Method and supply device for providing agricultural compositions

Abstract

A method and a supply device for providing agricultural compositions are disclosed, the method comprising: - dispensing predetermined amounts of two or more bulk agricultural compositions from two or more reservoir containers (RC1, RC2, RC4) into a dosing container (DC1); - agitating the contents of the dosing container (DC1) during and / or after dosing, the agitation comprising controlling the current through a stator winding coil (614) located outside the dosing container (DC1) to move a rotor (630) having a magnetic element (644), the rotor (630) being located inside the dosing container (DC1), forming a mixture of two or more agricultural compositions in the dosing container (DC1); and - supplying the mixture as an agricultural composition to an agricultural application device (200).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the provision of agricultural compositions for application and to their application to fields, plants or plant propagation materials, which enables the accurate administration, individually or as mixtures, of one or more bulk agricultural compositions, either alone or as mixtures, from the perspective of volume and / or mixing ratio.

Background Art

[0002] Agricultural compositions are available for a considerable number of purposes. Agricultural compositions contain at least one active ingredient or agent provided in a solvent or diluent. Generally, agricultural compositions can be assumed to be fluids, but may also contain particles or viscous compounds in a gel-like configuration such as a suspension. For the purposes of the present specification, any agricultural composition is capable of flowing through a pipe by applying a pressure difference at each end of the pipe.

[0003] In order to treat plants or plant propagation materials, it is often necessary to dilute, select or mix commercially available agricultural compositions before application in order to meet the actual needs. The regulation of agricultural compositions is insufficient, and not all mixtures are commercially available because, for example, it is necessary to permit them to be brought into a market that will apply to all mixtures of already certified compositions. Furthermore, some mixtures have a short shelf life and should be prepared in the shortest possible time before use.

[0004] One use of agricultural compositions is their application as a seed coating agent in precision seed treatment during sowing by a seeder moving across a field. Seeds from a seed container are separated into individual seeds by some separation means and dropped into the soil, and the individual seeds are detected by one or more sensor arrays and treated by a seed coating agent composition sprayed in droplet form by an application nozzle as they fall. The application nozzle receives the seed coating agent composition from a coating agent tank via an application valve controlled in response to the detection results of the sensor array.

[0005] International Publication No. 20210326311 discloses an application device for selectively applying a coating composition comprising agricultural products and components and at least one adjuvant / carrier component to plant propagation material from outside the device during sowing and / or planting, and discharging the treated plant propagation material to a lower surface, further comprising a mixing control unit configured and operable to control the flow of the coating composition and / or diluent to adapt the coating composition to an applied state and / or a state and composition suitable for one or more environmental conditions and / or specific plant propagation material. The diluent is supplied from a diluent reservoir and the coating composition is supplied from a coating reservoir container.

[0006] International Publication No. 20210326311 also states that two or more canisters may be operationally coupled via fluid communication to a single nozzle, thereby controlling the single nozzle to selectively spray the seed coating from any one of the canisters coupled to the nozzle, or that two or more cartridges may each be operationally coupled via fluid communication to their respective nozzles, such that each canister sprays its respective composition only through its own respective nozzle.

[0007] Sometimes, it is necessary to mix different commercially available compositions to obtain new agricultural compositions that are not commercially available. Such mixing is usually done manually in the field, before application or during breaks, by pouring the different compositions into mixing tanks, etc. The volume handled is large, and the mixing tanks are large and often open. The mixture, i.e., the new composition, is then filled into a bulk container and loaded into a mobile application device or into a coating tank supported by the application device. To change the mixture or composition being used, the application must usually be interrupted, a new mixture prepared, and loaded into the application device. [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0008] The object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for accurate, safe, easy-to-use, sustainable, and versatile dosing and / or mixing of agricultural compositions for field application, while saving time required to change mixtures, reducing chemical waste, reducing the number of nozzles, reducing hazards to personnel, having simpler application gear, reducing idle time, extending the application period, overcoming limited storage or tank time, enhancing purification, improving application safety, and reducing environmental impact. The object of the present invention is also to provide a device for easily mixing fluids contained in small quantities or small containers.

[0009] This objective is at least partially addressed by the method for providing agricultural compositions, agricultural composition supply devices, electromagnetic stirring devices, application devices, and plant processing systems according to the present invention. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are described in the dependent claims. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The present invention is generally based on the idea of ​​administering small amounts or mixtures of agricultural compositions from a reservoir container during execution, i.e., application, and supplying these small amounts or mixtures to an application device as novel, applicable agricultural compositions for direct application to seeds or seedlings during sowing or planting, or for injection into a carrier stream during plant spraying. The administration container is smaller in volume than a bulk container that acts as a reservoir container, or at least can receive small amounts of fluid from those bulk containers. Thus, the composition actually applied can be tailored to the needs required at execution by selecting from multiple available compositions in the volume actually needed, or from tailor-made mixtures. In precise seed processing, for example, only one spray nozzle is needed to apply various coating compositions, allowing for simpler gearing, adjustment, and control.

[0011] Herein, the agricultural composition in the sense of the present invention is preferably a fluid product having at least one active compound or component for the treatment of plants, fields, or plant propagation materials.

[0012] One aspect of the present invention is a method for providing an agricultural composition. This method includes the following: - Dispensing a predetermined amount of bulk agricultural composition from a reservoir container into a dispensing container, the dispensing preferably includes applying a predetermined vacuum pressure to the dispensing container, and - The agricultural composition is supplied from a dosing container to an agricultural application device, the supply preferably including applying a predetermined overpressure to the dosing container.

[0013] As used herein, the term “composition” may typically include two or more active compounds in the form of a single active compound or a premix, dissolved in a diluent, particularly a commercially available composition. As used herein, the term “agriculture” may include any composition used to treat agricultural products such as seeds, seedlings, grown plants or entire areas of plant propagation material for purposes such as growth enhancement, pest control, disease prevention and handling, as will be further detailed below. As used herein, “application” may include any treatment of plants, plant propagation material or any other agricultural product with a composition. The dosing container may be any type of sealed volume that can be filled and emptied in a controlled manner. The dosing container includes a cylinder having a movable piston connected to a piston drive, wherein applying a predetermined vacuum pressure includes controlling the piston drive to move the piston and increase the working volume of the cylinder, and applying a predetermined overpressure includes controlling the piston drive to move the piston to decrease the working volume of the cylinder. However, other types of dosing containers may be used.

[0014] Using this embodiment of the method, accurate, reliable, easy-to-use, sustainable, and versatile administration of agricultural compositions for application to the field can be achieved. In particular, precise amounts of the composition can be provided and supplied to the application device as needed. The accuracy of administration is further improved by using a piston-operated cylinder as the dosing container. The piston can be operated in both directions for both dosing to the dosing container and supplying to the application device. Such piston operation is easy to achieve and control.

[0015] In some embodiments, administration may involve controlling a valve device in piping connecting a reservoir container to a dosing container to selectively connect or disconnect the reservoir container to the dosing container, thereby allowing a predetermined volume to flow from the reservoir container into the dosing container. This allows for precise volume control. If two or more agricultural compositions are stored in different reservoir containers, the valve device can be used to disconnect any of these reservoir containers, thereby avoiding cross-contamination.

[0016] In some embodiments, the method is - To administer a predetermined amount of further agricultural composition from a further reservoir container to a dispensing container. -Forming a mixture of agricultural compositions into a dispensing container, and - Further includes supplying the mixture to an agricultural application device.

[0017] In other words, at least two agricultural compositions are mixed in a dispensing container. The term “mixture” as used herein may include any mixture, solution, dispersion, or suspension that is a fluid sufficient to flow through a pipe by applying a pressure difference to each end of such a pipe. The formation of the mixture can be achieved by any applicable method such as mixing, stirring, shaking, swirling, flowing along a baffle configuration to create turbulence during swirling, or simply by waiting a predetermined time for the compositions to mix. By mixing compositions by the method of the present invention, accurate, reliable, easy-to-use, sustainable, and versatile mixing of agricultural compositions for application to the field can be achieved. In particular, the mixing ratio can be precisely achieved because small, clearly defined volumes can be dispensed. Because the mixing ratio can be precisely achieved, waste of chemical products can also be avoided or minimized. Furthermore, mixing can be performed in a closed environment and automated without the need for any person to manually handle the compositions during mixing, thereby significantly reducing the risk to workers and thus increasing the safety of application. Any splashes that may occur during manual handling of the mixture can be avoided, thereby reducing the environmental impact.

[0018] In some embodiments, forming a mixture involves stirring the contents of the dosing container during and / or after administration, and the stirring preferably involves controlling the current through a coil of a stator winding located outside the dosing container to move an armature winding or a rotor having multiple permanent magnets, the rotor being located inside the dosing container. In this manner, mixing and stirring can be performed automatically within one same container in an agricultural machine.

[0019] In some embodiments, administration involves controlling a valve device in piping connecting a reservoir container to a dosing container to selectively communicate with or disconnect from the dosing container at a predetermined volume pass-through ratio, preferably in a time-interlaced or time-pulsed manner according to the predetermined volume pass-through ratio. Such control allows for the achievement of a predetermined mixing ratio in small individual doses, enhancing the mixing result. Selective communication and disconnection of the reservoir container may include communication and disconnection of two or more containers, or only one container, in the latter case corresponding to a 1:0 mixing ratio. When two containers are alternately connected, in typical agricultural applications, a mixing ratio typically ranging from 1:1 to 1:100 is targeted. However, even lower mixing ratios may be achievable by the method of the present invention. The time interval or pulse duration may be selected as needed. For example, short pulse durations may allow for finer mixing and precise dosing of individual volumes. For a 1:10 mixing ratio, a minimum pulse time of, for example, 0.1 seconds, 0.3 seconds, 0.5 seconds, 0.7 seconds, 0.9 seconds, or 1.5 seconds, and / or a maximum pulse time of 3 seconds, 5 seconds, 7 seconds, 10 seconds, or 15 seconds may be advantageous. For other mixing ratios, a higher or lower minimum and / or maximum pulse time may be appropriate. The pulse time may also be selected based on the physical properties of the fluids. The pulse time may differ for each of the fluids being mixed.

[0020] In some embodiments, precise volume measurement can be achieved by measuring the position of the piston. Good results can be achieved, for example, by the following procedure: - Open the reservoir container shut-off valve. - For example, by moving the piston of a cylinder by a predetermined volume determined by measuring the amount of piston movement, the volume of the administration container is changed, and the piston is stopped when the predetermined volume change is achieved. - Ensure that the pressure within the system or administration container has dropped to the ambient pressure (dynamic pressure is zero), and that the entire volume defined by the piston's movement is flowing into the administration cylinder. - Close the reservoir container shut-off valve. - If multiple reservoir vessels are included, repeat the above for the next reservoir vessel shut-off valve.

[0021] By such a procedure, it is possible to perform administration independent of viscosity (a highly viscous fluid has a lower volumetric flow rate at the same time).

[0022] In some embodiments, the valve device includes respective reservoir vessel shut-off valves for the reservoir vessels, and includes opening and closing the administration vessel and the respective reservoir vessel shut-off valves. The valve device is preferably solenoid-operated, and to control the valve device, one or more solenoids of the valve device are excited. The individual shut-off valves are wide, easy to install and low cost. Alternatively, a directional valve and / or a proportional valve may be applicable.

[0023] In some embodiments, the supply includes controlling a valve device in a pipe connecting the reservoir vessel to the administration vessel to block the reservoir vessel from the administration vessel, and communicating the administration vessel with an application interface unit connected to an application device to enable flow from the administration vessel to the application interface unit. In other words, the same container can be used to automatically mix and supply individually prepared applied agricultural compositions. The application interface unit referred to herein may include a tank, a reservoir, a pressurized expansion volume, or a pipe directly connected to the application unit. Administration or mixing can be performed during operation, i.e., with the same device used in the field for applying the agricultural composition and during application. Optionally, while the administration vessel is in communication with the application interface unit, the administration vessel is blocked from the reservoir vessel, so that the reservoir vessel can be easily replaced or refilled without causing any interruption or idle time during application.

[0024] In some embodiments, the method further includes the following steps, - After supplying the product to the application device, transferring the remaining material to a cleaning container, preferably an additional dosing container, containing the remaining material from the piping and / or the application interface unit, particularly preferably from the application device or the dosing container, thereby removing the remaining material, and / or - Disposing of the remaining material from the cleaning container or the dosing container into a waste container, which is preferably an additional reservoir container. Note that the cleaning container may also be the dosing container itself, or an additional dosing container of the same or similar structure.

[0025] Another aspect of the present invention is a method for applying an agricultural composition, - Receiving the agricultural composition from a dosing container connected to one or more reservoir containers each containing a specific agricultural composition through a pipe including a valve device for selectively communicating or blocking the reservoir containers, wherein the agricultural composition in the dosing container is one or more predetermined, preferably small volumes of the individual agricultural compositions from the reservoir containers, and one or more of the individual agricultural compositions, preferably in the form of a mixture, receiving, and - Delivering the agricultural composition to an application unit, wherein the agricultural composition is preferably provided by the method according to the present invention, delivering, which includes the steps.

