Automated seed sampler and methods of sampling, testing and bulking seeds
AssigneeMonsanto Technology LLC
InventorKevin L. Deppermann
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automated seed sampler includes a sampling station; a sampler for removing material from a seed in the sampling station; a seed conveyer for conveying the seed from the sampling station to a compartment in a seed tray; and a conveyor for conveying the material removed from the seed to a corresponding compartment in a sample tray. The method of the present invention comprises feeding seeds individually to a sampling station, removing a sample from the seed in the sampling station; conveying the sample to a compartment in a sample tray, and conveying the seed to a corresponding compartment in a seed tray. The samples can be tested, and the seeds can be sorted according to the results of the testing of their corresponding samples.
Claims26
A sampling system for removing tissue samples from seeds, the sampling system comprising:
- a hopper for holding a plurality of seeds;
- a selector for selecting individual seeds from the plurality of seeds in the hopper;
- at least one distributor having a plurality of passages for receiving seeds from the selector;
- a plurality of seed sampling stations each configured to receive a seed from the at least one distributor and remove at least one tissue sample from the received seed;
- a sample transport system for transporting removed tissue samples away from each seed sampling station;
- and
- a seed transport system for transporting sampled seeds away from each seed sampling station.
A sampling system for use in removing tissue from seeds, the sampling system comprising:
- a hopper configured to hold a plurality of seeds;
- a separating wheel configured to singulate individual seeds from the plurality of seeds in the hopper;
- a plurality of seed sampling stations configured to remove tissue from the singulated seeds, each of the seed sampling stations including a cutting mechanism configured to progressively remove tissue from a singulated seed;
- a plurality of actuators configured to receive the singulated seeds from the separating wheel and position the singulated seeds in the seed sampling stations, each of the actuators being associated with at least one of the seed sampling stations and configured to position a singulated seed from the separating wheel adjacent the cutting mechanism of the at least one of the seed sampling stations;
- a first transport system configured to transport removed tissue away from each of the seed sampling stations;
- and
- a second transport system configured to transport singulated seeds away from each of the seed sampling stations after tissue is removed from the singulated seeds.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.