CN102365218B - Differential pressure seed meter with an endless belt seed transport member - Google Patents

Abstract

A seed meter is provided having an endless belt as a seed transport member together with a pressure differential to hold the seed onto the belt. The use of an endless beit as the seed transport member enables the spatial orientation of the seed transport member to vary from location to location along the path of the belt where different seed meter functions are performed. The belt allows greater freedom in determining the location of the seed pick-up region and the seed release or removal region beyond the constraints of a fixed diameter seed disk. The belt further allows for a narrow envelope seed meter which can cross-feed seed into a substantially vertically oriented delivery device.

Description

Differential pressure seed meter with endless belt seed transport element

technical field

The present invention relates to a seed meter or planter for a planter, and more particularly to a seed meter having an endless belt seed transport element.

Background technique

Like everyone else, farmers also seek to increase their productivity. As the size of the field increases, more work must be done in the same time period. For example, the cropping period on a field lasts for a fixed period of time. In order to increase the cultivated area, farmers must plant crops on the increased area in the same planting period otherwise the crop yield will be reduced. Therefore, there is a need for farming equipment that can cover more areas per day. One way to increase productivity is to increase the width of your farming equipment. There are however physical limitations on the size of the equipment. Another way is to increase the running speed of farming equipment.

A common form of planter utilizes a vacuum turntable seed meter on each row unit of the planter, such a structure is shown in US Pat. No. 5,170,909. The seed carousel rotates past the seed bank on one side of it. There are one or more rows of circumferentially arranged holes adjacent to the outer circumference of the seed turntable, and a number of seed chambers are defined by grooves at the circumferentially arranged holes on the surface of the seed turntable. The seed chambers are mechanically accelerated and finally collect each seed. The seeds are held within the seed chamber by a pressure differential created by a vacuum source coupled within the housing on opposite sides of the seed carousel. At the outlet position, the vacuum effect is switched off and individual seeds are discharged from the seed chamber through the chute at the bottom of the housing and fall into the seed furrow below. To increase the amount of cultivated seed carried by the turntable, the turntable must turn faster, which may adversely affect seed collection and dispersal, or the diameter of the turntable must be increased to deliver an increased amount of seed at the same number of revolutions per minute. Increasing the diameter of the turntable increases the height of the seed exit location, resulting in a greater distance for the seed to fall freely. Instead, it affects the accuracy of seed placement.

Conveyor belts are also used in planter row units as shown in US Patent No. 6,681,706. The conveyor belt here is not used to sow the seeds, but to transport the seeds from the seed meter to the drop point. As shown in US Patent No. 6,581,535, conveyor belts have been used in grain bar players as seed metering devices. The conveyor belt is equipped with grooves that collect the seeds and move them to the drop point. Such a conveyor belt is used as a volumetric meter that cannot separate the seeds to provide individual seeds.

Contents of the invention

The present invention utilizes an endless belt with a pressure differential as a seed meter and seed transport element to hold seeds on the belt. The flexibility of the belt allows the spatial orientation of the belt to vary from one position to another, enabling different metering functions. The belt is able to go beyond the limitations of a fixed diameter seed meter carousel, allowing greater freedom in determining the location of the seed collection area and seed release area. The flexibility allows the seeding to be configured to suit a variety of restraint systems at the locations defining the seed collection area and the seed release area.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a planter with a metering device of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of the row unit of the planter shown in Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is the side view of the seed meter related to the row unit frame shown in the present invention;

Figure 4 is a perspective enlarged view of the seed collection area of the seed meter shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a seed meter conveyor belt;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the vacuum manifold seen from the position of line 6-6 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is the sectional view of seed funnel and metering device in the seed collection area seen from line 7-7 position in Fig. 3;

Figure 8 is a side view of the seed meter similar to Figure 3, showing the seed meter in operation;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the seed meter and seed funnel showing an optional seed separator and agitator;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of an optional seed separator;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of an optional embodiment of the seed metering device of the present invention;

Fig. 12 is a schematic side view of another structure of the seed metering device of the present invention in the planter row unit, and simultaneously shows a seed distribution system for sowing seeds from the seed metering device to the ground;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a partially exploded seed meter of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the seed meter seen along the position of line 14-14 in Fig. 13;

Figure 15 is a perspective view of the vacuum manifold of the seed meter shown in Figure 13;

Fig. 16 is a sectional view of the guide wheel installation structure of the seed meter shown in Fig. 13;

Fig. 17 is a plan view of the vacuum control element of the seed meter shown in Fig. 13;

Fig. 18 is a perspective view of the housing cover of the seed meter shown in Fig. 13;

Fig. 19 is a perspective view of the upper end of the seed meter shown in Fig. 13;

Figure 20 is a perspective view showing the seed meter of Figure 13 in relation to a seed delivery system;

Fig. 21 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the seed metering device of the present invention.

