An agricultural machine includes a seeding system having a seed transport mechanism configured to transport a seed along a transport route, a seed sensor configured to sense presence of the seed at a first location along the transport route, and a motor configured to drive movement of the seed transport mechanism to transport the seed from the first location to a second location in which the seed is released from the seed transport mechanism. A processing system is configured to track a position of the seed along the transport route based on an indication of the sensed presence of the seed at the first location and detected movement of the seed transport mechanism, and generate a motor operating parameter based on the tracked position of the seed and a target parameter for releasing the seed. The motor of the seeding system is operated based on the motor operating parameter.

The invention relates to a distributor (10) for granular material, having a distributor head (14), which is designed to divide up an air-material main flow supplied through a main conveying line (12) to the distributor head (14) into a plurality of air-material individual flows, and at least one return device (16), which comprises a movable deflecting element (36), which is designed, in a delivery position, to supply an air-material individual flow flowing into an inflow region (26) of the return device (16) to a delivery region (28), connected to a delivery line (18), of the return device (16) and, in a shut-off position, to direct an air-material individual flow flowing into the inflow region (26) of the return device (16) via a return line (30) of the return device (16) to a return region (32), connected to the main conveying line (12), of the return device (16).

An agricultural machine includes a seeding system having a seed transport mechanism configured to transport a seed along a transport route, a seed sensor configured to sense presence of the seed at a first location along the transport route, and a motor configured to drive movement of the seed transport mechanism to transport the seed from the first location to a second location in which the seed is released from the seed transport mechanism. A processing system is configured to track a position of the seed along the transport route based on an indication of the sensed presence of the seed at the first location and detected movement of the seed transport mechanism, and generate a motor operating parameter based on the tracked position of the seed and a target parameter for releasing the seed. The motor of the seeding system is operated based on the motor operating parameter.

An agricultural machine includes a seeding system comprising a plurality of planting units, each planting unit configured to meter and deliver seed and a control system configured to obtain a seed planting model that identifies a plurality of seed planting locations on a worksite, identify a machine path on the worksite, identify, based on the machine path, a set of the seed planting locations for each of the planting units, and control each planting unit to deliver seeds to the set of seed planting locations identified for the planting unit.

A planting unit for a seeding machine comprising a seed supply, a seed meter and a seed delivery system to deposit the seed within a furrow. The seed meter is driven by an electronic control unit to achieve a pre-defined pattern of the seeds. The planting unit is adapted to skip dispensing of seeds at locations at which a tramline extends transversely to the travel direction. The following possibilities to achieve the tramline are described: (a) the seed meter comprises adjacent apertures for receiving the seeds and at least one of the apertures is closed, (b) a seed branch-off assembly is adapted to take a seed out of the seed delivery system, (c) the seed delivery system is slowed down to reduce the speed of the seed transport, (d) a seed transport device for moving a seed from the seed meter to the seed delivery system is disabled, or (e) a seed removal device is provided to provide the skip.

An agricultural machine includes a seeding system comprising a plurality of planting units, each planting unit configured to meter and deliver seed and a control system configured to obtain a seed planting model that identifies a plurality of seed planting locations on a worksite, identify a machine path on the worksite, identify, based on the machine path, a set of the seed planting locations for each of the planting units, and control each planting unit to deliver seeds to the set of seed planting locations identified for the planting unit.

An agricultural machine includes a seeding system having a seed transport mechanism configured to transport a seed along a transport route, a seed sensor configured to sense presence of the seed at a first location along the transport route, and a motor configured to drive movement of the seed transport mechanism to transport the seed from the first location to a second location in which the seed is released from the seed transport mechanism. A processing system is configured to track a position of the seed along the transport route based on an indication of the sensed presence of the seed at the first location and detected movement of the seed transport mechanism, and generate a motor operating parameter based on the tracked position of the seed and a target parameter for releasing the seed. The motor of the seeding system is operated based on the motor operating parameter.

An agricultural machine includes a seeding system having a seed meter configured to meter seed, a seed meter sensor configured to generate a sensor signal indicative of movement of the seed meter, and an assistive seed transport mechanism configured to receive the metered seed from the seed meter and to transport the metered seed along a delivery path. A control system is configured to determine a position of the seed in the assistive seed transport mechanism based on the sensor signal, and generate a control signal to control the agricultural machine based on the determined position of the seed.

A distribution tower of an agricultural distribution machine for spreading granular material comprises a riser pipe supplying a flow of distribution goods to a ring-shaped distributor head for dividing the flow into a multitude of flows of distribution goods along the circumference of the distributor head. At least one of the outflows has a shut-off device. The shut-off device has a track switch operable to selectively guide the flow of distribution goods toward a seed tube or toward a return section. A return device connects to and surrounds the riser pipe. Openings in the riser pipe serve to receive the returned distribution goods. The return section, as well as the seed tube connection, are permanently, pneumatically connected. A method is also provided where it is possible to shut off an optional number of outflows without any resulting major change of the lateral distribution.

A distributor head of a distribution agricultural device comprises an outer hoop provided with at least four outlets of the same size, arranged evenly along the circumference of the outer hoop, a movably positioned ring, a main inlet, and a driving mechanism connected with the ring through a ring attachment, wherein the ring is provided with a number of evenly arranged openings of the same size, number of which corresponds to half of the number of outlets. The ring can be in three operating positions, wherein in the first position, the ring is located in the same plane as the outer hoop and therefore covers every other outlet, in the second position it is not located in the same plane as the outer hoop and thus does not cover any outlet, and in the third position it is located in the same plane as the outer hoop and thus covers every other outlet, wherein the outlets covered in the third position are different from the outlets covered in the first position of the ring.