An integrated seed metering device and method

Abstract

The application discloses an integrated seed sowing device and a seed sowing method, and relates to the technical field of agricultural equipment. The device comprises a seed sower, an air source and a seed sowing pipe. The seed sower comprises a shell and seed receiving chambers, seed cleaning chambers and seed sowing chambers arranged in sequence along a seed conveying direction. A seed sowing disc is rotatably arranged in the shell. Groove teeth on the outer periphery of the seed sowing disc are provided with accommodating grooves. The accommodating grooves pass through the three chambers in sequence along with the rotation of the seed sowing disc. The seed cleaning chambers and the seed sowing chambers are respectively communicated with the air source. The seed cleaning chambers blow the seeds outside the accommodating grooves, and the seed sowing chambers blow the seeds inside the accommodating grooves. The feeding end of the seed sowing pipe is communicated with the seed sowing chambers, the middle part is communicated with a fertilizer supply mechanism, and the discharging end discharges a seed and fertilizer mixture. The device realizes centrifugal primary cleaning, airflow secondary cleaning, air force seed throwing and the synchronous mixing and discharging of the seeds and the fertilizer in the seed sowing pipe through the three-chamber arrangement and the air force seed cleaning.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of agricultural equipment technology, and in particular to an integrated seed metering device and seed metering method. Background Technology

[0002] Rapeseed seeds are small in size, have thin seed coats, and low mechanical strength. Precision seeding places high demands on the seed metering device for seed cleaning and placement accuracy. Existing rapeseed metering technologies mainly suffer from the following problems: Mechanical seed metering devices typically use brushes or scrapers to clean the seed surface after filling the seed coat. However, the brushes directly scrape the rapeseed seed coat, easily damaging the seeds and reducing germination rate and seedling vigor. Furthermore, the cleaning force is difficult to control precisely; excessive cleaning damages the seeds, while insufficient cleaning leaves many seeds remaining in the seed stalks, leading to a high reseeding rate. Insufficient filling of some stalks also results in missed sowing. Air-suction seed metering devices rely on negative pressure to adsorb seeds, but rapeseed seeds are small, and the suction holes are easily clogged by dust and debris. Once clogged, large areas of missed sowing occur, making it difficult to achieve the precision agronomic standards for rapeseed.

[0003] In terms of operational procedures, rapeseed planting typically involves separate processes of seeding, irrigation, and fertilization. After sowing, additional watering and fertilization are required, resulting in numerous and costly field operations. Some methods involve direct mixing of seeds and fertilizer in the same furrow, leading to prolonged contact between water and fertilizer and the seeds, which can cause seedling burn and rot, negatively impacting germination rates. Existing fertilizer delivery systems are difficult to coordinate with seeding systems, preventing the simultaneous mixing and delivery of seeds and liquid fertilizer during seeding.

[0004] The aforementioned problems collectively make it difficult to achieve continuous integrated operation of rapeseed sowing, from seed filling, seed cleaning, seed application to seed-fertilizer mixing and discharge, within a single device, thus restricting the improvement of rapeseed precision sowing efficiency and seed survival rate.

[0005] In addition, existing technologies also have problems such as high reseeding and missed seeding rates, easy clogging of the suction holes of air-suction seed metering devices, and separation of sowing and fertilization processes. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to provide an integrated seed metering device and method to solve the problems existing in the prior art. The seed receiving chamber, seed cleaning chamber and seed metering chamber are arranged in sequence along the seed conveying direction. The receiving trough on the seed metering tray passes through the three chambers in sequence. With the independent air supply of the seed cleaning chamber and the seed metering chamber, centrifugal initial cleaning, airflow secondary cleaning, pneumatic seeding, and synchronous mixing and discharge of seeds and fertilizer in the seed metering tube are realized.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following solution: The present invention provides an integrated seed metering device, including a seed meterer, an air source, and a seed metering pipe; The seed metering device includes a housing, a seed receiving chamber, a seed cleaning chamber, and a seed metering chamber that are arranged at intervals along the seed conveying direction and are independent of each other on the housing. The shell contains a seed metering disc that rotates within it. The seed metering disc has multiple grooves on its outer periphery. Each groove has a receiving slot for holding seeds. The receiving slot is located in front of the groove along the direction of rotation of the seed metering disc. The receiving slot moves synchronously with the seed metering disc and passes through the seed collection chamber, the seed cleaning chamber, and the seed metering chamber in sequence. The seed receiving chamber is used to receive and store seeds; one side of the seed cleaning chamber is connected to the air source and is used to blow away the seeds outside the receiving trough and cause the seeds to detach from the trough teeth; the other side of the seed cleaning chamber is used to discharge the seeds; one side of the seed discharging chamber is connected to the air source and is used to blow away the seeds inside the receiving trough and cause the seeds to detach from the receiving trough; the other side of the seed discharging chamber is used to discharge the seeds. The seed metering pipe has an inlet end and an outlet end. The inlet end is connected to the seed metering chamber and is used to receive the seeds discharged from the seed metering chamber. The middle part of the seed metering pipe is connected to the fertilizer supply mechanism, which supplies fertilizer to the seeds in the seed metering pipe. The outlet end is used to discharge the seeds mixed with fertilizer.

