A method of manufacturing a meter roller for an agricultural metering system includes stretching a sealing ring. The method also includes disposing the sealing ring between a first ring of a spindle and a second ring of the spindle. The first ring and the second ring are rigidly coupled to a driven shaft of the spindle, and the driven shaft is configured to engage a drive shaft to facilitate rotation of the spindle. In addition, the method includes enabling the sealing ring to contract such that an outer diameter of the sealing ring is less than or equal to an outer diameter of the first ring and an outer diameter of the second ring.

A seed delivery apparatus and methods in which a seed conveyor delivers seed from a metering device to a furrow in a controlled manner to maintain seed placement accuracy within the furrow.

An agricultural metering system includes independently controllable sets of meter rollers. Each set of meter rollers includes at least one meter roller and is configured to rotate about a respective rotational axis, and the rotational axes are generally parallel to one another and not aligned with one another. The agricultural metering system also includes meter boxes configured to receive agricultural product from a compartment of a storage tank. Each set of meter rollers is disposed within a respective meter box, and each set of meter rollers is configured to meter the agricultural product from the compartment of the storage tank. The agricultural metering system also includes distribution lines. Each distribution line is disposed downstream from a respective set of meter rollers and is configured to receive the agricultural product output from the respective set of meter rollers.

A seeding machine for a row unit, in which the row unit has a seed disk rotatable about a first axis to convey seed from a seed reservoir, includes a seed delivery apparatus. The seed delivery apparatus includes an elongated housing having a first opening through which seed is received, a second opening through which seed exits, and an elongated interior chamber. The seed delivery apparatus further includes a first pulley, a second pulley, and an endless member driven by the first pulley and/or the second pulley. The endless member is movable within the elongated interior chamber to receive seed from the first opening and convey seed to the second opening. A seed diverter is movable with respect to the endless member and pivotable about a second axis non-coincident with the first axis. The seed diverter is positioned to contact and guide seed into the seed delivery apparatus.

Devices and systems for seed capture, transport and distribution for planting fields. Seed capture devices for a seed meter may include a movable element configured to capture seeds from a seed disk of a seed meter and a power transmission element operably coupled to the movable element to drive the movable element when the seed meter is in operation and operably coupled to a mechanical contact element of the seed disk of the seed meter to drive the power transmission element when the seed meter is in operation.

An endless seed delivery belt includes an inner surface, and an undulating outer surface. The undulating outer surface defines a plurality of alternating, and regularly-spaced peaks and troughs where each peak corresponds to a flight and each space between adjacent peaks defines a cavity that is generally sized and shaped to accommodate one seed. In some implementations, the endless seed delivery belt has a seed ejector between each pair of adjacent flights.

The invention provides a metering system for distributing particulate material in which an inlet and/or outlet of a meter housing containing a metering wheel provides a projection extending into the opening of the inlet and/or outlet so that the flow of particulate material is optimized. This can provide even distribution of such material, including at low rotating speeds such as 5 RPM, while using a polyurethane metering wheel with straight vanes. In one aspect, projections extending into the inlet on opposing sides can substantially form an hourglass shape, and the outlet can comprise a substantially diagonal shape, analogous to a parallelogram, instead of more traditional rounded/rectangular shapes.

A particle delivery system of an agricultural row unit includes a particle belt having a particle acceleration section. The particle belt is configured to receive a particle from a particle metering and singulation unit, to accelerate the particle at the particle acceleration section, and to expel the particle toward a trench in soil. The particle delivery system includes a first wheel engaged with the particle belt at a first location and a second wheel engaged with the particle belt at a second location. The particle acceleration section extends between the first location and the second location, a substantially no-slip condition exists between the first wheel and the particle belt at the first location and between the second wheel and the particle belt at the second location, and the second wheel is configured to rotate faster than the first wheel to accelerate the particle at the particle acceleration section.

A particle delivery system of an agricultural row unit includes a particle belt having a particle engagement section configured to receive a particle from a particle metering and singulation unit and a particle exit section configured to expel the particle toward a trench in soil. The particle delivery system includes an air flow system configured to establish an air flow toward the particle engagement section of the particle belt to accelerate the particle toward the particle belt, such that a particle speed of the particle reaches a target particle speed, is within a target percentage of a belt speed of the particle belt, or both, as the particle reaches the particle engagement section of the particle belt. The air flow toward the particle engagement section is a substantial portion of a total air flow established by the air flow system relative to other sections of the particle belt.

A seed delivery apparatus and methods in which a seed conveyor delivers seed from a metering device to a furrow in a controlled manner to maintain seed placement accuracy within the furrow.