Deere & Company
Row unit for a seeding machine with pneumatic seed loading

Abstract:

A row unit for a seeding machine includes a seed reservoir and a seed meter having a metering member configured to rotate about an axis. The metering member has a seed side facing the seed reservoir, a non-seed side opposite the seed side, and a plurality of apertures. The axis is normal to a surface of the seed side. The seed meter is operable by pressure differential between the non-seed side and the seed side to adhere seeds to the seed side and move seeds from the seed reservoir. The row unit also includes a positive pressure air source and an air outlet fluidly coupled to the positive pressure air source. The air outlet is disposed on the seed side and aimed to discharge an air stream towards one aperture of the plurality of apertures. The dischargeable air stream has a directional component parallel to the axis.