract

A seed meter assembly (24) for an agricultural planting machine (10) is disclosed. The seed meter assembly (24) comprising: a seed meter housing (32); a seed metering member (26) rotatably mounted with respect to the seed meter housing (32), wherein a point (64) on the seed metering member (26) is rotatable within a plane (38) about a meter axis (A) normal to the plane (38); and a ramp surface (60) inclined relative to the plane (38), the ramp surface (60) disposed within one seed-length (82) of a seed side (50) of the seed metering member (26), the ramp surface (60) configured to be engaged and followed by seeds (70) adhered to the seed metering member (26) as the seed metering member (26) rotates with respect to the ramp surface (60).

Inventors

  • GARNER, ELIJAH B.
  • ZUMDOME, LEE E.

Assignees

  • Deere & Company

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20250916

Claims (10)

  1. A seed meter assembly (24) for an agricultural planting machine (10), comprising: a seed meter housing (32); a seed metering member (26) rotatably mounted with respect to the seed meter housing (32), wherein a point (64) on the seed metering member (26) is rotatable within a plane (38) about a meter axis (A) normal to the plane (38); and a ramp surface (60) inclined relative to the plane (38), the ramp surface (60) disposed within one seed-length (82) of a seed side (50) of the seed metering member (26), the ramp surface (60) configured to be engaged and followed by seeds (70) adhered to the seed metering member (26) as the seed metering member (26) rotates with respect to the ramp surface (60).
  2. The seed meter assembly (24) of claim 1, wherein the seed metering member (26) defines a plurality of apertures (46) operable to adhere seeds (70) by pressure differential, wherein a distance (D) between the ramp surface (60) and a target (T) on the seed side (50) decreases as the ramp surface (60) rises away from the plane (38).
  3. The seed meter assembly (24) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the seed meter housing (32) defines a gullet (40) operable to receive a portion of a seed delivery mechanism (42), wherein the ramp surface (60) leads up towards the gullet (40).
  4. The seed meter assembly (24) of one of the claims 1 to 3, wherein the ramp surface (60) is defined by a ramp block (58), and wherein the ramp block (58) further includes a surface (86) bounding the gullet (40).
  5. The seed meter assembly (24) of one of the claims 1 to 4, wherein the ramp surface (60) is defined by at least one of a planar surface, a curved surface, a helical surface, a wedge, a wire, an edge, or a rail.
  6. The seed meter assembly (24) of one of the claims 1 to 5, wherein the ramp surface (60) is configured to reorient the seeds (70) to have their longitudinal axis (L) closer to parallel with the seed side (50) of the seed metering member (26).
  7. The seed meter assembly (24) of one of the claims 1 to 6, wherein the ramp surface (60) is in a fixed position with respect to the seed meter housing (32).
  8. The seed meter assembly (24) of one of the claims 1 to 7, wherein the ramp surface (60) is formed monolithically with the seed meter housing (32).
  9. The seed meter assembly (24) of one of the claims 2 to 8, wherein the distance (D) is measured generally parallel to the seed side (50), wherein the ramp surface (60) is configured to rotate the seed towards the target (T).
  10. The seed meter assembly (24) of one of the claims 3 to 9, wherein the ramp surface (60) bounds the gullet (40).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates generally to an agricultural planting machine, such as a row crop planter for agricultural applications. The disclosure also relates to a seed meter assembly for the agricultural planting machine. BACKGROUND Seed meters are used for singulating and metering seeds for planting. A plurality of seed meters may be mounted to an agricultural planting machine for planting more than one row of crop at a time. SUMMARY In some circumstances, it may be desirable to guide the metered seeds into a certain orientation that may better position the metered seeds for transition into a seed delivery mechanism. The desired seed orientation may be encouraged by the use of a ramp in the seed meter housing. For example, seeds having elongated shapes (e.g., edible beans, other beans, peanuts, corn, cotton, sunflower, and others that are longer than they are wide and/or deep) may be reoriented using the seed ramp such that the seed can be taken long-edge-first into the seed delivery mechanism. This orientation may facilitate a more centered disposition of the seed within the seed delivery mechanism such that the seeds are released from the seed delivery mechanism in a more centered and/or predictable location. Thus, the ramp may provide improved seed delivery with less variation in the position of the emerging seed relative to the seed delivery mechanism. In one aspect, the disclosure may relate to a seed meter assembly having a ramp surface for guiding seeds into a desired orientation. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a seed meter assembly for an agricultural planting machine may include a seed meter housing defining a gullet operable to receive a portion of a seed delivery mechanism, and a seed metering member rotatably mounted with respect to the seed meter housing. The seed metering member may define a plurality of apertures operable to adhere seeds by pressure differential. A point on the seed metering member may be rotatable within a plane about a meter axis normal to the plane. A ramp surface may be fixed relative to the seed meter housing. The ramp surface may be inclined relative to the plane. The ramp surface may be disposed on a seed side of the seed metering member and within one seed-length of the seed side of the seed metering member. A distance between the ramp surface and a target on the seed side decreases as the ramp surface rises away from the plane. The distance may be defined generally parallel to the seed side of the seed metering member. The ramp surface may be configured to be engaged and followed by seeds adhered to the seed metering member as the seed metering member rotates with respect to the ramp surface in such a way that the seeds are rotated towards the target. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a seed meter assembly for an agricultural planting machine may include a seed meter housing, and a seed metering member rotatably mounted with respect to the seed meter housing. A point on the seed metering member may be rotatable within a plane about a meter axis normal to the plane. A ramp surface may be inclined relative to the plane. The ramp surface may be disposed within one seed-length of a seed side of the seed metering member. The ramp surface may be configured to be engaged and followed by seeds adhered to the seed metering member as the seed metering member rotates with respect to the ramp surface. According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a seed meter assembly for an agricultural planting machine may include a ramp surface, and a seed metering member rotatably mounted with respect to the ramp surface. The ramp surface may be inclined in such a way as to be engaged and followed by a seed adhered to the seed metering member as the seed metering member rotates with respect to the ramp surface, and such that an orientation of the seed with respect to a seed side of the seed metering member is changed before the seed is removed from the seed metering member. Other features and aspects will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description, claims, and accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The detailed description of the drawings refers to the accompanying figures. FIG. 1 is a top view of an agricultural planting machine having a plurality of row units.FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of a seed meter assembly of one of the row units of the agricultural planting machine of FIG. 1.FIG. 3 is a perspective cross-sectional view of a portion of the seed meter assembly of FIG. 2 taken through line 3-3 in FIG. 2.FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a seed meter ramp and seed metering member of the seed meter assembly of FIG. 3.FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of the seed metering member of the seed meter assembly of FIG. 2 passing metered seeds to a seed delivery mechanism.FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of a seed being reoriented while adhered to the seed metering memb