Rice up-right seedling factory integrated automatic seeding device and method

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of agricultural automation seeding, and discloses a rice vertical seedling factory integrated automatic seeding device and method, which comprises the steps of basket identification and positioning, substrate filling, quantitative seeding, water spraying and wetting, and automatic transfer, and can realize full-process automation of the seeding process. The application also provides automatic seeding equipment matched with the method, and the equipment comprises a basket conveying mechanism, a substrate filling device, a quantitative seeding module, a water spraying device, a stacking device connected with a vertical seedling frame, and an automatic control system. The control system can realize multi-process linkage control, and has the functions of parameter setting, fault detection and remote management. The application has the advantages of high automation degree, high seeding precision, strong adaptability, high efficiency and the like, is particularly suitable for the rice vertical seedling factory seedling raising scene, and has a wide application prospect.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of agricultural automated sowing technology, and in particular to an integrated automatic sowing device and method for a vertical rice seedling factory. Background Technology

[0002] In the modern agricultural production system, sowing is the primary and core link in the rice planting process. Its operational efficiency, sowing precision, and operational standardization directly determine the germination quality and uniformity of seedlings, which in turn affect the overall level of cultivation management throughout the entire process, including subsequent transplanting, water and fertilizer management, and pest and disease control. Ultimately, this is related to the yield and quality of rice and is of great significance to ensuring food security.

[0003] Currently, rice seedling raising and sowing in my country still largely rely on manual or semi-automated operations. These methods have many prominent problems and are difficult to adapt to the large-scale and standardized production needs of modern agriculture. Furthermore, manual operations are prone to problems such as missed sowing, double sowing, and uneven sowing, which directly lead to low seedling emergence rates and uneven growth, increasing the difficulty and cost of subsequent field management.

[0004] To alleviate the drawbacks of manual operation, some automatic rice seeding devices have appeared on the market. However, these devices are mostly designed for flat-lay seedling raising models, and their functions are limited to basic automation of seed sowing and seedling substrate laying. They have not yet formed a fully integrated control system for the entire process, and still have significant shortcomings in practical applications, making it difficult to meet the precision sowing needs of different scenarios. Specifically, existing devices lack an integrated sowing control system, and the coordination and precision of key links such as seed delivery, sowing rhythm, substrate laying, and seedling tray delivery are insufficient, which can easily lead to problems such as deviations in sowing amount and misalignment of sowing timing, failing to fully guarantee the uniformity and consistency of sowing. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This invention proposes an integrated automatic sowing device and method for a vertical rice seedling factory to address the shortcomings of the prior art. The device and method can automatically identify the tray's operating status and accurately trigger the sowing operation, support dynamic control and multi-process collaboration in the sowing process, and improve the overall seedling efficiency and system intelligence level.

[0006] The technical solution of this invention is: an integrated automatic sowing device for a vertical rice seedling plant, comprising: The vertical seedling raising unit includes a seedling raising frame, multiple hanging baskets set inside the seedling raising frame, and a tray set on each hanging basket. Each hanging basket is equipped with an information label. The conveyor is mounted on the seedling rack and connected to multiple hanging baskets, used to drive the tray to move on the seedling rack via the multiple hanging baskets; the multiple hanging baskets are connected end to end in sequence; The work unit includes a substrate filling mechanism, a seeding mechanism, a soil covering mechanism, and a water spraying mechanism, all of which are installed above the multiple pallet movement paths; The testing mechanism includes an information detection module and a visual recognition module. The information detection module is used to detect information labels on the pallets, and the visual recognition module is used to identify whether each pallet is empty. The controller is connected to the substrate filling mechanism, the seeding mechanism, the soil covering mechanism, the water spraying mechanism, the information detection module, and the visual recognition module. It is used to receive the detection information from the information detection module and the recognition information from the visual recognition module. When the tray is empty, the controller controls the substrate filling mechanism, the seeding mechanism, the soil covering mechanism, and the water spraying mechanism to work in sequence.

[0007] In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the conveying component is provided in two sets, and the two sets of conveying components are respectively located on both sides of the hanging basket on the seedling frame along the length direction. Each conveying component includes multiple sprockets and guide wheels rotatably connected to the seedling frame, a rectangular chain fitted on the sprockets and guide wheels, and a drive motor connected to the sprockets.

[0008] In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the seedling rack has an outwardly protruding working area below its side, and the substrate filling mechanism, sowing mechanism, soil covering mechanism and water spraying mechanism are all located above the working area, and the sprocket is arranged along the edge of the working area.

[0009] In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the matrix filling mechanism includes a hopper disposed above the pallet movement path and a spiral feeder disposed inside the hopper, the spiral feeder being signal-connected to a controller.

[0010] In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the seeding mechanism is a seeding disc type seeding head.

