IES75751B2 - A seed manufacturing system - Google Patents

Abstract

In a seed manufacturing system, a load of seed is checked at a testing station (10). Acceptable seed is delivered to a storage bin (14) where the seed is aerated by a fan (18) prior to drying. The seed is passed through a dryer (22) in which the seed moisture content is lowered to about 14% by weight. After drying, the seed is cleaned (35) and subsequently dressed (40) with insecticide and/or fungicide. Representative seed samples are taken by samplers (39) during through passage of each batch of seed.

Description

This invention relates to a seed manufacturing system.

According to the invention, there is provided a seed manufacturing process comprising the steps:weighing a load of seed received at a seed inlet testing station, taking a representative sample of the seed load, testing the sample to ensure the seed has a moisture content and screenings content within preset desirable ranges, delivering acceptable seed to an intake hopper, delivering seed from the intake hopper to a green seed storage bin, aerating the seed in the green seed storage bin, delivering the seed from the green seed storage bin to a seed dryer, drying the seed in a controlled manner for reducing the moisture content of the seed such that the seed has a moisture content not exceeding 15% by weight, discharging dry seed from the seed dryer, taking a sample of the dry seed at an outlet of the dryer, and delivering the dry seed for further processing.

S 75 7 5 In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the process includes the step of:taking a representative seed sample downstream of the dryer by dropping the seed through a conduit, positioning a tubular sampler in the conduit, the tubular sampler having an inlet positioned within the conduit and an outlet outside the conduit for discharge to a sample collecting container, positioning the inlet opening of the sampler within the seed flow path in the conduit and adjusting the size of the inlet opening presented to the falling seed within the conduit for controlling the rate of sampling to obtain a representative sample of seed taken throughout passage of a seed batch through the conduit.

In another embodiment, the process includes the step of cleaning the seed downstream of the dryer by delivering seed to a cleaner, and taking a representative seed sample from each batch of seed discharged from the cleaner.

In a further embodiment, the process includes the step of dressing the seed with an insecticide and/or a fungicide downstream of the cleaner and taking a representative dressed seed sample from each batch of dressed seed.

In a preferred embodiment, the process includes the step of sensing the temperature of the seed within the dryer and regulating the temperature of drying air delivered through the dryer in response to the sensed seed temperature.

In another embodiment, the process includes the step of sensing the moisture content of seed delivered to the - 3 ·· dryer and controlling the rate of drying in response to the sensed moisture content of the seed.

The invention will be more clearly understood by the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which::Fig. 1 is a schematic flowchart illustrating a seed manufacturing system according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a sampling device used in the system; Fig. 3 is a detail diagrammatic sectional elevational view of the sampling device; Fig. 4 is an elevational view of a seed storing bin arrangement used in the system; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an intake hopper cover used in the system; Fig. 6 is a side sectional elevational view of the intake hopper cover, in use; and Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a seed intake hopper.

Referring to the drawings, a system and apparatus for manufacturing seeds will be described.

At a testing station 10, a load of seed arrives from a producer in a supply truck, the load weight being determined by means of a weighbridge. Before accepting the seed load, a number of tests are carried out. An elongated tubular sampling lance is inserted into the seed - 4 load reaching down into the seed load in the supply truck. A number of openings are provided in a sidewall of the lance. These openings are closed by a cover to facilitate insertion of the lance. Upon retraction of the cover, a seed sample flows from the seed batch into the lance. A vacuum is applied to the lance to suck the seed sample from the lance and deliver the seed sample to the testing station 10.

The seed sample is first checked for moisture content. Should the moisture content exceed about 20% by weight, then the seed load is rejected. In a second test, a kilogram of seed is screened to determine the percentage of screenings. Should the level of screenings exceed a 510% range, then the seed load will also be rejected.

In some cases, a density test is also carried out on the seed. This is particularly important where the seed is oats.

Acceptable seed is discharged into an intake hopper 12 for delivery by conveyors to green seed short-term storage bins 14. If the conveyors have been handling a different seed previously, then the delivery line 13 is flushed through, an initial portion of the seed being discharged through a flushing line 15 into a waste collecting bin 16.

During retention of the seed in the bins 14, a fan 18 delivers an air supply to each bin 14 containing seed for aerating the seed within the bin 14.

Seed is delivered from a green seed storage bin 14 through a coarse screen 20 which is a vibrating screen to remove straw and other impurities from the seed. Downstream of the screen 20, the seed is delivered through a dryer 22.

The dryer 22 comprises a vertical housing containing internal baffles within the housing. The seed is fed under gravity from a top to a bottom of the dryer housing along a tortuous path determined by the baffle arrangement within the housing of the dryer 22. As the seed cascades downwardly between a top and a bottom of the dryer 22, air is delivered by an extraction fan 24 at a top of the dryer 22 in through a heater 25 at the bottom of the dryer 22 and hot air is passed up through the dryer 22 to dry the seed such that it has a moisture content below 15% by weight and preferably about 14% by weight.

A controlled drying of the seed is important to prevent any damage to the seed during drying. The seed temperature is sensed during the drying process and the drying air temperature is controlled in response to the sensed seed temperature such that the seed temperature does not exceed 45°F. The rate of drying is also important for optimum production. To this end, the drying air temperature is controlled such that it does not exceed 80°F where the moisture content of the seed at the inlet of the dryer 22 is less than or equal to 20% by weight. where the moisture content of the seed at the dryer 22 inlet exceeds 20% by weight, the maximum drying air temperature allowed is 75°F.

