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Agriculex Inc. 

 Tel: 519 837 0871  Fax 519 837 4291    www.agriculex.guelph.org 

 

1-59 suburban Ave Guelph Ontario N1E 6B4 

 

 

39 

 

8 Setup Recommendations

 

 
ESC-2 Programmable Electronic Seed Counter for counting Soybean: 
1. Vertical gate set at # 8 to 10 
2.  Horizontal gate set at # 12 
3.  Sensitivity set at #5 to 6 
4.  Feed turntable speed at 35 to 45 
5.  Batch counting, the feed turntable high speed and low speed use default 
values 
 
 
ESC-2 Programmable Electronic Seed Counter for counting Corn: 
1.  Vertical gate set at # 10 to15 
2.  Horizontal gate set at # 15 
3.  Sensitivity set at # 6 to7  
4.  Feed turntable speed at 40 to 55 
5.  Batch counting, the feed turntable high speed and low speed use default 
values 

 

ESC-2 Programmable Electronic Seed Counter for counting Canola: 
1. Vertical gate set at # 0 to1 
2.  Horizontal gate set at # 1 to 2 
3.  Sensitivity set at # approximate 1.5 
4.  Feed turntable speed at 10 to 20 
5.  Batch counting, the feed turntable high speed and low speed use default 
values 

 

Summary of Contents for ESC-2

Page 1: ...Agriculex Inc Tel 519 837 0871 Fax 519 837 4291 www agriculex guelph org 1 59 suburban Ave Guelph Ontario N1E 6B4 Agriculex ESC 2 Programmable Electronic Seed Counter Operator s Manual ...

Page 2: ...dy Dialogue 3 8 Set Feeding Speed of the Turntable 3 9 Add Seed Parameters 3 10 Import Prearranged Excel File 3 11 Open save Print Data Files 3 12 Check Inventory Number 3 13 Check the Status of the Counting 4 File Format 16 4 1 Limit and Constraint 4 2 Standard Prearranged File 4 3 Simplified Standard Prearranged File 4 4 Prearranged File without the Header 4 5 Comment Column 5 Independent mode 1...

Page 3: ...n Setup 6 3 Collect Data from ESC2 without sending a question 6 4 Collect Data from ESC2 without sending a question 6 5 Configure Winwedge without sending a question 6 6 Configure Winwedge send a question 7 Maintenance 33 7 1 Clean detecting Unit 7 1 Clean dust throughout each channel 7 2 Clean Acrylic Window Tubes 7 3 If the count is still NOT accurate 7 2 Clean the Valve Plate 7 3 Reset Position...

Page 4: ...open for seeds to flow through the counter We have tried to make the operation of the counter as user friendly as possible with the goal that it should be possible to use without even referring to this manual We would encourage you to experiment with the control unit before using it With many things there are several ways to do them We have tried to present you with ways to do all the things that ...

Page 5: ...e You may need to experiment a bit to find the best setting 3 Feed turntable Speed The counting speed is controlled by the feed turntable speed and the size of gates The speed range of the feed turntable is from 1 to 200 1 is the lowest speed and 200 is the fastest The feed turntable speed is controlled by software and can be pre set and changed during counting ...

Page 6: ...n refer to the operator s manual Step 1 Unpack Box Contents Control unit Feed unit detector unit seed distributor unit Base unit Large size seed spout Small size seed spout 9 pin RS232 cable CD Operator s manual Warranty Sheet 1 2 3 4 5 Figure 1 Esc 2 Seed Counter Setup Demo Figure 2 Feed unit 3 Seed distributor 4 Detector unit 5 Base unit 6 Seed spout Computer 1 Control unit Feed cable Count cabl...

Page 7: ...ort located on the back of the control unit If your computer or laptop does not have COM ports you can use a COM to the USB adapter Insert the CD into a CD ROM Double click The Setup software will automatically install itself on your computer to the default directory C home setup if you do not specify a directory Turn on the ESC2 Seed Counter power The Counter will take about 1 minute to boot up O...

Page 8: ... counter will be established Disconnect send a Disconnect command to the counter If sending success the program will disconnect with the counter Start send Start command to the count If sending success the counter will start to count Stop send stop command to the counter if sending success the counter will pause counting Dump send Dump command to the counter If sending success the counter will cle...

Page 9: ...onnect to ESC2 has been clicked Figure 3 2 If you are not sure which COM port in the computer has been connected to the counter follow below steps to find out Click Start at left bottom corn of screen Control Panrl Sytem Device manager Port COM LPT In here you will find which port is available or which port you are using 3 3 Connect to Counter Click the Connect button You will hear two sounds of t...

Page 10: ... 3 5 Totalize Count Before clicking on the Start button you should select the count mode Totalize count or Batch count The default setting of count mode is Totalize If count mode is not Totalize mode select totalize mode Enter ID at textbox of ID variety as shown on figure 3 5 Figure 3 5 1 If using keyboard to enter ID Enter key need be pressed after all ID have been entered If ID is entered by ba...