[0026] Optionally, containing preferably includes flowing the agricultural composition into an expansion container pre-filled with a predetermined, preferably controlled pressure. Delivering includes flowing the agricultural composition from the expansion container to the application unit.

[0027] Further optionally, particularly based on monitoring the pressure of the expansion container and / or the pipe through which the expansion container communicates, the pressure of the expansion container may be set or controlled to be higher than the pressure resistance received from the application unit and lower than the dosing pressure received from the dosing container.

[0028] Furthermore, optionally, the method is, - Treating individual plant propagation materials held within the separator means of a precision seeding or planting device with droplets or jets of an agricultural composition. - Free-falling or guiding means of precision seeding or planting devices, processing individual plant propagation materials inside with droplets or jets of agricultural composition, -This may further include at least one of the following: injecting a flow (continuous or pulsed) of an agricultural composition into a flow of carrier fluid in a predetermined, preferably controlled, volume ratio; and spraying the injected agricultural composition onto a field or individual plants or groups of plants in the carrier fluid.

[0029] Another aspect of the present invention is a supply device for providing agricultural compositions, the supply device is -At least one bulk composition intake unit formed to communicate with its respective reservoir container, -Administrative container and, - An application interface unit connectable to an application device for applying agricultural compositions to plants or plant propagation materials, - Piping connecting the administration container to each composition intake unit and application interface unit, - Valve devices formed to selectively communicate or block each composition intake unit and application interface unit with or from the administration container via piping, -When each is communicated, pressurizing means for providing overpressure or vacuum pressure to the dosing container in order to administer a predetermined amount of agricultural composition from any reservoir container, or to supply the contents of the dosing container to the application interface unit, - A control unit formed and connected for controlling a valve device and a pressurizing means, preferably formed to control a supply device by controlling the state of the valve device and the pressurizing means, thereby performing the method described above.

[0030] The "composition intake unit" may be a simple pipe end, or it may include some fitting that fits into each reservoir container and / or immersion tube and reaches into each reservoir container. The supply device includes each means for carrying out the methods of the above-described aspects of the present invention and can achieve the same advantageous effects.

[0031] The administration container includes a cylinder, the pressurizing means includes a movable piston connected to a piston drive unit inside the cylinder, and the control unit is configured to control the piston drive unit to move the piston and control the working volume of the cylinder, so that administration and supply can be performed easily and automatically controlled.

[0032] In some embodiments, the valve device is arranged, formed, and connected such that its state can be controlled to selectively connect and disconnect each bulk composition intake unit or application interface unit to a dosing container, allowing a predetermined flow rate from the reservoir container to the dosing container or from the dosing container to the application interface unit, and the control unit is preferably adapted to control the state of the valve device to allow flow from one or more reservoir containers to the dosing container in a time-interlaced or time-pulsed manner. In this specification, it is preferable that the valve device, particularly the individual valves therein, are solenoid-actuated, and the control unit is formed to control the excitation current of one or more solenoids in the valve device. It should be noted that flow is also to be allowed from the application interface unit to the dosing container or a separately provided cleaning container, in addition to the flow from the dosing container, to clean and / or discharge the system.

[0033] In some embodiments, the valve device comprises shut-off valves for each bulk composition intake unit and application interface unit, and an optional waste fluid treatment unit, wherein the first end of each shut-off valve is connected to one bulk composition intake unit or application interface unit or optional waste fluid treatment unit, and the second end of each shut-off valve is connected to a fluid channel connected to the dosing container. Optionally, the shut-off valves of the valve device may be arranged to form a valve block. The fluid channel may be formed by through-holes formed in the housing or housing attachment of each shut-off valve, and the through-holes are connected to each other. The length of the piping section from the dosing container to the valve device may be shorter than the length of the piping section from each reservoir container to the valve device, in particular to the shut-off valve of the valve device associated with the reservoir container, which may be advantageous for washing and avoiding larger residues of the agricultural composition.

[0034] In some embodiments, the application interface unit includes an expansion vessel connected to a piping section between a valve device and an application connection fitting, and the expansion vessel is formed to provide a variable expansion volume. Advantageously, the expansion vessel may include a cylinder having a movable piston connected to a piston drive unit, the piston drive unit preferably including an elastic return member that acts to reduce the working volume of the expansion vessel, and a control unit preferably being formed to control the action of the elastic return member of the expansion vessel. Optionally, two or more expansion vessels may be provided to be filled alternately to provide a continuous supply, or to be filled with different agricultural compositions. Each application unit of the application device may have one or more dedicated expansion vessels.

[0035] In some embodiments, the supply device further includes a cleaning container distinct from the dosing container, the cleaning container being connected to piping via a valve device, particularly a dedicated shut-off valve for the valve device, and having pressurizing means for providing pressure or vacuum pressure to the cleaning container, and a control unit being formed and connected to control the valve device and pressurizing means. Advantageously, the cleaning container may also be a cylinder having a movable piston connected to a piston drive unit, and the control unit is formed to control the piston drive unit to move the piston of the cleaning container. As described above, the cleaning container may have the same or similar structure as the dosing container, and in alternative embodiments, the dosing container itself may serve as the cleaning container.

[0036] In further embodiments, the supply device is configured to communicate with a waste fluid treatment unit, particularly a dedicated shut-off valve in the valve device, connected to piping via a valve device, for disposing of the contents of the scrubbing container, the waste container preferably having the same or similar configuration as the reservoir container, and the waste fluid disposal unit having the same or similar configuration as the bulk composition intake unit. It may be advantageous herein that an empty reservoir container or a container having a similar structure may be used as the waste container. Similarity on the container side may be provided by a waste container having at least the same connector for connecting to the fittings of the bulk composition intake unit, while having a larger or smaller volume than the reservoir container. Similarity on the unit side may be provided by a waste fluid disposal unit having the same fittings or connectors, while having an immersion tube of a larger or smaller length than the bulk composition intake unit, or having a check valve or other type of reflow suppression means at its end. Similarity may be established by a sliding seat for adjusting the length of the immersion tube, or by an adapter for fitting the container's connector to the fitting of the bulk composition intake unit.

[0037] In some embodiments, the supply device includes a stirring device for stirring the contents of a dosing container, comprising a stator having a stator winding with a coil located outside the dosing container, and a rotor having a magnetic element, wherein the rotor is located inside the dosing container, and a control unit is formed to control the current of the stator winding.

[0038] Optionally, the supply device may further include a reservoir storage area having a reservoir container receiving section for receiving each reservoir container connected to piping via each composition intake unit. Such reservoir storage facilitates the transport of several bulk agricultural compositions and / or the replacement of bulk containers connected to the system during operation.

[0039] Another aspect of the present invention is an electromagnetic stirring device for or for the above-described feeding device. The electromagnetic stirring device includes a stator having stator windings with solenoids arranged circumferentially around a rotor axis, a rotor having at least one magnetic element arranged inside the solenoid arrangement of the stator which rotates around the rotor axis when the solenoids are excited, and stirring elements, particularly stirring blades, fixed to the magnetic element, wherein the stator is formed to be configurable on the outside of a dosing container, particularly a cylinder, and the rotor is formed to be configurable on the inside of a dosing container for stirring the contents of the dosing container. Note that the stator windings may include at least one, preferably two or more triplet stator phase windings or three-phase coils, where each triplet stator phase winding is spaced circumferentially at 120° intervals, and the two or more triplets are arranged alternately with the regular circumferential spacing of the coils. More preferably, the magnetic element of the rotor includes armature windings or a plurality of permanent magnets arranged at constant circumferential intervals around an axis.

[0040] In some embodiments, the stator has a stator frame formed to support the stator coils, preferably in contact with and supporting the outer wall of a container having a circular cross-section.

[0041] In some embodiments, the stirring device further includes a rotor support structure which is formed to support against the inner wall of a vessel, preferably with a circular cross-section, and includes two axial bearing halves of each axial bearing which are arranged in a straight line at a distance from the axis, the rotor which carries magnetic elements and forms two axial bearing halves which coincide with the axial bearing halves of the rotor support structure, the axial bearings which are preferably formed as pairs of pins and wells.

[0042] A further aspect of the present invention is an application device for applying an agricultural composition, the application device having a receiving unit for receiving a composition from a dosing container, each connected to one or more bulk reservoir containers containing agricultural compositions, and for delivering the received composition to an application unit, the receiving unit being connected to or having a fitting for connecting to an application interface unit of a supply device as described above. The application unit is, for example, - A seed processing unit formed to process individual seeds or seedlings held within a separator means of a sowing or planting device with droplets or jets of a composition or mixture. - A precision seed processing unit formed for processing individual seeds or seedlings by free fall or within a guide means of a precision seeding or planting device with droplets or jets of a composition or mixture. - A spraying unit formed to receive a composition or mixture by injection into a carrier fluid flow at a predetermined, preferably controlled, volume ratio, and to spray the injected composition or mixture onto a field or individual plants or groups of plants using the carrier fluid, In some embodiments, the application device includes at least one of a seeding device, particularly a precision seeding device, or a spraying unit having one or more spraying units.

[0043] A further aspect of the present invention is a plant processing system comprising the aforementioned application device and the aforementioned supply device connected to each other. In some embodiments, the application device and the supply device may be arranged together in the same carrier unit, which is movable, preferably by automatic driving or by being transported or pulled out by a tractor unit, and preferably has travel gears for traveling on the ground. In other devices, the plant processing system may be embodied as a fixed installation, optionally combined with an irrigation system.

[0044] The present invention will be described in further detail hereby with reference to specific exemplary embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0045] [Figure 1A] This is a schematic block diagram of a supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 1B] This is a schematic block diagram of a supply device according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a schematic block diagram of an application means that can be used with the supply device shown in Figure 1A or 1B. [Figure 3] This is a logic diagram illustrating the control of a supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4A] This is a time diagram illustrating a method for providing an agricultural composition according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4B] This is a continuation of the time diagram in Figure 4A. [Figure 5] This is a schematic diagram of an application system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] Figure 1 is a side elevation view of a stirring device according to an embodiment of the present invention, attached to the dosing container in the supply device. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0046] Please note that all drawings are of a schematic nature. This means that, unless otherwise indicated or clearly specified, geometric dimensions and relationships may be exaggerated rather than specific constructive details for the purpose of illustrating the underlying principles.

[0047] Figure 1A shows a supply device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, together with an application unit 200 to which the supply device 100 is connected for providing agricultural compositions.

[0048] As used herein, the term “agricultural composition” relates to a liquid composition useful for application to seeds or plant material or to a field, at least in part. Such a composition comprises at least one agricultural compound or active compound, and a diluent, solvent, or carrier that enables application. This “agricultural composition,” also referred herein as “composition,” “mixture,” or “applicable agricultural composition,” relates to a material formulation that is a liquid or gel containing an active agricultural compound and may additionally contain other components such as fillers, diluents, solvents, adhesives, dispersants, stabilizers, emulsifiers, rheological modifiers (thickeners or viscosity modifiers), preservatives, antifreezes, defoamers, and colorants. In some embodiments, the composition or compound may be an adhesive powder.

[0049] The gel formulation can also be used as a diluent (i.e., a gel diluent formulation) together with the active ingredient or in combination with a formulation containing the active ingredient. This gel diluent formulation may contain more than 50% by weight of water, preferably at least 80% by weight, preferably at least 90% by weight, preferably at least 95% by weight, preferably at least 98% by weight, and more preferably at least 99% by weight, based on the total weight of the gel diluent formulation. This gel diluent formulation may further contain 0.01 to 10% by weight of a thickener, preferably 0.05 to 1% by weight, and 0.01 to 5% by weight of a preservative, preferably 0.05 to 0.5% by weight, based on the total weight of the gel diluent formulation.

[0050] Suitable rheological modifiers may be selected from, for example, silicate or silica-based rheological modifiers (e.g., fumed silica, colloidal silica, precipitated silica, etc.), phyllosilicates (e.g., montmorillonite-type clay, etc.), polysaccharides (e.g., xanthan gum, diutan gum, carrageenan, guar, alginate, etc.), cellulose or cellulose derivatives (e.g., cellulose fibril, methylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose and its salts, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, etc.), di-OLE or tri-OLE (e.g., polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerin, etc.), polymer compounds (e.g., acrylic acid and its polymer derivatives, etc.), and any mixture thereof.

[0051] Suitable preservatives can be selected from, for example, 1,2-benzoisothiazole-3-one, 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol, and any mixture thereof.

[0052] A suitable gel diluent formulation may be as follows: 99.6% by weight of water, 0.3% by weight of xanthan gum (rheological modifier), and 0.1% by weight of 1,2-benzoisothiazole-3-one (preservative).

