RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to provisional application Ser. No. 61/090,981 filed Aug. 22, 2008, which application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a reusable apparatus and method for capturing, sealing, storing, identifying, and retrieving, discharging or dispensing articles. More particularly, the present invention provides a reusable apparatus and method for capturing, sealing, storing, identifying, retrieving, discharging and dispensing seed such that the seed are protected, contained, preserved, indexed, singulated or grouped, so individually identifiable, and efficiently and easily retrieved, dispensed or discharged for facilitating post-dispensing applications, such as planting, testing, repackaging, or other end-user consumer dispensing applications and processes.
BACKGROUND There are a wide variety of applications where articles need to be stored and sealed from externalities, where the articles can be protected and preserved, and at sometime later be easily, efficiently, accurately identified and/or individually selected, retrieved, dispensed, or discharged for utilization, such as for planting or testing seed. In many instances these articles have requirements for storage in order to ensure their protection from decay, contamination, or damage. Current apparatuses configured to store, seal and dispense seed are able to protect seed only to the extent the sealing surface or other breachable/frangible sealing layer maintains its integrity. For example, if the sealing layer is breached it must be replaced to continue to protect seed. Moreover, current sealing surfaces are good for one use; that is, once breached, pierced or ruptured they must be replaced with a new sealing layer. Additionally, these surfaces are often difficult to rupture or discharge the article, thereby increasing the risk that the article may fracture, break or even be destroyed during the process, depending upon the fragility of the article.
A need has therefore been identified in the art for a more efficient container having a reusable or self-healing sealing layer capable of being ruptured without causing undue stress on the article being dispensed and further adapted for self-closing and self-sealing after being pierced or ruptured from retrieving, storing or discharging articles, such as seed.
Still, the current state of the art for article type storage containers limits introduction, dispensing and recovery to one surface, by rupturing or piercing, which in-turn limits the type of applications the container can be used in.
Therefore, a need has been identified in the art for a more efficient container where introduction, discharge, dispensing or recovery of articles is not limited to a single surface of the container, thus expanding the number of applications in which the container can be used.
SUMMARY Apparatus and methods for efficient and high throughput article introduction, storage and dispensing from a reusable container are provided.
In one exemplary aspect, the apparatus for storing and recovering content therefrom includes a plurality of arranged cells having a content ingress-egress point. The content ingress-egress point is pierceable to introduce content into the cell, self-closing and resealing to capture and seal content within the cell, and rupturable to discharge and recover content from the cell.
Methods include piercing, capturing and discharging articles by providing a plurality of arranged cells having at least one article ingress-egress point, piercing the article ingress-egress point to introduce articles into the cell where the article ingress-egress point is adapted to self-close and self-seal to capture articles within the cell, and rupturing the article ingress-egress point to discharge and recover articles from the cell.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an isometric view of one cell and tray design according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the cell and tray design shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is an isometric view of another exemplary embodiment of the cell and tray design shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 4A is a side elevation view of the cell and tray design shown in FIG. 2.
FIG. 4B is side elevation view of the cell and tray design shown in FIG. 4A according to another aspect of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an isometric view of another cell and tray design according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the cell and tray design shown in FIG. 5
FIG. 7 is an isometric view of another exemplary embodiment of the cell and tray design shown in FIG. 5.
FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of the cell and tray design shown in FIG. 7.
FIG. 9 is an isometric view illustrating the bottom side of another cell and tray design according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of one cell in FIG. 9 taken along line 10-10.
FIG. 11 is an isometric view illustrating the bottom side of another cell and tray design according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of one cell in FIG. 11 taken along line 12-12.
FIG. 13 is an isometric view of various tray designs according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 14 is an isometric view of a tray lid design according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 15 is an isometric view of another tray lid design according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 16 is an isometric view of another tray lid design according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses.
For a better understanding of the invention, several exemplary embodiments will now be described in detail. Reference will be taken from time-to-time to the appended drawings. Reference numerals will be used to indicate certain parts or locations in the drawings. The same reference numerals will indicate the same parts or locations throughout the drawings unless otherwise indicated.
