An object detection system compensates for variations in transmission characteristics within an object passageway caused by, for example, dust or dirt. An object detection device includes a plurality of electromagnetic radiation emitters and detectors arranged in rows on opposite sides of a passageway. First lenses focus radiation from the emitters into a semi-columnated beams of radiation that together create a plane of semi-columnated electromagnetic radiation that spans substantially across a width of the passageway. Second lenses focus the received electromagnetic radiation onto corresponding ones of the plurality of radiation detectors. A controller receives a radiation intensity signal from the detectors, determines that its value is outside of a predetermined range, and adjusts an amount of electrical power supplied to the plurality of radiation emitters so that the value of the radiation intensity signal changes to become within the predetermined range.

An agricultural product delivery applicator for delivering particulate product to a field and including a pneumatic conveying system. The pneumatic conveying system includes an airflow source to provide an airflow, first and second delivery lines operably connected to the airflow source and to a supply compartment. Each delivery line includes a respective supply line and a respective plurality of distribution lines. The pneumatic conveying system further includes first and second distributors coupling the respective supply line with the respective plurality of distribution lines, a first mounting plate coupled to the first distributor and having a first identifier, a second mounting plate coupled to the second distributor and having a second identifier, a first motor having a relation with the first identifier, and a second motor having a relation to the second identifier.

Agricultural electronics include many components. The components can be connected via an electronic link that connects the various components to components of an agricultural implement. This can include the use of a component type identifier and a master module. The identifier and the module can communicate data, including identification data and instructional data, to easily acknowledge and operate various electrical components of the agricultural implement. Additional sensors can be included to provide even additional data that is communicated between the module and the components of the agricultural implement to aid in providing instructions for operation and to provide additional data information.

A flow splitter includes a body having a generally cylindrical main passage therethrough oriented along a longitudinal axis of the body. The main passage connects an inlet at the upstream end to exactly three split passages adjacent the downstream end, each split passage connected to a corresponding outlet. A first and second of the three split passages are oriented along axes that intersect one another at a first acute angle in a common plane with the longitudinal axis. A third of the three split passages intersects the common plane at a second acute angle. An agricultural implement includes a frame, a toolbar carried by the frame and supporting a plurality of row units, a hopper carried by the frame, a primary flow line connecting the hopper to a flow splitter, and three secondary flow lines connecting the flow splitter to three of the row units.

A seed filling system is mounted to a trailing implement that is towed by an agricultural the machine. The seed filling system has a reduced-volume receptacle for receiving seed and a metering assembly that causes the distribution of the seed through a manifold to respective storage containers of plural row units before the seed is dispensed to soil.

The invention relates to a device for metering a granular or grainy material in a distributor machine, comprising a housing; an inlet opening which is formed on the housing and through which a granular or grainy material can be introduced in the housing for metering; an outlet opening which is formed on the housing and through which the granular or grainy material can be discharged out of the housing after metering; a metering space which is formed in the housing in such a way that granular or grainy material in the housing can be moved from the inlet opening via the metering space to the outlet opening; a metering wheel which is arranged in the metering space on a drive shaft, and which is configured to meter the granular or grainy material supplied via the inlet opening; a mounting opening which is formed on the housing and via which the metering wheel can be exchangeably mounted in the metering space; and a mounting component which is detachably arranged in the mounting opening in a mounted position, and this in turn is arranged at least partially welded onto the housing, wherein the mounting component has a receiving unit for detachably receiving the metering wheel, in such a way that the metering wheel received on the receiving unit is mounted on the drive shaft when arranging the mounting component in the mounted position, and in such a way that, when detaching the mounting component from the mounted position, the metering wheel is forcibly detached from the drive shaft (6), such that the metering wheel can be removed from the metering space in this way and can be detached from the housing together with the mounting component. A distributor machine is also provided for distributing a granular or grainy material, such as seeds, fertiliser or grit.

A variable rate air metering system is provided. The system includes seed meter cartridges, each having a housing, a meter wheel, and a variable speed electric motor operatively connected to the seed meter cartridge. The seed meter cartridges provide flowable material to distribution manifolds, which are configured to distribute flowable material to multiple row outputs for deposition into a field. A control system is configured to control operation of the distribution manifolds for enabling/disabling dispersement of flowable material to row units. The control system is also configured to adjust the dispersement rate of flowable material by the seed meter cartridges in association with the opening/disabling the dispersement of flowable material to row outputs.

A work vehicle with a metering system, airflow system, and a covering structure moveable between various positions for user access includes features that facilitate assembly and/or disassembly of the metering system. The work vehicle has a venturi structure with a plurality of venturi tubes that are disposed in a compact arrangement.

A monitoring system and a monitoring method for a planter includes a computer having an unit speed fusion module, a seeding flow rate monitoring module, and a decision module for theoretical rotation speed of a drive motor, a rotation speed deviation inference module, a controlling parameter tuning module, an adjusting module for rotation speed of a seeding shaft, a controlling module for rotation speed of seeding shaft and a positioning signal receiver fixed on a top of a cab for receiving a geographic position signal. The system monitors operating state parameters of the planter and accurately controls seed amount.

A purging system for a multiple variety seed meter of a multi-variety planter. The purging system includes seed return valves that may be arranged for receiving seed that was removed from the seed meter. The seed return valves return the removed seed into corresponding appropriate seed storage compartments to allow a new seed variety to be delivered to the seed meter while reducing seed variety mixing in the seed meter. A pipe with a purge passage may extend from the seed meter to a purging hose that delivers the removed seed to the seed return valve(s). Each seed return valve may be a vacuum-actuated piston airlock valve assembly with a valve plunger that reciprocates to define seed collecting and releasing states of the valve.