• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
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    • 专利摘要:
    seed distribution machine. a sowing machine is described, such as a row tillage planter (20), which is adapted to switch between two or more varieties of seed as the machine crosses a field. the control system uses a programmed amount of seed representing a number of seeds in the seed dispenser that needs to be substantially consumed since the flow of a first seed variety is interrupted before the introduction of a second seed variety to minimize mixing of seeds. the amount of seed can be determined by a calibration process or published by a manufacturer or third parties. the amount of seed can also be part of a sowing prescription that includes association of where each seed variety should be planted in a field. the amount of seed and the distance traveled to empty the feeder can be used to optimize the planting operation including the direction of the machine which can also be part of the prescription.
    公开号:BR112015013383B1
    申请号:R112015013383-5
    申请日:2013-12-13
    公开日:2020-09-15
    发明作者:Elijah B. Garner；Charles T. Graham；Donald K. Landphair；Kelby J. Krueger
    申请人:Deere & Company；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    Field Of Invention
    [0001] This disclosure refers to sowing machines such as row tillage planters adapted to plant two or more varieties of seed in a field and, in particular, to control such a machine. Brief Description Of Drawings
    [0002] Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of a planter illustrating a row unit and two seed supply tanks for a seed delivery system; Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a vacuum seed dispenser; Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a controller; Fig. 4 is a top view of a field map; Fig. 5 is a top view of the Fig. 4 field illustrating pixels for a sowing prescription; Fig. 6 is a flow chart of the control process; Fig. 7 is a three-dimensional graph illustrating variation in the programmed amount of seed in the seed dispenser based on the planter's attitude; Fig. 8 is a plan view of a field illustrating optimization of the variety prescription; Fig. 9 is a plan view of a field showing a Common Planter Variety Area; Fig. 10 is a plan view as in Figure 9 illustrating an alternative Common Variety Area for a planter; Fig. 11 is a plan view of a field illustrating another optimization of the variety prescription including a path plan for the planter; Fig. 12 is a plan view of a field illustrating another optimization of the variety prescription including a path plan for the planter to minimize change in variety; and Fig. 13 is a plan view of a field illustrating areas of a field where seed varieties are mixed when a change in the seed variety is made with a single gate change mechanism. Invention Description
    [0003] Most crop production is carried out by sowing an entire field with a variety of seed. However, sufficient agronomic data is currently available to use site-specific planting prescriptions that use two or more seed varieties in a given field to increase yields. Several factors are used to determine the best variety for a given location. One area of a field may be lower and typically wetter than other areas. The higher humidity alone may suggest a different seed variety in that location. Furthermore, moisture can result in increased weed or pest pressure there, requiring other varieties that are resistant to these pressures. To plant the field more efficiently with parallel back and forth passes, and to plant multiple site-specific varieties, it is necessary to change varieties numerous times based on the location of the machine in the field.
    [0004] With reference to Fig. 1, a sowing machine is shown, in the form of a row tillage planter 20, which is able to switch between seed varieties without stopping the machine. Planter 20 is equipped with multiple row planting units 22, only one of which is shown. Row unit 22 is just one example of many different types of row units that can be used to plant seed. The row unit 22, as shown, includes an opener 24 that forms a shallow ditch in the ground as the machine traverses a field. Groove depth control wheels 26 control the depth of the trench. A seed doser 28 doses seed to deliver individual seeds sequentially into a seed tube 30 that directs the seed to the ditch below the doser. A closing wheel or other device 32 goes behind and covers the seed deposited with soil. Each row unit 22 is mounted on the frame of the machine 34. Multiple units of row 22 are mounted on the frame 34 in such a way that multiple parallel rows are planted with each machine pass through a field.
    [0005] Each seed dispenser is equipped with a small seed hopper 40 normally referred to as a mini-shaker. Seed from two or more tanks 42, 44 is delivered pneumatically via the tubes 46, 48 to the mini-syringe. Alternatively, the mini-syringe could be eliminated and the tubes 46, 48 connected directly to the doser housing. A tube 46 extends from tank 42 to mini 40 and a tube 48 extends from tank 44 to mini 40. Each tank 42, 44 carries a different variety of seed in such a way that each variety is delivered in each mini tank. . The tanks and tubes are part of a pneumatic seed delivery system 50 such as those shown in US patents 6,609,468, 6,688,244 and 7,025,010, incorporated herein by reference. The seed delivery system 50 also includes a fan 52 to supply the air flow to transfer the seed through tubes 46, 48. In place of the seed delivery system 50, the planter could be equipped with larger hoppers in each unit row to supply the seed to each feeder.
