Patent Publication Number: US-2021190567-A1

Title: Seeding system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/979,027 filed May 14, 2018, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to a seeding and planting system and more particularly to a metering and distribution system of the seeding and planting system. 
     SUMMARY 
     Current seeding practices tend to involve one of two types of seeding systems: planters and air seeders. Planters generally singulate or individually meter seeds prior to planting and are typically used to disperse seeds where precise placement is required for maximum yield and the seeding rate permits use of singulating technologies. Air seeders generally meter seeds volumetrically and are typically used in high rate seeding applications and where precise seed placement is of less importance or not practical due to the high rates. 
     In one embodiment, a seeding system includes a commodity tank configured to store a commodity. The commodity tank has a first outlet and a second outlet. A volumetric meter has a meter inlet at the first outlet of the commodity tank, a meter outlet, and a metering device between the meter inlet and the meter outlet. A manifold has a commodity inlet at the meter outlet of the volumetric meter, an air inlet, and a manifold outlet. A first dispersion device having a plurality of outlets and an inlet in communication with the manifold outlet. A second dispersion device has a plurality of outlets and an inlet in communication with the second outlet of the commodity tank. The second outlet of the commodity tank bypasses the volumetric meter. 
     In another embodiment, a seeding system having a commodity tank configured to store a commodity. The commodity tank has an outlet. A meter has a meter inlet at the outlet of the commodity tank, a meter outlet, and a metering device between the meter inlet and the meter outlet. A manifold has a commodity inlet at the meter outlet, a first shoot having a first air inlet and a first manifold outlet, and a second shoot having a second air inlet and a second manifold outlet. A valve is positioned upstream of the first and second air inlets and configured to direct an airflow to one of the first air inlet or the second air inlet. Each of the first shoot and the second shoot are in selective communication with the commodity inlet to receive the commodity therefrom. 
     In yet another embodiment, an air distribution manifold for dispensing product into an airstream includes a manifold housing defining a commodity inlet, a first shoot having a first air inlet, a first manifold outlet and a first passageway extending therebetween, and a second shoot having a second air inlet, a second manifold outlet and a second passageway extending therebetween. The second passageway includes a container configured to hold the commodity, a first portion extending downward from the second air inlet to the container and a second portion extending upward from the container to the second manifold outlet. 
     Other features and aspects of the disclosure will become apparent by consideration of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a seeder. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram illustrating a metering and distribution system having three shoots. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram illustrating a metering and distribution system having a metering system in a commodity tank. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram illustrating a metering and distribution system having the metering system in the commodity tank and a pass through in a second commodity tank. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram illustrating a metering and distribution system having a manifold with a seed-on-demand system. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional side view through the manifold of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of a lower shoot of the manifold of  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
    
     Before any embodiments of the disclosure are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The disclosure is capable of supporting other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , seeding machine  2  comprises a seed cart  13  and a tilling implement  17 . The seed cart  13  is typically towed by a tractor through a field to be seeded. The seed cart  13  has a frame supporting a number of storage tanks  18  with wheels  61  rotatably mounted to the frame. The product contained in the storage tanks  18  may include seed, fertilizer, or other agricultural particles. Each storage tank  18  is provided with a volumetric meter  14 . Each volumetric meter  14  is positioned below the respective storage tank  18  and receives product therefrom for controlled feeding of the product into a pneumatic distribution system  21 . 
     The tilling implement  17 , towed behind the seed cart  13 , comprises a frame to which ground openers  29 A,  29 B are mounted. The tilling implement  17  may also include seed row finishing equipment such as packers  33 . Located below each volumetric meter  14  is a primary air distribution manifold  25 , part of the pneumatic distribution system  21 . The pneumatic distribution system  21  distributes metered product from the storage tanks  18  through shoots and to a rank associated with one of the ground openers  29 A,  29 B. The pneumatic distribution system  21  comprises a blower or fan  37  driven by a motor which directs a stream of pressurized air through an adjustable damper  41 , which thereafter directs the air stream into a top shoot portion directed into an upper shoot of first tubes  45  and a bottom shoot portion directed into a bottom shoot of first tubes  49 .  FIG. 1  illustrates a double shoot air seeder wherein a first product contained in one of the storage tanks  18  is directed to the top shoot portion  45  of the air stream and the second product contained in the other of the storage tanks  18  is directed to the bottom shoot portion  49  of the air stream. Triple shot applications in which three products are added to three different shoot portions of the air stream are also utilized in certain situations, as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 2  schematically illustrates a seed metering system  10  along three shoot portions or main conduits  45 ,  49 ,  53  for use in a planting operation, such as seeding a field or dispersing agricultural particles (e.g., fertilizer, etc.). The seed metering system  10  can be used with or as a part of the seeding machine  2 . 
