CA1184647A - Process for determining the soundness of sowing seeds and their soundness-dependent germinative ability and apparatus for carrying out the process - Google Patents
Process for determining the soundness of sowing seeds and their soundness-dependent germinative ability and apparatus for carrying out the processInfo
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- CA1184647A CA1184647A CA000397087A CA397087A CA1184647A CA 1184647 A CA1184647 A CA 1184647A CA 000397087 A CA000397087 A CA 000397087A CA 397087 A CA397087 A CA 397087A CA 1184647 A CA1184647 A CA 1184647A
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- soundness
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- germinative
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Abstract
Abstract:
The invention provides a process for determining the soundness, and the soundness-dependent germinative ability, of sowing seeds. The process is based on detecting the characteristic difference between the acoustic excitation response functions of sound and damaged seeds. The seeds are excited by an acoustic signal and by examining the response functions a comparison is performed to decide whether the seeds are right or damaged. Apparatus for carrying out the process is also provided and includes a feed tank, a seed feeding mechanism, a sensing chamber and a vibration sensor for detecting acoustic signals within the chamber, the output of the vibration sensor being connected to a signal processing unit.
The invention provides a process for determining the soundness, and the soundness-dependent germinative ability, of sowing seeds. The process is based on detecting the characteristic difference between the acoustic excitation response functions of sound and damaged seeds. The seeds are excited by an acoustic signal and by examining the response functions a comparison is performed to decide whether the seeds are right or damaged. Apparatus for carrying out the process is also provided and includes a feed tank, a seed feeding mechanism, a sensing chamber and a vibration sensor for detecting acoustic signals within the chamber, the output of the vibration sensor being connected to a signal processing unit.
Description
~84L6~
A PROCESS FOR DETERMINING THE SOUNDNESS OF SOWING
SEEDS AND THE~R SOUNDNESS-DEPENDENT GERMINATIVE
ABILITY, AND APPARATUS FOR CARRYING OUT THE PROCESS
Field of the Invention This invention concerns a process~for determining the soundness of sowing seeds and their soundness-dependent germinative ability, and apparatus for carrying out the process, : Back~round_of the Inventlon The process according to the invention relates the determination of germinative ability of seeds to the examination of their soundness or integrity, lo with the latter also affording a possibility for classifying the seeds according to their germinative ability.
_escription of the Prior Art_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Means and processes are known for classifying and/or
A PROCESS FOR DETERMINING THE SOUNDNESS OF SOWING
SEEDS AND THE~R SOUNDNESS-DEPENDENT GERMINATIVE
ABILITY, AND APPARATUS FOR CARRYING OUT THE PROCESS
Field of the Invention This invention concerns a process~for determining the soundness of sowing seeds and their soundness-dependent germinative ability, and apparatus for carrying out the process, : Back~round_of the Inventlon The process according to the invention relates the determination of germinative ability of seeds to the examination of their soundness or integrity, lo with the latter also affording a possibility for classifying the seeds according to their germinative ability.
_escription of the Prior Art_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Means and processes are known for classifying and/or
- 2 -sorting of seeds according to their germinative ability wherein, in accordance with the laws of sampling of mathematical statistics the germinative ability of samples lahen ~rorl-l a given quantity of seed is determined in percentage 1erms and from this value exirapolation or deduction is made io the germinative ability of the whole quantity of the seeds, expressed as a percentage A common characteristic of these known means is that the seed Samples tesied cannot thereafter lo be utilized, bacause the iesting is destruc-iive.
Such examinaiion or test may, for instance, involve germination carried out between papers; experimental germination in the soil; and ireatment with triphenyl-tetrazolium chloride to demonstrate the vitality of the seeds. A known process for demonstrating the germinative ability oF pea seeds is to soak tne seeds for 24 hours in de-ionized water and to measure change in electrical conductivity.
Common drawbacks of the known processes and means for destructively tesiing seeds include that the seeds tested may thereafter no longer be used, that results of the test become available only after a relatively long time, generally several days, and that in principle the processes are not suitable for continuous sorting.
Devices for performing seed classification according to germinative abili-iy on the basis of certain physical characteristics of ihe seeds are known.
