Chili seed storage device integrating moisture detection and regulation and control functions

Abstract

The utility model relates to the technical field of agriculture, and particularly discloses a pepper seed storage device integrating moisture detection and regulation and control functions. Comprising a shell, an inner container, a vacuumizing assembly and a detachable heating cover. The inner container is provided with a storage cavity and is divided into a plurality of independent cavities through layer partition plates, and a seed tray and a temperature and humidity sensor are arranged in each cavity. The vacuumizing assembly is connected with the storage cavity and used for regulating and controlling the humidity; a heating wire is arranged in the heating cover, so that the seeds can be locally heated and dehumidified. The device supports transverse or longitudinal layered layout, and the heating cover can be arranged on the top or on the side to meet different storage requirements. Through real-time monitoring and independent regulation and control, accurate temperature and humidity management is realized, seed mildew or dehydration damage caused by regulation and control lag in a traditional storage mode is avoided, meanwhile, energy consumption is reduced, and the seed storage period is prolonged. The pepper seed storage device is simple in structure, convenient to operate and suitable for long-term efficient storage of pepper seeds.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of agricultural technology, and in particular to a chili seed storage device that integrates moisture detection and regulation functions. Background Technology

[0002] In the field of long-term preservation of chili seeds, conventional storage facilities mostly rely on periodic ventilation or integrated dehumidification equipment for humidity control. These methods typically activate the ventilation system at fixed intervals (e.g., daily timed air exchange) or trigger global dehumidification based on thresholds from a single temperature and humidity sensor, resulting in significant response lag. Due to the uneven humidity distribution within the seed pile's microenvironment, localized high-humidity hotspots can rapidly form due to respiration, external leakage, and other factors. Traditional technologies, limited by sparse monitoring points and coarse control strategies, struggle to promptly capture and eliminate such local fluctuations. Experiments show that when environmental humidity exceeds a critical value (e.g., RH > 65%) for 30 minutes, the probability of mold growth in chili seeds increases by more than 40%. The lagging control speed of existing technologies cannot meet the stringent requirements of real-time environmental management for seed preservation.

[0003] Further research indicates that traditional global dehumidification methods suffer from energy waste and the risk of localized overtreatment when dealing with sudden humidity changes. For example, activating the entire dehumidification system to reduce humidity in a specific area may cause seeds in other low-humidity areas to lose viability due to excessive drying (germination rate drops by 50% when moisture content is below 8%). Furthermore, fixed-cycle ventilation strategies are out of sync with the actual condition of the seeds, and frequent start-ups and shutdowns can lead to increased mechanical wear and energy consumption. Especially in multi-variety storage scenarios, existing technologies lack the ability to independently control humidity in different zones, failing to accommodate the varying humidity requirements of different seeds (e.g., dry seeds require RH ≤ 50%, while coated seeds require RH ≤ 60%). These shortcomings severely restrict the safety and economy of seed storage, necessitating an innovative solution with rapid response and precise zone control capabilities.

[0004] Patent "A Seed Storage Device" (application number CN202320322220.0, hereinafter referred to as Prior Art 1) discloses a seed storage device. Prior Art 1 regulates the temperature and humidity inside the storage box through the coordinated operation of a humidity sensor, a humidifier, a temperature sensor, and a refrigeration unit, while a cooling fan accelerates air circulation. A vibration motor causes a vibrating block to periodically vibrate the seed storage box, automatically turning the seeds and preventing the localized spread of mold. A telescopic rod and spring structure reduce vibration transmission, while a magnetic limiting block ensures the stability of the movement path and guarantees consistent vibration effects. This automated control of temperature, humidity, and mechanical vibration reduces the need for manual operation, thereby improving the quality of seed storage.

[0005] However, when dealing with local humidity fluctuations, the existing technology 1 has limited regional control capabilities, making it difficult to control the differentiated needs of seeds in different regions; and it is also difficult to quickly control some areas, so its response speed and control accuracy still need to be improved. Utility Model Content

[0006] In view of this, the present invention provides a chili seed storage device that integrates moisture detection and regulation functions, in order to solve the problem that traditional storage devices rely on periodic ventilation or global dehumidification, which makes it difficult to respond quickly to humidity fluctuations and the seeds may be damaged before regulation.

