Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for controlling an agricultural implement having a plurality of row units. In some embodiments, seeds are planted by rotating a seed disc in a first direction; seeds are then unloaded from a seed disc into a seed pool by rotating the seed disc in a second direction. In some such embodiments an amount of rotation in the second rotation is selected to ensure that seeds are released into the seed pool and not released from the from the seed meter.

A sowing machine and a method for separating and spreading granular material, such as seed or the like, are described, where the material is supplied by way of conveying airflows from a central container to metering devices via conveying ducts respectively associated with them. Furthermore, the material supplied in the conveying ducts is separated from the respective conveying airflow and the resulting discharge airflows are supplied via discharge air ducts to the respectively associated metering devices which are thus pressurized. Furthermore, the metering chambers are pressurized by way of supply airflows via supply ducts respectively associated with the former. The material is separated in the metering chambers by way of separating disks.

A row unit of an agricultural planter includes a seed meter. The seed meter includes first and second disks within a seed meter housing. The first and second seed disks are positioned in the seed meter housing such that the disks rotate in the same rotation direction and include a common seed release point. A single drive member is operatively connected to both the first and second seed disks such that the drive member selectively rotates one or both of the first or second seed disks at a time. The seed disks may be angularly positioned and conical-shaped member with a central axis and comprising seed cells radially positioned about an outer portion and being substantially non-perpendicular to the central axis. An air pressure source also is included to adhere seed to the disks.

A motor drives a seeding system. A sensor senses a characteristic of the motor and a motor jam is detected based on the sensed characteristic. The motor is momentarily reversed, when a jam is detected.

A direct drive seed metering device for a row crop sowing machine with a seed metering disc rotatable about a central shaft having a plurality of seed capturing and retaining holes for capturing and retaining the seeds and laying them in a controlled manner in a furrow. The seed disc has a flexible sealing member attached to an inner wall of the housing and sealingly pressed against a face of the metering disc thereby forming a vacuum chamber by a the vacuum generator that lowers the air pressure on a face of the metering disc so as to capture and retain the seeds. The vacuum chamber is created by the vacuum generator being fluidly connected to the chamber through a hollow shaft of a drive motor and through a perforated hollow hub.

A direct drive seed metering device for a sowing machines with a rotatable vacuum chamber operated by vacuum and driven by a coaxial electric motor. The rotatable vacuum chamber has a seed metering disc for capturing seeds from a reservoir and laying them in a controlled manner in a furrow in the soil. The rotatable vacuum chamber is created by a concave plate located within the housing and sealingly attached to a face of the seed metering disc that is supplied a vacuum by a non-rotatable tube having a protruding hollow member, a flange and an of extraction outlet attached to a vacuum generator. A motor with an annular hollow-shaft is coupled to the concave plate wherein the vacuum generator lowers the air pressure on a face of the metering disc so as to capture and retain the seeds within the seed capturing and retaining holes arranged on another face of the metering disc opposite the rotatable vacuum chamber.

A device for metering of seed grain, in particular a device (19) for metering of seed grain (2) arranged on a sowing machine, comprising a carrying means (4) and a tube (3) for the outlet of seed grain (2) towards the sowing area, where the carrying means (4) is specifically made to be with negative air-pressure or positive air pressure, which comprises at least one tube (1) with pressurised air for directing seed grain (2) from the carrying means (4) into the tube (3) for the outlet of seed grain (2), and a tube (1) with pressurised air is adjacent to the carrying means (4) and its axis (5) forms a tangent (13) to the carrying means (4) an angle of =30, and the tube (3) for the outlet of seed grain (2) is adjacent to the carrying means (4), wherein its axis (6) forms a tangent (13) to the carrying means (4) an angle of Y=30.

A seed research plot planter includes a rotating seed plate for picking up and transporting seeds from a seed chamber to a release point, and a sensor that detects the rotational position of the seed plate. A distance measuring device measures a distance traveled by the planter. A controller uses a first signal from the sensor and a second signal from the distance measuring device to control a sequence of operations of the planter based on the rotational position of the seed plate and the location of the planter within the field. A field layout system is provided for creating a plot field layout having a desired number of ranges, a desired number of planter passes, and desired parameters for each plot within the field. The field layout system allows different plot lengths and seed populations to be input for individual plots within the same planter pass through the field.

A motor drives a seeding system. A sensor senses a characteristic of the motor and a motor jam is detected based on the sensed characteristic. The motor is momentarily reversed, when a jam is detected.

A system for distributing a plurality of seeds includes a storage tank operable to store the plurality of seeds. A first meter is downstream of the storage tank. A second meter is downstream of the first meter and is operable to individually meter the plurality of seeds. An outlet conduit is located downstream of the second meter. The first meter is configured to adjust the flow of the plurality of seeds in response to a signal from a sensor located between the first meter and the outlet conduit.