Detailed ways

Referring to FIG. 1 , an example of a planter 10 including a differential pressure seed meter of the present invention is shown. The planter 10 includes a tool bar 12 as part of a planter frame 14 . A plurality of planting row units 16 are mounted on the tool bar 12 . Figure 2 shows the row unit 16 in more detail. Row unit 16 is mounted to tool bar 12 in a conventional manner. The row unit 16 is provided with a central frame member 20 fronted with a pair of upwardly extending arms 21 ( FIG. 3 ). The arm 21 is connected to a parallelogram mechanism 22 by which the row unit 16 is mounted to the tool bar 12 for relative movement upward and downward between the row unit 16 and the tool bar 12 in a known manner. Seed is stored within seed hopper 24 and provided to seed meter 26 . The function of the seed meter 26 is to independently select seeds and provide the seeds to the planting mechanism. The seed conduit 28 in FIG. The gauge wheel 32 controls the depth of the furrow and the closing wheel 34 closes the furrow over the seed. The gauge wheel 32 is mounted to the frame element 20 by an arm 36 . The tool bar and row unit are designed to move over the ground in a forward working direction indicated by arrow 38 .

The row unit 16 further includes a chemical hopper 40 , a clearer attachment 42 and a downforce generator 44 . Row unit 16 is shown as an example of a working platform in which the seed meter of the present invention is applied. The present invention can be applied in any kind of value unit.

One embodiment of a differential pressure seed meter 26 is shown in FIGS. 3-8 . For clarity, other structures of the row unit 16 are omitted. The flexible seed transport element is provided in the form of an endless belt 50 . The endless belt 50 is provided with a series of holes or holes 52 extending along its length from the seed side 55 in FIG. 4 to the opposite side 57 . In Figure 4, the annular belt has an optional groove 53 surrounding the hole 52 to form the seed chamber. The seed chamber can enhance the collection and retention of certain seeds on the annulus. The seed side of the endless belt also has a series of raised structures 54 in the form of ribs along both sub-edges of the belt. Each raised formation 54 forms an opposing face 59 in the direction of movement 61 of the belt. The other surface of the belt is preferably flat in this embodiment. The endless belt 50 moves around the guide pulley 60 and the drive pulley 58 , and in reverse around the tension guide pulley 60 . The endless belt travels further on the outer surface of the vacuum manifold 62 . Three pulleys and a vacuum manifold define the path of movement of the endless belt 50 . The pulleys 56, 60 are mounted to the row unit frame 20 by brackets (not shown) in a conventional manner. Tension guide pulley 60 is mounted to a pivot arm (not shown) that is biased to maintain tension within endless belt 50 . The pulley 58 is preferably driven by an electric motor 64 . However, it can be understood that the seed metering device 26 can also be driven by mechanical, hydraulic and other means. Additionally, any pulley in the system may be a drive pulley and may include any number of pulleys. The opposite face 59 of the raised structure 54 is used to agitate the seeds within the seed bank 80 and this structure is optional.

Figure 5 shows another embodiment of the endless belt. The endless belt 50' has holes 52', each hole 52' is surrounded by a structure 230 in the form of a groove starting from the front end of the hole 52' in the direction of movement, cutting deeper into the hole on the seed side of the belt, and at the Immediately behind the hole on the opposite face 232 ends. The opposite side agitates the seed and assists in pushing the seed into the distribution system as described below.

FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of vacuum manifold 62 . Manifold 62 has a hollow interior forming a vacuum chamber 66 . The manifold outer wall 68 , over which the annular band 50 slides, has a slot 70 . The holes pass over the slot 70 as the endless belt moves in the direction indicated by the arrow 72 . This exposes the holes to the internal pressure of the manifold vacuum chamber 66 . The manifold further includes a vacuum port 74 through which the manifold vacuum chamber 66 is coupled to the suction of an air pump (not shown, but found in many modern planters).

