Patent ID: 7866269
Filing Date: 2011-01-11
Classification: A01C,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A row crop planter comprising: a tool bar adapted to be towed along a planting surface by a towing vehicle; a bulk fill hopper assembly supported by the tool bar and configured to store product to be deposited onto the planting surface; a plurality of planting units supported by the tool bar; a plurality of on-row hoppers associated with the plurality of planting units and flow coupled to the bulk fill hopper, wherein each on-row hopper is configured to receive product entrained in an air/product stream from the bulk fill hopper and store product for a respective one of the planting units, and wherein each on-row hopper includes an air/product inlet, a product outlet flow coupled to a respective one of the planting units, and an air outlet through which air may be exhausted, wherein the plurality of on-row hoppers includes a first set of on-row hoppers and a second set of on-row hoppers; a first set of cover plates mounted to the first set of on-row hoppers, the first set of cover plates having a plurality of orifaces therethrough to allow air exhaustion from the first set of on-row hoppers through the orifaces; and a second set of cover plates mounted to the second set of on-row hoppers, the second set of cover plates being free of orifaces to substantially prevent air exhaustion from the second set of on-row hoppers through the second set of cover plates.