     Each volumetric meter  14 A,  14 B,  14 C (e.g., one volumetric meter  14 A,  14 B,  14 C associated with each of the three commodity or storage tanks  18 A,  18 B, and  18 C, respectively) is configured to receive and meter the commodity (i.e., seeds, fertilizer, or other agricultural particles) from the storage tanks  18 A,  18 B, and  18 C. The storage tanks  18 A,  18 B,  18 C may be in the form of a tank, hopper, air cart, mobile seed storage device, or other bulk container as previously described and illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Further, while three storage tanks  18 A,  18 B,  18 C are shown, more or less tanks  18  may be located on the seed cart  13 . As shown, the three storage tanks  18 A,  18 B,  18 C may be sized differently and may be used for different purposes based on the desired result. For example, a smaller tank (such as tank  18 C) may be used for smaller seeds such as canola. On the other hand, larger tanks (such as tank  18 B) may be used for larger seeds or seeds that require greater volumetric rates of seeding. Each of the tanks  18 A,  18 B,  18 C is configured to provide the commodity to one of the three conduits or shoots  45 ,  49 ,  53  via an air distribution manifold  25  and the respective volumetric meter  14 A,  14 B,  14 C. 
     The volumetric meters  14 A,  14 B,  14 C control the amount or volume of seeds or other agricultural particles permitted to exit the storage tanks  18 A,  18 B,  18 C over a set period of time and may each include multiple roller segments or rotating members  20 , each capable of rotating at a constant rotational velocity along a common shaft. The volumetric meters  14 A,  14 B,  14 C are located upstream of and are operable to provide a known, constant volume of seeds or particles to the conduits  45 ,  49 ,  53  via the manifolds  25 . Gates  16  associated with each volumetric meter  14 A,  14 B,  14 C or each roller segment  20  are operable to open or close to vary the amount of seeds or agricultural particles which reach the manifold  25  and the conduits  45 ,  49 ,  53 . Alternatively, each roller segment  20  of the volumetric meters  14 A,  14 B,  14 C may be individually driven, and therefore may be individually halted to vary the amount of seeds or agricultural particles which reach the manifold  25 . 
     The manifold  25  is a structure located at the base of each volumetric meter  14 A,  14 B,  14 C, the structure having a manifold housing  26 . The manifold housing  26  defines three passageways (per roller segment  20 ) extending therethrough, a first passageway  110  associated with the upper shoot  45 , a second passageway  112  associated with the middle shoot  49 , and a third passageway  114  associated with the lower shoot  53 . As each volumetric meter  14 A,  14 B,  14 C may include a plurality of roller segments  20  (i.e., extending into the page of  FIG. 2 ), the manifold housing  26  defines a plurality of first, second, and third passageways  110 ,  112 ,  114  extending into the page. For simplicity, reference will be made to the passageways  110 ,  112 ,  114  of a single meter roller segment  20 . 
     Each commodity tank  18 A,  18 B,  18 C includes a similar manifold  25 , except as described below (e.g.,  FIGS. 5-7 ). In some embodiments, the seed metering system  10  may include only two shoot portions  45 ,  49  (an upper shoot and a lower shoot) and the manifold would only define two passageways  110 ,  112 . It is to be understood that the terms “upper,” “middle,” and “lower” are used as a naming convention to differentiate the placement of the shoots  45 ,  49 ,  53  within the figures, and they may be reordered except as otherwise described. The manifold  25  includes a gate having gate elements (similar to gate elements  124 ,  126 ,  128  shown in  FIG. 6 ) extending between the various passageways  110 ,  112 ,  114 . The gate elements  124 ,  126 ,  128  may be formed as a single component or multiple components that move with one another or relative to one another to direct the flow of the commodity. When a first gate element  124  is in a first position, it directs the commodity to the first passageway  110 . When the first gate element  124  is in a second position, a second gate element  126  is in a first position and the two gate elements  124 ,  126  collectively direct the commodity around the first passageway  110  and to the second passageway  112 . With a third shoot  53 , the second gate element  126  is switchable from the first position to a second position and a third gate element  128  is in a first position to direct the commodity past the second passageway  112  to the third passageway  114 . Once within the desired passageway  110 ,  112 ,  114 , an airflow or air current moves the commodity through the conduit  45 ,  49 ,  53 . An example of such a system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,213,690 assigned to Deere and Co., the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
     A fan  37 A,  37 B,  37 C is located at one end of the conduits  45 ,  49 ,  53  and is operable to provide the air current to the corresponding conduits  45 ,  49 ,  53  and throughout the remainder of the metering system  10 . As shown, the first conduit  45  utilizes a first fan  37 A, the second conduit utilizes a second fan  37 B, and the third conduit  53  utilizes a third fan  37 C. Alternatively, a single fan may provide air currents to multiple ones of the conduits  45 ,  49 ,  53 . 
