Artificial seed manufacturing apparatus

An artificial seed manufacturing apparatus in which enclosures can be inserted into capsules without fail, and the diameter of the capsule can automatically be controlled. This apparatus comprises: an enclosure supply mechanism with a container, a tip, and a driving source; a coating material delivery mechanism with a passage, a pressure plunger, a hollow nozzle plunger, and a stepping motor; and a control unit for controlling the enclosure supply mechanism and the coating material delivery mechanism, comprising: moving distance storing means for erasably storing setting data which are inputted through setting operation to designate moving distance of the pressure plunger; and stepping motor control means for supplying driving pulse, the stepping motor control means allowing the pressure plunger to reciprocate by the moving distance, to the stepping motor based on the data stored in the moving distance storing means.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to an artificial seed manufacturing 
apparatus, and more particularly to an artificial seed manufacturing 
apparatus which encloses cultured tissues such as adventive embryos into 
capsules. 
2. Description of the Related Art 
A conventional artificial seed manufacturing apparatus of this kind is 
disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication Laid-Open No. Heisei 3-127920, in 
which cultured tissues such as adventive embryos disperses is enclosed 
into a gelling agent with a material capable of gelling according to 
chemical reactions, and liquid droplets of the cultured tissues are 
supplied through a small hole into hardener, and the liquid droplets 
during the process of falling are sphericalized by surface tension. In the 
same Patent Publication, another conventional means continuously protrudes 
the cultured tissues from a nozzle into hardener to form them in a long 
string-like shape and cuts them in appropriate lengths. 
A technique of Japanese Patent Publication Laid-Open No. Showa 63-197530 
moves an end of a hose connected to a sol supply tank in a planetary 
motion by using a planetary gear to drop sol, which has enclosures 
dispersed in a coating agent, from the end of the hose into a hardener 
tank below. A technique of Japanese Patent Publication Laid-Open No. Showa 
62-266137 uses centrifugal force to make the liquid droplets. 
Of the means disclosed in the Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 
Heisei 3-127920, the former has a disadvantage that it is difficult to 
uniformly disperse a number of enclosures in a coating agent, so that the 
coating materials supplied into the hardener include those that contain 
the enclosures and those that do not, and these coating materials are 
mixed, making it necessary to provide a processing for sorting out those 
coating materials containing the enclosures. 
The latter means has a disadvantage that it is extremely difficult to 
determine the position where the string-like coating materials into blocks 
are cut and that the number of cultured tissues enclosed in the cut 
coating blocks becomes unstable. 
With the techniques of Japanese Patent Publication Laid-Open Nos. Showa 
63-197530 and Showa 62-266137 also, it is difficult to uniformly disperse 
a number of enclosures. 
The cultured tissues as the enclosures, are valuable, so that when the 
number of enclosures is one, there is no waste but when it is more than 
one, they may be wasted. The coating blocks without enclosure must be 
removed by a troublesome selection process. With the above-mentioned 
methods, it is impossible to make arbitrary changes to the size of the 
coating materials and the number of enclosures. 
With a seed coating apparatus (Japanese Utility Model Publication Laid-Open 
No. Heisei 5-7016) which coats an enclosure with a film of the coating 
material, it is possible to change the size of the coat diameter and the 
number of enclosures arbitrarily. In order to change the size of the coat 
diameter, however, it is necessary to adjust by manual the amount of 
coating material to be delivered. This apparatus, therefore, cannot be 
applied to an artificial seed manufacturing apparatus in which cultured 
tissues such as adventive embryos generally installed in an aseptic room 
are enclosed into capsules. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is therefore an object of the present invention is to solve the 
above-mentioned problems and to provide an artificial seed manufacturing 
apparatus in which enclosures can be inserted into capsules without fail, 
and the diameter of the capsule can automatically be controlled so as to 
be suitable for the enclosed cultured tissues, so that the valuable 
cultured tissues are used without loss, and uniform artificial seeds are 
contained as well. 
Further, in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, another object 
of the present invention is to provide an artificial seed manufacturing 
apparatus in which an arbitrary number of enclosures are enclosed into 
capsule, so that the valuable cultured tissues are used without loss, and 
uniform artificial seeds are obtained as well. 
Still further, in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, another 
object of the preset invention is to provide an artificial seed 
manufacturing apparatus in which a capsule without enclosures is not 
manufactured, so that it is unnecessary to provide a processing for 
sorting out capsules without enclosures. 
