Patent Publication Number: US-9844174-B2

Title: Modular meter roller cartridge

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority from and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/075,155, entitled “MODULAR METER ROLLER CARTRIDGE”, filed Nov. 4, 2014, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The invention relates generally to agricultural metering on air carts, and, more specifically, to a modular metering system for a meter box. 
     A range of agricultural implements have been developed and are presently in use for tilling, planting, harvesting, and so forth. Seeders, for example, are commonly towed behind tractors and may cover wide swaths of ground which may be tilled or untilled. Such devices typically open the soil, dispense seeds in the soil opening, and re-close the soil in a single operation. In seeders, seeds are commonly dispensed from bulk seed tanks and distributed to row units by a distribution system. In certain configurations, air carts are towed behind the seeders to deliver a desired flow of seeds to the row units. 
     Air carts generally include a seed storage tank, an air source (e.g., a blower) and a metering system. The seeds are typically gravity fed from the storage tank to the metering system that distributes a desired volume of seeds into an air flow generated by the air source. The air flow then carries the seeds to the row units via conduits extending between the air cart and the seeder. The metering system typically includes meter rollers or other metering devices that regulate the flow of seeds based on meter roller geometry and rotation rate. Typically, meter rollers employ a series of flutes and recesses to control the flow of seeds. For a variety of reasons, an operator may desire to remove and/or insert meter rollers in the metering system. For instance, an operator may desire to install one meter roller with a first geometry for one seed type, and install a different meter roller with a different geometry for a different seed type. 
     However, meter rollers are frequently difficult to remove, insert, or replace. Moreover, a drive system may be coupled to the meter roller making it more difficult to remove and reinstall a meter roller. The difficulty removing, inserting, and/or replacing meter rollers can increase the duration of plating operations. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
     A summary of certain embodiments disclosed herein is set forth below. It should be understood that these aspects are presented merely to provide the reader with a brief summary of these certain embodiments and that these aspects are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. Indeed, this disclosure may encompass a variety of aspects that may not be set forth below. 
     In a first embodiment, an agricultural metering system includes a modular meter roller cartridge including a meter roller, and a housing rotatably supporting the meter roller, wherein the housing is configured to selectively engage a meter box of the agricultural metering system to support the meter roller within the meter box while the housing is engaged with the meter box, and to selectively disengage the meter box. 
     In a second embodiment, a method of manufacturing an agricultural metering system includes disposing a modular meter roller cartridge within an opening of a meter box, wherein the modular meter roller cartridge comprises a meter roller and a housing rotatably supporting the meter roller, and the housing is configured to selectively engage the meter box, to support the meter roller within the meter box, and to selectively disengage the meter box. 
     In a third embodiment, an agricultural metering system includes a meter box having an opening and a modular meter roller cartridge configured to be inserted within the opening, wherein the modular meter roller cartridge includes a meter roller, and a housing rotatably supporting the meter roller, wherein the housing is configured to be selectively disposed within the meter box to support the meter roller within the meter box, and to be selectively removed from the meter box, and wherein a first cross-sectional shape of the housing substantially corresponds to a second cross-sectional shape of the opening to facilitate insertion and removal of the modular meter roller cartridge from the meter box. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of an embodiment of an air cart, including a metering assembly configured to regulate a flow of particulate material; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view of the metering assembly, as shown in  FIG. 1 , including a meter roller; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of an agricultural metering system; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a meter box of the agricultural metering system of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the agricultural metering system of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the meter box of  FIG. 4 , with a meter roller cartridge removed from a housing of the meter box; 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of the meter roller cartridge of  FIG. 6 , including a meter roller and a releasable bearing coupler; 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view of the meter roller of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of a modular meter roller cartridge of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a releasable bearing coupler of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional perspective view of the meter roller of  FIG. 7 ; and 
