# US 11,298,723 B2 · Methods and systems for sorting cottonseed

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- Number: US 11,298,723 B2
- Document ID: US11298723B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/667,280
- Filed: 2019-10-29
- Published: 2020-02-27
- Granted: 2022-04-12
- Earliest claimed: 2016-06-29
- Assignees: BASF Agricultural Solutions Seed US LLC
- Applicants: BASF Agricultural Solutions Seed US LLC
- Inventors: Sebastian Ulrich Schmidt; Jeff Ratliff; Benno Franz Ulfik; Fatma Alexia Van Winssen; Tonya Crossland; Hartmut Huebner
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11298723B2

## CPC

- B07C 5/3425: {of granular material, e.g. ore particles, grain (investigation moving fluids or granular solids using optical means G01N21/85)}
- B03B 4/06: using fixed and inclined tables {; using stationary pneumatic tables, e.g. fluidised beds}
- B07C 5/368: {actuated independently}
- B07C 2501/0018: Sorting the articles during free fall
- B07C: POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING (specially adapted for a specific purpose covered by another class, see the relevant place, e.g. A43D33/06, B23Q7/12)
- B03B: SEPARATING SOLID MATERIALS USING LIQUIDS OR USING PNEUMATIC TABLES OR JIGS

## Abstract

Methods and devices for sorting cottonseeds. Methods include the use of an optical sorter to sort cottonseed by color. Additionally, methods include sorting cottonseed using a gravity table to collect high-density seed (“accepts”) and mid-density seed (“middlings”), followed by sorting the mid-density, and optionally, the high-density seed using an optical sorter to collect dark cottonseed, thereby providing high-quality cottonseed for packaging. Devices and systems comprising one or more gravity tables and one or more optical sorters are provided.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for sorting cottonseed comprising using an optical sorter to collect dark colored cottonseed, and separating cottonseed using a gravity table to separate high-density cottonseed, mid-density cottonseed, and low-density cottonseed, wherein the gravity table is used to separate the cottonseed into an accept fraction, a middling fraction, and a reject fraction.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the dark colored cottonseed are accepted and the light cottonseed are rejected by programming the optical sorter.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein said optical sorter is a monochromatic sorter which separates the cottonseed by shade of color.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein said optical sorter is a bichromatic sorter which separates the cottonseed using two filters to combine multiple wavelengths.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein said separating using a gravity table is performed prior to sorting using an optical sorter.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the middling fraction and optionally, the reject fraction are sorted using the optical sorter.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the reject fraction is sorted using the optical sorter.

### Claim 8

A method for cleaning and/or sorting cottonseed, comprising:
a) sorting cottonseed using a gravity table to collect a high-density seed fraction, a mid-density seed fraction, and a low-density seed fraction;
b) sorting the mid-density seed, and optionally, the low-density seed using an optical sorter to collect dark cottonseed; and
c) combining the high-density seed fraction of a) and the dark cottonseed of b) to obtain a high-quality seed fraction.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method according to claim 8, further comprising:
d) packaging the high-quality cottonseed fraction.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The method according to claim 8, wherein said high-quality cottonseed fraction is further sorted using an optical sorter to remove broken, misshaped, and/or damaged cottonseed prior to or after packaging, transporting or storing.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The method according to claim 8, wherein said high-quality cottonseed is coated before sorting using the optical sorter.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The method according to claim 8, wherein the dark colored cottonseed are accepted and the light cottonseed are rejected by programming the optical sorter.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The method according to claim 8, wherein said optical sorter is a monochromatic sorter that separates the cottonseed by shade of color.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The method according to claim 8, wherein said optical sorter is a bichromatic sorter that separates the cottonseed using two filters to combine multiple wavelengths.

### Claim 15 (depends on 8)

The method according to claim 8, wherein the mid-density seed and the low-density seed are sorted using an optical sorter to collect dark cottonseed.

### Claim 16 (depends on 8)

The method according to claim 8, further comprising sorting the cottonseed by size using a screen cleaner.