[0008] Optionally, the housing includes a front shell and a rear shell, the front shell and the rear shell are mated together, and a sealing mechanism is provided between the mating surfaces of the front shell, the rear shell and the seed metering tray. The sealing mechanism is used to isolate the seed cleaning chamber and the seed metering chamber into two independent chambers.

[0009] Optionally, each of the slots is further provided with a ventilation pipe, the outlet of which is located at the bottom of the receiving groove, and the inlet of which is located on the side of the slot. The air source is connected to a first ventilation pipe, which includes a first branch and a second branch. The outlet of the first branch is directly opposite the inlet of the ventilation pipe, and the outlet of the second branch is located at the opening of the receiving tank and is directly opposite the feed end of the seeding pipe.

[0010] Optionally, the gas source is connected to a second ventilation pipe; The seed cleaning chamber is equipped with a seed cleaning air inlet pipe and a seed cleaning air outlet pipe. The seed cleaning air inlet pipe is used to connect with the second ventilation pipe, and the seed cleaning air outlet pipe is used to discharge gas and blow out the seeds.

[0011] Optionally, the seed collection chamber is connected to a seed box for supplying it with seeds, and the seed cleaning vent pipe is connected to the seed box for returning excess seeds blown out to the seed box.

[0012] Optionally, the seed box is provided with multiple ventilation holes.

[0013] Optionally, the seed collection chamber is located at the bottom of the housing, the seed box is mounted on the housing and located above the seed collection chamber, and the bottom of the seed box is connected to the top of the seed collection chamber.

[0014] Optionally, the seed metering tube has a Venturi tube structure, and the throat of the seed metering tube is connected to the fertilizer supply mechanism.

[0015] Optionally, a drive shaft and a sleeve may also be included; The drive shaft passes through the housing and is connected to the seed metering disc in a driving manner; The sleeve is fitted onto the outside of the drive shaft. One end of the sleeve abuts against one side end face of the seed metering disc along the axial direction, and the other end abuts against one side inner wall of the housing. A positioning structure is provided between the other side end face of the seed metering disc along the axial direction and the other side inner wall of the housing, and the two are rotatably engaged through the positioning structure. One end of the drive shaft extends out of the housing and is used to connect with an external drive mechanism to drive the seed metering disc to rotate.

[0016] A seeding method using the integrated seeding device described above is also provided, comprising the following steps: The seed metering disc rotates, and each of the groove teeth passes sequentially through the seed collection chamber, the seed cleaning chamber, and the seed metering chamber; As the groove teeth pass through the seed collection chamber, the seeds are filled into the receiving trough; When the groove teeth pass through the seed cleaning chamber, the air source supplies air to the seed cleaning chamber to blow away excess seeds from the groove teeth and discharge them. When the slotted teeth pass through the seed dispensing chamber, the air source supplies air to the seed dispensing chamber, blowing the seeds in the receiving slot away and transporting them to the seed dispensing pipe; The seeds are mixed with the fertilizer supplied by the fertilizer supply mechanism inside the seed discharge tube and then discharged from the discharge end.

[0017] The present invention achieves the following technical effects compared to the prior art: The integrated seed metering device disclosed in this invention divides the inside of the seed meterer into a seed collection chamber, a seed cleaning chamber, and a seed metering chamber arranged sequentially. As the seed metering disc rotates, the grooves pass through these three chambers in sequence. After being filled with seeds in the seed collection chamber, the grooves first pass through the seed cleaning chamber, where a purge airflow from the air source blows excess seeds from the outside of the receiving slots and discharges them, ensuring that only a single seed remains in each receiving slot. Then, the seeds pass through the seed metering chamber, where a purge airflow from the air source blows the seeds from the inside of the receiving slots and transports them to the seed metering tube. Throughout the process, the seeds are pneumatically transported in a dry state within the seed meterer, with no hard parts directly contacting the seed surface, effectively reducing the seed breakage rate. After entering the seed metering tube, the seeds mix with fertilizer supplied by the fertilizer supply mechanism in the middle part of the tube and are discharged from the outlet, completing the three processes of sowing, watering, and fertilizing in one operation. This solves the problems of high reseeding and missed sowing rates, seed damage from mechanical seed cleaning, separation of sowing and fertilization processes, and the risk of scalding and seedling rot when seeds and fertilizer are mixed in the same furrow in existing rapeseed seed metering devices. Attached Figure Description

[0018] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of an integrated seed metering device in one example disclosed in this invention; Figure 2 This is a top view schematic diagram of the overall structure of an integrated seed metering device in an example disclosed in this invention; Figure 3 This is a partial cross-sectional schematic diagram of the seed metering device structure in an example disclosed in this invention; Figure 4 This is an enlarged schematic diagram of the structure of the seed cleaning chamber and the seed metering chamber after the seed metering disc is removed in an example of the seed metering device disclosed in this invention; Figure 5 This is a partial enlarged cross-sectional view of the seeding disc structure in an example disclosed in this invention; Figure 6 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of a seeding tube structure in one example disclosed in this invention; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of a box cover structure in one example disclosed in this invention; The components are as follows: 1-base; 2-water and fertilizer tank; 3-seed metering pipe support; 4-seed metering pipe; 401-air-seed mixing chamber; 402-water and fertilizer mixing chamber; 403-seed metering chamber; 5-air source; 6-seed cleaning air inlet pipe; 7-seed metering air outlet pipe; 8-seed metering device; 801-seed metering tray; 802-seed cleaning chamber; 803-sealing mechanism; 804-seed metering chamber; 805-front shell; 806-rear shell; 807-seed collection chamber; 9-seed box; 10-drive shaft; 11-support plate; 12-sprocket; 13-sleeve; 14-seed metering device support; 15-seed metering air inlet pipe; 16-seed cleaning air outlet pipe; 17-seed box cover; 1701-ventilation hole; 8001-ventilation pipe; 8002-receiving groove; 8003-groove teeth. Detailed Implementation

[0020] 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 embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the 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.