    [0006] Seed feeder 28 is shown in more detail in Fig. 2. Feeder 28 is a vacuum seed feeder that operates with a pressure differential to select individual seeds for delivery to seed tube 30. Although the feeder 28 is a vacuum feeder, other pressure differential feeders use positive pressure instead of vacuum. While a pressure differential feeder provides some of the advantages described below, a mechanical feeder, such as a finger-type feeder, can also be used. The dispenser 28 includes a housing 56. A seed disk 58 divides the interior of the housing into two chambers, a seed chamber 60 and a vacuum chamber 62. The seed disk 58 is mounted in the housing for rotation about an axis 64. The feeder is a vacuum seed feeder, just like the feeder shown in US patent 5,170,909 incorporated herein by reference.
    [0007] Tubes 46, 48 pass through the mini hopper and end near the base of the hopper, in a shift mechanism 68. The shift mechanism 68 can be of the type shown in the US patent. 6,193,175, incorporated by reference. The shifting mechanism 68 has two rotating gates 69, 70, each with an opening 71 therein for seed passage. The gate 69 is rotated by an actuator 72, while the gate 70 is rotated by an actuator 73. As shown in Fig. 2, the openings 71 of both gates are aligned with the tube 46, allowing a variety of seed A from the tube 46 enter the doser housing. The floodgates can both be rotated to align the openings 71 with the tube 48, allowing a variety of seed B from the tube 48 to flow into the doser housing. Since each penstock is separately controlled, one penstock can close tube 46 while the other penstock closes tube 48 to prevent both varieties of seed from entering the doser housing. This allows the seed variety in the dispenser to be depleted before the introduction of the other variety in the manner described below. The illustrated change mechanism 68 is just one example of a change mechanism, and other mechanisms can be used. When the shifting mechanism 68 opens both tube 46 and tube 48, seed from the respective tank can flow into the seed chamber of the doser housing and accumulate in a seed pool 76 in the housing.
    [0008] The doser housing 56 includes a hose adapter and opening 80 for the vacuum chamber 62 on the side of the seed disk opposite the seed pool 76. The adapter is connected to a hose, not shown, which is coupled to the inlet side of a vacuum fan to produce a vacuum in chamber 62. Seed disk 58 has a circular arrangement of slits 82 extending through the disk close to its periphery. Slots 82 extend through the disk from the seed side to the vacuum side. As the seed disk rotates, the vacuum on one side of the disk causes individual seeds to stick to the disk on the seed side, in the slits 82, as shown by the seeds 84 on the top of the disk in Fig. 2. After the seed is rotated to the release site, the vacuum is cut, allowing the seed to fall sequentially into the seed tube 30 and into the ditch in the soil. Other types of seed feeders can also be used, including, but not limited to, positive pressure feeders or mechanical feeders, such as a finger-type feeder, etc.
    [0009] A controller 86 to control the planter function 20 is shown in Fig. 3. Controller 86 is just an example of a controller architecture to illustrate the control functions. The hardware architecture may vary. Controller 86 includes a central processing unit, CPU, 88 and a variable / variable rate controller, VRVC, 90. VRVC 90 controls the operation of actuators 71, 72 to rotate gates 69, 70 to determine which seed variety seeps into the doser housing. The VRVC 90 also controls the rotational speed of the seed disk 58 to determine and vary the seed application rate, that is, the number of seeds per unit area, for example, seeds per acre. Both CPU 88 and VRVC 90 receive vehicle speed input from real terrain speed sensor 92. Additional inputs on the CPU include input from machine location 94 such as GPS data, providing the machine's geo-referenced location . A memory card 96 with prescription data from a home office computer 98 or other computer provides data to the CPU which seed variety to plant at each location in the field and at what rate of application. A wireless input device 100 can also be provided to transmit a wireless prescription to a memory device 102. A visual monitor 104 is provided to deliver information to the operator. The monitor can be a touch screen to allow user input and / or another user input device 106 can be provided, such as buttons, keys, keyboard, voice commands, etc.
