1. What Is The Seed Counter?

Seed Counter -photo credits: cremer

Seed counter combines seed counting and seed packaging that can offer you high speed and high precision for your seed packaging. Seed counters provide the accurate and fast counting and bagging of seeds. Generally, the seed counter is suitable for the packaging of prefabricated bags such as seed bags. This machine can not only count grains but also has the function of weighing. It can provide you with weighing and counting seeds at the same time.

2. What Are The Applications Of The Seed Counter?

Seed counters are widely used in different industries, including:

Agricultural Industry

Seed counters are widely used in the agricultural industry for various seeds, and raw materials, such as wheat, barley, corn, sunflower, soya, etc. counting and packaging.

Food Supplement Industry

Seed counters are widely used in the food supplement industry for various food supplements such as vitamin pills, fish oil capsules, mineral substances, honey-related food supplement pills, etc. counting and packaging into pouches and bags.

Pharmaceutical Industry

Seed counters are also mainly applied in the pharmaceutical industry for capsules and pills such as gel capsules, hard capsules, pills, tablets, etc. counting and packaging into bags.

Manufacturing Industry

Seed counters can be applied in the manufacturing industry for screws, nails, zipper pulls, and jewelry accessories like pendants, ear rings, etc. counting and packaging into bags.

Electronics Industry

Seed counters can be applied in the electronics industry for electronic components such as batteries, chips, etc. into blister packs.

3. What Products Are Mainly Applied By Seed Counter?

There are various products that are mainly applied by seed counters:

Seeds

Due to the lightweight and small size of the seeds. Therefore, the seed counter is able to provide accurate and fast counting and packaging for a wide variety of seeds. Different seeds have different volumes. The seed counter can not only solve the counting and packaging of larger seeds such as beans such as soybeans and sunflower seeds but is also applicable to smaller seeds such as sesames.

Gummies

Gummies can be both filled and sealed in bottles and bags. Seed counters are usually applied in gummy counting and packaging into different types of bags. It can also provide a fully automatic gummy counting and packing process.

Capsules and Tablets

Seed counters can be widely applied for counting and packaging capsules and tablets into bags. The seed counter can be connected with the blister packaging machines that can offer you capsule and tablet blister packaging.

Nuts

Seed counters are widely applied in counting and packaging nuts such as peanuts, cashews, almonds, pine nuts, etc. into premade pouches with high efficiency and precision.

Buttons

Seed counters can provide simple and high-speed button counting for button wholesalers. Packaging by numbers is more convenient for buyers to use and record than packaging by weight.

Zippers

Seed counters can also be used to count irregularly shaped products such as zippers. Although the shape of each zipper is fixed, it is an irregular shape. But the seed counter can give you an accurate and fast counting effect.

Screws

Due to the huge market demand for screws, the packaging process of screws also needs to be counted. A simple semi-automatic or fully automatic counting machine can help you count the screws with high efficiency and high capacity.

Bottle Caps

Bottle caps also can be applied by the seed counter. Even if the weight of the cap is very light, the seed counter can be applied to count the bottle caps.

Batteries

Electronic products are becoming thinner and more portable, which puts higher demands on the size and weight of batteries. Seed counters are able to provide precise counting and packaging for this small battery.

Chips

Chips are widely used in various electronic products, including mobile phones, computers, watches, TVs, etc. The seed counter can satisfy the precise counting of such fine and small chips.

4. What Are The Packages For The Seed Counter?

There are different packages for the seeds:

Eco-view Packages

Eco-view Packages -photo credits: jbmpackaging

Eco-view packages can be applied for seeds packagings due to the fiber film and visible windows. This material is degradable and protects the environment. This packaging method will be the mainstream trend in the future.

Envelope Packets

The envelope packets are now the mainstream way to package seeds. This packaging method is simple and saves materials. And it can facilitate the printing of instructions. It is widely favored by everyone.

Standup Pouches

The standup pouches are usually applied for bulky packaging of granular seeds such as nuts, peanuts, beans, etc. These standup pouches are mainly zipper sealed, which makes the contents easy to access and seal.

Gusset Bags

Gusset bags for seeds can maximize the capacity of the bag. Gusset bags are packaged on both sides and are available in different sizes and custom designs. They are also lightweight, waterproof, and airtight.

Kraft Bags

Kraft bags for seeds are very convenient and eco-friendly, and it is easy to carry and tear. It is very convenient to use and transport. However, this packaging method is not very moisture-proof and has higher requirements for the seed shelf life.

5. What Are The Features And Advantages Of The Seed Counter?

Seed counters are generally well-designed and highly utilized. Its features include:

User-friendly Touch Screen Panel Operator

User-friendly Touch Screen Panel Operator -photo credits: data-technologies

The touch screen panel operator is easy for you to learn and operate with strong counting data setting, storing, and retrieving.

Fast Empty System

The fast empty system can help you with the seed blocking when it is uploaded into the feeding hopper. Once the detection component has detected the seed accumulation, the fast empty system will start immediately.