         FIG. 12  shows a cross-sectional side view of another embodiment of a meter box. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Turning now to the drawings,  FIG. 1  is a side view of an air cart  10  that may be used in conjunction with a towable agricultural implement to deposit seeds into soil. For example, certain agricultural implements include row units configured to open the soil, dispense seeds into the soil opening, and re-close the soil. Such implements are generally coupled to a tow vehicle, such as a tractor, and pulled through a field. In certain configurations, seeds are conveyed to the row units by the illustrated air cart  10 , which is generally towed in sequence with the implement (e.g., behind the implement or in front of the implement). In certain configurations, the air cart  10  may be configured to provide fertilizer to the row units, or a combination of seeds and fertilizer. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the air cart  10  includes a storage tank  12 , a frame  14 , wheels  16 , a metering system  18 , and an air source  20 . In certain configurations, the storage tank  12  includes multiple compartments for storing various flowable particulate materials. For example, one compartment may include seeds, such as canola or mustard, and another compartment may include a dry fertilizer. In such configurations, the air cart  10  is configured to deliver both the seeds and fertilizer to the implement. The frame  14  includes a towing hitch configured to couple to the implement or tow vehicle. As discussed in detail below, seeds and/or fertilizer within the storage tank  12  are gravity fed into the metering assembly  18 . The metering assembly  18  includes meter rollers that regulate the flow of material from the storage tank  12  into an air flow provided by the air source  20 . The air flow then carries the material to the implement by pneumatic conduits. In this manner, the row units receive a supply of seeds and/or fertilizer for deposition within the soil. 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic view of the metering assembly  18 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . As illustrated, the air source  20  is coupled to a conduit  22  configured to flow air  24  past the metering system  18 . The air source  20  may be a pump or blower powered by an electric or hydraulic motor, for example. Flowable particulate material  26  (e.g., seeds, fertilizer, etc.) within the storage tank  12  flows by gravity into the metering system  18 . The metering system  18  includes one or more meter rollers  28  configured to regulate the flow of material  26  into the air flow  24 . More particularly, the metering system  18  may include multiple meter rollers  28  (e.g., housed in individual meter boxes) disposed adjacent to one another along a longitudinal axis of the rollers  28 . For example, certain metering assemblies  18  include nine meter rollers  28 , each housed in an individual meter box and each configured to provide product to a respective conduit  22 . In such a configuration, each conduit is configured to provide product to a respective row unit or group of row units on the implement. By independently adjusting rotation of each meter roller, product flow to different portions of the implement may be particularly controlled. However, alternative embodiments may include more or fewer meter rollers  28 , e.g., 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or more. Further embodiments may include one continuous meter roller  28 . 
     Each meter roller  28  includes an interior cavity  30  configured to receive a shaft that drives the meter roller  28 . In the present embodiment, the cavity  30  has a hexagonal cross section. However, alternative embodiments may include various other cavity configurations (e.g., triangular, square, keyed, splined, etc.). The shaft is coupled to a drive system configured to rotate the meter rollers  28 . Alternatively, the meter rollers  28  may be coupled to a wheel  16  by a gear assembly such that rotation of the wheel  16  drives the meter rollers  28  to rotate. Such a configuration will automatically vary the rotation rate of the meter rollers  28  based on the speed of the air cart  10 . 
     Each meter roller  28  also includes multiple flutes  32  and recesses  34 . The number and geometry of the flutes  32  are particularly configured to accommodate the material  26  being distributed. The illustrated embodiment includes six flutes  32  and a corresponding number of recesses  34 . Alternative embodiments may include more or fewer flutes  32  and/or recesses  34 . For example, the meter roller  28  may include 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, or more flutes  32  and/or recesses  34 . In addition, the depth of the recesses  34  and/or the height of the flutes  32  are configured to accommodate the material  26  within the storage tank  12 . For example, a meter roller  28  having deeper recesses  34  and fewer flutes  32  may be employed for larger seeds, while a meter roller  28  having shallower recesses  34  and more flutes  32  may be employed for smaller seeds. 
     For a particular meter roller configuration, the rotation rate of the meter roller  28  controls the flow of material  26  into the air stream  24 . Specifically, as the meter roller  28  rotates, material is transferred through an opening  36  in the metering assembly  18  into the conduit  22 . The material then mixes with air from the air source  20 , thereby forming an air/material mixture  38 . The mixture then flows to the row unit of the implement via pneumatic conduit, where the seeds and/or fertilizer are deposited within the soil. 