[0053] In the following description, all positional and directional information, such as top, bottom, upward, downward, up, down, vertical, and horizontal, relates to the upright orientation of the supply device according to the present invention, as illustrated and corresponding to their actual use.

[0054] As used herein, the terms “agricultural compound,” “active compound,” or “active ingredient” refer to compounds such as biocides, growth promoters, or growth regulators, or other biological effects, including but not limited to micronutrients, insecticides, chemical or biological substances known to aid crop growth to protect against insect sap-sucking and feeding; fungicides for protection against fungal pathogens; inoculants, antimicrobial agents, herbicides, acaricides, nematicides; virology for inactivating viruses; toxicity mitigants; immune response inducers; biologics, biosimilars, genetically modified seed coatings; growth regulators; and crop enhancers that provide specific, chemically induced physiological responses of plants to increase and / or improve yields, particularly under abiotic stress; as well as diluents, solvents, carriers, emulsifiers, viscosity modifiers, stabilizers, mounting agents and / or any colorants, and any combination thereof. Preferred micronutrients include zinc, molybdenum, manganese, magnesium, boron, copper, iron, nickel, and chlorine.

[0055] As used herein, “bulk agricultural composition” refers to an agricultural composition that is commercially available or refilled for use and supplied in bulk containers that are loaded into a mobile carrier unit or fixed equipment used in the field. The bulk container may be, for example, a cartridge or canister carried by an application device or dispensing device.

[0056] The supply device 100 according to this exemplary embodiment includes a plurality of reservoir containers RC1, RC2 and a waste container WC1, each of which may be identical or different in structure. In this embodiment, the reservoir containers RC1, RC2 and the waste container WC1 are bulk containers 110 of a build known in the art for carrying bulk volumes of agricultural compositions to be applied to or mixed with other components for use in the field. A typical bulk container 110 used in connection with this embodiment may have a volume of, for example, 0.1 liters to 200 liters (l). A preferred size of the bulk container 110 may have a volume of about 1 l to 100 l, more preferably about 1 l to 50 l, and even more preferably 5 l to 25 l.

[0057] In this embodiment, reservoir containers RC1 and RC2 each transport different bulk agricultural components 102a and 102b, each containing at least one active compound or component, and waste container WC1 has already transported some waste fluid 104 and is ready to receive further waste fluid. It should be understood that any number of reservoir containers and waste containers can be provided without limiting the present invention. However, for any purpose, it is advantageous to provide at least one reservoir container RC1 that contains a bulk agricultural composition 102a containing at least one active compound applied to plants or plant propagation material. It is even more advantageous to provide at least one last waste container WC1 for receiving excess fluid and discharging the system.

[0058] The bulk containers 110 in this embodiment are formed identically, but this is not limiting to the present invention and is assumed below for the sake of clarity. Each bulk container 110 in this embodiment includes a body 112 that is limited upward by an upper wall 114. A bulk composition intake unit 116 is provided for taking contents out of the bulk container 110. In this embodiment, the bulk composition intake unit 116 includes an immersion tube 118 that extends from the upper wall 114 into the inside of the body 112. The immersion tube 118 may extend to the bottom of the body 112 or just before it and may have an opening formed to reliably take in any fluid contained in the bulk container 110. Optionally, a filter means may be provided to prevent undesirable particles from entering the immersion tube 118. Further optionally, a check valve or other reflow prevention means may be provided to prevent the reflow of fluid from the system into the bulk container 110. The construction and function of the immersion tube 118 are well known in the art and therefore an explicit description can be omitted. The immersion tube 118 terminates in a fitting 120 at its top, i.e., on the side of the top wall 114, which allows for the connection of a connecting line 152. In a modified form, the immersion tube 118 may be an extended end of the connecting line 152 extending through the fitting 120. The fitting 120 may have a connecting element (not explicitly shown) that engages with a mating connecting element in the top wall 114 of the bulk container 110. The fitting 120 may be formed to replace a lid (not shown) used to seal the bulk container 110 until use, or may be formed by such a lid having a sealing opening that is removed to connect the connecting line 152. The fitting 120, lid, or other part of the bulk container 110 or the bulk composition intake unit 116 may be equipped with a vent valve to ensure that the inside of the bulk container 110 is under atmospheric pressure. The vent valve may be sealed or sealable when the bulk container 110 is not in use to prevent leakage during transport or storage.

[0059] For the waste container WC1, a waste fluid treatment unit 117 may be provided instead of the bulk composition intake unit 116. The waste fluid treatment unit 117 may have the exact same structure as the bulk composition intake unit 116, having a fitting for connecting the immersion pipe 188 and the connection line 152. However, the waste fluid treatment unit 117 may include adaptations compared to the bulk composition intake unit 116. For example, the waste fluid treatment unit 117 may not include a filter unit. In addition, the waste fluid treatment unit 117 may include a check valve or other reflow prevention means with the flow direction reversed compared to the bulk composition intake unit 116. That is, in the case of the waste container WC1, a check valve or other reflow prevention means may be provided to prevent the reflow of fluid from the bulk container 110 into the system.

[0060] The bulk container 110 used herein may be configured to construct a sealed transfer system that can be connected and disconnected without contact with the liquid contained therein, which further contributes to handling safety and environmental safety.

[0061] The supply device 100 further includes a dosing container DC1, which is in the form of a cylinder 130. The cylinder 130 has a cylinder body 132 having an outlet 134 at one end and a through hole 136 at the other end. The cylinder 130 has an operating volume Vd formed between the outlet 134 and a piston 138. The piston 138 is connected to a piston rod 140 extending to a piston drive unit 142. The piston drive unit 142 includes a motor M1 that drives the piston rod 140 to move the piston 138 by a piston travel xd. The piston travel xd is 1 when the piston 138 is fully retracted and the operating volume Vd of the dosing container DC1 is at its maximum, and normalizes to 0 when the piston 138 is fully extended and the operating volume Vd of the dosing container DC1 is at its minimum. A piston 138, comprising a piston rod 140 and a piston drive unit 142, forms a pressurizing means 144 of the dosing container DC1 to generate positive or negative pressure (relative to atmospheric pressure) in the working volume Vd of the dosing container DC1. The cylinder 130 is oriented so that its outlet 134 is upward, which is advantageous for degassing. The cylinder may be designed to handle relatively small volumes, having an effective volume or maximum working volume Vd in the range of, for example, 10 to 100 ml. The volume of the cartridge may be in the range of, for example, 15 to 150 ml. For such volumes, the diameter of the cylinder may be in the range of, for example, 10 to 40 mm, and the stroke, i.e., maximum piston movement xd, may be in the range of, for example, 10 to 200 mm. It should be noted that these dimensions are for illustrative purposes only, and smaller or larger dimensions or some in between may be equally applicable or preferred. The cylinder 130 and its piston drive unit 142 may be designed to act on the working volume Vd with a maximum pressing or suction force in the range of, for example, 100 to 1000 N to generate a maximum overpressure in the range of 3 to 6 bar, or may be limited by control for security reasons. In a particular instrument tested by the inventors, the cylinder 130 was manufactured to generate a maximum overpressure of 6 bar by applying a force of up to 300 N, with a cartridge volume of 55 ml, a maximum working volume of 30 ml, an inner diameter of 22 mm, a stroke of 25.5 mm, and a stroke of 100 mm.

[0062] The supply device 100 also includes a stirrer S1(600) formed to agitate the contents inside the dosing container DC1. The stirrer S1 is controllable by applying an electric current. In this embodiment, the stirrer S1 has a movable structure inside the dosing container DC1 and is movable by an electromagnetic force applied from the outside, agitating the contents inside the dosing container DC1, which will be described in more detail later as a further embodiment of the present invention. However, it should be noted that the stirrer S1 may be formed in any other useful way. It should be further noted that the stirrer S1 may reduce the stroke of the piston 138 and reduce the working volume Vd, while simultaneously increasing the dead volume of the cylinder 130 (or the dead volume of the dosing / supplying system).

[0063] The supply device 100 also includes piping 150 and valve apparatus 170 for connecting the reservoir containers RC1, RC2, waste container WC1, dosing container DC1, application unit 200, and other elements to each other, as will be described in detail below. The valve apparatus 170 includes a number of shut-off valves 172, which may be identical, similar, or different in structure, but preferably identical or similar to each other. The shut-off valves 172 include a first reservoir container shut-off valve RV1, a second reservoir container shut-off valve RV2, a waste container shut-off valve WV1, and an application supply shut-off valve FV1. The piping 150 includes connecting lines 152 that terminate at the first ends of the first reservoir container shut-off valve RV1, the second reservoir container shut-off valve RV2, and the waste container shut-off valve WV1, respectively, at ends facing the fittings 120 associated with the reservoir containers RC1, RC2, and waste container WC1. The first reservoir container shut-off valve RV1, the second reservoir container shut-off valve RV2, and the second end of the waste container shut-off valve WV1 extend together to a node structure 156 having several nodes 157, which can be embodied by fittings such as T-pieces, X-pieces, manifolds, or other pipe connectors, and are connected to interconnection lines 154 that communicate with each other. From the node structure 156, a dosing line 158 extends to the outlet 134 of the cylinder 130 (dosing container DC1). The dosing pressure pd may be monitored by a pressure sensor 190 (PS1) provided on the dosing line 158. Further interconnection lines 154 connect to the second end of the application supply shut-off valve FV1, which is connected to the application interface unit 180 via a feed line 160.

[0064] The application interface unit 180 includes an expansion container EC1 which is formed and connected to receive the contents of the dosing container DC1, store it as an applicable agricultural composition 108, and ultimately apply it to the application device 200 via the application line 164.

[0065] In this embodiment, the expansion vessel EC1 includes a cylinder 182 having a cylinder body 184. The cylinder body 184 has an outlet 185 connected to a buffer line 162 branching from a feed line 160. A piston 186 is movably received within the cylinder body 184 to define the expansion volume Ve of the expansion vessel EC1. The piston 186 is preloaded by a spring 188 in the direction of the outlet 185. The piston movement xe of the piston 186 is normalized to 1 when the piston 186 is fully retracted and the expansion volume Ve of the expansion vessel EC1 is at its maximum, and normalized to 0 when the piston 186 is fully extended and the expansion volume Ve of the expansion vessel EC1 is at its minimum. The applied pressure pa can be monitored by a pressure sensor 192 (PS2) provided on the application line 164. In a typical application, the cylinder 182 of the expansion vessel EC1 may have a maximum working volume of, for example, 10 to 30 ml. The cylinder 182 and spring 188 or other pressurizing means may be designed to generate a maximum operating pressure of, for example, 5 to 20 bar. On the other hand, during operation, the pressure inside the expansion container EC1 should not be higher than the pressure that can be accumulated by the dosing container DC1, otherwise the dosing container DC1 will not be able to supply to the expansion container EC1.

[0066] The supply device 100 also includes a control unit 199 (CTU) for controlling the controllable parts of the supply device 100 by receiving and processing sensor signals and transmitting control signals. In particular, the control unit 199 is configured to receive, as necessary, pressure signals from pressure sensors PS1 and PS2 representing the dosing pressure pd and applied pressure pa, a step signal from motor M1 or a signal from a way sensor representing piston movement xd, a signal from a way sensor representing piston movement xd', etc. For example, a level sensor may be equipped in the bulk container 110 to provide a signal representing the liquid level in each container 110 to indicate when the bulk container 110 is beginning to empty or has become empty. Furthermore, the control unit 199 is configured to control the reservoir container shut-off valves RV1, RV2, the waste container shut-off valve WV1, and the application supply shut-off valve FV1 to selectively connect or disconnect each of them from the administration container DC1, and to control the piston drive motor M1 to move the piston 138 in the positive or negative direction of piston movement xd to administer the pre-compositions 102a, 102b to the administration container DC1 or to supply its contents to the application interface unit 180 or the waste container WC1, according to the valve settings. Furthermore, the control unit 199 may be configured to receive sensor signals from the application device 200 and control its elements (the application valve AV1 is shown as an example in Figure 1). Alternatively, the application device 200 may have its own separate control means, but it is preferable that both the supply device 100 and the application device 200 are controlled by one same control unit 199 or by distributed control means cooperating with each other. Thus, the control unit 199 may be included in the control means of the application device 200.The control unit 199 may be a computer that is part of the supply device 100 and / or the application device 200 having software that runs on them to perform control, or it may be a remote computer such as a farm control system or a mobile device such as a laptop, tablet or smartphone or a vehicle control system linked to the supply device 100 and / or the application device 200, respectively, for a vehicle that transports or drags the supply device 100 and / or the application device 200.

[0067] It should be noted that the expansion container EC1 is any part of the supply device 100. Depending on the type of application device 200, the application interface unit 180 may include any other type of buffering device, or it may not include any buffering at all. Instead of the spring 188, any other pressurizing element such as compressible gas or hydraulic, pneumatic or electric motor may be provided.