At a lower end of the dryer 22, a cooler 28 is provided which uses ambient air to cool the seed prior to discharge from the dryer 22 At a lower end of the dryer 22, a discharge hopper 26 is provided. A sampler 27 is mounted on a sidewall of the hopper 26. As each batch of dried seed is collected in the hopper 26, a sample 27 is taken for testing and recordal.

Downstream of the dryer 22, the seed may be delivered into a dry seed storage bin 30 if not required immediately. As previously described, a flushing line 15 and waste bin 16 are provided for use when changing over between different types of seed. Dry seed is delivered to a cleaner 35 for removal of impurities and passed through the cleaner prior to storage in a clean seed storage bin 38. As previously described, a flushing line 15 and waste bin 16 are provided for use when changing over between different types of seed. Prior to storage in the bins 38, a sampler 39 extracts a representative sample of seed from the batch being cleaned. The sampler 39 is shown in more detail in Fig. 2 and will be described later.

After cleaning, the seed is typically delivered to a dressing station 40 for coating the exterior of the seed with insecticide and/or fungicide for protecting the seed. After dressing, the seed is delivered to a packaging station 42 for packing in sacks. As seed is discharged from the dressing station 40, a sampler 39 collects a representative sample throughout the through passage of the batch of seeds from the dressing station to the packing station 42.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the sampler 39 is shown in more detail. The sampler 39 comprises a conduit 50 through which seed falls. A sample collector 51 of tubular construction is rotatably and slidably mounted in an angled sleeve 52 in a sidewall of the conduit 50. A locking bolt 53 on the sleeve 52 securely retains the sampler 51 in any desired set position. It will be noted that an inlet end 55 of the sampler 51 is angled. Thus, by rotating the sampler 51 in the sleeve 52, the amount of falling seed collected by the inlet 55 can be adjusted. Thus, a random representative sample of seed can be collected throughout the throughput of a batch of seed.

The seed is collected in a sample bin 57 positioned beneath an outlet 58 of the sampler 51.

Referring to Fig. 4, the flushing system for flushing through delivery conveyor runs will be described. A seed storage bin 60 is shown having an upper inlet 61 and a lower outlet 62. A feed conveyor 63 delivers seed to the bin 60 through an inlet valve 64. For flushing through the feed line, the valve 64 may be operated to close off the inlet 61 and deliver seed to the flushing line 15 for delivery of seed into the waste collecting bin 16. A pivoting channel guide 67 at a lower end of the flushing line 15 is movable to direct the seed into the bin 16. When not in use, the channel guide 67 pivots upwardly and nests with the flushing line 15 to prevent the collection of seed in the guide 67. It will be noted that the bin 16 is an open-topped bin having a pair of spaced-apart fork sleeves 68 on an underside of the bin 16 for reception of the tines of a forklift truck for transporting the bin 16.

Referring to Figs. 5 to 7, there is shown a cover 70 for the intake hopper 12 to prevent ingress of moisture into the hopper 12 when the hopper 12 is not in use. The cover 70 comprises a metal panel 71 mounted on a support frame 72. Resilient sealing flaps 73 extend around the periphery of the panel 71 to sealinglv engage with walls 74 surrounding the inlet of the intake hopper 12. It will be noted that the frame 72 is such that it supports the panel 71 in an inclined position to ensure run-off of water from the panel 71. A pair of fork sockets 76 are provided on the frame 72 for engagement by the tines of a forklift truck to lift the cover 70 into and out of position across the inlet of the intake hopper 12.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in both construction and detail.

Claims (4)

1. A seed manufacturing process, comprising the stepssweighing a load of seed received at a seed inlet testing station, taking a representative sample of the seed load, testing the sample to ensure the seed has a moisture content and screenings content within preset desirable ranges, delivering acceptable seed to an intake hopper, delivering seed from the intake hopper to a green seed storage bin, aerating the seed in the green seed storage bin, delivering the seed from the green seed storage bin to a seed dryer, drying the seed in a controlled manner for reducing the moisture content of the seed such that the seed has a moisture content not exceeding 15% by weight, discharging dry seed from the seed dryer, taking a sample of the dry seed at an outlet of the dryer, and delivering the dry seed for further processing. _ 9 A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the process includes the step of;taking a representative seed sample downstream of the dryer by dropping the seed through a 5 conduit, positioning a tubular sampler in the conduit, the tubular sampler having an inlet positioned within the conduit and an outlet outside the conduit for discharge to a sample collecting container, positioning the inlet 10 opening of the sampler within the seed flow path in the conduit and adjusting the size of the inlet opening presented to the falling seed within the conduit for controlling the rate of sampling to obtain a representative sample of 15 seed taken throughout passage of a seed batch through the conduit, and preferably the process includes the step of sensing the temperature of the seed within the dryer and regulating the temperature of drying air delivered through the 20 dryer in response to the sensed seed temperature, and preferably the process includes the step of sensing the moisture content of seed delivered to the dryer and controlling the rate of drying in response to the sensed moisture 25 content of the seed.

2. 3. A process as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the process includes the step of cleaning the seed downstream of the dryer by delivering seed to a cleaner, and taking a representative seed sample from 30 each batch of seed discharged from the cleaner.

3.

4. A process as claimed in any preceding claim, including the step of dressing the seed with an insecticide and/or a fungicide downstream of the