A common characteristic of these devices is that they operaie non-destructive testing processes. Such a device is, for instance, a sifter or screen to separate out shrivellecl, dried up seeds. Seeds of excessively low density may be sorted out by e.g.
known centrifugal separators. A known apparatus for separating seeds with injured hulls is the magnetic separator. For detecting larger surface blemishes and colour differences in the hull or skin of the seeds selective colour sorting devices are known.
A common dr3wh3ck of known non-destructive seed selecting devices is that they all examine a given external physical characteristic of the seed and perform sorting on that basis. A decrease in the germinative ability of seeds may to a significant extent be caused by hairline cracks in the hull of lo the seed, by in-ternal cavities formed in the seeds and by insect damage. These irregularities, which manifest themselves physically, cannot be shown up by devices which operate on non-destructive testing principles The known processes (germination) for classifying seeds and the corresponding devices or means have the advantage of reliability but have the disadvantage thdt they take a iung time to perform the tests and -that tey destroy the seeds under test. For these reasons they are suitabie only for a subsequent determination of the relative germinative ability, that is, they cannot be utilized directly in or integrated into the technological process of agriculture.
Their use does not lead to seeds of improved relative germinating power.
The advantage of known devices which classify on the basis of external physical characteristics is the fact that they are non-destructive and tha-t they can be integrated into a given technological process, while their disadvantage is that the process is not sufficiently reliable because it fails to take into account a number of important factors, as explained above.
. - 4 -.
Summary of the Invention An aim of the invention is to provide a non--destructive process and apparatus for determining the soundness or inte9rity of seeds and the ascertain their germinative ability on that basis, wherein a result may be produced in a time shorter than in germination tests and the reliability of which is considerably greater than that of known non-destruclive processes.
In elaborating the invention, the starting lo point was the experimentally verified fact that a reduction in the germinative ability of genetically healthy seeds is caused by mechanical faults. We have recognized that the differing mechanical charac-teristics of healthy (undamaged) and faulty (impaired) seeds may most readily be determined by a process of vibration analysis. Each individual seed may be regarded as a complex mechanical system. To excite this oscil!a-tory Systt?m fhe FreqlJency response function oF a characteristic of the oscillation or vibration, expediently its velocity, is examined. The excita-tion time function may for instance be sinusoidal, pulse-type, a step function type etc. Since the dimensions of the seeds are smaller by several orders I of magnitude than the wavelength of the vibrational wave propagating in them, they may be regarded as a lumped-constant mechanical oscillating system.
The spatial dependence of the characteristics of oscillation may be neglected relative to the time dependence. From the point of view of vibration analysis a seed can be regarded as a system comprising masses which are interconnected by mechanical springs and loss resistances.The mechanical loss resistances are used to take into account the viscoelasric fric-tion and the internal structural friction of the material of the seed. For faulty seeds the value of the lumped-constant mechanical elements change and the topology of the whole mechanical network is changed.
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a process for determining the soundness of sowing seeds and their soundness-based germinative ability, which comprises: exciting the seeds under test by an acous-tic signal; analysing the response of the seeds to the excitation; comparing the analysed response with the responses of seeds which were previously excited in the same way and which were respectively known to be undamaged and damaged.
According ~o anothér aspect there is provided appa-ratus for determining the soundness of sowing seeds of large size and their soundness based germinative ability, lS which comprises: a seed storage and feeding vessel; a sensing chamber provided with a hard base plate and an upper region; a mechanism for individually advancing and feeding seeds from the vessel to the upper region of the sensing chamber above the base plate; a vibration sensor operatively connected with the interior of the sensing chamber; a signal processing unit connected to the output of ~he sensor for comparing acoustic signals from the chamber with known signals previously sensed in the same manner; and a duct for discharging the seeds from the sensing ch~mber~
rrO sort large-sized seeds (e.g. maiæe or corn, peas, beans and wheat) of a weight exceeding 50 g per 1000 seeds according to their germinative ability, a process is provided according to the invention wherein the seeds are individually dropped in an acoustically closed space from a predetermined height on a hard plate and the fre-quency distribution of the acoustic signal obtained on impact is analysed by a spectrum analyser. Since the respective distribution curves of healthy and damaged seeds differ significantly from each other, the selec-tion is performed on this basis.
