DE102019117706A1 - Dosing device with drivers for taking along a quantity of material to be distributed to achieve a drill - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a metering element (10), preferably a rotatable metering element (10), for installation in a sowing unit (100) for an agricultural row unit (200) designed to separate grains based on the pressure difference. The metering element (10) is characterized in particular in that it is used for metering distribution material (S1) and has a large number of drivers (1) and the individual drivers (1) are used to take away an amount of distribution material (S2), so that of the metering element (10) a drill is made possible.

Description

The invention relates to a metering member, preferably a rotatable metering member, for installation in an agricultural sowing unit designed in particular for the pressure difference-based separation of grains, in particular for an agricultural row unit. The invention also relates to a sowing unit and an associated method with such a metering element.

In the state of the art, drill seeding (see e.g. 7th ) on the one hand and precision sowing (see e.g. 8th ) on the other hand are different.

For single-grain sowing, single-grain sowing units mounted on row units are usually used, with mostly pressure-difference-based separation of grains (e.g. maize) by means of a rotatable separating element, so that separated grains are aligned linearly and evenly on the arable soil, usually in a field - Furrow, can be distributed. Separation disks are mostly used as separation organs. The pressure difference can expediently be generated by means of overpressure or underpressure (vacuum). For this purpose, as prior art, for. B. the DE 10 2016 204 453 A1 , the US 7 237 495 B2 , the U.S. 5,603,269 A or the DE 2 448 672 to be named.

In the case of drill sowing, distribution of the material to be distributed (e.g. wheat) usually takes place in a furrow furrow. In the case of drill sowing, on the other hand, there is no separation of the material to be spread, so that the material to be spread is also not distributed over the arable soil at an even, linear distance. Rather, in the case of seed drills, the material to be distributed is distributed with an uneven distance, in a random position and / or laterally offset from one another. For this purpose, as prior art, for. B. the WO 2017 055 266 A1 to be named.

One object of the invention is to create a possibility with which on the one hand a drill and on the other hand a single grain sowing can be realized.

This problem can be solved with the features of the main claim. Advantageous developments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims and the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention.

The invention relates to a metering device, preferably a rotatable metering device, for installation in a sowing unit, for. B. for a particular agricultural row unit.

The sowing unit can in particular a z. B. be designed for the pressure difference-based separation of grains sowing unit.

The metering element is characterized in particular by the fact that it is used for metering distribution material (z. B. wheat) and has a large number of drivers and the individual drivers are used to take away a preferably whole amount of distribution material, so that, for. B. a drill seed can be advantageously made possible by means of the metering device.

The metering element is thus preferably a metering element for seed drilling.

This makes it possible, in particular, that sowing units (e.g. single-grain sowing units) (e.g. already known in the state of the art and / or already in operation) for the pressure difference-based separation of grains can optionally also be used for seed drilling.

For this purpose, only the separating element (e.g. separating disc) for single-grain sowing is preferably to be replaced by the metering element (e.g. dosing disc) for drilling.

It is thus z. B. possible that the metering can be installed in sowing units, as they are basically made of z. B. DE 10 2016 204 453 A1 , US 7 237 495 B2 , U.S. 5,603,269 A or DE 2 448 672 are known, so that the sowing units actually intended for precision sowing can optionally also be used for seeding by means of the metering device.

The metering element is preferably an exchange and / or replacement part, in particular for a separating element.

The sowing unit can in particular have a distribution material receiving area and / or a distribution material discharge area.

The distribution delivery area can, for. B. be connected to a distribution line for distributing the distribution on the soil, in particular in a soil furrow.

The drivers can preferably serve to be able to transport the amount of material to be distributed from the receiving area for the material to be distributed to the area to be distributed.

It is possible for the metering member to include a metering disk. The drivers can, for. B. protrude laterally from the metering disc in order to be able to appropriately take up the material to be distributed, in particular to be able to take it up in a shovel shape.

The metering disc and / or the separating disc can, for. B. be substantially disc-shaped or plate-shaped.