To achieve the above-mentioned objects, an artificial seed manufacturing 
apparatus according to the present invention comprises: an enclosure 
supply mechanism comprising: a container for accommodating enclosures; a 
tip for holding one of the enclosures in the container at a holding 
position and for supplying the enclosure at a supplying position; and a 
driving source for driving the tip between the holding position and the 
supplying position; a coating material delivery mechanism comprising: a 
passage for accommodating a coating material; a pressure plunger slidably 
inserted into an insertion hole communicating with the passage, the 
pressure plunger being adapted to pressurize the coating material when 
moving forward and flowing the coating material into the passage when 
moving backward; a hollow nozzle plunger for opening a valve by the 
pressurized coating material to flow the coating material out of the 
valve, a part of the coating material flown out of the valve drops due to 
gravity and remainder of the coating material forming film at a lower end 
portion of the hollow nozzle plunger; and a stepping motor for allowing 
the pressure plunger to reciprocate through its rotation in both 
directions; and a control unit for controlling the enclosure supply 
mechanism and the coating material delivery mechanism, comprising: moving 
distance storing means for erasably storing setting data which are 
inputted through setting operation to designate moving distance of the 
pressure plunger; and stepping motor control means for supplying driving 
pulse, the stepping motor control means allowing the pressure plunger to 
reciprocate by the moving distance, to the stepping motor based on the 
data stored in the moving distance storing means. 
It is preferable that the control unit describe above further comprising: 
rotation control means for causing the tip to move to and stop at the 
holding position and the supplying position through the driving source; 
suction control means for allowing the, tip to hold the enclosure in the 
container at the holding position; and supply control means for supplying 
the enclosure held by the tip on the film of the coating material through 
a hollow portion of the hollow nozzle plunger. 
In the aforementioned artificial seed manufacturing apparatus, the control 
unit preferably further comprising number of enclosures storing means for 
erasably storing setting data which are inputted through setting operation 
to designate number of enclosures which should be supplied on the film of 
the coating material, wherein the supply control means supplies the 
enclosure on the film of the coating material through the hollow portion 
of the hollow nozzle plunger by the number of enclosures based on the data 
stored in the number of enclosures storing means; the stepping motor 
control means supplies the driving pulse, which allows the pressure 
plunger to reciprocate, to the stepping motor after the supply control 
means supplies the enclosure on the film of the coating material through 
the hollow portion of the hollow nozzle plunger by the number of 
enclosures. 
Further, in the artificial seed manufacturing apparatus described above, it 
is preferable that the supply control means confirms whether or not the 
tip holds the enclosure prior to supplying motion of the tip at the 
supplying position; and if the tip does not hold the enclosure, the supply 
control means cause the tip not to perform the supplying motion at the 
supplying position but allows following tip to conduct the supplying 
motion at the supplying position. 
In the artificial seed manufacturing apparatus described above, the 
enclosure may be held by the tip through suction. 
In the above-mentioned artificial seed manufacturing apparatus, the 
enclosures together with culture liquid may be accommodated in the 
container, and the enclosure may be adventive embryos.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Now, an artificial seed manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment 
of the present invention will be explained with reference to drawings. 
FIG. 1 shows basic configuration of an artificial seed manufacturing 
apparatus according to the present invention. 
The artificial seed manufacturing apparatus A comprises: enclosure supply 
mechanism B, coating material delivery mechanism C, and control unit 10A. 
In the enclosure supply mechanism B, a container 25 for accommodating 
enclosures is provided. An enclosure suction-supply tip 21 sucks one of 
the enclosure in the container 25 at a sucking position and supplies the 
enclosure at a supplying position. A driving source 16 drives the tip 21 
between the sucking position and the supplying position. 
In the coating material delivery mechanism C, a coating material passage 9 
is formed, and a pressure plunger 77 is slidably inserted into an 
insertion hole 14 communicating with the passage 9. The pressure plunger 
77 pressurizes the coating material when moving forward and flows the 
coating material into the passage 9 when moving backward. A hollow nozzle 
plunger 8 opens a valve by the pressurized coating material to flow the 
coating material out of the valve and a part of the coating material which 
is flown out of the valve drops due to gravity. Remainder of the coating 
material forms film at a lower end portion of the hollow nozzle plunger 8; 
a stepping motor 61 allows the pressure plunger 77 to reciprocate through 
its rotation in both directions. 