Apparatus FIG. 1 provides one illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a reusable apparatus 10 for article capturing, storing, and dispensing. In general terms, the apparatus 10 comprises a plurality of arranged cells 14. Cells 14 may be configured, arranged, or supported using cell arrangement layer 12. Cells 14 and cell arrangement layer 12 can be a single layer, multiple layers, separate layers, or any like configuration of one or more layers. For example, cells 14 and cell arrangement layer 12 could be molded as a single piece or as two separate pieces joined together to form the whole. Additionally, the cell arrangement layer 12 could be one or more layers combined together. For example, one layer could be configured to hold and support the plurality of arranged cells 14 while a separate additional layer may be configured with an ingress-egress point 22 which may be pierced or ruptured to insert articles into cell 14 or dispense articles from cell 14. The cell arrangement layer 12 and/or cells 14 may be constructed from any material capable of self-sealing or self-closing after being pierced, deformed and/or ruptured. For example, the one or more of the layers of apparatus 10 may be constructed of any number of plastics, rubbers, composites, or other material suitable for containing the contents of the cell but still allowing them to be dispensed or retrieved from the cell 14. When apparatus 10 is constructed from more than one layer, cell arrangement layer 12 and cell 14 and any other layer(s) may be constructed from the same material or from different materials. The present invention also contemplates the use of materials for cell arrangement layer 12 and cells 14 where self-sealing or self-closing after being pierced, deformed and/or ruptured is not desired or needed. For example, one or more of the layers of apparatus 10 may be constructed of any number of foils, papers, rigid and semi-rigid plastics, composites, or other suitable material for which self-sealing is not an objective.
Each cell 14 is defined by wall 16, first surface 18 and second surface 20. Wall 16, first surface 18 and second surface 20 define the interior of each cell 14. An ingress-egress point 22 may be configured in wall 16, first surface 18 and/or second surface 20. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, ingress-egress point 22 is configured in first surface 18 of each cell 14. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3, ingress-egress point 22 is configured in both first surface 18 and second surface 20 opposite first surface 18. FIGS. 1 and 3 show ingress-egress point 22 as having radially extending slits 24. Slits 24 form abutting edges 26 that when adjacent each other, seal off the interior of cell 14 from externalities. The present invention contemplates that abutting edges 26 may be formed by a plurality of radially extending slits extending partially, almost entirely, or completely through wall 16, first surface 18 and/or second surface 20. In another aspect, abutting edges 26 may be formed by a single slit extending partially, almost entirely, or completely through wall 16, first surface 18 and/or second surface 20. FIGS. 5 and 7 show another embodiment of ingress-egress point 22. In FIGS. 5 and 7, ingress-egress point 22 is formed by an expandable port hole extending partially, almost entirely, or completely through wall 16, first surface 18 and/or second surface 20. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, abutting edges 26 formed by slit 24 form one or more segments 36 in first surface 18 and/or second surface 20. The present invention also contemplates that ingress-egress point 22 may be defined by a point of failure, one or more abutting segments of one or more surfaces of cell 14, one or more sealing members biased to a sealed position by material memory, or any means to allow nondestructive passage of articles into and out of cells 14. Such nondestructive means to pass articles into and out of cell 14 through ingress-egress point 22 may be configured in wall 16, first surface 18, and/or second surface 20 as a defined point of failure, one or more abutting surfaces or edges, a flap, one or more sealing members biased to a closed position by material memory, a gate, a lid, an aperture, a crack, a duct, a hole, an opening, an orifice, a porthole, a release, a tear, a vent, a cover seal, or any like means to nondestructively pass articles in and out of cell 14. The present invention further contemplates that the ingress-egress point 22 may have one or more inherent, acquired or added features, such as being openable and recloseable, reusable, resealable, rupturable and rerupturable, leak proof, pierceable and repierceable, flexible, self-sealing or self-closing. FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a planar ingress-egress point 22. The ingress-egress point 22 should not be construed as being limited to planar surfaces. The ingress-egress point 22 could have a conical shape, a round shape, a pyramidal shape, a square shape, or any other non-planar shape suitable for adapting or configuring with an ingress-egress point 22.
FIG. 3 shows first surface 18 and second surface 20 opposite first surface 18 each having an ingress-egress point 22. FIG. 1 shows ingress-egress point 22 configured in first surface 18 of cell 14 only. In FIG. 1, ingress-egress point 22 is configured to be pierceable to introduce articles into cell 14, self-closing and self-sealing to capture and seal articles within cell 14, and rupturable to discharge and recover articles from cell 14. In keeping with this same concept, ingress-egress points 22 on first surface 18 and second surface 20, as shown in FIG. 3, are both configured to be pierceable to introduce articles into cell 14, self-sealing and self-closing to store and seal articles within cell 14, and rupturable to discharge and recover articles from within cell 14. In another aspect of the present invention, ingress-egress point 22 on first surface 18 may be pierceable to introduce articles into cell 14 and self-closing/self-resealing to capture and seal articles within cell 14 while ingress-egress point 22 on second surface 20 may be configured to rupture to discharge and recover articles from cell 14. Cell 14 may be configured such that application of mechanical force, pneumatic force, hydrostatic force, compressive force, tensile force or torsional force introduces or discharges articles from cell 14.