[0068] The supply device 100 of the present invention makes it possible to dispense agricultural pre-compositions 102a, 102b containing at least one active ingredient in a precise volume Vd, particularly a small volume, into a dosing container DC1, which can then be provided to an application unit 200 as an agricultural composition. Subsequently, different agricultural pre-compositions 102a, 102b can be dispensed into the dosing container DC1 and provided to the application unit 200, for example, different plants or seedlings or seeds, different purposes, and different external environments such as soil, temperature, humidity, and pest load. Multiple agricultural pre-compositions 102a, 102b can be dispensed into the dosing container DC1 in predetermined precise mixing ratios, allowing for on-the-run dosing and optional mixing of the pre-compositions, and optionally provided to the application device as agricultural compositions via an application interface unit, while applying the agricultural compositions to the required locations simultaneously or with only short interruptions.

[0069] Figure 1B shows a supply device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is a variation of the embodiment of Figure 1A. Except as described below, this embodiment includes all the elements and characteristics of the embodiment of Figure 1A.

[0070] In the embodiment shown in Figure 1B, an additional second dosing container DC2 is provided. The second dosing container DC2 is also in the form of a cylinder 130, whose working volume Vd' is adjustable by a piston 138 driven by a piston drive unit 142, which includes a second motor M2, to move a piston movement xd'. The piston movement xd' is normalized to 1 when the piston is fully retracted and the volume Vd' of the second dosing container DC2 is at its maximum, and to 0 when the piston is fully extended and the volume Vd' of the second dosing container DC2 is at its minimum. The second dosing container DC2 is connected via a branch line 166 to the first end of a branch valve BV1 added to the control unit 180. The second dosing container DC2 may be, preferably a cylinder, of the same structure and dimensions as the first dosing container DC1. In this particular embodiment, the second dosing container DC2 is not provided with an agitator, but may optionally accommodate one. In other words, the second dosing container DC2 is of the same structure as the first dosing container DC1.

[0071] The second administration container DC2 can perform the following roles: • Auxiliary unit for drawing air from the system. • Safety measures to prevent back leakage of the mixture into either reservoir container RC1 or RC2. • Additional dosing opportunities for compositions that do not require or should not be stirred, or for compositions where the mere presence of a stirrer may be undesirable, for example, to create an obstruction to the flow of a particular composition; • Backup in case the first dosing container DC1 fails (in this case, it would be advantageous for the agitator to be equipped with the second dosing container DC2). • System expansion to provide a composition different from that of the first dosing container DC1 (in this case, it would also be advantageous for the agitator to be equipped with the second dosing container DC2).

[0072] Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of an exemplary application device 200 according to an embodiment. In this example, the application device 200 is for treating plant propagation material K with a seed coating composition. Any seed coating composition may be an example of an agricultural composition in the sense of the present invention.

[0073] The application unit 210 is a precision seed processing unit that receives the agricultural composition from the supply device 100 as described above via the supply line 220. Here, for example, the application device 200 has one application unit 210, but two or more application units 210 may be provided. The supply line 220 may be the application line 164 (Figure 1A or 1B) or its extension or branch. Thus, the supply line 220 may be considered part of the application device 200, the application unit 210, or the supply device 100.

[0074] The application device 200 may be incorporated into or transported by a seeding device which includes a seed tank for plant propagation material, assumed herein to be granular seeds K; a separation device designed to separate the plant propagation material K supplied from the seed tank and output them individually; and a moving device such as a tractor for moving across an entire surface below, such as a field. The application device 200 is for applying a seed coating agent to the plant propagation material K output individually by the separation device. The application device 200 is designed and positioned so that the seed coating agent can be applied to the separated plant propagation material K after it has left the separation device and is in a falling motion to the surface below for the seeds.

[0075] The application unit 210 includes a seed tube 230, a sensor array 240, and an application nozzle 250 for seed coating agent, which is supplied from the supply device 100 via a supply line 220. An electronic controller may be provided separately in the application unit 210, the application device 200, or as part of the control unit 199 of the supply device 100.

[0076] The seed tube 230 includes a tube wall 232 having an upper end (not shown) and a lower end 234. The seed tube 230 serves to guide the separated seeds K falling from the separator along the drop line f and also functions as a sensor shaft having a sensor bay 236 that holds the sensor array 240. Although the seed tube 230 is depicted as being oriented at an angle, it may be oriented vertically in actual use and is open at the upper and lower ends 234. Otherwise, the tube wall 232 is generally closed, defining the interior.

[0077] In this example, the sensor array 240 includes four individual sensors 242 and sensor lines 244 for transmitting sensor signals and control signals. The sensor array 240 may be addressed as a whole as SA1 by the electronic controller, or each individual sensor 242 may be addressed as SA1a-SA1d. The output of each individual sensor 242 may be processed internally by some sensor logic built into the sensor array 240, or it may be output via the sensor lines 244 and processed by the electronic controller.

[0078] The application device 200 and / or its seed tube 230 are positioned below the separation device so that individual plant propagation material K discharged by the separation device falls through the seed tube 230. After the plant propagation material K exits from the lower end of the seed tube 230, a seed coating agent is applied to the plant propagation material K by the application nozzle 250, after which the plant propagation material K falls onto the lower surface for the seeds.

[0079] The sensors 242 of the sensor array 240 may, for example, be formed as laser optical sensors, each including a laser emitter and a laser detector, but may also be formed of any other applicable type. Suitable sensors are well known in the prior art and therefore do not require further explanation. Any of the sensors 242 of the sensor array 240 can detect the passage of plant propagation material K through the seed tube 230 and generate a pulse-shaped sensor signal when the plant propagation material K passes through its respective detection range. From the known position of the sensor array 240 and the assumed falling velocity, the impact time of the seed K falling along the falling line f passing through the spray trajectory j of the spray nozzle 250 can be predicted, and the application valve AV1 of the spray nozzle 250 can be triggered to collide with the seed K at the collision position I. By determining which of the sensors 242 detected the passage of the seed K, the actual falling line f can be estimated, and the collision position I can be predicted more accurately.

[0080] To more accurately predict the impact point I and the arrival time of the seed K, an additional sensor array may be provided, spaced apart from the sensor array 240 along the seed tube 230. According to a predetermined known distance between the two sensor arrays and the rate at which the plant propagation material K falls from the seed tube 230, sensor signals are generated at time intervals that are a measure of the rate at which the plant propagation material K falls from the seed tube 230. The sensor signals are supplied to a controller, where they are processed to estimate the impact point I and impact time for the operation of the application nozzle 250.

[0081] The application nozzle 250 is designed to eject a predetermined amount of seed coating agent, typically 0.1 to 30 μl, preferably 0.3 to 15 μl, along an essentially straight spray trajectory j, and thus discharge a “shot of seed coating agent,” each time it is activated or triggered. Suitable application nozzles include corundum nozzles, ceramic nozzles, or hard alloy nozzles. The application nozzle 250 can be embodied to allow the application of the seed coating agent to each seed in an essentially droplet shape during each application process. Application in an essentially droplet shape is understood here to mean the application of the seed coating agent which does not necessarily completely surround the seed, but may cover only a relatively narrow ("dot-like") or relatively wide portion of the seed surface. The same apparatus can also be modified to change the nozzle and / or other parts, for example, to apply other volumes and / or viscosity of coating agent. The seed coating agent is typically configured to adhere to the seed as droplets, conveniently without loss of spray, and to dry without losing its adhesiveness during this process. The application nozzle 250 can be used, for example, with the air-driven application valve AV1. Therefore, it is possible to use a valve for non-contact micro-dosing that is closed in a stationary position and can be switched on with an electro-pneumatic drive in less than 1 ms. Such valves generally have high dispensing frequency and very high dispensing accuracy, resulting in an extremely precise and repeatable dispensing process. Other possible valves include solenoid valves and piezo valves.

[0082] Figure 2 shows the impact position I, defined by the intersection of the fall line f of the plant propagation material K and the spray trajectory j of the application nozzle 250. The application nozzle 250 is oriented so that its spray trajectory j intersects the fall line f of the plant propagation material K at an acute angle α of approximately 30° to 60°. In this case, the impact position I is outside or below the seed tube 230. When the seed K reaches the impact position I, a "seed coating shot" is output. This is an example depending on the spatial distance between the sensor array 240 and the impact position I, and the fall velocity of the plant propagation material K after a specific time delay after detecting the seed K. The controller calculates (or estimates) the time delay and then outputs a trigger pulse that triggers the application nozzle 250, i.e., opens the application valve AV1, resulting in the output of a "seed coating shot," which then applies the seed coating to the seed located at the impact position I. The time delay also takes into account the system-specific response time of the application nozzle 250, and the substantially negligible flight time of the seed coating agent from the application nozzle 250 to the impact position I.

[0083] The seed tube 230 of the application device may be embodied in a relatively narrow form and has a funnel-shaped mounting portion 230a. This has the effect that all plant propagation materials K within the seed tube 230 move along the same drop line f, or drop lines f located very close to each other, and as a result the collision position I of all plant propagation materials becomes virtually the same.

[0084] However, plant propagation materials can also be placed on nearly the same or at least closely spaced descent lines by other means. For example, by air pressure or electrostatic force, or by another shape, such as a funnel-shaped seed tube. When electrostatic force is used, the resulting rise in static charge of the plant propagation material can have a favorable effect on the adhesion of seed coatings, similar to powder coating techniques.

[0085] Figure 3 is a logic diagram illustrating the control of a supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Here, the states of controllable elements of the supply device 100 and the application device 200 are shown for different operating modes. In particular, the state of the dosing container DC1 is given by the direction of movement of the motor M1 which causes a change in the piston drive unit xd of the piston 138, which is assumed to roughly correspond to the working volume Vd of the dosing container DC1; the state of the expansion container EC1 is given by a change in the piston drive unit XE of the piston 186, which is assumed to roughly correspond to the working volume Ve of the expansion container EC1; the state of the stirring device S1 is given by "0" when off and "1" when on, which corresponds to the operating state of the stator winding of the stirring device S1; and the states of the reservoir container shut-off valves RV1 and RV2, the waste container shut-off valve WV1, the application supply shut-off valve FV1, and the application valve AV1 are given by "C" when closed, "O" when open, "T" is a sensor trigger, and "+ / -" and "C / O" or "O / C" represent alternating operation. The blank does not imply any specific operation. Note that in the case of the dosing container DC1, the change in piston movement xd is actively initiated by the motor C1, while in the case of the expansion container EC1, the change in piston movement xe is reactive and initiated by a tendency to bring about a balance between pressure and spring force. However, optionally, an active element acting on the piston 186 or spring 188 to control the pressure of the working volume Ve of the expansion container EC1 may be provided in the expansion container EC1.

[0086] In single-dose mode 310, a single bulk agricultural component is administered to the administration container DC1. For example, the first bulk agricultural component 102a from the first reservoir container RC1 is administered to the administration container DC1, but is not limited to this, and the description applies to any bulk agricultural component from any reservoir container. In single-dose mode 310, the motor M1 is actuated to retract the piston 138, increasing the working volume Vd of the administration container DC1, which applies vacuum pressure to the administration container DC1. Simultaneously, the reservoir shut-off valve RV1 is opened to allow the bulk agricultural component 102a to pass from the first reservoir container RC1, under the influence of the pressure difference between the administration container DC1 and the reservoir container RC1, which are under atmospheric pressure in this exemplary configuration. The flow of the bulk agricultural component 102a from the first reservoir container RC1 continues until the motor M1 is stopped and the pressure difference is balanced. Closing the reservoir shut-off valve RV1 terminates single-dose mode 310. During single-dose mode 310, in this example, the agitator S1 is off and any other shut-off valves RV2, WV1, FV1 of the supply device 100 are closed. In other examples, the agitator S1 may be turned on during single-dose mode 310.

[0087] Similarly, single-dose mode 310 may be applied to the second bulk agricultural component 102b being administered from the second reservoir container RC2 into the administration container DC1 only when the first reservoir container shut-off valve RV1 is closed while the second reservoir container shut-off valve RV2 is open. Single-dose mode 310 may also be used to prime the system by administering a specific amount of diluent into the administration container DC1, which may be provided in either of the reservoir containers RC1 or RC2, for example. During administration, the application of the applicable agricultural component 108 from the expansion container EC1 may be performed by triggering the application valve AV1 based on the detection of falling seeds K, thereby allowing the working volume Ve of the expansion container EC1 to decrease over time.