In the control unit 10A for controlling the enclosure supply mechanism B 
and the coating material delivery mechanism C, moving distance storing 
means 103A erasably stores setting data which are inputted through setting 
operation to designate moving distance of the pressure plunger 77. 
Stepping motor control means 101A for supplies driving pulse, which allows 
the pressure plunger 77 to reciprocate by the moving distance, to the 
stepping motor 61 based on the data stored in the moving distance storing 
means 103A. 
Further, in the control unit 10A, rotation control means 101B causes the 
tip 21 to move to and stop at the sucking position and the supplying 
position through the driving source 16. Suction control means 101C allows 
the tip 21 to suck the enclosure in the container 25 at the sucking 
position. Supply control means 101D supplies the enclosure sucked by the 
tip 21 on the film of the coating material through a hollow portion of the 
hollow nozzle plunger 8. A number of enclosure storing means 103B erasably 
stores setting data, which are inputted through setting operation to 
designate the number of enclosures that should be supplied on the film of 
the coating material, so that the supply control means 101D supplies the 
enclosure on the film of the coating material through the hollow portion 
of the hollow nozzle plunger 8 by the number of enclosures based on the 
data stored in the number of enclosures storing means 103B, and the 
stepping motor control means 101A supplies the driving pulse, which allows 
the pressure plunger 77 to reciprocate, to the stepping motor 61. 
The supply control means 101D described above confirms whether or not the 
tip 21 sucks the enclosure prior to the supplying motion of the tip 21 at 
the supplying position. If the tip 21 does not suck the enclosure, the 
supply control means 101D causes the tip 21 not to perform the supplying 
motion at the supplying position but allows following tip to conduct the 
supplying motion at the supplying position. 
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the artificial seed manufacturing apparatus A 
according to the present invention may be divided into the enclosure 
supply mechanism B which sucks enclosures such as cultured tissues at 
suction position and moves the sucked enclosures to supply position for 
supplying operation, and the coating material delivery mechanism C 
situated in relation to the supply position. Mounted on the wall surface 
of a stand 15 located at substantial center of the artificial seed 
manufacturing apparatus A is a mount 36, to which the coating material 
delivery mechanism C is fastened by screws. Members composing the 
enclosure supply mechanism B and the like are installed on the top surface 
of the stand 15. 
The coating material delivery mechanism C comprises a valve section C1 
shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a drive section C2 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, and a 
coating material tank 54 installed on the left side of FIG. 2. The drive 
section C2, as shown in FIG. 9, comprises slider cases 57, 58, which are 
joined together to form a slider accommodating chamber 56 therein, and a 
gear cover 59 fastened to the right end surface of the slider cases 57, 58 
through bolts 60. On the outer surface of the gear cover 59 is secured by 
bolts 62 a stepping motor 61, whose output shaft 61a has a drive gear 63 
rigidly mounted on the outer peripheral surface thereof. 
As illustrated in FIG. 8, the slider case 57 is formed with concentric 
holes 64, 65. The left side hole 64 is fitted with a bearing 66 and the 
right side hole 65 with a bearing 67. A male screw shaft 68 is rotatably 
supported by these bearings 66, 67 at a shaft portion 68a formed at its 
left end and at a shaft portion 68b at its intermediate section. A flange 
68C for receiving thrust is provided at the left end of the shaft portion 
68b. A nut 70 is screwed over a male screw portion 69 formed on the 
right-hand side of the shaft portion 68b. The flange 68C and the nut 70 
are combined to each other to prevent the male screw shaft 68 from moving 
in an axial direction thereof. 
A shaft portion 71 extending to the right of the male screw portion 69 is 
fixed with a follower gear 72 in mesh with the drive gear 63. A nut 73 
engaged with the male screw shaft 68 is fitted in a hole formed in a 
slider 74 that is slidable in the slider accommodating chamber 56. The 
slider 74 is attached with a slide rod 75 that passes through the slider 
case 57 and an end of the slide rod 75 is fitted with a pressure plunger 
77 through a joint 76. 
