Seed-Double Eliminator With Flexible Extensions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Seed doubles in seeding machines can lead to inefficient and unsuccessful seed delivery, as they are carried along the seed path and may not be properly separated, affecting the accuracy and efficiency of planting operations.
Innovation Solution
A seed-double eliminator is introduced, featuring a mounting fixture and a slide member with flexible extensions that contact and remove extra seeds from seed doubles, utilizing pinch members for adjustment and a seed deflector to direct dislodged seeds back to the seed pool, ensuring efficient seed delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If seed doubles are not eliminated, then seed delivery efficiency is reduced, but adding elimination mechanisms increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the harmful element (extra seeds in seed doubles) from the system using flexible extensions that selectively contact and eliminate duplicate seeds while allowing single seeds to pass through unaffected, thereby improving seed delivery efficiency without requiring complex multi-component systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses flexible extensions (brushes or flaps) that can deform and adapt to contact seed doubles selectively. These flexible elements bend to reach seeds in the seed path and eliminate duplicates, providing an effective seed double elimination mechanism with minimal structural complexity
2Reliability
If flexible extensions contact seed path to remove seed doubles, then seed double elimination is achieved, but risk of interfering with single seed delivery increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different properties to different parts of the flexible extensions - the portions contacting seed doubles have sufficient stiffness and positioning to effectively remove duplicates, while other portions remain flexible and non-intrusive to single seeds, creating a localized quality distribution that achieves elimination without interference
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible extensions are positioned to extend partially into the seed path - enough to contact and eliminate seed doubles when present, but not so far as to interfere with the normal delivery of single seeds. This partial action approach achieves the necessary elimination function while minimizing harmful interference
Data Source
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AI summary
A seed-double eliminator for a seeding machine (10) that is configured to move seed (80) along a seed path (82), the seed-double eliminator comprising: a mounting fixture (92) mounted in a fixed position relative to the seed path (82); a slide member (90) mounted to the mounting fixture (92); and one or more flexible extensions extending from the slide member (90) toward the seed path (82); wherein the one or more flexible extensions contact at least one seed (80) of a seed-double pair being moved along the seed path (82) by the seeding machine (10) in order to remove the at least one seed from the seed path (82). Further, a seeding machine with such seed-double eliminator is disclosed.