Automated seed sampler and methods of sampling, testing and bulking seeds

• US 20060042527A1
• Filed: 08/26/2005
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Monsanto Technology LLC (Bayer AG)
• Original Assignee: Monsanto Technology LLC (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Deppermann, Kevin L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,591,101 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 111/171
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 1/00 Apparatus, or methods of use thereof, for testing or treating seed, roots, or the like, prior to sowing or planting
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 1/025 Testing seeds for determining their viability or germination capacity
• CPC Class Codes: A01H 4/003 Cutting apparatus specially adapted for tissue culture
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 2501/009 Sorting of fruit
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6895 for plants, fungi or algae
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 2600/13 Plant traits
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 2600/156 Polymorphic or mutational markers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/04 in the solid state, e.g. by cutting
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00029 provided with flat sample substrates, e.g. slides G01N35/028 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/04 Details of the conveyor system G01N35/021 - G01N35/028 take precedence

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.

Claims

1. An automated seed sampler, comprising:

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;

a conveyor for conveying the material removed from the seed to a corresponding compartment in a sample tray.

2. The sampler according to claim 1 wherein the seed conveyer is a pneumatic conveyor.

3. The sampler according to claim 1 wherein the sample conveyer is a pneumatic conveyor.

4. The sampler according to claim 1 further comprising a table for supporting at least one seed tray having a plurality of compartments for individual seeds, and at least one sampler tray having a plurality of compartments for individual samples, and a positioner for moving the table to align a compartment in a seed tray on the table with the seed conveyer, and align a corresponding compartment in sample tray with the sample conveyor.

5. The sampler according to claim 5 wherein the positioner translates the table in two mutually perpendicular directions.

6. An automated seed sampler, comprising:

a bin for holding a plurality of seeds;

a sampling station;

a sampler for removing material from a seed in the sampling station;

a seed feeder for delivering an individual seed from the bin to the sampling station a seed conveyer for conveying a seed from the sampling station to the compartment in a seed tray;

a sample conveyor for conveying the material removed from the seed to a corresponding compartment in a sample tray.

7. The sampler according to claim 6 wherein the seed conveyer is a pneumatic conveyor.

8. The sampler according to claim 6 wherein the sample conveyer is a pneumatic conveyor.

9. The sampler according to claim 6 further comprising a table for supporting at least one seed tray having a plurality of compartments for individual seeds, and at least one sampler tray having a plurality of compartments for individual samples, and a positioner for moving the table to align a compartment in a seed tray on the table with the seed conveyer, and align a corresponding compartment in a sample tray with the sample conveyor.

10. The sampler according to claim 9 wherein the positioner translates the table in two mutually perpendicular directions.

11. An apparatus for taking samples from each of a plurality of seeds disposed in individual compartments in a seed tray, the apparatus comprising:

a bin for holding a plurality of seeds a sampling station for holding an individual seed being sampled;

a chipper mechanism for removing material from an individual seed in the sampling station;

a seed feeder for conveying a single seed from the bin to the sampling station;

a pneumatic seed transporter having a first end adjacent the sampling station and a second end, for pneumatically transporting a seed between the sampling station and the second end;

a pneumatic sample transporter having a first end adjacent the sampling station and a second end, for pneumatically transporting material removed from a seed from the sampling station to the second end;

a table for supporting a multi-compartmented seed tray and a multi-compartmented sample tray;

an indexing mechanism for translating the table to successively bring different compartments of the seed tray and the sample tray into alignment with the second ends of the pneumatic seed transporter and the pneumatic sample transporter, respectively.

12. A method of testing a plurality of seeds, the method comprising:

sequentially feeding a seed to a sampling station, holding the seed in a sampling station, scraping a sample from the seed being held in the sampling station, conveying each sample to an individual compartment in a sample tray, conveying the seed to a compartment of the seed tray with a known relation to the compartment in the sample tray to which the corresponding sample was conveyed; and

testing each sample.

13. A method of screening a plurality of seeds for a testable characteristic, the method comprising:

feeding seeds individually to a sampling station;

holding the seed in the sampling station;

scraping a sample from the seed being held in the sampling station;

conveying each sample to an individual compartment in a sample tray;

conveying the seed to a compartment in a seed tray with a known relationship with the compartment of the sample tray to which the corresponding sample was conveyed;

testing each sample for the characteristic;

separating the seeds whose samples tested positive for the characteristic, from the seeds whose samples did not test positive for the characteristic.

14. The method according to claim 13 wherein the seeds are pneumatically conveyed to their respective compartments in the seed tray from the sampling station.

15. The method according to claim 13 wherein the samples are pneumatically conveyed from the sampling station to the sample tray.

16. The method according to claim 13 wherein the step of scraping a sample from the seed comprises drawing a multi-toothed tool across the surface of the seed.

17. The method according to claim 13 wherein the step of holding the seed in a sampling station comprises holding the seed against a surface that orients the seed relative to the scraping tool to present a surface to the scraping tool that minimizes the impact to the seed'"'"'s viability.

18. A method of sampling seeds disposed in separate compartments in a tray, the method comprising:

sequentially transporting each individual seed to a sampling station;

holding the seed in a sampling station;

scraping a sample from the seed, conveying the scraped sample to a compartment in a sample tray;

conveying the seed to a corresponding compartment in a seed tray.

19. A system for sampling seeds, the system comprising:

a sampling station for holding an individual seed;

a sampling mechanism for removing material from seed in the sampling station;

a seed feeder for feeding individual seeds to the sampling station;

a sample transport for transporting the sample from the sampling station to a fixed location;

a table for supporting at least one seed tray having a plurality of compartments for holding individual seeds and a sample tray having a plurality of compartments for holding individual samples from individual seeds;

an index mechanism for moving the table to successively bring compartments of the seed tray in alignment with the first fixed end of the conduit seed tray and a corresponding compartment in the sample tray in alignment with the fixed end of the sample conduit.