Page 11: ...can click Stop or Start button on the computer or press correspond button represents Stop or Start at control unit of the counter After finishing totalize the count click the Done button as shown on figure 3 5 3 in order the program can record the count number Figure 3 5 3 3 6 Batch Count Multiple batch count is available if you choose batch count mode Example 1 2 batches First batch 2 packets 100...

Page 12: ...ter number 2 in item 3 No of Packets Enter number 100 in item 4 Seed No P Press the Enter key DO NOT click the Done Button Note that if you click Done button the program will exit the Data Input dialog frame If Done button has not been clicked item 2 Batch number has changed to 2 It means this is a second batch Enter number 5 in item 3 No of Packets Enter number 50 in item 4 Seed No P Click on the...

Page 13: ...ult setting is auto dump Under this mode the residual seed in the hopper will be dumped out as the counter finishes the batch count In the manual dumping mode you will have a chance to repeat the previous batch count before you click the Dump button to dump out the residual seed in the hopper You have also the option to set up the sample ready dialog appearance should you wish to do so The default...

Page 14: ...seed samples will run at the Feed Speed until you specify a seed sample run at a specified speed If you have placed a numeric value in the Comment column cell the sample in correspond row will run at this specified speed For more information see page 18 4 5 Comment column 3 10 Import Prearranged Excel File Before loading a Prearranged Excel File you will need to prepare a file for loading The deta...

Page 15: ...ario N1E 6B4 14 Figure 3 10 1 Click on the Load File button in the Count Para frame an open file dialog frame will pop up select a prearranged excel file then click ok After that the contents of the file will display on the list table in the Count Model frame as figure 3 10 2 shown below Figure 3 10 2 ...

Page 16: ...1 Open Save Print data files In the Remote mode you can open save and print counting information Click Option menu Select Open sample record See figure 3 11 shown below for example of results Figure 3 11 Open file is only available to open a record file with txt extension After counting you can save the data For more detail refer to the HELP menu 3 12 Check Inventory number Click View in the menu ...

Page 17: ...lues of Packet_No and No_per_Packet must be greater than 0 For batch count the maximum number of batch is less than 200 The maximum number of Packet_ No in a batch is less than 32000 The maximum number of No_ per_ packet is less than 32000 4 2 Standard Prearranged File Figure 4 2 Note that the first row is the header The first cell in the header must be an ID Comment column can also be used to spe...

Page 18: ... in the first row to TEXT before typing any characters If you retain each cell in the first row in general format the software will omit the first row when it is imported into the software Figure 4 4 4 5 Comment column You can place some comments numeric value or blank in the cell of the Comment column If this cell contains some comments or a blank the turntable will ignore this comment or blank a...

Page 19: ...e row 2 and 3 at the above figure 4 5 If the Feed Speed is set to 50 speed level the counter will run at 50 speed level for row 1 and 2 seed sample The counter will run at 60 speed level for row 3 seed sample and at 50 speed level for row 4 seed sample Note that the Packet_ No must be equal or greater than 0 The No_ per_ packet must be greater than 0 ...

Page 20: ...d Independent mode the new menu will display on the panel as figure shown below What do you want to do 1 Totalize count 2 New program for batch count 3 Run stored program 4 Last program 5 Other 5 1 Totalizing Press number 1 button to select totalize count A new selection menu will appear on the display panel See below Select Crop 1 Corn 2 Soybean 3 Canola 4 Wheat 5 Sunflower 6 More Crops 7 Add edi...

Page 21: ...ach followed by 6 packets of 1 500 seeds This will also be followed by a clean out Follow the prompts on the screen to set up the programs Example Count 4 packages of seed from each seed lot 500 seeds in each package Suppose you have a large number of different seed lines and wish to set up a yield trial You will need to count out 4 packages of seeds from each line with each package containing 500...

Page 22: ...hen the count is nearing the limit and the valve is about to close low speed is used to increase the accuracy of the cut off point There are a number of factors to take into consideration in selecting the speed Lower speeds give more accurate counts but of course may take longer Also if the speed is too high you may not be able to change the packet fast enough to keep the machine running all the t...

Page 23: ...e opportunity to do the same thing several times by hand Select option 1 Program ready to save 1 Save program now 2 Run program You can save it later 3 Adjust count on first seed lot Because this is just an example you do not need to save the program Select option2 The adjust count option is for use if you have a set of seed lots with poor germination and wish to increase the counts on a particula...

Page 24: ...nt Load seed lot to re start program 1 More cleaning 2 Quit or change sittings 3 Faster 4 Slower 5 Adjust count on next lot This screen gives you a chance to clean out the machine more thoroughly if you know or suspect that the automatic clean out was incomplete You can change the feed speed or enter a compensation percentage to compensate for a bad seed lot this will be in effect for one speed lo...

Page 25: ...llow the last seed of a batch to reach it before it closes In most cases the default delay should be adequate However different crops bounce differently so the optimum time varies a bit from crop to crop The machine can store a value of each crop If you wish optimum performance on your particular crop you may wish to set up the time delay using this procedure Set up a batch counting program to cou...