    [00010] A field map is shown in Fig. 4, where the locations in a field 110 for planting each of two seed varieties A and B are indicated. Most of the field should be planted with variety A, while the areas in the irregularly shaped polygons 112, 114 should be planted with variety B. Polygon 112 is contained in field 110, while polygon 114 is partly defined by the boundaries field 110. Controller 86 can control the variety based on where the planter 20 is located with respect to the limits of the two polygons 112, 114. If the planter is outside the polygons, plant variety A, and, if the planter is outside the polygons, plant variety B. Alternatively, with reference to Fig. 5, the field can be divided into numerous small rectangular areas or pixels. Each pixel is geo-referenced and has a variety of seed A or B assigned to it and a sowing rate in a sowing prescription. When the planter is at a given pixel, it plants the variety associated with that pixel. With any type of field designation, controller 86 has to be programmed to look ahead on the current path to predict changes in the seed variety as described below. Although two varieties of seed are described, it will be apparent that more than two varieties can be planted in a given field with equipment so equipped.
    [00011] When moving from one variety to another, it is desirable to minimize the mixing of the two seed varieties so that when changing from variety A to variety B, there is only a small region in the field where the two varieties are mixed before planting only variety B. To minimize the mixing of varieties, penstocks 69 and 70 are rotated to positions closing both tubes 46 and 48. This allows the seed in the seed pool 76 to be substantially exhausted before opening the tube 48 to allow variety B to flow into the dispenser. Although a sharp change in varieties may be preferred, a certain seed mix is better than allowing the dispenser to function completely empty and leaving an area in the field not planted. When the tractor 116, Fig. 4, approaches the limit of the polygon 112, the controller 86 must prevent the variety A from flowing to the feeder a sufficient distance before reaching the polygon to allow the seed A to be exhausted and then introduces seed B into the doser just before planting seed B at the limit of the polygon. In order to do this, the controller needs to know the number of seeds in the seed pool 76 at the moment when it stops the flow of the seeds of variety A to the doser. Using the number of seeds, also referred to as the size of the seed pool, along with the sowing rate or rates between the current location and the X point at the limit of the polygon where the planter needs to start planting seed B (Fig. 4 ), the controller determines a Y point at which the supply of seed A in the feeder must stop.
    [00012] To determine the Y location, the seed pool size 76 has to be known. The controller is adapted to use a programmed amount of seed in the seed pool 76 to make this calculation. The programmed amount of seed is based on the seed size and the geometry of the seed doser housing. Seeds of variety A can be of a different size than seeds of variety B. In addition, because of the physical geometry of the doser, for example, the different locations of the lower ends of tubes 46 and 48 that supply the seed in the doser, the quantity programmed seed in the seed pool can be different for each seed variety. One way to know the size of the seed pool is to perform a calibration process as part of a planter setup. The calibration process includes the steps of filling the feeder housing with seed A, operating the seed feeder at least until all cracks in the seed disk are filled with seed and the seed begins to fall through the detected seed tube by the seed sensor 118 in the seed tube 30. The shift mechanism 68 is then moved to a position that closes both tubes 46 and 48, interrupting the additional seed supply A in the feeder. The feeder continues to operate until the seed pool in the feeder is exhausted, while the seed sensor 118 counts the number of seeds delivered to the seed feeder. The number of seeds counted is the "Remaining Seed Count" for variety A.
    [00013] To avoid running the seed feeder completely empty of seed during change, a certain minimum number of seeds, for example, twenty seeds, must be present in the feeder at all times. The Remaining Seed Count, minus the minimum number of seeds, is the programmed amount of seed supplied to the controller to calculate when to interrupt seed supply A during a change. Once the programmed amount of seed is determined for variety A, the dispenser is then filled with seeds of variety B and the calibration process is repeated. The supply of B seeds in the feeder is interrupted and the feeder runs until empty, also counting the number of seeds. The "Remaining Seed Count" for variety B minus the minimum number of seeds takes the programmed amount of seed for variety B.
    [00014] If the planter's seed feeders are driven by motors, such as electric or hydraulic motors, the aforementioned calibration process can be performed when the planter is static before operation in a field. Alternatively, and for all planters with dosers driven by ground wheels, the planter can be operated in the field for the calibration process. In doing so, a row is used for calibration, where seed supply A is interrupted to allow the size of the seed pool to be counted. Since the feeder is running empty during the calibration process, there could be at a time a row gap when planting several feet for each variety.