[0011] In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the information tag is an RFID tag, and the information detection module is an RFID reader.

[0012] In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the water spraying mechanism includes an atomizing nozzle, a water pressure regulating valve disposed on the water spraying mechanism pipeline, and a flow sensor. The flow sensor is connected to a controller and is used to monitor the water spray volume in real time and realize quantitative water spraying control.

[0013] This invention also proposes an integrated automatic sowing method for rice vertical seedling raising factories, comprising the following steps: Connect the corresponding tray to each basket; The conveyor is activated, and the trays are driven by the multiple baskets to circulate on the seedling rack. When the tray moves to the seeding station, the information detection module identifies the information label on the tray; at the same time, the vision recognition module identifies whether the tray is empty. Then, the information detection module and the vision recognition module send the detection information and recognition information to the controller. After receiving the detection and identification information, if the tray is empty and the area is in the sowing zone, the controller will sequentially control the substrate filling mechanism, the sowing mechanism, the soil covering mechanism and the water spraying mechanism to complete the three sowing processes of substrate filling, quantitative sowing and water spraying. Once the controller confirms that the sowing process has been completed, it automatically stops the sowing device and waits for the next tray to enter the sowing area. If the visual recognition module detects that the tray is already sown or is not a seedling basket, the controller automatically skips the sowing operation for that tray.

[0014] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are: The integrated automatic sowing device for vertical rice seedling raising factories proposed in this invention, through the coordinated operation of the vertical seedling raising unit, conveyor, operating unit, detection mechanism, and controller, combined with specific operations such as basket identification and positioning, tray circulation conveying, empty tray visual detection, information tag verification, and multi-process linkage control, can automatically complete the identification and empty tray status determination when the tray circulates to the sowing station. The controller precisely schedules the substrate filling mechanism, sowing mechanism, soil covering mechanism, and water spraying mechanism to operate sequentially based on the detection signals, realizing the integrated automatic operation of the entire process of quantitative filling of seedling raising substrate, precise seed sowing, uniform soil covering, and quantitative atomized water spraying. The system automatically executes seeding, effectively avoiding problems such as missed sowing, double sowing, uneven sowing, and misaligned sowing timing, significantly improving sowing accuracy and rhythm coordination. Simultaneously, the system can automatically identify sown trays or non-seedling baskets and perform intelligent skip sowing, saving seed resources, avoiding mis-sowing and ineffective operations, all without manual intervention. It can flexibly connect to different models of vertical seedling racks, significantly improving the seedling efficiency and sowing consistency of rice vertical seedling factories. It also supports custom parameter settings, real-time fault detection, and remote management, enhancing the system's intelligence and ease of maintenance, better meeting the large-scale, standardized, and precise production needs of modern factory-style seedling cultivation. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a front view of the overall structure of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 2 Top view of the overall structure of the invention.

[0017] Figure 3 This is a side view of the overall structure of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention.

[0019] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 1. Vertical seedling raising section; 11. Seedling frame; 12. Hanging basket; 13. Tray; 2. Conveying component; 21. Guide wheel; 22. Drive motor; 3. Working section; 31. Substrate filling mechanism; 311. Hopper; 312. Screw feeder; 32. Soil covering mechanism; 4. Detection mechanism. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The accompanying drawings in this invention are not strictly drawn to scale, and the specific dimensions and quantity of each structure can be determined according to actual needs. The drawings described in this invention are merely structural schematic diagrams.

[0021] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. Based on the described embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0022] Unless otherwise defined, the technical or scientific terms used herein should have the ordinary meaning understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. The terms "first," "second," and similar terms used in this invention do not indicate any order, quantity, or importance, but are merely used to distinguish different components. Terms such as "comprising" or "including" mean that the element or object preceding the word encompasses the elements or objects listed following the word and their equivalents, without excluding other elements or objects. Terms such as "inner," "outer," "upper," "lower," "far," "near," "front," and "rear" are used only to indicate relative positional relationships; when the absolute position of the described object changes, the relative positional relationship may also change accordingly.

[0023] This invention aims to solve the problems of low automation, high reliance on manual labor, and low sowing efficiency and accuracy of existing rice sowing equipment in vertical seedling factory environments. It proposes an integrated automatic sowing method and equipment for vertical rice seedling factories. This solution can realize automatic identification of tray operation status and precise triggering of sowing operations, support dynamic control and multi-process collaboration in the sowing process, and improve the overall seedling efficiency and system intelligence level.

[0024] Combination Figures 1 to 4 As shown, an integrated automatic seeding device for a vertical rice seedling plant includes: The vertical seedling raising unit 1 includes a seedling raising frame 11, multiple hanging baskets 12 set inside the seedling raising frame 11, and a tray 13 set on each hanging basket 12. Each hanging basket 12 is equipped with an information label. The tray 13 has a rectangular grid structure, which is conducive to ventilation and the smooth progress of the sowing process.