[0021] The purpose of this invention is to provide an integrated seed metering device and method to solve the problems existing in the prior art. The seed receiving chamber, seed cleaning chamber and seed metering chamber are arranged in sequence along the seed conveying direction. The receiving trough on the seed metering tray passes through the three chambers in sequence. With the independent air supply of the seed cleaning chamber and the seed metering chamber, centrifugal initial cleaning, airflow secondary cleaning, pneumatic seeding, and synchronous mixing and discharge of seeds and fertilizer in the seed metering tube are realized.

[0022] To make the above-mentioned objects, features and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0023] like Figures 1 to 7 As shown, the present invention provides an integrated seed metering device, including a seed meterer 8, an air source 5, and a seed metering pipe 4. The seed meterer 8 includes a housing, a seed collection chamber 807, a seed cleaning chamber 802, and a seed metering chamber 804. The seed collection chamber 807, the seed cleaning chamber 802, and the seed metering chamber 804 are arranged sequentially and independently on the housing along the seed conveying direction. A seed metering disc 801 is rotatably disposed inside the housing. The outer periphery of the seed metering disc 801 is provided with a plurality of grooves 8003. Each groove 8003 has a receiving groove 8002 for receiving seeds. The receiving groove 8002 is located in front of the groove 8003 along the rotation direction of the seed metering disc 801, and the receiving groove 8002 moves synchronously with the seed metering disc 801 and passes sequentially through the seed collection chamber 807, the seed cleaning chamber 802, and the seed metering chamber 804.

[0024] The seed receiving chamber 807 is used to receive and store seeds. One side of the seed cleaning chamber 802 is connected to the air source 5, used to blow away seeds outside the receiving trough 8002 and dislodge them from the groove teeth 8003. The other side of the seed cleaning chamber 802 is used to discharge the seeds. One side of the seed discharging chamber 804 is connected to the air source 5, used to blow away seeds inside the receiving trough 8002 and dislodge them from the receiving trough 8002. The other side of the seed discharging chamber 804 is used to discharge the seeds.

[0025] The seed metering pipe 4 is provided with an inlet end and an outlet end. The inlet end is connected to the seed metering chamber 804 and is used to receive the seeds discharged from the seed metering chamber 804. The middle part of the seed metering pipe 4 is connected to the fertilizer supply mechanism. Preferably, the fertilizer supply mechanism is a water and fertilizer tank 2. The fertilizer supply mechanism supplies fertilizer to the seeds in the seed metering pipe 4. The outlet end is used to discharge the seeds after they are mixed with fertilizer.

[0026] In the integrated seed metering device disclosed in this invention, the seed meterer 8 is internally divided into a seed receiving chamber 807, a seed cleaning chamber 802, and a seed metering chamber 804 arranged sequentially. When the seed metering disc 801 rotates, the groove teeth 8003 pass through the three chambers sequentially. After the groove teeth 8003 are filled with seeds in the seed receiving chamber 807, they first pass through the seed cleaning chamber 802. The purge airflow introduced by the air source 5 blows the excess seeds on the outside of the receiving trough 8002 away from the groove teeth 8003 and discharges them, ensuring that only a single seed remains in each receiving trough 8002. Subsequently, they pass through the seed metering chamber 804, where the purge airflow introduced by the air source 5 blows the seeds on the inside of the receiving trough 8002 away and transports them to the seed metering pipe 4. Throughout the entire process, the seeds are pneumatically transported in a dry state within the seed meterer 8, with no hard parts directly contacting the seed surface, effectively reducing the seed breakage rate. After the seeds enter the seed metering tube 4, they are mixed with the fertilizer supplied by the fertilizer supply mechanism in the middle part of the seed metering tube 4 and discharged from the discharge end, completing the three processes of sowing, watering and fertilizing in one go.

[0027] As a preferred example, the receiving groove 8002 of the seed metering disc 801 is sized to hold only a single rapeseed seed, and the receiving groove 8002 is located in front of the groove teeth 8003 along the direction of rotation of the seed metering disc 801. When the seed metering disc 801 rotates, the receiving groove 8002 located in front first contacts the seeds in the seed collection chamber 807, which is beneficial for the seeds to fill into the receiving groove 8002 under the action of gravity. There is only one receiving groove 8002 in each groove tooth 8003. Every time the seed metering disc 801 rotates once, each groove tooth 8003 completes one single-seed filling, cleaning and metering. The single-tooth single-seed stability is strong, which greatly reduces the replanting rate.