     The main conduits  45 ,  49 ,  53  terminate at distribution or dispersion devices or units  40 A,  40 B,  40 C which are located between the volumetric meter  14 A,  14 B,  14 C and the ground, where the seeds or particles are deposited. The dispersion units  40 A,  40 B,  40 C as shown each have an inlet  30  coupled to the respective main conduit  45 ,  49 ,  53  a collection volume, and a plurality of outlets  32 , which lead to secondary conduits  36 A,  36 B,  36 C. Each secondary conduit  36 A,  36 B,  36 C leads to an outlet conduit  46 A,  46 B. As the seeds or agricultural particles from a single conduit (i.e., the conduit  45 ,  49 ,  53 ) are dispersed among multiple conduits (i.e., the secondary conduits  36 A,  36 B,  36 C), the secondary conduits  36 A,  36 B,  36 C may be of lesser size or area than the associated conduits  45 ,  49 ,  53 . 
     While the commodities (i.e., seeds, fertilizer, and other agricultural particles) in the upper and middle shoots  49 ,  45  are not further metered (i.e., after the volumetric meters  14 A,  14 B,  14 C), any seeds in the lower shoot  53  are further metered by a singulating meter  22 . Each secondary conduit  36 C extends from the dispersion unit  40 C to a mini-hopper  38 . The mini-hopper  38  receives seeds from the third dispersion unit  40 C via the secondary conduit  36 C. The mini-hopper  38  is located directly upstream of the singulating meter  22  and feeds the seeds from the secondary conduit  36 C into the meter  22 . The mini-hopper  38  is additionally capable of storing excess seeds, not yet metered by the singulating meter  22 . Therefore, the seeds may pass through the volumetric meter  14 C at a greater rate than the seeds are singulated through the singulating meters  22 . This ensures that the singulating meter  22  is consistently stocked with seeds for singulating and subsequently planting. The mini-hopper  38  may be gravity-assisted, with an inlet  34 A from the secondary conduit  36 C located at a height above the outlet  34 B to the singulating meter  22 . At the height of the inlet  34 A or at a height between the inlet  34 A and the outlet  34 B, the mini-hopper  38  is provided with one or more openings  70 . The openings  70  are sized smaller than the seeds such that seeds are not capable of traversing the openings  70 . When not blocked by seeds, the openings  70  serve as an outlet for the air from the fan  37 B through the conduit  36 C. 
     The singulating meter  22  is operable to singulate or individually meter seeds and is in communication with the mini-hopper  38  via the mini-hopper outlet  34 B. The singulating meter  22  may include a rotating singulating disk (not shown) with multiple orifices, each sized to accept a single seed, and a doubles eliminator (not shown) provided to ensure a one-to-one ratio of seed to each aperture. 
     At an outlet end, the singulating meter  22  is connected to the conduit  46 B. A seed sensor (not shown) may be positioned at the outlet of the singulating meter  22  to measure or calculate the number of seeds or rate of seeding (i.e., number of seeds per time increment) from the singulating meter  22  and the bypass conduit  26  around the singulating meter  22 . This information can be stored and relayed from a control unit to an operator for quality assurance. The conduit  46 B provides a path for the singulated seeds to reach the ground and may be in the form of a tube, hollow shaft, channel, belt, or similar means of conveyance suitable to transfer seed, fertilizer, or other agricultural particles to the ground. More specifically, the conduit  46 B may deposit or plant the seeds in a furrow created by one of the ground openers  29 A ( FIG. 1 ), such as a seed shank. In other constructions, the opener may include one or two opener disks  29 B. 
