Method for preparing ears of corn for automated handling, positioning and orienting
First Claim
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1. A method for preparing an ear of corn for being handled, positioned and oriented by automated means, the method comprising:
- providing a station for altering an ear of corn;
auto-centering the ear of corn at the station;
retaining the ear of corn in a desired position and orientation at the station for altering the ear of corn; and
altering the ear of corn comprising;
a. removing tissue from the ear of corn to provide for automated handling, positioning and orienting of the ear of corn;
orb. appending material to the ear of corn to provide for automated handling, positioning and orienting of the ear of corn.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for automated handling, positioning and orienting of an ear of corn includes methods for altering a portion of an ear of corn. Optionally included are one or more stations for automatically processing, testing, sampling and preparing the ear of corn for processing, testing or sampling and an automated transport means for automatically moving ears of corn from station to station using alterations made to the ear of corn.
109 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for preparing an ear of corn for being handled, positioned and oriented by automated means, the method comprising:
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providing a station for altering an ear of corn; auto-centering the ear of corn at the station; retaining the ear of corn in a desired position and orientation at the station for altering the ear of corn; and altering the ear of corn comprising; a. removing tissue from the ear of corn to provide for automated handling, positioning and orienting of the ear of corn;
orb. appending material to the ear of corn to provide for automated handling, positioning and orienting of the ear of corn. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 21)
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10. A method for preparing an ear of corn for being handled, positioned and oriented by automation, the method comprising:
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providing a station having material removal means; auto-centering the ear of corn at the station; retaining the ear of corn in a desired position and orientation at the station by holding means; and autonomously creating a hole in the ear of corn with material removal means to provide for automated handling, positioning and orienting of the ear of corn using the hole. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 22)
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17. A method for automated handling, positioning and orienting of an ear of corn by conveyance means in a high-throughput system, the method comprising:
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providing a station for altering an ear of corn; auto-centering the ear of corn at the station; holding the ear of corn at the station during altering; altering the ear of corn to have a feature used to secure the ear of corn to said conveyance means; and handling, positioning and orienting the ear of corn in the high-throughput system using said conveyance means for testing, sampling, processing or preparing the ear of corn for testing, sampling or processing. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 23)
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Specification