Inoculant Direct Injection System with Flexible Bladder Metering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional seed treatment systems face issues with component sterility, rapid degradation, and inefficiency due to pre-measured bags requiring precise mixing ratios, which limits on-demand treatment of variable seed amounts and results in unused materials.
Innovation Solution
A direct injection system with flexible bladders and metering bodies, allowing for controlled flow rates of liquid components into a multi-part mixture, which can be precisely combined and dispensed to a treatment device, maintaining sterility and enabling variable seed treatment without waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If prepackaged component bags are used with pre-measured volumes, then the correct mixture ratio is ensured, but the components must be used within about one day or they become ineffective
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the mixture preparation process into separate liquid component containers with individual metering bodies, allowing components to be stored separately in sterile conditions and only combined when needed. This prevents premature mixing and extends the usable life of individual components while maintaining precise mixing ratios through controlled dispensing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-filling sealed containers with precise volumes of liquid components and maintaining them in sterile storage. The metering bodies are pre-configured with specific orifice sizes to ensure correct mixing ratios. This preliminary preparation allows components to be ready for use without being mixed until the moment of application, extending their effective duration.
2Manufacturing precision
If entire contents of bags are emptied to maintain precise mixing ratios, then the correct proportion is achieved, but unused materials are wasted when treating smaller seed batches
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces dynamic control through metering bodies with adjustable orifices and flow rate control, allowing the dispensing rate to be matched to the actual seed treatment requirements. Users can treat variable seed amounts without wasting materials by adjusting the flow rates to match the treatment demand, eliminating the need to empty entire bags.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameters of component delivery by using metering bodies with different orifice sizes and adjustable flow rates. This allows precise control over the amount of each liquid component dispensed, enabling accurate mixing ratios for variable seed batch sizes without forcing users to consume entire prepackaged bags.
3Ease of operation
If manual pouring into a mix tank is used, then components are combined, but the mixture becomes ineffective after about one day and requires sterile environment maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces the manual mechanical pouring process with a controlled dispensing system using metering bodies and flow control mechanisms. Liquid components are delivered through controlled flow paths directly to the treatment device, eliminating the need for manual mixing in open tanks and maintaining sterility throughout the process, thereby extending mixture effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces intermediary components including sealed liquid containers, metering bodies, and controlled flow paths that maintain sterile barriers between the liquid components and the external environment. This intermediary sterile infrastructure allows components to be combined and delivered without direct manual handling, preserving mixture effectiveness beyond one day.
4Manufacturing precision
If prepackaged supplies are used for a set amount of seed, then the mixture ratio is predetermined, but on-demand treatment of variable seed amounts is not permitted
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables dynamic adjustment of flow rates through metering bodies with variable orifices, allowing the mixing ratio and total output to be adapted to different seed treatment requirements. Users can treat variable seed amounts on-demand while maintaining precise mixing ratios by adjusting the dispensing parameters, providing both precision and versatility.
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 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 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.