It is possible that the driver of the metering z. B. stand sideways. Alternatively or in addition, the driver z. B. include recesses in the metering device.

The recesses in the metering device can, for. B. be designed as material recesses and / or recesses. The depressions can thus lead to an increase in the capacity of the drivers, so that the drivers must expediently protrude less from the metering element.

It is possible for the drivers to include metering blades and / or metering pockets.

It is possible for the drivers to include a first (preferably radially outer) storage section suitable for the amount of material to be distributed and a second (preferably radially inner) storage section suitable for the amount of material to be distributed.

The quantity of material to be distributed can preferably first be stored on the first storage section and, by rotating the metering member around its axis of rotation, relocated or shifted to the second storage section in order to be transported further on the second storage section, in particular to a distribution material delivery area of the sowing unit.

It is possible that the drivers are designed to dispense excess material to be distributed onto an outside and / or rear side of a driver which is leading in the direction of rotation of the metering element, e.g. B. so that excess distribution material from the drivers can be returned to a distribution material receiving area of the sowing unit and / or is prevented from entering a distribution material delivery area of the sowing unit through the outer and / or rear side of the driver, which is leading in the direction of rotation of the metering element reach. It is therefore possible that an outer and / or rear of the driver z. B. serves as a retaining and / or return element to be able to return excess material to be distributed, in particular to be able to return it to a material receiving area of the sowing unit and / or to be able to prevent excess material from reaching the material to be distributed area of the sowing unit.

It is alternatively or additionally possible that the drivers are designed to deliver the particularly correct amount of material to be distributed to an outer and / or rear side of a driver which is leading in the direction of rotation of the metering element, preferably to a z. B. to allow multiple drivers having cascade-shaped, in particular proper, further transport of the quantity of material to be distributed over the outer and / or rear of multiple drivers. This allows z. B. a substantially coherent from several amounts of distribution material formed distribution material delivery stream are made possible.

In a preferred embodiment, the drivers can be designed to deliver the amount of material to be distributed to an outer and / or rear side of a driver which is leading in the direction of rotation of the dosing element, so that the amount of material to be distributed from the drivers by means of the outer and / or rear side of the element of rotation in the direction of rotation of the dosing element Leading driver can in particular be properly transported further and / or so that a substantially coherent distribution material delivery flow formed from several amounts of distribution material is made possible.

The drivers can, for. B. be designed to be able to take along and transport the distribution material based on gravity and / or pressure difference-free, z. B. to a rotary movement of the dosing member about its axis of rotation of over substantially 90 °, substantially over 135 ° or over substantially 180 ° and / or z. B. from a distribution material receiving area of the sowing unit to a distribution material discharge area of the sowing unit.

The drivers can expediently define a receiving space in order to essentially completely receive the quantity of material to be distributed.

The drivers can, for. B. have a substantially U- or V-shaped cross section.

The drivers can, for. B. be inclined towards the metering device to the distribution material in the drivers gravity-based to the metering device, z. B. in the wells to act so that z. B. an unintentional, in particular lateral falling out of the distribution material from the drivers can be avoided.

The drivers can be designed to be open on the side opposite the separating element.

However, the drivers can also have a side wall in order to prevent the amount of material to be distributed unintentionally, in particular laterally, falling out of the drivers.

The drivers can thus be limited on the one hand by the metering disk and on the opposite side by the side wall (and, for example, in the vertical direction of the metering member by the first storage section and / or the second storage section).

It is possible for the drivers to be spaced from one another essentially uniformly, in particular in the circumferential direction of the metering element.

The drivers are preferably designed to enable an essentially coherent distribution material delivery flow formed from several amounts of distribution material, in particular for the implementation of the seed drill.

The drivers are thus z. B. not designed and arranged as usual with singling organs so that isolated grains are dispensed at regular intervals from the metering element, but preferably so that an essentially coherent distribution material output flow from several distribution material quantities can be made possible to achieve a drill.