Page 26: ... which should be adequate in most case or see manual current value 250 Enter desired value of the delay time 5 5 Add crop into the counter If no crop name appear on the menu or you want to add a new crop in the counter you have to select item 5 Other If item 5 Other has been selected Select item1 edit crop list Enter new crop name and parameters that is associated with the crop 1 Add a Crop 2 Dele...

Page 27: ... Collect data by pressing button 6 or 7 Press button 7 for totalizes count mode or press button 6 for batch count mode on the control unit to send out a sequence of data to your PC The data format sees the file of ESC2 data format 5 7 Collect data by send a query from your own software In this case you need to send out CQY to get data and send out CLR to clear data the detail information see next ...

Page 28: ... Delimiter Code is Character Comma The desired data has some count number and setting number These numbers are called data fields in the output data 6 1 2 Totalize mode The output data in the totalize mode consists of the packet number Delimiter Code the count number and End Code The packet number is designated to zero in the output data The following is the sequence of the output data Packet Numb...

Page 29: ...ode Residual_ Number Line Feed Carriage Return Example 2 Hex code mode Delimiter_ Code End_ Code 31 2C 35 2C 31 31 30 2C 39 30 0A 0D Batch No 1 Packet No 5 Count No 110 Residual No 90 Character mode 1 5 110 90 Explanation for example 2 1 batch 5 packets 110 seeds packet residual number is 90 Example 2 indicates the number of data field The output data is 4 The following is the data sequence of out...

Page 30: ...1 stop bit 7 data bits None flow control Set default mode for the size of input buffer or output buffer 6 3 Collect data from ESC2 without a query If a laptop or mobile device is connected to ESC2 counter and a third party software is properly setup you can send data out from the counter by just pressing button 7 in the counter s control box in totalize mode and by pressing button 6 in batch count...

Page 31: ...utton to find where Excel is located e Click OK button f Click Setting from Port menu Set up as follow COM port 1 or 2 depend which port you use Baud rate 9600 Odd parity Parity on 1 stop bit 7 data bits Step Flow Control None g Click Input Data Record Structure from Define menu Select any character received item from the frame of the Start Record Event h Click Input Data Record Structure from Def...

Page 32: ...ny batches you are going to count Then click continue button on the frame of the Delimiter Record Focus on Field post amble key strike then click Keystroke list button on the frame of Input record definition record Select TAB click Next button until all maximum number is finished Then click OK button j Click Save item from File menu to save your configuration k Click Normal mode from Active menu a...

Page 33: ...g frame will change to KeyStroke List 3 Move cursor to KeyStroke List on right bottom corner of dialog frame Click then select a key which you want to press on your computer to retrieve a data from the counter Here is ENTER for illustrating purpose 4 Move the cursor to Output String textbox enter character string cqy 5 Click Ok j Click Save item from File menu to save your configuration l Click No...

Page 34: ... dust throughout each channel Use an air gun to blow each channel while simultaneously opening the end valve so that the dust beeswing powder or any trash can be blown out After cleaning drop a seed into each channel for testing The control box should respond to each channel accordingly If you are still not satisfied with the accuracy or you are going to count untreated seed after counting the tre...

Page 35: ...N1E 6B4 34 Use a soft paper towel or rag to clean the exterior surface of small size acrylic window tube as shown below Small size acrylic tube Use a soft paper towel or rag to clean the inside surface of the large size acrylic window tube unit as shown below Larger size acrylic tube unit Clean valve funnel ...

Page 36: ...t in a secure position Remove 6 screws spout and open the cover as shown below Screw1 cover screw2 screw3 Spout screw6 screw5 screw4 After opening the cover use an air gun with dry compressed air to blow the main valve and the crossing way of the main valve Sometime you may need to use a WD 40 to clean some accumulated dust Use your finger to open and close the valve If you feel that the action of...

Page 37: ...B4 36 7 3 The valve can not open or close If the precede cleaning procedure action of the valve s open or close still has problem you will need to clean the dust on the crossing way of the valve Unplug the sensor and valve terminals Remove four screws Screw1 screw2 Screw 4 screw 4 sensor terminal Valve terminal ...

Page 38: ...rban Ave Guelph Ontario N1E 6B4 37 Take Base Integration from the base unit and place it as shown below o Remove the 4 screws Screw 1 Screw 2 Screw3 Screw 4 Remove the top unit Space washer main valve Valve stop pump Clean the surface Do not lose these washers Check bumper condition ...

Page 39: ...lex guelph org 1 59 suburban Ave Guelph Ontario N1E 6B4 38 Clean the surface After cleaning re assemble the unit 7 4 Sometimes you may need to reset the position between the stroke rod and the solenoid cylinder body Less than 1 mm Solenoid cylinder Stroke rod ...

Page 40: ...ed and low speed use default values ESC 2 Programmable Electronic Seed Counter for counting Corn 1 Vertical gate set at 10 to15 2 Horizontal gate set at 15 3 Sensitivity set at 6 to7 4 Feed turntable speed at 40 to 55 5 Batch counting the feed turntable high speed and low speed use default values ESC 2 Programmable Electronic Seed Counter for counting Canola 1 Vertical gate set at 0 to1 2 Horizont...

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