US 5,664,402 AGranted

Method and means for harvesting and packaging seeds

AssigneeGary W. Clem, Inc.

InventorsArlan W. Sandvik, Brian W. Carr, Peter B. Moore, Donald F. Handorf, Kevin J. Alphs, Mark D. Mathis

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Abstract

The seed packaging machine of this invention is mounted on a conventional plot combine. The harvested seed is blown to a receiving compartment where the seed is weighed and tested for moisture. A bag roll comprising a plurality of bag portions is fed through power rolls to a seed deposit station. A blower blows open the endmost bag and the seed is deposited in the bag portion. A sealing pressure bar is pivoted toward a thermal bar with the top of the bag portion therebetween to seal the bag. The bag is then released to drop into a storage bin. Bar codes are imposed on the bags and are scanned as they approach the deposit station. A computer is connected to all operating components to coordinate the sequential operation thereof. The range and row numbers of the harvested field are imposed on the computer memory, and the computer associates each bag containing harvested seed with the range and row from which the seed was harvested. The bags are perforated to facilitate subsequent drying of the seed. The computer will discard seed that does not meet predetermined weight and moisture parameters so that unwanted seed will not have to be packaged.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A device for harvesting and packaging seeds, comprising,

a self-propelled combine having a seed harvesting mechanism capable of harvesting seeds growing on plants in a predetermined segment of a plurality of linear rows, and sequentially conveying said harvested seeds in separate sequential batches for said each predetermined segment of a linear row to an individual batch holding compartment for deposit into a packaging mechanism on said combine,
said packaging mechanism including a continuous bag roll separated into a plurality of bags having closed bottoms and openable tops,
powered rolls connected to a source of rotational power for sequentially moving said bag roll until one of said bags is moved to a seed filling station,
opening means on said packaging mechanism for opening the top of a bag located at said seed filling station for reception of seed,
a valve in said holding compartment for discharging an individual batch of seed only from said predetermined segment of a single linear row into a bag located at said seed filling station,
a bag closing means on said packaging mechanism for closing a bag located at said seed filling station after seed has been deposited therein, and
means on said bagging mechanism for separating a bag located at said seed filling station from said bag roll after such bag has received a deposit of seed.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.