The size of cell 14 may be configured to receive, store and dispense numerous types of content, such as a particle, an article, a seed, a part, an ingredient, a compound, a liquid, or a medicine. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 13, apparatus 10 may include a cell arrangement layer 12 configured so cells 14 are arranged to form a tray of cells 14, a strip of cells 14, a series of cells 14, a grouping of cells 14, a container of cells 14, a sheet of cells 14, a tape of cells 14, a roll of cells 14, a spiral arrangement of cells 14, a fanfold or accordion arrangement of cells 14, a serpentine arrangement of cells 14, or any like cell arrangement suitable for housing articles of various nature or size. For example, cells 14 may be arranged on cell arrangement layer 12 in a strip where cell arrangement layer 12 is coiled-up or rolled-up to facilitate post-dispensing applications, such as planting, testing, or repackaging. Other post-dispensing applications/uses may include the loading, unloading or mixing of articles, container batches, parts, collections, recipes, or the like.
FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate further aspects of the cell and tray design according to exemplary aspects of the present invention. Apparatus 10 in FIG. 9 is illustrated as it would be seen if viewed looking upward at the bottom of cell arrangement layer 12. Similar to the previously described embodiments, apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 9 has a pair of ingress-egress points 22; one ingress-egress point 22 is on first surface 18 and coplanar with cell arrangement layer 12. Those skilled in the art can appreciate that ingress-egress point 22 configured in first surface 18 of each cell 14 could be configured as shown having a plurality of radially-extending slits extending partially, almost entirely, or completely through first surface 18 to form ingress-egress point 22. Alternatively, slits 24 in first surface 18 could be configured as a single, expandable, porthole extending partially, almost entirely, or completely through first surface 18. Those skilled in the art can appreciate that first surface 18, although shown coplanar with cell arrangement layer 12, need not be parallel or coplanar with cell arrangement layer 12. For example, first surface 18 could be configured to mimic the shape of second surface 20, where second surface 20 could be configured in any number of shapes, including a conical shape as best illustrated in FIG. 9 and a wedge shape as best illustrated in FIG. 11. Furthermore, those skilled in the art can appreciate that ingress-egress points 22 configured into first surface 18, second surface 20 or another locale on cell 14 do not necessarily have to be positioned or configured on opposing parallel surfaces, such as illustrated in FIGS. 1-8, but could be configured on non-parallel opposing surfaces, such as illustrated in FIGS. 9-12. It should be appreciated that ingress-egress points 22 configured into any part of cell 14 could be configured to provide varying surface contours from one ingress-egress point 22 to another ingress-egress point 22, wherein each is strategically located on cell 14 to best accommodate the process of introducing, retrieving, or dispensing articles therefrom. For example, FIG. 9 illustrates one aspect of the present invention wherein ingress-egress point 22 is configured into second surface 20 having a contour non-parallel to ingress-egress point 22 on first surface 18. The specific contour of second surface 20 shown in FIGS. 9 and 11 illustrate one aspect of the present invention wherein the dispensing point for an article, such as a seed, has a focal dispensing point where converging segments 36 of the cone-shape or wedge-shape cell 14 form a point or geometry for centering the article or seed to ensure proper dispensing. FIG. 9 provides an illustration where second surface 20 or dispensing surface (where cells 14 and bottom layer constitute the second surface 20) is configured in a conical shape. The closed conical shape may be formed by a plurality of segments 36 joined together at their abutting edges 26. A slit 24 could be configured into second surface 20 of each cell 14 to form abutting edges 26 when second surface 20 is ruptured from dispensing articles or seed from cell 14. Slits 24, as previously indicated, may be formed within walls 16 to extend partially, almost entirely, or completely through wall 16 of second surface 20.
FIG. 10 illustrates seed 34 being introduced into cell 14 and dispensed through second surface 20. In FIG. 10, first surface 18 is in the pierced position 30 and second surface 20 is in the ruptured position 32 to pass articles, such as seed 34 into, through, and out of cell 14. Upon seed 34 being dispensed from within cell 14, each segment 36 returns to its sealed position 28 wherein abutting edges 26 rejoin or self-heal to reform the conical shape of second surface 20 of cell 14. Similarly, slits 24 in first surface 18 reclose or self-heal to close cell 14, by closing both first surface 18 and second surface 20 to capture contents, such as seed 34, inserted into cell 14, but not dispensed therefrom.
