Pivotable Seed Double Eliminator for Single-Seed Singulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural planting operations face inefficiencies due to the formation of seed doubles, where multiple seeds are deposited together, leading to sub-optimal seed delivery, ineffective singulation, and waste.
Innovation Solution
A seed double eliminator system is introduced, featuring a housing with pivotable tines and a selector mechanism that adjusts the angular orientation of the tines to selectively dislodge excess seeds from seed apertures, ensuring only a single seed is delivered.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a seed meter uses pressure differential to adhere seed to aperture, then seed selection is achieved, but seed doubles are formed leading to poor singulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a movable tine mechanism that can pivot between a first position (engaging the aperture) and a second position (disengaged). This dynamic adjustment allows the system to adapt its configuration based on whether seed doubles are detected, enabling precise control over seed release to eliminate doubles while maintaining accurate single seed selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the angular orientation parameter of the tine by moving it between different positions. This parameter change allows the tine to engage with seed doubles at specific angles and orientations, selectively removing excess seeds while preserving the intended single seed per aperture configuration.
2Device complexity
If tines are made stationary to simplify structure, then device complexity is reduced, but seed double elimination effectiveness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a movable tine that pivots about a pivot axis, transforming a static structure into a dynamic one. This allows the tine to change its angular orientation in response to detected seed doubles, significantly improving elimination effectiveness while adding only moderate structural complexity through the pivot mechanism and selector assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The selector mechanism is positioned to detect seed doubles before the seed release stage. This preliminary detection and classification action allows the system to pre-position the tine at the appropriate angular orientation to eliminate seed doubles, improving effectiveness by acting in advance rather than reacting during seed delivery.
3Device complexity
If tine angular orientation is fixed to simplify control, then control mechanism complexity is reduced, but seed delivery accuracy decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a selector mechanism that allows the tine's angular orientation to be dynamically adjusted between different positions. This dynamic control capability enables precise adaptation to different seed double configurations, significantly improving seed delivery accuracy by allowing the system to optimize the tine angle for each specific situation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables change in the angular orientation parameter of the tine through the selector mechanism. This parameter adjustment allows the system to optimize the interaction between the tine and seed doubles, improving accuracy in seed elimination while maintaining manageable control complexity through the selector interface.
Data Source
AI summary
An example seed double eliminator includes at least one tine that is disposed adjacent to an inner surface of a seed disc. The at least one tine is pivotably movable about an axis of rotation to engage seed doubles located at one or more locations along the inner surface of the seed disc and eliminate excess seeds such that a single seed is retained at the location. The at least one tine is pivotably movable in response to operation of a position selector to cause an angular orientation of the tine to become altered.