    [00015] The programmed amount of seed can also be determined without running the feeder until it is empty, detecting operational parameters of the feeder that indicate that it is close to empty. As the seed pool becomes almost empty, the disc moves through fewer seeds. Before the dispenser is completely empty, the frequency of seed skips, detected by the seed sensor 118, increases. The seed count until the moment when the skip frequency increases can be used as the programmed seed quantity for this variety. Similarly, as the seed pool gets smaller, more cracks in the seed disk will be opened between the release point and the seed pool, because of the smaller size of the seed pool. Additional open slits will result in a drop in the vacuum pressure in the vacuum chamber. When a decrease in vacuum pressure is detected by pressure sensor 120, the seed count reached at that point becomes the programmed seed quantity. The pressure in a positive pressure feeder will also similarly decrease as the size of the seed pool decreases to near empty. When any of these operational parameters change that indicates that the seed pool is close to empty, the seed count up to that point in time can then be used as the programmed seed quantity. It is possible that other operating parameters can be used to detect an almost empty condition of the doser. The minimum number of seeds mentioned above is ideally the number of seeds needed in the feeder to prevent any operational parameter from indicating a decline in the feeder function.
    [00016] The programmed amount of seed can also be published data that the operator then feeds into controller 86 through one of the input devices 104 or 106. The data can be published following testing by the planter manufacturer, the seed company, a third-party testing service, etc. The seed company could test and publish, for each seed variety, a programmed quantity table of seed values for common planter models. Seed companies or outsourced agronomists are expected to prepare and supply a producer with a prescription for seed varieties and sowing rates for a given field. The prescription may include the programmed amount of seed to be used in the planter's operation.
    [00017] The planter is operated using the programmed amount of seed to determine when to supply a seed variety to the planter before introducing the next seed variety into the feeder when making a change between varieties. The controller uses the programmed seed quantity and application rate to determine a "Distance to Empty". The controller is also looking ahead of a current path and determines a "Distance to Change" representing the planter distance from point X at the edge of polygon 112, Fig. 4. Since the Distance to Change is greater than Distance to empty , more seed than the programmed amount of seed in the feeder that needs to be planted to the point of change. When the Distance to Change is equal to the Distance to Empty, the planter is at point Y. The supply of seed variety A in the feeder is stopped and the programmed amount of seed in the feeder is the amount of seed that needs to be planted from point Y to point X, where the change needs to occur. When the planter reaches point X, the number of seeds in the feeder must be equal to the minimum number of seeds. At this point, seed of variety B is supplied in the feeder.
    [00018] To ensure minimal mixing of the varieties and to ensure proper operation of the seed doser, it is recommended to monitor the planter's performance during change operations and make adjustments to the programmed amount of seed as needed. This is done by counting the seeds delivered by the feeder once the seed supply in the feeder has stopped to verify that the programmed amount of seed is accurate. If not, the programmed seed quantity is adjusted to a new value. For example, if, during operation, there is a decrease in the planter's performance, detected by the aforementioned operational parameters before the programmed seed quantity has been distributed by the feeder, this indicates that the programmed seed quantity is greater than the actual seed quantity in the dispenser. When the controller detects a decrease in the planter's performance, the seed count at the time of the change in the operational parameter becomes the new programmed seed quantity. However, if there is no change in the operational parameters at the time when the feeder is almost empty, this can start that the programmed amount of seed is less than the actual number of seeds in the feeder. This would result in more seed mix than desired for the change. If this occurs, the controller can increase the programmed amount of seed slightly before the next change to arrive at a more accurate number of actual seeds in the feeder. For example, the programmed seed quantity can be increased by one percent for the next change and then the operational parameters monitored to determine whether the new programmed seed quantity is correct. In this way, the controller gradually reaches a more precise programmed amount of seed.
    [00019] The process for determining when to operate the change mechanism is shown in Fig. 6, Starting with box 200, the controller calculates the Distance to Empty based on the programmed amount of seed and the application rate or rates between the location current and change point X. In box 202, the controller calculates the Distance to Change, that is, the distance between the current location and the edge of one of the polygons 112 or 114 along the current path. In decision box 204, the controller determines whether the Distance to Empty is less than the Distance to Change. If not, the amount of seed currently in the feeder is not enough to reach the turning point, more seed is needed. The planter operation continues and the controller returns to box 200 and repeats the process. If so, the amount of seed in the feeder is sufficient to reach the turning point without any additional seed. The controller goes to box 206 and actuates shift mechanism 68 to close both tubes and interrupts the flow of seed to the feeder. The dispenser then begins to empty and the dispensed seeds are counted, box 208.
