In-container seed treatment applicator
A sealed seed treatment apparatus intended to provide a method for surface treatment of seeds through the injection of a container of seeds. The invention is capable of creating an efficient coating process with scanners and sensor to measure accurate dosing amounts for each injection needle. The apparatus contains a recirculation tank to conserve and control the seed treatment product to limit waste.
1 . A method of custom treating seeds in a seed filled clamshell container with a seed treatment apparatus by injection, the clamshell container to be used for planting the treated seeds, the method comprising:
storing a plurality of seed treatment products in a plurality of seed treatment tank units;
mixing the seed treatment products in a bulk storage treatment tank unit with specifically measured amounts of each seed treatment product;
injecting the seed treatment mixture into the seed filled clamshell containers; wherein the injection comprises at least one of:
piercing the seed filled clamshell container on the exterior of the seed filled clamshell container away from an identifying label affixed to the seed filled clamshell container, or
opening the clamshell container with the apparatus and injecting the seed treatment mixture into the clamshell container in a manner that does not require puncturing the clamshell container or removing the seeds from the clamshell container, and resealing the treated seed in the clamshell container with the apparatus, and
agitating the plurality of seed filled clamshell containers to evenly distribute the seed treatment mixture on the seeds inside the clamshell container.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising a recirculation unit, the method comprising:
storing a plurality of seed treatment products in a plurality of seed treatment tank units;
mixing the seed treatment products in a bulk storage treatment tank unit with specifically measured amounts of each seed treatment product;
moving the seed treatment mixture from the bulk storage treatment tank unit to a recirculation tank unit;
pumping the seed treatment mixture from the recirculation tank unit through one or more fluid transfer lines into a plurality of injectors that inject the seed treatment mixture into the seed filled clamshell containers;
following injection, recirculating any seed treatment mixture not injected into the seed filled clamshell container so that the seed treatment mixture not injected returns back to the recirculation tank unit; and
agitating the plurality of seed filled clamshell containers to evenly distribute the seed treatment mixture.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a conveying system positions a row of the seed filled clamshell containers proximal to a row of injection needles.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the seed filled clamshell container is pierced with an injection needle.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the seed filled clamshell container or a group of seed filled clamshell containers entering the seed treatment apparatus comprise an identifying label, wherein the identifying label is read by the scanning system and associated with a database identifying the seed treatment mixture to apply to that container or group of containers, and the seed treatment apparatus injects that seed treatment mixture into that container or group of containers.
6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising a seed treatment changeover by reversing flow back into the bulk storage treatment tank unit, purging with inert fluid, and priming system with new fluid.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein an inspection imaging system verifies the even distribution of the seed treatment mixture on each seed by imaging through the sides of the seed filled clamshell container.
8 . The method of claim 7 , where the verified results associated with an individual seed filled clamshell container is reported to a data system.
9 . A clamshell container seed treatment apparatus, comprising:
a plurality of seed treatment tank units in fluid communication with a bulk storage treatment tank unit, wherein the bulk storage treatment tank unit is in further fluid communication with at least one seed treatment injector that injects a seed treatment mixture into a seed filled clamshell container used for planting the treated seeds,
wherein the seed filled clamshell container comprises at least one of:
an identifying label on the exterior of the seed filled clamshell container, wherein the identifying label is positioned so that it is not pierced by the seed treatment injector, or
an identifying label on the exterior of the seed filled clamshell container, and wherein the container is a resealable container and the apparatus comprises an opener that opens the container prior to injecting the seed treatment mixture into the container in a manner that does not require puncturing the container, removing the seeds from the container, or piercing the identifying label, and
an agitator to evenly distribute the seed treatment mixture on each seed in the container after injection.
10 . The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a recirculation system, wherein:
the bulk storage treatment tank unit is in further fluid communication with a recirculation tank unit, and the recirculation tank unit is in fluid communication with the at least one seed treatment injector that injects seed treatment mixture into the seed filled clamshell container, and any seed treatment mixture not injected into the seed filled clamshell container is returned back to the recirculation tank unit.
11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the seed treatment mixture in the recirculation tank unit is agitated or stirred.
12 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the recirculation tank is in fluid communication with the injector.
13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the injector is a needle within the range of 12-20 gauge.
14 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the seed treatment injector is an injection needle that pierces the seed filled clamshell container away from the identifying label.
15 . The apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising a scanning system that reads an identifying label on a container or a group of containers entering the seed treatment apparatus, wherein the identifying label is read by the scanning system and associated with a database identifying at least one of the amount or type of seed treatment mixture to apply to that container or group of containers, and the seed treatment apparatus is configured to inject the at least one amount or type of seed treatment mixture into the container or group of containers.
16 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a resealer that reseals the treated seed in the container following the injection of the seed treatment into the container.
17 . The apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising a conveying system that positions a row of the seed filled clamshell containers proximal to a row of injectors.
18 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the conveying system comprises a conveyor with automated stops and positioners that secure the row of the seed filled clamshell containers prior to injection of each container with a needle.
19 . The apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising a scanning system, wherein the scanning system comprises at least one time of flight scanner.
20 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein each seed treatment tank unit comprises a flow transmitter between the seed treatment tank unit and the bulk storage treatment tank unit.
21 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the bulk storage treatment tank unit further comprises a diverting valve, and the seed treatment mixture from the bulk storage tank unit may be directed either back to the bulk storage treatment tank unit or to a recirculation tank unit.
22 . The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the bulk storage treatment tank unit is in fluid communication with a wash tank unit comprising inert fluid used to wash out the fluid lines.
23 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the seed treatment injector is a needle that injects a predetermined dose range of treatment product measured by a micro flowmeter.
24 . The apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising a rotary external geared agitator, wherein the rotary external geared agitator rotates at an angular velocity within the range of 30-100 rpm and set time within the range of 30-120 seconds.
25 . The apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising an inspection imaging system that verifies the even distribution of the seed treatment mixture on each seed by imaging through the sides of the seed filled clamshell container.
26 . The apparatus of claim 25 , further comprising a data system, and wherein the results of the inspection imaging system are reported to the data system.