Hence, the rotation of the stepping motor 61 is transmitted through the 
drive gear 63 and the follower gear 72 to the male screw shaft 68, causing 
the pressure plunger 77 to move along with the slider 74. As illustrated 
in FIG. 9, the slider 74 is rigidly fitted with a light shielding plate 
78. A stroke end sensor 79, an origin reset position sensor 80 and a 
stroke end detecting sensor 81 are arranged in a direction that the light 
shielding plate 78 moves. These sensors 79, 80, 81 are of light 
emission/reception type. The valve section C1, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, 
has a hollow portion 2 in a substantially rectangular parallele-piped 
valve body 1. The hollow portion 2 opens to the outside through an 
insertion hole 14, into which the pressure plunger 77 is slidably 
inserted. An opening 3 at the lower end surface of the valve body 1 is, as 
illustrated in FIG. 2, connected with a pipe 55 communicating with the 
coating material tank 54. As shown in FIG. 6, between the opening 3 and 
the hollow portion 2 is formed a check valve that consists of a steel ball 
4 and a spring 4a for pressing the steel ball 4 toward the opening 3 to 
open and close the opening 3. A valve case 5 is mounted on the left hand 
side of the valve body 1. 
The valve case 5 has a valve seat 6a formed at the lower end of a plunger 
insertion hole 6 that vertically passes through the valve case 5. A 
bushing 7 is fitted to the inner surface of the plunger insertion hole 6, 
and a hollow nozzle plunger 8 is inserted so at to be vertically movable 
along the inner surface of the bushing 7. The outer peripheral surface of 
the nozzle plunger 8 is smaller in diameter at its lower half than the 
upper half to form a pressure receiving surface 8a. A coating material 
passage 9 connects the plunger insertion hole 6 and the hollow portion 2 
to each other. Coating material is supplied from the coating material tank 
through the opening 3 and the check valve to the hollow portion 2, and 
then the coating material is charged into the coating material passage 9 
and the plunger insertion hole 6. 
Provided on the upper surface of the valve case 5 is a cylindrical portion 
10 that surrounds the plunger insertion hole 6. The cylindrical portion 10 
has a male screw 10a on its outer peripheral surface, over which is fitted 
a female screw 11a formed on the inner surface of a spring adjuster 11. On 
the nozzle plunger 8 is mounted a spring receiver 12, and a spring 13 is 
mounted between the spring receiver 12 and the spring adjuster 11. As a 
result, the lower end portion of the nozzle plunger 8 urged downwardly 
closes the valve seat 6a, however, when the coating material pressure 
plunger protrudes and raises the pressure of the coating material, the 
pressure receiving surface 8a of the nozzle plunger 8 is pressed, which in 
turn causes the nozzle plunger 8 to move upward, opening the valve seat 6a 
and delivering the coating material. 
In FIG. 2, a stay 53 located on the left side is mounted with a coating 
material tank 54 that accommodates coating material and whose bottom is 
formed with a hole connected with a coating material transporting pipe 55. 
An end of the coating material transporting pipe 55 is, as illustrated in 
FIG. 6, connected to the opening 3 of the coating material delivery 
mechanism C. When the pressure of the coating material in the coating 
material passage 9 lowers, the coating material in the tank 54 is supplied 
into the coating material passage 9. 
When the nozzle plunger 8 lowers and closes the valve, the delivery of the 
coating material stops. But, the coating material adhering to the 
underside of the valve seat 6a forms into a film covering the lower part 
of the plunger insertion hole 6 by its surface tension and droops by its 
own weight. In synchronism with this operation, an enclosure is dropped 
from the enclosure supply mechanism B described below and is enclosed by 
the coating material film. When the valve is opened, the enclosure falls 
down together with the supplied coating material and, during the process 
of the fall, forms into a sphericalized shape by the surface tension 
before being supplied to the hardener tank (not shown). 
The enclosure supply mechanism B, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, is provided 
with a rotary drive unit 16 including a stepping motor on the upper 
surface of the stand 15. The rotary drive unit 16 is provided with an 
output shaft, which is secured to a support member 17. A rotary plate 18 
with a hole at the center thereof is sleeved over a small-diameter portion 
17a and fastened to the support member 17 by screws. The rotary plate 18 
is mounted with air cylinders 19, whose pressure plunger rods 19a are 
directed downward, at positions that divide the circumference of the 
rotary plate 18 into six equal parts. An end of each pressure plunger rod 
19a is securely connected with a hollow tube 20, whose lower end is 
attached with an enclosure suction-supply tip 21. 
