Abstract:
A planting system and method for planting multiple seed varieties is provided. The planting system includes a planter having a plurality of tanks and a plurality of row units. A plurality of seed meters are included in of the plurality of the row units. The seed meters are aligned in a non-horizontal configuration within each row unit, and one of the plurality of meters is operated at a time to plant a seed variety associated with the meter being operated.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a Continuation Application of U.S. Ser. No. 14/884,435, filed Oct. 15, 2015, which is a Continuation Application of U.S. Ser. No. 14/836,464, filed Aug. 26, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,408,341, issued on Aug. 9, 2016, which is a Continuation Application of U.S. Ser. No. 13/934,647, filed Jul. 3, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,148,992, issued on Oct. 6, 2015, which is a Continuation-in-Part Application of U.S. Ser. No. 12/688,935, filed Jan. 18, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,543,238, issued Sep. 24, 2013, the contents of all of the documents being hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety and for all intents and purposes. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention is directed to a method and apparatus for changing the seed type on a planter and more particularly to a method and apparatus that improves the ease and precision of changing seed types on a planter. 
         [0003]    Devices for changing the seed type on a planter are known in the art. Existing devices have raised the complexity of an operation that is critical to a farm&#39;s income. As a result of the complexity, farmers have been less likely to change seed varieties when planting, thus compromising yield opportunities for speed. Most fields have a majority of land that utilizes one variety of seed and other minor areas that require a different seed. In order to encourage farmers to take advantage of the opportunity to increase yield and profits, a device is needed that reduces costs, complexity, and operational hurdles. 
         [0004]    In addition, with current devices, locating and holding a seed for precise delivery to the ground as the seed, once it leaves a metering device, tends to bounce and/or scatter. Thus, a device that addresses this deficiency is also needed. 
         [0005]    Finally, most current devices require the use of GPS to control activation of the meters. Yet in some areas, such as Eastern Europe, GPS technology is not so readily available. Thus, a device that addresses this deficiency is needed in the art. 
         [0006]    An objective of the present invention is to provide a device that changes seed variety in a planter in a simple and easy way. 
         [0007]    A further objective of the present invention is to provide a device that controls and holds a seed when changing the variety of seed during planting. 
         [0008]    A still further objective of the present invention is to provide a device that triggers the change of seed variety during planting without the use of GPS. 
         [0009]    These and other objectives will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art based upon the following written description, drawings and claims. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    A system for changing seed variety in a planter includes a plurality of row units with each row unit having a plurality of seed meters. Each seed meter is connected to and in communication with a hopper with each hopper contained a different variety of seed. 
         [0011]    Positioned below the seed meters is a transport belt that receives seeds from the meters and transports the seeds to a seed tube for planting. In one embodiment a guide is attached to the discharge end of each seed meter to reduce bounce of the seed when received on the belt. Further, to control the position of the seed on the belt, the belt has adjustable lugs, sidewalls, and/or a cover. 
         [0012]    To easily switch from one seed variety to another, each seed meter has a switch that is selectively activated and deactivated by a switch actuator that is attached to the belt. Also, the system has a clean out system that uses an existing seed delivery fan to create a vacuum that removes seeds from the belt for storage. Also, a seed carrying system using a bulk seed delivery system such as a Kinze Air Seed Delivery system for a large reservoir of a primary hybrid and one or more ‘seed boxes’ used on a row unit is described. In this manner a farmer can carry a large amount of seed and multiple varieties as desired without the complexity of multiple bulk delivery system. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is an end view of a system for changing seed variety for a planter; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a side view of a planting system; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is an end view of transport belt; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a clean out system for a planter. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0017]    Referring to the Figures, a planting system  10  includes an agricultural implement  12  that pulls a planter  14 . The planter includes a plurality of hoppers, tanks, and/or boxes  16  that hold different varieties of seeds  18 . In one embodiment the planter  14  has a bulk hopper  16 A that holds a main seed variety  18 A and a plurality of boxes  16 B that hold different types of secondary seeds  18 B for use with unique ground areas. 
         [0018]    The planter also has a plurality of row units  22  with each row unit  22  having a plurality of seed meters  24 . The seed meters  24  may be arranged in any manner such as stacked generally on top of one another, in-line with one another or in any other type of configuration. Each seed meter  24  is connected to and in communication with a respective hopper  16  by a tube, hose, or the like  26  such that seed  18  is delivered from the hopper  16  to the meter  24 . 
