UA112468C2 - SEEDER AND METHOD OF VISITATION - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a planter (1) for introducing seed into the soil (11), which contains a first arable device for holding at least one furrow in the soil and a filling means for closing the first furrow, which further comprises a dust separator (5), by means of which air supplied during the sowing process and containing dust particles may be divided into an air component (13) and a dust component (7), characterized in that introductory means (10) are provided for introducing air-separated dust into the soil . The invention also relates to a method of sowing.

Description

The presented invention relates to a seeder for placing seed in a pound, which contains a first plowing device for making at least one furrow in the soil and a first filling means for closing the first furrow, which additionally contains a dust collector, with the help of which the air that is sucked in during the sowing process and contains dust particles, can be divided into an air component and a dust component. The presented invention also relates to the sowing method.

Seed drills, also known as row drills, are used in agriculture to apply seed to the soil. They contain small coulters or plowshares that create furrows several centimeters deep in the soil for plowing. The seed stored in the feed hopper is fed into these grooves or furrows. Then the furrows are closed again with the help of backfilling means, for example, with the help of a so-called harrow. The advantage of these agricultural machines for sowing plant seeds is the precise and uniform depth of seed placement, which leads to less loss due to birds that feed on them and to a more uniform appearance from the soil compared to the widespread method of sowing, in which the seeds are sown by drifting or random sowing in a way over the entire plot of land for crop cultivation.

Moreover, the use of plant protection products in the form of chemical or biological agents to support plant growth is a common practice. Mainly, these are insecticides to protect against harmful insects and fungicides to protect against fungal pathogens. These plant protection products are often applied by spraying. However, they only reach the seedling that has already taken root, so that certain plant diseases that occur already at the initial stage of growth, or an insect pest that attacks the sprouts, cannot be effectively destroyed.

To protect the seed material and sprouts from fungi, bacteria and insects, the seed material is therefore treated with so-called seed treatment agents. In the process, the appropriate active substance or mixture of active substances is directly applied to the seed in the form of a coating and thus forms a protective shell around each individual seed. In addition to the actual active substances that have antifungal and/or insecticidal effects, the seed treatment agent also mainly contains adhesion promoters to improve

From the adhesion of active substances to the seed, as well as dispersants and dyes. Since each seed or each plant is applied in situ to the correct dose of the required product for its protection by seed treatment, the amount of active substances, which is relatively small compared to the application of sprays, is sufficient to effectively protect the sprout or plant.

Therefore, this method is also advantageous in terms of environmental protection.

When operating with seed material that has been coated in this way, during the processes of processing and manipulating the seeds, there is a steady partial removal of the product to protect the plant due to the abrasive effect, as well as during the subsequent sowing process.

In particular, in the case of pneumatic planters, in which negative pressure is applied to the dispenser to control the introduction of seed material into the soil, the dust from the seed treatment is released into the atmosphere in a certain way. Fine dust also settles on the planter and can lead to unwanted deposits and contamination, potentially endangering the operator of the equipment.

The dust release of a plant protection agent from a planter is problematic in that this more or less uncontrolled release into the environment can pose a danger to humans and animals, particularly insects. For example, clothianidin ((E)-1-(2-chloro-1,3-thiazol-5-ylmethyl)-3-methyl-2-nitroguanidine) is one of many active substances used in various plant protection products and agents for the treatment of plants, some of which are suspected to be toxic to pollinating insects, which are included in beneficial insects, in particular, if the active ingredient is released into the environment in the form of the aforementioned plant protection product dust.

It is already known how to prevent with the help of mechanical devices the emission of dust into the air when it leaves the machine, which is mainly finely dispersed in the air flow, especially in the case of pneumatic seed drills. For example, the so-called deflectors, which are used to reduce the speed of the air flow, also lead to the fact that the emitted dust is directed in the direction of the soil for plowing. However, this measure has only a limited effect, particularly with regard to insects and other animals that are now exposed to the dust that now settles on the soil for plowing. In addition, smaller seed treatment particles can remain in the air due to the wind and air flow into which they are thrown from the machine.

Therefore, there are already efforts to return to the soil the dust of the plant protection product that is released, and thus to further limit its availability. Document OE 10 bo 2008 037 782 A1 describes a pneumatic planter in which air released and mixed with dust or particles for seed treatment is captured by harvesting devices and fed into furrows in the soil by means of planter components. However, in this planter, the air component is not separated from the dust component so that settling of the dust and feeding it into the soil can have only limited success.