The lower portion 76 of the hopper 24 holds a seed bank 80 . Optionally, a small hopper can be used to receive and hold seed from the central large seed box. The funnel lower portion 76 is adjacent to the endless belt 50 and has an opening 78 that fits to the endless belt 50 as shown in FIG. 7 . The annular band 50 closes the funnel opening 78 , thus exposing the annular band 50 to the seed bank 80 .

In operation, the vacuum pump creates a low pressure within manifold 62 as shown in FIG. 8 . The endless belt 50 is driven by the driving wheel 58 to rotate clockwise as shown in FIG. 8 . This moves the endless belt up past the seed bank 80 . The opposing face 59 on the structure 54 contacts and agitates the seeds within the seed bank. Air is drawn into the manifold from holes 52 in the annular band which overlies the slot 70 in the outer wall 68 of the manifold. As the annular belt moves past the seed bank, air drawn into the manifold draws seeds 82 to each hole 52 and the pressure differential across the annular belt holes holds the seeds thereon. The seeds 82 travel along the path of the endless belt 50 as far as the seed release area at the lower end 84 of the manifold, where the pressure differential across the endless belt ends. The seed then leaves the belt by gravity and falls from the belt 50 into the seed conduit 28 and from there into the furrow opened by the openers 30 . Seed meter 26 may be configured with a housing on endless belt 50 and a positive pressure for collecting and retaining seeds, rather than the negative pressure of the vacuum manifold described above.

At the lower portion 76 of the funnel, the annular belt passes through the seed bank 80 to define a seed collection area 84 . Here the seeds are collected by the ring. In this seed collection area, the belt lies in a plane 86 which may be angled relative to a vertical plane 88 (as shown in FIG. 8 ). In contrast, the plane of the turntable in a typical vacuum turntable seed meter is vertical, so the turntable surface is vertical in the seed collection area. Additionally, in the seed release region, the angle of the ribbon plane relative to the vertical plane is reversed, as shown by the angle of the annular ribbon tangential plane 87 relative to the vertical plane 89 . In this way, the annular belt hangs over the seed so that when the seed is released, the annular belt path moves away from the falling seeds. This differs from a substantially vertical vacuum carousel, where the seeds are released at about the three o'clock position and fall over part of the vertical face of the carousel during release. The flexible seed conveying element, the endless belt 50 allows the spatial orientation of the conveying element to be selected at different positions along its path to optimize the function of the seed meter at each position. For a substantially vertically oriented vacuum carousel, the orientation of the seed transport elements remains vertical or near vertical for all functions and in all positions.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 3-8, the seed dropper is located within the seed conduit 28, which is located closer to the furrow than a conventional vacuum turntable. This reduces the length of the free fall of the seed, which is beneficial to reducing the possible abnormal falling time and final seed distribution on the seed path. The use of an endless belt for the seed transfer element allows the designer the freedom to choose the optimum seed drop location without being limited by a fixed diameter seed carousel. For example, the dropper can be placed even lower in the seed duct than shown if desired.

Referring again to FIG. 4, a wedge plate 90 is provided a little past the seed collection area. A plate 90 is located on the belt surface for removing double or multiple seeds on the holes 52 of the belt. There are many different shaped plates 90 available in the art that can be used to remove double the seeds. Brushes, wheels or other finger-like mechanisms can also be used.

Referring to FIG. 9 , as an option, the plate 90 can be replaced by a pair of air nozzles 94 . Nozzles are arranged to blow air onto the belt 50 and remove multiple seeds. The seeds then fall back into the seed bank 80 . The nozzle is coupled by conduit 96 to the exhaust side of an air pump for providing vacuum to manifold 62 . An independent air compressor can also be used if a strong air flow is desired. Agitation of the seed bank 80 can also be accomplished by compressed air. Nozzles 98 are provided in the lower portion 76 of the funnel, below the seed collection area. Air from nozzles 98 is used for the seed bank to allow the seeds to flow within the seed bank rather than pile up. The air moves the seeds across the belt surface, assisting the holes 52 to collect the seeds. Nozzle 98 is also coupled by conduit 100 to the discharge side of the air pump, or to a separate air compressor, or to the positive air inlet if a positive air pressure system is used. Pressurized gas can be used to remove double seeds and agitate the seed bank in seeders with seed transport elements other than the shown metering belts, such as, but not limited to, vacuum seed carousels.

Referring to FIG. 10 , a roller disperser 102 is provided near the hole 52 on the surface contacting the belt 50 . As the seeds pass through the roller, if multiple seeds are stuck on a particular hole, the roller gently removes the excess.

