US 11,877,533 B2
Seed delivery apparatus, systems, and methods
Ian Radtke, Washington, IL (US)
Assigned to Precision Planting LLC, Tremont, IL (US)
Filed by Precision Planting LLC, Tremont, IL (US)
Filed on Jun. 10, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/344,193.
Application 17/344,193 is a continuation of application No. 16/459,153, filed on Jul. 1, 2019, granted, now 11,058,048.
Application 16/459,153 is a continuation of application No. 15/714,697, filed on Sep. 25, 2017, granted, now 10,398,077, issued on Sep. 3, 2019.
Application 15/714,697 is a continuation of application No. 14/915,530, granted, now 9,769,978, issued on Sep. 26, 2017, previously published as PCT/US2014/053554, filed on Aug. 29, 2014.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/923,449, filed on Jan. 3, 2014.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/872,319, filed on Aug. 30, 2013.
Prior Publication US 2021/0298225 A1, Sep. 30, 2021
Int. Cl. A01C 7/10 (2006.01); A01C 7/04 (2006.01); A01C 7/20 (2006.01); A01C 7/08 (2006.01); A01C 7/16 (2006.01)
CPC A01C 7/105 (2013.01) [A01C 7/046 (2013.01); A01C 7/081 (2013.01); A01C 7/16 (2013.01); A01C 7/20 (2013.01); A01C 7/205 (2013.01); A01C 7/206 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for delivering seed to a planting surface, comprising:
a seed meter having a seed disc rotatable about a central axis in a direction of rotation, said seed disc having an array of radially spaced apertures onto which the seed is entrained, whereby as said seed disc rotates about said central axis, said array of radially spaced apertures define a seed path along which the seed is translated in said direction of rotation before the seed is released from said seed disc at a seed release location;
a guide brush assembly disposed along said seed path before said seed release location, said guide brush assembly disposed to guide the seed to said seed release location;
a seed conveyor disposed to receive the seed at an upper end of said seed conveyor after the seed has been released from said seed disc at said seed release location, said seed conveyor having a belt which conveys the seed from said upper end to a lower end of said seed conveyor, and wherein the conveyed seed is released from said seed conveyor with a rearward velocity relative to a forward direction of travel of said seed conveyor.