Therefore, the task of the presented invention is to provide a seeder that makes it possible to process the dust fractions of the plant protection product that are released from the seeder in such a way that the danger they pose to humans and animals, in particular to insects, is significantly reduced.

This problem is solved by a planter that has the characteristics of item 1 of the claims.

Preferred variants of implementation and improvement of the invention are the objects of the dependent claims of the invention.

The invention differs in that the seeder, which contains a dust separator, provides means for introducing the dust component separated from the air component into the soil.

In other words, according to the invention, it is assumed that the dust component, which is already separated in the planter from the air component with the help of a dust separator, is introduced into the soil.

The dust is introduced into the furrow or the like in such a way that its particles bind in the soil as a result of the subsequent backfilling of the furrow and, thus, no longer lie on the surface of the soil freely accessible to insects or other animals and also cannot be blown away by the wind. The air emitted from the dust collector is almost free of dust and the dust that reaches the ground surface is not blown away by the fast-moving air flow, while the air and dust are largely separated from each other. Therefore, the dust can mix with the soil in the furrow with minimal displacement by any air flow, significantly reducing the probability of dust leaving the plowed area for sowing agricultural crops. This is important, in particular, with regard to dust particles that contain active substances such as, for example, clothianidin, and which are suspected of being toxic to certain insects.

In addition to the above-mentioned clothianidin, other active substances in the dust can be released from the air. Examples of insecticides include, but are not limited to, abamectin, acephate, acetamiprid, acrinathrin, alpha-cypermethrin, beta-cyfluthrin, bifenthrin, buprofezin, chlorantraniliprole, chlorfenapyr, chlorpyrifos, carbofuran, cyantraniliprole,

Zo cyenopyrafen, cyflumentofen, cyfluthrin, cypermethrin, deltamethrin, diaphenthiuron, dinotefuran, emamectin-bezoate, ibrol, fenpiroximate, fipronil, flometoquin, flubendiamide, fluensulfone, fluopiram, flupyradifuron, gamma-cyhalothrin, imidacloprid, indoxacarb, lambda-cyhalothrin, lufenuron . -(4-cyano-2-methyl-β6-(methylcarbamoyl)phenyl|-3-1(5- i(trifluoromethyl)-1H-tetrazol-1-yl|methyl)-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxamide, 1-(3-chloropyridin-2-yl)-MI-

14-cyano-2-methyl-6-(methylcarbamoyl)phenyl|-3-T5-(trifluoromethyl)-2H-tetrazol-2-yl|methyl)-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxamide, 1--2- fluoro-4-methyl-5-((2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)sulfinyl|phenyl)-3-(trifluoromethyl)-i. H-1,2,4-triazol-5-amine and afidopyropene. A non-limiting list of fungicides includes carbendazim, carboxin, difenoconazole, fludioxonil, fluquinconazole, fluxapiroxad, ipconazole, isothianil, mefenoxam, metalaxyl, pencicuron, penflufen, prothioconazole, prochloraz, pyraclostrobin, sedaxan, silthiofam, tebuconazole, thiram, trifloxystrobin and triticonazole.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the planter is a pneumatic planter that contains a dispenser to which negative pressure can be applied to control the supply of seed material to the first furrow. Such a dispenser can be implemented, for example, as a rotating perforated disk (perforated disk) with negative pressure applied to one side of it, thanks to which the seed on the other side of the perforated disk is picked up from the seed tank. In this case, the holes in the disk should be of such a size that the seeds, such as corn kernels, are pressed, but not able to pass through them. Rather, due to the applied negative pressure, individual seeds stick to the disc in the area of the holes.

As the disk rotates, it passes through a certain narrow circular segment in which the negative pressure suddenly disappears. The seed, which at such a moment of time lies in this circular segment, then falls from the perforated disc and falls into the soil or into a previously created furrow. In this way, it is possible to get very precise individual seeds into the soil. Due to the negative pressure applied in such pneumatic planters, any dust associated with seed treatment is removed from the seed. It should be noted that the air flow, which contains dust, is necessary to maintain the functionality of the machine.

In another embodiment of the seeder according to the invention, the dust separator includes a vent separator. Centrifugal separators, also called cyclones or cyclone separators, are used to separate particles contained in gases or liquids (hydrocyclones).

A centrifugal separator essentially consists of a feed container, a cone, a container for collecting particles, and also an air outlet channel. In the supply container, the mixture of gas and particles is supplied along a circular trajectory with tangential blowing. As a result of the narrowing of the adjacent cone, the speed of rotation increases to such an extent that the particles are thrown onto the walls of the cone by centrifugal force and slow down to such an extent that they separate from the flow and fall down into the collection container. The gas, which has been cleaned of particles, leaves the cone moving upwards through the air outlet channel. In particular, in pneumatic seed drills, such an external separator allows a particularly effective separation of the air fraction from the dust fraction.

