Process and apparatus for disinfecting seeds
First Claim
1. A process for the disinfection of seeds, comprising:
- exposing said seeds on all sides thereof to irradiation by low-energy electrons generated by an electron gun; and
controllably limiting the electron energy and radiation dose to ranges predetermined to destroy surface and subsurface pathogens selectively and to avoid substantial electron penetration into said seeds that would adversely affect seed germination and growth characteristics.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and process for the disinfection of seeds, preferably those of grains, to prevent pathogenic organisms from being planted with the seeds, and to provide reliable disinfection without using toxic agents. The seed is irradiated by low-energy electrons with energy and dosage controlled so that the surface and regions close to the surface are exposed to the radiation with fungicidal effect. A beam of the low-energy electrons is provided by an electron gun aimed at a region within a seed-receiving chamber at which the seeds to be irradiated are caused to intercept the radiation repeatedly and on all sides. The chamber may be at atmospheric pressure or be evacuated, the latter condition requiring vacuum locks at seed inlet and outlet ports of the chamber.
26 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A process for the disinfection of seeds, comprising:
- exposing said seeds on all sides thereof to irradiation by low-energy electrons generated by an electron gun; and
controllably limiting the electron energy and radiation dose to ranges predetermined to destroy surface and subsurface pathogens selectively and to avoid substantial electron penetration into said seeds that would adversely affect seed germination and growth characteristics. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
- exposing said seeds on all sides thereof to irradiation by low-energy electrons generated by an electron gun; and
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6. Apparatus for the disinfection of seeds, comprising means, including an electron gun, for exposing said seeds on all sides thereof to irradiation by a beam of low-energy electrons produced by said electron gun, and controllable means for limiting the electron energy and radiation dose to ranges predetermined to destroy surface and subsurface pathogens selectively and to avoid substantial electron penetration into said seeds that would adversely affect seed germination and growth characteristics,
wherein said exposing means further includes a seed receiving chamber in which the seeds to be irradiated are continuously redistributed by movement in the path of said beam; wherein said seed receiving chamber comprises a fixed horizontal cylinder within which is disposed a rotor having collectors arranged parallel to one another on the rotor circumference at a distance to the cylinder that is shorter then the minimum size of the seeds to be irradiated, said cylinder having a slot-like opening through which seeds accelerated in said cylinder by said rotor are thrown onto an inclined plane close to said cylinder for irradiation thereon and on all sides by said beam of low-energy electrons. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. Apparatus for the disinfection of seeds, comprising means, including an electron gun, for exposing said seeds on all sides thereof to irradiation by a beam of low-energy electrons produced by said electron gun, and controllable means for limiting the electron energy and radiation dose to ranges predetermined to destroy surface and subsurface pathogens selectively and to avoid substantial electron penetration into said seeds that would adversely affect seed germination and growth characteristics,
wherein said exposing means further includes a seed receiving chamber in which the seeds to be irradiated are continuously redistributed by movement in the path of said beam; -
wherein said electron gun is provided with deflection means for directing and fanning the low-energy electron beam upon the seeds to be irradiated in said chamber; wherein the seed receiving chamber is connected to a vacuum pump operable to maintain said chamber evacuated during the irradiation of said seeds, said chamber having an inlet port for untreated seeds and an outlet port for treated seeds, each port being connected to a respective vacuum lock arrangement permitting passage of seeds through the port without substantially affecting the maintenance of said chamber in an evacuated state; and wherein the connection of each vacuum lock arrangement to its respective port of said seed receiving chamber is by way of a duct having a cross-section which, upon being completely filled by seeds, produces in the duct a flow resistance at a pressure resulting in laminar flow through said duct which causes additional pressure decoupling between said vacuum lock arrangements and said seed receiving chamber.
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15. Apparatus for the disinfection of seeds, comprising means, including an electron gun, for exposing said seeds on all sides thereof to irradiation by a beam of low-energy electrons produced by said electron gun, and controllable means for limiting the electron energy and radiation dose to ranges predetermined to destroy surface and subsurface pathogens selectively and to avoid substantial electron penetration into said seeds that would adversely affect seed germination and growth characteristics,
wherein said exposing means further includes a seed receiving chamber in which the seeds to be irradiated are continuously redistributed by movement in the path of said beam; wherein said seed receiving chamber comprises a fixed horizontal cylinder within which endless belts carrying parallel collectors are rotatably mounted to pick up entering seeds from an underlying feed conveyor and carry them to an upper extremity of said belts to be thrown by said collectors through a longitudinal slot-like opening defined adjacent said extremity by a sheave cooperatively associated with said collectors, there being an inclined plane adjacent the downwardly moving course of said belts to receive the thrown seeds, said plane being disposed also to receive said beam of low-energy electrons, whereby said seeds undergo irradiation enroute to and on said plane.
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16. Apparatus for the disinfection of seeds, comprising means, including an electron gun, for exposing said seeds on all side thereof to irradiation by a beam of low-energy electrons produced by said electron gun, and controllable means for limiting the electron energy and radiation dose to ranges predetermined to destroy surface and subsurface pathogens selectively and to avoid substantial electron penetration into said seeds that would adversely affect seed germination and growth characteristics,
wherein said exposing means further includes a seed receiving chamber in which the seeds to be irradiated are continuously redistributed by movement in the path of said beam; -
wherein said electron gun is provided with deflection means for directing and fanning the low-energy electron beam upon the seeds to be irradiated in said chamber; wherein the seed receving chamber is connected to a vacuum pump operable to maintain said chamber evacuated during the irradiation of said seeds, said chamber having an inlet port for untreated seeds and an outlet port for treated seeds, each port being connected to a respective vacuum lock arrangement permitting passage of seeds through the port without substantially affecting the maintenance of said chamber in an evacuated state; and wherein each lock arrangement comprises at least two vacuum lock chambers interconnected by way of valves permitting said lock chambers to be pumped down separately and seeds to be moved from lock chamber to lock chamber.
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Specification