US 12,185,657 B2
Automated seed planter
Joshua Crews, St. Louis, MO (US); and Jeffrey L. Kohne, Kirkwood, MO (US)
Assigned to Monsanto Technology LLC, Saint Louis, MO (US)
Filed by Monsanto Technology LLC, St. Louis, MO (US)
Filed on Dec. 30, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/137,781.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/955,313, filed on Dec. 30, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0195829 A1, Jul. 1, 2021
Int. Cl. A01C 7/04 (2006.01); A01C 7/08 (2006.01); A01C 7/20 (2006.01); A01C 21/00 (2006.01)
CPC A01C 7/042 (2013.01) [A01C 7/081 (2013.01); A01C 7/20 (2013.01); A01C 21/005 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An automated seed planter comprising:
a negative pressure source; and
at least two rotatable vacuum cylinders aligned about a single rotational axis, each of the at least two vacuum cylinders including:
multiple flow paths within the vacuum cylinder, each of the flow paths in fluid communication with the negative pressure source, at least one of the flow paths configured to provide a first pressure within the vacuum cylinder, and at least another one of the flow paths configured to provide a second pressure within the vacuum cylinder different than the first pressure; and
multiple openings in fluid communication with the flow paths;
wherein the at least two vacuum cylinders are configured to independently and/or simultaneously pick up and deliver seeds, via the multiple openings, to a single planting tray.