[0028] Furthermore, the grooves 8003 of the seed metering disc 801 are evenly distributed along its outer periphery, with equal spacing between each groove 8003, ensuring that each groove 8003 passes through the three chambers sequentially and evenly when the seed metering disc 801 rotates. The size and spacing of the grooves 8003 are determined based on the grain size of the rapeseed seeds, ensuring the positional accuracy of the receiving trough 8002 during the seed filling, seed cleaning, and seed metering stages.

[0029] In one embodiment, the housing includes a front shell 805 and a rear shell 806, which are mated together. A sealing mechanism 803 is provided between the mating surfaces of the front shell 805, the rear shell 806, and the seed metering tray 801. The sealing mechanism 803 isolates the seed cleaning chamber 802 and the seed metering chamber 804 into two independent chambers. The housing adopts a split structure of the front shell 805 and the rear shell 806, facilitating the installation, disassembly, and maintenance of the seed metering tray 801. After the front shell 805 and the rear shell 806 are mated, the sealing mechanism 803 between their mating surfaces and the seed metering tray 801 divides the inner cavity of the seed meterer 8 into two independent chambers: the seed cleaning chamber 802 and the seed metering chamber 804. This ensures that the airflow within the seed cleaning chamber 802 and the seed metering chamber 804 does not cross-flow, and the airflow parameters can be adjusted independently.

[0030] As a preferred example, the sealing mechanism 803 is a semi-annular sealing ring, which is located on one side of the seed metering disc 801 and arranged circumferentially along the seed metering disc 801. The purge airflow in the seed cleaning chamber 802 and the conveying airflow in the seed metering chamber 804 are completely isolated circumferentially by the semi-annular sealing ring, and the two airflows do not interfere with each other during operation. The semi-annular sealing ring is distributed circumferentially along the seed metering disc 801. When the seed metering disc 801 rotates, the semi-annular sealing ring remains stationary, continuously forming a sealing barrier in the gap between the seed metering disc 801 and the housing.

[0031] In one example, multiple sets of fastening bolts are evenly arranged circumferentially on the front shell 805 and the rear shell 806, and the front shell 805 and the rear shell 806 are detachably connected by being pressed together by the bolts. The detachable connection method facilitates the inspection and replacement of internal parts such as the seed metering disc 801 and the sealing ring during the use of the equipment, thus improving the convenience of equipment maintenance.

[0032] In one embodiment, each slot 8003 is further provided with a ventilation pipe 8001. The outlet of the ventilation pipe 8001 is located at the bottom of the receiving trough 8002, and the inlet of the ventilation pipe 8001 is located on the side of the slot 8003. The air source 5 is connected to a first ventilation pipe, which includes a first branch and a second branch. The outlet of the first branch is directly opposite the inlet of the ventilation pipe 8001, and the outlet of the second branch is located at the opening of the receiving trough 8002 and is directly opposite the feed end of the seed metering pipe 4. The ventilation pipe 8001 penetrates the interior of the slot 8003, with one end opening at the bottom of the receiving trough 8002 and the other end opening on the side of the slot 8003, providing an airflow channel from the bottom up for the seeds in the receiving trough 8002. When the seed metering chamber 804 is operating, the airflow from the first branch is directed towards the inlet of the ventilation pipe 8001, and transported through the ventilation pipe 8001 to the bottom of the receiving tank 8002, vertically blowing the individual seeds in the receiving tank 8002 upwards. The airflow from the second branch forms a horizontal guiding airflow at the opening of the receiving tank 8002, catching the blown-up suspended seeds and transporting them along the airflow direction to the feed end of the seed metering pipe 4. The two airflows have a clear division of labor: one is responsible for vertical blowing, and the other is responsible for horizontal transport, ensuring the smooth transfer of seeds from the receiving tank 8002 to the seed metering pipe 4.

[0033] In one example, the ventilation pipe 8001 is an L-shaped ventilation pipe. One end of the L-shaped ventilation pipe opens to the bottom of the receiving tank 8002, and the other end opens to the side of the groove teeth 8003. The L-shaped curved structure allows the airflow to enter from the side of the groove teeth 8003, pass through a horizontal pipe extending radially along the seed metering disc 801, and then act vertically on the bottom of the receiving tank 8002, achieving the effect of blowing the seeds upward from the bottom. The L-shaped ventilation pipe runs through the interior of the groove teeth 8003, maintaining a stable airflow channel during the rotation of the seed metering disc 801, and preventing the airflow direction from changing due to centrifugal force.

[0034] In one example, the outline size of the receiving trough 8002 is slightly larger than that of a single rapeseed seed, and each receiving trough 8002 holds only one seed. The receiving trough 8002 is located in front of the groove teeth 8003 along the direction of rotation of the seed metering disc 801. When the seed metering disc 801 rotates, the front side of the groove teeth 8003 enters the seed pile first, and the seed fills the receiving trough 8002. After the seed filling is completed, the seed metering disc 801 continues to rotate, and the groove teeth 8003 leave the seed collection chamber 807 and enter the seed cleaning chamber 802.