         [0019]    Positioned below the discharge of the seed meters  24  is a transport belt  28 . The transport belt  28  receives seed  18  from the seed meters  24  and delivers seed  18  to a seed tube  30  preferably positioned at one end of the belt  28 . The seed tube  30  delivers seed to be deposited in the ground for planting. 
         [0020]    To reduce the bounce of the seed  18  onto the belt  28 , a guide  32  is attached to the discharge of the seed meter  24  and positioned above and near the belt  28 . The guide  32  is of any shape such as angled, arcuate, or the like and preferably delivers seed  18  in the direction that the belt  28  is moving. Also, preferred is that the guide  32  be adjustable in relation to the belt  28  to accommodate for different planting needs. 
         [0021]    To further locate and hold the seed  18  on belt  28 , a cover  34  is attached to adjustable sidewalls  36  of the belt  28  which are connected to a belt frame  38  by bolts  40 . The belt  28  also has a plurality of lugs or flights  42  that also may be adjustable or can be changed by switching the belt to a belt with a different lug design. At the discharge end of the belt  28 , the cover has an end guide  44  that assists in controlling seed drop to the seed tube  30 . The cover  34 , lugs  42 , and sidewalls  36  are all adjusted such that a seed  18  fits comfortably on the belt  28  below the cover  34  and between the lugs  42  so as to hold the seed  18  between the lugs  42 . The sidewalls  36  adjust to accommodate different belt widths for different seed types. For example, different belts would be used for wheat or milo as opposed to corn and beans. With these provisions, belt  28  effectively becomes a seed meter. 
         [0022]    The transport belt  28  and seed meters  24  are connected to and controlled by a controller  46  having software  48  that actuates and coordinates the operation of the seed meters  24  and the transport belt  28 . In one embodiment, the controller  46  is in electronic communication with instrumentality of the implement  12  and a GPS/satellite navigation and mapping system  50 , which is in electronic communication with the implement  12  and planter  14 . 
         [0023]    For use when GPS is not available, each seed meter  24  has a switch or sensor  52  located adjacent the transport belt  28 . Attached to the belt  28  and connected to the controller  46  is a switch actuator  54 . In one embodiment the switch actuator  54  is an electrically charged magnet. The switch actuator  54  is activated by the controller based upon manual actuation by an operator. For example, in an arrangement having four seed meters  24 , when the rear seed meter is dispensing seed  18  to belt  28 , and it is desirable to change to the front seed meter, an operator pushes a button, flips a switch, or pulls a lever which sends a signal to the controller  46  to activate the front meter and deactivates the rear meter. The controller  46  then sends signals to the switch actuator  54  such that as the actuator  54  passes by the rear meter switch  52 , the rear meter  24  is deactivated and stops depositing seeds  18  to belt  28 . As the actuator  54  passes the front meter switch  52 , the front meter switch  52  is activated and the front meter  24  begins depositing seeds  18  to the belt  28  at exactly the point that the end of the seed supply on the belt passes under meter  1 . As a result, there is no interruption in delivering seeds  18  to the belt  28  nor are multiple seeds  18  delivered into a lug  42  on the belt  28 . 
         [0024]    When planting is completed and an operator wishes to clean out the seeds  18  from the planter  14 , the operator closes the gate valve  56  between the fan  58 , used for delivery of bulk seed to a seed meter  24  and an entrainment box  60  and opens gate valve  67  to provide an air exit. A conduit  62  is connected between an air source  64  and the fan  58  and the discharge end of the transport belt  28  and is connected to the fan intake via gate valve  68 , which is opened when seed clean out is desired. Utilizing an airlock  65  connected to conduit  62  and exit conduit  66  which leads to a storage or transport container vehicle  69 , a vacuum is created. Thus, by running each seed meter  24  separately for each seed  18  type, the seeds  18  are delivered via the air lock  64  to a vacuum conduit  62  using air pressure from the fan  58  to the exit conduit  66  which delivers the seed to storage  69 . If desired, gate valve  56  can be re-opened and valve  67  closed such that a meter  24  is refilled until the bulk seed hopper is empty. 
         [0025]    Thus a device for changing the variety of seed for a planter has been disclosed that at the very least meets all the stated objectives.