- Sa -The apparatus according to the invention includes a feeder unit for individually feeding the seeds to an examination chamber, in which examination chamber take place the mechanical excitation of the seed and the de-tection or sensing of the response function, and also a signal processing system which evaluates the response function and controls a separa~ing and s~oring unit.
This latter serves to separate and temporarily store the seeds which have been classified as right and faulty, respectively.
The invention is suitable for the large-scaLe sorting of seeds and according to our experience its use affords an improvement of 5% to 30% depending on the initial percentage germinative ability.
Naturally, for seeds with an initially high percentage of germinative ability the improvement is smaller than for seeds which are initially of a lower germinative lo ability, Thus, for instance, a quantity of seed with 80~ germinative ability is increased to 90%
while that initially at 60% to 80~.
Naturally, seeds classified as faulty or damaged may still be used, e.g. for fodder or industrial or other uses. Seeds of 100~ germinating power cannot be achieved even with the apparatus according to the invention because the germinative ability of seedsdoes not solely depend on their mechanical characteristics.
Brief Description of the Drawings -- _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ The invention is further described by reference to examples and is illustrated in greater detail in the accompanying drawings wherein: -Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of apparatus suitable for sorting large-size seeds in accordance with their germinating power;
Figure 2 is a graph of the spectral distribu-tion of the acoustic response signal obtained by the apparatus accordlng to Figure 1 in the examination of healthy (dotted lines) and faulty (full lines) pea seeds; and Figure 3 is a graph showing the spectral distribu-tion of the acoustic response signal obtained with the apparatus according to Figure 1 in the examina-tion of healthy (dotted lines) and faulty (full lines) beans.
Description of the Pre-ferred Embodiments Figure 1 shows an example of a preferred embodiment of apparatus according to the invention suitable for classifying large-sized sowing seeds according to their germinative ability.
The apparatus has a feed hopper 1 which is lo connected via a feed duct 3 interruptable by a feed valve 2 to the upper part of a sensing chamber 4.
The mechanical excitation of each seed is expediently provided by the impact of tis own fall. This excita-tion can be regarded as an impulse function and -the response function is to a good approximation a func-tion of the weight. The bottom of the sensing chamber 4 is expediently a hard, smool-hsurfaced copper or marble plate of at least 15 mm thickness. The chamber is sound-insulated to exclude external disturbing noises. With the exception of the hard base plate, internal wall of the chamber is covered with a sound--absorbing material to obviate cavity resonances.
A mechanical vibration sensor, expediently an accelera-tion sensor, or a microphone 5 is built into the wall of the chamber.
A signal processing unit 6 performs the amplifi-cation of the signal from the sensor and performs a signal analysis in the frequency range of 20-2000 Hz with a resolution of a band-width of at least 1/3 of an octaYe. The actual spectrum is compared with the avarage spectrum of seeds classified as right and the result of the comparison is passed to a control unit 7. The signal processing unit 6 and the control unit 7 are expediently both digital and the analog signal of the sensor is converted to a digital signal by an analog-~o-digital (A~D) converter, not shown.
If as a result of the c~mparison of spectra the seed is classified as right, then the control unit 7 opens a valve 8 and the seed is discharged~ e.g~ with ~he aid of a pneu-matic suctionblowing system, to a temporary storage vessel 11. If on the other hand the seed is classified as faulty, then a valve 9 is opened and the seed is passed to a tem-porary storage vessel 10. Then the control unit 7 opens the interruptor valve 2 and a new seed is passed into the examination chamber.
Accordingly, with the aid of the apparatus according to the invention the seeds are individually passed into the sensing chamber 4 and the signal processing unit 6 connected to the microphone S receives a gated signal from the control unit 7 which 'enables' the signal processing only for the anticipated duration of the fall of the seed.
