Seed counting machines count seeds for research and packaging purposes. The machines typically provide total counts of seeds or batch sizes for packaging.
The first seed counters were developed to count legumes and other seeds which were large.[1]
Traditionally, the seed packaging industry packed seeds by weight but sold them by number. In order to assure the correct quantity of seeds, the distributors added a safety margin to the packed weight, like a bakers' dozen. This safety margin increased cost. By counting the seeds, the margin of error could be reduced and so costs reduced.[2]
Originally people counted seeds by hand, or used a trip board. The first seed-counting machine was the vibratory mechanical seed counter. Modern day electronic seed counters are faster and more accurate.[3] A color-image-based seed sorter was developed which can sort various things by their color.[4]
In 1929 the US Bureau of Plant Industry worked with several seed companies to perfect a seed counter.[5] In 1962 an electric seed counter was developed by the USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service. The electronic counter operation involved the a vibrating the seeds so that they move to the edge of the counting machine.[1]
The machine will pay for itself over the labor intensive tedious task of manually counting seeds, which is necessarily characterized by human error. By contrast, the new devices, even in the early 1960s, boasted increased speed and “about 1 error in counting 10,000 seeds counted.” The accuracy helps lessen the need to build in safety margins for quantity; and the costs of the machinery can be more than paid for by reduced labor costs.[2]
In the 1970s other electronic seed counting advancements included an electric eye to count the seeds. Seed counting still involved vibrating the seed, but now the seed would fall through a seed hole.[6]
If the items are put onto the conveyor in a single file, then a simple counting mechanism may provide satisfactory results. However, such a mechanism is inherently slower than if the items were freely placed on the conveyor without posing such limitations. Thus, in the 2000s other parallel counting of multiple objects evolved, including devices that use multiple electromagnetic energy sources and receptors.[7]
Technology
At one time, the methodology included use of vacuum tubes, vacuum pumps, a light source and a photo transistor. The size needed to be adjusted so only one seed passes through at a time. To be useful, batch counters need to be commercially available. A single preset count facility is a plus, as is “adequate count capacity, the ability to provide external power supplies and [control of] ... the means to stop the picking up and counting of seeds.”[8]
In commercial operations, it is important for the counter to be automatic and accurate. For example, one commercial counter is capable of measuring the hundredth/thousandth grain weight for seeds, tablets, pearls, and small components. It adopts far-infrared area sensor, and a large enough photosensitive area, "suitable for the sensitivity of all crops (millet-peanut)." Blockages or splashes are to be avoided. Adaptable speed variation adjustment helps "solve the contradiction between speed and accuracy, and ensure error-free counting (counting error of 0/1000)" Manual feeding vs automatic cup changing "improve the counting efficiency, reduce labor intensity." Automatic discharge can obviate demands for the operator to constantly feed the vibrating plate. One counter is so fast that Millet "counting can reach 2000 grains/min, and the wheat and rice counting" Suitability of the vibrating plate for different seeds is a consideration. It is useful to have an adjustable baffle at the exit of the bowl "according to the diameter of the seeds (workpieces), only one seed (workpiece) at a time, not side by side, for all large and small seeds."[9]
In counting, it is important to position one seed at a time by manipulating slit width when using a Photoelectric seed counter.[11] It can be an integral part of a Seed drill.[citation needed]
Some are able to handle up to 23 sample containers. They can do this while maintaining notable accuracy.[A] General purpose electronic seed counters usually count seeds during free fall. They have achieved satisfactory error rates.[10] For example: "Counting errors of less than 0.4% at counting speeds of 400 to 1,180 seeds/min were obtained for seeds of nine different species ranging in size from corn (Zea mays L.) to trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.). Under some conditions, the seed dispenser, a vibratory small parts feeder, segregated wheat kernels (Triticum aestivum L.) into weight classes dispensing heavier kernels first into the counting system."[12][13]
Gallery
USDA seed packeting machines in operation, circa 1916
^"An automatic seed counter for counting seeds from 1–23 sample containers into 1–23 collecting containers is described. The counter can count and collect either a predetermined number of seeds from each sample or the total number of seeds in each sample. Although the instrument was designed for rapeseed, the counter can accommodate seed species ranging in size from 0·6 to 12·5 mm. For large samples (> 100 seeds), the count accuracy varies from ±1% to ±2%, depending on the size and shape of the seed. When counting in the predetermined mode with small samples (<100 seeds) of small seeds, the count accuracy is reduced to ±3%. Accuracy when counting rapeseed is within ±1·16 seeds standard deviation for sample sizes within the range 10–100 seeds, in either predetermined or total count mode. At present this equipment is not suitable for counting seeds from breeder selections because of the possibility of transferring a seed or seeds from one sample to another; minor changes to the control circuit should make this feasible. It is, however, suitable for the majority of counting requirements for a broad range of seeds.[10]
Citations
^ ab"Electronic Counter for Seeds Developed". San Antonio Express. May 24, 1962. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
^ ab"The Future for Food Retailing". Agricultural Marketing. United States: Agricultural Marketing Service: 7. 1961.
