AUTOMATED CONTAMINATION-FREE SEED SAMPLER AND METHODS OF SAMPLING, TESTING AND BULKING SEEDS

Abstract

In various embodiments, the present disclosure provides an automated seed sampler system that includes a milling station for removing at least a portion of seed coat material from a seed and a sampling station for extracting a sample of seed material from the seed where the seed coat has been removed. A seed transport subsystem conveys the seed between the milling station and the sampling station and a seed deposit subsystem conveys the seed from the seed transport subsystem to a selected well in a seed tray after the seed has been sampled.

Description

DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present teachings in any way.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a seed sampler system in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a seed loading station of the seed sampler system shown in FIG. 1, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a seed orientation system of the seed sampler system shown in FIG. 1, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the seed orientation system shown in FIG. 3, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the seed orientation system shown in FIG. 3 including a seed holder, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the seed holder shown in FIG. 5, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged side elevation view of the seed holder shown in FIG. 6, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a milling station and a seed transport subsystem of the seed sampler system shown in FIG. 1, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a sampling station of the seed sampler system shown in FIG. 1, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged side elevation view of the seed sampling station, shown in FIG. 9, during operation of the seed sampler system shown in FIG. 1, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a side elevation view of a liquid delivery apparatus of the seed sampling system, shown in FIG. 1, in a retracted position, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 12 is a side elevation view of the liquid delivery apparatus shown in FIG. 11, in an extended position, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a sample tray platform of the seed sampler system shown in FIG. 1, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a seed treatment station of the seed sampler system shown in FIG. 1, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 15 is a side elevation view of a seed conveyor of the seed sampler system shown in FIG. 1, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a seed tray platform of the seed sampler system shown in FIG. 1, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 17 is a side elevation view of a collection tube loading station of the seed sampler system shown in FIG. 1, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a collection tube preparation subsystem of the seed sampler system shown in FIG. 1, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a cleaning station of the seed sampler system shown in FIG. 1, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. An automated seed sampler system, comprising: a milling station for removing at least a portion of seed coat material from a seed;a sampling station for extracting a sample of seed material from the seed where the seed coat has been removed;a seed transport subsystem for conveying the seed between the milling station and the sampling station; anda seed deposit subsystem for conveying the seed from the seed transport subsystem to a selected well in a seed tray after the seed has been sampled.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a sample collection and transport subsystem for capturing the extracted sample in a collection tube mounted on a collection tube placement device of the sample collection and transport subsystem.

3. The system of claim 2 further comprising a collection tube loading station for separating the collection tube from a plurality of like collection tubes and mounting the collection tube on the collection tube placement device.

4. The system of claim 2 further comprising a liquid delivery subsystem for delivering liquid to the collection tube to mix with the captured sample.

5. The system of claim 4 further comprising a sample deposit subsystem for conveying the mixed sample from the sample collection and transport subsystem to a selected well in a sample tray.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising a seed loading station for separating the seed from a plurality of like seeds in a bulk seed hopper.

7. The system of claim 6 further comprising an orientation system for receiving the seed from the seed loading station, orienting the seed in a tip-down orientation and conveying the oriented seed to a seed holder mounted to a turntable of the seed transport subsystem.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a seed treatment station for applying a seed treatment to at least the portion of the sampled seed having the seed coat removed.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the seed treatment comprises one of a polymer and a fungicide sealer.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising a cleaning station for removing residual sample material from a seed holder mounted to a turntable of the seed transport subsystem after the sample has been removed from the seed and the sampled seed has been conveyed to the selected well in the seed tray.

11. An automated seed sampler system, comprising: a milling station for removing at least a portion of seed coat material from a seed;a sampling station for extracting a sample of seed material from the seed where the seed coat has been removed;a sample collection and transport subsystem for capturing the extracted sample in a collection tube mounted on a collection tube placement device of the sample collection and transport subsystem; anda sample deposit subsystem for conveying the sample from the sample collection and transport subsystem to a selected well in a sample tray.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising a collection tube loading station for separating the collection tube from a plurality of like collection tubes and mounting the collection tube on the collection tube placement device.

13. The system of claim 11 further comprising a collection tube preparation subsystem for severing a portion of a tip of the mounted collection tube.