In the experimental examination of peas and beans the following circumstances were set up:
a) height of drop: 150 mm;
b) the drop took place onto a steel sheet of 200 x 200 x 18 mm;
c) the oondenser-type measuring microphone was placed directly above and perpendicularly to the steel sheet;
d) the analysis was perforMed with a bank of digital filters having a constant relative band-width of 1/3 octave;
e) the mean mass of the peas: 205 g/1000 pieces;
f) the mean mass of beans: 394 g/1000 pieces, With the aid of the apparatus arranged in this way the rate of sorting is reflected in the following ~J
.i"J
- 9 ~-data:
The dropping of the seeds took place at intervals of 200 ms. The time of fall is 170 ms, the microphone sign3l was gated, the time of qate 'opening' was 5 10 ms and the removal (suction) time of the seeds was 20 ms. 5 seeds per second were permitted to pass through the or each channel of the apparatus.
By way of example Figure 2 shows the specific spectra of a healthy and a damaged pea seed and in lo Figure 3 the corresponding spectra for bean seeds is shown.
By way of example the stat;stical results of sorting 100 pea seeds and 50 bean seeds utilizing the process according to the invention is described 15 below:
The circumstances of the test were as described above.
Peas Tested quantity: 100 pieces.
After sorting the 100 seeds were germinated between papers and the percentage germinative ability of the whoLe quantity was 85%.
Classification on the basis of spectrum analysis found 58~ of the seeds right and their germinative ability was 95%. The germinative ability of the other 42% of the seeds which were adjudged to be damaged was 71%. Thus, by using the sorting process according to the invention from the seeds of originally 85%
germinating power seeds were obtained with a germina-ting power of 95%.
Beans Examined quantity: 50 pieces.
The germination test gave 54% germinative ability -- lo --For the whole quantity. After sorting 32% of the seeds were classified as healthy, with a germinative ability of 69~. 68~ of the seeds were found to be dama~ed and their ~erminative ability was 47%. From the original seeds of 54% germinative ability seeds with a germinative ability of 69% was obtained by the sorting process.
The sorting and classifying process according to the invention may be used not only for examining lo the response signals of drops and for the individual examination of large-sized sowing seeds.
Should it be necessary to examine the germinative ability of small seeds, then a suitable embodiment of the process according to the invention seeds of a predetermined weight or mass are acoustically excited together and the total response is analysed. Thus, for instance, the value of the absorption factor obtained 0l7 ul"~asorllc excitation varies very significantly for a seed 'composition' or assembly of varying individual germinative ability expressed as percentages and from the value of the absorption factor conclusions or extrapolations may be made as to the percentage germinating factor that may be expected of the quantity under test.
Similarly, there is a close correlation between the ability of the seeds to germinate and rhe a~oustic (mechanical) resonance. On this basis the germinating power may also be examined by placing the seeds on a vibratory deck and vibrating them at a Frequency which is in the vicinity of the natural resonance frequency of the healthy seeds. The upward movement of the seeds will depend on the interval between their resonance frequency and the frequency of the excitation. Since this interval is greater in the case of injured or damaged seeds of reduced germinative ability, the amplitude of oscillation of injured seeds will be appreciably smaller than the arnplitude of oscilla~ion of healthy seeds.
Such examinaiion or test may, for instance, involve germination carried out between papers; experimental germination in the soil; and ireatment with triphenyl-tetrazolium chloride to demonstrate the vitality of the seeds. A known process for demonstrating the germinative ability oF pea seeds is to soak tne seeds for 24 hours in de-ionized water and to measure change in electrical conductivity.
Common drawbacks of the known processes and means for destructively tesiing seeds include that the seeds tested may thereafter no longer be used, that results of the test become available only after a relatively long time, generally several days, and that in principle the processes are not suitable for continuous sorting.
Devices for performing seed classification according to germinative abili-iy on the basis of certain physical characteristics of ihe seeds are known.
A common characteristic of these devices is that they operaie non-destructive testing processes. Such a device is, for instance, a sifter or screen to separate out shrivellecl, dried up seeds. Seeds of excessively low density may be sorted out by e.g.
known centrifugal separators. A known apparatus for separating seeds with injured hulls is the magnetic separator. For detecting larger surface blemishes and colour differences in the hull or skin of the seeds selective colour sorting devices are known.