     In operation, the fertilizer in the first tank  18 A is volumetrically metered via the roller segments  20  of the meter  14 A and to, for example, the first passageway  110  of the manifold. Airflow from the first fan  37 A carries the fertilizer through the first shoot  45  and to the dispersion unit  40 A where the fertilizer is divided into multiple secondary conduits  36 A. From the secondary conduits  36 A, the fertilizer is provided to the ground via the outlet conduit  46 A. 
     The seeds in the second tank  18 B are volumetrically metered via the roller segments  20  of the meter  14 B and may be directed to the second passageway  112  or the third passageway  114 . If the seeds are directed to the second passageway  112 , airflow from the second fan  37 B carries the seeds through the second shoot  49  and to the dispersion unit  40 B where the seeds are divided into multiple secondary conduits  36 B. From the secondary conduits  36 B, the seeds are provided to the ground via the outlet conduit  46 B. 
     If the seeds are directed to the third passageway  114 , airflow from the third fan  37 C carries the seeds through the third shoot  53  and to the dispersion unit  40 C where the seeds are divided into multiple secondary conduits  36 C. From the secondary conduits  36 C, the seeds are provided to the mini-hopper  38 . The singulating meter  22  singulates the seeds to precisely carry single seeds at a predetermined rate from the mini-hopper  38  to the outlet conduit  46 B, and from the outlet conduit  46 B to the ground. 
     Fertilizer in the third tank may be directed to the second passageway  112  of the manifold  25 , thereby following the path taken by the seeds in the second shoot  49 , as described above. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a modified seeding system  10 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the second commodity tank  18 B (or another tank containing seeds) may be provided directly with a seed-on-demand distribution system  72 . The distribution system  72  is mounted within the commodity tank  18 B and extends between an inlet  74  and an outlet  76  of the tank  18 B. The inlet  74  and the outlet  76  are formed in the sidewalls of the commodity tank  18 B. A fan  37 D is positioned upstream of the inlet  74  to provide an airflow through the inlet  74  and into the commodity tank  18 B. The distribution system  72  includes a structure between the inlet  74  and the outlet  76  and positioned within the commodity tank  18 B. The structure is defined by a downward extending inlet tube  66  (i.e., extending downward from the inlet at the sidewall), an upward extending outlet tube  68  (i.e., extending upward toward the outlet at the sidewall), and a bridge  52  connecting the inlet tube  66  and the outlet tube  68 . The inlet tube  66  is mounted at the inlet  72  of the commodity tank  18 B and the outlet tube  68  is mounted at the outlet  74  of the commodity tank  18 B. The bridge  52  is a structure that spans above the inlet tube  66  and the outlet tube  68  to provide a sheltered region between the inlet and outlet tubes  66 ,  68  and below the bridge  52 . The bridge  52  prevents or limits the weight of the seeds above the bridge  52  from applying a force on the seeds within the sheltered region. The outlet  76  of the distribution system  72  provides the seeds directly or indirectly to the dispersion unit  40 C. 
     Although the manifolds  25  in  FIG. 3  are shown with three shoots  45 ,  49 ,  53 , the manifolds  25  may otherwise be formed of two shoots  45 ,  49 , such that the only path to the third dispersion unit  40 C is through the seed-on-demand distribution system  72 . 
     With the inclusion of the seed-on-demand distribution system  72  in the commodity tank  18 B, the commodity tank  18 B includes two distinct outlets  76 ,  80  for the seeds. The first outlet  80  directs the seeds through the volumetric meter  14 B and to the manifold  25 . The second outlet  76  is positioned upstream of the first outlet  80  such that seeds that pass through the second outlet  76  are not volumetrically metered, but are instead selectively picked up by the airflow generated by the fan  37 D based on the air pressure in the conduit  53 , and more specifically based on the air pressure in the various secondary conduits  36 C. In this way, seeds passing through the second outlet  76  exit the commodity tank  18 B, bypassing the volumetric meter  14 B. 
     When it is desired to singulate seeds via the singulating meter  22 , the volumetric meter  14 B at the respective tank  18 B is not used such that seeds do not exit the commodity tank  18 B through the first outlet  80 . Instead, the seeds are provided through the second outlet  76  at the seed-on-demand distribution system  72 . An airflow path from the seed outlet  76  of the distribution device  72  extends from the seed outlet  76 , through the third shoot  53 , and to multiple secondary conduits  36 C and mini-hoppers  38  via the distribution device  40 C. The airflow path terminates at the opening  70  in the mini-hopper, through which air flows to the environment. When the opening  70  is covered by seeds within the mini-hopper  38 , the airflow entering the mini-hopper  38  lacks an outlet, thereby building up pressure within the respective secondary line  36 C. This prevents seeds from entering a full mini-hopper  38 . When all of the mini-hoppers  38  (the mini-hoppers associated with each of the secondary conduits  36 C) are full or at a predetermined fill limit, the pressure built up into the primary conduit or shoot  53  prevents seeds from exiting the commodity tank  36 C at the second outlet  76 . A pressure sensor (not shown) may be positioned in the primary conduit  53  to measure the air pressure therein. A controller may selectively turn off the fan  37 D in response to a high pressure threshold indicating that the mini-hoppers  38  are full or at the predetermined fill limit. 
     The seed-on-demand distribution system  72  may be otherwise or additionally provided on other tanks such as the first tank  18 A and/or the third tank  18 C. As shown in  FIG. 4 , each commodity tank  18 A,  18 B,  18 C, or at least some of the first, second, and third commodity tanks  18 A,  18 B,  18 C may be provided with inlets and outlets that are capable of supporting the seed-on-demand distribution system  72 . As shown, the seed-on-demand distribution system  72  of  FIG. 3  is likewise shown in  FIG. 4 , though the outlet (conduit  53  located directly downstream the outlet tube  68 ) of the distribution system  72  is routed through the third tank  18 C, and more specifically through a channel or pass-through  84  in the third tank  18 C. With respect to the third tank  18 C, the pass-through  84  is a tube that extends from the inlet  86  of the third tank  18 C to the outlet  88  of the third tank  18 C without any metering occurring therein. The pass-through  72  is a closed tube that prevents the commodity in the respective tank (in this instance tank  18 C, though also applying to tank  18 A) from entering either the inlet  86  or the outlet  88  of the tank  18 C. The commodity in the tank  18 C can pass around the pass-through  84  to the volumetric meter  14 C positioned below. 
     The seed-on-demand distribution system  72  and the pass-through  84  shown in  FIG. 4  can be removable from the tanks  18 A,  18 B,  18 C and switchable such that, for example, the third tank  18 C is provided with the seed-on-demand distribution system  72  and the second tank  18 B is provided with the pass-through  84 . Therefore, the structure adjacent the tanks (i.e., the conduit from the fan  37 D to the inlet of the second tank  18 B, the conduit  53  between the outlet  76  of the second tank  18 B and the inlet  86  of the third tank  18 C, and the conduit  53  from the outlet  88  of the third tank  18 C) can remain in place regardless of which tank  18 B,  18 C utilizes the seed-on-demand distribution system  72 . The operation of the seed-on-demand distribution system  72  shown in  FIG. 4  is similar to that described with respect to  FIG. 3 , though the seeds sent through the outlet  76  of the second tank  18 B are routed through the pass-through  84  of the third tank  18 C before continuing to the distribution system  40 C. 
     All seed-on-demand distribution systems can be replaced by pass-through conduits  84  when there is no desire to singulate the commodity in any tank  18 A,  18 B,  18 C. Alternatively or additionally, the fan  37 D can be turned off in this situation. 
       FIGS. 5-7  illustrate an alternative seed-on-demand distribution system  100 . In this embodiment, the manifold  25 , and specifically the manifold housing  26  is provided with the seed-on demand distribution system  100 .  FIG. 5  illustrates an embodiment where only a single manifold  25  is provided with a seed-on-demand distribution system  100 . In other embodiments, the system shown in  FIGS. 5-7  could be implemented on a seeding system having seed-on-demand distribution systems  100  in each manifold. 
     With reference to  FIG. 6 , the manifold housing  26  of the second commodity tank  18 B includes an upper shoot channel  110  (associated with the first shoot  45 ), a middle shoot channel  112  (associated with the second shoot  49 ), and a lower shoot channel  114  (associated with the third shoot  53 ). The upper shoot channel  110  includes an air inlet  120  and an air and commodity or manifold outlet  122 . The upper shoot channel  110  is defined by the manifold housing  26  and extends between the air inlet  120  and the manifold outlet  122 . Though referred to as an air inlet  120 , the airflow entering the air inlet may further carry a commodity from an upstream commodity tank, such as the first tank  18 A. 