It is possible that the driver z. B. have one or more passage openings through which contaminants (e.g. dust, small grain particles and / or dirt, etc.) can escape, preferably can be transferred into a distribution material receiving area of the sowing unit, e.g. B. are traceable. This allows z. B. prevented or at least reduced the risk that impurities collect in the drivers and / or reach the distribution area of the sowing unit.

The one or more passage openings can, for. B. be arranged in the first storage section and / or in the second storage section.

The amount of material to be distributed in the individual driver can, for. B. comprise at least 5 or at least 10 particles to be distributed (e.g. grains, seeds, etc.).

The metering device can, for. B. be designed for essentially vertical installation in the sowing unit.

The invention also relates to a sowing unit, in particular for an agricultural row unit.

The sowing unit can serve, on the one hand, in particular for the pressure difference-based separation of grains by means of a rotatable separation element (e.g. a separation disk) and thus in particular for single-grain sowing.

On the other hand, the sowing unit can also be operated with a metering device as disclosed herein.

The sowing unit can thus optionally be operated with a separating element to achieve a single grain sowing or a metering element to achieve a drill seeding.

The sowing unit is used in particular for mounting on a row unit.

The row unit can preferably be designed to have a z. B. movable connecting mechanism (e.g. a parallelogram mechanism) to be connected to a support structure of a mobile agricultural implement (e.g. a tractor or other tractor).

A plurality of row units (e.g. 4, 8, 12, 16, 24 or more) can preferably be connected to the support structure.

The row unit can e.g. B. have a container for the optional storage of grains for single-grain sowing or of material to be distributed for seed drill. Alternatively or in addition, the row unit can, for. B. have a coulter to create a furrow in the arable soil.

The invention also relates to a method for operating a sowing unit for an agricultural row unit, in particular, wherein the sowing unit can optionally carry out a pressure-difference-based separation of grains by means of a rotatable separation element (e.g. separation disc) or to carry out a drill a metering of distribution material by means of a metering element as disclosed herein.

The principle of the invention is useful also in z. B. Dosing drums can be used. The metering member is preferably a metering disk, but in the context of the invention can also comprise a metering drum.

It should be mentioned again that the sowing unit for grain singling and / or for single grain sowing can expediently work according to the principle of pressure difference (differential pressure principle), e.g. B. with positive compressed air and thus in particular with overpressure or negative compressed air and thus in particular negative pressure (expediently vacuum).

It should also be mentioned that the individual drivers are not used in particular to separate grains, that is to say, in particular, not to take along a single grain, but rather to take along an entire quantity of material to be distributed.

It should also be mentioned that as a distribution for the metering z. B. seeds, grains and / or Fertilizers come into question, but in particular rye, barley and / or wheat seeds or grains.

It should also be mentioned that as a distribution material for the separating organ z. B. seeds, grains and / or fertilizer come into question, but in particular corn and / or beet seeds or grains.

It is also pointed out that a pressure difference is not absolutely necessary for drill seeding. In the context of the invention, however, it is entirely possible to expediently supply the sowing aggregate with positive or negative compressed air in order to support the seed drill, to distribute the distribution flow and / or to support the entrainment of the distribution.

• 1 eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Dosierorgans gemäß einer Ausführungsform der Erfindung,
• 2 eine Seitenansicht eines Säaggregats mit einem Dosierorgan gemäß einer Ausführungsform der Erfindung,
• 3 eine Schnittansicht des Säaggregats der 2,
• 4 eine Seitenansicht in das Säaggregat der 2 und 3,
• 5 eine perspektivische Ansicht in das Säaggregat der 2 bis 4,
• 6 eine Seitenansicht einer Reiheneinheit mit einem Säaggregat gemäß einer Ausführungsform der Erfindung,
• 7 eine schematische Ansicht einer beispielhaften Drillsaat, und
• 8 eine schematische Ansicht einer beispielhaften Einzelkornsaat.