A centrifugal separator can belong to the group of inertial separators, in which dust is separated by centrifugal force, gravitational force and/or inertia force. These forces move the dust particles to an area where the forces exerted by the air stream being cleaned are minimal. Separated dust particles are usually moved by gravity into the collection container. Usually, the planter according to the invention can also contain other types of dust collectors.

For example, the dust collector according to the invention may also belong to the group of fabric filters. Fabric filters or fabric dust collectors use filtration to separate dust particles from a fluid containing such particles. The liquid substance passes through fabric elements or fabric bags that act as filters. Bags can be made of cotton, synthetic or fiberglass material, for example, in a tubular form or in a shell form. After a certain time, the cloth bags must be cleaned or thrown away, as the accumulation of dust particles reduces their effectiveness. There are different ways to separate dust particles from fabric bags. For example, a strong, high-pressure stream or pulsating jet can be used to remove dust from a bag (fabric filter with pulsating jet cleaning). Bags can alternatively or additionally also

To be cleaned by sound waves (fabric filter with sound cleaning). Cartridges can be used to increase the active area of the fabric agent.

The dust collector can also be used as an electrostatic precipitator.

An electrostatic precipitator uses electrostatic forces to separate dust particles from dusty air. Dusty air flows through the channel formed by the discharge and collection electrodes. Electrodes can have the form of a plate or a pipe. Various cleaning methods, such as pulsating jet cleaning, can be used to separate accumulated dust from the collection electrodes.

In one embodiment of the invention, the removal of dust from the dust collector can be regulated using a rotary valve. It can be, for example, a blade latch or similar. Such a valve can have, for example, several segments designed as chambers, each of which or each chamber is able to receive and also re-release a defined partial amount of dust particles. Thus, a uniform continuous or quasi-continuous release of seed treatment dust is ensured.

Alternatively, dust removal may also be regulated by at least one slide valve. However, it should be noted that a single damper is not optimal, as there is a risk that the flow of air through the dust collector may be interrupted and its efficiency may decrease. The use of a single valve can also allow excess air to move with the dust, which can lead to inadequate incorporation of the dust into the soil.

By connecting two sliding dampers connected in series by opening the first sliding damper while simultaneously closing the second sliding damper, a defined partial amount of dust can first be released into the space between the two sliding dampers before the first sliding damper is then closed and the second sliding damper is opened so that , that dust particles can then be released. In this way, the dosing of dust particles during removal from the dust collector can be done very accurately. By setting the frequency with which the valves open and close, it is possible to achieve both quasi-continuous and synchronous dust release. Discharge of dust through such a blocking system further ensures that the system is sufficiently airtight and that there is no external influence that worsens the pressure conditions in the dust collector.

One proposal of the invention provides that the dust separated from the air can be introduced into the first furrow that receives the seed material. In this way, both seed material and dust particles are introduced into the same furrow. In principle, taking into account the appropriate configuration of the planter, several mostly parallel first furrows can also be made, for each of which a dispenser is assigned, so that the seed material can be applied simultaneously to several first furrows. Accordingly, in this case, dust particles may also be released into the first few grooves.

Another proposal of the invention provides that the seeder includes a second plowing device for carrying at least one second furrow in the pound, into which dust separated from the air, preferably without seeds, can be applied. Again, a number of first and/or a number of second, preferably parallel, grooves may also be made. In this case, the first furrow for sowing and the second furrow for applying dust can be performed alternately.

However, in this embodiment, in which the seed material and dust are introduced into separate furrows, the power consumption should be higher, since furrow making is a significant part of the energy consumed by the planter.

If the planter is equipped with a second plowing device for making the second furrows, then it also preferably contains a second backfill for closing the second furrow. Only this ensures that the dust particle really connects with the soil and does not lie on it freely accessible to insects or that it cannot be blown away by the wind.

Introductory means for introducing dust into the soil are preferably made as pipes or hoses in such a way that they very accurately enter the previously made furrows and are able to release dust particles there in a controlled manner. In this case, the ends of the input devices that enter the soil can pass in the furrows and, thus, lie below the soil level for plowing. In this way, dust particles can be placed very precisely. Input means such as pipes or hoses that feed the dust into the furrow may also pass through the body of the furrow backfill device, providing additional protection for the dust from any wind.