Similar to the conical design shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate a wedge shape design of second surface 20. Apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 11 includes a first surface 18 having ingress-egress point 22 formed by radially extending slits 24. Slits 24 form abutting edges 26 that when adjacent each other seal off the interior of cell 14 from externalities. Second surface 20 of each cell 14 converges to a point to form a wedge shape. Each cell 14 has a pair of walls 16 converging to a point and sealed at abutting edges 26 along the outer periphery of wall 16. As previously indicated, slit 24 formed by the separation or partial or full adherence of abutting edges 26 of wall 16 may extend partially, almost entirely, or completely through wall 16 in second surface 20. Like cells 14 shown in FIG. 9, cells 14 illustrated in FIG. 11 show a converging second surface 20. Again, the converging contour of cell 14 allows centering of articles such as seed 34 within the lower extremities of each cell 14 to help facilitate storage and dispensing.
FIGS. 1, 9, 11, and 14 illustrate various shapes, geometries and designs of cells 14 of the present invention. For example, a cup shaped cell 14 is shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 9 illustrates a cone shaped cell 14. A wedge shaped cell 14 is shown in FIG. 11. FIG. 14 illustrates an oval shaped cell 14. The present invention is not limited to those shapes shown in the Figures. The present invention contemplates other shapes for cell 14, such as for example triangular, square, rectangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, football shaped, and any other suitable shapes adapted to assist in apparatus storage, packing, use within auxiliary machines, and/or manufacture, cell arrangement, accessibility, packing, and centering articles within cell 14, capturing, sealing, storing, and retrieving, discharging or dispensing articles or any combination thereof. Further, cell 14 may be configured with or without parallel walls forming first and second surfaces 18 & 20 thereby forming shapes like or unlike the aforementioned shapes for cell 14. The various shapes and sizes contemplated for cells 14 along with the various configurations of cell arrangement layer 12 of the present invention allows for stacking and nesting of apparatus 10 together with others to reduce space requirements for packaging, shipping or storing. For example, a pair of apparatus 10 (shown in FIG. 1 by way of example only) could be stacked on top of each other by flipping one over so the bottom sides can be mated together (cells 14 on one apparatus 10 being received between cells 14 on another apparatus 10). Such an arrangement minimizes the space requirements needed for packing, shipping, storing, shelving, or manufacturing apparatus 10.
FIGS. 14-16 illustrate several embodiments wherein the first surface 18 is fashioned as a lid for covering each cell 14 in second surface 20 of cell arrangement layer 12. In the case where first surface 18 is a lid, ingress-egress points 22 may be configured into first surface 18 so that when the lid is positioned and covering second surface 20 of cell arrangement layer 12 each cell 14 is aligned with a corresponding ingress-egress point 22 in first surface 18. In other aspects of the present invention, those skilled in the art can appreciate that first surface 18, similar to a lid, can be attached and detached from second surface 20 of cell arrangement layer 12 using means known to those skilled in the art, such as a recess area for sliding the lid in and out of, connecting means on the lid itself, living and standard articulating hinges connecting the lid to the cell arrangement layer 12, or any like means for connecting the lid or first surface 18 to second surface 20 as can be appreciated by those skilled in the art. FIG. 15 illustrates another embodiment having a plurality of first surfaces 18 or cover plates adapted to cover a single row or column of cells 14 in cell arrangement layer 12. Those skilled in the art can appreciate the flexibility of apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 15. For example, any one or more of cells 14 in cell arrangement layer 12 can be loaded with an article such as a seed and sealed by attaching or closing one or more of the first surfaces 18 acting as cover plates. Each cover plate or first surface 18 has ingress-egress points 22 corresponding with each cell 14 in cell arrangement layer 12. Those skilled in the art can appreciate that each first surface 18 or cover plate could be void of ingress-egress points 22. Each cell 14 also has its own ingress-egress point 22 for dispensing the article or seed contained in cell 14 from cell arrangement layer 12. FIG. 16 illustrates yet another aspect of the present invention having a retractable first surface 18 or cover with ingress-egress points 22 corresponding with each cell 14 in cell arrangement layer 12. First surface 18 could be void of ingress-egress points 22. In one aspect, first surface 18 may be sectioned corresponding to rows or columns of cell arrangement layer 12 wherein each section is connected together by a living hinge to allow first surface 18 to be removed from second surface 20 and expose the desired cell 14, one row or column at a time, to keep other rows or columns of cell 14 covered or sealed with the first surface 18 or cover plate. Like those aspects of the present invention shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, first surface 18 or cover shown in FIG. 16 can be attached to second surface 20 using lid attachment means that are well-known to those skilled in the art. For example, first surface 18 or cover could be secured to second surface 20 using a recessed sleeve, hinges, magnetic attenuation between the two layers or any like attachment means.
