Apparatus and system for preparing ears of corn for automated handling, positioning and orienting

Abstract

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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         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.