     As discussed above, it may be desirable to insert, remove, repair, and/or replace the meter roller  28  in the meter box  40  (e.g., change to a meter roller  28  with deeper recesses  34  and fewer flutes  32  for larger seeds). However, because the drive system may be fixed (e.g., with fasteners, molded into, etc.) to the metering system  18 , it may be desirable to remove and replace the meter roller  28  without removing portions of the drive unit. 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of an agricultural metering system  18 . The metering system  18  includes a meter box  40  and a drive system  42 . The meter box  40  includes a passage  43  configured to provide product to a conduit  22  for transfer to a row unit. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the meter box  40  includes a first side  41  (e.g., drive side) for receiving the drive system  42 . The drive system  42  includes a drive shaft  44  and a drive unit  46 . The drive unit  46  may include an electric motor drives the drive shaft to rotate in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction. The drive unit  46  and the meter box  40  include apertures  50  configured to receive fasteners (e.g., bolts)  52  to secure the drive unit  46  to the meter box  40 . The drive shaft  44  is inserted into an opening  54  in the meter box such that the shaft  44  engages the meter roller  28  within the meter box  40 . The drive shaft  44  is configured to drive the meter roller  28  to rotate. A bearing (e.g., ball bearing)  56  facilitates rotation of the drive shaft  44 , and hence meter roller  28 , within the meter box  40 . As the conduit  22  transfers air under the passage  43 , the drive unit  46  rotates the drive shaft  44  to rotate the meter roller  28 . As the meter roller  28  rotates, the meter roller  28  dispenses material  26  to form the air/material mixture  38  as the material enters the air stream. Further, air may come from the tank  26  and through passage  43  with the product/seeds coming from the meter roller. The drive shaft  44  includes a first engagement feature  58 , such as a protrusion, configured to non-rotatably couple the drive shaft  44  to the meter roller  28 . The protrusion may engage a corresponding recess of the meter roller  28  discussed below. 
     In an embodiment, the metering system  18  may use a modular meter roller cartridge to facilitate removal and installation of the meter roller  28 .  FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a second side  59  (e.g., bearing side) of the meter box  40  of the agricultural metering system  18 . As illustrated, the meter box  40  houses a modular meter roller cartridge  60 . While the cartridge  60  is housed within the meter box  40  of the metering system  18  of the present embodiment, alternative embodiments of the meter box may house a meter roller  28  without a cartridge or house multiple cartridges (e.g., 2-10). In the present embodiment, the metering system  18  is configured to enable the cartridge  60  to engage the meter box  40  via an opening in the meter box. This configuration facilitates operation of the meter roller  28  while the cartridge  60  is engaged. The cartridge  60  has a cross-sectional shape that substantially corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of the opening of the meter box. In the present embodiment, a cartridge locking tab  62  (e.g., latch) may block passage of the cartridge  60  out of the meter box  40 , thereby retaining the cartridge  60  in the meter box  40 . While the meter box  40  of the system  18  includes a rotatable latch, the cartridge locking tab  62  may be a spring latch, bolt latch, or any suitable type of locking mechanism known in the art. The cartridge locking tab  62  may include a recess that engages a corresponding notch on the cartridge  60  to further secure the cartridge from disengaging from vibrations or hard movement. The meter box  40  may include a gate  64  (e.g., lid) to further secure/remove the cartridge  60  and/or the meter roller  28 . The cartridge  60  may be removed by rotating the latch in a first direction and extracting the cartridge  60 . Further, the cartridge  60  may be inserted by engaging the cartridge with the meter box  40  and rotating the latch in a second direction, opposite the first direction. The cartridge  60  includes a releasable bearing coupler  68 . As further described below, the releasable bearing coupler  68  facilitates rotation of the meter roller  28  within the cartridge and facilitates removal of the meter roller from the cartridge. 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the metering system  18 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . As illustrated, the cartridge  60  is coupled to the meter box  40  of the metering system  18 . The cartridge  60  includes a housing  70  configured to rotatably support the meter roller  28  within the meter box  40  (e.g., the housing  70  is secured to the meter box while the meter roller  28  rotates). The housing  70  includes a first side  72  (e.g., cartridge drive side) and a second side  74  (e.g., cartridge bearing side) which correspond to the first side  41  and second side  59  of the meter box  40 . 