[0035] In one embodiment, the air source 5 is connected to a second ventilation pipe. The seed cleaning chamber 802 is equipped with a seed cleaning inlet pipe 6 and a seed cleaning outlet pipe 16. The seed cleaning inlet pipe 6 connects to the second ventilation pipe, and the seed cleaning outlet pipe 16 discharges gas and the swept-out seeds. The seed cleaning chamber 802 is connected to the second ventilation pipe of the air source 5 via the seed cleaning inlet pipe 6. The sweeping airflow enters the interior of the seed cleaning chamber 802 from the seed cleaning inlet pipe 6, flushing away the small amount of excess seeds remaining on the periphery of the receiving tank 8002. The seed cleaning outlet pipe 16 is located on the other side of the seed cleaning chamber 802. The swept-out excess seeds are discharged from the seed cleaning chamber 802 along the airflow through the seed cleaning outlet pipe 16, completing the secondary seed cleaning of each receiving tank 8002 and ensuring that only a single seed remains in each receiving tank 8002. The seed cleaning chamber 802 uses an independent second ventilation pipe for air supply, which does not interfere with the first ventilation pipe of the seed dispensing chamber 804. The air pressure, flow rate and other parameters of the two airflows can be adjusted separately without affecting each other.

[0036] The seed cleaning vent pipe 16 is connected to the seed box 9 and is used to transport excess seeds blown out of the seed cleaning chamber 802 back to the seed box 9. The excess seeds generated during seed cleaning are not directly discharged, but are recycled back into the seed box 9 by airflow, which reduces raw material waste and improves seed utilization.

[0037] In one embodiment, the seed collection chamber 807 is connected to a seed box 9 that supplies it with seeds. A seed cleaning vent pipe 16 is connected to the seed box 9 and is used to return excess seeds blown out to the seed box 9. The seed box 9 is located above the seed collection chamber 807 and continuously supplies seeds to it. When the seed metering disc 801's slots 8003 fill the seed collection chamber 807, seeds in the seed box 9 are continuously replenished downwards, ensuring a sufficient seed supply in the seed collection chamber 807 at all times. Excess seeds blown out of the seed cleaning chamber 802 flow back to the seed box 9 via the seed cleaning vent pipe 16, merging with unused seeds in the seed box 9 and participating in the seed filling cycle again. This seed recycling structure ensures that when the entire seed metering device operates continuously, seed loss only occurs in the final discharge section, minimizing raw material waste.

[0038] In one embodiment, the seed box 9 is provided with multiple ventilation holes 1701. Excess seeds blown away by the seed cleaning chamber 802 are carried by the airflow into the seed box 9 through the seed cleaning vent pipe 16. The seeds settle and remain in the seed box 9, while the airflow is discharged from the seed box 9 through the ventilation holes 1701, maintaining a balance of air pressure inside and outside the seed box 9. The diameter of the ventilation holes 1701 is smaller than the diameter of rapeseed grains, ensuring that seeds do not leak out from the ventilation holes 1701. The ventilation holes 1701 allow the circulating airflow from the seed cleaning process to be discharged smoothly, preventing excessive air pressure inside the seed box 9 from causing poor ventilation in the seed cleaning chamber 802.

[0039] As a preferred example, the vent 1701 is located on the seed box cover 17, which is situated at the top of the seed box 9. The circulation path of the seed cleaning airflow is as follows: air source 5 to seed cleaning inlet pipe 6 to seed cleaning chamber 802 to seed cleaning outlet pipe 16 to seed box 9 to vent 1701 for discharge. The entire airflow circulation path is closed and controllable, preventing seed loss during circulation. The seed box cover 17 is also used to fill the seed box 9 with seeds; opening the seed box cover 17 completes the seeding operation.

[0040] In one embodiment, the seed collection chamber 807 is located at the bottom of the shell, and the seed box 9 is mounted on the shell and located above the seed collection chamber 807. The bottom of the seed box 9 is connected to the top of the seed collection chamber 807. The seed collection chamber 807 is located at the bottom of the shell, below the outer periphery of the seed dispensing tray 801. The seeds in the seed box 9 fall into the seed collection chamber 807 under their own weight, forming a continuous feeding. When the groove teeth 8003 of the seed dispensing tray 801 are filling the seed collection chamber 807, the bottom of the groove teeth 8003 is immersed in the seed pile, and the seeds are filled into the receiving groove 8002 under the action of gravity and the rotation of the seed dispensing tray 801. The vertical connection between the seed box 9 and the seed collection chamber 807 makes seed feeding require no additional power, the structure is simple, and the feeding is stable.

[0041] In one embodiment, the seed metering pipe 4 has a Venturi tube structure, and its throat is connected to the fertilizer supply mechanism. The Venturi tube structure increases the airflow velocity and reduces the pressure as the airflow passes through the throat, creating a negative pressure at the throat. The fertilizer supply mechanism is connected to the throat, and liquid fertilizer is drawn into the seed metering pipe 4 under the negative pressure, where it meets and mixes with the seeds passing through the throat. The seeds are transported in a dry state within the seed metering pipe 4, only briefly contacting and mixing with the fertilizer after passing through the throat, and then immediately discharged from the outlet, avoiding seed burn and seedling rot caused by prolonged soaking in fertilizer solution. The mixing of seeds and fertilizer is completed instantaneously within the seed metering pipe 4, and the mixing ratio is controlled by the negative pressure intensity at the throat and the parameters of the air source 5, resulting in better mixing uniformity than ground premixing methods.