Built-in Dust Vacuum System

The built-in dust vacuum system helps you clear dust generated during seed movement and counting.

The advantages include:

100% Accuracy

Due to some seeds being too small and often deformed, it will consume a lot of manpower and material resources if manual selection and counting are used. However, the seed counter can solve this problem for you very well. It not only brings you fast and efficient seed counting but also provides you with nearly 100% accuracy.

Wide Counting Diameter Range

The seed counter is specially designed for accurate and fast counting and packing procedures. It is able to provide you with product sizes as small as 1 mm to as large as 25 mm for seed counting. Counting capacity of up to 24 bags of 1000 seeds per minute. The seed counter is your ideal choice.

6. What Is The Working Principles Of The Seed Counter?

Working Principle Of The Seed Counter -video credits: data-technologies

The working principle of a fully automatic seed counter is simple and easy for you to operate following the tips below:

• Firstly, all the seed counters need premade bags without the bag-forming process. So you need to insert the bags manually or with other bag-loading devices.
• After seed bags are inserted into the bag loading devices, they will be controlled by the rotary device for the bag printing for data coding.
• After all the seed bags are printed, the needles on the turntable will drop, and all the bags will be automatically opened during the rotation process.
• Then, all the seeds will be automatically uploaded into the loading hoppers in the counting system. The packaging system is below the counting system for bags packagings.
• There are different numbers of channels in the built-in photoelectric detection module. The seeds will be separately divided into channels.
• In the built-in photoelectric detection module, the seeds will be vibrated in the conveying channels and fall into the counting There is a photoelectric sensor that will automatically count the seeds when the seeds are falling into the feeding hoppers.
• When the bags are uploaded and opened in the rotary system, all the seeds will be automatically dropped from the feeding hoppers in the counting system.
• After all the bags are filled with the set amounts in the packaging system, then the bags will be pulled up for sealing in the sealing module.
• When all the bags are filled and sealed, they will be discharged and output into the conveying system.

7. What Are The Main Components In The Seed Counter?

There are seven main parts in this automatic seed counter:

Feeding Hopper

Feeding hopper is used for uploading the seeds or products. There are two main feeding hoppers for your seed's unblocking and smooth uploading. Each feeding hopper has a glass cover to keep debris out. This provides you with a clean and safe production environment.

Detection Component

The detection component inside the hopper is mainly used for the seed-level alert. This detection component comes into play if the seeds are fed too fast causing accumulation.

Vibrating Channel

The vibrating channel allows the seeds to spread evenly on the channel through the rapid vibration mode, so as to facilitate the free-falling and counting of seeds.

Bulk Seed Counting Module

The seed counting module inside the falling hopper adopts visual bulk seed counting technology, which can capture the view of seeds in vertical free fall at a constant speed, so as to perform real-time technology.

PLC Control Panel

The PLC control panel is equipped for counting data sets,  storage, and retrieval.

Pneumatic Reject System

The pneumatic reject system can help you remove impurities, defective seeds, or seeds of poor quality in seeds or products.

Vacuum Device

Due to the customer's requirement, some seeds will go through the process of coating before counting and packing. This process provides a protective system to the outer skin of the seed. But this coating is easy to bring dust in the process of counting seeds. This vacuum device is applied for extra protection from dust.

8. What Are The Types Of Seed Counters?

Different types and models of seed counters can be selected according to your exact needs for counting capacity and counting automation.

Seed Counter Board

The Seed counter board is a very simple tray unit and is suitable for manual seed counting. This tray is made of durable acrylic and has brass screws. Each pallet group consists of two pallets respectively. The first tray is provided with pre-drilled holes for a total of 200 openings. The spacing between each hole is approximately 2 inches. This tray is specially adapted for seed counting in walk-in germination chambers. This pallet can be customized for frame size, hole size and the number of holes, etc.

Tabletop Seed Counter

A tabletop seed counter is an electronic counter specially used for seed or granular solid production tablets. This kind of seed counter only has the function of counting, without the function of packaging or filling. It is automatically controlled by a microcomputer and uses touch buttons to start and run automatically. The counting and output speed of this machine can be adjusted. And high precision, no noise.

Semi-automatic Seed Counter

Semi-automatic Seed Counter -photo credits: gloex

The semi-automatic seed counter adopts visual counting technology and advanced software to perform high-speed and large-quantity counting of various seeds. It is widely used in the seed counting of tomato, cucumber, melon, watermelon, eggplant, pepper, sweet pepper, and other ornamental plants and vegetable seeds. The semi-automatic seed counter utilizes visual counting technology. This counting technique is highly accurate and fast. The seeds can be effectively separated through the rapid vibration of the vibration channel of the high-performance single-channel or multi-channel counter. This machine is also only suitable for bottle filling of seeds or bagging of pre-made bags.