The preferred embodiments and features of the invention described above can expediently be combined with one another. Further details and advantages of the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

• 1 a perspective view of a metering element according to an embodiment of the invention,
• 2 a side view of a sowing unit with a metering element according to an embodiment of the invention,
• 3 a sectional view of the sowing unit of 2 ,
• 4th a side view of the sowing unit 2 and 3 ,
• 5 a perspective view of the sowing unit 2 to 4th ,
• 6th a side view of a row unit with a sowing unit according to an embodiment of the invention,
• 7th a schematic view of an exemplary drill seed, and
• 8th a schematic view of an exemplary single grain sowing.

The preferred embodiments of the invention described in the figures partially coincide, the same reference numerals being used for similar or identical parts and reference being made to the description of the other embodiments for their explanation. For the sake of clarity, not all parts are provided with reference symbols in all figures. It should also be mentioned that in some figures partial sections are hidden for purposes of illustration.

1 shows a perspective view of a metering element 10 according to one embodiment of the invention.

The dosing device 10 is for installation in a like in the 2 to 5 shown sowing unit 100 executed, so that in the following for explanatory purposes also on the 2 to 5 is referred.

With the sowing unit 100 can it be based on z. B. a sowing unit for the pressure difference-based separation of grains and thus a sowing unit for single-grain sowing according to the prior art as mentioned above.

The dosing device 10 is used for dosing distribution material S1 , is designed as a metering disk and comprises a large number of drivers with a substantially V-shaped cross section 1 , with the individual driver 1 to take with you, especially for picking up and transporting a whole quantity of goods S2 serve. The dosing device 10 is around an axis of rotation R. rotatable. The arrow A. in 1 indicates the direction of rotation of the dosing device 10 around the axis of rotation R. .

The individual drivers 1 are not used to separate grains, in particular not to take a single grain with you. Rather, the individual drivers serve 1 for taking along a whole quantity of goods S2 from a variety of distribution particles, z. B. at least 5 or at least 10 particles to be distributed (e.g. grains, seeds, wheat, fertilizer and / or other material to be distributed).

The dosing device 10 thus enables a drill seed, such. B. in 7th shown.

Through the dosing device 10 can in particular be made possible that z. B. in the prior art already known and / or already in operation sowing units 100 which were actually only used for precision sowing at first, can also be used for drill sowing. For this purpose, the singling organ (usually singling disc) that is usually used for the single grain sowing is to be removed and by a metering element 10 to replace the drill seed. If precision sowing is to be carried out, the metering device is 10 to be expanded and replaced by the separating organ.

However, it is of course also possible to use saw units 100 with a separating organ and a dosing organ 10 to bring on the market to the sowing units 100 optionally for single-grain sowing with the singling device or for drilling with the metering device 10 to be able to use.

The dosing device 10 is therefore a useful replacement or replacement part for a separating element.

The drivers 1 are designed as metering blades and / or metering pockets and stand from the metering unit 10 sideways to the amount to be distributed S2 from the distribution material S1 to be able to record.

The drivers 1 Optionally, recesses (e.g. material recesses and / or recesses) can be made in the metering element 10 include.

The wells can, for. B. to an increase in the capacity of the driver 1 lead so that the driver 1 from the dosing device 10 need to protrude less and the metering element 10 thereby can be made leaner and / or more compact.

The drivers 1 comprise a first, preferably radially outer, bearing section 1.1 for the quantity to be distributed S2 and a second, preferably radially inner, bearing section 1.2 for the quantity to be distributed S2 .

The drivers 1 can optionally be used with the dosing unit 10 be inclined towards the amount of material to be distributed S2 in the drivers 1 Gravity-based towards the dosing unit 10 , e.g. B. in the wells to act so that z. B. an unintentional lateral falling out of the distribution material S2 from the drivers 1 can be avoided.

The drivers 1 can on the metering disc 10 opposite side be designed to be open, in particular open-walled.