14. The system of claim 11 further comprising a liquid delivery subsystem for delivering liquid to the collection tube to mix with the captured sample.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the sample deposit subsystem is operable to convey the mixed sample from the sample collection and transport subsystem to the selected well in the sample tray.

16. The system of claim 11 further comprising a collection tube discard station for removing the collection tube from the collection tube placement device and discarding the collection tube after the sample has been conveyed to the selected well of the sample tray.

17. The system of claim 11 further comprising: a seed transport subsystem for conveying the seed between the milling station and the sampling station; anda seed deposit subsystem for conveying the seed from the seed transport subsystem to a selected well in a seed tray after the seed has been sampled.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising: a seed loading station for separating the seed from a plurality of like seeds in a bulk seed hopper; andan orientation system for receiving the seed from the seed loading station, orienting the seed in a tip-down orientation and conveying the oriented seed to a seed holder mounted to a turntable of the seed transport subsystem.

19. The system of claim 11 further comprising a seed treatment station for applying a seed treatment to at least the portion of the sampled seed having the seed coat removed.

20. An automated, high-throughput method for extracting sample material for testing from individual seeds in a population of seeds, the method comprising: loading a seed in a seed holder of an automated seed sampler system;removing at least a portion of seed coat material from the seed;extracting a sample of seed material from the seed where the seed coat has been removed;conveying the seed to a selected well in a seed tray after the seed has been sampled;conveying the extracted sample to a selected well in a sample tray using a sample deposit subsystem of the seed sampler system; andanalyzing the extracted sample for one or more characteristics indicative of at least one genetic chemical trait.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein extracting the sample comprises capturing the extracted sample in a collection tube.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein extracting the sample further comprises delivering liquid to the collection tube to mix with the captured sample.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein conveying the extracted sample comprises conveying the mixed sample to a selected well in a sample tray.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein loading the seed comprises separating the seed from a plurality of like seeds in a bulk seed hopper.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein loading the seed further comprises: orienting the seed in a tip-down orientation; andconveying the oriented seed to the seed holder.

26. The method of claim 20 further comprising applying a seed treatment to at least the portion of the sampled seed having the seed coat removed.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising removing residual sample material from the seed holder after the sample has been removed from the seed and the sampled seed has been conveyed to the selected well in the seed tray.

28. An automated system for sequentially removing sample material from a plurality of seeds while preserving the germination viability of the seeds, said system comprising: a milling station for sequentially removing at least a portion of seed coat material from each seed;a sampling station for sequentially extracting a sample of seed material from each seed where the seed coat has been removed from the respective seed;a seed transport subsystem for conveying the seeds between the milling station and the sampling station;a seed deposit subsystem for sequentially conveying each seed from the seed transport subsystem to a selected one of a plurality of wells in a selected one of a plurality of seed trays after each respective seed has been sampled;a sample collection and transport subsystem for sequentially capturing the extracted sample of each seed in a corresponding collection tube mounted on one of a plurality of collection tube placement devices of the sample collection and transport subsystem; anda sample deposit subsystem for sequentially conveying each sample from the sample collection and transport subsystem to a selected one of a plurality of wells in a selected one of a plurality of sample trays.

29. The system of claim 28 further comprising a collection tube loading station for separating each collection tube from a plurality of like collection tubes and mounting the respective collection tube on a corresponding one of the collection tube placement devices.

30. The system of claim 28 further comprising a liquid delivery subsystem for sequentially delivering liquid to each collection tube to mix with the respective captured sample, wherein the sample deposit subsystem is operable to sequentially convey each mixed sample from the sample collection and transport subsystem to the selected well in the selected sample tray.

31. The system of claim 28 further comprising: a seed loading station for separating each seed from a plurality of like seeds in a bulk seed hopper; andan orientation system for receiving each seed from the seed loading station, orienting each seed in a tip-down orientation and conveying each oriented seed to a corresponding one of a plurality of seed holders mounted to a turntable of the seed transport subsystem.

32. The system of claim 28 further comprising a seed treatment station for sequentially applying one of a polymer and a fungicide to at least the portion of each sampled seed having the seed coat removed.