The tip 21 is a cylinder made of a plastic material which is tapered off 
toward the end. The inner diameter of the end of the suction tip is made 
in such a manner that a single enclosure is to be drawn. When the kind of 
enclosure to be processed is changed, the tip 21 is replaced with one 
having an appropriate diameter in accordance with the dimension of the 
enclosure. It is convenient since the tip 21 can easily be attached to or 
detached from the hollow tube 20 due to its elasticity. 
The enclosure supply mechanism B is provided with a bracket 23 mounted on 
the top of a stay 22, which is installed on a side opposite to the coating 
material delivery mechanism C with respect to the output shaft of the 
rotary drive unit 16. The bracket 23 has a slot 24 opening to its side, in 
which a small-diameter portion 26 at the lower part of an enclosure 
container 25 is movably inserted as illustrated FIG. 3. The small-diameter 
portion 26 has a male screw, and the enclosure container 25 is fixed to 
the bracket 23 through a lock handle 27 with a female screw that engages 
with the male screw. 
The enclosure container 25 opens at the top and contains a culture liquid 
in which a number of enclosures such as adventive embryos are immersed. At 
the bottom, the enclosure container 25 has a through-hole 28 extending 
through the small-diameter portion 26. In a groove formed in the inner 
periphery of the small-diameter portion 26 around the through-hole 28 is 
fitted a water-tight seal 82 that seals the gap between the small-diameter 
portion 26 and the supply rod 29, which is vertically movably inserted 
into the through-hole 28. In this embodiment, an O-ring is used as the 
water-tight seal 82. 
A supply rod actuator 31 is mounted on a cylinder stand 30 which is fixed 
to the side of the stay 22. As the supply rod actuator 31, an air cylinder 
is used. The upper end of an upwardly acting piston rod 31a is formed with 
a male screw, with which engage a threaded hole formed at the lower end 
surface of a joint 32 and a nut 33 that fixes the joint 32 (see FIGS. 3 
and 13). 
As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 13, upper surface of the joint 32 is formed 
with a T-shaped groove 34 extending in parallel to the slot 24. The lower 
end of the supply rod 29 inserted into the through-hole 28 is formed into 
a T shape in cross section to provide a T-shaped portion 35 that can be 
removably inserted into the T-shaped groove 34. As illustrated in FIGS. 11 
and 12, the upper surface of the supply rod 29 is formed with a recessed 
enclosure mounting surface 29a, which in turn is provided with a plurality 
of radially extending liquid discharge grooves 83. 
As shown in FIG. 2, a sensor support pillar 37 erected on the mount 36 is 
securely attached at two vertically separate locations with arms 38. The 
arms 38 are each provided with a pair of position sensor 39 and origin 
reset sensor 40 with light emitting and receiving portions at top and 
bottom. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the rotary plate 18 is provided at its 
outer periphery with positioning small holes 41 that divide the 
circumference of the rotary plate 18 into six equal parts and one reset 
timing small hole (not shown). When the position sensor 39 detects the 
positioning small holes 41, a stop signal for the plate 18 is transmitted. 
When the origin reset sensor 40 detects the reset timing small hole 41, an 
origin reset signal is transmitted. 
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the upper end of the support member 17 is fixedly 
fitted with a rotary manifold 42, which has an air pressure tube 43 
connected to two vertically separate ports of each air cylinder 19 for 
each tip and a tip side tube 45 formed of a tube 44 that supplies an air 
pressure or negative pressure to the hollow tube 20. A control panel 46, 
which is installed on the right-hand side and incorporates a control 
circuit, has a support rod 47, which is securely fitted with a side rod 48 
that has a stationary manifold 49 at an end thereof. 
The stationary manifold 49 is located above the rotary manifold 42. The 
rotary manifold 42 and the stationary manifold 49 are connected to both 
ends of elastic tubes 50, which are coiled and slightly deformable. A 
stationary side pipe 51 running from the stationary manifold 49 to the 
control panel 46 communicates through a selector valve 52 in the control 
panel 46 with an air pressure source and a negative pressure source (not 
shown). 
Next, a control unit of the artificial seed manufacturing apparatus with 
the above-mentioned construction will be explained with reference to FIG. 
