Apparatus and method for converting existing sowing equipment

A kit of parts comprising

• a. a precision sowing equipment comprising a plant propagation materials reservoir, a separation device for separating plant propagation materials, and an outlet for directing the separated plant propagation materials to the underlying surface for the plant propagation materials, and
• b. an application device configured to be attachable to the outlet or the separation device, for selectively applying an aliquot of a dressing composition to the separated plant propagation materials,
• wherein the application device further comprises:
• i. a power supply connector,
• ii. a reservoir for the dressing composition, all attachable to the sowing equipment;
• iii. a sensor array comprising at least one sensor for measuring the trajectory of the plant propagation materials while falling,
• iv. a controller for calculating the trajectory from the data received from the sensor array;
• and for coordinating and applying the dressing composition;
• and
• v. an outlet device for dispensing an aliquot of the dressing composition selectively onto the plant propagation materials during free-falling;
• wherein the application device has a sensor shaft which is open at both ends, and wherein the application device is arranged in such a way that the separated plant propagation materials fall through the sensor shaft on their path from the separating device to the underlying surface for plant propagation material;
• wherein at least one sensor for detecting the passage of a plant propagation material through the sensor shaft is arranged in the sensor shaft, and wherein the application device has a triggerable application nozzle for the dressing composition configured to apply a defined quantity of dressing composition to a plant propagation material having fallen through the sensor shaft, once the plant propagation material is outside the sensor shaft, wherein the application device has a controller which cooperates with the at least one sensor, the controller bringing about the triggering of the application nozzle in accordance with sensor signals generated by the at least one sensor, in order to apply the dressing composition to the plant propagation material;
• wherein the application nozzle is configured to eject, each time it is triggered, a defined quantity of plant propagation material dressing along a spraying trajectory, wherein the controller is configured to calculate the position of an impact location at which the spraying trajectory and the fall line of the plant propagation material to which dressing is applied intersect, and wherein the at least one sensor is configured to detect a transverse position of the plant propagation material within the sensor shaft, and wherein the controller is configured to calculate the time delay on the basis of the transverse position of the impact location and the rate of fall of the plant propagation material;
• and wherein the application nozzle is oriented such that its spraying trajectory intersects the fall lines of the plant propagation materials at an acute angle.

A method for retrofitting an existing sowing equipment, comprising

• a. providing an existing sowing equipment comprising a plant propagation materials reservoir, a separation device for separating plant propagation materials, and an outlet for directing the separated plant propagation materials to the underlying surface for the plant propagation materials, and
• b. operably attaching an application device configured to be attachable to the outlet or the singulatseparation device, for selectively applying an aliquot of a dressing composition to the separated plant propagation materials to the separation device or outlet
• wherein the application device further comprises:
• i. a power supply connector,
• ii. a reservoir for the dressing composition, all attachable to the sowing equipment;
• iii. a sensor array comprising at least one sensor for measuring the trajectory of the plant propagation materials while falling,
• iv. a controller for calculating the trajectory from the data received from the sensor array;
• and for coordinating and applying the dressing composition;
• and
• v. an outlet device for dispensing an aliquot of the dressing composition selectively onto the plant propagation materials during free-falling;
• wherein the application device has a sensor shaft which is open at both ends, and wherein the application device is arranged in such a way that the separated plant propagation materials fall through the sensor shaft on their path from the separating device to the underlying surface for plant propagation material;
• wherein at least one sensor for detecting the passage of a plant propagation material through the sensor shaft is arranged in the sensor shaft, and wherein the application device has a triggerable application nozzle for the dressing composition configured to apply a defined quantity of dressing composition to a plant propagation material having fallen through the sensor shaft, once the plant propagation material is outside the sensor shaft, wherein the application device has a controller which cooperates with the at least one sensor, the controller bringing about the triggering of the application nozzle in accordance with sensor signals generated by the at least one sensor, in order to apply the dressing composition to the plant propagation material;
• wherein the application nozzle is configured to eject, each time it is triggered, a defined quantity of plant propagation material dressing along a spraying trajectory, wherein the controller is configured to calculate the position of an impact location at which the spraying trajectory and the fall line of the plant propagation material to which dressing is applied intersect, and wherein the at least one sensor is configured to detect a transverse position of the plant propagation material within the sensor shaft, and wherein the controller is configured to calculate the time delay on the basis of the transverse position of the impact location and the rate of fall of the plant propagation material;
• and wherein the application nozzle is oriented such that its spraying trajectory intersects the fall lines of the plant propagation materials at an acute angle.