^Reid, W.S.; Buckley, D.J.; Mason, W. (June 1976). "A photoelectric seed counting detector". Journal of Agricultural Engineering Research. 21 (2): 213–215. doi:10.1016/0021-8634(76)90077-9 – via ScienceDirect.
^Reid, W.S.; Buckley, D.J.; Downey, R.K. (March 1983). "A semi-automatic seed counter". Journal of Agricultural Engineering Research. 28 (2): 89–95. doi:10.1016/0021-8634(83)90078-1 – via ScienceDirect.
^McLaughlin, N. B.; Giesbrecht, J.; Bligh, D. F. (April 1976). "Design and Performance of an Electronic Seed Counter". Canadian Journal of Plant Science. 56 (2): 351–355. doi:10.4141/cjps76-053.
External links
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February 07, 2023
seed, counting, machine, seed, counting, machines, count, seeds, research, packaging, purposes, machines, typically, provide, total, counts, seeds, batch, sizes, packaging, seed, counter, packagerindustryagricultureapplicationcounting, seeds, contents, backgro. Seed counting machines count seeds for research and packaging purposes The machines typically provide total counts of seeds or batch sizes for packaging Seed counting machineA seed counter and packagerIndustryAgricultureApplicationCounting seeds Contents 1 Background 2 History 3 Technology 4 Gallery 5 See also 6 References 6 1 Notes 6 2 Citations 7 External linksBackground EditThe first seed counters were developed to count legumes and other seeds which were large 1 Traditionally the seed packaging industry packed seeds by weight but sold them by number In order to assure the correct quantity of seeds the distributors added a safety margin to the packed weight like a bakers dozen This safety margin increased cost By counting the seeds the margin of error could be reduced and so costs reduced 2 History Edit 1928 United States Department of Agriculture publication regarding seed counters Originally people counted seeds by hand or used a trip board The first seed counting machine was the vibratory mechanical seed counter Modern day electronic seed counters are faster and more accurate 3 A color image based seed sorter was developed which can sort various things by their color 4 In 1929 the US Bureau of Plant Industry worked with several seed companies to perfect a seed counter 5 In 1962 an electric seed counter was developed by the USDA s Agricultural Marketing Service The electronic counter operation involved the a vibrating the seeds so that they move to the edge of the counting machine 1 The machine will pay for itself over the labor intensive tedious task of manually counting seeds which is necessarily characterized by human error By contrast the new devices even in the early 1960s boasted increased speed and about 1 error in counting 10 000 seeds counted The accuracy helps lessen the need to build in safety margins for quantity and the costs of the machinery can be more than paid for by reduced labor costs 2 In the 1970s other electronic seed counting advancements included an electric eye to count the seeds Seed counting still involved vibrating the seed but now the seed would fall through a seed hole 6 If the items are put onto the conveyor in a single file then a simple counting mechanism may provide satisfactory results However such a mechanism is inherently slower than if the items were freely placed on the conveyor without posing such limitations Thus in the 2000s other parallel counting of multiple objects evolved including devices that use multiple electromagnetic energy sources and receptors 7 Technology EditAt one time the methodology included use of vacuum tubes vacuum pumps a light source and a photo transistor The size needed to be adjusted so only one seed passes through at a time To be useful batch counters need to be commercially available A single preset count facility is a plus as is adequate count capacity the ability to provide external power supplies and control of the means to stop the picking up and counting of seeds 8 In commercial operations it is important for the counter to be automatic and accurate For example one commercial counter is capable of measuring the hundredth thousandth grain weight for seeds tablets pearls and small components It adopts far infrared area sensor and a large enough photosensitive area suitable for the sensitivity of all crops millet peanut Blockages or splashes are to be avoided Adaptable speed variation adjustment helps solve the contradiction between speed and accuracy and ensure error free counting counting error of 0 1000 Manual feeding vs automatic cup changing improve the counting efficiency reduce labor intensity Automatic discharge can obviate demands for the operator to constantly feed the vibrating plate One counter is so fast that Millet counting can reach 2000 grains min and the wheat and rice