Abstract:
A system for planting seeds having a metering system positioned before a belt lowering system that has a sensor to detect the position of a seed on the belt lowering system. The rotational speed of the metering system and the belt lowering system are determined by the speed and location of a planter and the position of the seed on the belt lowering system to correct seed positioning with relation to a pre-mapped or selected field starting location.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/660,865 filed Jun. 18, 2012. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to devices associated with planting experimental crops. More specifically, this invention is related to a drop tube system for planting an experimental crop. 
         [0003]    In research fields for hybrid seeds and the like, the seeds of different varieties and spacing are planted in short parallel rows in given plots interrupted by alleys that extend across a field perpendicular to the rows. The managing and planting of different seeds in different rows in different plots is difficult at planting time especially when planting is conducted by a row type planter moving through the field at a speed close to six miles per hour. This process is complicated if varying seed sizes are used in the research plots. 
         [0004]    In the art of hybrid seeds, in experimental planting precision in planting the rows of crops is extremely important. In order to provide the most accurate test results planting rows of crops to ensure that the rows align properly is of great importance. To this end, many improvements have been made throughout the years regarding the timing of dropping seeds in order to ensure that they are dropped at a precise time to ensure the distance between such seeds is precise. At this time GPS devices are utilized in order to attempt to determine the exact location of a seed drop. Still, problems remain. 
         [0005]    A traditional seed metering device or other dispenser similar to U.S. Pat. No. 6,474,500 is used to singulate seeds for planting in a row. The singulation and release of seed is normally tied to ground travel to create specific seed spacings in the ground. This dispensing device is normally coupled to a drop tube that delivers the seed to the ground via gravity. The problem with this device is the seeds will strike the sidewalls of the tube and lose speed during this portion of their travel. This results in erratic spacing in the ground depending on the contact and severity of impact on the tube. This drop distance also lets the seed accelerate via gravity which results in a high speed impact with the ground causing further variation in spacing due to the seeds bounce or roll. Thus, there is a need to ensure that the orientation of the kernel is accurate and no bounce of the seed occurs to ensure precision planting. 
         [0006]    In addition, it is critical to singulate seed for planting and it is especially difficult to endeavor to singulate the seeds in the field or during the planting process. 
         [0007]    Therefore, a principal object of the present invention is to provide a dropping tube system that increases the precision of seed planting. 
         [0008]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a seed drop tube that minimizes the probability of a seed bouncing. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    A system for planting seeds having a metering system positioned before a belt lowering system that has a sensor to detect the position of a seed on the belt lowering system. A belt lowering system and a second sensor is positioned at the outlet end of the belt lowering system. The rotational speed of the metering system and the belt lowering system are determined by the speed and location of a planter and the position of the seed on the belt lowering system in relationship to pre-mapped or selected field starting location. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a metering system; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a side view of drop tube system; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a side view of a belt lowering system; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a side view of belt lowering system. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0014]    Referring to the Figures, a drop tube system  50  is mounted to a planter that traverses across a field in order to plant seed. The planter includes a controller  12  that is electrically connected to a position sensor  14  such as a GPS device, or another sensor on the frame of the planter or tractor and the like that provide information regarding the relative ground speed of the planter. Each planter additionally has a metering system  16  that includes an opening for receiving seed. A typical metering system  16  and seed transportation system is shown in U.S. Patent No. 6,474,500 that is incorporated herein. Such a system in one embodiment includes a punch wheel  20  that is located laterally downstream from a discharge opening in a magazine. The punch wheel  20  is comprised of a circular drum  22  that has vertical side flanges  24  secured to a vertical plane on opposite sides of the drum. The flanges have peripheral edges  26  from which pins  28  extend. 
