Quality control process for repackaging agricultural chemical shuttle tanks

Abstract

The agricultural chemical shuttle tank quality control and repackaging process of the present invention provides for standardized inspection, cleaning, repairing, and certification of the tanks so as to deliver precision crop protection chemicals to customers. The tanks include an ID label or bar code with information about the life cycle of the tank. The information is updated at one or more stages of the process. The tanks are classified according to chemical contents, and restricted for use in a single herbicide/pesticide classification throughout the tank life. A specialized automated wash station cleans the inside and outside of tanks of chemical residue and satisfies government environmental regulations for waste wash water.

1 . A quality control process for agricultural chemical shuttle tanks, comprising:
 receiving a shuttle tank;   scanning a label on the tank to identify historical information about the tank;   inspecting the tank for damage;   sorting the tank into multiple groups according to chemical content of the tank; then washing the tank to remove chemical residue; and then re-filling the tank with additional agricultural chemical; and   re-labeling the tank with updated historical information, including the added chemical.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the historical information includes contents, location, damage, and customers of the tank. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1  further comprising labeling tanks having repairable damage. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1  further comprising labeling tanks having irrepairable damage. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the washing will use varying time and cleaning agents for each grouping. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1  further comprising washing the tanks in an order from a first group having the least toxicity to waste wash water to a last group having the most toxicity to waste wash water. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 6  further comprising filtering the waste wash water and re-cycling the filtered waste wash water for further washing. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 1  further comprising extracting excess chemical from the tank prior to washing. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 1  further comprising removing the tank identification label before washing. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 1  further comprising spraying the tank interior and exterior with a chemical neutralizer before washing. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the washing step includes the interior and exterior of the tank. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 1  wherein waste wash water in the tank is extracted during the washing step. 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 1  further comprising inspecting the washed tank for cleanliness. 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 1  further comprising re-washing unclean tanks. 
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 1  further comprising inspecting the washed tank for excess waste water and extracting excess waste water. 
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the re-fill is limited to a same classification of additional chemical as the chemical last used in the tank. 
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 1  further comprising sampling waste wash water for compliance with governmental regulations. 
     
     
         18 . A repackaging process for agricultural chemical shuttle tank, comprising:
 a) placing a bar code on a shuttle tank, the code providing data about the history of the tank;   b) adding a liquid chemical to the tank at a base station;   c) transporting the tank to an agricultural field;   d) discharging at least a portion of the liquid chemical from the tank in an agricultural field application;   e) returning the tank to the base station;   f) inspecting the tank for damage;   g) cleaning the tank to eliminate any residue of the liquid chemical;   h) refilling the tank with new chemical;   i) updating data on the bar code of the tank to include information about steps b, e, f and h.   
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 18  wherein steps b-h are repeated. 
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 18  wherein the wash step uses water and further comprising recycling the wash water for cleaning additional tanks.