14 illustrating circuit configuration of the unit. In the figure, numeral 
100 is a control unit which comprises a central processing unit 
(hereinafter referred to as "CPU") 101 operated in accordance with 
predetermined programs, a read only memory (ROM) 102, a random access 
memory (RAM) 103, a stepping motor controller 104, a solenoid output 
interface 105, a sensor input interface 106, a switch input interface 107 
and an inner setting digital switch 108. Those devices are connected to 
each other through a bus 109. 
A liquid crystal displayer 111 is connected to the CPU 101 with a 
connector. The liquid crystal displayer 111 displays state of the motion 
as well as results and target of the manufacturing. When abnormality is 
detected, the content of the abnormality is also displayed, and during 
manual operation, this state is also displayed on the liquid crystal 
displayer 111. To the CPU 101 may be connected a personal computers 112 
with a connecter in conformity to RS232C, and control units, at most 15 
units, 1001 to 10015 through connectors in conformity to RS485. 
The personal computer 112 is used to set parameters, which are used for the 
control at the control unit 100, such as the number of products, the 
number of enclosures to be enclosed, working velocity, time for the supply 
solenoid ON, timing of the movement of the pressure plunger, distance that 
the pressure plunger moves, time for movement of the pressure plunger, and 
the number of retries of suction. 
The number of manufacturing target is used for stopping the artificial seed 
manufacturing apparatus A when the actual number of products reaches this 
number. The number of enclosures to be enclosed means the number of 
enclosures which are inserted into the coating agent, and when the number 
of enclosures reaches this number, the pressure plunger moves, that is, 
the pressure plunger protrudes coating material. The working velocity is 
set to determine the number of enclosures to be enclosed per one hour. The 
time for supply solenoid ON indicates the period of time that the positive 
air solenoid is energized at supply operation, and rotary/pressure plunger 
processes are not be operated during this period. The timing of the 
movement of the pressure plunger indicates the period of time from the 
completion of the supply operation to the start of the movement of the 
pressure plunger. The pressure plunger moving distance is defined as the 
length that the coating material protrudes at the operation of the 
pressure plunger. The pressure plunger moving time is a period of time 
required for the movement of one way (protrusion or drawing), which causes 
the motor to be driven so that the pressure plunger moves by the distance, 
which is set as "pressure plunger moving distance", for the pressure 
plunger moving time. The number of suction retries are the number that is 
repeated at the failure of the suction operation. 
The stepping motor controller 104 comprises a stepping motor driver 121 for 
driving the stepping motor 61 which causes the pressure plunger 77 of the 
coating material delivery mechanism C to reciprocate; three sensors such 
as the origin reset position detecting sensor 80 and the stroke end 
detecting sensor 79 and 81, for detecting positions of the pressure 
plunger 77 which reciprocates due to the rotation of the stepping motor 
61, the three sensors 80, 79, 81 being connected to each other with a 
single connector; the stepping motor driver 122 for driving the stepping 
motor 61 which rotates the rotary plate 18 of the enclosure supply 
mechanism B in both directions; and three sensors, such as the origin 
reset sensor 40 and two position detection sensors 39, for detecting the 
rotational position of the rotary plate 18 which is driven by the stepping 
motor 61, the three sensors 40, 39, 39 being connected to each other with 
a single connector. 
The solenoid output interface 105 comprises: six tip air cylinder solenoids 
which drive the tip air cylinders 19 at positions that divide the 
circumference of the rotary plate 18 into six equal parts when the 
solenoids are energized; a supply rod air cylinder solenoid for raising 
the supply rod 29 of the enclosure supply mechanism B when the solenoid is 
energized; six suction solenoids for applying negative pressure to the tip 
21, which rises or falls due to the movement of the tip air cylinder 19, 
so as to suck the enclosures; and six supply solenoids for applying a 
pressure to the tip 21 so as to supply the enclosures. The above solenoids 
are connected with each other with a single connector. 
The sensor input interface 106 comprises: six lower position detecting 
sensors and an upper position detecting sensor for detecting the lower 
position and the upper position of the tip air cylinder 19 attached to the 
rotary plate 18 respectively; an upper position detecting sensor and a 
lower position detecting sensor for detecting the upper position and lower 
position of the supply rod 29 which rises and falls due to the movement of 
the supply rod air cylinder 31 respectively; six suction confirming 
sensors for confirming through the transition of the negative pressure 
that the tip 21, to which applied a negative pressure, sucks the 
enclosures; a rotational positioning detecting sensor for detecting the 
positioning of the stepping motor 61 which rotates the rotary plate 18; 
and three tank level detecting sensors for detecting the level of the 
coating material in the coating material tank 54 such as high level, 
middle level and low level. Those sensors are connecter to each other with 
a single connector. 