    [00020] The controller then determines whether the current seed count is less than the programmed seed quantity in decision box 210. If so, there must still be seed in the feeder. However, it is possible that the programmed amount of seed was too high. To verify this, the controller, in box 212, checks whether any operational parameter of the dispenser indicates that it is about to empty. If not, the controller returns to decision box 210. If so, this indicates that the programmed seed quantity was greater than the actual number of seeds in the feeder and the feeder is practically empty, even if the seed count is less than the programmed amount of seed. If this occurs, the controller goes to box 214. Then, the shift mechanism 68 is actuated to open the other variety for the feeder and the programmed amount of seed for the previous variety is changed to the current seed count. The controller then resumes to start at box 200.
    [00021] If in the decision box 210 the seed count is not less than the programmed amount of seed, then the planter has used the entire programmed amount of seed and the planter must be at the turning point X. The controller goes to the box decision 216 to determine if the operating parameters are indicating that the dispenser is about to empty. If so, this confirms that the programmed seed quantity is an accurate number. The controller goes to box 218 and actuates shift mechanism 68 to open the supply of the next seed variety to the dispenser. The controller then returns to box 200 to look for the next change. If there is no decrease in any operational parameters in box 216, the controller goes to box 220. There, the controller also acts the change mechanism 68 to open the supply of the next seed variety to the dispenser, but once the operating parameters they do not indicate that the feeder is about to empty, the controller slightly increases the programmed seed quantity for the next change, for example, it increases the programmed seed quantity by 1%. The controller then resumes to box 200 for the next change. The controller thus fine-tunes the programmed seed quantity to achieve an accurate number of seeds in the feeder for each variety.
    [00022] The size of the seed pool can also change based on the planter's attitude. Using machine attitude data from an accelerometer 122 mounted on planter 20, the programmed amount of seed can be adjusted. Adjustment can be done based on known test data that shows a percentage increase or decrease in the size of the seed pool based on the planter's tilt angle in either the left or right bearing and forward or backward tilt. An example of variations in the programmed seed quantity because of the machine's attitude is shown in Fig. 7. In the absence of test data to adjust the programmed seed quantity, the aforementioned operational parameters can be used to detect variations in the number of seeds in the seed dispenser for variations in the machine's attitude and make adjustments to the programmed seed quantity based on the machine's attitude. As the attitude of the machine changes, the controller determines a new Distance to Empty based on the programmed amount of variable seed.
    [00023] For planters with a common seed feeder used for all seed varieties and where switching between varieties is done by changing the seed variety that is supplied in the feeder, the programmed amount of seed is a necessary parameter to develop a prescription of seed variety. The programmed amount of seed determines a minimum distance that must be covered with a given seed variety before switching to another variety. For example, once a change has been made from variety A to variety B and the seed feeder is filled with seed B, the planter will have to move a Distance to Empty to consume seed B in the feeder before there can be a change back to seed variety A. The prescription should take into account the programmed amount of seed and the Distance to Empty calculated from it in determining the prescription. The Distance to Empty effect can be used in one of two ways. If the Distance to be covered with the second seed variety is less than the Distance to Empty, the prescription might simply not make the switch to the second seed variety. Or the second seed variety could be used over a larger area than desired for the prescription, overlapping a portion of the second variety over an area where the first variety would be desired. Preferably, the prescription would center the second variety in the desired area so that the points of change would be uniform on both sides of an area for variety B. See Fig. 8. There is a field 130 basically planted with a variety A. field has a narrow strip 132 to be planted in variety B. The width of strip 132 is less than the minimum planter change distance shown by rectangular blocks 134. If each change is made as the planter reaches range 132, the blocks planted with variety B would be mismatched, as shown at the top of Fig. 8, where the arrows show the planter's direction of travel. However, if the prescription takes into account the size of the minimum switching distance, blocks 134 can be centered in range 132, as shown by the three blocks near the bottom of Fig. 8.