[0007] This utility model provides a chili seed storage device integrating moisture detection and regulation functions, comprising: an outer shell; an inner liner disposed inside the outer shell and having a storage cavity inside; the storage cavity being divided into multiple chambers by a partition, each chamber having a tray for placing seeds; a vacuum assembly disposed between the outer shell and the inner liner, the vacuum assembly being connected to the storage cavity of the inner liner through a vacuum pipe; wherein each tray is equipped with a detachable heating cover, the inner wall of the heating cover being provided with heating wires for providing heat to the tray; wherein each tray is also equipped with a sensor for detecting temperature and humidity.

[0008] Preferably, the heating cover is powered by the power supply base after installation, and the wires of the power supply base are arranged through the wire groove in the storage cavity.

[0009] Preferably, the heating hood of each chamber can independently heat the corresponding tray of the heating hood.

[0010] Preferably, the partition is a transversely partitioned structure, and the multiple chambers have the same volume.

[0011] Preferably, the tray has a recessed slot for placing seeds;

[0012] The heating cover is positioned on top of the tray.

[0013] Preferably, the partition is a longitudinally separated structure, and the multiple chambers have the same volume.

[0014] Preferably, the tray has several spaced-apart placement plates for placing the seeds; the heating cover is located on one side of the tray.

[0015] Preferably, the wire groove is provided along the side wall of the storage cavity or the edge of the partition plate, and corresponds to the interface of the power supply socket.

[0016] Preferably, the sensor is an integrated temperature and humidity sensor, which is fixedly installed on the side wall or bottom of the tray.

[0017] Preferably, the vacuum assembly includes a vacuum pump and a condenser, the vacuum pump being connected to the storage chamber via a vacuum pipe, and the condenser being used to recover water vapor.

[0018] The chili seed storage device with integrated moisture detection and regulation function provided by this utility model has the following beneficial effects:

[0019] In this invention, by setting up multiple sensors and a multi-chamber independent control architecture, the response speed and humidity control accuracy of the chili seed storage environment are improved: based on real-time monitoring of environmental data by sensors, the system can quickly link local heating and vacuum components to proactively intervene in the early stages of abnormal humidity fluctuations, effectively suppressing the risk of seed mold; combined with real-time sensor monitoring and local heating / vacuum linkage mechanism, it can quickly respond to local humidity fluctuations, achieving coordinated operation of directional dehumidification (heating to evaporate moisture) and vacuum dehumidification, avoiding the lag of traditional global control; the partitioned design of the layered plates, combined with the placement groove / plate structure, reduces seed accumulation damage, and the vacuum condensation system recovers moisture while efficiently dehumidifying, avoiding excessive dehydration. Attached Figure Description

[0020] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this utility model, the drawings used in the embodiments of this utility model will be briefly introduced below. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort, and these are all within the protection scope of this utility model.

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the external structure of a chili seed storage device that integrates moisture detection and regulation functions;

[0022] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional structural diagram of a chili seed storage device that integrates moisture detection and regulation functions;

[0023] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of a chili seed storage device that integrates moisture detection and regulation functions.

[0024] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure in Example 2;

[0025] Parts and their numbers in the diagram:

[0026] 100 - Outer shell, 110 - Sealed door;

[0027] 200-Inner liner, 210-Storage cavity, 211-Blocking layer, 212-Cavity, 220-Cable trough, 221-Power supply socket, 230-Tray, 231-Supporting plate, 232-Supporting slot;

[0028] 300 - Vacuum assembly;

[0029] 400 - Heating cover. Detailed Implementation

[0030] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this utility model clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that, in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are merely used to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the terms "center," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicating orientation or positional relationships, are based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this utility model. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitation, an element defined by the phrase "comprising..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element. Unless otherwise specified, embodiments of the present invention and the various features thereof can be combined with each other, all within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0031] Example 1

[0032] Please see Figure 1 This invention provides a chili seed storage device integrating moisture detection and control functions. When researching long-term preservation methods for chili seeds, conventional storage facilities mainly rely on periodic ventilation or overall dehumidification equipment to control humidity. These methods typically set fixed time intervals to activate the ventilation system (e.g., daily timed air exchange) or activate global dehumidification based on threshold values ​​from a single temperature and humidity sensor, resulting in significant response delays.

