Seed drill with electric metering system

Abstract

An agricultural planting implement is used to plant seed in a field. The implement includes an electrically-driven seed meter that is spaced on a toolbar of the implement. The seed meter, or other metering member, is a precision meter that is used to control the volume, spacing, and location of a seed that is delivered from a meter to the field. A seed source, such as a seed cart or hopper, is attached to the seed meters to provide an on-demand amount of seed to the meters for planting in the field.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An agricultural implement, comprising:
 at least one toolbar;   a plurality of row units spaced along the at least one toolbar, each of the plurality of row units comprising a seed drill metering member, the metering member used to singulate and dispense seed, and a seed sensor that monitors the movement of seeds dispensed by the metering member; and   a seed source, the seed source connected to each of the row units to provide seed to the seed drill metering members.   
     
     
         2 . The agricultural implement of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of row units are positioned adjacent tillage members that are spaced on the at least one toolbar. 
     
     
         3 . The agricultural implement of  claim 1 , wherein the metering member comprises:
 a. a brush meter;   b. a vacuum meter;   c. a positive pressure meter; or   d. a finger meter.   
     
     
         4 . The agricultural implement of  claim 3 , wherein the brush meter comprises a seed disk with a plurality of seed pockets, an upper brush to singulate seed in the pocket, a lower brush, and a wear band. 
     
     
         5 . The agricultural implement of  claim 3 , wherein the vacuum meter comprises a seed disk with a plurality of seed cells and a vacuum source to provide a pressure differential at the plurality of seed cells to at least temporarily adhere seed thereto. 
     
     
         6 . The agricultural implement of  claim 3 , wherein the positive pressure meter comprises a seed disk with a plurality of seed cells and an air source to provide a pressure differential at the plurality of seed cells to at least temporarily adhere seed thereto. 
     
     
         7 . The agricultural implement of  claim 3 , wherein the finger meter comprises a seed disk and a plurality of mechanically activated fingers attached thereto, wherein the fingers are used to temporarily hold seed until release via the seed chute. 
     
     
         8 . The agricultural implement of  claim 1 , wherein the seed source comprises a seed cart. 
     
     
         9 . The agricultural implement of  claim 8 , wherein the seed cart is separate from the agricultural implement, but fluidly coupled to the plurality of row units. 
     
     
         10 . The agricultural implement of  claim 1 , wherein each of the row units further comprise a furrow opener for opening a furrow to receive the dispensed seed, and a furrow closer to close the furrow after the seed is positioned therein. 
     
     
         11 . The agricultural implement of  claim 10 , wherein each of the row units further comprise a seed tube connected to a seed chute of the metering member, wherein seed is passed from the seed chute to the seed tube and towards the furrow. 
     
     
         12 . The agricultural implement of  claim 1 , wherein each of the row units further comprise a seed shoe. 
     
     
         13 . The agricultural implement of  claim 1 , further comprising an air seed delivery system to deliver seed from the seed source to each of the plurality of row units. 
     
     
         14 . The agricultural implement of  claim 1 , wherein the seed drill metering member driven by an electric motor. 
     
     
         15 . A method of planting seed with a seed drill, comprising:
 transferring seed from a seed source to a plurality of seed meters positioned along the length of the toolbar, the seed meters electrically driven and including a housing and a seed sensor that monitors the movement of seeds dispensed by the seed meter;   metering the seed via the seed meters to control an amount of seed that is dispensed by the seed meters; and   dispensing the seed.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein metering the seed controls a volume, spacing, and/or location of the metered seed. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of transferring the seed comprises communicating the seed from a seed cart. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising singulating the seed in the seed meters with a singulator. 
     
     
         19 . An agricultural planting implement, comprising:
 at least one toolbar;   a plurality of seed meters positioned along the length of the at least one toolbar, the seed meters electrically driven and including a housing and a seed sensor that monitors the movement of seeds dispensed by the seed meter; and   a seed cart in fluid connection with each of the plurality of seed meters, wherein the seed cart provides an on-demand supply of seed to be planted by each of the seed meters.   
     
     
         20 . The agricultural planting implement of  claim 19 , wherein the seed meters comprise:
 a. a brush meter;   b. a vacuum meter;   c. a positive pressure meter; or   d. a finger meter.