counting Suitability of the vibrating plate for different seeds is a consideration It is useful to have an adjustable baffle at the exit of the bowl according to the diameter of the seeds workpieces only one seed workpiece at a time not side by side for all large and small seeds 9 Some seed counters use laser light 10 In counting it is important to position one seed at a time by manipulating slit width when using a Photoelectric seed counter 11 It can be an integral part of a Seed drill citation needed Some are able to handle up to 23 sample containers They can do this while maintaining notable accuracy A General purpose electronic seed counters usually count seeds during free fall They have achieved satisfactory error rates 10 For example Counting errors of less than 0 4 at counting speeds of 400 to 1 180 seeds min were obtained for seeds of nine different species ranging in size from corn Zea mays L to trefoil Lotus corniculatus L Under some conditions the seed dispenser a vibratory small parts feeder segregated wheat kernels Triticum aestivum L into weight classes dispensing heavier kernels first into the counting system 12 13 Gallery Edit USDA seed packeting machines in operation circa 1916 USDA seed packet assembly line circa 1916 A seed counter at the W Atlee Burpee company in 1943See also Edit Agriculture and Agronomy portalAgricultural machinery industry List of agricultural machinery Mechanised agriculture Seed drill box drill air drill References EditNotes Edit An automatic seed counter for counting seeds from 1 23 sample containers into 1 23 collecting containers is described The counter can count and collect either a predetermined number of seeds from each sample or the total number of seeds in each sample Although the instrument was designed for rapeseed the counter can accommodate seed species ranging in size from 0 6 to 12 5 mm For large samples gt 100 seeds the count accuracy varies from 1 to 2 depending on the size and shape of the seed When counting in the predetermined mode with small samples lt 100 seeds of small seeds the count accuracy is reduced to 3 Accuracy when counting rapeseed is within 1 16 seeds standard deviation for sample sizes within the range 10 100 seeds in either predetermined or total count mode At present this equipment is not suitable for counting seeds from breeder selections because of the possibility of transferring a seed or seeds from one sample to another minor changes to the control circuit should make this feasible It is however suitable for the majority of counting requirements for a broad range of seeds 10 Citations Edit a b Electronic Counter for Seeds Developed San Antonio Express May 24 1962 Retrieved October 27 2021 a b The Future for Food Retailing Agricultural Marketing United States Agricultural Marketing Service 7 1961 Advancements in Seed Counting Technologies Prompt Committee to Pursue Rule Change Proposal Iowa State University Seed Science Center Retrieved October 27 2021 Savvy Seed Sorter Gains New Fans USDA ARS Online Magazine Vol 61 No 6 Agricultural Research Service July 2013 Retrieved October 27 2021 Colorado s Expert Protects Growers Against Poor Seed The Bismarck Tribune April 13 1931 Retrieved October 27 2021 Improvements Additions Set at Pioneer Research Station Huron Daily Plainsman February 25 1973 Retrieved October 27 2021 Method and apparatus for dispensing items Google patents United States Patent and Trademark Office Retrieved September 7 2022 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain Carlow C A June 1968 Note An electronic seed counter PDF Journal of Agricultural Engineering Research 13 2 187 189 doi 10 1016 0021 8634 68 90094 2 ISSN 0021 8634 via Elsevier DC 3 Automatic Electronic Seed Counting Machine for Seeds Medical Particles Gemstone Retrieved October 30 2021 a b c Reid W S Buckley D J September 1974 A laser light source seed counter Journal of Agricultural Engineering Research 19 3 265 269 doi 10 1016 0021 8634 74 90065 1 Reid W S Buckley D J Mason W June 1976 A photoelectric seed counting detector Journal of Agricultural Engineering Research 21 2 213 215 doi 10 1016 0021 8634 76 90077 9 via ScienceDirect Reid W S Buckley D J Downey R K March 1983 A semi automatic seed counter Journal of Agricultural Engineering Research 28 2 89 95 doi 10 1016 0021 8634 83 90078 1 via ScienceDirect McLaughlin N B Giesbrecht J Bligh D F April 1976 Design and Performance of an Electronic Seed Counter Canadian Journal of Plant Science 56 2 351 355 doi 10 4141 cjps76 053 External links EditDodder counting machine Wikimedia Commons has media related to Seed counting machine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Seed counting machine amp oldid 1114533459, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