A common dr3wh3ck of known non-destructive seed selecting devices is that they all examine a given external physical characteristic of the seed and perform sorting on that basis. A decrease in the germinative ability of seeds may to a significant extent be caused by hairline cracks in the hull of lo the seed, by in-ternal cavities formed in the seeds and by insect damage. These irregularities, which manifest themselves physically, cannot be shown up by devices which operate on non-destructive testing principles The known processes (germination) for classifying seeds and the corresponding devices or means have the advantage of reliability but have the disadvantage thdt they take a iung time to perform the tests and -that tey destroy the seeds under test. For these reasons they are suitabie only for a subsequent determination of the relative germinative ability, that is, they cannot be utilized directly in or integrated into the technological process of agriculture.
Their use does not lead to seeds of improved relative germinating power.
The advantage of known devices which classify on the basis of external physical characteristics is the fact that they are non-destructive and tha-t they can be integrated into a given technological process, while their disadvantage is that the process is not sufficiently reliable because it fails to take into account a number of important factors, as explained above.
. - 4 -.
Summary of the Invention An aim of the invention is to provide a non--destructive process and apparatus for determining the soundness or inte9rity of seeds and the ascertain their germinative ability on that basis, wherein a result may be produced in a time shorter than in germination tests and the reliability of which is considerably greater than that of known non-destruclive processes.
In elaborating the invention, the starting lo point was the experimentally verified fact that a reduction in the germinative ability of genetically healthy seeds is caused by mechanical faults. We have recognized that the differing mechanical charac-teristics of healthy (undamaged) and faulty (impaired) seeds may most readily be determined by a process of vibration analysis. Each individual seed may be regarded as a complex mechanical system. To excite this oscil!a-tory Systt?m fhe FreqlJency response function oF a characteristic of the oscillation or vibration, expediently its velocity, is examined. The excita-tion time function may for instance be sinusoidal, pulse-type, a step function type etc. Since the dimensions of the seeds are smaller by several orders I of magnitude than the wavelength of the vibrational wave propagating in them, they may be regarded as a lumped-constant mechanical oscillating system.
The spatial dependence of the characteristics of oscillation may be neglected relative to the time dependence. From the point of view of vibration analysis a seed can be regarded as a system comprising masses which are interconnected by mechanical springs and loss resistances.The mechanical loss resistances are used to take into account the viscoelasric fric-tion and the internal structural friction of the material of the seed. For faulty seeds the value of the lumped-constant mechanical elements change and the topology of the whole mechanical network is changed.
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a process for determining the soundness of sowing seeds and their soundness-based germinative ability, which comprises: exciting the seeds under test by an acous-tic signal; analysing the response of the seeds to the excitation; comparing the analysed response with the responses of seeds which were previously excited in the same way and which were respectively known to be undamaged and damaged.
According ~o anothér aspect there is provided appa-ratus for determining the soundness of sowing seeds of large size and their soundness based germinative ability, lS which comprises: a seed storage and feeding vessel; a sensing chamber provided with a hard base plate and an upper region; a mechanism for individually advancing and feeding seeds from the vessel to the upper region of the sensing chamber above the base plate; a vibration sensor operatively connected with the interior of the sensing chamber; a signal processing unit connected to the output of ~he sensor for comparing acoustic signals from the chamber with known signals previously sensed in the same manner; and a duct for discharging the seeds from the sensing ch~mber~
rrO sort large-sized seeds (e.g. maiæe or corn, peas, beans and wheat) of a weight exceeding 50 g per 1000 seeds according to their germinative ability, a process is provided according to the invention wherein the seeds are individually dropped in an acoustically closed space from a predetermined height on a hard plate and the fre-quency distribution of the acoustic signal obtained on impact is analysed by a spectrum analyser. Since the respective distribution curves of healthy and damaged seeds differ significantly from each other, the selec-tion is performed on this basis.
- Sa -The apparatus according to the invention includes a feeder unit for individually feeding the seeds to an examination chamber, in which examination chamber take place the mechanical excitation of the seed and the de-tection or sensing of the response function, and also a signal processing system which evaluates the response function and controls a separa~ing and s~oring unit.
