Electronic planter monitor

Claim 1

A seed monitoring apparatus for installation with a seed planter that is pulled by a tractor, the planter having at least one bin assembly means for releasing a plurality of seeds at a preselected numerical rate, said monitoring apparatus comprising: a housing for receiving seeds from said bin assembly, said housing constituting a chute and forming a path of travel for the passage of seeds therethrough, detecting means for electrically detecting said plurality of seeds, said detecting means including a source of light mounted on one side of said path of travel and a photocell mounted on the other side of said path of travel optically aligned with said source of light, said source of light and said photocell each being mounted on said housing, said detecting means also including circuit means for effecting from said photocell the emission of an electric signal responsive to momentary change in the light level on the photocell due to passage of a seed between said photocell and said source of light; said circuit means preventing the emission of said electric signal from said photocell upon relatively gradual change in the light level thereon, said detecting means further including an amplifying circuit electrically connected to said circuit means by conductor means on said housing for amplifying said emitted electric signal, said amplifying circuit being located on said housing adjacent to said photocell and said circuit means to amplify said signal emitted from the photocell prior to distortion of said last-mentioned signal, and monitoring means electrically connected by a cable to said amplifying circuit and responsive to said amplified electric signal for monitoring said plurality of seeds, said monitoring means being constructed for mounting on said tractor for view when the tractor is operated to pull the seed planter whereby the cable may extend forwardly of the seed planter to the tractor over a substantial length which is extremely long as compared to the length of said conductor means.

Claim 10

An apparatus for detecting and monitoring seed particles passing from the seed bin of a planter comprising: means forming a path of travel for seeds passing outwardly of said bin, a light source positioned on one side of said path of travel, a photocell on the other side of said path of travel and optically aligned with said light source; said photocell providing an operating potential which changes when a seed passes between said photocell and said light source; an amplifier switching circuit electrically connected to said photocell and responsive to said change in potential for emitting an electrical signal therefrom, and said switching circuit including automatic means for varying the intensity of said light source, said automatic means comprising a transistor having a base, an emitter, and a collector, said light source being in a circuit including said collector and base, and said photocell being in a circuit that includes said base and said emitter such that an increase in photocell resistance due to dirt build-up on the light source, causes an increase in voltage at said base to increase the current through said light source.

Claim 11

An apparatus for detecting and monitoring seed particles passing from the seed bin of a planter comprising: means forming a path of travel for seeds passing outwardly of said bin, a light source positioned on one side of said path of travel, a photocell on the other side of said path of travel and optically aligned with said light source; said photocell providing an operating potential which changes when a seed passes between said photocell and said light source; an amplifier switching circuit electrically connected to said photocell and responsive to said change in potential for emitting an electrical signal therefrom, and said switching circuit including automatic means for varying the intensity of said light source, said automatic means comprising a transistor having a base, an emitter, and a collector, said light source being in a circuit including said collector and base, and said photocell being in a circuit that includes said base and said emitter such that an increase in photocell resistance due to dirt build-up on the light source, causes an increase in voltage at said base to increase the current through said light source.

Claim 12

A system for monitoring a selected rate of flow of discrete articles passing along a path of travel comprising: detection circuit means for detecting said rate of flow and emitting a first electrical signal that is proportional to an actual rate of flow of articles; circuit means electrically connected to said detection circuit means for emitting a second signal proportional to said selected rate of flow of said articles, said second signal cooperating with said first signal for emitting a third signal which is proportional to the difference between said selected rate of flow and said actual rate of flow of articles; and amplifier switching means responsive to said third signal and delivering a fourth signal in the event said actual rate of flow goes below said selected rate of flow for indication thereof.

Claim 13

A system for monitoring a selected rate of flow of discrete articles passing along a path of travel comprising: detection circuit means for detecting said rate of flow and emitting a first electrical signal that is proportional to an actual rate of flow of articles; circuit means electrically connected to said detection circuit means for emitting a second signal proportional to said selected rate of flow of said articles, said second signal cooperating with said first signal for emitting a third signal which is proportional to the difference between said selected rate of flow and said actual rate of flow of articles; and amplifier switching means responsive to said third signal and delivering a fourth signal in the event said actual rate of flow goes below said selected rate of flow for indication thereof.

Claim 23

A system for monitoring discrete articles passing along a path of travel comprising: detection circuit means for detecting said articles and emitting a first electrical signal upon detection of each article; amplifier switching means electrically connected to said detection circuit means and responsive to said first signal for emitting a second signal; delay circuit means electrically connected to said amplifier switching means for maintaining said second signal for a predeterMined period of time independent of said first signal; and a light source electrically connected to the output of said amplifier switching means, said light source being energized by said second signal for visually indicating the detection of said articles.

Claim 24

A system for monitoring discrete articles passing along a path of travel comprising: detection circuit means for detecting said articles and emitting a first electrical signal upon detection of each article; amplifier switching means electrically connected to said detection circuit means and responsive to said first signal for emitting a second signal; delay circuit means electrically connected to said amplifier switching means for maintaining said second signal for a predeterMined period of time independent of said first signal; and a light source electrically connected to the output of said amplifier switching means, said light source being energized by said second signal for visually indicating the detection of said articles.