Method FIG. 2 provides one illustration of an exemplary method for a reusable apparatus 10 for article capturing, storing, and dispensing. In particular, FIG. 2 illustrates a method for piercing, capturing, and discharging articles, such as seed, using apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1. Apparatus 10 in FIG. 2 has an ingress-egress point 22 for passing articles therethrough. Articles, such as seed 34, may be introduced into cell 14. This may be accomplished by applying pressure to or force on seed 34 or on the ingress-egress point 22. In one aspect of the present invention, seed 34 may be gripped via manual, magnetic, pneumatic, or mechanical means and introduced, recovered or discharged from cell 14. As pressure or force is applied to seed 34 and/or on ingress-egress point 22, abutting edges 26 formed by slits 24 in first surface 18 of cell 14 separate from each other to provide an opening for seed 34 to pass through to be introduced into cell 14. In a case where multiple slits are made in first surface 18 of cell 14, segments 36 separate as pressure is applied to provide an opening for seed 34 to pass therethrough. As previously discussed, ingress-egress point 22 may be configured as a defined point of failure, one or more abutting surfaces, a flap, one or more sealing members biased to a closed position by material memory, a gate, a lid, an aperture, a crack, a duct, a hole, an opening, an orifice, a porthole, a release, a tear, a vent, a cover seal, or any like means to non-destructively pass articles, such as seed 34, in and out of cell 14. In a preferred form, ingress-egress point 22 is adapted to self-close and self-seal to capture article(s) within cell 14. Thus, once an article such as seed 34 is inserted into cell 14, abutting edges 26 formed by a slit(s) 24 return to the sealed position 28 from the pierced position 30. In addition to the ingress-egress point 22 being self-closing and self-sealing, the present invention contemplates that the ingress-egress point 22 may also be openable and recloseable, reusable, resealable, rupturable and re-rupturable, leak proof, pierceable, or flexible. In another aspect of the present invention, ingress-egress point 22 may be configured to be self-closing without being self-sealing, openable without being recloseable, or rupturable without being re-rupturable.
FIG. 2 illustrates the use of a mechanical element to apply pressure or force to seed 34 and/or the ingress-egress point 22 for introducing into cell 14. The present invention should not be construed as being limited to mechanical force for introducing or discharging articles from cell 14. The present invention contemplates the use of numerous other forces to introduce and discharge articles from cell 14, such as pneumatic force, hydrostatic force, compressive force, tensile force, magnetic force, manual force or torsional force. With ingress-egress point 22 being self-closing and self-sealing to capture articles within cell 14, articles may be stored within cell 14 for any duration of time suitable for the intended type of article being stored in cell 14.
FIG. 2 illustrates seed 34 being stored in cell 14. The present invention contemplates storing or grouping any one or more of the following contents in each of cells 14, such as a particle, an article, a seed, a part, an ingredient, a compound, a liquid, a medicine, or any like material components suitable for storing within cell 14.
In addition to being pierceable, ingress-egress point 22 is configured to be rupturable as shown in FIG. 2. Cell 14 may be ruptured by applying pressure to the second surface 20 to deform second surface 20 and/or applying pressure on seed 34. Pressure exerted on seed 34 and/or ingress-egress point 22 causes ingress-egress point 22 to rupture so seed 34 may be discharged through ingress-egress point 22 to recover from cell 14. The present invention contemplates other methods for recovering or discharging articles such as seed 34 from cell 14. For example, a mechanical member equipped with a gripping means, such as a vacuum means, may be inserted through ingress-egress point 22 by piercing ingress-egress point 22 to recover seed 34 from within cell 14 by pulling and rupturing ingress-egress point 22 to recover seed 34 from within cell 14.
FIG. 4A-B discloses another method of the present invention. In FIG. 4A-B, apparatus 10 has ingress-egress points 22 configured into first surface 18 and opposite second surface 20 of cell 14. Similar to the method shown in FIG. 2, articles, such as seed 34, may be introduced into each cell 14 by piercing the ingress-egress point 22. FIG. 4A-B discloses an additional method of discharging and recovering seed from within cell 14 by piercing either first surface 18 or second surface 20. The piercing and rupturing of cell 14 may be accomplished by mechanical force, pneumatic force, hydrostatic force, compressive force, tensile force, torsional force, or any like force suitable for introducing and discharging articles from cell 14. In the example where mechanical force is used, a mechanical member, such as the coaxial mechanical plunger shown in FIG. 4A, may be used to capture seed 34 to prevent seed 34 from being pushed out from under or away from the plunger when inserting or discharging seed 34 into or from cell 14. The coaxial mechanical plunger may include a hollow inner body or a bore of a desired depth to surround seed 34 as shown. The coaxial mechanical plunger is designed to surround seed 34 such that the outer walls of the plunger bear pressure needed to open ingress-egress point 22 ahead of seed 34 to thereby protect seed 34 from damage or undue stress when being inserted, recovered or ruptured from cell 14. For example, in the case where seed 34 is being ruptured from cell 14, the plunger bears the loading of opening ingress-egress point 22 whereby seed 34 moves toward the opening ingress-egress point 22 and either enters (in the case where seed 34 is being loaded in cell 14) or is released (in the case where seed 34 is being dispensed) from cell 14 under gravity. In both loading and dispensing, seed 34 may be captured by plunger as it moves downward through cell 14 and out ingress-egress point 22. The coaxial mechanical plunger may be used to center/align seed 34 with ingress-egress point 22 in the case where cell 14 lacks self-locating or aligning geometry (some geometry that centrally positions seed 34 relative to ingress-egress point 22). Those skilled in the art can appreciate that seed 34 may be introduced into and discharged from cell 14 by applying pressure on seed 34 to rupture ingress-egress point 22 in cell 14. Alternatively, the outer Thus, in the example shown in FIG. 4A-B, articles such as seed 34 may be inserted within cell 14 through first surface 18 having an ingress-egress point 22 and discharged and recovered through second surface 20 having a separate ingress-egress point 22. In one aspect of the present invention, the loading and discharging of seed 34 can be accomplished using the coaxial mechanical plunger shown in FIG. 4A-B. The coaxial mechanical plunger could be hydro-, magnet- or vacuum-assisted to ensure seed 34 is introduced or removed from cell 14. In another aspect of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 4B, the coaxial mechanical plunger includes two parts, namely, an outer shell and an inner cylinder. The outer shell traps seed 34 so it cannot escape the plunger sideways, and the inner cylinder pushes seed 34 through the ingress-egress point 22 without requiring the ingress-egress point 22 from having to accommodate the entire diameter of the outer shell, as only seed 34 and/or inner cylinder and seed 34 pass through the ingress-egress point 22. Those skilled in the art can appreciate from FIGS. 4A-B that the outer shell of the plunger could be used bear the load of opening ingress-egress point 22 or alternatively seed 34 could bear the load of opening ingress-egress point 22. The contact edges of the plunger (those edges that bear the load of opening ingress-egress point 22) could be shaped or contoured such that the contacting surface is flat, domed, angled, recessed, or otherwise shaped to facilitate opening ingress-egress point 22. In this method, the efficiency of introducing and discharging recovering seed 34 from cell 14 is maximized as the method for introducing and discharging seed from cell 14 could be accomplished by simple linear movement of a mechanical member in and out of cell 14. Furthermore, the method shown in FIG. 4A-B allows for introduction and discharging of articles from cell 14 from any surface having an ingress-egress point 22. For example, first surface 18 may be pierced and moved to the pierced position 30 for providing access to the interior of cell 14 for recovering and dispensing contents therefrom. Additionally, first surface 18 may be moved to the pierced position 30 to allow a pressure or force to be applied to seed 34 for pushing through second surface 20 by moving second surface 20 from the sealed position 28 to the ruptured position 32 so that seed 34 may be dispensed from cell 14. The present invention also contemplates that each ingress-egress point 22 not be limited to being pierceable or rupturable or, as shown in FIG. 4A-B, moved one or a few times to a pierced position 30 or a ruptured position 32. The present invention contemplates ingress-egress points 22 being capable of moving to a pierced position 30 from a sealed position 28 or a ruptured position 32 from a sealed position 28 on a repetitive basis making apparatus 10 reusable in every sense.
FIG. 6 illustrates another method of the present invention. FIG. 6 illustrates the method of passing articles through ingress-egress point 22 as shown in FIG. 5. Similar to the earlier illustrated and described ingress-egress point 22 in FIGS. 2 and 4, ingress-egress point 22 in FIG. 6 is configured as a porthole that is adapted to expand to a pierced position 30 to the size of the article being pushed therethrough. Once the article has passed through ingress-egress point 22, the ingress-egress point 22 moves back to the sealed position 28 to capture and seal articles within cell 14. FIG. 6 illustrates the method of passing seed 34 through first surface 18 of cell 14. As pressure is applied to seed 34, ingress-egress point 22 opens from a sealed position 28 to a pierced position 34 for passing seed 34 therethrough. Once seed 34 is passed through ingress-egress point 22, ingress-egress point 22 moves from the pierced position 30 back to the sealed position 28. In the sealed position 28, seed 34 is captured within cell 14. For example, in one method of the present invention, ingress-egress point 22 may be configured having a material memory for moving from the pierced position 30 back to the sealed position 28 or from the ruptured position 32 back to the sealed position 28. Similar to the methods described in FIGS. 2 and 4, seed 34 may be dispensed and recovered from within cell 14 by collapsing the second surface 20 upon seed 34 within cell 14 for applying pressure on seed 34 and passing seed 34 out through ingress-egress point 22 by moving ingress-egress point 22 to the ruptured position 32. A mechanical member having a removing means as previously discussed and described may also be inserted through ingress-egress point 22 to move ingress-egress point 22 to the pierced position 30 for grabbing seed 34 and pulling out of ingress-egress point 22 by moving ingress-egress point 22 from the pierced position 30 to the ruptured position 32.
