Row unit for a seeding machine with pneumatic seed loading

Abstract

A row unit for a seeding machine includes a seed reservoir and a seed meter assembly having a metering member with a seed side facing the seed reservoir and a non-seed side opposite the seed side. The metering member is operable to selectively move seeds from the seed reservoir. A pump provides a pressure differential between the seed side and the non-seed side for adhering the seeds to the metering member. A conveyor has an inlet for receiving the seeds and an outlet configured to discharge the seeds from the seeding machine. The conveyor includes a belt movable from the inlet to the outlet. A pneumatic seed displacer includes a nozzle disposed adjacent the metering member for concentrating air. The nozzle is configured to eject the air towards the metering member for directing the seeds from the metering member to the conveyor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A row unit for a seeding machine, the row unit comprising:
 a seed reservoir;   a seed meter assembly including
 a metering member having a seed side facing the seed reservoir and a non-seed side opposite the seed side, the metering member operable to selectively move seeds from the seed reservoir, and 
 a pump providing a pressure differential between the seed side and the non-seed side for adhering the seeds to the metering member; 
   a conveyor having an inlet for receiving the seeds and an outlet configured to discharge the seeds from the seeding machine, wherein the conveyor includes a belt movable from the inlet to the outlet; and   a pneumatic seed displacer including a nozzle for concentrating air, wherein the nozzle is disposed adjacent the metering member, and wherein the nozzle is configured to eject the air towards the metering member for directing the seeds from the metering member to the conveyor.   
     
     
         2 . The row unit of  claim 1 , further comprising an air source providing a higher-than-atmospheric pressure air to the pneumatic seed displacer. 
     
     
         3 . The row unit of  claim 2 , wherein the air source includes an output side of the pump. 
     
     
         4 . The row unit of  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle includes an air knife. 
     
     
         5 . The row unit of  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle is mounted on a hub, the hub being rotatably mounted. 
     
     
         6 . The row unit of  claim 5 , wherein the nozzle extends at least partially through an aperture in the metering member. 
     
     
         7 . The row unit of  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle is disposed on the non-seed side of the metering member. 
     
     
         8 . The row unit of  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle is disposed on the seed side of the metering member. 
     
     
         9 . The row unit of  claim 1 , wherein the metering member includes apertures extending from the seed side to the non-seed side, wherein the nozzle is configured to eject air through the apertures. 
     
     
         10 . The row unit of  claim 1 , wherein the belt includes a brush belt, and wherein the nozzle is configured to eject air into bristles of the brush belt. 
     
     
         11 . The row unit of  claim 1 , wherein the belt includes a flighted belt, and wherein the nozzle is configured to eject air into flights of the flighted belt. 
     
     
         12 . The row unit of  claim 1 , wherein the seed displacer further includes a pressure conduit having a venturi disposed on a seed side of the metering member for drawing the seeds away from the metering member. 
     
     
         13 . The row unit of  claim 12 , wherein the seed displacer further includes a fixed blade for mechanically guiding the seeds from the metering member into the venturi. 
     
     
         14 . The row unit of  claim 1 , wherein the metering member is a first metering member, wherein the seed meter assembly further includes a second metering member, wherein the conveyor is disposed between the first and second metering members, wherein the seed displacer is a first seed displacer and the nozzle is a first nozzle, further comprising a second seed displacer including a second nozzle for concentrating air, wherein the second nozzle is disposed adjacent the second metering member, and wherein the first and second nozzles are configured to eject air inwardly towards the conveyor. 
     
     
         15 . The row unit of  claim 1 , wherein the seed meter assembly includes a housing defining a chamber fluidly coupled to the pump for providing the pressure differential, wherein the seed meter assembly further includes a cutoff disposed immediately adjacent the chamber, wherein the nozzle is disposed outside of the chamber in the cutoff. 
     
     
         16 . A method for displacing seeds from a metering member in a seeding machine, the seeding machine having a seed reservoir, a seed meter assembly including the metering member having a seed side facing the seed reservoir and a non-seed side opposite the seed side operable to selectively transport seeds from the seed reservoir, and a conveyor having a movable belt receiving the seeds and an outlet configured to discharge the seeds from the seeding machine, the method comprising:
 providing a pressure differential across the metering member for adhering seeds to the metering member; and   injecting seeds into the movable belt using air directed at the seeds.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein injecting includes using a higher-than-atmospheric pressure air. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein injecting includes using a nozzle to concentrate the air. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising using a pump to provide both the pressure differential and the air directed at the seeds. 
     
     
         20 . A row unit for a seeding machine, the row unit comprising:
 a seed reservoir;   a seed meter assembly including
 a metering member having a seed side facing the seed reservoir and a non-seed side opposite the seed side, the metering member operable to selectively move seeds from the seed reservoir, and 
 a pump providing a pressure differential between the seed side and the non-seed side for adhering the seeds to the metering member; 
   a conveyor having an inlet for receiving the seeds and an outlet configured to discharge the seeds from the seeding machine, wherein the conveyor includes a belt movable from the inlet to the outlet; and   a pneumatic seed displacer including a conduit coupled to a source of pressurized air, the conduit having an outlet disposed adjacent the metering member, wherein the outlet is configured to eject the pressurized air towards the metering member for directing the seeds from the metering member to the conveyor.   
     
     
         21 . The row unit of  claim 20 , wherein the source of pressurized air includes the pump. 
     
     
         22 . The row unit of  claim 20 , wherein the outlet is disposed on the seed side of the metering member.