[0025] The conveyor 2 is installed on the seedling frame 11 and connected to multiple hanging baskets 12. It is used to drive the trays 13 to move on the seedling frame 11 through the multiple hanging baskets 12. The multiple trays 13 are connected end to end. The work unit 3 includes a substrate filling mechanism 31, a seeding mechanism, a soil covering mechanism 32, and a water spraying mechanism, all of which are set above the movement paths of multiple trays 13; The testing unit 4 includes an information detection module and a visual recognition module. The information detection module is used to detect the information labels on the tray 13, and the visual recognition module is used to identify whether each tray 13 is empty. The visual recognition module includes a recognition camera and a discrimination module for determining empty trays. The controller is connected to the substrate filling mechanism 31, the sowing mechanism, the soil covering mechanism 32, the water spraying mechanism, the information detection module, and the vision recognition module. It receives detection information from the information detection module and recognition information from the vision recognition module, and controls and schedules the substrate filling mechanism 31, the sowing mechanism, the soil covering mechanism 32, and the water spraying mechanism based on the detection and recognition information to ensure the rhythm coordination and operational accuracy of each stage. The controller has functions such as customizable sowing parameter settings, automatic start / stop logic, adaptive rhythm management, sowing status recording, and remote fault alarms, realizing automated control of the entire sowing process. Furthermore, the controller can also be an industrial computer.

[0026] An automatic seeding device of the present invention includes a rotating seedling frame 11, a tray 13 conveying module, a spraying device, and a control system. The seedling frame 11 rotates at a constant speed, and the tray 13 is accurately positioned by a guide rail. During sowing, the opening and closing of the seeding head is controlled by a sensor to ensure that the seeds are evenly sprayed onto the tray 13. The conveying system uses a combination of double-sided sprockets, chains, guide wheels 21, and a drive motor 22, which makes the conveying smoother and the force more even, ensuring stable cyclic operation of the basket 12 and the tray 13 and avoiding deviation and jamming.

[0027] As an alternative embodiment, the conveyor 2 is provided in two sets, with the two sets of conveyors 2 located on both sides of the hanging basket 12 on the seedling frame 11 along the length direction. Each conveyor 2 includes multiple sprockets and guide wheels 21 rotatably connected to the seedling frame 11, a rectangular chain fitted on the sprockets and guide wheels 21, and a drive motor 22 connected to the sprockets.

[0028] As an alternative embodiment, the seedling frame 11 has an outwardly protruding working area on its lower side. The substrate filling mechanism 31, the sowing mechanism, the soil covering mechanism 32, and the water spraying mechanism are all located above the working area, and the sprockets are arranged along the edge of the working area. The seedling frame 11 has an outwardly protruding working area, and all working mechanisms are concentrated above the working area. The layout is compact and reasonable, the process connection is smoother, it does not occupy the main space of the seedling raising, and it is suitable for three-dimensional sites.

[0029] As an alternative embodiment, the substrate filling mechanism 31 includes a hopper 311 disposed above the movement path of the tray 13 and a spiral feeder 312 disposed inside the hopper 311. The spiral feeder 312 is connected to the controller signal to uniformly fill the seedling substrate into the tray 13. The substrate filling mechanism 31 uses the spiral feeder 312 in conjunction with the hopper 311 to deliver the substrate evenly and quantitatively, avoiding substrate accumulation or gaps and ensuring consistent basic conditions for seedling cultivation.

[0030] As an alternative embodiment, the sowing mechanism is a seed metering disc type seed head, which can achieve fixed-point sowing; the use of a seed metering disc type seed head can achieve fixed-point and quantitative sowing, with high sowing uniformity, effectively reducing missed sowing and double sowing, and improving the uniformity of seedling emergence.

[0031] As an alternative embodiment, the information tag is an RFID tag, and the information detection module is an RFID reader; when the tray 13 moves to the sowing station, the unique number of the tray 13 and its arrival status are automatically detected by the RFID tag; the use of RFID tags and readers is fast, accurate and strong against interference, and can stably realize the identity verification and positioning of the tray 13, ensuring the reliability of intelligent scheduling.

[0032] In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the water spraying mechanism includes an atomizing nozzle, a water pressure regulating valve and a flow sensor disposed on the pipeline of the water spraying mechanism. The flow sensor is connected to the controller and is used to monitor the water volume in real time and realize quantitative water spraying control. The water spraying mechanism is equipped with an atomizing nozzle, a water pressure regulating valve and a flow sensor, which can quantitatively control water, atomize and moisten evenly, avoid water accumulation or drought, and facilitate seed germination.