     The cartridge  60  includes a bearing opening  76  for receiving a bearing  78 , which engages the meter roller  28  with the releasable bearing coupler  68 . The meter roller  28  is non-rotatably coupled to (e.g., integrally formed with) a driven shaft  80 . In the illustrated embodiment, the driven shaft  80  includes a protrusion  82  that engages a corresponding recess of the meter roller  28 . In certain embodiments, the meter roller  28  and the driven shaft  80  may be, for instance, formed from one piece of molded plastic. 
     The driven shaft  80  is configured to non-rotatably couple to the drive shaft  44 . The driven shaft  80  includes a second engagement feature  84  (e.g., a recess) for selectively engaging with the first engagement feature  58  (e.g., protrusion) of the drive shaft  44 . The second engagement feature  84  may have a polygonal cavity to engage a matching polygonal shape of the first engagement feature  58 . While the engagement feature  84  shown in  FIG. 4  reflects shape-based engagement, any variety of suitable interlocking mechanisms may be used for rotating the driven shaft  80  with the drive shaft  44  as the motor of the drive unit  46  is operating. Furthermore, a drive bearing  86  is used to facilitate rotation of the drive shaft  44  within the meter box. As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the drive bearing  86 , the driven shaft  80 , the drive shaft  44 , and the bearing  78  associated with the releasable bearing coupler  68  are in longitudinal alignment, thereby facilitating rotation of the meter roller  28  in response to rotation of the drive shaft  44 . The bearing  78  may be coupled to the releasable bearing coupler  68 , the driven shaft  80 , or it may be a separate individual piece. When the cartridge  60  is coupled to the meter box  40 , it rotatably supports the meter roller  28 . Once an operator desires to change the meter roller  28 , the operator removes the cartridge  60 , thereby enabling another cartridge to be inserted. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the meter box  40  with the cartridge  60  removed from the meter box  40  and the slide assembly omitted. The present disclosure applies whether a meter box  40  includes a slide assembly, as in  FIG. 3 or 4 , or it does not include a slide assembly. For removal of the cartridge  60 , the operator may unlock the cartridge locking tab  62  (e.g., via rotation of the tab) and pull the cartridge  60  out of the meter box  40 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the cross-sectional shape of the cartridge  60  (e.g., the first side  72 , the second side  74 , and/or other portions of the cartridge) substantially correspond to the shape of the meter box opening  88 . The cartridge  60  includes the releasable bearing coupler  68  and the meter roller  28 . In another embodiment, the bearing coupler  68  enters through a meter box bearing coupler opening to interlock the cartridge  60 , the releasable bearing coupler  68 , and the meter box  40 . 
     The meter roller  28  includes flutes  32  and recesses  34  which can be seen through a meter roller opening  90 . The meter roller opening  90  of the cartridge  60  enables material  26  to flow from the storage tank  12  to the meter roller  28 . The meter roller  28  is supported longitudinally on second side  74  of the meter roller cartridge  60  by the releasable bearing coupler. Once the cartridge  60  is removed, the releasable bearing coupler  68  may be disconnected and removed. This may enable an operator remove the meter roller through the opening and to insert a different meter roller  28 . 
       FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of the meter roller cartridge  60 . The housing  70  of the modular meter roller cartridge  60  includes a drive shaft opening  92  on the first side  72  of the housing  70 , the bearing opening  76  on the second side  74  of the housing  70 , the meter roller opening  90 , and seed openings  94  for receiving and/or dispensing seeds. The first side  72  and the second side  74  may be approximately parallel to facilitate alignment of the drive shaft  44  and releasable bearing coupler  68 . 
     In order to couple the meter roller  28  to the cartridge  60 , the meter roller  28  may first be disposed in the housing  70  through the meter roller opening  90 . When the meter roller  28  is inserted, the drive shaft opening  92  on the first side  72  of the housing  70  aligns with a drive shaft opening  98  (e.g., a recess or interior cavity) of the driven shaft. Similarly, the bearing opening  76  on the second side  74  of the housing aligns with a bearing opening  96  (e.g., a recess or interior cavity) of the meter roller  28 . The bearing opening  96  may receive the bearing  78  or the bearing may be fixedly mounted within the opening  96 . The openings of the meter roller  28 , the driven shaft, and cartridge  60  may also longitudinally align with the driven shaft  80 . 