Rotary Seed Counter

The rotary seed counter mainly applies the fiber counting system with the vibrating bowl with the high-accuracy fiber counting device. It can offer you both seed counting and bag packaging. It is one of the rare seed counters that does not require pre-made bags for packaging. This seed counter can automatically complete the whole process of seed counting, bag forming, seed filling, bag sealing, and printing.

Fully Automatic Seed Counter

Fully Automatic Seed Counter -photo credits: data-technologies

Fully automatic seed counters are widely applied for seed counting and filling or counting and packaging. They consist of the seed counting system and the seed packaging system at the same time. It can be applied for both the seed counting and filling into bottles or the seed counting and packaging into bags. They are all fully automatically designed, and you can make the adjustments in the PLC control panel without other manual work. It has the counting data storage and retrieval function.

9. Seed Weighing Or Seed Counting?

Why do more industries prefer seed counting and packaging more than seed weighing and packaging?

The difference between seed counting packaging and seed weighing packaging:

Seed counting packaging is a process of completing packaging by counting the number of seeds. When seeds pass through the sensor or photoelectric element, the seed counter will automatically complete the product counting and pack according to the preset quantity.

Seed weighing packaging is the process of weighing the seeds and then packing them according to the preset product weight. This requires a weighing packaging machine. Weighing and packaging machines are generally equipped with high-precision electronic scales to accurately measure the weight of the produced film.

Why Choose Seed Counting?

Seed Shape Consistency

Generally, seeds of the same type are almost similar in size, and there are few seeds in different shapes. The quality of the seed is light and the volume is very small. Therefore, seeds are very suitable for counting packaging, but not suitable for weighing packaging. Weighing packaging is more suitable for products in different sizes and shapes, such as food, cosmetics, etc.

Reduce Product Waste

Seed counting can greatly reduce the waste of seeds. In the process of counting seeds, there is no loss and waste except for the impurities and dust removed. Seed weighing and packaging cannot strictly control the weight of the products, which will cause overcompensation. This will cause a loss to the enterprise.

Saving Space

Seed counting equipment generally has a simple design and a small footprint, which can greatly save the floor space of the manufacturer's production facilities. Seed-weighing equipment is generally designed to be relatively large. Common weighing equipment is designed for multi-heads. Such equipment takes up a lot of space and is not conducive to the cleaning and maintenance of the machine.

10. What Are The Auxiliary Machines To Make The Seed Counter Into A Line?

The seed counter can be connected with the feeding machine and the bag forming and filling machine:

Feeding Machine

If you want to make the seed counter into a line, firstly you need a feeding machine that can help you convey the seeds into the loading hopper of the seed counter. This mesh belt elevator feeding machine adopts an open frame structure, which is clean and not suitable for dust accumulation. All the length, width, and height can be customized according to your needs.

Bagging Forming and Filling Machine

Bagging Forming and Filling Machine -photo credits: auger-filling

The bagging forming and filling machine is especially suitable for the seed counter which only has a counting function but no packing function. When the seeds are counted and dispensed into preset quantities, they are released to the bag-forming and filling machine. It will make pre-programmed seed bags for the seeds. When the seeds are filled into the bag, the bag is sealed.

11. What Are The Troubleshooting For Seed Counters?

If the machine has been used for a long time and has not been well maintained and cleaned, then it is prone to failure. Then the troubleshooting of the seed counter is crucial and essential.

Counting Errors

Before the machine is officially used, it needs to be tested and trial run according to the requirements of the manual. If the counting of seeds is inaccurate or wrong during the trial run, then you need to manually adjust your intelligent control system for debugging.

Counting Inaccurate

If the intelligent control system shows that there is no problem, it may be that the sieve holes on the vibrating plate of the seed and the groove at the end of the middle vibrating plate are blocked by dust, which affects the sensor at the front end. Therefore, you need to remove this dust manually. Then start the machine again. To ensure accurate counting, you need to avoid any accumulation of dust inside the detection cell.

12. What Are The Tips For Cleaning Seed Counters?

A clean seed counter is critical in the production industry. They must be maintained and cleaned at regular intervals to ensure the smooth operation of the machine. In order to avoid machine failure, you can clean and maintain the seed counters according to the following points:

Checking Residue

After each production batch, you need to check and clean out the residue or some leftover seed particles in the machine. This ensures that the machine will be able to count quickly again the next time it is run.

Cleaning Vibrating Plate Or Channel

Every product-contacting part of the machine and all vibration plates are disassembled freely and easily. Then wipe the vibrating plate clean with a clean towel and disinfect it as required.

Seed Counter Cleaning -photo credits: cremer

Clearing Dust

During the counting of tablets or seeds, due to the previous coating process, it is easy to generate dust in the machine. Therefore, you can configure a vacuum dust removal system on the machine. It can collect the dust at the ingredient slider in the hopper and prevent the dust from affecting the front sensor.

Conclusion:

The seed counter can offer you the fastest counting system for seeds and the high throughout with a wide counting diameter range. Allpack is the leading supplier of seed counters and counting solutions. If you want to find the best type for seed counters, Please browse our official website www.allpackchina.com, or contact our experts!