[0033] Due to the uneven distribution of humidity within the seed pile's microenvironment, localized high-humidity hotspots can rapidly form due to respiration or external leakage. Traditional technologies, with their limited monitoring points and rudimentary control strategies, struggle to detect and eliminate these localized humidity fluctuations in a timely manner. Experiments show that when environmental humidity exceeds a critical value (e.g., RH > 65%) for 30 minutes, the likelihood of chili seeds becoming moldy increases by more than 40%. Existing technologies cannot meet the stringent requirements of real-time environmental management for seed preservation because their adjustment speed is too slow.

[0034] Therefore, this utility model provides a chili seed storage device that integrates moisture detection and regulation functions. This storage device can detect moisture and regulate water content by using directional dehumidification (heating to evaporate moisture) and vacuum dehumidification in synergy to avoid the lag of traditional global regulation.

[0035] Please see Figure 2 and Figure 3 In this embodiment, the storage device includes a shell 100, an inner liner 200, a vacuum assembly 300, a tray 230, a heating cover 400, and a sealing door 110 that encloses the inner liner 200 within the shell 100; the sealing door 110 is hinged to the side of the shell 100 and is sealed when engaged with the shell 100. The inner liner 200 is disposed inside the outer shell 100 and has a storage cavity 210 inside; the storage cavity 210 is divided into multiple chambers 212 by a partition 211, and each chamber 212 is provided with a tray 230 for placing seeds; the vacuum assembly 300 is disposed between the outer shell 100 and the inner liner 200, and the vacuum assembly 300 is connected to the storage cavity 210 of the inner liner 200 through a vacuum pipe; each tray 230 is provided with a detachable heating cover 400, and the inner wall of the heating cover 400 is provided with heating wires for providing heat to the inside of the tray 230; each tray 230 is also provided with a sensor for detecting temperature and humidity.

[0036] In use, seeds can be placed on trays 230 in the corresponding chambers 212 by opening the sealing door 110 and installing the heating cover 400; the sealing door 110 is then closed to ensure the airtightness of the storage chamber 210. The vacuum assembly 300 is activated, connecting to the storage chamber 210 of the inner liner 200 via a vacuum pipe, increasing the vacuum level in the storage chamber 210 and reducing the air pressure. This lowers the boiling point of the seeds in the trays 230, achieving a low-temperature drying effect and reducing the humidity of the seeds in the chambers 212, effectively preventing the seeds from becoming damp.

[0037] Meanwhile, sensors monitor the temperature and humidity inside tray 230 in real time to ensure seeds are stored under suitable conditions. When storage conditions need to be adjusted, the power of the heating wires inside the heating hood 400 can be adjusted via the control system. The heating hood 400 will provide an appropriate amount of heat to evaporate excess moisture inside tray 230, further achieving targeted dehumidification. Sensors monitor the temperature and humidity inside tray 230 in real time to ensure the seed storage environment is always optimal. This design not only improves the efficiency and safety of seed storage but also significantly reduces the risk of seed mold caused by humidity fluctuations.

[0038] Further, please see Figure 2 After installation, the heating cover 400 is powered by the power supply base 221, and the wires of the power supply base 221 are arranged through the wire groove 220 in the storage cavity 210. Each heating cover 400 in each cavity 212 can independently heat the corresponding tray 230. This allows for independent temperature control of the seeds in each cavity 212, avoiding storage problems caused by temperature differences between different seeds. Simultaneously, the wire arrangement through the wire groove 220 not only ensures neatness and aesthetics but also avoids safety hazards caused by messy wires. Furthermore, the independent heating operation design allows operators to flexibly adjust the heating temperature and heating time of each cavity 212 according to the storage needs of different seeds, further improving the flexibility and adaptability of seed storage. This refined management undoubtedly provides a more reliable technical guarantee for the long-term preservation of seeds.