         [0015]    A center shaft  30  extends through the wheel  20  and is operatively connected in any convenient way to a motor. A stationary cam  32  is rotatably mounted on the shaft  30  and slidably between flanges  24  and is rigidly supported by any sleeve and key means so that the wheel can rotate with respect to the stationary cam. Sleeve and key means are rigidly connected to any stationary frame (not shown). The cam  32  has a circular cam surface  34  which essentially around the periphery of the cam to be interrupted only by a radially extending cam  36  element which is located at a six o&#39;clock position. A plurality of radially extending pistons  38  extend through apertures  40  in the drum  22  and are slidably mounted therein. 
         [0016]    When the pistons  38  are in their normal position they protrude only slightly through the drum  22  to the outside surface of the drum  22 . Retaining springs (not shown) can be used in conjunction with pistons  38  to normally maintain their dormant position when the inner ends of the piston  38  are engaged with circular cam surface  34 . When the pistons engage the cam element  36  at the six o&#39;clock position, the cam element  36  exerts radial pressure on the inner ends of the pistons  38  and forces the pistons outwardly through the apertures  40  to engage and crush the cell  42  of a cell pack  48  longitudinally extending there below to force the seed to the individual cell  42  downwardly through the bottom base layer  48  to be deposited in a seed delivery tube  46  of a seed planting mechanism. Thus a belt element is used to deliver seed to the delivery or drop tube. While described as part of a metering system, any belt element  48  or other seed metering mechanism may be used to deliver seed to the drop tube  46  without falling outside the scope of this invention. 
         [0017]    A belt lowering system  50  is mounted to the planter after the metering system  16 . The belt lowering system  50  includes a plurality of idler rolls  52  and a driven roll  54 . A continuous belt  56  having flights  58  is positioned around rolls  52  and  54 . The rolls  52  and  54  are positioned such that the belt  56  transitions from a generally horizontal portion adjacent the outlet  60  of the metering device to a generally vertical portion or any orientation of belt geometry to deliver seed that extends to within a few inches of a planting furrow  62 . 
         [0018]    Guide members  64  are positioned on both sides of at least a portion of the belt  56  in spaced parallel relation. The guide members  64  include a layer of foam  68  to compress and control the position of the seed  44  against the belt  56 . Alternatively, a suction element  70  such as a vacuum or the like to hold and control the seed  44  against the belt  56 . In yet another embodiment, a second belt  56  is positioned adjacent the first belt  56  to hold and control the seed  44  between the belts  56 . The belts could be smooth instead of celled. 
         [0019]    While the exit end of the belt  56  is positioned near the ground to reduce seed  44  bounce and roll, the bounce and roll may be further reduced by having the lower portion of belt  56  angled rearwardly in a straight or arcuate manner so that seed  44  exits at an angle to accommodate for the speed of the planter instead of being dropped vertically. 
         [0020]    Positioned between the outlet  60  of the metering device  16  and the inlet of belt  56  is a first seed sensor  76  that detects an initial position of a seed  44  on the belt  56  and positioned at the outlet of the belt  56  is a second belt sensor  78  that detects the position of the seed  44  when deposited. Both seed sensors  76  and  78  and the driving source for the belt  56  (not shown) are connected to controller  12 . 
         [0021]    In operation, as the planter traverses across a field, the speed and position of the planter are detected by sensor  14  and determined by controller  12 . Based upon this information, controller  12 , which is connected to the metering system  16  activates the seed meter  16  and belt  56 . The seed meter  16  deposits a seed  44  onto belt  56 . First seed sensor  76  detects the position of the seed  44  on the belt and this information is stored in controller  12 . The belt transports the seed  44  to the output end of the belt  56  where the seed is deposited on the ground. The position of where the seed  44  is deposited on the ground is detected by the second seed sensor  78  and this information is stored by controller  12 . 
         [0022]    The rotational speed of the belt  56  and the seed metering device  16  are controlled by controller  12  based upon the detected speed of the planter, the position of the seed on the belt  56 , and the position of the planter in the field. 
         [0023]    Thus, a device has been disclosed that at the very least meets all the stated objectives.