[0088] In mixed dosing mode 320, multiple bulk agricultural components are administered to the dosing container DC1 in a predetermined mixing ratio. In this example, two bulk agricultural components 102a and 102b from the first reservoir container RC1 and the second reservoir container RC2 are mixed, but this is not limiting, and the description applies to any number of bulk agricultural components from more reservoir containers. In mixed dosing mode 320, the motor M1 is activated to retract the piston 138, increasing the working volume Vd of the dosing container DC1, which applies vacuum pressure to the dosing container DC1. Simultaneously, the reservoir container shut-off valves RV1 and RV2 are opened alternately to allow the bulk agricultural component 102a from the first reservoir container RC1 or the bulk agricultural component 102 from the second reservoir container RC2 to pass through, under the influence of the pressure difference between the dosing container DC1 and the respective reservoir containers RC1 and RC2. The opening times of the first reservoir shut-off valve RV1 and the second reservoir shut-off valve RV2 are controlled so that the volume administered to the dosing container corresponds to a predetermined mixing ratio. The final distribution flow of bulk agricultural component 102a or 102b continues until the motor M1 stops and the pressure difference is balanced. The mixed dosing mode 320 is terminated by closing either reservoir shut-off valves RV1, RV2. During the mixed dosing mode 320, the agitator S1 is off and any other shut-off valves WV1, FV1 of the supply device 100 are closed. In other examples, the agitator S1 may be turned on during the mixed dosing mode 320.

[0089] Mixed dosing mode 320 may also be used to dilute the bulk agricultural component in one of the reservoir containers RC1, RC2 with a diluent provided in the other reservoir container RC1, RC2. During mixed dosing, the application of applicable agricultural component 108 from the expansion container EC1 may be carried out as described above.

[0090] In mixing mode 330, the agitator S1 is operated to agitate the mixture contained in the dosing container DC1 so that the components are mixed with each other.

[0091] In supply mode 340, the optional reservoir container shutoff valves RV1, RV2 and waste container shutoff valve WV1 are closed, while the applicable supply shutoff valve FV1 is opened. Simultaneously, motor M1 is activated to extend piston 138, reducing the working volume Vd of the dosing container DC1, thereby overpressurizing the dosing container DC1. Consequently, the working volume Ve of the expansion container EC1 increases accordingly, and the contents inside the dosing container DC1 are emptied into the expansion container EC1 and provided as the applicable agricultural composition 108.

[0092] In supply mode 340, the application valve AV1 is normally closed, which means that the application process (and therefore the seeding process) is paused while the expansion container EC1 is filled. However, with appropriate pressure control, it may be possible to continue the application during supply mode 340.

[0093] A dump mode 350 is provided to dump any contents of the administration container DC1 into the waste container WC1. In this mode, motor M1 is activated to extend piston 138, reducing the working volume Vd of the administration container DC1, thereby closing any valves except the waste container shut-off valve WV1, which is open while the container is emptied into the waste container WC1.

[0094] A flush mode 360 ​​is provided to clean the active substance system. Here, complex control is applied to exchange the diluent, taken from an arbitrary reservoir container (in this case, the first reservoir container RV1), between the dosing container DC1 and the expansion container EC1, and finally to administer the diluent to the waste container WC1.

[0095] Modified forms or combinations of the above modes can be established. For example, in mixed administration mode 320, the agitator may be activated as soon as any bulk agricultural component is administered, or as soon as a second bulk agricultural component is administered to the administration container DC1, thereby enabling good mixing.

[0096] Figure 4A shows a schematic control timing diagram. In particular, the diagrams for the 10 control timing sections are shown along a common time axis, which, from bottom to top, represent the following: • Waste liquid control scheme 405 showing the open / closed state of the waste container shutoff valve WV1. • Agitator control scheme 410 showing the on / off status of agitator S1. • Applicable supply control scheme 415 showing the open / closed state of the applicable supply shutoff valve WV1. • First reservoir control scheme 420a showing the open / closed state of the first reservoir container shut-off valve RV1. • Second reservoir control scheme 420b showing the open / closed state of the second reservoir container shut-off valve RV2. • The target value of the piston drive unit xd of motor M1 is shown as a solid line, and the path of the associated working volume Vd of the administration container DC1 is shown as a dashed line in the administration volume control scheme 430. • A first pressure control scheme 440 showing the process of the first pressure detected by the first pressure sensor PS1. • A first pressure control scheme 450 showing the process of the first pressure detected by the second pressure sensor PS1. • Expansion volume control scheme 460 showing the elapsed working volume Vd' of expansion vessel EC1. • Applicable valve control scheme 470 showing the open / closed state of the applicable supply shutoff valve FV1.

[0097] The timing control diagram in Figure 4A begins at idle state 480. At idle state 480, all valves are closed (C) except for the applicable supply shut-off valve FV1, which is open (O) for pressure balance in the system. The piston 138 of the dosing vessel DC1 is fully inflated (×1=0%), which means that the dosing vessel DC1 is safely emptied to some minimum residual volume (Vd>0%). Note that some residual volume may always be present, and may even be substantial due to the presence of the agitator S1. The pressure in the system is balanced at atmospheric pressure (pd=pa=1 bar) with the expansion vessel EC1 having some residual fill (Ve=V0). The remaining fill of the expansion vessel EC1 may be, for example, 20%, 15%, 10%, 5%, 3%, or 1% of the maximum capacity of the expansion vessel EC1. It is advantageous to minimize the remaining fill of the expansion vessel EC1 to avoid mangling with the applicable agricultural composition 108 that is later supplied and applied. In other words, the remaining filling of the expansion container EC1 may also be zero or negligible. If the composition to be applied is changed, such changes can be planned in advance according to the field map, taking into account the remaining filling of the expansion container EC1.

[0098] Before the application of any composition can begin, the expansion container EC1 must be filled first, a step referred to as the prime filling step 482. The prime filling step 482 begins with a control time t1, closing the application supply valve FV1 and setting the system to the mixed dosing mode 320. As described above, the mixed dosing mode 320 involves increasing the piston movement xd and, in response, increasing the working volume Vd of the dosing container DC1, while simultaneously controlling the motor M1 of the dosing container DC1 to control the first and second reservoir container shut-off valves RV1 and RV2 alternately for each bulk agricultural composition 102a and 102b to be administered into the dosing container DC1.

[0099] In this example, in mixed dosing mode 320, either reservoir container shut-off valve RV1 or RV2 is controlled to close, and the other one of each of reservoir container shut-off valves RV1 or RV2 is controlled to open. More generally, when three or more reservoir containers are involved, in mixed dosing mode 320, only one of the reservoir container shut-off valves is controlled to open simultaneously. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and overlapping opening time intervals Δt1 and Δt2 may be permitted as needed. Furthermore, in this example, when the other of each of reservoir container shut-off valves RV1 or RV2 is controlled to close, either reservoir container shut-off valve RV1 or RV2 is controlled to open at that exact moment or at the switching time 422, and vice versa, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and some idle time between closing one of reservoir container shut-off valves RV1 or RV2 and opening the other may be permitted as needed. In this example, the opening time intervals Δt1 and Δt2 are constant over time, but it should be noted that they can alternatively change over time according to the mixing behavior of the bulk agricultural compositions 102a and 102b. In the above example, the relationship between the opening time interval Δt1 of the first reservoir container shut-off valve RV1 and the opening time interval Δt2 of the second reservoir container shut-off valve RV2 corresponds to a predetermined mixing ratio of the first bulk agricultural composition 102a and the second bulk agricultural composition 102b. However, if the opening time intervals Δt1 and Δt2 change over time, it is sufficient that the relationship between the total opening times ΣΔt1 and ΣΔt2 of the reservoir container shut-off valves RV1 and RV2 corresponds to a predetermined mixing ratio.

[0100] It should be noted that in an ideal incompressible system, the fluid column follows the movement of the piston 138 without delay. However, due to the length of the pipe and the inertia of the system, small defects (microcompressibility of the fluid) become noticeable. Therefore, even after the change in geometric volume is complete, the fluid flow continues until the pressure balances out. In other words, even if the geometric volume of the cavity is constant, the fluid content can change depending on the pressure. If these effects are not considered, precise control may be difficult. Therefore, for control and illustration purposes, the working volume Vd of the dosing vessel DC1 is considered to be the effective volume normalized to atmospheric pressure, which may differ from the geometric volume contained in the wall piston 138 of the dosing vessel DC1 depending on the pressure (especially the first pressure pd).

[0101] In this example, at control time t1, the first reservoir container shut-off valve RV1 is controlled to open, and the motor M1 is controlled to move the piston 138 of the dosing container DC1 by a first piston movement Δx1. Simultaneously, the dosing pressure pd, measured by the first pressure sensor PS1, falls below atmospheric pressure (accumulation of vacuum pressure), and the effective working volume Vd of the dosing container DC1 increases. The increase in vacuum pressure is captured by the increase in the effective working volume Vd at control time t2, when the dosing pressure pd has decreased to the first pressure p1. After t2, even if the piston movement xd increases further, the dosing pressure pd remains constant at p1, while the increase in the effective working volume Vd increases further. In the control scheme of this embodiment, the first pressure p1 may be, for example, about 0.8 bar, which is a vacuum pressure of about 0.2 bar relative to atmospheric pressure. However, this is merely an example, and the first pressure p1 can be any vacuum pressure suitable for dosing the first bulk agricultural composition into the dosing container DC1.

[0102] When the piston 138 has moved a first piston displacement Δx1, the motor M1 is controlled to stop, thereby defining a third control time t3. After that control time t3, the first reservoir container shut-off valve RV1 remains open, so that the bulk agricultural composition 102a from the first reservoir container RC1 continues to be drawn into the dosing container DC1, thereby further increasing its effective working volume Vd while the dosing pressure pd is balanced until it reaches atmospheric pressure again at a fourth control time t4.

[0103] This control time t4 is the trigger time for the following control: • Close the first reservoir container shutoff valve RV1. • Open the second reservoir container shutoff valve RV2. The motor M1 moves the piston 138 further by a second piston movement Δx2, thereby further increasing the effective working volume Vd of the administration container DC1.

[0104] Assuming identical flow characteristics (e.g., viscosity, compressibility, surface flow resistance) for both bulk agricultural compositions 102a and 102b, and identical line characteristics (e.g., length, cross-section, curvature) for the piping from both reservoir containers RC1 and RC2 to the dispensing container DC1, it should be noted that the relationship between piston movements Δx1 and Δx2 corresponds to the relationship between opening time intervals Δt1 and Δt2. For different flow characteristics and / or line characteristics, corrections may need to be applied.

[0105] After restarting piston movement xd at t4, the event scheme is largely the same as described above. In particular, the dosing pressure pd is below atmospheric pressure (accumulating vacuum pressure), and the effective working volume Vd of the dosing container DC1 increases. The increase in vacuum pressure is captured by the increase in effective working volume Vd at control time t5 when the dosing pressure pd decreases to a second pressure p2. After t5, even if piston movement xd increases further, the dosing pressure pd remains constant at p2, while the increase in effective working volume Vd increases further. In the control scheme of this embodiment, the second pressure p2 may be, for example, about 0.9 bar, which is a vacuum pressure of about 0.1 bar relative to atmospheric pressure. However, this is merely an example, and the second pressure p2 can be any vacuum pressure suitable for dosing the first bulk agricultural composition into the dosing container DC1. Even if p2 > p1 in this example, this is merely an example, and the relationship between p2 and p1 will depend, in particular, on the flow properties of the bulk agricultural composition in question, such as viscosity.

[0106] When piston 138 has moved a second piston displacement Δx2, motor M1 is controlled to stop, thereby defining a sixth control time t6. After that control time t6, since the second reservoir container shut-off valve RV2 remains open, the bulk agricultural composition 102b continues to be drawn from the second reservoir container RC2 into the dosing container DC1, thereby further increasing its effective working volume Vd while the dosing pressure pd is balanced until it reaches atmospheric pressure again at control time t7.

[0107] This control time t7 is the trigger time to control the closing of the second reservoir container shutoff valve RV2. This completes one administration cycle 484, reaching t1 through t7.

[0108] The administration cycle 484 is repeated until the administration container DC1 is filled to the desired volume, and t7 becomes a new first control time t1' which triggers the following: • Open the first reservoir container shutoff valve RV1. The motor M1 moves the piston 138 further by the first piston movement Δx1, thereby further increasing the effective working volume Vd of the administration container DC1.

[0109] The above-described administration cycle 484 continues until the administration container DC1 is filled to the desired volume. In this example, three administration cycles 484 are completed, ending at the seventh control time t7'' of the third administration cycle 484, which indicates the end of the mixed administration mode 320.

[0110] In this example, the agitator S1 is started when the dosing pressure pd first reaches a first pressure p1 and remains on at all times. However, this is not limiting to the subject. Alternatively, the agitator S1 may be started only at an eighth control time t8, which coincides with the end of the mixing dosing mode 320 at t7'', or immediately thereafter, and stopped at a ninth control time t9 before supplying the agitated contents of the dosing container DC1 to the application interface unit 180. In any case, after mixing and dosing the bulk agricultural composition, it is advantageous to operate the agitator to mix the mixture in the dosing container DC1 for a while before supplying the mixture to the application interface unit 180. In these respects, the mixing mode 330 follows the mixing dosing mode 320 until the ninth control time t9. The agitator S1 may be stopped at t9, or it may continue to operate, as in the illustrated example. Continuous operation of the agitator S1 may be useful in avoiding sedimentation on the piston wall or deposition on the side wall, or, as described above, may generally assist in mixing. On the other hand, if excessive agitation is expected to have harmful effects such as foaming or undesirable changes in viscosity, the operation of the agitator S1 may be limited or interrupted.

