Apparatus, method and system for creating, handling, collecting and indexing seed and seed portions from plant seed

• US 8,286,387 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2008
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Hi Bred International Inc (Corteva, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Pioneer Hi Bred International Inc (Corteva, Inc.)
• Inventors: Becker, Steven Michael, Cope, Jason, Kurth, David, Mongan, Joshua L., Cadwell, Bruce E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bell, Kent L
• Application Number:
  US12/336,084
• Publication Number:
  US 20090155878A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,400 Days
• Field of Search: 47/56, 47/576, 47/581.SE, 435/173.9, 435/309.1, 435/410, 198/381, 198/690.1, 111/104, 111/178, 111/179, 111/200
• US Class Current: 47/58.1SE
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/286 involving mechanical work, e.g. chopping, disintegrating, compacting, homogenising microtomes G01N1/06; pulverising in general B02C; mixing in general B01F
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0425 Stacks, magazines or elevators for plates
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/0448 With subsequent handling [i.e., of product]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/202 With product handling means

Abstract

An apparatuses, methods and systems for creating, handling and collecting seed portions are highly beneficial. The apparatus includes a carrier having one or more carrying positions adapted to carry a seed. The carrying positions having a seed orienter adapted to orient the seed relative to the carrying position in the carrier for creating seed portions therefrom. The method includes taking a carrier having one or more carrying positions, orienting a seed relative to the carrying position in the carrier, ablating the seed with a seed ablation device, and communicating seed portions through a manifold into a compartment layer. The system includes a seed manifold adapted to dock thereon a seed carrier having pre-positioned and pre-oriented seed therein. Seed and seed portions removed from the seed in the carrier are communicated into a collector and compartment layer respectively using the seed manifold.

Claims

1. An apparatus for creating, handling and collecting seed portions comprising:

a carrier having a plurality of apertures providing one or more carrying positions adapted to position a seed relative to the carrier; and

the carrying positions having a seed orienter adapted to orient the seed relative to the carrying position for creating seed portions from the seed.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the seed orienter comprises a magnet positioned in a sidewall shared by a pair of the carrying positions, whereby a crown portion of the seed coated with magnetically responsive material is oriented relative to the sidewall at the magnet.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a manifold having a plurality of conduits in communication with the carrying positions and adapted to communicate seed samples and/or sampled seed from the carrying positions to collection.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 adapted to dock at a laser, whereby the laser ablates the seed to create the seed portions.

5. An apparatus for creating, handling and collecting seed portions comprising:

a carrier having one or more carrying positions adapted to position and orient a seed;

a manifold having a plurality of conduits, the conduits in communication with the carrying positions; and

the conduits adapted to communicate a portion of the seed away from the carrying position in the carrier for collection.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the carrier comprises a plate member having a plurality of apertures each with a seed carrying position adapted to position and orient each seed within and relative to the aperture to provide ablation of the seed for creating seed portions.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the carrier further comprises a seed orienter at the aperture so as to orient the seed relative to the carrier, the seed orienter comprising a magnet positioned in a sidewall of the aperture shared by a pair of the carrying positions in the carrier for attracting a crown portion of the seed coated with magnetically responsive material.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprises a slot adapted to house a compartment layer whereby seed portions are communicated from the carrying positions through the plurality of conduits into a plurality of compartments in the compartment layer.

9. An apparatus adapted to handle seed and portions removed from the seed for collection in an efficient and high throughput manner after ablating the seed in a seed ablation device, the apparatus comprising:

a seed manifold with conduits for communicating seed and seed portions into separate collectors; and

the seed manifold comprising;

a. a first surface adapted to dock a carrier thereon, the carrier adapted to position and orient seed within apertures in the carrier in communication with the plurality of conduits in the seed manifold; and

b. a second surface adapted to dock the collector thereto, the collector having compartments in communication with the plurality of conduits in the seed manifold.

10. An apparatus adapted to handle a seed and seed portions removed from the seed in an efficient and high throughput manner, the apparatus comprising:

a seed manifold having a plurality of conduits; and

a partition member adapted to partition at least a portion of each conduit into first and second partitions.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the seed manifold further comprises a slot adapted to accommodate a plate, wherein:

a. the plate is slidable in and out of the seed manifold to close off the second partition;

b. the plate has a plurality of apertures configured to align with each first partition to provide a throughway through the seed manifold and the plate;

c. the first partition is adapted to pass energy from a seed ablation device through the seed manifold to be diffused or absorbed by the seed ablation device to prevent reflected energy from damaging the seed or seed portion; and

d. the portion of the second partition closed-off by the plate is adapted to capture the seed portion to prevent inadvertent contact with energy from the ablation device.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the seed manifold further comprises a top surface adapted for receipt of a seed carrier, the seed carrier having a plurality of apertures in corresponding pattern to the plurality of conduits in the seed manifold and adapted to position and orient the seed.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the partition member has a vertical most edge, the vertical most edge being closely adjacent the underside of seed in the seed carrier whereby energy from the ablation device exiting the seed passes immediately into the first partition formed by the partition member to prevent inadvertent contact of the seed or seed portion with reflected energy.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a slot configured into a bottom side of the seed manifold and adapted to receive a compartment layer having a plurality of compartments in communication with the second partition of the plurality of conduits in the seed manifold, wherein seed portions in the second partition are communicated into the plurality of conduits in the compartment layer by removal of the plate from the seed manifold.