This latter serves to separate and temporarily store the seeds which have been classified as right and faulty, respectively.
The invention is suitable for the large-scaLe sorting of seeds and according to our experience its use affords an improvement of 5% to 30% depending on the initial percentage germinative ability.
Naturally, for seeds with an initially high percentage of germinative ability the improvement is smaller than for seeds which are initially of a lower germinative lo ability, Thus, for instance, a quantity of seed with 80~ germinative ability is increased to 90%
while that initially at 60% to 80~.
Naturally, seeds classified as faulty or damaged may still be used, e.g. for fodder or industrial or other uses. Seeds of 100~ germinating power cannot be achieved even with the apparatus according to the invention because the germinative ability of seedsdoes not solely depend on their mechanical characteristics.
Brief Description of the Drawings -- _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ The invention is further described by reference to examples and is illustrated in greater detail in the accompanying drawings wherein: -Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of apparatus suitable for sorting large-size seeds in accordance with their germinating power;
Figure 2 is a graph of the spectral distribu-tion of the acoustic response signal obtained by the apparatus accordlng to Figure 1 in the examination of healthy (dotted lines) and faulty (full lines) pea seeds; and Figure 3 is a graph showing the spectral distribu-tion of the acoustic response signal obtained with the apparatus according to Figure 1 in the examina-tion of healthy (dotted lines) and faulty (full lines) beans.
Description of the Pre-ferred Embodiments Figure 1 shows an example of a preferred embodiment of apparatus according to the invention suitable for classifying large-sized sowing seeds according to their germinative ability.
The apparatus has a feed hopper 1 which is lo connected via a feed duct 3 interruptable by a feed valve 2 to the upper part of a sensing chamber 4.
The mechanical excitation of each seed is expediently provided by the impact of tis own fall. This excita-tion can be regarded as an impulse function and -the response function is to a good approximation a func-tion of the weight. The bottom of the sensing chamber 4 is expediently a hard, smool-hsurfaced copper or marble plate of at least 15 mm thickness. The chamber is sound-insulated to exclude external disturbing noises. With the exception of the hard base plate, internal wall of the chamber is covered with a sound--absorbing material to obviate cavity resonances.
A mechanical vibration sensor, expediently an accelera-tion sensor, or a microphone 5 is built into the wall of the chamber.
A signal processing unit 6 performs the amplifi-cation of the signal from the sensor and performs a signal analysis in the frequency range of 20-2000 Hz with a resolution of a band-width of at least 1/3 of an octaYe. The actual spectrum is compared with the avarage spectrum of seeds classified as right and the result of the comparison is passed to a control unit 7. The signal processing unit 6 and the control unit 7 are expediently both digital and the analog signal of the sensor is converted to a digital signal by an analog-~o-digital (A~D) converter, not shown.
If as a result of the c~mparison of spectra the seed is classified as right, then the control unit 7 opens a valve 8 and the seed is discharged~ e.g~ with ~he aid of a pneu-matic suctionblowing system, to a temporary storage vessel 11. If on the other hand the seed is classified as faulty, then a valve 9 is opened and the seed is passed to a tem-porary storage vessel 10. Then the control unit 7 opens the interruptor valve 2 and a new seed is passed into the examination chamber.
Accordingly, with the aid of the apparatus according to the invention the seeds are individually passed into the sensing chamber 4 and the signal processing unit 6 connected to the microphone S receives a gated signal from the control unit 7 which 'enables' the signal processing only for the anticipated duration of the fall of the seed.
In the experimental examination of peas and beans the following circumstances were set up:
a) height of drop: 150 mm;
b) the drop took place onto a steel sheet of 200 x 200 x 18 mm;
c) the oondenser-type measuring microphone was placed directly above and perpendicularly to the steel sheet;
d) the analysis was perforMed with a bank of digital filters having a constant relative band-width of 1/3 octave;
e) the mean mass of the peas: 205 g/1000 pieces;
f) the mean mass of beans: 394 g/1000 pieces, With the aid of the apparatus arranged in this way the rate of sorting is reflected in the following ~J
.i"J
- 9 ~-data:
The dropping of the seeds took place at intervals of 200 ms. The time of fall is 170 ms, the microphone sign3l was gated, the time of qate 'opening' was 5 10 ms and the removal (suction) time of the seeds was 20 ms. 5 seeds per second were permitted to pass through the or each channel of the apparatus.