[0111] The mixing mode 330 is followed by the supply mode 340, which supplies the administered agricultural composition from the dosing container DC1 to the application interface unit 180.

[0112] The supply mode 340 is initiated at a 10th control time t10, which coincides with the end of the mixing mode 330 at t9, or immediately thereafter, by controlling the application supply shutoff valve FV1 to open. Simultaneously, the motor M1 is controlled to move the piston 138 to empty the dosing container DC1. This fills the expansion container EC1 with a load ΔVe, raising the expansion volume Ve to the pre-filled volume V1. Note that the load ΔVe supplied to the expansion container EC1 is equal to the volume emptied from the dosing container DC1. By filling the expansion container EC1, the dosing pressure pd, measured by the first pressure sensor PS1 located in the dosing line 158 connecting the dosing container DC1, rises from atmospheric pressure to a third pressure P3. Similarly, the application pressure pa, measured by the second pressure sensor PS2 located in the application line 164 downstream of the buffer line 162 branching to connect the expansion container EC1, rises from atmospheric pressure to a fourth pressure p4. Since the dosing line 158 and the application line 164 communicate when the application supply shutoff valve FV1 is open, the fourth pressure p4 is generally equal to the third pressure p3 (p4=p3), which is safe for line losses and unavoidable but small time lags. In the control scheme of this embodiment, the third pressure p3 may be about 3 bar, for example, an overpressure of about 2 bar above air. However, this is merely an example, and the third pressure p3 may be any overpressure suitable for supplying the contents of the dosing container DC1 as the first bulk agricultural composition to the expansion container EC1. Furthermore, the pre-filled volume V1 may be, for example, about 80% of the maximum working volume Ve of the expansion container EC1. However, this is merely an example, and the pre-filled volume V1 may be any suitable filling level.

[0113] When the administration container DC1 is empty, the piston travel xd reaches its minimum value, which indicates a 11th control time t11. At this point, the application supply shutoff valve FV1 is controlled to close. Optionally, the closing of the application supply shutoff valve FV1 may be delayed for a certain idle time until a 12th control time t12, allowing for pressure balancing between the administration side, i.e., pd, and the application side, i.e., pa.

[0114] After closing the applicable supply shutoff valve FV1, the administration side can be depressurized by controlling the piston drive unit to slightly increase the piston movement xd until, for example, during the 13th control time t13, the administration pressure pd drops to atmospheric pressure marking the 14th control time t14.

[0115] At this point, the supply mode 340 ends, and the prime filling stage 482 is completed. The system is now ready to apply the agricultural composition applicable by the application device 200.

[0116] It should be noted that the control of dosing and supply described herein may depend on the control of piston movement rather than the actual opening time of the shut-off valve. This means that the shut-off valve may be kept open until the pressure equalizes. This allows for the equalization of all the influencing factors described (such as compressibility), leading to greater robustness against many unknown influences. In other words, it is not necessary to adapt the control time, opening time interval, etc., to any particular physical influence. Instead, waiting for pressure balance may be equivalent to any influence. Here, the control time and opening time interval may be predetermined, but may also be treated as "elastic," meaning that they may be invalidated if pressure balance has not yet been reached, where appropriate. Application campaign 486 may be initiated at a 15th control time t15, which may coincide with the end of the prime filling stage 482 at t14, or at any subsequent control time. In this example, as previously described in relation to Figure 2, the application is triggered by plant propagation material K passing through sensor array SA1 and involves repeatedly controlling the application valve AV1 to open over a predetermined application time Δta to release aliquots D of the applicable agricultural composition from expansion container EC1 through application nozzle 250.

[0117] After the commencement of application campaign 486, the applied pressure pa decreases to the fifth pressure p5 by the balance effect by the 16th control time t16, and thereafter remains constant or decreases by a minimum rate due to spring relaxation. Note that the applied pressure pa can be kept constant by active control, for example by readjusting the spring action in the expansion vessel EC1. The working volume Ve of the expansion vessel EC1 decreases continuously by the application of the agricultural composition contained therein until it decreases to the replenishment trigger volume V2 at the 17th control time t17. The replenishment trigger volume V2 may be greater than, less than, or equal to the residual volume V0. In particular, the replenishment trigger volume V2 may be, for example, about 20% of the maximum working volume Ve of the expansion vessel EC1. However, this is merely an example, and the replenishment trigger volume V2 may be at any appropriate level.

[0118] On the other hand, a new load may be administered to the dosing container DC1 immediately after the completion of the prime filling stage 482 at t14. Since the application supply shutoff valve FV1 is closed to isolate the dosing side from the application side, the administration to the dosing container DC1 may be performed independently of, and simultaneously with, the application of the agricultural composition from the expansion container EC1 by the application device 200. For this effect, the refilling stage 488 may be started at t14 or immediately thereafter. The refilling stage 488, like the prime filling stage 482, includes another mixing stage 320, another mixing stage 330, and another supply stage 340. The refilling stage 488 is identical to the prime filling stage 482, except for the application campaign 486 performed concurrently and other specific details as described below.

[0119] Clearly, supply mode 340 is initiated only after the replenishment trigger volume V2 has been reached. However, other criteria are also possible. For example, another preparation of the agricultural composition may be required before the expansion volume Ve has decreased to the replenishment trigger volume V2. However, generally, the load ΔVe is calculated so that it is used up at just the time when another preparation is required, and it may be assumed that the 17th control time t17 marks a further 10th control time t10' for opening the applicable supply shut-off valve FV1 to initiate supply mode 340.

[0120] Furthermore, during the 18th control time t18, before the application supply shutoff valve FV1 is opened at t10', the motor M1 of the dosing container DC1 is controlled to provide a bias pressure p6 so as to act in the expansion direction of the piston 138, thereby raising the dosing pressure pd to a pressure p6 corresponding to the application pressure pa = p5' which is dominant on the application side at that time. For proper timing, the expansion volume Ve is monitored so that the control time t18 required to initiate the pressure rise can be calculated and applied before the replenishment trigger volume V2 is reached at t17.

[0121] In continuous operation, we assume that the load ΔVe supplied to the expansion container EC1 is always the same. This means that, starting from the replenishment trigger volume V2 at t17, the working volume Ve in the expansion container EC1 has reached a fully filled volume V3, which may differ from V1 reached after the prime filling stage 482. Naturally, the load ΔVe supplied to the expansion container EC1 can be changed at any time during application campaign 486, so that the working volume Ve in the expansion container EC1 reached after refilling may also change. However, it is advantageous that the working volume V3 is always large enough to reach the replenishment trigger volume V2 only after a new filled agricultural composition has been prepared and is ready to be supplied to the dosing container DC1. Here, the total filled volume V3 may be, for example, about 90% of the maximum working volume Ve of the expansion container EC1. However, this is merely an example, and the total filled volume V3 may be any appropriate filling level.

[0122] It should be noted that application campaign 486 may continue unaffected while supplying load to expansion vessel EC1. This is because the application pressure is maintained and the supply pressure is raised to p6 to balance with the application pressure p5' before opening the application supply shutoff valve FV1, resulting in no pressure drop in the application pressure pa.

[0123] Compared to the first replenishment stage 490, which begins with expansion volume V1, a further replenishment stage 490 follows during the application campaign 486, which begins with expansion volume V3.

[0124] Application campaign 486 comprises several application cycles 487, each of which may coincide with refilling stages 488, 490. Any application cycle 487 may require the same or different loading volumes ΔVe and / or the same or different preparations of the agricultural composition prepared and provided in the preceding application cycle 487.

[0125] Figure 4B shows a continuation of the diagram in Figure 4A after the completion of application campaign 486. In Figure 4B, the agitator control scheme 410 is omitted, and the wastewater control scheme 405 and application supply control scheme 415 are reversed compared to Figure 4A. Figure 4B is intended to illustrate a cleaning campaign after the completion of application campaign 486, including several executions of the mixing dosing mode 320, supply mode 340, dump mode 350, and flush mode 360 ​​in the control of the supply device 100, and a particular application cycle is called the nozzle blowout cycle 487' in the control of the application device 200.

[0126] Following the completion of application campaign 486, the entire system is held in a transient state 480' with any valves closed. The expansion container EC1 and the dosing container DC1 are expected to be emptied to their respective remaining or dead volumes. This is similar to the idle state 480 described above, where the system is simply filled with residue of the agricultural composition according to the last dosing / supply. In this state, the system is moved to some location for cleaning.

[0127] Here, starting from the 20th control time t20, a pre-wash filling stage 482' similar to the prime filling stage 480 described above is performed. However, in the pre-wash filling stage 482', the washing composition and diluent are administered to the dosing container DC1 in a time-interlaced or pulsed manner, as described above, rather than to the bulk agricultural composition. For this purpose, the reservoir container shut-off valves RV1 and RV2 may be switched to other bulk containers containing the washing composition and diluent, respectively. Alternatively, this figure may be interpreted so that the reservoir container shut-off valves RV1 and RV2 in the control according to Figure 4B refer at least partially to the other reservoir container shut-off valves RV1 and RV2 in the control according to Figure 4A. Here, it is assumed that the reservoir container shut-off valve RV1 is connected to a reservoir container containing the diluent, and the reservoir container shut-off valve RV2 is connected to a reservoir container containing the washing composition. As described in the pre-filling stage 480, the pre-washing filling stage 482' includes a mixing dosing mode 320 for administering the washing composition and diluent to the dosing container DC1 according to a predetermined mixing ratio, a mixing mode 330 for mixing the washing composition and diluent, and a supply mode 340 for supplying the mixed mixture of washing composition and diluent to the expansion container EC1. This is completed in a 21st control time t21.

[0128] At the 22nd control time t22, the first cleaning stage 492 begins with a nozzle blowout cycle 487', which is a specific application cycle in which a mixture of cleaning composition and diluent is blown through the application nozzle 250 (see Figure 2) in place of the applicable agricultural composition from the expansion container EC1. The nozzle blowout cycle 487' ends at the 24th control time t24, with a predetermined number of openings of the application shutoff valve AV1.

[0129] At that time, the working volume Ve of the expansion container EC1 has decreased to a fourth volume V4. The mixed dosing mode 320' previously started in the 23rd control time t23 may continue for a while until the control recognizes or identifies that the nozzle blowout has finished.

[0130] At the 25th control time t25, the mixed dosing mode 320 ends and the modified dump mode 350' begins. This means that either of the reservoir container shutoff valves RV1 or RV2 is controlled to close if it is open, and the motor M1 of the dosing container DC1 is controlled to stop. Simultaneously, or immediately thereafter, the applied supply shutoff valve FV1 and the waste container shutoff valve WV1 are controlled to open. This causes the contents of the expansion container EC1 to be dumped into the waste container WC1 until the expansion volume Ve decreases to the residual volume V0, while the applied pressure pa decreases to atmospheric pressure at the 26th control time t26. Meanwhile, the motor M1 of the dosing container DC1 is controlled to extend the piston 138 so that the dosing volume Vd decreases, and the contents of the dosing container DC1 are discarded into the waste container WC1. This stage, which ends at the 27th control time t27, can be described as a modified dump mode 350' in comparison to the dump mode 350, in which the applied supply shutoff valve FV1 is closed as shown in Figure 3. Alternatively, emptying the dosing container can be delayed until t26, at which point the applicable supply shutoff valve FV1 can be controlled to close, resulting in an expansion container dump mode from t25 to t26, followed by a (dosing container) dump mode 350 defined in Figure 3 from t26 to t27. At this point, the first cleaning stage 492 is completed.

[0131] Following the first cleaning stage 492, a second cleaning stage 494 is initiated, which includes two rinse cycles 496. Each rinse cycle 496 includes controlling the supply device 100 in flush mode 360 ​​and then in dump mode 350.

[0132] In detail, at the 27th control time t27, the waste container shutoff valve WV1 is controlled to close, and the reservoir container shutoff valve RV1 is controlled to open. Here, we assume that the first reservoir container RC1 contains the diluent. Simultaneously or immediately thereafter, the motor M1 of the dosing container DC1 is controlled to retract the piston 138 so that the dosing volume Vd increases, and a predetermined amount of diluent is dosed from the reservoir container RC1 to the dosing container DC1. Dosing is accompanied by the accumulation of a negative pressure of dosing pressure pd up to p7, which is equal to p1 in this example. The piston 138 is fully retracted (x1=100%) and continues until the 28th control time t28, so that the dosing container DC1 is completely filled with the diluent (Vd=100%), which is completed at the 29th control time t29, indicating that the dosing pressure pd has been relieved to atmospheric pressure.