     The meter roller cartridge  60  and/or the releasable bearing coupler  68  may include gaskets  100 . While two gaskets  100  are shown in  FIG. 7 , any suitable number of gaskets may be used to seal adjacent parts. 
     Once the meter roller  28  is disposed in the housing  70 , the bearing opening  96  may receive the bearing  78  and/or the releasable bearing coupler  68  which may include the bearing in certain embodiments. The bearing  78  may be fixedly coupled to the meter roller  28  or fixedly coupled to the releasable bearing coupler  68  in certain embodiments. In further embodiments, the bearing  78  may be an independent piece. Similarly, the releasable bearing coupler  68  may include the bearing  78  or simply be configured to engage the bearing  78  with a shaft of the coupler. Accordingly, the bearing  78  may be configured to engage the opening  96  of the meter roller  28  to facilitate rotation relative to the housing  70  (e.g., rotation about the shaft of the releasable bearing coupler). 
       FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view of the meter roller  28 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . The meter roller  28  includes the driven shaft  80  and a fluted portion  102 . The fluted portion  102  of the meter roller  28  includes flutes  32 , recesses  34 , and/or interlocking segments  104 . The fluted portion  102  includes a cavity  106  for receiving and coupling to the driven shaft  80 . The fluted portion  102  may non-rotatably couple to the driven shaft  80  via engagement of grooves  108  of the fluted portion  102  with chamfers  110  of the driven shaft  80 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , the driven shaft  80  is separated by a ring  112 . The ring may interlock with the ring segment  104  to segment the meter roller. The roller segments  109  may be used to selectively choose which roller segment  109  is metering. For instance, seeds may only be deposited in one, two, or all three roller segments depending on where seeds are limited to enter. As such, there is segmentation of the roller so that the meter roller can accommodate a wide range of products and application rates. While the meter roller  28  in  FIG. 8  has one ring  112 , the meter roller may include no ring or multiple rings in alternative embodiments. The ring  112  and driven shaft  80  may be formed from one piece of molded plastic. The fluted portion  102  may be an overmold that is molded over the driven shaft  80 . The fluted portion  102  may be mechanically bonded and/or chemically bonded to the driven shaft  80 . The grooves  108  and chamfers  110  may non-rotatably couple the fluted portion  102  and the driven shaft  80 . In an alternate embodiment of the driven shaft  80 , the rings, and ends  113  may be separate parts that may be coupled to one another. Additionally, in an alternate embodiment of the fluted portion  102 , the flutes, recesses, and/or ring segments may be separate parts. The driven shaft  80  also includes the drive shaft opening  98  to interlock with the drive shaft  44 . 
       FIG. 9  is a side view of the cartridge housing  70 . The second side  74  (e.g., cartridge bearing side) of the housing  70  includes the bearing opening which is configured to interlock with the releasable bearing coupler  68 . As mentioned above, the shape of the first side  72  and/or the second side  74  of the housing  70  may correspond to the shape of the meter box opening. The first side  72  and second side  74  have substantially similar shape and/or have substantially aligned openings. For instance,  FIG. 9  shows the bearing opening  76  aligned with the drive shaft opening  92 . The aligned openings facilitate insertion of shafts into opposite sides of the meter roller thereby enabling the meter roller to rotate. The second side  74  includes a locking feature  75  configured to selectively interlock with a corresponding locking segment of the releasable bearing coupler  68  to secure the releasable bearing coupler  68  to the housing  70 . The locking feature  75  includes locking notches  114  and locking recesses  116 . While four locking notches  114  and locking recesses  116  are shown, any suitable number of notches and/or recesses may be used to engage the locking segment of the releasable bearing coupler  68 . The notches  114  and recesses  116  have corresponding features on the releasable bearing coupler  68 . 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the releasable bearing coupler  68  configured to selectively couple the meter roller  28  to the housing  70  of the meter roller cartridge  60 . The releasable bearing coupler  68  includes a locking segment  118  for selectively engaging a corresponding locking feature  75  of the housing  70 . The locking segment includes interlocking notches  120  and interlocking recesses  122  for securing the releasable bearing coupler  68  to the housing  70 . For instance, an operator may insert the interlocking notches  120  through the recesses  116  of the housing  70 . Then, the operator may rotate the releasable bearing coupler  68  to engage the locking notches  114  of the housing  70  into the interlocking recesses  122  of the coupler  68 . After an eight of a turn, the interlocking notches rotate with respect to the interlocking recesses and limiting notches  124  block further rotation of the coupler  68 . 