However, it is optionally also possible to use the driver 1 with a side wall 1.3 to be provided to prevent the amount of material to be distributed falling out to the side S2 from the drivers 1 to prevent. In 1 is only one driver, for example 1 with schematic side wall 1.3 shown, with the remaining drivers 1 optionally with a side wall 1.3 can be provided.

The 2 to 5 show different views of a saw unit 100 according to one embodiment of the invention, expediently with a as in 1 dosing device shown 10 . The sowing unit 100 and the metering device 10 are discussed below with common reference to the 2 to 5 described. The dotted and hatched areas schematically identify the goods to be distributed S1 , the quantity to be distributed S2 , the distribution material delivery flow S3 and excess distribution material S4 .

The sowing unit 100 is used for mounting on an agricultural row unit 200 (e.g. 6th ) and can carry out a pressure difference-based separation of grains by means of a rotatable separation element. The sowing unit 100 can therefore be used to achieve a precision seed and in principle z. B. be constructed according to the aforementioned prior art. It can expediently be operated with positive or negative compressed air to achieve the pressure difference.

From the sowing unit 100 However, the usually used singling device for single grain sowing is expanded and by a metering device 10 for drill sowing replaced.

The sowing unit 100 includes a distribution material receiving area 101 for the goods to be distributed S1 and a distribution area 102 for the quantity to be distributed S2 from the drivers 1 .

The distribution goods delivery area 102 is with a distribution line 103 to distribute the from several amounts of material to be distributed S2 formed distribution material delivery stream S3 on the soil, especially in a soil furrow.

The individual drivers 1 of the dosing device 10 do not separate the grain, but take a whole amount of material to be spread S2 from the one in the distribution goods receiving area 101 located distribution goods S1 with and transport the amount of goods to be distributed S2 to the distribution area 102 to bring them to the distribution area 102 to be able to deliver, so that a substantially coherent distribution material delivery stream S3 from several quantities to be distributed S2 is made possible.

For drilling, especially for transporting the material to be spread S1 from the distribution material receiving area 101 to the distribution area 102 , a pressure difference is not absolutely necessary. In the context of the invention, however, it is entirely possible to support the drill sowing, to distribute the material to be dispensed S3 and / or the sowing unit ridge to support the entrainment of the material to be distributed 100 to be supplied appropriately with positive or negative compressed air.

The drivers 1 are, however, preferably designed to cover the amount of material to be distributed S2 expediently to be able to transport purely based on gravity and / or pressure difference-free, in particular from the distribution material receiving area 101 to the distribution area 102 , preferably a rotary movement of the metering element 10 around its axis of rotation R. by essentially over 90 °, 135 ° or 180 °.

The individual drivers 1 are therefore designed to handle a whole amount of grit with their receiving space S2 completely pick up and transport, but preferably without that Requirement of a pneumatic and / or pressure difference-based holder on the metering element 10 as usual with grain singling.

The quantity to be distributed S2 can proceed from the distribution goods receiving area 101 initially on the first storage section 1.1 the driver 1 stored, but then by turning the metering device 10 around its axis of rotation R. on the second storage section 1.2 the driver 1 be redeployed or redeployed to on the second storage section 1.2 To be transported further, in particular to the distribution goods delivery area 102 .

As in particular in 4th can be seen are the drivers 1 trained to deal with excess material S4 on an outside and / or back 1 one in the direction of rotation A. of the dosing device 10 leading driver 1 dispense, so that excess material to be distributed S4 from the drivers 1 through the outside and / or back 1 of the in the direction of rotation A. of the dosing device 10 leading driver 1 to the distribution goods receiving area 101 of the sowing unit 100 can be returned and is prevented from entering the distribution area 102 of the sowing unit 100 to get. The outside and / or back 1 of the driver 1 can consequently serve as a retaining and / or return element to prevent excess material from being distributed S4 from the drivers 1 in the distribution area 102 arrives, and to excess distribution material S4 from the drivers 1 to the distribution material receiving area 101 traced back.

