Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090010750 | METHOD OF HANDLING CLAMSHELL CONTAINERS CONTAINING A PARTICULATE ALIQUOT - A method for handling package assemblies in an automated aliquot and/or dispersal processes is provided. Embodiments of the present invention include, but are not limited to, a method of handling a package assembly containing a particulate aliquot (such as a selected type of agricultural seed) that includes first and second portions which cooperate to contain the aliquot, the method including receiving the package assembly in a package assembly handling device, and applying a force to the package assembly using the package assembly handling device so that the first and second portions at least partially separate in response to the force. | 01-08-2009 |
20090283520 | BUCKLING CLAMSHELL CONTAINER FOR AUTOMATED ALIQUOT AND DISPERSAL PROCESSES - A package assembly for automated aliquot and/or dispersal processes is provided. Embodiments of the present invention include, but are not limited to: first and second portions which cooperate to contain the aliquot, wherein a flexure channel is defined in each of opposite sides of at least one of the first or second portions, the flexure channels cooperating to define a flexure axis extending through the pair of flexure channels. Thus, embodiments of the present invention may allow at least one of first and second portions of the package assembly to flex about the flexure axis in response to an opening force exerted on the package assembly such that the first and second portions separate in response to the opening force. | 11-19-2009 |
20100031563 | POROUS, LIGHT TRANSMISSIVE MATERIAL AND METHOD FOR USING SAME - An apparatus and method to isolate at least a part of a plant from passage of things or materials of certain size or characteristics. In one aspect, a shroud or sock ( | 02-11-2010 |
20100043685 | SEED PLANTER - The invention is directed to an apparatus, method and system for a seed planter. The seed planter has a planting, dispensing and metering assembly operatively attached to a mobile supporting structure. The metering assembly has separated seed pre-staging and/or staging positions for staging pre-specified counts of seed separated from other counts in the batch and maintaining separation of the pre-specified counts of seed from other counts in the batch for planting. Alternatively, the metering assembly has separated seed staging positions for staging a batch of seed in singulated form for planting. | 02-25-2010 |
20100044381 | REUSABLE APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ARTICLE CAPTURING, STORING AND DISPENSING - Apparatus and methods for article introduction, storage and dispensing from a reusable container in an efficient and high throughput manner are provided. The apparatus for storing and recovering content therefrom includes a plurality of arranged cells having a content ingress-egress point. The content ingress-egress point is pierceable to introduce content into the cell, self-closing and resealing to capture and seal content within the cell, and rupturable to discharge and recover content from the cell. Methods include piercing, capturing and discharging articles by providing a plurality of arranged cells having at least one article ingress-egress point, piercing the article ingress-egress point to introduce articles into the cell where the article ingress-egress point is adapted to self-close and self-seal to capture articles within the cell, and rupturing the article ingress-egress point to discharge and recover articles from the cell. | 02-25-2010 |
20100046792 | METHODS FOR COUNTING CORN SILKS OR OTHER PLURAL ELONGATED STRANDS AND USE OF THE COUNT FOR CHARACTERIZING THE STRANDS OR THEIR ORIGIN - Methods for relatively high throughput counting of elongated strands including silks of a plant. One method includes segregating similar sized pieces of silks from a section of the plant's silk brush and quantitatively counting the pieces using an automated method. The automated method can be a digital image of the pieces distributed across or above a surface, and image analysis to derive a count of individual pieces. An alternative automated method is to move the pieces sequentially and substantially singulated past a detector. | 02-25-2010 |
20100046827 | APPARATUS AND SYSTEMS FOR COUNTING CORN SILKS OR OTHER PLURAL ELONGATED STRANDS AND USE OF THE COUNT FOR CHARACTERIZING THE STRANDS OR THEIR ORIGIN - Apparatus and systems for relatively high throughput counting of elongated strands including silks of a plant are disclosed. One apparatus or system includes segregating similar sized pieces of silks from a section of the plant's silk brush using a tool adapted to obtain uniform samples and system quantitatively counting the pieces by automation. The automated system can be a digital image of the pieces distributed across or above a surface, and image analysis to derive a count of individual pieces. An alternative automated system moves the pieces sequentially and substantially singulated past a detector. | 02-25-2010 |
20100070072 | AUTOMATED RESEARCH PLANTING SYSTEM, METHOD, AND APPARATUS - The present invention provides an automated research seed planting system, method, and apparatus. The system, method, and apparatus may include a planter configured for planting a research plot and comprising a seed package assembly handling device configured to receive a seed package assembly containing a research seed sample, and a controller configured to communicate with the seed package assembly handling device. The controller is configured to automatically control the seed package assembly handling device to release the research seed sample. In various embodiments, the research seed planter may include a positional data acquisition system configured to acquire position data associated with one or more research seed planting events. | 03-18-2010 |
20100179767 | PORTABLE PLANT HEIGHT AND EAR HEIGHT MEASURING DEVICE - A method and apparatus for dimensionally characterizing a target structure. In an example of the apparatus, the apparatus has a pole having a bottom end and a top end, an indicator system adapted to apprise an operator of the position of a dimension determination system relative to the target structure, and a measurement system adapted to apprise the operator of a dimension of one or more features of the target structure. In another example, the method includes taking a pole having a bottom and top end with a height determination system, a height indicator system and a height measurement system, orienting the pole relative to the plant structure, raising the height determination system to the height of the target plant structure, and determining the height of the target plant structure. | 07-15-2010 |