     The releasable bearing coupler  68  also includes a grip segment  126  and a shaft  128 . The grip segment  126  has edges to help an operator rotate the releasable bearing coupler  68 . The grip segment  126  is configured to remain on an exterior of the housing  70  of the cartridge  60  when the locking segment  118  of the releasable bearing coupler  68  engages the locking feature  75  of the housing  70 . The shaft  128  is configured to be disposed through the cartridge opening  76  and/or the meter roller opening  96  to engage the bearing  78 . Thus, the grip segment  126  remains easy for an operator to grip to disengage the coupler  68 , and the shaft  128  is secured inside the cartridge to engage the bearing  78 . 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective cross-sectional view of the meter roller. The meter roller  28  has the driven shaft opening  98 . As shown in  FIG. 11 , the bearing  78  is disposed within the recess  99  of the meter roller. The shaft  128  of the coupler  68  engages the bearing  78  within the meter roller  28 . Additionally, the grooves  108  and chamfers  110  are interlocked to mechanically lock the fluted portion  102  to the driven shaft  80 . 
     While the embodiments described above include a meter roller cartridge  60 , in some cases, it may be desirable to use a system  18  without a meter roller cartridge  60 .  FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the system  18  that does not include a meter roller cartridge  60 . Similar to the embodiments disclosed above, the system  18  includes a split shaft (e.g., the drive shaft  44  and the driven shaft  80 ). The system  18  without the cartridge  60  may include one or two releasable bearing couplers. As shown in  FIG. 12 , a first releasable bearing coupler  130  may engage the drive shaft  44  and the driven shaft  80  through an opening in the meter box  40 . The first releasable bearing coupler  130  and/or the second relasable bearing coupler  132  may include a locking segment  118 , a grip segment  126 , a bearing  78  and a shaft  128  similar to the releasable bearing coupler described in  FIG. 10 . The bearing  78  may contact the drive shaft  44 , the driven shaft  80 , and/or the first releasable bearing coupler  130  or second releasable bearing coupler  132  to facilitate rotation of the meter roller. As shown in  FIG. 12 , for instance, the bearing  78  contacts the drive shaft  44  to facilitate rotation with respect to the first releasable bearing coupler  130 . Further, the first releasable bearing coupler  130  may include an aperture for engaging the drive shaft  44  with the driven shaft  80 . The meter roller  28  may be enclosed in the gate  64  as shown on the meter box  40  in  FIG. 4 . The gate  64  may secure the meter roller  28  in the meter box  40 . As shown in  FIG. 12 , the two releasable bearing couplers  130  hold the driven shaft  80  within the meter box  40 . To install the meter roller  28 , the operator opens the gate  64  and inserts the meter roller  28  into the meter box  40  and engages the first engagement feature  58  with the second engagement feature  84 . Then the operator secures the two releasable bearing couplers  68  to rotatably couple the driven shaft  80  to the meter box  40 . The operator may then close the gate  64 . 
     The embodiments described above facilitate engagement and disengagement of the meter roller  28  from a metering system. By utilizing a split shaft, an operator gains access to the meter roller  28  without removing drive system  42 . Additionally, having a modular meter roller cartridge  60  provides support for the meter roller  28  and facilitates removal and installation of the desired components (e.g., meter roller  28 , driven shaft  80 , releasable bearing coupler  68 ). With a releasable bearing coupler  68 , the meter roller  28  can be quickly coupled and decoupled from the cartridge  60 . 
     While only certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention.