APPARATUS AND SYSTEM FOR PREPARING EARS OF CORN FOR AUTOMATED HANDLING, POSITIONING AND ORIENTING
An apparatus and system for automated handling, positioning and orienting of an ear of corn includes apparatuses and systems for altering a portion of an ear of corn. Optionally included are one or more stations for automatically processing, testing, sampling and preparing the ear of corn for processing, testing or sampling and an automated transport means automatically moving ears of corn from station to station using alterations made to the ear of corn.
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This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/545,272, filed on Aug. 21, 2009, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/153,543, filed Feb. 18, 2009, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to handling, positioning and orienting ears of corn. More particularly, the present invention relates to automated, high-throughput apparatuses and systems for altering ears of corn to provide for automated handling, positioning and orienting of the ear.
BACKGROUNDApparatuses and systems for handling, positioning and/or orienting ears of corn for sampling purposes has been predominantly accomplished using manual techniques. Most manual techniques require unnecessary amounts of human involvement, which invariably limits the overall efficiency of the process. As companies try to conserve resources, time, money and manpower, techniques for automating processes otherwise performed manually are of increasing importance.
As more and more corn sampling methods and processes are automated, what is needed is an efficient and high-throughput handling, positioning and orienting apparatus and system for an ear of corn.
Therefore, it is a primary object, feature, or advantage of the present invention to improve over the state of the art.
It is a further object, feature, or advantage of the present invention to provide an apparatus and system for high-throughput handling, positioning and orienting of an ear of corn.
Another object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to provide for an easy and safe apparatus and system for preparing an ear of corn for automated handling, positioning and orienting.
A still further object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to provide apparatuses and systems for preparing an ear of corn for being handled, positioned and oriented in automated ear preparation and sampling processes.
Yet another object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and system for preparing an ear of corn for being handled, positioned and oriented by automation.
A still further object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and system for preparing an ear of corn for being handled, positioned and oriented by automation that automatically accounts for size and shape differences between each ear of corn.
Yet another object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and system for preparing an ear of corn for being handled, positioned and oriented by automation which is user friendly, and safe to operate.
A still further object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and system for preparing an ear of corn for being handled, positioned and oriented by automation which can be operated and performed by a single operator.
These and/or other objects, features, or advantages of the present invention will become apparent. No single embodiment of the present invention need achieve all or any particular number of the foregoing objects, features, or advantages.
BRIEF SUMMARYThe invention generally provides an automated apparatus and system for preparing an ear of corn for being handled, positioned and/or oriented by one or more automated processes.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a system for automated handling, positioning and/or orienting of an ear of corn is disclosed. The system includes a station for altering a portion of an ear of corn. The station includes altering means for removing tissue from or appending material to the ear of corn to provide for automated handling, positioning and/or orienting of the ear of corn. The system may also include one or more stations automatically processing, testing, sampling and/or preparing the ear of corn for processing, testing and/or sampling. The system may also include transport means for automatically moving ears of corn from station to station. The transport means uses the altered portion of the ear of corn to handle, position and orient the ear of corn at and/or between the stations.
According to another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for preparing an ear of corn for being handled, positioned and oriented by automation is disclosed. The apparatus includes a station for altering an ear of corn, holding means adapted for keeping the ear of corn in a desired position and orientation, and altering means. The altering means includes a tissue removal device having tissue removal means or a material appendage device having material appendage means for preparing a portion of the ear of corn to provide for automated handling, positioning and/or orienting of the ear of corn.
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. These same reference numerals will indicate the same parts or locations throughout the drawings, unless otherwise indicated.
ApparatusThe present invention discloses in one aspect an apparatus for preparing an ear of corn for being handled, positioned and oriented by automation. One embodiment of apparatus 10 is shown in
According to a preferred form of the present invention, apparatus 10 also includes altering means. Generally, the altering means provides some automated alteration of the ear of corn to allow for automated handling, positioning and orienting of the ear of corn. The altering means may be configured to alter each ear of corn by appending material to or removing material (tissue) from the ear of corn. For example, a tissue removal device having tissue removal means may be used for preparing a portion of the ear of corn to provide for automated handling, positioning and/or orienting of the ear of corn. Alternatively, a material appendage device having material appendage means may be used for preparing a portion of the ear of corn to provide for automated handling, positioning and/or orienting of the ear of corn. Depending on the desired type of alteration, apparatus 10 may include one or both types of altering means. In the case where apparatus 10 includes tissue removal means, contemplation is given in the present invention to an automated scraping tool having one or more edges for scrapping material from the ear of corn, an automated erosion tool having one or more liquid jets for eroding material from the ear of corn, or an automated cutting tool having one or more blades for cutting material from the ear of corn. In the case where material, such as ear tissue, is removed from the ear of corn, any of the aforementioned concepts may be used to create a hole or void in the ear of corn or clear tissue from a portion of the ear to provide a spot for holding the ear of corn. Boring a hole in the shank of the ear of corn or removing tissue (i.e., kernels) from the ear of corn may be accomplished specifically by using a drill bit, router bit, forstner bit, hollow boring tube, liquid jet cutter, or chisel. According to one aspect of the present invention, a pneumatically actuated drill (see
As shown in
The conofrustical recess 20 has a cropped cone shape, as best shown in
Also on cabinet 12 is a control panel 40, as shown in
As shown in
Also disclosed by the present invention is a method for preparing an ear of corn 16 for being handled, positioned and oriented by automated means, including semi and fully automated processes and/or systems. Generally, the method includes providing a station for altering an ear of corn and keeping the ear of corn in a desired position and orientation at the station. In one aspect, altering the ear of corn includes one or both of the steps of removing tissue from the ear of corn to provide for automated handling, positioning and/or orienting of the ear of corn, or appending material to the ear of corn to provide for automated handling, positioning and/or orienting of the ear of corn 16. Steps contemplated for removing tissue include, but are not limited to, scraping tissue from the ear of corn, eroding tissue from the ear of corn, or cutting tissue from the ear of corn. In the case where material, such as ear tissue, is removed from the ear of corn, any of the aforementioned concepts may be used to create a hole or void in the ear of corn or clear tissue from a portion of the ear to provide a spot for holding the ear of corn. Boring a hole in the shank of the ear of corn or removing tissue (i.e., kernels) from the ear of corn may be accomplished specifically by using a drill bit, router bit, forstner bit, hollow boring tube, liquid jet cutter, or chisel. According to one aspect of the present invention, a pneumatically actuated drill 30 (see
As shown in
The conofrustical recess 20 has a cropped cone shape, as best shown in
One exemplary method of the present invention for preparing an ear of corn 16 for being handled, positioned and oriented by automation includes inserting an ear of corn 16 shank first into the conofrustical recess 20 for auto-centering the ear of corn 16 relative to the drill 30, retaining the ear of corn 16 within the conofrustical recess 20 by vacuum, and automatically advancing the drill 30 and bit 36 into the shank of the ear of corn 16 for tapping a hole in the shank of the ear of corn 16. The method also includes pneumatically actuating and advancing the drill 30 into the conofrustical recess 20 for tapping the hole in the shank or cob portion of each ear of corn 16. Pneumatic advancement of drill 30 is provided by pneumatic piston 32 that is operated by a local or remotely positioned source, such as a compressor. Pneumatic piston 32 is of the type that is commercially available. Drill 30 is preferably a pneumatic drill (e.g., PAR-A-MATIC self-feed drill, model no. 8255-A, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Calif.). Although a pneumatic drill is preferred, the present invention contemplates substitution of other boring devices, such as an electric or hydraulic drill or impacting device, and including those previously described. Activating the free-hand safety switch 44 and tripping the sensor allows activation and advancement of the drill 30 and bit 36 into the shank of the ear of corn 16. The sensor (not shown) is tripped by inserting the ear of corn 16 into the conofrustical recess 20, which in-turn activates drill cuttings suction port 22, which by vacuum pressure helps retain the ear of corn 16 within the conofrustical recess 20 and evacuates cuttings from the drill 30 passing into the shank of the ear of corn 16. In one embodiment, vacuum pressure supplied to the conofrustical recess 20 is continuously on, but at a pressure that allows manual or automated placement and removal of the ear of corn 16. In an alternative embodiment, drill 30 cycles and the vacuum pressure supplied to the conofrustical recess 20 is turned off which allows the operator to remove the ear of corn 16 from the conofrustical recess 20 without the opposing vacuum force acting on the ear of corn 16. The method of preparing an ear of corn 16 for being handled, positioned and oriented by automation could be in combination with an automated machine or system for testing, sampling and/or preparing the ear of corn 16 for testing and/or sampling. The automated machine, such as automated system 100 shown in
It should be appreciated that by using one method of the present invention, material removed or extracted from the ear of corn, such as for example where a hole is drilled in the shank of the ear, allows the ear of corn 16 to be handled, positioned and/or oriented in a high-throughput system, which in-turn allows for testing, sampling and/or preparing the ear of corn 16 for testing and/or sampling. In one aspect, this could include the high-throughput system having an automated transport means 102, such as for example an automated transport means 102 having a spindle 108 for handling, positioning and/or orienting the ear of corn 16 by impaling the ear of corn 16 on the spindle 108 using the hole in the shank of the ear of corn 16. In the case where material is appended to the ear of corn 16, automated transport means 102 may be configured to grip or hold the material, such as a post or spindle, attached to the ear of corn 16. The automated transport means 102 may be configured to pass the ears of corn 16 through one or more processing stations 104, 106. These stations 104, 106 could include any station or subsystem providing automated processing, testing, and sampling of the ear of corn 16, as well as any station or subsystem adapted for preparing the ear of corn 16 for processing, testing and/or sampling. As shown and described in Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/090,979, filed Aug. 22, 2008, entitled “High Throughput Automated Apparatus, Method and System for Coating Ears of Corn,” processing stations 104, 106 could include an automated ear coating station for coating each ear of corn 16 with a magnetically active coating and an automated drying station for curing the coating. Processing stations 104, 106 could also include any station or subsystem providing automated positioning of the coated kernels for seed testing. The identification of each ear of corn 16 could be tracked individually or collectively. For example, one ear of corn 16 in each batch being processed could receive an identification tag for identifying the entire batch. Alternatively, each ear of corn 16 could be individually tagged for providing identification of each ear of corn 16 during processing or preparing the ear of corn 16 for processing.
SystemAlso disclosed by the present invention is a system for automated handling, positioning and/or orienting of an ear of corn 16. The system for automated handling, positioning and/or orienting of an ear of corn includes a station for altering a portion of an ear of corn and altering means for removing tissue from or appending material to the ear of corn 16 to facilitate automated handling, positioning and/or orienting of the ear of corn. The system 100 may include one or more stations automatically processing, testing, sampling and/or preparing the ear of corn for automated processing, testing and/or sampling. Transport means 102 may also be provided for automatically moving ears of corn 16 from station to station (see generally 104 and 106). The transport means 102 is configured for using the altered portion of the ear of corn to handle, position and orient the ear of corn at and between stations 104 and 106. In a preferred form, the altering means of the system 100 includes, but is not limited to, material removal means operatively supported at the station, holding means for positioning and orienting the ear of corn relative to the material removal means, and actuation means for moving said holding means or material removal means for removing tissue from the portion of the ear of corn. The system contemplates altering means having material appending means operatively supported at the station, holding means for positioning and orienting the ear of corn relative to the material appending means, and actuation means for moving the holding means or material appending means for appending material to a portion of the ear of corn 16. The system may include any semi- or fully-automated station adapted for processing, testing or sampling the ear of corn and/or preparing the ear of corn for processing, testing and/or sampling. Moving ears of corn at and between stations of system 100 could be accomplished by transport means, such as a shuttle, a carriage or a conveyor. One type of conveyor is shown in
The present invention contemplates that the system 100 may include one or more processing stations 104, 106 through which automated transport means 102 passes. The stations 104 and 106 may include any station or subsystem providing automated processing, testing, and sampling of the ear of corn 16. Stations 104 and 106 could also be configured to prepare the ear of corn 16 for processing, testing and/or sampling. Processing stations 104, 106 could include an automated ear coating station for coating each ear of corn 16 with a magnetically active coating and an automated drying station for curing the coating. Processing stations 104, 106 could also include any station or subsystem providing automated positioning of the coated kernels for seed testing, such as shown and illustrated in application Ser. Nos. 12/336,084 and 11/939,402, filed Dec. 16, 2008 and Nov. 13, 2007, respectively, which applications are assigned to the owner of the present application and are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. The automated transport means 102 could include a shuttle, a carriage or a conveyor such as a chain-on-edge conveyor spindle or drive 110. Using the hole prepared in the shank of the ear of corn 16, the automated transport means 102 handles, orients and positions the ear of corn 16 as needed for each of the processes occurring at stations 104, 106. For example, the automated transport means 102 may be a chain-on-edge conveyor spindle 110 as shown in
The embodiments of the present invention have been set forth in the drawings and specification and although specific terms are employed, these are used in a generically descriptive sense only and are not used for purposes of limitation. Changes in the formed proportion of parts, as well as any substitutions of equivalences are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or are rendered expedient without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as further defined in the following claims.
Claims
1. A system for automated handling, positioning and orienting an ear of corn comprising:
- a station for altering a portion of an ear of corn;
- altering means for removing tissue from or appending material to the ear of corn to provide for automated handling, positioning and orienting of the ear of corn;
- one or more stations automatically processing, testing, sampling or preparing the ear of corn for processing, testing or sampling;
- transport means automatically moving ears of corn from station to station; and
- said transport means using said altered portion of the ear of corn to handle, position and orient the ear of corn.
2. The system of claim I wherein the altering means comprises:
- a. material removal means operatively supported at the station;
- b. holding means for positioning and orienting the ear of corn relative to the material removal means; and
- c. actuation means for moving said holding means or material removal means for removing tissue from a portion of the ear of corn.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the altering means comprises:
- a. material appending means operatively supported at the station;
- b. holding means for positioning and orienting the ear of corn relative to the material appending means; and
- c. actuation means for moving said holding means or material appending means for appending material to a portion of the ear of corn.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more stations comprise:
- a. stations adapted for processing, testing or sampling the ear of corn; or
- b. stations adapted for preparing the ear of corn for processing, testing or sampling.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the transport means comprises:
- a. a shuttle;
- b. a carriage; or
- c. a conveyor;
6. The system of claim 1 wherein the transport means comprises a chain-on-edge conveyor spindle.
7. An apparatus for preparing an ear of corn for being handled, positioned and oriented by automation, the apparatus comprising:
- a station for altering an ear of corn;
- holding means adapted for keeping the ear of corn in a desired position and orientation at the station;
- altering means comprising:
- a. a tissue removal device comprising tissue removal means for preparing a portion of the ear of corn to provide for automated handling, positioning and orienting of the ear of corn; or
- b. a material appendage device comprising material appendage means for preparing a portion of the ear of corn to provide for automated handling, positioning and orienting of the ear of corn.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the holding means comprises:
- a. a mechanical device comprising a positive pressure applicator applied to the ear of corn;
- b. a pneumatic device comprising a negative pressure applicator applied to the ear of corn; or
- c. a support device comprising one or more support members for resting the ear of corn thereon.
9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein:
- a. the holding means is actuated to bring the ear of corn into engagement with said altering means; or
- b. the altering means is actuated to engage the ear of corn held by said holding means.
10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said tissue removal means comprises:
- a. an automated scraping tool having one or more edges for scrapping tissue from the ear of corn;
- b. an automated erosion tool comprising one or more liquid jets for eroding tissue from the ear of corn; or
- c. an automated cutting tool comprising one or more blades for cutting tissue from the ear of corn.
11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said material appendage means comprises an automated device adapted to append a member or material to the ear of corn, the ear of corn positioned, handled and oriented using the appended material.
12. The apparatus of claim 7 in combination with an automated system for processing, testing or sampling the ear of corn.
13. The apparatus of claim 7 in combination with an automated system for preparing the ear of corn for processing, testing or sampling.
14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the automated system comprises ear moving means for moving and positioning the ear of corn at and between one or more stations of the automated system.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said ear moving means comprises one or more features adapted to make use of the cavity, added material or appended structure to handle, position and orient the ear of corn.
16. An apparatus for altering an ear of corn for being handled, positioned and oriented by conveyance means configured to use the alteration made to the ear of corn, the apparatus comprising:
- a station for altering an ear of corn;
- holding means adapted for keeping the ear of corn in a desired position and orientation at the station; and
- automated altering means at the station adapted to perform an alteration on a portion of the ear of corn.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the automated altering means comprises:
- a. a material extraction tool comprising material extraction means for creating a hole in a portion of the ear of corn; or
- b. a material appendage tool comprising material appendage means for appending a feature to the ear of corn to provide for automated handling, positioning and orienting of the ear of corn.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 in combination with an automated system comprising conveyance means, said conveyance means comprising a post whereby an ear of corn is handled, positioned and oriented by the conveyance means by impaling the ear of corn on the post.
19. The apparatus of claim 17 in combination with an automated system comprising conveyance means, said conveyance means comprises ear securing means whereby an ear of corn is handled, positioned and oriented by the conveyance means by gripping said feature appended to the ear of corn using said ear securing means.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said feature appended to the ear of corn comprises:
- a. a rigid post;
- b. a hook; or
- c. a magnetically active coating.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 14, 2012
Publication Date: Aug 1, 2013
Applicant: PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC. (Johnston, IA)
Inventors: Jason Cope (Ankeny, IA), David Kurth (Grimes, IA)
Application Number: 13/618,938
International Classification: B25J 11/00 (20060101); A01C 1/00 (20060101);