Pre-dosing Rotor for Gentle Seed Singulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seed dosing devices for agricultural applications, particularly for cereals like wheat, rye, barley, oats, and rapeseed, are not gentle enough and fail to accurately deposit individual seeds due to the use of separating drums or discs that can damage the seeds during the separation process.
Innovation Solution
A dosing device with a pre-dosing unit that feeds granular material from the center onto a rotatably mounted conveyor, minimizing the relative speed and reducing damage, and includes a centering slide to ensure precise delivery of individual seeds by minimizing lateral movement and using a lock to minimize air flow, allowing for gentle treatment and accurate singulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separating drum or separating disc is used to separate seeds, then separation function is achieved, but seed damage occurs due to harsh treatment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical separating drum or disc with a pre-dosing unit that uses a rotor to gently feed seeds onto the conveyor. This substitution eliminates the harsh mechanical separation process that causes seed damage while maintaining the separation function through a different mechanism involving controlled feeding and centrifugal force.
Solution Approach 2:
The pre-dosing unit performs preliminary action by pre-separating and positioning seeds before they enter the main conveyor system. The rotor in the pre-dosing unit individually handles seeds and feeds them onto the conveyor, ensuring gentle treatment and proper spacing without the need for harsh mechanical separation later in the process.
2Productivity
If seeds are fed tangentially from the distributor head into the housing, then feeding function is achieved, but grain damage occurs due to high relative speed
Solution Approach 1:
The pre-dosing unit performs preliminary feeding action by using a rotor to gently deposit seeds onto the conveyor before they enter the main housing. This preliminary action reduces the relative speed between the feeding mechanism and the seeds, preventing damage while maintaining feeding productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by having the rotor rotate in a direction that matches the conveyor's rotation, creating a coordinated motion system. This dynamic alignment reduces relative speed and prevents seed damage while maintaining efficient feeding, as the rotor and conveyor work together in sync rather than opposing each other.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a pre-dosing unit with rotor is used to feed granular material from center, then gentle treatment is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the pre-dosing unit with the main housing structure, integrating the rotor and conveying elements into a unified system. The pre-dosing unit opens into the housing via a side wall, combining multiple functions (pre-separation, feeding, and positioning) into a single integrated component rather than separate mechanisms, thereby reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotor in the pre-dosing unit serves multiple functions: it feeds seeds onto the conveyor, pre-separates them individually, and positions them for gentle deposition. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, simplifying the overall device structure while achieving gentle seed treatment.
4Productivity
If air flow is used to convey seeds, then conveying function is achieved, but air flow between supply opening and outlet opening causes issues
Solution Approach 1:
The pre-dosing unit acts as an intermediary between the seed supply and the main conveying system. It uses a rotor to mechanically feed seeds onto the conveyor, preventing direct air flow between the supply opening and outlet opening. This intermediary mechanism maintains conveying function while eliminating harmful air flow interference.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables gentler treatment and more accurate delivery of seeds, reducing damage and ensuring precise singulation, even for difficult-to-separate seeds like grass or seed mixtures, while minimizing air flow and equipment complexity.
Implementation Method 1
The pre-dosing unit (2) comprises a rotor (10) which can be rotated about an axis of rotation (X) enclosing an angle of less than 10° with the axis of rotation of the conveying device (8). As a result, the pre-dosing unit (2) can feed the granular material from the center onto the rotatably mounted conveyor, which in turn allows gentler treatment of the granular material.
Implementation Method 2
a conveying device (8), which can be rotated about an axis of rotation (X) enclosing an angle of less than 10° with the horizontal, in such a way that granular material can be conveyed from a receiving area into a delivery area
Implementation Method 3
the lock can be arranged between the feed opening and the outlet opening... the first opening and the second opening are offset from one another so that they do not overlap as seen from the axis of rotation in the radial direction
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
The invention comprises a metering device for granular material, in particular seeds, wherein the metering device comprises a conveying device (8) rotatably mounted in a housing (1), which interacts with a housing wall or a guide element (28) in such a way that granular material can be conveyed from a receiving area (24) to a dispensing area, wherein the metering device comprises a pre-metering unit (2) which opens into the housing (1) via a side wall (3) of the housing (1), wherein granular material can be introduced into the housing (1) by means of the pre-metering unit (2), and wherein the pre-metering unit (2) comprises a rotor (10) whose axis of rotation forms an angle of less than 10° with the axis of rotation of the conveying device (8).