As in particular in 4th can be seen are the drivers 1 but at the same time trained to ensure the correct amount of material to be distributed S2 also on an outside and / or back 1 in the direction of rotation A. of the dosing device 10 leading driver 1 submit to an in 4th several drivers 1 comprehensive cascading and proper further transport of the quantity of material to be distributed S2 on the outside and / or rear 1 of several carriers 1 to enable, whereby in particular the essentially coherent distribution material delivery stream S3 can be made possible.

It should also be mentioned that the driver 1 z. B. can have one or more passage openings through which contaminants (e.g. dust, small grain particles, and / or dirt, etc.) can escape, preferably into the distribution material receiving area 101 of the sowing unit 100 are transferable, z. B. are traceable. This allows z. B. prevented or at least reduced the risk of contamination in the drivers 1 accumulate and / or to the distribution goods delivery area 102 of the sowing unit 100 reach. The one or more passage openings can, for. B. in the first storage section 1.1 and / or in the second storage section 1.2 be arranged.

6th Figure 11 shows a side view of a row unit 200 with a preferably like in the 2 to 5 shown sowing unit 100 .

The row unit 200 includes a container 201 for the optional storage of grains for single grain sowing or of distribution material S1 for drilling.

A coulter 201 is particularly used to create a furrow in the arable soil.

The row unit 200 can in particular via a z. B. movable link mechanism 203 (e.g. a parallelogram mechanism) with a support structure 300 a mobile agricultural implement, not shown (e.g. a tractor or other tractor). To the support structure 300 can preferably have a plurality of row units 200 (e.g. at least 4, 8, 12, 16 or 24).

7th shows a schematic view of an exemplary drill seed, wherein 8th shows a schematic view of an exemplary single grain seed.

For precision sowing such as B. in 8th Isolated grains are shown distributed evenly linearly spaced and aligned linearly on the soil, mostly in a soil furrow.

When drilling such as B. in 7th shown there is no separation of the material to be distributed, so that the material to be distributed is not distributed evenly linearly on the soil. Rather, in the case of seed drills, the material to be distributed is distributed with an uneven distance, in a random position and / or laterally offset from one another.

The dosing device 10 enables in particular a drill seed such. B. in 7th shown.

A singling organ enables in particular a single grain sowing such. B. in 8th shown.

The sowing unit 100 the row unit 200 can thus either with the singling organ for single grain sowing or with the metering organ 10 be operated for drill seeding.

The invention is not restricted to the preferred embodiments described above. Rather, a large number of variants and modifications are possible, which are also of the Make use of the inventive idea and therefore fall within the scope of protection. In addition, the invention also claims protection for the subject matter and the features of the subclaims regardless of the features and claims referred to.

List of reference symbols

10

Dosing device, especially to achieve a drill seed

1

Carrier

1.1

First storage section for distribution goods, in particular radially outer storage section

1.2

second storage section for distribution goods, in particular radially inner storage section

1.3

Side wall

R.

Axis of rotation

A.

Direction of rotation

S1

Distribution

S2

Quantity to be distributed

S3

Distribution material delivery flow

S4

excess distribution material

100

Sowing unit, especially for the optional execution of a single grain or a drill

101

Distribution goods receiving area

102

Distribution area

103

Distribution line for distributing the distribution on a field

200

Row unit

201

container

202

Coulter

203

Link mechanism

300

Support structure

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent literature cited

• DE 102016204453 A1 [0003, 0013]
• US 7237495 B2 [0003, 0013]
• US 5603269 A [0003, 0013]
• DE 2448672 [0003, 0013]
• WO 2017055266 A1 [0004]

Claims (18)

