Patent ID: 8978298
Filing Date: 2015-03-17
Classification: A01G,A01H

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for separating pre-shed pollen from its plant comprising: a. a blender comprising a blender container having an internal volume defined by a bottom, a top, and a sidewall radially disposed around a longitudinal axis and extending between the bottom and the top; a motor in a base, and a blade positioned in the internal volume at or near the bottom of the blender container, and wherein the internal volume of the blender is configured to receive a mixture of liquid and the plant; b. a fluid pathway through the sidewall and intermediate of the top and bottom of the blender container, and in fluid communication with an outlet port, the fluid pathway having an internal end; c. a filter material positioned across the internal end of the fluid pathway, the filter material having a filtering characteristic designed to allow passage of the pollen of the plant; d. a valve mounted relative the fluid pathway and having a first position blocking fluid communication with the outlet port, and a second position permitting fluid communication with the outlet port; wherein the outlet port is configured to permit extraction of a filtered sample of the blended liquid and plant mixture when the valve is in the second position, and wherein, during operation of the blender and with the valve in the second position, the filter material is configured to filter the blended liquid and plant mixture and the outlet port is configured to receive and permit extraction of the filtered sample; and e. a sample collection device having a portion adapted for fluid communication with the outlet port to receive the filtered sample through the fluid pathway when the valve is in the second position, wherein the sample collection device comprises a fluid container that is releasable from the outlet port, wherein the fluid container is a syringe having a tip and a plunger, wherein the tip of the syringe is positioned in fluid communication with the outlet port, and wherein the plunger of the syringe is selectively movable to draw the sample into the syringe.