High speed seed treatment apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus and method for treating a least a portion of one or more initial seed samples to create one or more treated seed samples for use in research applications is provided. In various embodiments, the apparatus and method utilize two or more seed treaters operating in parallel to increase throughput for treating a portion of one or more initial seed samples. The apparatus and method may also include a metering station configured to distribute at least a portion of the one or more initial seed samples to the two or more seed treaters. As a result, the apparatus and method are configured to efficiently and accurately treat seed samples.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for treating a least a portion of one or more initial seed samples to create one or more treated seed samples, the apparatus comprising:
 two or more seed treaters configured to operate in parallel,   wherein the two or more seed treaters are configured to receive at least a portion of one or more initial seed samples and to independently apply at least one seed treatment material to the portion of the one or more initial seed samples to create one or more treated seed samples.   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a metering station, and wherein the two or more seed treaters are configured to receive at least a portion of one or more initial seed samples from the metering station. 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a discharge hopper configured to receive a portion of the one or more initial seed samples not received by the two or more seed treaters. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a bulk loading station configured to receive one or more initial seed samples and to distribute at least a portion of the received portion to a metering station, and wherein the metering station is configured to distribute at least a portion of the portion of one or more initial seed samples received by the metering station to the two or more seed treaters.   
     
     
         5 . An apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the metering station comprises at least one quantifying device for quantifying seeds distributed to the two or more seed treaters. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one additional processing device configured to receive seed samples from the two or more seed treaters.   
     
     
         7 . An apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the additional processing device comprises one of the group consisting of:
 a seed packaging device;   a seed counting device;   a seed sorting device;   a seed treatment apparatus; or   combinations thereof.   
     
     
         8 . An apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the metering station is controlled by at least one controller and wherein the two or more seed treaters are configured to receive at least a portion of the one or more initial seed samples automatically. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the metering station is controlled by at least one controller such that the two or more seed treaters receive and treat at least a portion of the portion of the one or more initial seed samples from the metering station automatically. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the at least one additional processing device is controlled by at least one controller and is configured to process the seed samples automatically.