Dosing element (10), preferably rotatable dosing element (10), for installation in a sowing unit (100) designed for separating grains based on the pressure difference, in particular for an agricultural row unit (200), characterized in that the dosing element (10) for dosing distribution material (S1) is used and has a multiplicity of drivers (1) and the individual drivers (1) are used to take away a quantity of material (S2) to be distributed, so that drill seeding is preferably enabled by means of the metering element (10). Dosing element (10) Claim 1 , characterized in that the metering member (10) comprises a metering disk. Dosing element (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drivers (1) protrude laterally from the dosing element (10) and / or comprise depressions in the dosing element (10). Dosing member (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drivers (1) comprise dosing blades and / or dosing pockets. Dosing element (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drivers (1) comprise a first, preferably radially outer, storage section (1.1) and a second, preferably radially inner, storage section (1.2), the quantity of material (S2) initially being distributed on the first Storage section (1.1) is stored and by rotating the metering member (10) about its axis of rotation (R) is relocated or shifted to the second storage section (1.2) in order to be transported on the second storage section (1.2), in particular towards a distribution material Delivery area (102) of the sowing unit (100). Dosing element (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drivers (1) are designed to transfer excess material (S4) to an outer and / or rear side (1.4) of a direction of rotation (A) of the dosing element (10) leading driver (1) so that excess distribution material (S4) from the drivers (1) through the outer and / or rear side (1.4) of a driver (1) leading in the direction of rotation (A) of the metering device (10) to a distribution material -The receiving area (101) of the sowing unit (100) can be returned and / or is prevented from reaching a distribution area (102) of the sowing unit (100). Dosing element (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drivers (1) are designed to transfer the quantity of material (S2) to an outside and / or rear side (1.4) of a direction of rotation (A) of the dosing element (10) leading driver (1), preferably to allow a cascade-like further transport of the distribution material (S2) over the outer and / or rear side (1.4) of several drivers (1). Dosing element (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drivers (1) are designed to transfer the quantity of material (S2) to an outside and / or rear side (1.4) of a direction of rotation (A) of the dosing element (10) leading driver (1) so that the amount of material (S2) to be distributed from the drivers (1) can be transported further by means of the outer and / or rear side (1.4) of a driver (1) leading in the direction of rotation (R) of the metering element (10) and / or so that a substantially coherent distribution material delivery flow (S3) formed from several distribution material quantities (S2) is made possible. Dosing element (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drivers (1) are designed to be able to carry and transport the quantity of material to be distributed (S2) based on gravity and / or pressure difference-free, preferably - to enable a rotary movement of the dosing element (10) about its axis of rotation (R) of over essentially 90 °, over essentially 135 ° or over essentially 180 °, and / or - from a distribution material receiving area (101) of the sowing unit (100) to a distribution material discharge area (102) of the sowing unit (100). Dosing member (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drivers (1) define a receiving space in order to completely receive the quantity of material (S2) to be distributed. Dosing element (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drivers (1) have an essentially U- or V-shaped cross section. Dosing element (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drivers (1) are inclined towards the dosing element (10) in order to direct the amount of material (S2) in the drivers (1) to the dosing element (10) based on gravity apply to to prevent the amount of material (1.2) from falling out to the side. Dosing element (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drivers (1) have a side wall (1.3) in order to prevent the amount of material (1.2) to be distributed from falling out to the side. Dosing element (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drivers (1) are evenly spaced from one another and / or are designed to enable an essentially coherent distribution material delivery stream (S3) formed from several distribution material quantities (S2). Dosing element (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the quantity of material to be distributed (S2) comprises at least 5 or at least 10 particles of material to be distributed. Dosing element (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drivers (1) have one or more passage openings through which contaminants can escape, preferably can be transferred into a distribution material receiving area (101) of the sowing unit (100). Sowing unit (100) for an agricultural row unit (200) and for the pressure difference-based separation of grains by means of a rotatable separating element, with a metering element (10) according to one of the preceding claims, so that the sowing unit (100) optionally with the separating element for single grain sowing or the metering element (10) can be operated for seed drilling. Method for operating a sowing unit (100) for an agricultural row unit (200), the sowing unit (100) optionally executing a pressure-difference-based singulation of grains by means of a rotatable singling element to carry out a single-grain sowing or a metering of distributed material (S1 ) by means of a rotatable metering element (10) according to one of the Claims 1 to 16 executes.

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