Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
047014000 | SEED TESTERS | 8 |
20090077873 | Seed testing method and apparatus - To provide an accelerated aging seed testing kit system, a single sheet of plastic or other suitable formable sheet material is pressed into the shape of a compartment base having recesses for mounting a seed holder. A seed holder that includes a seed support and a seed support holder is formed. The seed support holder is formed of a single sheet of plastic having radially extending tabs that fit into the recesses of the container to support the seed support above the bottom of the test kit. A bypass channel for addition of an aqueous solution used in the prescribed test condition is provided in the seed holder. A lid is formed out of one piece of plastic having a bendable tab to serve as a port and the openings and connecting points of the lid and seed holder are positioned so they can only fit together in one orientation having the port above the bypass channel. | 03-26-2009 |
20090260281 | METHOD FOR GROUPING A PLURALITY OF GROWTH-INDUCED SEEDS FOR COMMERCIAL USE OR SALE BASED ON TESTING OF EACH INDIVIDUAL SEED - A method and system for producing a group of growth-induced seeds for commercial use or sale, the method including monitoring a physiological indication and/or morphometric indication for a seed, automatically determining if the monitored seed has a specific characteristic, separating the monitored seed having the specific characteristic into a group of seeds for commercial use or sale so that each and every seed in the group has been monitored and determined to have the specific characteristic. | 10-22-2009 |
20120117865 | AUTOMATED SYSTEMS FOR REMOVING TISSUE SAMPLES FROM SEEDS, AND RELATED METHODS - A seed sampling system is provided having an automated seed loading assembly including a seed bin and being operable to singulate seeds from a plurality of seeds within the seed bin. The system also includes an automated seed sampling assembly operable to remove tissue samples from the singulated seeds, and an automated seed transport assembly operable to transfer the singulated seeds from the seed loading assembly to the seed sampling assembly. The seed transport assembly includes multiple retention members. Each of the retention members is movable relative to the seed loading assembly and to the seed sampling assembly. The seed transport assembly is operable to position one of the multiple retention members adjacent to the seed loading assembly for engaging one of the singulated seeds, while positioning another of the retention members adjacent to the seed sampling assembly for presenting another of the singulated seeds to the seed sampling assembly. | 05-17-2012 |
20140020287 | AUTOMATED CONTAMINATION-FREE SEED SAMPLER AND METHODS OF SAMPLING, TESTING AND BULKING SEEDS - An automated seed sampler system includes an imaging device for obtaining images of seeds, an orienting device for orienting the seeds based on the images, and a sampling station for removing tissue from the oriented seeds. In some aspects, the system also includes a transport subsystem for supporting the oriented seeds and conveying the oriented seeds to the sampling station. A method for removing tissue from seeds includes imaging the seeds, orienting the seeds based on image information obtained from the seeds, and removing tissue from the oriented seeds. In some aspects, the method also includes transporting the oriented seeds in a transport subsystem to a sampling station for removing the tissue from the oriented seeds, and/or collecting the tissue removed from the oriented seeds so that a one-to-one correspondence exists between the tissue and the sampled seeds, and/or analyzing the tissue for characteristics indicative of genetic and/or chemical traits. | 01-23-2014 |
20140041290 | Accelerated aging mini chamber for global seed vigor test - A Mini Chamber is of the type constituted by a plastic container with a top closure lid, inside which a reticulated mesh basket is housed, extended in a horizontal plane, on which the seeds are arranged, which is removably mounted on an intermediate height above the volume of water contained in the bottom of said container. The novelty lies the plastic container is a cylindrical body of vertical axis and circumferential section, with an open top base on which a dome shaped top closure lid is placed. The invention considers the plastic container may be slightly conical, tapering towards its lower base. Preferably, both the top closure lid and the container itself are made of a transparent plastic material such as polycarbonate or polypropylene. | 02-13-2014 |
20150135585 | APPARATUS FOR NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING OF A SEED - The present invention provides a method and apparatus for non-destructive testing of a seed. In various embodiments, the method may comprise vibrating the seed to orient the seed on an axis, identifying a location of a known feature of the seed, determining a sample location on the seed based on the location of the known feature, and performing a non-destructive testing procedure on the seed proximate the sample location. In one embodiment, the method may comprise removing a sample portion of the seed from the sample location without damaging the embryo of the seed. Accordingly, the viability of the seed may be maintained while allowing for subsequent testing on the sample portion of the seed. | 05-21-2015 |
20150355205 | AUTOMATED SYSTEMS FOR REMOVING TISSUE SAMPLES FROM SEEDS, AND RELATED METHODS - A seed sampling system is provided having an automated seed loading assembly including a seed bin and being operable to singulate seeds from a plurality of seeds within the seed bin. The system also includes an automated seed sampling assembly operable to remove tissue samples from the singulated seeds, and an automated seed transport assembly operable to transfer the singulated seeds from the seed loading assembly to the seed sampling assembly. The seed transport assembly includes multiple retention members. Each of the retention members is movable relative to the seed loading assembly and to the seed sampling assembly. The seed transport assembly is operable to position one of the multiple retention members adjacent to the seed loading assembly for engaging one of the singulated seeds, while positioning another of the retention members adjacent to the seed sampling assembly for presenting another of the singulated seeds to the seed sampling assembly. | 12-10-2015 |
20160174456 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ESTIMATING A SEED GERMINATION ABILITY | 06-23-2016 |