METHOD AND DEVICE FOR AVOIDING SEED-METERING ERRORS IN PLANTERS

• US 20160255766A1
• Filed: 10/22/2014
• Published: 09/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jose Roberto Do Amaral Assy
• Original Assignee: Jose Roberto Do Amaral Assy
• Inventors: Assy, Jos Roberto do Amaral, Leite, Alexandre Rosa, Ladeira, Rodrigo Tadeu de Oliveira, Lacerda, Silvio de, Incao, Enrico
• Granted Patent: US 9,999,173 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/046 with perforated seeding discs
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/102 Regulating or controlling the seed rate
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/187 Machine fault alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/00 Audible signalling systems; Audible personal calling systems

Abstract

The present invention patent relates to a solution for avoiding errors during the seed-metering process in planters, and comprises the following six steps: autonomous electricity generation to power the monitoring system; monitoring the seed charge in the metering disk (pre-sensor); monitoring the clogging of the metering disk by seeds (post-sensor); monitoring obstructions in the seed duct (post-sensor); processing the monitoring data; transmitting the processed data wirelessly to the central monitoring unit for follow-up and decision-making by the operator. One of the aims of the present invention patent is that of providing a solution for avoiding errors during the seed-metering process in planters, allowing the operator of the machine to be automatically alerted immediately after the error occurs, and also for permanently monitoring the quality of the planting process by means of a wireless data transmission system powered by an autonomous electric unit, dispensing with external batteries and power cables.

Claims

1. A process for avoiding seed-metering errors in planters, wherein the process comprises the following steps:

generating electric power in a metering disk by means of a dynamo;

monitoring the seed charge directly in the distribution disk of seeds by means of a pre-sensor;

monitoring the clogging of the seeds in the distribution disk of seeds by means of a post-sensor;

monitoring obstructions in the seed duct by means of a post-sensor;

detecting analog signals voltage generates by means of pre-sensor and post-sensor;

converting the analog signals into digital signals using analog/digital converters;

processing the digital signals on a processor;

transmitting the processed digital signals to the central monitoring unit by means of a transceivers RF.

2. A process for avoiding seed-metering errors in planters, according to claim 1, wherein the process uses a star network topology having a different data transmission frequency for each one of the networks consisting of a central monitoring unit.

3. A process for avoiding seed-metering errors in planters, according to claim 2, wherein the process further uses a rows system, containing 3 buffers for each row, the row number being determined based on the physical address of the respective monitored equipment.

4. A process for avoiding seed-metering errors in planters, according to claim 1, wherein the process is applied in pneumatic metering disk.

5. A device for avoiding seed-metering errors in planters, wherein it is disposed into a metering disk of a planter, the device comprising:

a pre-sensor having a narrow-beam infrared emitter and an optical receiver;

a post-sensor having a collimated laser beam emitter and a least two optical receivers;

a dynamo connected to the shaft of the metering disk that captures the rotational movement of the shaft by means of a set of gears;

an electricity accumulator; and

an electronic board having a signal processor, analog/digital converters and a transceivers RF;

wherein the pre-sensor and post-sensor are disposed close to the distributing disk of seeds.

6. A device for avoiding seed-metering errors in planters, according to claim 5, wherein the pre-sensor and post-sensor are sensors that consists of the group of ultrasonic sensor, microwave sensor, capacitive sensor or proximity sensor.

7. A device for avoiding seed-metering errors in planters, according to claim 5, wherein the dynamo is used together with a photovoltaic panel.

8. A device for avoiding seed-metering errors in planters, according to claim 5, wherein it is used in pneumatic metering disk by repositioning the pre-sensor upstream of the negative pressure region and by repositioning the post-sensor in the duct outlet of the metering disk.