SEED SAMPLING SYSTEM AND METHOD
A method system/apparatus for the streamlined cutting of seeds to sample the seeds and select seeds for planting is disclosed. A method of sampling seeds using such system/apparatus is also provided. The seeds are manually positioned and cut by a serrated cutting tool.
1 . A seed cutting system/apparatus, comprising:
(a) a cutting device operable to remove material from a seed;
(b) a seed guide including an opening sized to receive material removed from the seed;
(c) a cleaning system operable to clean the seed guide; and
(d) a collection tray configured to receive material removed from the seed;
wherein the seed guide is moveable between (i) a first position in which the seed guide is positioned between the cutting device and the collection tray to direct material removed from the seed to the collection tray and (ii) a second position in which the opening of the seed guide is positioned below a nozzle of the cleaning system.
2 . The seed cutting system/apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cutting device includes a body configured to rotate about a central axis, the body including a serrated section extending circumferentially from a first end to a second end, wherein the serrated section has a plurality of cutting teeth that define a first radius of the body at the first end and a second radius of the body at the second end, the second radius being greater than the first radius.
3 . The seed cutting system/apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the seed guide includes a funnel that is movable between the first position and the second position.
4 . The seed cutting system/apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the funnel includes an upper funnel and a lower funnel positioned below the upper funnel, the lower funnel being operable to be moved between a raised position and a lowered position.
5 . The seed cutting system/apparatus of claim 4 , further comprising a protective barrier positioned between the cutting device and the collection tray, wherein the lower funnel extends through the protective barrier when in the lowered position.
6 . The seed cutting system/apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the cleaning system is operable to clean the funnel when the funnel is in the second position.
7 . The seed cutting system/apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cleaning system includes a compressed air source.
8 . The seed cutting system/apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a second collection tray configured to receive the seed.
9 . The seed cutting system/apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising a sensor configured to detect when the seed is deposited in the collection tray.
10 . The seed cutting system/apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising an indexing system.
11 . The seed cutting system/apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a linear actuator operable to move the seed guide between the first position and the second position.
12 . A cutting tool comprising:
a body configured to rotate about a central axis, the body including a serrated section extending circumferentially from a first end to a second end, wherein the serrated section has a plurality of cutting teeth that define a first radius of the body at the first end and a second radius of the body at the second end, the second radius being greater than the first radius.
13 . The cutting tool of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of cutting teeth define a gradually increasing radius from the first end to the second end.
14 . The cutting tool of claim 12 , wherein:
the serrated section is a first serrated section and the plurality of cutting teeth are a first plurality of cutting teeth, and
the body includes a second serrated section that extends circumferentially from a third end adjacent to the second end of the first serrated section to a fourth end, the second serrated section having a second plurality of cutting teeth that define a third radius of the body at the third end, the third radius being less than the second radius.
15 . The cutting tool of claim 14 , wherein the second plurality of cutting teeth define a fourth radius of the body at the fourth end, the fourth radius being greater than the third radius.
16 . A method of cutting a seed, comprising:
(a) manually placing a seed on a platform;
(b) operating a loader to move the seed along the platform toward a cutting tool;
(c) activating the cutting tool to remove a sample from the seed;
(d) removing the cut seed from the loader; and
(e) depositing the cut seed in a slot.
17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising activating an indexing device to index the cut seed and the sample to associate the cut seed with the sample.
18 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising extracting DNA from the sample.
19 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising determining genetic information about the seed from the sample.
20 . The method of claim 16 , wherein manually placing the seed on the platform comprises orienting the seed such that an embryo of the seed faces away from the cutting tool.