By way of example Figure 2 shows the specific spectra of a healthy and a damaged pea seed and in lo Figure 3 the corresponding spectra for bean seeds is shown.
By way of example the stat;stical results of sorting 100 pea seeds and 50 bean seeds utilizing the process according to the invention is described 15 below:
The circumstances of the test were as described above.
Peas Tested quantity: 100 pieces.
After sorting the 100 seeds were germinated between papers and the percentage germinative ability of the whoLe quantity was 85%.
Classification on the basis of spectrum analysis found 58~ of the seeds right and their germinative ability was 95%. The germinative ability of the other 42% of the seeds which were adjudged to be damaged was 71%. Thus, by using the sorting process according to the invention from the seeds of originally 85%
germinating power seeds were obtained with a germina-ting power of 95%.
Beans Examined quantity: 50 pieces.
The germination test gave 54% germinative ability -- lo --For the whole quantity. After sorting 32% of the seeds were classified as healthy, with a germinative ability of 69~. 68~ of the seeds were found to be dama~ed and their ~erminative ability was 47%. From the original seeds of 54% germinative ability seeds with a germinative ability of 69% was obtained by the sorting process.
The sorting and classifying process according to the invention may be used not only for examining lo the response signals of drops and for the individual examination of large-sized sowing seeds.
Should it be necessary to examine the germinative ability of small seeds, then a suitable embodiment of the process according to the invention seeds of a predetermined weight or mass are acoustically excited together and the total response is analysed. Thus, for instance, the value of the absorption factor obtained 0l7 ul"~asorllc excitation varies very significantly for a seed 'composition' or assembly of varying individual germinative ability expressed as percentages and from the value of the absorption factor conclusions or extrapolations may be made as to the percentage germinating factor that may be expected of the quantity under test.
Similarly, there is a close correlation between the ability of the seeds to germinate and rhe a~oustic (mechanical) resonance. On this basis the germinating power may also be examined by placing the seeds on a vibratory deck and vibrating them at a Frequency which is in the vicinity of the natural resonance frequency of the healthy seeds. The upward movement of the seeds will depend on the interval between their resonance frequency and the frequency of the excitation. Since this interval is greater in the case of injured or damaged seeds of reduced germinative ability, the amplitude of oscillation of injured seeds will be appreciably smaller than the arnplitude of oscilla~ion of healthy seeds.
Claims (7)
1. A process for determining the soundness of sowing seeds and their soundness-based germinative ability, which comprises:
exciting the seeds under test by an acoustic signal;
analysing the response of the seeds to the excitation;
comparing the analysed response with the responses of seeds which were previously excited in the same way and which were respectively known to be undamaged and damaged.
exciting the seeds under test by an acoustic signal;
analysing the response of the seeds to the excitation;
comparing the analysed response with the responses of seeds which were previously excited in the same way and which were respectively known to be undamaged and damaged.
2. A process according to claim 1 suitable for examining sowing seeds of large size, wherein said seeds are excited by individually dropping the seeds onto a hard plate.
3. A process according to claim 1 or claim 2 which further comprises sorting the seeds according to their soundness as determined by said comparison.
4. Apparatus for determining the soundness of sowing seeds of large size and their soundness-based germinative ability, which comprises:
a seed storage and feeding vessel;
a sensing chamber provided with a hard base plate and an upper region;
a mechanism for individually advancing and feeding seeds from the vessel to the upper region of the sensing chamber above the base plate;
a vibration sensor operatively connected with the interior of the sensing chamber;
a signal processing unit connected to the output of the sensor for comparing acoustic signals from the chamber with known signals previously sensed in the same manner;
and a duct for discharging the seeds from the sensing chamber.
a seed storage and feeding vessel;
a sensing chamber provided with a hard base plate and an upper region;
a mechanism for individually advancing and feeding seeds from the vessel to the upper region of the sensing chamber above the base plate;
a vibration sensor operatively connected with the interior of the sensing chamber;
a signal processing unit connected to the output of the sensor for comparing acoustic signals from the chamber with known signals previously sensed in the same manner;
and a duct for discharging the seeds from the sensing chamber.