    [00024] The Distance to Empty, which is measured in the planter's travel distance, is probably a different number from the width of the machine that has separate control capability. Thus, for any given location of planter 20 and tractor 116 in a field, there is an area of the field, in front of the planter, known as a Common Variety Area 150, which has to be planted with the current seed variety in the feeder. The length of the Common Variety Area is the Distance to Empty and the width is the smallest area of the planter with separate control capability. In the example in Fig. 9, the width of the Common Variety Area is the width of the planter. If smaller planter sections can be controlled separately, for example, three sections, there will be three Areas of Common Variety, 150A, 150B and 150C extending to the front of the planter, as shown in Fig. 9. If each row unit is controlled separately for the seed variety, then there would be a separate Common Variety Area for each row unit. The Common Variety Area moves forward with the planter as the planter moves in the field.
    [00025] To optimize a variety prescription for a given field, the prescription must consider the size of the Common Variety Area. This was done as shown in Fig. 8 by centralizing the Common Variety Area, shown by blocks 134 in range 132. In addition, an optimized prescription can include a plan plan for the planter taking the Common Variety Area into consideration. For example, with reference to Fig. 10, field 160 has a throat 162 that passes through the field which is generally wetter and could benefit from a different variety than the rest of the field. But the width 164 of the throat area is less than the length of the Common Variety Area 150 of the planter in the usual direction of travel for planting, side by side, seen in Fig. 11. The prescription can be optimized, however, by planting from above downwards so that the length of the Common Variety Area 150 'can be better aligned with the throat area 162. The efficiency of the harvesting machine should also be considered when planning the planter path. Changing the direction of planting can be more practical when the crop must be harvested with a harvester insensitive to row.
    [00026] Prescription optimization occurs when the area of the field that is not planted with the ideal variety is minimized. Since the Common Variety Area does not always have the same dimension in both directions, an optimized prescription needs to include a planter path plan. The path plan can be executed automatically if the tractor is equipped to automate the steering of the tractor, or the path plan can be shown to the operator for manual steering of the tractor. For automated control, CPU 88 can be adapted to communicate with a tractor 128 steering controller adapted to receive detailed path plan instructions for automatic tractor guidance 116. The path plan can be as simple as which direction to plant. the field shown in Fig. 11. In this case, the controller displays on the monitor 104 the desired direction for planting the field.
    [00027] An optimized prescription with a path plan can be accomplished by planting all or substantially the entire area that requires one variety before switching to the other variety and planting the rest of the field. This prescription can be optimized to minimize the number of changes. For example, with reference to Fig. 12, a field 170 is shown, much of which is planted with variety A. A corner area 172 is planted with variety B. Area 172 is planted first along the path shown by arrows 174, with the planter turning on promontory 176 at the end of the field and turning at the other end outside area 172. promontory 176 can be planted before or after passes back and forth in area 172. After area 172 is planted, a change of variety is made and the rest of the field is planted with variety A. This can be done with an area of the internal promontory 178 surrounding area 172. In this area of the promontory, the planter is turned when making passes back and forth, as shown by arrows 180. With a planting pattern like this, headland 178 would need to be harvested first before harvesting back and forth from the rest of the field.
    [00028] The programmed amount of seed has been described as the seed in the dispenser of a first variety that needs to be consumed before the introduction of a second seed variety when making a change in seed varieties to minimize mixing of seed varieties. The use of two penstocks 69, 70 in the change mechanism 68 allows the interruption of both seed varieties, allowing the programmed amount of seed in the feeder to be consumed. If the change mechanism has only one gate that has two positions, a first position that allows the first seed variety to flow into the dispenser and block the flow of the second seed variety and a second position that allows the flow of the second variety , still blocking the flow of the first variety, there would be no chance of blocking the flow of both varieties at a time to substantially empty the doser. The programmed amount of seed, however, can still be used with a change mechanism like this to control at least where in the field the mixed seed is planted. With a single gate change mechanism, when the gate changes from variety A to variety B, there will be a programmed amount of seed of variety A in the feeder. At the change, A is stopped and B is introduced into the feeder together with seed A. The seeds will mix and there will be a region in the field planted with the seed mixture. Eventually, seed A in the feeder will be completely consumed and the planter will be planting only seed B. The mixed seed area is shown as the hatched area 240 in Fig. 12 where the planter, when approaching change point X, changes the floodgate ahead of point X in such a way that when point X is reached, the planter is planting B seed at a specified purity level, for example, at least 95% of planted seeds are B seeds. Using the programmed quantity of seed and with the seed metering test knowledge, the length of the mixed seed area 240 can be determined. The mixed seed area 240 in Fig. 12 is located in seed area A in such a way that the area in polygon 112 will be planted with the desired seed purity B. Alternatively, the mixed seed area 240 'could be located within the polygon 112, if desired. In another alternative as well, the mixed seed area 240 "can accommodate the edge of polygon 112. In some prescriptions, it may not matter where the mixed seed area is planted. But in some prescriptions, it may be important that within of polygon 112 the seed must be the B seed. In such a case, the prescription may include the location of the mixed seed area and the controller is operated accordingly to make the change such that the mixed seed area is on the side polygon 112.