[0033] This invention also proposes an integrated automatic sowing method for rice vertical seedling raising factories, comprising the following steps: Connect the corresponding tray 13 to each basket 12; Start the conveyor 2, which drives the tray 13 to circulate on the seedling rack 11 through multiple baskets 12; When the tray 13 moves to the sowing station, the information detection module identifies the information label on the tray 13; at the same time, the vision recognition module identifies whether the tray 13 is empty. Then, the information detection module and the vision recognition module send the detection information and recognition information to the controller. After receiving the detection and identification information, if the tray 13 is empty and in the sowing area, the controller will sequentially control the substrate filling mechanism 31, the sowing mechanism, the soil covering mechanism 32 and the water spraying mechanism to complete the three sowing processes of substrate filling, quantitative sowing and water spraying. After the controller confirms that the sowing process has been completed, it automatically stops the sowing device and waits for the next tray 13 to enter the sowing area. If the visual recognition module detects that the status of tray 13 is either already sown or not a seedling tray 13, the controller automatically skips the sowing operation of that tray 13. Specifically, whether it is tray 13 is also determined by the discrimination module.

[0034] The above embodiments are merely specific implementations of the present invention, used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and not to limit them. The protection scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that any person skilled in the art can still modify or easily conceive of changes to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments within the technical scope disclosed in the present invention, or make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features; and these modifications, changes, or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions implemented in the present invention, and should all be covered within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A rice up-right seedling factory integrated automatic seeding device, characterized in that, include: A vertical seedling raising unit includes a seedling raising frame, multiple hanging baskets set inside the seedling raising frame, and multiple trays set on each hanging basket. Each hanging basket is equipped with an information label. A conveyor, mounted on a seedling rack and connected to multiple hanging baskets, is used to drive a tray to move on the seedling rack via the multiple hanging baskets; the multiple hanging baskets are connected end to end in sequence. The work unit includes a substrate filling mechanism, a seeding mechanism, a soil covering mechanism, and a water spraying mechanism, all of which are installed above the multiple pallet movement paths; The inspection mechanism includes an information detection module and a visual recognition module. The information detection module is used to detect information labels on the pallets, and the visual recognition module is used to identify whether each pallet is empty. The controller is used to receive detection information from the information detection module and recognition information from the visual recognition module, and determine the position of the tray based on the detection information. When the tray is empty, the controller sequentially controls the substrate filling mechanism, the seeding mechanism, the soil covering mechanism and the water spraying mechanism to work.

2. The integrated automatic sowing device for vertical rice seedling raising as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The conveying components are provided in two sets, which are located on both sides of the length of the hanging basket on the seedling frame. Each conveying component includes multiple sprockets and guide wheels rotatably connected to the seedling frame, a chain fitted on the sprockets and guide wheels, and a drive motor connected to the sprockets.

3. The integrated automatic sowing device for a vertical rice seedling plant as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The seedling rack has an outwardly protruding working area on its lower side. The substrate filling mechanism, sowing mechanism, soil covering mechanism and water spraying mechanism are all located above the working area, and the sprocket is arranged along the edge of the working area.

4. The integrated automatic sowing device for a vertical rice seedling plant as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The matrix filling mechanism includes a hopper positioned above the pallet's movement path and a spiral feeder positioned inside the hopper, the spiral feeder being signal-connected to the controller.

5. The integrated automatic sowing device for a vertical rice seedling plant as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The sowing mechanism is a seed tray type sowing head.

6. The integrated automatic sowing device for vertical rice seedling raising factory as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The information tag is an RFID tag, and the information detection module is an RFID reader.

7. The integrated automatic sowing device for a vertical rice seedling plant as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The water spraying mechanism includes an atomizing nozzle, a water pressure regulating valve and a flow sensor installed on the water spraying mechanism pipeline. The flow sensor is connected to the controller and is used to monitor the water spray volume in real time and realize quantitative water spraying control.

8. An integrated automatic sowing method for a vertical rice seedling raising factory, based on the integrated automatic sowing device for a vertical rice seedling raising factory as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: Connect the corresponding tray to each basket; The conveyor is activated, and the trays are driven by the multiple baskets to circulate on the seedling rack. When the pallet moves to the matrix filling mechanism, the information detection module identifies the information label on the pallet to determine the pallet's position; at the same time, the vision recognition module identifies whether the pallet is empty. Subsequently, the information detection module and the vision recognition module send the detection information and recognition information to the controller. After receiving the detection and identification information, if the tray is empty and the area is in the sowing zone, the controller will sequentially control the substrate filling mechanism, the sowing mechanism, the soil covering mechanism and the water spraying mechanism to complete the three sowing processes of substrate filling, quantitative sowing and water spraying. Once the controller confirms that the sowing process has been completed, it automatically stops the sowing device and waits for the next tray to enter the sowing area; if the visual recognition module detects that the tray has been sown, the controller automatically skips the sowing operation for that tray.

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