• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.179-185
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• 2008

The seeding rates of the vacuum suction nozzle seeders are affected by the jumping height of the seeds on the vibrating seed hopper. This study was performed to investigate the optimum vibration condition of the seed hopper on the vacuum suction nozzle seeder for improving seeding performance. Experiments were carried out to determine the vibration conditions of the seed hopper by air pressure and eccentric weight, and to optimize the seed-pickup performance of each nozzle by suction pressure. As the result with the experiments, the fluctuations of the jumping height of the seeds were showed at amplitude 0.4 mm and frequency 42 Hz, and jumping heights of the seeds were increased as the air pressure increase and the eccentric weight decrease, regardless number of seeds of the hopper. The best seeding rate of the seed hopper was 98% at the 300-seed cell, when the condition of the seed hopper was the suction air pressure of 94.6 kPa-abs., amplitude and frequency of the seed hopper vibration were at 0.57 mm and 43.6 Hz, respectively. The optimum vibrating conditions of the seed hopper were decided into frequency 43.6-43.8 Hz and the amplitudes 0.61-0.62 mm.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.395-402
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• 2003

Standard ginseng seedling, selected after one year's rearing in the seedling bed has been conventionally transplanted in Korea. Recently, the direct seeding areas have been increasing to product high quality ginsengs for red-ginseng processing. Reciprocating push-rod brush, holed-roller and vacuum suction seeders, planting with 30 ${\times}$ 30mm spacings and adjustable to the folds were designed and theirs performances were evaluated. The developed three types of seeders reliably performed at the success rate over 95% with less than 10% in slip rate, and could be used a seeder for the greater spacings by adjusting metering parts. The research concluded that the vacuum suction seeder was the most feasible and practical with the greatest metering success and the least slip among three type seeders of the reciprocating push-rod brush, holed-roller and vacuum suction seeders. The vacuum suction seeder holds a seed with each needle nozzle using the negative pressure created by a vacuum pump. The capacity was 24.5 times greater than a man power at the speed of 5 m/min.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.434-443
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• 2011

A large scale seeding system was stable in terms of techniques but a convenient seeding system of small size was unsettled. This study was performed to develop a semi-automatic seeder for small and medium sized scale farm. To investigate optimum needle diameter and vacuum pressure was used vacuum suction needle seeder. Although the needle diameter according to the kinds of seed was different, the needle diameter for salvia and lettuce seed was suitable for 0.34 mm needle nozzle and 0.4 mm taper nozzle. The prototype consisted a seeding frame attached with needle nozzle, seed hopper, vibrating device, seeding part, vacuum ejector, seed tube etc.. As the result with the experiments, the seeding rate of the seeder was 92% and more at 0.34 mm diameter needle nozzle and 0.4 mm taper nozzle. Eccentric weight for seed hopper vibration was suitable that weight is 11 g and eccentric distance is 0.5 mm. Vibration acceleration of upward direction was 0.363 m/$s^2$. Working capacity of the seeder was possible 160 trays per hour. It was possible for sowing small seeds but it was required to make compact and simple model.