[0042] As a preferred example, the seed metering pipe 4 consists of, from top to bottom, a seed-air mixing chamber 401, a fertilizer-water mixing chamber 402, and a seed metering chamber 403. The inlet is located at the top of the seed-air mixing chamber 401, and the outlet is located at the bottom of the seed metering chamber 403. The fertilizer-water mixing chamber 402 is located between the seed-air mixing chamber 401 and the seed metering chamber 403, and its sidewall is connected to the fertilizer supply mechanism. The seed-air mixing chamber 401 receives seeds and high-speed airflow from the seed metering chamber 804. The high-speed airflow creates negative pressure in the fertilizer-water mixing chamber 402, drawing liquid fertilizer from the fertilizer supply mechanism into the fertilizer-water mixing chamber 402 through a flexible tube. Seeds, fertilizer, and water are instantaneously mixed in the fertilizer-water mixing chamber 402, and the mixture is discharged downwards along the seed metering chamber 403. The seed metering pipe 4 is vertically positioned, allowing seeds and fertilizer to flow smoothly and without blockages under gravity.

[0043] In one embodiment, the system further includes a drive shaft 10, a sleeve 13, and a sprocket 12. The drive shaft 10 penetrates the housing and is connected to the seed metering disc 801. The sleeve 13 is fitted onto the outside of the drive shaft 10. One end of the sleeve 13 abuts against one side of the seed metering disc 801 along the axial direction, and the other end abuts against one side of the inner wall of the housing. A positioning structure is provided between the other side of the seed metering disc 801 along the axial direction and the other side of the inner wall of the housing, and the two are rotatably engaged through the positioning structure. One end of the drive shaft 10 extends out of the housing, and the sprocket 12 is mounted on the extended end of the drive shaft 10 via a flat key for transmission connection with an external drive mechanism to drive the seed metering disc 801 to rotate. The drive shaft 10 penetrates the housing and is connected to the seed metering disc 801 via a flat key, transmitting the power from the external geared motor via chain drive to the seed metering disc 801, causing the seed metering disc 801 to rotate at a uniform speed. Sleeve 13 is fitted onto the outside of drive shaft 10, with one end abutting against the end face of seed metering disc 801 and the other end abutting against the inner wall of the housing. Together with the positioning structure on the other side of the housing, it provides axial bidirectional limiting for seed metering disc 801, preventing axial movement during rotation. The positioning structure establishes a stable rotational fit between seed metering disc 801 and the housing on the other axial side, ensuring axial stability and no wobble during rotation, and accurate seed filling and metering positions.

[0044] In one example, the sleeve 13 is also used to prevent the drive shaft 10 from damaging the seeds during rotation. As the drive shaft 10 passes through the housing and through the seed box 9 area, the sleeve 13 isolates the surface of the drive shaft 10 from the seeds, preventing the seeds from being entangled, crushed, or scratched by the rotating drive shaft 10, thus protecting the integrity of the seeds and ensuring the quality of seed dispensing.

[0045] In one example, the system also includes a base 1, a seed metering device support 14, and a seed metering tube support 3. The seed metering device support 14 is fixed to the base 1 and secured to the housing of the seed metering device 8 with bolts. The seed metering tube support 3 is fixed to the base 1 and the seed metering tube 4 is vertically fixed to the base 1 with clamps and bolts. A support plate 11 is provided on the side of the base 1, which supports the extended end of the drive shaft 10. One end of the drive shaft 10 extends out of the housing towards the support plate 11. A sprocket 12 is mounted on the extended end of the drive shaft 10 via a flat key. An external geared motor drives the sprocket 12 to rotate via a chain, which in turn drives the drive shaft 10 to rotate. The drive shaft 10 then drives the seed metering disc 801 to rotate synchronously and uniformly. The support plate 11 provides radial support to the extended end of the drive shaft 10, ensuring the smoothness and reliability of the sprocket 12's transmission.

[0046] Furthermore, the present invention also provides a seeding method using the integrated seeding device described in any of the above embodiments, comprising the following steps: The seed metering disc 801 rotates, and each tooth 8003 passes sequentially through the seed collection chamber 807, the seed cleaning chamber 802, and the seed metering chamber 804. When the toothed tooth 8003 passes through the seed collection chamber 807, the seeds are filled into the receiving trough 8002; When the groove teeth 8003 pass through the seed cleaning chamber 802, the air source 5 supplies air to the seed cleaning chamber 802 to blow away the excess seeds outside the receiving groove 8002 from the groove teeth 8003 and discharge them. When the slot tooth 8003 passes through the seed dispensing chamber 804, the air source 5 supplies air to the seed dispensing chamber 804, blowing the seeds in the receiving slot 8002 away and transporting them to the seed dispensing pipe 4. The seeds are mixed with fertilizer supplied by the fertilizer supply mechanism in the seed discharge tube 4 and then discharged from the discharge end.

[0047] This seed metering method integrates four processes—seed filling, seed cleaning, seed metering, and seed-fertilizer mixing—into a continuous workflow. The seed metering disc 801 rotates at a constant speed. After the seed filling process in the receiving chamber 807, the centrifugal force removes excess seeds adhering to the surface of the seed teeth 8003, completing the first stage of centrifugal cleaning. The seed teeth 8003 then enter the cleaning chamber 802, where a secondary airflow cleans the remaining small amount of excess seeds around the receiving troughs 8002, ensuring that only a single seed remains in each trough. After cleaning, the seed teeth 8003 enter the seed metering chamber 804. A first airflow vertically blows the seeds away from the bottom of the receiving troughs 8002, while a second airflow collects the suspended seeds and transports them to the seed metering pipe 4. The seeds are mixed with fertilizer at the throat of the seed metering pipe 4 before being discharged. The seeds are transported in a dry state throughout the entire process, only briefly mixing with fertilizer in the seed metering pipe 4, avoiding damage caused by prolonged contact with fertilizer and water.

[0048] To facilitate understanding, the integrated seed metering device and seed metering method described above will be further explained below in conjunction with the specific workflow.

[0049] S1. Seed Filling Process: Open the seed box cover 17 and fill the seed box 9 with rapeseed grains. The external reduction mechanism drives the sprocket 12 to rotate, which in turn drives the drive shaft 10 to rotate, which in turn drives the seed metering disc 801 to rotate synchronously. The grooves 8003 of the seed metering disc 801 pass sequentially through the bottom seed collection chamber 807, and the seeds are filled into the receiving trough 8002 under the action of gravity. The rotation of the seed metering disc 801 generates centrifugal force, which throws off the excess seeds attached to the surface of the grooves 8003 and the outside of the receiving trough 8002 and back into the seed collection chamber 807, completing the first stage of centrifugal seed cleaning.

[0050] S2. Secondary airflow seed cleaning process: The groove teeth 8003 are transferred into the seed cleaning chamber 802 along with the seed dispensing tray 801. The air source 5 introduces high-pressure purging airflow through the seed cleaning air inlet pipe 6. The airflow washes away the small amount of excess rapeseed grains remaining on the outside of the receiving tank 8002. The remaining grains are carried back to the seed box 9 along the seed cleaning air outlet pipe 16 with the airflow. The purging airflow is discharged through the vent 1701, ensuring that only a single grain remains inside each receiving tank 8002.

[0051] S3. Pneumatic seed feeding process: After the seed cleaning is completed, the slots 8003 are transferred to the seed dispensing chamber 804. The airflow in the seed dispensing chamber 804 is divided into two paths. The first path of airflow impacts upward from the bottom of the receiving tank 8002 along the L-shaped ventilation pipe 8001, blowing individual rapeseed seeds vertically away from the receiving tank 8002; the second path of horizontally guided airflow collects the suspended seeds and transports them along the air outlet side of the seed dispensing chamber 804 to the feed end of the seed dispensing pipe 4.

[0052] S4. Synchronous mixing and discharge of seeds and fertilizer: High-speed airflow creates negative pressure in the Venturi tube of seed metering pipe 4, drawing liquid fertilizer from the fertilizer supply mechanism into the throat of seed metering pipe 4. Rapeseed grains and fertilizer are mixed in seed metering pipe 4, and the mixture falls evenly along the discharge end, completing the simultaneous operation of rapeseed sowing, watering, and fertilization in one go.

[0053] The above four processes are completed sequentially during the continuous rotation of the seed metering disc 801. Each rotation of the seed metering disc 801 completes one cycle of seed filling, seed cleaning, seed metering, and seed-fertilizer mixing for each tooth 8003. The rotational speed of the seed metering disc 801 is matched to the drive speed of the external geared motor, allowing adjustment of the metering frequency according to sowing needs. The entire device has a compact structure, modular layout, and is easy to disassemble, assemble, and maintain. It can be used with indoor sowing test benches or with small field direct seeding equipment.

[0054] In summary, this invention addresses the problems of high reseeding and missed sowing rates, seed damage from mechanical seed cleaning, separation of sowing and fertilization processes, and the risk of seed burn and seedling rot when seeds and fertilizers are mixed in the same furrow. It provides an integrated seed metering device and method. The seed metering device housing contains a seed collection chamber, a seed cleaning chamber, and a seed metering chamber arranged sequentially along the seed transport direction. A seed metering disc rotates within the housing, and a receiving groove is formed on the outer circumference of the disc. This receiving groove passes through the three chambers sequentially as the disc rotates. The seed cleaning chamber and the seed metering chamber are connected to an air source via independent pipelines. The feed end of the seed metering pipe is connected to the seed metering chamber, and the middle section is connected to the fertilizer supply mechanism.

[0055] This allows the seed collection chamber to fill with seeds, and the centrifugal force of the rotating seed metering tray to remove attached seeds, achieving primary seed cleaning. The seed cleaning chamber removes residual seeds from the outside of the receiving trough through a blowing airflow, achieving secondary seed cleaning. The seed metering chamber blows individual seeds from the bottom of the receiving trough through airflow and transports them to the seed metering pipe. The two-stage seed cleaning ensures the accuracy of single-seed metering and reduces the rate of reseeding and missed sowing. Moreover, the seeds are driven by airflow throughout the entire process from the receiving trough to the seed metering pipe, with no hard parts contacting the seed surface, effectively reducing the seed breakage rate and protecting seed viability. At the same time, the seed metering pipe adopts a Venturi tube structure, and the seeds are transported in a dry state to the throat of the seed metering pipe, mixed with fertilizer, and discharged immediately, avoiding prolonged contact between seeds and fertilizer that could cause seedling burn and rot. Sowing, watering, and fertilization are completed simultaneously.

[0056] Any adaptive changes made according to actual needs are within the scope of protection of this invention.

[0057] It should be noted that, for those skilled in the art, it is obvious that the present invention is not limited to the details of the exemplary embodiments described above, and that the invention can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics of the invention. Therefore, the embodiments should be considered illustrative and non-limiting in all respects, and the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. Thus, all variations falling within the meaning and scope of equivalents of the claims are intended to be included within the present invention. No reference numerals in the claims should be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

[0058] Specific examples have been used to illustrate the principles and implementation methods of this invention. The descriptions of the above embodiments are only for the purpose of helping to understand the method and core ideas of this invention. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will recognize that, based on the ideas of this invention, there will be changes in the specific implementation methods and application scope. Therefore, the content of this specification should not be construed as a limitation of this invention.

Claims

1. An integrated seed metering device, characterized in that, Includes seed metering device, air source and seed metering pipe; The seed metering device includes a housing, a seed receiving chamber, a seed cleaning chamber, and a seed metering chamber that are arranged at intervals along the seed conveying direction and are independent of each other on the housing. The shell contains a seed metering disc that rotates within it. The seed metering disc has multiple grooves on its outer periphery. Each groove has a receiving slot for holding seeds. The receiving slot is located in front of the groove along the direction of rotation of the seed metering disc. The receiving slot moves synchronously with the seed metering disc and passes through the seed collection chamber, the seed cleaning chamber, and the seed metering chamber in sequence. The seed receiving chamber is used to receive and store seeds; one side of the seed cleaning chamber is connected to the air source and is used to blow away the seeds outside the receiving trough and cause the seeds to detach from the trough teeth; the other side of the seed cleaning chamber is used to discharge the seeds; one side of the seed discharging chamber is connected to the air source and is used to blow away the seeds inside the receiving trough and cause the seeds to detach from the receiving trough; the other side of the seed discharging chamber is used to discharge the seeds. The seed metering pipe has an inlet end and an outlet end. The inlet end is connected to the seed metering chamber and is used to receive the seeds discharged from the seed metering chamber. The middle part of the seed metering pipe is connected to the fertilizer supply mechanism, which supplies fertilizer to the seeds in the seed metering pipe. The outlet end is used to discharge the seeds mixed with fertilizer.

2. The integrated seed metering device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The housing includes a front shell and a rear shell, the front shell and the rear shell are connected together, and a sealing mechanism is provided between the connecting surfaces of the front shell, the rear shell and the seed metering tray. The sealing mechanism is used to isolate the seed cleaning chamber and the seed metering chamber into two independent chambers.

3. The integrated seed metering device according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each of the slots is also provided with a ventilation pipe, the outlet of which is located at the bottom of the receiving groove, and the inlet of which is located on the side of the slot. The air source is connected to a first ventilation pipe, which includes a first branch and a second branch. The outlet of the first branch is directly opposite the inlet of the ventilation pipe, and the outlet of the second branch is located at the opening of the receiving tank and is directly opposite the feed end of the seeding pipe.

4. The integrated seed metering device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The gas source is connected to a second ventilation pipe; The seed cleaning chamber is equipped with a seed cleaning air inlet pipe and a seed cleaning air outlet pipe. The seed cleaning air inlet pipe is used to connect with the second ventilation pipe, and the seed cleaning air outlet pipe is used to discharge gas and blow out the seeds.

5. The integrated seed metering device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The seed collection chamber is connected to a seed box that supplies it with seeds, and the seed cleaning vent pipe is connected to the seed box to return excess seeds that have been blown out to the seed box.

6. The integrated seed metering device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The seed box has multiple ventilation holes.

7. The integrated seed metering device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The seed collection chamber is located at the bottom of the housing, and the seed box is installed on the housing and located above the seed collection chamber. The bottom of the seed box is connected to the top of the seed collection chamber.

8. The integrated seed metering device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The seed metering tube has a Venturi tube structure, and its throat is connected to the fertilizer supply mechanism.

9. The integrated seed metering device according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a drive shaft and a sleeve; The drive shaft passes through the housing and is connected to the seed metering disc in a driving manner; The sleeve is fitted onto the outside of the drive shaft. One end of the sleeve abuts against one side end face of the seed metering disc along the axial direction, and the other end abuts against one side inner wall of the housing. A positioning structure is provided between the other side end face of the seed metering disc along the axial direction and the other side inner wall of the housing, and the two are rotatably engaged through the positioning structure. One end of the drive shaft extends out of the housing and is used to connect with an external drive mechanism to drive the seed metering disc to rotate.

10. A seeding method using the integrated seeding device as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: The seed metering disc rotates, and each of the groove teeth passes sequentially through the seed collection chamber, the seed cleaning chamber, and the seed metering chamber; As the groove teeth pass through the seed collection chamber, the seeds are filled into the receiving trough; When the groove teeth pass through the seed cleaning chamber, the air source supplies air to the seed cleaning chamber to blow away excess seeds from the groove teeth and discharge them. When the slotted teeth pass through the seed dispensing chamber, the air source supplies air to the seed dispensing chamber, blowing the seeds in the receiving slot away and transporting them to the seed dispensing pipe; The seeds are mixed with the fertilizer supplied by the fertilizer supply mechanism inside the seed discharge tube and then discharged from the discharge end.

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