FIG. 11 shows another embodiment of a differential pressure meter with the belt 110 having a structure similar to the belt 50 . The belt 110 surrounds the drive pulley 112 , the pulleys 114 , 116 and in turn around the tension pulley 118 . The drive wheel is provided with a flange 120 having a raised structure 122 for dispersing the seeds in the seed bank. Manifold 124 provides a vacuum pressure differential to the belt 110 . The guide wheels 114 are slotted to maintain a vacuum on the belt as it moves over the guide wheels. The guide wheels 114 have a small diameter so that during operation, the centrifugal force on the seeds moving around the guide wheels 114 causes the seeds to dislodge from the belt 110, thus automatically dispersing the seeds. Housing 126 surrounding guide wheel 114 retains dislodged seeds and includes chute 128 for returning disengaged seeds to the seed bank.

The seed meter shown in Figures 3, 11 can be designed to fit within the seed meter packaging space of many current John Deere manufactured planter row units. The belt runs in a substantially vertical plane oriented in the direction of forward or backward movement of the row units. However, other forms of seed meters are also possible. For example, referring to FIG. 1 , a schematic endless belt seed meter 200 shows the relationship of the belt 250 with respect to the row unit structure. The strip 250 lies in a plane inclined with respect to three axes, i.e. the plane of the strip is inclined with respect to the vertical forward and rearward plane, inclined with respect to the vertical transverse plane and inclined with respect to the horizontal plane of. Additionally, a seed collection area 206 is located at the lower end of the belt 250 and a seed release location 208 is located at the upper end of the belt 250 . In the embodiment shown in Figure 12, the seeds are removed by the seed delivery mechanism 210 and out of the belt 250 at the seed release position. The seed distribution mechanism 210 is described in detail in the application document of __ application with the application number under examination, and the full text is cited as a reference in this application. The seed distribution mechanism 210 is located between the furrowing turntables 30, and moves the seeds from the seeding belt to the lower end of the row unit, and the seed distribution mechanism is placed in the furrow formed on the soil. Seed meter 200 is similar to previously described seed meter 26 and is described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 13-20 .

The seed meter 200 has a plate-like frame element 220 which is suitably attached to the row unit frame 20 . The frame member 220 supports an upper guide wheel 256 and a lower drive wheel 260 around which the belt 250 is wound. A gearbox and drive motor (not shown) are coupled to shaft 264 which drives drive wheel 260 and, as shown in FIG. 13 , the belt rotates counterclockwise as indicated by arrow 261 . The frame member 220 also supports a vacuum manifold 262 having a hollow interior vacuum chamber 266 . Vacuum ports 263 extend through frame member 220 from opposite sides of the vacuum chamber. The manifold 262 has an outer wall 268 (FIG. 15) including a main slot 270 extending the entire length of the outer wall. The outer wall also includes a second slot 272 extending a short portion of the length in the outer wall.

The belt 250 has an outer seed-contacting surface or side 251 . The strip 250 includes a row of first holes 252 located on the slot 270 of the manifold 262 . Apertures 252 extend through the strip, allowing air to circulate through the strip. The belt further includes a number of rib-shaped structures 254 extending from the seed contacting surface 251 . Each structure 254 has an opposing face 255 (as shown in FIG. 9 ) facing the direction of travel of the belt. In this embodiment, the opposite face 255 of the structure 254 extends outwardly from the seed contacting side 251 of the belt. In the embodiment shown, the formations 254 do not extend laterally to both side edges of the strip, but instead leave a flat edge region 257 along one edge of the strip. Preferably, the second row of holes 258 in the strip is disposed over a second slot 272 in the outer wall 268 of the manifold. Hole 258 communicates with vacuum chamber 266 only when a short portion of the path of hole 258 is above slit 272 .

Housing 276 is secured to frame member 220 and closely positioned to said strap 250 . Portion 277 of housing 276 rests on flat edge region 257 of the belt. Housing 276 , said belt 250 and cover 278 (see FIG. 18 ) form a small chamber 279 holding a seed bank 280 . Brushes 282 mounted to housing 276 sweep across face 251 of the belt and seal chamber 279 where the belt enters the chamber to prevent seeds from falling out of chamber 279 . Seed enters chamber 279 through a suitable port (not shown) on housing 276 or housing cover 278 .