5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the signal processing unit comprises a spectrum analyser for analysing the spectra of acoustic signals generated by seeds dropping onto said hard base plate.
6. Apparatus according to claim 4 or claim 5 further comprising interruptor valve means in said duct for opening one or the other of two alternative discharge paths and control circuitry for said valve means, said signal processing unit being connected to said control circuitry to operate said valve means in accordance with a determination of whether a seed in said chamber is sound or damaged made by said signal processing unit as a result of said comparison.
7. Apparatus according to claim 4 or claim 5 further comprising a feed valve in said mechanism for individually advancing and feeding the seeds.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000397087A CA1184647A (en) | 1982-02-25 | 1982-02-25 | Process for determining the soundness of sowing seeds and their soundness-dependent germinative ability and apparatus for carrying out the process |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000397087A CA1184647A (en) | 1982-02-25 | 1982-02-25 | Process for determining the soundness of sowing seeds and their soundness-dependent germinative ability and apparatus for carrying out the process |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1184647A true CA1184647A (en) | 1985-03-26 |
Family
ID=4122169
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000397087A Expired CA1184647A (en) | 1982-02-25 | 1982-02-25 | Process for determining the soundness of sowing seeds and their soundness-dependent germinative ability and apparatus for carrying out the process |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1184647A (en) |
Cited By (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US9631964B2 (en) | 2011-03-11 | 2017-04-25 | Intelligent Agricultural Solutions, Llc | Acoustic material flow sensor |
| US9629308B2 (en) | 2011-03-11 | 2017-04-25 | Intelligent Agricultural Solutions, Llc | Harvesting machine capable of automatic adjustment |
| US9723784B2 (en) | 2014-09-12 | 2017-08-08 | Appareo Systems, Llc | Crop quality sensor based on specular reflectance |
| US10085379B2 (en) | 2014-09-12 | 2018-10-02 | Appareo Systems, Llc | Grain quality sensor |
| US10318138B2 (en) | 2011-03-11 | 2019-06-11 | Intelligent Agricultural Solutions Llc | Harvesting machine capable of automatic adjustment |
| US10321624B2 (en) | 2011-03-11 | 2019-06-18 | Intelligent Agriculture Solutions LLC | Air seeder manifold system |
-
1982
- 1982-02-25 CA CA000397087A patent/CA1184647A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (9)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US9631964B2 (en) | 2011-03-11 | 2017-04-25 | Intelligent Agricultural Solutions, Llc | Acoustic material flow sensor |
| US9629308B2 (en) | 2011-03-11 | 2017-04-25 | Intelligent Agricultural Solutions, Llc | Harvesting machine capable of automatic adjustment |
| US10318138B2 (en) | 2011-03-11 | 2019-06-11 | Intelligent Agricultural Solutions Llc | Harvesting machine capable of automatic adjustment |
| US10321624B2 (en) | 2011-03-11 | 2019-06-18 | Intelligent Agriculture Solutions LLC | Air seeder manifold system |
| US9723784B2 (en) | 2014-09-12 | 2017-08-08 | Appareo Systems, Llc | Crop quality sensor based on specular reflectance |
| US9756785B2 (en) | 2014-09-12 | 2017-09-12 | Appareo Systems, Llc | Grain quality sensor |
| US9775290B2 (en) | 2014-09-12 | 2017-10-03 | Intelligent Agricultural Solutions, Llc | Look-ahead crop mass predictive sensor |
| US10085379B2 (en) | 2014-09-12 | 2018-10-02 | Appareo Systems, Llc | Grain quality sensor |
| US10188035B2 (en) | 2014-09-12 | 2019-01-29 | Intelligent Agricultural Solutions Llc | Load-based yield sensor |
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