20100209221 | METHOD OF HANDLING CLAMSHELL CONTAINERS CONTAINING A PARTICULATE ALIQUOT - A package assembly handling system for handling package assemblies in an automated aliquot and/or dispersal processes is provided. Embodiments of the present invention include, but are not limited to, a package assembly handling system for handling a package assembly comprising first and second portions that cooperate to contain a particulate aliquot, the system including a package assembly handling device configured for applying a force to the package assembly so that the first and second portions at least partially separate, thus releasing at least a portion of the particulate aliquot. | 08-19-2010 |
20110046776 | SEED PLANTER DATA ACQUISITION AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - The present invention provides a system and method for generating a planting profile for seeds planted in a field using a seed planter that includes a seed transfer device. In various embodiments, the planting profile may be generated via a processor that communicates with a timing device and a seed sensor. The timing device is configured to provide timestamps associated with the presence of one or more seeds on a seed carrying feature of the seed transfer device as indicated by the seed sensor. Some embodiments further comprise a speed measuring device that is configured to measure and provide to the processor a speed of the seed planter as it travels through the field. Other embodiments further comprise a second seed sensor that senses seeds after exiting from the drop tube. | 02-24-2011 |
20110054969 | APPARATUS AND METHODS TO GAIN ACCESS TO AND EXTRACT INTACT IMMATURE EMBRYO FROM DEVELOPING MAIZE KERNELS OR SPECIFIC INTRENAL TISSUE OR STRUCTURE FROM ONE OR MORE SEEDS - A high throughput apparatus and method for gaining access to and extracting internal tissue or structure of interest from a seed or plurality of seed is disclosed. In one aspect, an apparatus utilizes means to expose the internal tissue or structure and means to separate at least some of the exposed internal tissue or structure for collection and evaluation. In one aspect, a method utilizes some force or action to expose the internal tissue or structure and some force or action to separate the internal tissue or structure. | 03-03-2011 |
20110098851 | AUTOMATED SEED DETECTION AND PLANTING SYNCHRONIZATION APPARATUS, METHOD AND SYSTEM - An automated seed detection and planting synchronization apparatus, method and system is disclosed. The invention includes a seed detection protocol configured to monitor a derived metric equated to timing of movement of a seed carried by a seed metering unit from a seed pick-up to seed drop point. For controlling synchronization of planting of seed, a seed metering unit empty notification signal is provided if the derived metric is satisfied and sensor readings confirm the absence of seed in the seed metering unit. | 04-28-2011 |
20110155030 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PLANTING SEED USING A MULTI-WAY SEED SAMPLE SPLITTER - Various embodiments of a seed planting system and method of the present invention are configured to receive a seed sample and split the seed sample into three or more substantially equal divisions for delivery to a seed planting device. In particular, the seed planting system and method of the present invention split the seed sample by first dividing the seed sample into a plurality of subsamples equal to a whole number multiple of the number of desired divisions and then symmetrically recombining the subsamples into the equal divisions. The divisions are then delivered to respective individual row planters of the seed planting device. By dividing the seed sample into a plurality of subsamples and then symmetrically recombining the subsamples, the seed planting system and method of the present invention may generate substantially equal divisions irrespective of the orientation or tilt of the seed planting device. | 06-30-2011 |
20110297191 | HIGH THROUGHPUT ROOT WASHING METHOD, APPARATUS, AND SYSTEM - The present invention provides a method, apparatus, and system for efficient, high throughput, consistent cleaning of soil from the root system of a plant. In one embodiment, the method generally comprises positioning a plant adjacent a sprayer assembly having at least one nozzle angled so as to impact the root system at a predetermined position, providing a stream of water from a reservoir through the nozzle of the sprayer assembly, and rotating at least one of the root system and the nozzle relative to the other to remove the soil from the root system. The present invention further describes a recycling system adapted to recycle water expended during the cleaning process to minimize losses and to capture and return dislodged soil to the field from which the plant is extracted. | 12-08-2011 |
20140348620 | METHOD OF HANDLING CLAMSHELL CONTAINERS CONTAINING A PARTICULATE ALIQUOT - A method for handling package assemblies in an automated aliquot and/or dispersal processes is provided. Embodiments of the present invention include, but are not limited to, a method of handling a package assembly containing a particulate aliquot (such as a selected type of agricultural seed) that includes first and second portions which cooperate to contain the aliquot, the method including receiving the package assembly in a package assembly handling device, and applying a force to the package assembly using the package assembly handling device so that the first and second portions at least partially separate in response to the force. | 11-27-2014 |
20150034638 | Buckling Clamshell Container For Automated Aliquot and Dispersal Processes - A package assembly for automated aliquot and/or dispersal processes is provided. Embodiments of the present invention include, but are not limited to: first and second portions which cooperate to contain the aliquot, wherein a flexure channel is defined in each of opposite sides of at least one of the first or second portions, the flexure channels cooperating to define a flexure axis extending through the pair of flexure channels. Thus, embodiments of the present invention may allow at least one of first and second portions of the package assembly to flex about the flexure axis in response to an opening force exerted on the package assembly such that the first and second portions separate in response to the opening force. | 02-05-2015 |