[0133] At or immediately thereafter, during the control time t29, the reservoir container shutoff valve RV1 is controlled to close, and the motor M1 of the dosing container DC1 is controlled to extend the piston 138 so that the dosing volume Vd decreases, and the contents of the dosing container DC1 are emptied. Since the application supply shutoff valve FV1 is still open and any other valve is closed, the diluent from the dosing container DC1 is supplied to the expansion container EC1, while the dosing pressure pd and application pressure pa each increase simultaneously. When the dosing container DC1 is empty and a 30th control time t30 occurs, the motor M1 of the dosing container DC1 is controlled to reverse until the piston drive xd is at its minimum, which indicates a 31st control time t31, thereby increasing the dosing volume Vd and causing the diluent from the expansion container EC1 to return to the dosing container DC1, while the dosing pressure pd and application pressure pa each decrease simultaneously. Once the administration container DC1 is completely filled again (Vd=100%), the administration pressure pd returns to atmospheric pressure, which corresponds to the 32nd control time t32.

[0134] At or immediately thereafter during the control time t32, the control is changed from flash mode 360 ​​to dump mode 350. Here, the application supply shutoff valve FV1 is controlled to close, the waste container shutoff valve WV1 is controlled to open, the motor M1 of the dosing container DC1 is controlled to extend the piston 138 so that the dosing volume Vd decreases, the contents of dosing container DC1 are discharged into waste container WC1, which is completed at the 33rd control time t33. Then dump mode 350 is terminated, and the rinsing cycle 496 is also completed. Note that the pressure pd during damping is shown as atmospheric pressure in the drawings. Strictly speaking, assuming that waste container WC1 is under atmospheric pressure, the pressure required on the side of dosing container DC1 for disposal depends on the size of the orifice, the speed at which the piston 138 moves (dxd / dt), and the level of the orifice compared to dosing container DC1 (potential hydrostatic pressure). This pressure may be a certain overpressure relative to the pressure inside waste container WC1, but the overpressure can be very close to zero.

[0135] The rinse cycle 496 is repeated, which is optional, and multiple repetitions are possible as an option. Finally, any valve is closed, and the system is set back to idle state 480.

[0136] Throughout the foregoing description and this application, unless otherwise specified, the expression that an event is controlled to occur "immediately after a certain time," "immediately after the event," or "immediately after that" refers to the shortest time necessary to prevent the event from occurring before a time or event or what is being referred to.

[0137] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a plant processing system 500 as a further embodiment of the present invention, which includes an application device 200 and a supply device 100, and a carrier unit 510 on which the application device 200 and the supply device 100 are attached or arranged.

[0138] The plant processing system 500 includes a mobile carrier unit 510 having a main frame 512 which includes a wheel suspension 514 to which wheels 516 are mounted for travel on the ground B, which may be a field or other agricultural area. The carrier unit 510 may be driven by itself by an automatic drive unit, or it may be transported or towed by a tractor unit (not shown). The main frame 512 supports a chassis 518.

[0139] The supply device 100 and the application device 200 are mounted to the mainframe 512 and / or chassis 518, either entirely or partially (distributedly).

[0140] The supply device 100 is formed similarly to the supply device shown in Figure 1B, with the exception of some details described below, and is a further embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment of the supply device 100, reservoir containers RC1, RC2, RC4 and waste container WC1 are provided. Here, the reservoir containers RC1, RC2, RC4 and waste container WC1 are housed in their respective container bays 522 of the reservoir container carrier 520. Similarly, two dosing containers DC1, DC2 are mounted on the dosing container carrier 530. The expansion container EC1 may be mounted directly to the main frame 512. The valve block 540 and control unit 199 may be mounted directly to the chassis 518. Of course, this is an example and can be modified as needed or for convenience.

[0141] In this example, one container bay 522 in the reservoir container carrier 520 remains empty, one of the bulk composition intake units 116 associated with each container bay 522 remains unused, any other bulk composition intake units 116 are attached to the respective reservoir containers RC1, RC2, and RC4, and the waste fluid processing unit 117 is attached to the waste container WC1. The unused bulk composition intake units 116 can be secured to their respective container bays 522 by some fastening means (not shown), such as clamps.

[0142] The valve block 540 includes seven shut-off valves 172, including four reservoir container shut-off valves RV1, RV2, RV3, and RV4, a waste container shut-off valve WV1, an application supply shut-off valve FV1, and a branch valve BV1. The valve assignments in the valve block 540 correspond to the valve assignments in Figures 1A and 1B, with the addition of two further reservoir container shut-off valves RV3 and RV4. The shut-off valves 172 are assembled to construct the valve block by bolts or connecting rods reaching through their respective casings (not shown), for example, such that a first end 542 of each shut-off valve 172 is accessible on one side and a second end 544 of each shut-off valve 172 is accessible on the other side. In this example, each second end 546 is connected to a branch 546a of the respective interconnect piece 546, and their passages 546b are connected to each other to form an interconnection line 154 (see Figure 1A) connecting all the second ends 546 of the shut-off valve 172 that form a valve block 540 in the form of a manifold or fluid channel 548. The interconnect pieces 546 may be attached to the casing of each shut-off valve 172 by screws, clamps, or other connectors (not shown). One end of the fluid channel 548 is closed by an end piece 550, and the other end is connected to a dosing line 158 having a first pressure sensor PS1. The first pressure sensor PS1 may be integrated into a connector piece 552. Thus, the valve device 170 can be formed in an effective and compact form. In this example, the interconnect pieces 546 are in the form of T-shaped pieces. Any interconnect pieces 546 may be pre-attached to form the interconnection line 154 and then attached to the valve block 540.

[0143] At the first end 542 of each shut-off valve 172, connection lines 152, feed lines 160, and branch lines 166 are connected, which are then connected to the bulk composition intake unit 116, waste fluid treatment unit 117, application interface unit 180, and second dosing container EC2. The bulk composition intake unit 116 and the waste fluid treatment unit 117, including the fittings 120, may remain connected to each connection line 152 even if individual bulk containers 110 are replaced, facilitating such replacements.

[0144] Advantageously, reservoir vessel RC1, which is closest to the downstream piping, contains a diluent that facilitates flushing out the system, including the valve block channels, at the end of the cleaning cycle.

[0145] In this example, the application device 200 has four application units 210, each having an application nozzle 250 (Figure 2) supplied via individual application valves AV1, AV2, AV3, AV4. However, the present invention is not limited to a specific type of application device 200, nor is it limited to a specific number of application valves. Each application unit 210 may be formed as shown in Figure 2, and has a seed tube 230 for guiding falling separated plant propagation material K to the ground B, and an application nozzle 250 arranged to spray individual aliquots onto individual plant propagation material K, which are arranged to be detected by a sensor array 240 by activating their respective application valves AV1, AV2, AV3, AV4 associated with a specific application nozzle 250. The individual supply lines 240 of each application unit 210 may branch downstream of a second pressure sensor PS2.

[0146] As used herein, the term “ground” or also “underlying surface” is understood to mean agricultural soil or other solid growing medium to which plant propagation material such as seeds and seedlings is applied.

[0147] In this specification, the term “plant propagation material” may refer to any seeds, seedlings, tubers, stem cuttings, or other materials useful for growing and propagating plants or crops. Many plant species, such as some fruit and ornamental plant species, are generally propagated by vegetative propagation (or “clonal propagation” or “vegetative propagation”). Preferably, it may refer to seeds, which are usually composed of individual plant propagation materials. The term “plant propagation material” is understood to represent all reproductive parts of a plant, for example, but not limited to seeds, which can be used for the propagation of the latter, and vegetative propagation materials such as cuttings or tubers, for example, potatoes. For example, (strictly speaking) seeds, roots, fruits, tubers, bulbs, rhizomes, and parts of plants may be mentioned. Also, germinated plants and young plants that will be transplanted after germination or emergence from the soil may be referred to. The preferred plant propagation material is seeds. In embodiments of the present invention, these seedlings and reproductive parts may be protected before transplantation by partial treatment according to the present invention, for example, by application of a powdering composition. The term “seeds” as treated with the compositions of the present invention means plant bodies in the early stages of cultivation used for plant propagation, and includes not only so-called seeds but also plant bodies for nutrient propagation such as bulbs, tubers, seed tubers, above-ground tubers, scaly bulbs, and stems for cuttings. The term “seeds” as used herein may be granular seeds, pelletized granular seeds, dummy seeds, or a combination thereof.

[0148] Advantageously, "dummy seeds," i.e., particles that are not plant propagation material, can be sown and processed together with actual seeds. Such "dummy seeds" may be useful, for example, for spacing smaller seeds, or for carrying plant-toxic coatings in rows, for example, spaced parallel to rows of seeds, or for fertilizers and growth promoters to improve soil quality.

[0149] Furthermore, when plant propagation material is used that is very small or irregular in shape and weight, it can be difficult to sow it with a single seedling per cell and in a regularly distributed, linear manner. Therefore, there is a possibility that some seeds may be misplanted, and thus some cells may have two or more seeds while others have none. Seeds are expensive, and it is undesirable to place multiple seeds per cell and then remove them to allow only a single plant to grow in a timely manner, mainly for automated harvesting. Fortunately, the seeds or propagation material may then undergo a process generally called "pelletization," preferably in which an inert material is coated onto the seeds to form a more regular and uniform shape and size. For example, smaller seeds may be pelletized to a specific size and shape suitable for the planting and / or sowing process, for example, standardized size and shape, such as adapting small petunia seeds so that they can be used in the same equipment as lettuce seeds. Seeds pelletized in this way have several advantages, such as easier use in standardized equipment, more regular distribution of seeds, and a higher ratio of selective coating by the coating composition. This reduces the need for thinning in the field and can make automation easier in initiating seeding for greenhouse applications. Preferably, the pelletizing material used for the seeds is selected to rapidly absorb water, ensuring uniform moisture around the seeds and thereby increasing the germination rate.

[0150] Figure 6 shows an exemplary stirring device 600 used as a stirrer S1 in the supply device 100 shown in Figures 1A, 1B, and 5 above.

[0151] The stirring device 600 includes a stator 610, a rotor 630, and a rotor support structure 650. The stator 610 includes several solenoids 612, each having a stator phase winding 614 wound around a core 616. According to three-phase circuits known in the art for windings of electric motors, the number of solenoids 612, i.e., windings 614, may be a multiple of 3, preferably an integer of 6. A stator frame may be provided to support the outer wall of the cylinder 130.

[0152] The rotor 630 includes a rotor body 632 connected to or formed together with the rotor shaft, a rotor axle 634 supported by a rotor support structure 650 so that the rotor body 632 can rotate around the rotor shaft 636. The rotor body 632 may include one or more agitation elements 638, e.g., agitation blades. Each agitation element 638 may have several perforations 640 to allow fluid to flow. The rotor body 632 defines an outer circumference 642 which may be formed by the outer edge of each agitation element 638, or by annular structures formed around and / or connected circumferentially around the outer edge of the agitation elements 638. Several magnetic elements 644 are received on the outer circumference 642 of the rotor 630. The magnetic elements 644 are preferably permanent magnets having one pole (e.g., N) directed radially outward with respect to the rotor shaft 636 and another pole (e.g., S) directed radially inward.

[0153] The rotor support structure 650 includes a first shell 652 and a second shell 654 formed to support the inner wall of the cylinder body 132 of the cylinder 130 and preferably held in place by friction. Each of the first and second shells 652, 654 is disc-shaped and has a recess 656 formed in the center of its front surface to receive one of the opposing axial ends of the rotor axle 634, respectively. In the above, each recess 656 is a first axial bearing half, and each axial end of the rotor axle 634 is a second axial bearing half, together forming an axial support. The bearing halves are formed to differ, for example, by having a magnetic bearing element or any other suitable bearing means. Each of the first and second shells 652, 654 may have a perforation 640 to allow fluid to flow. The first and second shells 652, 654 may be connected to each other or supported to each other by a distance-holding structure (not shown), however this is optional.

[0154] During use, the first and second shells 652 and 654 of the rotor support structure 650 are positioned to sandwich the rotor 630 between them, with each recess 656 receiving the respective end of the rotor axle 634. This arrangement positions the rotor support structure 650 and the rotor 630 near the outlet 134 of the cylinder body 132 of the cylinder 130. The solenoid 612 of the stator 610 is then positioned around the cylinder body 132 of the cylinder 130 within the cross-section where the permanent magnet 644 of the rotor 630 is located. Although not shown, the stator 610 may include a stator frame that houses the solenoid 612 in a predetermined, for example, star-shaped fixed arrangement, which is formed to fit onto the outer circumferential surface of the cylinder body 132 of the cylinder 130 and is preferably held in place by friction.

[0155] The agitator control circuit may also be housed in such a stator frame, or it may be connected to the control unit 199 of the supply device 100, so that the on / off state of the agitator device can be controlled by the control unit 199, while the control of individual currents to the solenoid 612 can be controlled by the agitator control circuit. Alternatively, the agitator control circuit may be integrated into the control unit 199. By exciting the solenoid 612 of the stator 610, the permanent magnet 644 can be moved by the magnetic field generated thereby, and the rotor can be rotated.

