An agricultural distribution device includes a plurality of spreading elements arranged on a distribution linkage and adapted to spread granular material on an agricultural land, a detection device adapted to detect plant rows on the agricultural land, an adjustment device configured to change an impact area of the granular material dispensed by one or more of the spreading elements on the agricultural land during a spreading process, and a control device which is adapted to control the adjustment device as a function of the plant rows on the agricultural land detected by the detection device during the spreading process.

A system for dispensing liquid agricultural products with seed includes a control system; a seed transport mechanism; an agricultural product supply system; and, a seed brush assembly. The seed transport mechanism is affixed to a seed planter row unit. The agricultural product supply system is configured to dispense agricultural products in response to an output signal from the control system. A brush housing structure of the seed brush assembly receives seed from the seed transport mechanism. A brush of the seed brush assembly has bristles positioned within the brush housing structure. The agricultural product supply system is configured to dispense the liquid agricultural products onto the bristles. The bristles are configured to minimize the resistance associated with the passage of seed past the wetted bristles. The liquid agricultural product is transferred from the brushes onto the seed as the seed is dispensed prior to the seed hitting the ground.

The present invention provides an electronically controlled valve in each air distribution line for delivering product-conveying air to a boom section of an agricultural machine. The valves can be used to balance airflow between lines by controlling back pressure at the boom sections. In one aspect, an electronically controlled butterfly valve can be installed in each air line between a fan's plenum outlet and a dry product delivery meter. Each valve can be configured to allow some flow when in a closed position. This could be achieved, for example, by configuring a valve plate with a circular perimeter shape that has a smaller diameter than an inner diameter of the line or tube in which the valve plate is mounted.

A control system for agricultural spraying is especially intended to be connected to an agricultural machine comprising a spraying ramp and having at least one spraying nozzle selectively activatable to spray an agricultural product. The system includes a set of cameras (42) suitable for being secured to the spraying ramp to acquire images (51) of the ground (12) on which the agricultural machine moves (10), a measuring system (59) for determining, in real time, distance information between a camera (42) and the ground (12), and a processing unit (44) communicating with the cameras (42) and said measurement system (59), the processing unit (44) being suitable for selectively controlling the spraying nozzles (34). The processing unit (44) is suitable for: identifying a target plant (15) in a ground image (51) received from a camera (42); determining information on the position of the target plant (15) in the image (51); on the basis of distance information between the camera (42) in question and the ground, of the orientation of its viewing axis, of a speed of advance of the agricultural machine and of said information on the position of said target plant (15) in the image (51), selecting at least one nozzle (34) to be activated to spray the target plant (15) with the agricultural product (26); determining an activation time of the or each selected nozzle; and transmitting an activation command to the or each nozzle (34) to trigger the spraying of said target plant (15).

A system for dispensing multiple low rate agricultural products, includes a syringe-based agricultural product metering system, a number of agricultural product tubes, and an agricultural product metering system. The agricultural product metering system is operably connected to sources of low rate agricultural products. The agricultural product tubes are operatively connected to the agricultural product metering system. The agricultural product metering system is configured to dispense liquid low rate agricultural products at a low rate defined as below 3.7 fluid ounces per 1000 row feet.

A metering system and method of operating fertilizer distribution equipment, such as a spreader-sprayer, is described that includes monitoring revolution data for opposing left and right wheels with left and right sensors. A controller controls an actuator's operation to operably regulate the output of a liquid and/or solid fertilizer product. The fertilizer output is based at least in part on the revolution data and a fertilizer unit-per-area input.

An agricultural product delivery applicator for delivering particulate product to a field. The applicator includes a supply compartment to hold the product and a pneumatic conveying system. The system includes an airflow source to provide an airflow, and a delivery line operably connected to the airflow source and to the supply compartment. The delivery line includes a supply line and a plurality of distribution lines. The system further includes a distributor coupling the supply line with the plurality of distribution lines, a plurality of distributor outlets providing outlet channels for the distributor, and a motor mount disposed away from the aperture along an axis and supported by one or more of the plurality of distributor outlets. A motor is disposed on a delivery lines side of the distributor and fastened to the motor mount.

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.

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 system and method that automatically monitors product use, such as the type and amount of agricultural and/or horticultural product stored in and dispensed from a cartridge over time and/or by geographic location. Monitored data are stored in memory such as a tag on the cartridge and may be transmitted to a server for storage, aggregation, and analysis. The cartridge may be authenticated before being authorized for use for the benefit of a current user in dispensing the product. The cartridge may be refilled after confirmation of authorization codes on the cartridge and refilling equipment tags. The cartridge may be calibrated automatically based on the bulk density or other parameter of the product in the cartridge. Data may be aggregated from a plurality of cartridges automatically. As-applied data from individual cartridges may be used to verify, independent of operator input, treated area coverage and product application rate.