Seed treatment device with improved fluid application

Abstract

A seed treater provides enhanced seed coating capabilities and performance. The seed and/or treatment fluid may be heated for improving vaporization and absorption by the seed. Air may be injected in the seed treater to provide heat, dehumidified air, and to provide vaporization enhancement, and component cleaning functions. The functions may be controlled by a control processor based on recipes and may be changed dependent upon sensed or input environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A seed treatment apparatus comprising:
 a seed treatment containment housing having an open interior for the treatment of seed with a treatment liquid, the containment housing having a seed inlet port, a seed outlet port, an air inlet port;   a seed dispersion portion for distributing be seed in the open interior into an annular seed treatment region;   a seed treatment liquid input line extending into the containment housing and connected to a rotating liquid dispersion portion, the liquid dispersion portion supported and positioned in the open interior of the housing for generating a radially outward and annular spray of the treatment liquid into the seed treatment region;   an air unit that takes ambient air; and   a duct connecting the air unit to the air inlet port for directing air into the open interior of the containment housing into the seed dispersion region to facilitate the seed treatment.   
     
     
         2 . The seed treatment apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the seed dispersion portion is a conical deflector, that is one of fixed or rotating. 
     
     
         3 . The seed treatment apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the seed treatment apparatus is configured as a batch treater and the seed dispersion portion is configured as a rotating bowl. 
     
     
         4 . The seed treatment apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the air unit is a conditioned air unit that at least heats the air and provides conditioned air. 
     
     
         5 . The seed treatment apparatus of  claim 4  further comprises a conditioned air outlet from the seed treatment containment housing. 
     
     
         6 . The seed treatment apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising a dust removal port that also functions as a port for exiting the air that has entered the open interior of the seed treatment containment housing through the air inlet port. 
     
     
         7 . The seed treatment apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises means for heating the treatment liquid before the liquid is sprayed. 
     
     
         8 . The seed treatment apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the air unit heats the ambient air and the means for heating the treatment fluid comprises positioning a conduit that carries the treatment fluid to be contacted by the heated air before the heated air is discharged into the seed treatment region. 
     
     
         9 . The seed treatment apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the means for heating the treatment fluid comprises a heater associated with at least one of a treatment fluid reservoir connected to the seed treatment liquid input line or the seed treatment liquid input line. 
     
     
         10 . The seed treatment apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the seed treatment apparatus is configured as a continuous feed seed treater and further comprises a roller drum associated therewith, and wherein the seed treatment housing has a seed outlet port that remains open and directs seed treated with the treatment liquid to the roller drum. 
     
     
         11 . The seed treatment apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the air unit is an air conditioner that lowers the relative humidity of the ambient air. 
     
     
         12 . The seed treatment apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the liquid dispersion portion is a rotating tray and the air inlet port directs air directly at the rotating tray. 
     
     
         13 . The seed treatment apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the air inlet port is configured and positioned for directing conditioned air low primarily in a radially outward direction from a central position. 
     
     
         14 . The seed treatment apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the air inlet port is configured and positioned for directing conditioned air flow primarily circumferential direction in the open interior of the housing. 
     
     
         15 . A seed treatment apparatus comprising:
 a seed treatment containment housing having an open interior for the treatment of seed with a treatment liquid, the containment housing having a seed inlet port, a seed outlet port,   a seed dispersion portion for distributing the seed in the open housing into an annular seed treatment region;   a seed treatment liquid input line extending into the containment housing and connected to a liquid dispersion portion, the liquid dispersion portion supported and positioned in the open interior of the housing for generating a radially outward and annular spray of the treatment liquid into the seed treatment region;   a means for providing heat into the interior of the housing when seed is being treated with the liquid treatment therein.   
     
     
         16 . The seed treatment apparatus of  claim 15  further comprising a reservoir connected to the seed treatment liquid input line and the means for providing heat comprises a heater associated with at least one of the reservoir and the seed treatment liquid input line. 
     
     
         17 . The seed treatment apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the means for providing beat comprises a conditioned air input port into the containment housing and an air conditioner that provides heated air connected to the air input port. 
     
     
         18 . The seed treatment apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the fluid dispersion portion comprises a rotating dispersion portion that radially sprays treatment fluid into the seed treatment region. 
     
     
         19 . The seed treatment apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the air input port directs air at the rotating dispersion portion that then deflects the air radially outward with sprayed treatment fluid. 
     
     
         20 . The seed treatment apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the means for providing heat comprises a seed storage reservoir and a heater associated therewith for heating the seed prior to treating the seeds. 
     
     
         21 . A method of increasing the treating efficiency of treating seeds with liquid seed treatment, the method comprising:
 inputting seed into a seed treater containment housing;   dispersing the seeds in an annular seed treatment region in the containment housing;   pumping seed treatment liquid from a reservoir,   spraying the seed treatment liquid into the seeds being dispersed in the annular seed treatment region;   providing at least on of one of heat and injected air into the seed treatment region.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising providing heat by injecting heated air into the annular seed treatment region.