Direct Injection System for Variable Seed Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional seed treatment systems face challenges such as the need for sterile storage and rapid use of liquid components, leading to inefficiencies and waste, especially when treating variable seed amounts, as they require precise mixing ratios and cannot accommodate on-demand treatment without risking degradation of the treatment material.
Innovation Solution
A direct injection system with flexible bladder containers and metering bodies that allow for precise control of liquid component flow rates, enabling the combination and delivery of multi-part liquid mixtures to a seed treater, ensuring accurate proportions and reducing waste by allowing for variable seed treatment quantities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If prepackaged component bags are used with predetermined volume ratios, then manufacturing precision of mixture proportions is improved, but adaptability to variable seed treatment amounts deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The prepackaged component bags are divided into multiple sub-components: a container with pre-measured inoculant, a separate extender component, and a mixing chamber. This segmentation allows the system to maintain precise pre-measured ratios while enabling flexible dispensing of variable total volumes by controlling the number of cycles or portion sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates a dynamic dispensing mechanism with a controllable pump that can deliver variable volumes of the mixed inoculant solution. The pump system allows the operator to treat variable seed amounts by adjusting the total volume dispensed, while the prepackaged components maintain their precise predetermined ratios throughout the dispensing process.
2Manufacturing precision
If entire contents of component bags are emptied, then manufacturing precision of mixture proportions is improved, but loss of substance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows for partial dispensing of the prepackaged component contents. The pump can deliver only the required volume of mixed inoculant solution, rather than requiring complete emptying of all components. This partial action approach maintains the precise predetermined ratios of the prepackaged components while avoiding waste by dispensing only the necessary amount for the actual seed treatment volume.
3Productivity
If multi-part mixture is prepared in advance, then productivity is improved, but reliability of treatment effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary mixing of the inoculant and extender components within a sealed mixing chamber that is part of the prepackaged component assembly. This preliminary action occurs in a controlled, sterile environment before dispensing, ensuring the mixture is ready for immediate use while maintaining its effectiveness through proper sealing and protection from contamination until the moment of application.
4Device complexity
If manual pouring of components into mix tank is used, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision of mixture proportions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the pre-measured components, mixing chamber, and dispensing mechanism into a single integrated prepackaged component assembly. This merging eliminates the need for separate manual measuring and mixing operations while maintaining precise predetermined proportions. The integrated design provides accurate proportioning through the built-in component ratios and sealed mixing system, reducing device complexity by consolidating multiple functions into one unit.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid direct injection assembly includes a direct injection supply kit to mix liquid components into a mixture and deliver the mixture to a treatment device. The supply kit includes one or more liquid component containers that each include an elongated flexible bladder and a discharge nozzle to discharge a corresponding liquid component from the bladder. The supply kit also includes one or more metering bodies each defining a metering orifice to control a flow rate of the corresponding liquid component from the bladder. The liquid direct injection assembly also includes a container tray configured to removably support a liquid component container.