The inlet means (eg pipes or hoses), the rotary valve and/or the slide valve(s) may be made of plastic or other suitable materials. The materials may be electrically conductive to prevent the build-up of electrostatic charge, which poses a risk of dust particles sticking to the inner surface of the inlet means and, accordingly, the valves. If, for example, plastic is used as a material, then the additives are as follows

Zo, like carbon, can contribute to sufficient electrical conductivity. Avoiding the risk of dust particles sticking in the inlet means or valves facilitates the release of dust into the soil and prevents the inadvertent release of large quantities of material at once due to, for example, vibrations of the drill.

You can also use a flushing device to facilitate the release of dust into the soil and to increase efficiency. For example, a rotary valve can be connected to another valve connected to a water container. During seeding, a small amount of water can be released continuously or at regular intervals through the input means, thus washing the fine dust particles into the soil.

The invention also provides a seeding method. In the seeding method according to the invention, seed material is introduced into the soil, in which the dust particles obtained during the seeding process are first separated from the air in a dust separator. The separated dust particles are then released from the dust collector and applied to the soil. In the process, dust particles are mainly introduced into the furrow in the soil, which is then closed again. The furrow can be the first furrow that receives the seed material, as well as a separately made second furrow. Preferably, the sowing method uses a seeder and, accordingly, its above-described execution options.

The seeder and/or method of sowing according to the invention can be used to solve various problems. It may be advantageous to separate air containing dust particles from the seed material, for example by applying the dust in a furrow that is different from the furrow in which the seed material is applied. Also, by using the planter and/or sowing method, not only the effect of active substances on animals (in particular, beneficial insects such as bees or bumblebees) that are suspected to be toxic to them, but also the effect of potentially dangerous chemicals on the operator of the planter can be weakened or persons living or working near the field being sown.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to an illustrative embodiment and to the attached drawings. In Figures:

Figure 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a planter part according to the invention;

Figure 2 shows an alternative version of the seeder valve from Figure 1;

Figure C shows an enlarged view of the centrifugal separator from Figure 1, which shows the principle of its operation.

Figure 1 shows a detail of the planter according to the invention, which is designated by the number 1. Only this part of the planter 1 is shown here, which has innovations according to the invention, which relate to the separation of air from dust in the air-dust mixture, as well as the introduction of dust into the soil. The basic design of a real seeder, in particular a pneumatic seeder, is known to a person skilled in the art and is not the object of the present invention.

A centrifugal separator 5, also called a cyclone, is provided in the illustrative embodiment shown in Figure 1 to separate air from dust. The fan C takes the mixture of air and particles from the planter 1 through the inlet 2 and blows it into the cyclone 5 through the feed channel 4.

Cyclone 5 has a lower conical section 6, which leads to an outlet section 7. The mode of operation of cyclone 5 becomes apparent by reference to the more detailed illustration in Figure 3. A mixture P of air and particles, which is introduced into cyclone 1 through the feed channel and indicated by a dotted line, is supplied along a circular or helical trajectory 5 by blowing on a tangent. Due to the taper of the cyclone 5 in the lower section b, the speed of rotation increases to such an extent that the particles are thrown onto the walls of the cyclone 5 under the action of centrifugal force and, thus, are slowed down to the extent that they are separated from the flow and fall down into the outlet section 7. Cleaned air, that is, the air component, on the contrary, rises and is able to leave the cyclone 5 through the air outlet channel 13.

For the controlled removal of dust particles that collect in the outlet section 7 of the cyclone 5, the planter according to the illustrative embodiment shown in figure 1 contains two sliding flaps (valves) va, 8B, which cover the space 9 between them. In the context of the relevant process regulation, a predetermined number of dust particles can be introduced into this space 9 from the outlet section 7 by opening only the upper slide valve va (valve) before the slide valve va is then closed and the lower slide valve 806 is opened so that the dust particles can be discharged from planters through hoses 10, which are located behind the slide valve 806 and feed the material into the pound 11 for plowing. The frequency or synchronicity with which the slide valves va and 80 open and close is adjustable and can also be adapted, in particular, to the speed of movement of the planter. For example, the relatively short opening periods of the two valves results in quasi-continuous emission of small amounts of dust - in this case, opening periods of a few seconds, such as about 2-60 seconds, during which the valve operates. However, longer opening or closing periods can also be one to several minutes.