[0039] In the storage device, the heating component provides the necessary heat energy under low pressure, optimizing the drying process by synergistically reducing air pressure and moderately increasing temperature. While a vacuum environment lowers the boiling point of water (e.g., approximately 32°C at 5 kPa), the evaporation rate of water is slow under low pressure alone. The heating component maintains the temperature at 35-40°C (far below the boiling point at normal pressure), avoiding damage to seed activity from high temperatures while significantly increasing the kinetic energy of water molecules, thus promoting rapid evaporation of moisture from both the inside and surface of the seeds. This combination of "low pressure + low temperature heating" shortens the drying time and ensures uniform drying, ultimately achieving efficient and safe dehydration.

[0040] Further, please see Figure 3 The partition 211 has a horizontally partitioned structure, and the multiple chambers 212 have the same volume. The tray 230 has a recessed seed placement groove 232; the heating cover 400 is disposed on the top of the tray 230.

[0041] Designed to address the characteristics of chili seeds, this design employs a horizontally layered structure. Each independent chamber 212 features a recessed tray 230 that neatly holds the chili seeds, while a top heating hood 400 provides gentle and uniform radiant heating (35-40℃). This structure is particularly suitable for small-sized chili seeds (approximately 3-5mm in diameter), as they are less prone to rolling within the recessed grooves, ensuring even heating. Furthermore, the independent temperature control within each layer precisely matches the drying requirements of different chili seed varieties. The sealed heating system prevents the seed surface from hardening due to excessive airflow, maintaining a germination rate of over 90%, making it especially suitable for preserving valuable chili varieties in breeding research.

[0042] Furthermore, the cable tray 220 is arranged along the side wall of the storage cavity 210 or the edge of the partition 211, and corresponds to the interface of the power supply socket 221. This ensures neat storage and convenient management of the wires. The arrangement of the cable tray 220 along the side wall of the storage cavity 210 or the edge of the partition 211 saves space and prevents the wires from being scattered haphazardly, improving the cleanliness and safety of the equipment. At the same time, the correspondence between the cable tray 220 and the interface of the power supply socket 221 allows the wires to be accurately connected to the power supply socket 221, ensuring the normal operation of the equipment.

[0043] Furthermore, the sensor is an integrated temperature and humidity sensor, fixedly mounted on the side wall or bottom of the tray 230. The sensor can monitor the temperature and humidity environment of the chili seeds within the tray 230 in real time, ensuring the seeds are stored under optimal drying conditions. The high sensitivity of the integrated temperature and humidity sensor can capture minute environmental changes, providing accurate data support for researchers. Simultaneously, fixing the sensor to the side wall or bottom of the tray 230 avoids direct contact between the sensor and the seeds, reducing the impact of heat generated by the sensor on the seed drying process, further improving the drying effect and germination rate.

[0044] Furthermore, the vacuum assembly 300 includes a vacuum pump and a condenser, the vacuum pump being connected to the storage chamber 210 via a vacuum pipe, and the condenser being used to recover water vapor.

[0045] The working principle of this embodiment is as follows: When the chili seeds in the storage chamber 210 need to be dried, a vacuum pump is activated. The vacuum pump extracts the air from the storage chamber 210 through a vacuum pipe, creating a negative pressure environment. This negative pressure environment helps accelerate the evaporation of moisture and improves drying efficiency. When the moisture evaporation effect is not good, the heating wire on the heating cover 400 is activated simultaneously to work together to evaporate the moisture. At the same time, the evaporated water vapor is guided to the condenser, where it is cooled and condensed into liquid water, thus realizing the recovery of water vapor. This design not only improves the drying effect but also effectively avoids the impact of direct water vapor emission on the surrounding environment, reflecting the concept of environmental protection and energy conservation. In this embodiment, through the synergistic effect of the vacuum component 300 and the integrated temperature and humidity sensor, precise control of the chili seed drying process can be achieved, ensuring that the seeds are preserved under optimal conditions.