    [00029] The control of the change of seed varieties having been described in the context of the programmed quantity of seed which is the quantity kept in the seed puddle or the seed in the seed puddle minus a minimum amount of seed that has to remain in the doser for proper operation. The programmed amount of seed could be used to derive a time or distance traveled from when the first variety of seed is stopped until the next variety is supplied in the feeder. Time and distance can be determined from the programmed amount of seed and the sowing rate and speed of travel of the machine.
    [00030] Although the planter has been described in the context of application of seed, the aspects presented can also be used for application of chemicals such as fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, etc. Different chemicals can be applied at different locations in the field and at different rates. The terms "seed" and "seed variety" should be interpreted in the broadest sense in the following claims to include not only seeds, but different types of fertilizers and other types of chemicals applied in a field.
    [00031] Having described the preferred embodiment, it will be apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.
    权利要求:
    Claims (12)
    [0001]
    1. Seed delivery machine (20), comprising: a seed dispenser (28) with a housing (56) configured to contain a seed pool (76) to be individualized and delivered sequentially; a seed delivery system (50) to provide at least two different varieties of seed in the seed dispenser (28), the seed delivery system (50) having a change mechanism (68) to change from a first variety of seed seed for a second seed variety that is being delivered to the seed doser housing (56) (28); and a controller (86) configured to operate the shifting mechanism (68) to control which seed variety of the first and second seed varieties is delivered to the seed dispenser (28) based on the location of the seed dispensing machine (20 ) in a field, the controller (86) being programmed to operate the change mechanism (68) based on a value of the programmed quantity of seed representing seed in the housing (56) of the seed doser (28); and characterized by the fact that the controller (86) is further configured to be programmed with a prescription of where each seed variety must be planted in a given area of land and where the prescription includes the programmed amount of seed for each variety of seed seed.
    [0002]
    2. Seed distribution machine (20) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the controller (86) is configured to be programmed with the programmed quantity of seed for each seed variety before the operation of the seed machine seed distribution (20) in a field.
    [0003]
    3. Seed delivery machine (20) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the controller (86) is configured to adjust the programmed seed quantity for each seed variety during operation of the seed delivery machine (20).
    [0004]
    4. Seed delivery machine (20), comprising: a seed dispenser (28) with a housing (56) configured to contain a seed pool (76) to be individualized and delivered sequentially; a seed delivery system (50) to provide at least two different varieties of seed in the seed dispenser (28), the seed delivery system (50) having a change mechanism (68) for changing from a first variety of seed seed for a second seed variety that is being delivered to the seed doser housing (56) (28); and a controller (86) configured to operate the shifting mechanism (68) to control which seed variety of the first and second seed varieties is delivered to the seed dispenser (28) based on the location of the seed dispensing machine (20 ) in a field, the operation of the controller (86) of the change mechanism (68) based on a programmed quantity of seed, where the controller (86) is configured to interrupt the supply of a first seed variety in the seed doser (28) before supplying a second variety to allow substantial consumption of the first seed variety in the seed pool (76) before supplying the second seed variety in the seed dispenser (28), where the location of the dispensing machine of seed (20) in the field where the supply of the first seed variety in the seed doser (28) is interrupted is based on the programmed amount of seed in the seed pool (76) and the sowing rate , and characterized by the fact that the controller is still configured to be programmed with a prescription of where each seed variety must be planted in a given area of land and where the prescription includes the programmed amount of seed for each seed variety.
    [0005]
    5. Seed delivery machine (20) according to claim 4, characterized by the fact that the controller (86) is configured to be programmed with the programmed seed quantity for each variety before the seed delivery machine operates. seed (20) in a field.
