Retail point seed treatment systems and methods
First Claim
1. A method of treating seeds, the method comprising:
- mixing a plurality of seed treatment components at a point of application according to a seed treatment recipe via a seed treatment system, wherein said seed treatment system comprises;
(1) a seed-treater vessel configured to apply the plurality of seed treatment components to a batch of seeds based on the seed treatment recipe;
(2) a plurality of pump-stations, wherein each pump station is configured to receive a keg, and each pump-station comprising a pump, a flow channel fluidly coupled to the seed-treater vessel, and a station controller configured to control the pump;
(3) a plurality of kegs, each keg comprising;
(a) a seed treatment component; and
(b) a scale positioned underneath each keg;
(4) at least one flex-tank coupled to a flex-tank pump and a pump controller configured to operate the flex-tank pump, and a scale positioned underneath the at least one flex-tank;
applying the mixture of seed treatment components to an unknown quantity of seeds;
determining the weight and density of each of the plurality of seed treatment components applied to the unknown quantity of seeds;
calculating a consumed volume for each of the plurality of seed treatment components applied to the unknown quantity of seeds upon completion of application of the mixture of seed treatment components; and
monitoring the consumption of each of the plurality of seed treatment components.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automated seed treatment system is adapted for on-site operation at a retail seed distributor. A sealed seed-treater vessel is configured to apply a plurality of chemical treatments to a batch of seed based on a seed treatment recipe. A programmable system controller is electrically coupled to a pump controller of each of a plurality of pump-stations. The programmable system controller is configured to receive a material transfer indication from each of the plurality of pump-stations and issue commands to the pump controller of each pump-station in response to the seed treatment recipe. The programmable system controller is configured to collect operational data representing at least consumption of chemical from the chemical container at each of the pump-stations based on the corresponding material transfer indication during seed treatment and to provide the operational data to a remotely hosted information system located remotely from the site of the retail seed distributor and accessible to at least one third party that is distinct from the retail seed distributor.
206 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of treating seeds, the method comprising:
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mixing a plurality of seed treatment components at a point of application according to a seed treatment recipe via a seed treatment system, wherein said seed treatment system comprises; (1) a seed-treater vessel configured to apply the plurality of seed treatment components to a batch of seeds based on the seed treatment recipe; (2) a plurality of pump-stations, wherein each pump station is configured to receive a keg, and each pump-station comprising a pump, a flow channel fluidly coupled to the seed-treater vessel, and a station controller configured to control the pump; (3) a plurality of kegs, each keg comprising; (a) a seed treatment component; and (b) a scale positioned underneath each keg; (4) at least one flex-tank coupled to a flex-tank pump and a pump controller configured to operate the flex-tank pump, and a scale positioned underneath the at least one flex-tank; applying the mixture of seed treatment components to an unknown quantity of seeds; determining the weight and density of each of the plurality of seed treatment components applied to the unknown quantity of seeds; calculating a consumed volume for each of the plurality of seed treatment components applied to the unknown quantity of seeds upon completion of application of the mixture of seed treatment components; and monitoring the consumption of each of the plurality of seed treatment components. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification