Systems And Processes For Combining Different Types Of Seeds

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018255697-A1
Application number	US-201815977602-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 11, 2018
Priority date	May 3, 2009
Publication date	Sep 13, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A process and system are provided for preparing seed mixes having a target quantity and a target ratio of different types of seeds. The process generally includes portioning quantities of different types of seeds from bulk supplies of the seeds, and combining the portioned quantities of seeds to prepare the seed mixes. The system generally includes first and second dispensing assemblies for portioning the quantities of the different types of seeds from the bulk supplies, and a mixing assembly for receiving the portioned quantities of seeds as the seed mixes. The combined quantities of the different types of seeds in the seed mixes are substantially equal to the target quantity, and a ratio of the quantities of the different types of seeds is substantially equal to the target ratio.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A process for preparing a seed mix having a target quantity and a target ratio of different types of seeds, the process comprising:
portioning a quantity of a first type of seed from a bulk supply of the first type of seed; delivering the portioned quantity of the first type of seed to a first compartment of a seed mixing assembly; portioning a quantity of a second type of seed from a bulk supply of the second type of seed; delivering the portioned quantity of the second type of seed to a second compartment of the seed mixing assembly; and combining, by the seed mixing assembly, the portioned quantities of the first and second types of seeds to prepare the seed mix; wherein the combined quantities of the first and second types of seeds in the seed mix are substantially equal to a target quantity, and wherein a ratio of the quantity of the first type of seed to the quantity of the second type of seed is substantially equal to a target ratio.

2 . The process of claim 1 , wherein portioning the quantity of the first type of seed includes portioning a specific weight of the first type of seed from the bulk supply of the first type of seed;
wherein portioning the quantity of the second type of seed includes portioning a specific weight of the second type of seed from the bulk supply of the second type of seed; and wherein the specific weight of the first type of seed is associated with the quantity of the first type of seed to be included in the seed mix, and the specific weight of the second type of seed is associated with the quantity of the second type of seed to be included in the seed mix.

3 . The process of claim 1 , wherein delivering the portioned quantity of the first type of seed to the first compartment of the seed mixing assembly includes transferring the first type of seed to the first compartment until a specific weight of the first type of seed is received in the first compartment.

4 . The process of claim 1 , further comprising delivering, by the seed mixing assembly, the seed mix to a seed package.

5 . The process of claim 4 , further comprising preparing multiple seed mixes and delivering each of the seed mixes into a separate seed package, wherein the combined quantities of the first and second types of seeds in each seed package are substantially equal to the target quantity, and where a ratio of the quantity of the first type of seed to the quantity of the second type of seed in each seed package is substantially equal to the target ratio.

6 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the target ratio of the quantity of the first type of seed to the quantity of the second type of seed is between about 4:1 and about 39:1 and/or wherein the target quantity is between about 50,000 and about 5 million.

7 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the first type of seed is a transgenic seed and the second type of seed is a refuge seed.

8 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the first type of seed and/or the second type of seed is a transgenic seed comprising at least one transgene conferring at least one of herbicidal tolerance and pest resistance to the seed.

9 . The process of claim 1 , wherein portioning the quantities of the first and second types of seeds and combining the portioned quantities are performed by an automated seed blending system comprising the seed mixing assembly.

10 . The process of claim 1 , further comprising portioning a quantity of at least a third type of seed and combining the portioned quantity of the at least third type of seed with the portioned quantities of the first and second types of seeds.

11 . The process of claim 1 , wherein delivering the portioned quantity of the second type of seed to the second compartment of the seed mixing assembly includes directing part of the portioned quantity of the second type of seed to the second compartment through a first chute and directing another part of the portioned quantity of the second type of seed to the second compartment through a second chute.

12 . The process of claim 1 , further comprising:
processing the first type of seed so that each seed in the portioned quantity of the first type of seed has about the same size; and/or processing the second type of seed so that each seed in the portioned quantity of the second type of seed has about the same size.

13 . The process of claim 1 , further comprising:
processing the first type of seed so that each seed in the portioned quantity of the first type of seed has the same color; and/or processing the second type of seed so that each seed in the portioned quantity of the second type of seed has the same color.

14 . A process for combining different types of seeds, the process comprising:
providing first and second types of seeds to be included in a seed mix; weighing a quantity of the second type of seed; transferring the weighed quantity of the second type of seed to a container; and transferring the first type of seed to the container until a specific weight of the first type of seed is received in the container; wherein the combined quantities of the first and second types of seeds in the container are substantially equal to a target quantity, and wherein a ratio of the quantity of the first type of seed to the quantity of the second type of seed is substantially equal to a target ratio.

15 . The process of claim 14 , wherein the first type of seed is a transgenic seed and the second type of seed is a refuge seed.

16 . The process of claim 14 , further comprising:
providing a third type of seed to be included in the seed mix; weighing a quantity of the third type of seed; and transferring the weighed quantity of the third type of seed to the container; wherein the combined quantities of the first, second, and third types of seeds in the container are substantially equal to a target quantity, and wherein a ratio of the quantity of the first type of seed to the quantity of the second type of seed to the quantity of the third type of seed is substantially equal to a target ratio.

17 . The process of claim 14 , further comprising:
providing a third type of seed to be included in the seed mix; and transferring the third type of seed to the container until a specific weight of the third type of seed is received in the container; wherein the combined quantities of the first, second, and third types of seeds in the container are substantially equal to a target quantity, and wherein a ratio of the quantity of the first type of seed to the quantity of the second type of seed to the quantity of the third type of seed is substantially equal to a target ratio.

18 . A process for combining different types of seeds into a seed mix, the process comprising:
portioning a quantity of a first type of seed from a bulk supply of the first type of seed; delivering the portioned quantity of the first type of seed to a seed mixing assembly; portioning a quantity of a second type of seed from a bulk supply of the second type of seed and delivering the portioned quantity of the second type of seed to a hopper; analyzing the portioned quantity of the second type of seed; when the analysis indicates that the portioned quantity of the second type is acceptable for the seed mix, delivering the portioned quantity of the second type of seed from the hopper to the seed mixing assembly; when the analysis indicates that the portioned quantity of the second type is not acceptable for the seed mix, emptying the portioned quantity of the second type from the hopper without deliv

Assignees

• Monsanto Technology Llc

Inventors

• Boyce Gregory A
• Davis Jeffrey Scot
• Fuhrman James E
• Kelpe David
• Krejcarek Michael

Classifications

• Y10T137/0329

  Mixing of plural fluids of diverse characteristics or conditions · CPC title

• C12N15/8286

  for insect resistance · CPC title

• Y10T137/87571

  Multiple inlet with single outlet · CPC title

• A01N2300/00

  Combinations or mixtures of active ingredients covered by classes A01N27/00 - A01N65/48 with other active or formulation relevant ingredients, e.g. specific carrier materials or surfactants, covered by classes A01N25/00 - A01N65/48 · CPC title

• B28C5/00

  Apparatus or methods for producing mixtures of cement with other substances, e.g. slurries, mortars, porous or fibrous compositions (controlling the mixing apparatus and supplying the ingredients B28C7/00 {; separating cement from waste concrete B03B9/063}) · CPC title