FIG. 8 illustrates another method of the present invention further to the method shown in FIG. 6. In FIG. 8, apparatus 10 has ingress-egress points 22 configured in both a first surface 18 and an opposite second surface 20 on each cell 14. Thus, articles may be introduced into cell 14 by moving ingress-egress point 22 on first surface 18 from the sealed position 28 to the pierced position 30 and discharged and recovered from cell 14 by moving ingress-egress point 22 on second surface 20 from the sealed position 28 to the ruptured position 32. The method of FIG. 8 provides an efficient method for introducing articles, such as seed 34, into cell 14 and dispensing and recovering seed 34 from cell 14. For example, where ingress-egress points 22 are formed on opposite surfaces of cell 14, seed 34 may be introduced and discharged from within cell 14 by applying pressure along a linear path using a mechanical member adapted to apply mechanical force, pneumatic force, hydrostatic force, compressive force, tensile force, torsional force, or any like force suitable for introducing, discharging and recovering seed 34 from cell 14. Furthermore, the present invention contemplates a method of introducing storing and discharging articles from cell 14 where cell 14 may be reusable for introducing, capturing, storing, and discharging subsequent articles, such as subsequent seed 34. The present invention contemplates that apparatus 10 may be reusable, meaning that ingress-egress points 22 formed on one or more of the surfaces of cell 14 may be non-destructively pierced or ruptured and still be resealable or recloseable for piercing, storing and rupturing subsequent articles there-through and -from. The present invention also contemplates that ingress-egress point 22 may be configured to be pierced by, to store, and to be ruptured by any seed or grain having a size sufficient for handling mechanically or otherwise, singulating, storing in cell for post-discharging application, such as planting, testing or repackaging.
FIG. 10 best illustrates the method of introducing and dispensing articles such as seed 34 into and from cell 14. First surface 18 may include an ingress-egress point 22 defined by a plurality of slits 24 extending partially, almost entirely, or completely through first surface 18. Articles such as seed 34 may be introduced into cell 14 by piercing them through first surface 18. As the article or seed is introduced into cell 14 through first surface 18 as slits 24 open up to move first surface 18 from sealed position 28 to pierced position 30. Upon passing the article or seed 34 through first surface 18, first surface 18 recovers or self-heals from pierced position 30 by returning to sealed position 28 whereby slits 24 realign with each other to close off ingress-egress point 22 to prevent externalities from entering into cell 14 or the article from exiting cell 14 through first surface 18. As previously discussed, second surface 20 of cell 14 converges to a point and as a result is shaped in a conical manner. Those skilled in the art can appreciate the advantages resulting from a conical-shaped cell 14. For example, the article or seed 34 stored within cell 14 is automatically centered within cell 14 as a result of tapering walls 16. When article or seed 34 is dispensed from cell 14 through second surface 20, segments 36 separate from each other at abutting edges 26 formed by slits 24. Thus, as article or seed 34 is pushed downward through second surface 20, segments 36 moved from a sealed position 28 to a ruptured position 32 by separating apart from each other at slits 24. Like first surface 18, second surface 20 returns to the sealed position 28 from the ruptured position 32 whereby segments 36 collapse back together as abutting edges 26 of slits 24 rejoin to reseal second surface 20 to prevent externalities from entering into cell 14 and to prepare cell 14 for reuse. Both first surface 18 and second surface 20 are capable of being moved from sealed positions 28 to both pierced 30 and ruptured 32 positions depending upon the desired use of cell 14. For example, an article or seed 34 stored within cell 14 may be ruptured from cell 14 through second surface 20 as best illustrated in FIG. 10. Similarly, article or seed 34 stored within cell 14 may be ruptured out of first surface 18. In either case, the present invention contemplates that both ingress-egress points 22 in first surface 18 and second surface 20 are capable of being moved repetitively from sealed, ruptured, or pierced positions making apparatus 10 reusable in every sense. Those skilled in the art can appreciate, as previously discussed, the means for providing self-sealing and self-closing surfaces. For example, ingress-egress points 22 may be biased to sealed position 28 by material memory, resistive elements embedded within the material of both first surface 18 and second surface 20, or any other like means for causing ingress-egress points 22 to move from either the pierced 30 or ruptured 32 positions to an original sealed position 28.