The switch input interface 107 is connected to several switches which are 
operated at manual operation. That is, six tip air cylinder switches (not 
shown) which are operated to drive the tip air cylinder 19 mounted to the 
rotary plate 18; the supply rod air cylinder switch which is operated to 
drive the supply rod air cylinder 31 for raising and lowering the supply 
rod 29 of the enclosure supply mechanism B; suction switches which are 
operated to cause the tip 21 to suck the enclosures; supply switches which 
are operated to supply the enclosures sucked by the tip 21; and 
auto/manual switch which is operated to change the operation between auto 
and manual; and start/stop switch which is operated to start and stop the 
operation through manual operation. Those switches are connected to each 
other with a single connector. 
The construction of the artificial seed manufacturing apparatus is 
described above. Next, the motion of the enclosure supply mechanism B, in 
which the tip 21 sucks the enclosures at the enclosure suction position on 
the side of the enclosure container 25 and supplies the sucked enclosures 
are supplied at the enclosure supply position on the side of the nozzle 
plunger 8, will be explained below with reference to FIGS. 15 to 22 of 
state transition diagrams which show the order that the rotary plate 18 of 
the enclosure supply mechanism B is positioned and FIGS. 23 to 33 of flow 
charts indicating the process performed by the CPU 101 of the control unit 
100. 
At the suction and supply processes of the enclosure supply mechanism B, at 
first, the CPU 101 of the control unit 100 confirms the initial positions 
of the piston stepping motor and rotary stepping motor and clogging of the 
tip 21. FIG. 15 shows a state of the rotary plate 18 when the confirmation 
procedures of the initial positioning are finished. The suction and supply 
of enclosures start from the above-mentioned state. FIGS. 15 to 17 
illustrate initial suction processes. 
In FIG. 15 showing the initial position of the rotary plate 18, the lower 
side of the rotary plate 18 is defined as an enclosure suction position 
and the upper side thereof as an enclosure supply position. Six tips 
mounted to the rotary plate 18 are symbolized as 21a to 21f. When the 
rotary plate 18 is positioned at the initial position, the tip 21a is 
located directly above the supply rod 29 of the enclosure container 25 and 
the tip 21d directly above the nozzle plunger 8 of the enclosure supply 
mechanism B. 
In the initial suction operation, the stepping motor 61 rotates the rotary 
plate 18 clockwise to protrude the tip air cylinder, and the supply rod 
air cylinder protrudes to perform suction motion, which causes the tips 
21a to 21c to suck the enclosures F as illustrated in FIGS. 15 to 17 
(shown as black dots in the figures). In other words, in FIG. 15, when 
negative pressure is applied to inside of the tip 21a to suck an 
enclosure, the tip 21a is increased in negative pressure therein. The 
pressure is detected by a negative pressure sensor (not shown) to confirm 
the suction of the enclosures. When this suction is not confirmed, the tip 
air cylinder and the supply rod air cylinder are drawn and the protrusion 
of the air cylinders are performed again. When a signal from the negative 
pressure sensor confirms that the suction is successfully completed, the 
rotary plate 18 rotates clockwise in FIG. 15 together with the stepping 
motor 61. The rotary plate 18 is rotated after it is confirmed that the 
air cylinders are drawn. 
Then, when the positioning sensor 39 detects the positioning small holes 41 
on the rotary plate 18, the stepping motor 61 stops to position the tip 
21b directly above the supply rod 29 and the tip 21e directly above the 
nozzle plunger 8 respectively. At the positions, the enclosure F is sucked 
by the tip 21b in the same manner as described above. Then, the rotary 
plate 18 is rotates clockwise by 60 degrees and stops there as illustrated 
in FIG. 17, and the enclosure F is sucked by the tip 21c directly above 
the supply rod 29 to complete the suction operation. 