[0156] It should be noted that the form of the rotor body 632 is purely illustrative. Any shape of rotor body 632 is possible, which will enable effective agitation of the contents of cylinder 130. For example, the rotating body 532 may be in the form of at least one air screw or airfoil or blade, or any shape having a leading edge for cutting through the fluid. The shape of the rotor body 632 may be selected or designed depending on the one or more compositions being agitated, particularly their physical properties such as fluid properties and viscosity. The axle 634 may be reduced to a projection, such as a cone or ridge, protruding from the end face of the rotor body 632. The recess 656 may be curved or funnel-shaped to provide a centering axial bearing for the axle 634.

[0157] An arrangement of the solenoid 612 and permanent magnet 644 may be found such that the rotor body 630 is held in a predetermined position by magnetic force alone, thereby eliminating the need for the rotor support structure 650.

[0158] It should be noted that the agitator S1 in the supply device 100 of the present invention may be formed in any way other than the agitator device 600 described above. For example, the rotor spindle may be arranged via a hollow piston rod 140 and have several agitation blades at its end.

[0159] It should be further noted that the stirring device 600 described and shown herein is a novel development of a stirring device for use in containers, as well as the supply device 100 of the present invention. The stirring device can be used in any type of cylinder or tube to stir liquids and is particularly useful for stirring in containers with small volumes, for example, in the range of 1 to 100 ml, or in containers with small diameters, for example, in the range of 5 to 50 mm.

[0160] Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of apparatus for carrying out the method, as particularly shown in the accompanying drawings forming part of this application. It is clear that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and the accompanying drawings. Modifications are still possible, particularly with respect to the configuration or number of various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection defined by the following claims. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0161] 100 Agricultural composition supply devices 102a, 102b Bulk agricultural compositions 104 Waste fluids 108 Applicable agricultural compositions 110 bulk containers 112 Main Unit 114 Upper wall 116 Bulk composition intake unit 117 Waste Fluid Treatment Unit 118 Dip tube 120 fittings 130 cylinders 132 Cylinder body 134 Exit 136 Through hole 138 Pistons 140 Piston Rod 142 Piston drive unit 144 Pressurizing means 150 piping 152 connection lines 154 interconnection lines 156 node structure 157 nodes 158 administration lines 160 Feedline 162 buffer lines 164 Applicable lines 166 Branch Line 170 Valve device 172 Shut-off valve 180 Applicable Interface Units 182 Cylinder 184 Cylinder body 185 Exit 186 Pistons 188 springs 190, 192 Pressure Sensors 199 Control Unit 200 Applicable Devices 210 Applicable Units 220 supply lines 230 Seed tube 232 Pipe wall 234 Lower end 236 Sensor Bays 240 sensor array 242 sensors 244 sensor lines 250 Applicable Nozzles 252 Trigger Line 310 Single-dose mode 320, 320' mixed dosing mode 330 Mixed Mode 340 Supply Mode 350, 350' Dump Mode 360 Flash Mode 405 Wastewater Control Scheme 410 Agitator control scheme 415 Applicable Supply Control Scheme 420a, 420b First / Second Reservoir Control Scheme 430 Dosage Control Scheme 440, 450 First / Second Pressure Control Scheme 460 Expansion Volume Control Scheme 470 Applicable valve control system 480 Idle state 480' Transient state 482 Prime filling stage 482' Pre-wash and filling stage 484 administration cycles 486 Applicable Campaigns 487 Application Cycles 487' Nozzle blowout cycle 488, 490 Refilling stage 492 First washing stage 494 Second cleaning stage 496 Rinse Cycle 500 Plant Treatment Systems 510 Carrier Unit 512 Mainframe 514 Wheel suspension 516 wheels 518 Chassis 520 Reservoir Container Carrier 522 container bays 530 Dosage container carrier 540 Valve Block 542 First end (shut-off valve 172) 544 Second end (shut-off valve 172) 546 Interconnection piece 546a Branch 546b Passage section 548 Fluid Channels 550 End Pieces 552 Connector Pieces 600 stirring devices 610 Stator 612 Solenoid 614 Stator phase winding 616 cores 630 Rotor 632 Rotor body 634 Rotor Axle 636 Rotor shaft 638 Agitation element (agitation blade) 640 Perforation 642 Peripheral area 644 Magnetic Elements 650 rotor frame 652, 654 First and second shells 656 recess AV1, AV2, ... Applicable valves Ground B BV1 Branch Valve D droplet DC1, DC2 administration containers (cylinders) CTU Control Unit EC1 expansion vessel FV1 Applicable supply shutoff valve I. Impact location K seeds M1, M2 motors (piston drive unit) PS1, PS2 pressure sensor RC1, RC2, ... Reservoir containers RV1, RV2, ... Reservoir container shut-off valve S1 Agitator SA1 Sensor Array Volumes Vd and Vd' administered Ve expansion volume V0, V1, V2, ... Volume values ​​(degree of fill) WC1 Waste container WV1 Waste container shut-off valve f-drop line j spray trajectory pd administration pressure Pa Applicable pressure pd1, pd2, ... pressure values t1, t2, ... control time xd, xd' Piston stroke (administration container) xe piston movement (expansion vessel) α acute angle Δt1, Δt2, Δta Open time interval ΔVe load The aforementioned list of reference numerals is an integral part of this specification.

Claims

1. A method for providing an agricultural composition, - Dispensing a predetermined amount of two or more bulk agricultural compositions from two or more reservoir containers (RC1, RC2, RC4) into a dispensing container (DC1), - The process includes stirring the contents of the administration container (DC1) during and / or after the administration, wherein the stirring includes controlling the current passing through a stator winding coil (614) located outside the administration container (DC1) to move a rotor (630) having a magnetic element (644), the rotor (630) being located inside the administration container (DC1), forming a mixture of the two or more agricultural compositions in the administration container (DC1), and A method comprising supplying the mixture as the agricultural composition to an agricultural application device (200).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic element (644) includes an armature winding or a plurality of permanent magnets.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the administration includes applying a predetermined vacuum pressure to the administration container (DC1).

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the supply includes applying a predetermined overpressure to the administration container (DC1).

5. The method according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the administration container (DC1) includes a cylinder (130) having a movable piston (138) connected to a piston drive unit, the application of a predetermined vacuum pressure includes controlling the piston drive unit (142) to move the piston (138) and increase the working volume of the cylinder (130), and the application of a predetermined overpressure includes controlling the piston drive unit (142) to move the piston (138) to decrease the working volume (Vd) of the cylinder (130).

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the administration includes controlling a valve device (170) of a pipe (150) connecting the reservoir containers (RC1, RC2, RC4) to the administration container (DC1) to selectively communicate with and shut off the reservoir containers (RC1, RC2, RC4) to the administration container (DC1), thereby enabling a predetermined passage volume to flow from the reservoir containers (RC1, RC2, RC4) into the administration container (DC1).

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the administration comprises controlling the valve device (170) to selectively connect and disconnect the reservoir containers (RC1, RC2, RC4) to or from the administration container (DC1) in a predetermined ratio of the volume through which the liquid passes, and preferably the connection and disconnection of the reservoir containers is performed in a time-interlaced or time-pulsed manner according to the predetermined ratio of the volume through which the liquid passes.

8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the valve device (170) each includes two or more reservoir container shut-off valves for the two or more reservoir containers (RC1, RC2, RC4), and the communication and shut-off of the administration container (DC1) and / or the reservoir containers (RC1, RC2, RC4) therefrom includes opening and closing the respective reservoir container shut-off valves (RV1, RV2, RV3, RV4), the valve device (170) is preferably solenoid-operated, and the control of the valve device (170) includes exciting one or more solenoids (612) of the valve device (170).

9. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the supply includes isolating the reservoir containers (RC1, RC2, RC4) from the administration container (DC1), and controlling the valve device (170) to connect the administration container (DC1) to the application interface unit (180) which is connected to the application device (200) to allow flow from the administration container (DC1) to the application interface unit (180).

10. The method described above is - After supplying the product to the application device (200), the remaining material is removed from the piping (150) and / or the application interface unit (180) by transferring the remaining material to a washing container, and / or The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising the step of disposing of any remaining material from the washing container or the dispensing container (DC1) into a waste container (WC1).

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the washing container is an additional dosing container (DC2) containing the remaining material from the application device (200) or the dosing container (DC1), and / or the waste container (WC1) is an additional reservoir container (RC1, RC2, RC4).

12. A supply device (100) for providing agricultural compositions, - At least two bulk composition intake units (116) formed so as to communicate with their respective reservoir containers (RC1, RC2, RC4), - Administration container (DC1), - An application interface unit (180) that can be connected to an application device (200) for applying an agricultural composition to a plant or plant propagation material (K), - Piping (150) connecting the administration container (DC1) to each bulk composition intake unit (116) and the application interface unit (180), - A valve device (170) formed to selectively connect or disconnect each bulk composition intake unit (116) and the application interface unit (180) to or from the administration container (DC1) via the piping (150), - When connected, each includes a pressurizing means (144) for providing overpressure or vacuum pressure to the administration container (DC1) in order to administer a predetermined amount of the agricultural composition from any reservoir container (RC1, RC2, RC4), or to supply the contents of the administration container (DC1) to the application interface unit (180), - A control unit (199, CTU) formed and connected to control the valve device (170) and the pressurizing means (144), - A stirring device for stirring the contents of the dosing container (DC1), comprising: a stator having a stator winding with a coil (644) disposed outside the dosing container (DC1); and a rotor (630) having a magnetic element (644), wherein the rotor (630) is disposed inside the dosing container (DC1); and the control unit (199, CTU) is configured to control the current of the stator winding; and a supply device (100).

13. The supply device (100) according to claim 12, wherein the control unit (199, CTU) is configured to control the supply device (100) by controlling the state of the valve device (170) and the pressurizing means (144).

14. The dispensing container (DC1) includes a cylinder (130), the pressurizing means (144) includes a movable piston (138) connected to a piston drive unit (142) inside the cylinder (130), and the control unit (199, CTU) is configured to control the piston drive unit (142) to move the piston (138) and control the working volume (Vd) of the cylinder (130), according to claim 12 or 13.

15. The valve device (170) is arranged, formed, and connected such that its state can be controlled to selectively connect and disconnect each bulk composition intake unit (116) or the application interface unit (180) to the dosing container (DC1), and a predetermined amount can be flowed from the reservoir containers (RC1, RC2, RC4) to the dosing container (DC1), or from the dosing container (DC1) to the application interface unit (180), and the control unit (199, CTU) is preferably adapted to control the state of the valve device (170) so that the flow from one or more reservoir containers (RC1, RC2, RC4) to the dosing container (DC1) is time-interlaced or time-pulsed, according to claim 12, 13, or 14.

16. The valve device (170) comprises a shut-off valve (172) for each bulk composition intake unit (116) and the application interface unit (180), and an optional waste fluid treatment unit (117), wherein the shut-off valves (172) of the valve device (170) are preferably arranged to form a valve block (540), the first end (542) of each shut-off valve (172) is connected to one bulk composition intake unit (116) or the application interface unit (180) or the optional waste fluid treatment unit (117), the second end (544) of each shut-off valve (172) is connected to a fluid channel (548) connected to the dosing container (DC1), the fluid channel (548) is preferably formed by through holes formed in the housing or housing attachment of each shut-off valve (172), and the through holes are connected to each other, the supply device (100) according to any one of claims 12 to 15.

17. The application interface unit (180) includes an expansion vessel (EC1) connected to a section of piping (150) between the valve device (170) and the application connecting fitting, the expansion vessel (EC1) being formed to provide a changeable expansion volume (Ve), the expansion vessel (EC1) preferably includes a cylinder (182) having a movable piston (186) connected to a piston drive unit, the piston drive unit preferably includes an elastic return member (188) acting to reduce the working volume (Ve) of the expansion vessel (EC1), and the control unit (199, CTU) preferably being formed to control the action of the elastic return member of the expansion vessel (EC1), the supply device (100) according to any one of claims 12 to 16.

18. The supply device (100) further includes a washing container different from the dosing container (DC1), the washing container being connected to the piping (150) via the valve device (170), particularly a dedicated shut-off valve (172) of the valve device (170), and having pressurizing means (144) for providing pressure or vacuum pressure to the washing container, the control unit (199, CTU) being formed and connected to control the valve device (170) and the pressurizing means (144), the washing container being preferably a cylinder (130) having a movable piston (138) connected to a piston drive unit (142), the control unit (199, CTU) being formed to control the piston drive unit (142) to move the piston (138) of the washing container, and / or A waste fluid treatment unit connected to the piping (150) via the valve device (170), particularly a dedicated shut-off valve (172) for the valve device (170), and a supply device (100) formed to communicate with a waste container (WC1) for disposing of the contents of the washing container, wherein the waste container (WC1) is preferably formed with the same or similar configuration as the reservoir containers (RC1, RC2, RC4), and the waste fluid disposal unit has the same or similar configuration as the bulk composition intake unit (116), according to any one of claims 12 to 17.

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