[0046] Example 2

[0047] Please see Figure 4 This utility model provides a chili seed storage device that integrates moisture detection and regulation functions.

[0048] In Example 1, although the horizontal layered structure achieved uniform heating and variety isolation of chili seeds, it has significant limitations in industrial-scale production scenarios: its closed-loop radiant heating mode results in low drying efficiency (4 hours per cycle), and the layered design makes it difficult to quickly clean seed debris, leading to high energy consumption when processing thick-skinned chili varieties with high moisture content. More importantly, static heating easily causes the waxy layer on the seed surface to harden, affecting the subsequent germination rate.

[0049] Therefore, in Example 2, a longitudinally separated and lateral convection heating structure is adopted. The longitudinal airflow channel shortens the drying time to 3 hours and increases efficiency by 25%, which is particularly suitable for the large-scale continuous processing of commercial chili seeds. The modular and detachable design increases the equipment cleaning efficiency by 3 times and perfectly solves the problem of calyx impurities in chili processing. The dynamic heating mode breaks the waxy sealing layer, which increases the germination rate of thick-skinned varieties (such as habanero peppers).

[0050] In this embodiment, the partition 211 is a longitudinally partitioned structure, and the multiple chambers 212 have the same volume.

[0051] Furthermore, the tray 230 is provided with a plurality of spaced placement plates 231 for placing the seeds; the heating cover 400 is disposed on one side of the tray 230.

[0052] This design ensures that the seeds in each chamber 212 are heated evenly, avoiding uneven heating caused by differences in volume. The placement plate 231 not only facilitates seed placement but also prevents seeds from rolling or scattering during heating, ensuring seed stability. The heating hood 400, positioned on one side of the tray 230, effectively guides hot air to form convection within the chambers 212, further improving heating efficiency and uniformity. This configuration not only optimizes the heating effect but also enhances the practicality and reliability of the entire storage device.

[0053] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this utility model, and are not intended to limit it. Although the utility model has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features therein. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this utility model.

Claims

1. A chili seed storage device integrating moisture detection and regulation functions, characterized in that, include: Outer shell (100); The inner liner (200) is located inside the outer shell (100) and has a storage cavity (210) inside; the storage cavity (210) is divided into multiple chambers (212) by a partition (211), and each chamber (212) is provided with a tray (230) for placing seeds; A vacuum assembly (300) is disposed between the outer shell (100) and the inner liner (200), and the vacuum assembly (300) is connected to the storage cavity (210) of the inner liner (200) through a vacuum pipe; Each of the trays (230) is equipped with a removable heating cover (400), the inner wall of which is provided with heating wires for providing heat to the inside of the tray (230); Each of the trays (230) is also equipped with a sensor for detecting temperature and humidity.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The partition plate (211) is provided with a power supply base (221). After the heating cover (400) is installed, it is powered by the power supply base (221), and the wires of the power supply base (221) are arranged through the wire groove (220) in the storage cavity (210).

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that, Each of the chambers (212) has a heating cover (400) that can independently heat the tray (230) corresponding to the heating cover (400).

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The partition (211) is a transverse partition structure, and the multiple chambers (212) have the same volume.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that, The tray (230) has a recessed seed placement slot (232) inside; the heating cover (400) is located on the top of the tray (230).

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The partition (211) is a longitudinally partitioned structure, and the multiple chambers (212) have the same volume.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that, The tray (230) is provided with a plurality of spaced placement plates (231) for placing the seeds; the heating cover (400) is provided on one side of the tray (230).

8. The apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that, The cable tray (220) is arranged along the side wall of the storage cavity (210) or the edge of the partition plate (211), and corresponds to the interface of the power supply base (221).

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sensor is an integrated temperature and humidity sensor, which is fixedly installed on the side wall or bottom of the tray (230).

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The vacuum assembly (300) includes a vacuum pump and a condenser. The vacuum pump is connected to the storage chamber (210) via a vacuum pipe, and the condenser is used to recover water vapor.

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