    [0006]
    6. Seed delivery machine (20) according to claim 4, characterized in that the controller (86) is configured to adjust the programmed seed quantity during operation of the seed delivery machine (20) based on in detected operational parameters of the seed feeder (28).
    [0007]
    7. Seed distribution machine (20), according to claim 6, characterized by the fact that it additionally comprises a seed sensor configured to count seeds delivered in the seed dispenser (28); wherein the seed metering (28) is a pressure differential metering using a pressure differential for metering seed; and where the controller (86) is configured to decrease the programmed amount of seed in the seed pool (76) in the event that a measured pressure differential changes after the delivery of the first seed variety to the dispenser housing (56) is interrupted seed (28) before an expected seed quantity has been delivered by the seed pool (76).
    [0008]
    8. Seed delivery machine (20) according to claim 6, characterized in that it additionally comprises a seed sensor configured to detect seeds delivered by the seed dispenser (28) to count delivered seeds and determine when the dispenser seed (28) a seed skipped; wherein the controller (86) is configured to decrease the programmed amount of seed in the event that the frequency of detected hops increases after the delivery of the first seed variety to the seed dispenser (28) is interrupted before an expected seed quantity has delivered by the seed pool (76).
    [0009]
    9. Seed delivery machine (20) according to claim 6, characterized in that it additionally comprises a seed sensor configured to detect seeds delivered by the seed dispenser (28) to count delivered seeds and determine when the dispenser seed (28) a seed skipped; where the controller (86) is configured to increase the programmed seed quantity in the event that the measured hop frequency does not increase and the pressure differential does not change after the delivery of the first seed variety to the seed doser is interrupted (28 ) and the programmed quantity of seed has been delivered by the seed pool (76).
    [0010]
    10. Seed delivery machine (20) according to claim 6, characterized by the fact that the controller (86) is adapted to decrease the programmed amount of seed in the event that the seed dispenser (28) is completely emptied of the first seed variety after the delivery of the first seed variety to the seed dispenser (28) has stopped before the expected seed quantity has been delivered based on the programmed seed quantity.
    [0011]
    11. Seed distribution machine (20), according to claim 6, characterized by the fact that the controller (86) is configured to be programmed with a different programmed quantity of seed, and in which the programmed seed quantity used by the controller at a given time is based on the attitude of the seed distribution machine (20).
    [0012]
    12. Seed distribution machine (20), according to claim 4, characterized by the fact that the controller (86) is configured to be programmed with a different programmed quantity of seed, and in which the programmed seed quantity used by the controller at a given time is based on the attitude of the seed distribution machine (20).
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    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    WO2014093754A1|2014-06-19|
    EP2931017B1|2017-09-06|
    AR093951A1|2015-07-01|
    EP2931017A1|2015-10-21|
    US8948980B2|2015-02-03|
    BR112015013383A2|2017-07-11|
    US20140165891A1|2014-06-19|
    EP2931017A4|2016-08-03|
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    法律状态:
    2018-03-06| B06F| Objections, documents and/or translations needed after an examination request according [chapter 6.6 patent gazette]|
    2018-03-13| B06F| Objections, documents and/or translations needed after an examination request according [chapter 6.6 patent gazette]|
    2018-03-20| B06I| Publication of requirement cancelled [chapter 6.9 patent gazette]|Free format text: ANULADA A PUBLICACAO CODIGO 6.6.1 NA RPI NO 2462 DE 13/03/2018 POR TER SIDO INDEVIDA. |
    2019-06-04| B06T| Formal requirements before examination [chapter 6.20 patent gazette]|
    2019-12-10| B06A| Notification to applicant to reply to the report for non-patentability or inadequacy of the application [chapter 6.1 patent gazette]|
    2020-04-07| B09A| Decision: intention to grant [chapter 9.1 patent gazette]|
    2020-09-15| B16A| Patent or certificate of addition of invention granted|Free format text: PRAZO DE VALIDADE: 20 (VINTE) ANOS CONTADOS A PARTIR DE 13/12/2013, OBSERVADAS AS CONDICOES LEGAIS. |
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    US13/715,145|2012-12-14|
    US13/715,145|US8948980B2|2012-12-14|2012-12-14|Seeding machine for planting multiple seed varieties|
    PCT/US2013/074893|WO2014093754A1|2012-12-14|2013-12-13|Seeding machine for planting multiple seed varieties|
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