As an alternative to the above-described two sliding flaps va, 85, Figure 2 shows a rotary valve 8 designed as a blade valve, which can also be used to regulate the discharge of dust from the cyclone 5. For this, the rotary valve 8 contains separate chambers made in the form of circular segments , which, depending on the turning position of the rotary valve 8, are filled with dust particles from the outlet section 7 and successively release them again after a half-turn of the valve, which is also visible from Figure 3.

As schematically shown, Figure 1 also shows a dispenser 12, designed as a rotating perforated disc, for introducing seeds into the soil 11, which moves along a furrow, which is shown in Figure 1 in longitudinal section and runs from left to right. In the embodiments of the invention depicted in this Figure, the dust particle, ie the dust component, is thus deposited in the same furrow as the seed material. What is not shown is the plowing device, which is located in front of the dispenser 12 and makes a furrow in the soil, as well as the backfilling agent, which follows the hoses 10 and closes the furrows again. The way in which the air is directed from the dispenser 12 to the air inlet 2 of the fan 3 is indicated by the arrow 14.

The use of the seeder according to the invention allows the dust from the seed treatment to be reliably captured and effectively incorporated into the soil for plowing: therefore, any danger that this dust poses to humans, animals or the environment can be significantly reduced.

A seeder configured in this way is thus particularly suitable for sowing seed treated with a seed treatment agent that contains active substances such as, for example, clothianidin, and some of these active substances are suspected to be toxic to certain insects by being released as dust products for plant protection in the environment.

In the field to be treated, the planter according to the invention applies essentially the same amount of plant protection product as it would in the case of no seed treatment agent waste, so that the existing limits for plant protection product waste will not be exceeded . As far as compliance with these limits is concerned, it does not matter in this case whether the plant protection product is applied to the soil while adhering to the seed or as dust. Moreover, the continuous or quasi-continuous removal of dust during the seeding process ensures that there is no local accumulation of the product to protect the plant, which can be problematic in terms of environmental protection aspects.

Claims (14)

FORMULA OF THE INVENTION 1. Seeder (1) for introducing seed material into the soil (11), which contains a first plowing device for conducting at least one furrow in the soil (11) and a backfilling device for closing the first furrow, which additionally contains a dust separator made with the possibility of air separation, which contains dust particles, during its supply during the seeding process, to the air component and the dust component, which differs in that introduction means (10) are provided for introducing the dust component, separated from the air component, into the soil (11). 2. Planter (1) according to claim 1, which differs in that it contains a dispenser (12), which is made with the possibility of applying negative pressure to it for controlled introduction of seed material into the first furrow. 3. Planter (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2, which differs in that the dust collector includes a ventral separator (5). 4. Planter (1) according to item C, which is characterized by the fact that the centrifugal separator (5) contains an air outlet channel (13), made with the possibility of releasing the air component separated from the dust component into the environment. 5. Planter (1) according to any of claims 1-4, which is characterized by the fact that it is made with the possibility of adjusting the removal of the dust component from the dust separator by means of a rotary valve (8). b. The planter (1) according to any one of claims 1-4, which is characterized by the fact that it is made with the possibility of adjusting the removal of the dust component from the dust separator by means of at least one sliding valve (va, 86). 7. Planter (1) according to any one of claims 1-6, which is distinguished by the fact that it is made with the possibility of introducing the dust component, separated from the air component, into the first furrow, which is made with the possibility of receiving seed material. 8. Planter (1) according to any of claims 1-7, which is characterized by the fact that it contains a second plowing device Zo for conducting at least one second furrow in the soil, which is made with the possibility of introducing into it a dust component separated from an air component. 9. Planter (1) according to claim 8, which differs in that a second filling means is provided for closing the second furrow. 10. Planter (1) according to any of claims 1-9, which is characterized by the fact that the introduction means (10) for introducing the dust component into the soil (11) are made as pipes or hoses. 11. The seeding method for applying seed material to the soil, in which the particles of the dust component obtained during the sowing process are first separated from the air component in a dust collector, and the separated particles of the dust component are then released from the dust collector and applied to the soil. 12. The method of sowing according to claim 11, which differs in that the particles of the dust component are introduced into the furrow in the soil and then the furrow is closed again. 13. The seeding method according to claim 11 or claim 12, which differs in that the dust collector includes a centrifugal separator (5). 14. The seeding method according to any of claims 11-13, which differs in that it uses a seed drill (1) according to any of claims 1-10. i 4 i sh i i i sho | B 2 bTERya z Shche she y i-yya-y KK y her /, w St Ya ke Shchi seti tv dn yadV Fig. 1 2 of Fig. 2 yh V EE lit an wl Te as 2-1 Fig. WITH