Precision Seeder Head Seed Queue Tube and Optical Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current farming technologies face challenges in efficiently seeding crops due to factors like weather, disease, and limited farmland, and existing seeders lack precision in seed distribution.
Innovation Solution
The development of precision seeder heads and components, including a seed separator with a plate, seed retaining wall, vibrator, and seed injecting device, which supplies seeds to a seeder head at a predetermined rate through a tube, ensuring accurate and efficient seeding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional seeders are used for seed distribution, then seeding operation can be performed, but seed distribution precision is insufficient leading to seed waste
Solution Approach 1:
The seeder system is divided into multiple independent seed hoppers, each dedicated to a specific seed type. Each seed hopper feeds seeds to a corresponding precision seeder head through separate tubes, ensuring that each seed type is distributed independently and precisely without mixing or waste from other seed types.
Solution Approach 2:
A seed queue tube serves as an intermediary component between the seed hopper and the precision seeder head. The tube maintains a controlled queue of seeds, ensuring that seeds are delivered one at a time in a precise manner, preventing over-dispersion and seed waste while maintaining continuous operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple seed types are handled simultaneously, then seeding versatility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seeder is divided into multiple independent seeding units, each consisting of a seed hopper, tube, and precision seeder head. Each unit is dedicated to handling a specific seed type, allowing simultaneous multi-seed type operation while keeping each individual unit relatively simple and easy to maintain.
Solution Approach 2:
The precision seeder head design is universal and can handle different seed types by simply changing the seed hopper and adjusting the queue tube parameters. The core seeder head mechanism remains the same across all seed types, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining versatility.
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
This solution enables precise seed distribution, reducing waste and optimizing seed usage, while allowing for controlled growth conditions in an assembly line grow pod system, enhancing crop yield and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a vibrator attached to the bottom surface of the plate
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed herein are precision seeder heads and seeder components that include precision seeder heads. According to some embodiments, a precision seeder head (500, 505) includes a seed queue tube (560) having an inside circumference that is sized to accommodate one seed (512, 514, 5) at any vertical location, a first seed hold (530, 540) that selectively blocks the seed queue tube (560) when located in a default position and selectively unblocks the seed queue tube (560) when located in the release position, and an optical sensor (550) positioned at a vertical position below the first seed hold (530, 540), the optical sensor (550) adapted to detect seeds (512, 516) dispensed from the seed queue tube (560). Disclosed herein are precision seeder heads and seeder components that include precision seeder heads. According to some embodiments, a precision seeder head (500, 505) includes a seed queue tube (560) having an inside circumference that is sized to accommodate one seed (512, 514, 5) at any vertical location, a first seed hold (530, 540) that selectively blocks the seed queue tube (560) when located in a default position and selectively unblocks the seed queue tube (560) when located in the release position, and an optical sensor (550) positioned at a vertical position below the first seed hold (530, 540), the optical sensor (550) adapted to detect seeds (512, 516) dispensed from the seed queue tube (560).