EDX precision air seeder

Xpress grain singling and placement system

1. Centralised seed hopper
2. Stripper finger adjustment
3. Air channel
4. Fertiliser coulter with fertiliser placement band
5. Sowing coulter with cutting discs
6. Furrow former with seed barrel
7. Catcher roller
8. Press roller
9. Seed tube
10. Singling drum
11. Shut-off roller
12. Optosensor

Instead of the usual vacuum singling, on the EDX, the Xpress singling and placement system is used. Seed singling and seed placement take place separately: The seed is actively conveyed in the overpressure system for precise placement in the seed furrow via the singling system and seed tubes. Working speeds up to 15 km/h can thereby be achieved.

Amazone offer two singling drums for each of the three cultures; maize, sunflowers and rape, so that, even with the differing properties (shape, size, etc.), the seeds can always be cleanly singled.

The precise pneumatic singling of the seeds is performed, depending on machine model and row spacing, from 6 up to 16 rows simultaneously via the centralised singling drums. The stripper finger adjustment for singling a grain to each of the holes in these drums is carried out centrally.

After the singling process, the seeds are then “shot” via the seed barrels into a separate placement zone, the so-called Xpress catcher system with furrow former and catcher roller. Behind the two leading cutting discs the furrow former makes a furrow profile in a rectangular shape. The following catcher roller covers right up to the edges of the furrow so that the seeds cannot roll out of position but are safely caught and pressed into the furrow even in unfavourable soil conditions. This ensures the optimum placement quality. As the catcher roller is arranged neatly behind the furrow former the placement quality remains constant even at increased forward speeds. Another advantage compared to a conventional precision air seeder is that the placement accuracy from the Xpress catcher system is now independent of the state of wear of the sowing coulters.

Every Xpress sowing unit is built up of several elements. First a V-shaped angled double disc sowing coulter cuts the soil surface and pushes any crop residues to one side. This is followed by the furrow former which shapes the furrow and firms it along the bottom. Directly behind the furrow former the seed is shot into the furrow, caught by the catcher roller and pressed in. Then adjustable Super-V press wheels cover the seed with loose soil and firm it above the covered furrow.

For operation in heavy wearing soils, the hard-metal coated fertiliser openers can be fitted as an option. For the optimum spacing between fertiliser and sowing coulters, a depth control chain is also available as an option. In sticky soil conditions there is a special scraper available (option) for cleaning the carrying rollers.

The position of the furrow former and thus the desired seed placement depth can be adjusted individually via the spindle. In this way, individual coulters, such as for instance in a tractor wheel track, can be set deeper. The maximum placement depth is 10 cm.

Depth adjustment via a spindle Two 500 mm diameter carrying rollers per sowing coulter run very smoothly thanks to their wide contact area and support the entire sowing unit. The pressure on the carrying rollers also can be adjusted centrally and hydraulically and thus be matched to the prevailing soil conditions. The maximum pressure is 200 kg/unit. This ensures smooth operation of the sowing units and thus the optimum placement depth. 

In Southern France maize is sown at a row spacing of 80 cm. The appropriate specification is possible for all the models in the range.

Quicker filling and emptying, quicker seed change – the big central seed hoppers are comfortably accessible and quickly filled. This results in an additional increase in efficiency. In addition the hoppers offer a much greater volume, so much so, that now more hectares can be sown without stopping.

The fertiliser hopper offers plenty of room with a capacity of 5,000 l. As a result, the stop times for replenishing the fertiliser and the time required to collect fertiliser are also reduced to a minimum. In all models, the fertiliser is fed to the fertiliser coulters via a metering cassette at the base of the supply tank and then conveyed via a pneumatic system to either one or two distributor heads.

Teamwork with the AMATRON 3 operator terminal means that the calibration test for checking the application rates of fertiliser is quickly done.

The adjustment of the stripper system on the singling drum is not done individually as normal, but - thanks to the centralised singling drum – is carried out on every row at once.

As an option, there is the possibility to adjust the stripper system whilst on the move via the plus/minus key on the AMATRON 3 operator terminal. So, irrespective of seed size, the setting can be carried out quickly and centrally.

As standard, the central pressure adjustment for the fertiliser or sowing coulters is carried out via two separate, hydraulic pressure systems. You just have to adjust the relevant valve taps on the machine.

To optimise the settings on the seed and fertiliser coulters, they can be set independently of each other through electric actuators via the AMATRON 3.