Systems and methods for fluid dispensing

• US 20080202398A1
• Filed: 05/01/2008
• Published: 08/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Tennessee Research Foundation (University of Tennessee)
• Original Assignee: University of Tennessee Research Foundation (University of Tennessee)
• Inventors: Moody, Fred H., Hancock, John H., Wilkerson, John B., Newman, Melvin A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,074,585 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 111/118
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 1/06 Coating or dressing seed
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/06 Seeders combined with fertilising apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/105 Seed sensors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 111/90 Methods of planting seeds and miscellaneous compositions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 111/904 Population control function

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for dispensing fluids. The systems can include a sensor operable to detect when an object passes a first location as the object moves to a second location. The systems can also include a fluid dispenser operable to dispense fluid at the second location. In addition, the systems can include a control unit in communication with the sensor and the fluid dispenser. The control unit can receive information from the sensor that the object has passed the first location and to control the fluid dispenser to dispense fluid at the second location at a predetermined time after the object passes the first location.

Claims

1. A fluid dispensing system, comprising:

(a) a sensor operable to detect when an object passes a first location as the object moves to a second location;

(b) a fluid dispenser operable to dispense fluid at the second location; and

(c) a control unit in communication with the sensor and the fluid dispenser, the control unit being operable to receive information from the sensor that the object has passed the first location and to control the fluid dispenser to dispense fluid at the second location at a predetermined time after the object passes the first location.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor is an optical sensor.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the predetermined time comprises a calculation by the control unit of a predicted time for arrival by the object at the second location.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the predicted time for arrival by the object at the second location comprises a calculation of an average object travel time from the first location to the second location.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the object is a seed, and further including a seed tube, and wherein the sensor is connected to the seed tube and operable to detect the seed passing the first location inside the seed tube.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the seed tube comprises a dispensing end for releasing the seed from the seed tube where it can drop to the second location outside of the seed tube.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the fluid dispenser is connected to the dispensing end of the seed tube.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the fluid dispenser is operable for dispensing a predetermined amount of fluid at the second location.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor is operable to detect when a plurality of objects sequentially pass the first location, and wherein the control unit is operable to cause the fluid dispenser to dispense fluid at the second location at a predetermined time for each object.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the control unit is operable to track the plurality of objects and control the fluid dispenser to dispense fluid associated with each of the objects at the second location at the predetermined time after each of the objects pass the first location.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the control unit comprises a shift register and a clock, wherein the shift register includes n bits that can shift according to a clock cycle of the clock for indicating when the predetermined time has elapsed, and wherein the predetermined time is equivalent to the clock cycle multiplied by n.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the shift register comprises an input and an output bit, wherein the input bit shifts towards the output bit, and wherein the input bit is set to a predetermined bit when the sensor detects that the first object passes the first location, and wherein the predetermined time has elapsed when the predetermined bit shifts to the output bit.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the fluid dispenser is connected to the output bit and can dispense fluid when the predetermined bit shifts to the output bit.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the control unit comprises a programmable controller for determining the predetermined time.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein the control unit is operable to indicate that the predetermined time has elapsed after the first object has reached the second location.

16. The system of claim 1 further comprising a user interface in communication with the control unit for controlling the predetermined time.

17. A seed and fluid dispensing system, comprising:

(a) a sensor for providing a detection signal indicating a seed has passed a first location within a seed tube;

(b) a fluid dispenser for dispensing a predetermined amount of fluid on the seed at a second location outside of the seed tube; and

(c) a control unit in communication with the sensor and the fluid dispenser, the control unit being adapted to receive the detection signal from the sensor and, in response, to cause the fluid dispenser to dispense a predetermined amount of fluid on the seed at the second location after a predetermined time from when the detection signal is received by the control unit.

18. A method for dispensing fluid, the method comprising:

(a) detecting an object passing a first location; and

(b) in response to step (a), dispensing a predetermined amount of fluid on the object at a second location after a predetermined time from detection of the object passing the first location.

19. A method for dispensing a seed and fluid, the method comprising:

(a) detecting a seed passing a first location within a seed tube; and

(b) in response to detection of the seed passing the first location and after a predetermined time, dispensing a predetermined amount of fluid at a second location outside of the seed tube.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the second location is on the seed.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the second location is proximate the seed.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein an optical sensor detects the seed passing the first location within the seed tube, wherein a control unit responds to detection of the seed passing the first location by causing a fluid dispenser to dispense the predetermined amount of fluid on the seed at the second location after a predetermined time, and wherein the predetermined time is calculated from an average time for the seed to travel from the first location to the second location.

23. A method of dispensing seeds and fluid, the method comprising:

(a) advancing a plurality of seeds sequentially through a seed tube to exit the seed tube and drop into a furrow;

(b) sequentially detecting each seed passing a first location within the seed tube; and

(c) in response to step (b), dispensing a predetermined amount of fluid on each seed at a second location within the furrow after a predetermined time from when each seed passes the first location.