FIG. 12 illustrates a similar method for introducing and dispensing articles such as seed 34 from within cell 14. Introduction of articles such as seed 34 into cell 14 through first surface 18 has been previously described relating to FIG. 10. Second surface 20 of cell 14 forms a wedge-like shape and thus, self-centers the article or seed 34 within the cell 14 to ensure accurate dispensing of contents. Article or seed 34 is dispensed from within cell 14 through second surface 20. Second surface 20 moves from a sealed position 28 to a ruptured position 32 when article or seed 34 is moved therethrough. This is accomplished as the pair of segments 36 and the abutting edges 26 that connect the two segments 36 together separate from each other to allow passage of articles or seed 34 therethrough. Like cell 14 illustrated in FIG. 10, second surface 20 is biased, learned, and/or trained to the sealed position 28 and therefore upon dispensing of the contents within cell 14, automatically self-closes and self-seals bringing abutting edges 26 and segments 36 back together to close up second surface 20 of cell 14 to prevent externalities from entering into cell 14. FIGS. 14-16 illustrate several different embodiments of first surface 18 for closing off second surface 20 according to exemplary aspects of the present invention. In FIG. 14, first surface 18 is configured as a cover plate having ingress-egress points 22 corresponding to each cell 14 in cell arrangement layer 12. Articles such as seed may be loaded into each cell 14 by piercing them through ingress-egress points 22 in first surface 18 or partially or fully removing first surface 18 from second surface 20. Once the desired cells 14 are loaded with an article such as seed, first surface 18 may be placed overtop second surface 20 using securing means such as a recess, hinge, overlapping geometries, magnetic attenuation or any like means suitable for securing first surface 18 to second surface 20. With the first surface 18 in place overtop second surface 20, a dispensing means may be inserted to pierce ingress-egress point 22 in first surface 18 to rupture an article such as seed from within cell 14 through ingress-egress point 22 in second surface 20 according to one or more of the methods previously shown and discussed. Those skilled in the art can appreciate that first surface 18 or the lid may be removed from the second surface 20 for loading articles such as seed into each cell 14 or may be kept in place whereby the article or seed is inserted through ingress-egress point 22 in first surface 18 to store within cell 14 until the desired time to dispense the seed or article. Like the other aspects of the present invention, ingress-egress point 22 in first surface 18 may be used not only to introduce articles such as seed into cell 14 but dispense the same articles such as seed from cell 14 by rupturing ingress-egress point 22 in first surface 18 as previously illustrated and described in aforementioned aspects of the present invention. FIG. 15 illustrates another aspect of first surface 18 being removable from second surface 20 according to rows or columns of each of cells 14 in cell arrangement layer 12. Those skilled in the art can appreciate the advantage of having singulated cover plates (individualized first surface 20 sections) for rows or columns of cells 14 in cell arrangement layer 12. For example, one row or column may be loaded with an article such as seed whereas another row may be left vacant. Additionally, singulated cover plates for individual rows or columns of cell arrangement layer 12 would allow some rows to be simultaneously loaded with an article while the articles in other rows or columns are dispensed. FIG. 16 illustrates yet another aspect of the present invention. First surface 18 in FIG. 16 is separable from second surface 20 row-by-row or column-by-column progressively across cell arrangement layer 12 to uncover the desired amount of cells 14. Those skilled in the art can appreciate the many uses of first surface 18 being retractable relative to second surface 20. For example, as first surface 18 is retracted, open cells 14 may be loaded with articles such as seed, or articles or seed may be dispensed from the same cells 14. Alternatively, articles such as seed may be dispensed from cells 14 covered by first surface 18 on a row-by-row or column-by-column basis and first surface 18 being retracted to load new articles such as seed into each cell 14 while cells 14 covered with first surface 18 are being dispensed. The process of loading and dispensing could be a continuous process as first surface 18 is continually rolled over the top and rolled off of the top of the second surface 20 to cover and expose cells 14 in cell arrangement layer 12 row-by-row or column-by-column to provide a continuous dispensing and loading apparatus 10.
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been set forth in the drawings and specification and although specific terms are employed, these are used in the generically descriptive sense only and are not used for the purposes of limitation. Changes in the formed proportion of parts, as well as in the substitution of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or are rendered expedient without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention, as further defined in the following claims.
Any references in the specification are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.