The belt 250 and housing 276 form a V-shaped groove for the seed bank that extends upwardly in the direction of movement of the belt. The opposing face 255 formed by the belt structure 254 contacts and agitates the seeds within the bank, creating a seed recirculation flow as shown by the break line 284 in FIG. 14 . Because the belt forms one side of the V-groove, as long as there is enough seed in the seed bank, the seed will always be in contact with the belt, regardless of the tilt or turn of the planter. One advantage of the seed meter is that when the vacuum is turned off, the seeds on the belt fall back into the seed bank. This is in contrast to the rotary seed meter, where a portion of the seeds on the turntable on the seed conduit of the rotary seed meter will fall to the ground when the vacuum is turned off.

Guide wheel 256 is supported by bearing housing 285 on conduit 286 . Flange 288 fixedly connected to conduit 286 is connected to frame element 220 by bolts 290 . A spacer 292 is located between the flange and the frame member 220 . The outer circumference of the guide wheel 256 has a groove 294 corresponding to the hole 252 on the belt. Passage 296 extends radially through guide wheel 256 to an annular chamber 298 surrounding conduit 286 . Opening 300 of conduit 286 connects chamber 298 to hollow interior 302 of the conduit. The conduit is connected to a source of vacuum which is applied to the holes 252 of the belt as it moves over guide wheels 256 . The fork member 304 is connected to the frame member 220 and the tines 306 are received in the slots 294 of the pulley. The tines fill the trench 294 to break the vacuum and form the seed release location 208 . Tines 306 extend from the seed release location to the vacuum manifold in the direction of pulley rotation to seal the vacuum chamber and the groove on the pulley.

As shown in FIG. 19 , housing cover 278 is mounted to the manifold and covers the open side of housing 276 . The double cleaner 310 is mounted on the housing cover, and when installed, it is located on top of the belt 250 . The dual cleaner 310 is generally wedge-shaped and gradually increases in width in the direction of travel of the belt to increase coverage over the aperture 252 . Double cleaner 310 removes double or multiple seeds from the belt such that only one seed covers one hole 252 .

In operation, as the belt rotates, the opposing face 255 contacts and agitates the seeds within the seed bank located at the bottom of the housing 276 . Seeds from the seed bank adhere to each well 252 of the belt by virtue of the vacuum generated inside the manifold 262 or the positive air pressure created on the seed side of the belt applied to the wells. With the main slot 270, the seeds are continuously retained on the belt as it moves from the seed collection area 206 to the guide wheels 256. By virtue of the grooves on the guide wheels, the holes maintain a vacuum as the belt travels around the guide wheels until the seeds and holes reach the tines 306 of the fork members 304 . When the tines 306 are reached, the vacuum ends and the seeds fall off the belt 205 . Alternatively, the seeds may be removed from the belt mechanically, or a combination of terminating the vacuum and mechanically, or mechanically dislodged from the belt while the vacuum is still applied.

The second row of holes 258 may still function as the holes move over the short slots 272 to retain the seeds therein. The holes 258 further agitate the seed bank by collecting the seeds. Additionally, when the holes 258 reach the downstream end 273 of the second slot 272, the seeds fall off the belt. The release position of the holes 258 is such that the seeds pass through one of the holes 252 as they fall. If the holes 252 fail to collect seeds, the holes 252 are empty and the falling seeds will remain thereon. If the hole 252 is not empty, but multiple seeds are collected, the falling seeds will collide with the multiple seeds and assist in the removal of one or more of the multiple seeds. In this case, the falling seeds play a role in avoiding the error of no seeds or multiple seeds on the hole 252 during operation.

At seed release location 208 , seed is transferred from seed belt 252 to seed distribution system 210 . Seed delivery system 210 is described in detail in ____ pending patent application No. ____, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety in this application. Seed delivery system 210 includes an annular element that also surrounds the guide wheel and is housed within housing 322 . The housing has an upper opening 324 through which the seeds enter the distribution system. The annular element is shown in the form of a brush strip 312 having bristles 314 which sweep across the face 251 of said strip 250 to remove seeds therefrom. A transition disc 316 is provided adjacent the belt 250 at the seed release location 208 . The transition disc 316 has a first curved edge 318 that abuts the edge of the belt as the belt moves around the guide wheel. The bristles of the brush belt contact the seed in the hole 252A at the position shown in FIG. The opposite face 255 behind the hole 252A acts as a backstop to stop the brush from hitting the seed that has been dislodged from the rowing strip. The opposing face 255 pushes the seeds to the brush bristles. The downwardly extending projection 323 of the transition plate is inserted into the housing of the distribution system 210 to allow the brushes to continuously confine the seed as it exits the belt 250, above the transition plate 316 and into the interior of the distribution system housing, wherein the brush The bristles and the inner surface of the delivery system housing 322 confine the seeds. Guide plates 325 protrude from the surface of the transition plate to guide the seed and prevent premature sweeping of the seed from the metering belt.