     The upper shoot channel  110  further includes a commodity inlet  118  that selectively provides a commodity from the respective tank  18 B and volumetric meter  14 B positioned thereabove. The commodity inlet  118  is distinct from the air inlet  120 . A gate  124  is movable between a plurality of positions to selectively provide the commodity from the commodity inlet  118  to the upper shoot channel  110  or to otherwise direct the commodity around and away from the upper shoot channel  110 . 
     The middle shoot channel  112  includes an air inlet  134  and an air and commodity or manifold outlet  136 . The middle shoot channel  112  is defined by the manifold housing and extends between the air inlet  134  and the manifold outlet  136 . Similar to the air inlet  120  of the upper shoot channel  110 , the airflow entering the air inlet  134  may further carry a commodity from an upstream commodity tank. A gate  126  may be integrally formed with the gate  124  of the upper shoot channel  110  and may be moveable with the gate  124 . When the gate  124  directs the commodity away from the upper shoot channel  110 , the gate  126  either directs the commodity to the middle shoot channel  112  or away from the middle shoot channel  112  and to the lower shoot channel  114 . 
     The lower shoot channel  114  includes an air inlet  138  and an air and commodity or manifold outlet  140 . The lower shoot channel  114  is defined by the manifold housing and extends between the air inlet  138  and the manifold outlet  140 . The lower shoot channel  114  is dissimilar from the upper and middle shoot channels  110 ,  112 . The lower shoot channel  114  is a seed-on demand distribution system  100  similar to the distribution system  72  described with reference to  FIGS. 3-4 , though positioned within the manifold housing  26  as the lower shoot channel  114 . Therefore, the lower shoot channel  114  is not merely a hollow tube extending between the air inlet  138  and the manifold outlet  140  but instead includes a tubular inlet portion or first portion  152  that extends at a downward angle (i.e., in the gravitational direction) from the air inlet  138  toward a bowl or container  156  that collects seeds flowing down from the commodity inlet  138  at the top of the manifold housing  26 , bypassing the upper and middle shoot channels  110 ,  112 . A tubular outlet portion or second portion  154  extends at an upward angle (i.e., opposite the downward direction) from the bowl  156  to the manifold outlet  140 . 
     When the gates  124 ,  126  direct the commodity away from the upper shoot channel  110  and middle shoot channel  112 , the gate  128  directs the commodity to the lower shoot channel  114 . The gate  128  may be integrally formed with one or both of the first and second gates  124 ,  126 . For example, the gates  124 ,  126 ,  128  may collectively transition between three positions: a first position in which the commodity is directed to the upper shoot channel  110 , a second position in which the commodity is directed to the middle shoot channel  112 , and a third position in which the commodity is directed to the lower shoot channel  114 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a side view of the lower shoot  114  of the manifold housing  26 . Each shoot  110 ,  112 ,  114  includes multiple inlets  120 ,  134 ,  138  and outlets  122 ,  136 ,  140  and this is illustrated via the lower shoot  114 , which, as shown, includes sixteen outlets  140 , each outlet leading to its own primary conduit  53 . The system illustrated in  FIG. 5  only illustrates a single one of the primary conduits  53  and the system associated therewith. 
     A valve  142  is positioned at the air inlets  134 ,  138  of the middle and lower shoot channels  112 ,  114 . The valve  142  includes an inlet  146  for receiving an airflow from the fan  37 B. A first outlet connects to the air inlet  134  of the middle shoot  112  and a second outlet connects to the air inlet  138  of the lower shoot  114 . The valve  142  includes a valve member  144  that is switchable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the valve member  144  blocks the inlet  138  of the lower shoot  114  such that the airflow generated by the fan  37 B is directed to the middle shoot  112 . In the second position, the valve member  144  blocks the inlet  134  of the middle shoot  112  such that the airflow generated by the fan  37 B is directed to the lower shoot  114 . Therefore, the valve member  144  is placed in the first position when volumetric metering only is desired. When it is desirable to also singulate the seeds from the commodity tank  18 B positioned above the manifold  25 , the valve member  144  is placed in the second position. The valve member  144  may also have a third (neutral) position in which airflow is directed to both the middle and lower shoot channels  112 ,  114 . 
     When the seed is directed to the lower shoot channel  114 , from the commodity tank  18 B, through the volumetric meter  14 B and commodity inlet  118 , and through the various gates  124 ,  126 ,  128 , it is carried to the mini-hoppers  38  based on the pressure within the third primary line  53  as discussed above with respect to the seed-on-demand system  72 . 
     Various features of the disclosure are set forth in the following claims.