Sampling system

Abstract

A material sampling system for obtaining a plurality of substantially similar samples of granular material, such as grain or other crop material, from a load of granular material is provided. The system can include a sample extractor for obtaining a sample portion of granular material, a sample divider operative to divide the sample portion of granular material into a plurality of smaller samples of granular material in a plurality of sample containers and a sample transfer conduit for transferring the sample of granular material from the sample extractor to the sample divider. The sample portions can be taken at regular sample time intervals throughout the entire load of granular material to get an accurate representation of the granular material and information about the samples in the sample containers can be obtained by the system while it is obtaining the samples and this information stored for later use and display.

1 .- 36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . A non-transitory computer readable memory having a data structure disposed therein for providing information about a plurality of samples of granular material from a load of granular material, the data structure comprising
 a plurality of sample records, each sample record comprising:   a unique identifier field storing information identifying the plurality of samples,   a moisture content field storing information; and   a temperature field storing information indicating the temperature of the samples; and   a load size field storing information indicating the side of the load of granular material the sample was taken from.   
     
     
         38 . The computer readable memory of  claim 37  wherein the unique identifier field holds an array of unique identifiers, each unique identifier in the array indicating an individual sample container. 
     
     
         39 . The computer readable memory of  claim 37  wherein the unique identifier filed contains at least one barcode. 
     
     
         40 . The computer readable memory of  claim 37  wherein each record further comprises a time stamp field containing information indicating when the sample was taken. 
     
     
         41 . The computer readable memory of  claim 37  wherein each record further comprises:
 a location field storing information indicating a location where the granular material sample was obtained, 
 an origination field storing information indicating where the load of granular material originated; and 
 a destination field storing information indicating where the load of granular material was moved to. 
 
     
     
         42 . The computer readable memory of  claim 41  wherein the location field stores GPS coordinates. 
     
     
         43 . The computer readable memory of  claim 37  wherein each record further comprises a sample rate field storing information indicating a sampling rate of the load. 
     
     
         44 . The computer readable memory of  claim 37  wherein each record further comprises a material type field storing information indicating the type of material makes up the granular material.