As shown in Figure 13, the belt 250 has a seed side on the radially outer surface of the belt and a vacuum manifold on the radially inner surface of the belt. The seed meter can be configured in reverse, with the seed side on the radially inner surface of the belt and the vacuum manifold on the radially outer surface of the belt. Such an embodiment is shown in FIG. 21 , and some components are omitted in FIG. 21 for the sake of clarity. Seed meter 340 includes support members 342 mounted to the row unit frame by brackets 344 . Motor 346 is drivingly coupled to drive pulley 348 . The guide wheels 350 , 352 are likewise supported by the support element 342 . The seed belt 360 surrounds the guide wheel with its seed side 362 radially inward. Holes 364 extend through the strap as previously described. Each formation 366 is disposed on the opposite face 368 immediately behind the aperture 364 in the belt travel direction 370 . Housing 372 communicates with the seed source and holds a seed reservoir at its lower end 374 . The belt 360 is threaded through the seed bank in a similar manner as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 . A vacuum manifold 378 caps the tape radially outer surface 376 on a portion of the tape path. As with manifold 262 described above, manifold 378 includes slots (not shown) that align with apertures 364 . Manifold 378 is connected to a vacuum pump to create a low pressure within the manifold. The low pressure in the manifold draws air through holes 364 in the belt causing the seeds to stick to the belt. The seeds stick to the belt in the seed collection area at the lower end 374 of the housing 372 and move with the belt to the seed release area 380 . The guide wheels 350 are slotted to provide room for the seeds on the belt. In the release area 380, the brush belt 312 of the seed delivery system 210 sweeps the seed from the seed belt 360 and distributes the seed into the furrow in the soil as previously described. The opposing face 368 of the structure 366 again assists in pushing the seeds into the brush strip 312 .

Seed meter 340 as shown and described utilizes a low pressure or vacuum manifold to stick seeds to the belt. The manifold 378 may be replaced by a support plate with slots and a pressurized housing 372 to provide positive air pressure to hold the seeds on the belt 360 .

The metering device of the present invention, having flexible said belt as a metering and seed transport element, enables the orientation of the element to vary along the path of the belt, optimizing various functions of the element at different positions. As it is in a flat turntable, the belt surface need not be vertical in the seed collection area. Instead, the belt may be sloped to create a less than vertical uphill path for collecting seeds. Also, upon seed release, if falling into the seed duct, the release orientation may be counter-inclined, or overhanging so that the belt clears the seed as the seed falls vertically. Optionally, when the seed meter is used in conjunction with a seed distribution system, the orientation of the belt relative to the distribution system may also be optimized for seeding as the seed is transferred from the seed meter to the distribution system.

Having described the preferred embodiment in detail above, it will be apparent that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

Claims (5)

1. for a row unit for sower, comprising:

One seed sowing device, it has a ring-type seeding band, on this ring-type seeding band, there are multiple holes, for the device along seeding band described in a path movement being limited by least two guide wheels, described path has a seed collecting zone and a seed release areas, and on the opposite side of described seeding band, producing the device of a pressure reduction, described pressure reduction is created in along adhering to the described hole place on described seeding band at least a portion in the path between seed collection region and seed release areas and keeping seed; And

One seed delivery system, it is for receiving seed from described seeding band, described delivery system has the circular element being housed in a housing, described housing has a upper shed, receive seed by described upper shed from described seed sowing device, described circular element intercepts the seed between described housing and described circular element.

2. row as claimed in claim 1 unit, the inswept described seeding band of described circular element of wherein said delivery system is to remove seed from described seeding band.

3. row as claimed in claim 1 unit, further comprises the transition element between the described housing of described seeding band and described delivery system, and the described circular element of described delivery system moves described seed at described transition element.

4. row as claimed in claim 1 unit, the described circular element of wherein said delivery system is to have bristle to move on the surface of described seeding band with the brush and the described brush bristle that capture described seed.

5. row as claimed in claim 1 unit, wherein said seeding band has the structure of following each hole, and this structure forms an opposite face and enters to promote seed on described hole the described circular element of described delivery system.