When the suction process is finished, the initial position reset sensor 40 
detects the reset timing small hole (not shown), which causes the stepping 
motor 61 to rotate the rotary plate 18 counterclockwise and, as 
illustrated in FIG. 18, to return the rotary plate 18 to the original 
position corresponding to the state shown in FIG. 15, and the initial 
suction process is completed. As a result, twist generated at the elastic 
tubes 50 are released. As described above, after the stepping motor 61 is 
rotated counterclockwise by 120 degrees to return the rotary plate 18 to 
the original position, the stepping motor 61 is further rotated 
counterclockwise by 60 degrees to obtain the state illustrated in FIG. 19. 
In the state shown in FIG. 19, following motions are performed on the 
enclosure supply position side and the enclosure suction position side. At 
the enclosure supply position directly above the nozzle plunger 8, the 
suction by the tip 21c is confirmed, and the confirmation is finished, 
that is, the suction is successfully performed, the tip air cylinder is 
protruded to pressurize inside of the tip 21c and to blow air into the tip 
21c, which allows the enclosure F to be supplied on the film of the 
coating material on the nozzle plunger 8 and causes the stepping motor 61 
to be driven. At the enclosure suction position directly above the supply 
rod 29, the tip air cylinder and the supply rod air cylinder 31 are 
protruded and the suction by the tip 21f is applied, and this motion is 
confirmed. After the completion of the motions on the enclosure supply 
side and the enclosure suction side, the stepping motor 61 is rotated 
counterclockwise by 60 degrees to obtain the state shown in FIG. 20. 
In the state shown in FIG. 20, following motions are performed on the 
enclosure supply side and the enclosure suction side. On the enclosure 
supply side, the suction of the tip 21a is confirmed. When the 
confirmation is finished, the tip air cylinder is protruded to pressurize 
inside of the tip 21a and to blow air into the tip 21a, which allows the 
enclosure F to be supplied on the film of the coating material on the 
nozzle plunger 8 and causes the stepping motor 61 to be driven. At the 
enclosure suction position directly above the supply rod 29, the tip air 
cylinder is protruded and the suction by the tip 21d is carried out, and 
this motion is confirmed. After the completion of the motions on the 
enclosure supply side and the enclosure suction side, the stepping motor 
61 is further rotated counterclockwise by 180 degrees to obtain the state 
shown in FIG. 21. 
In the state shown in FIG. 21, on the enclosure supply side, the suction of 
the tip 21d is confirmed. When the confirmation is finished, the tip air 
cylinder is protruded to pressurize inside of the tip 21d and to blow air 
into the tip 21d, which allows the enclosure F to be supplied on the film 
of the coating material on the nozzle plunger 8 and causes the stepping 
motor 61 to be driven. On the enclosure suction side, the tip air cylinder 
and the supply rod air cylinder 31 are protruded and the suction by the 
tip 21a is carried out, and this motion is confirmed. After the completion 
of the motions on the enclosure supply side and the enclosure suction 
side, the stepping motor 61 is further rotated counterclockwise by 180 
degrees to obtain the state shown in FIG. 22. 
At that moment, the origin reset sensor 40 detect the reset timing small 
hole (not shown) on the rotary plate 18 to stop the rotary plate 18, and 
the twist of the elastic tubes 50 in a direction opposite to the rotation 
of the rotary plate 18 are released. As described above, the rotation of 
the rotary plate 18 is not accumulated, so that the twist of the elastic 
tubes 50 is restricted and the excess force is not applied to the elastic 
tubes 50 which are wound like a coil and are easily deformed by torsion. 
In the state illustrated in FIG. 22, on the enclosure supply side, the 
suction of the tip 21c is confirmed. When the confirmation is finished, 
the tip air cylinder 19 is protruded to pressurize inside of the tip 21c 
and to blow air into the tip 21c, which allows the enclosure F to be 
supplied on the film of the coating material on the nozzle plunger 8 and 
causes the stepping motor 61 to be driven. On the enclosure suction side, 
the tip air cylinder 19 and the supply rod air cylinder 31 are protruded 
and the suction by the tip 21f is carried out, and this motion is 
confirmed. After the completion of the motions on the enclosure supply 
side and the enclosure suction side, the stepping motor 61 is further 
rotated counterclockwise by 60 degrees, and hereinafter the above steps 
are repeated. 
When it is confirmed that the suction of the tip on the enclosure supply 
side is insufficient, the blow in the tip and the motion of the pressure 
plunger stepping motor are skipped. In the above-mentioned embodiment, 
only one enclosure is enclosed, and when the number of enclosures to be 
enclosed is changed, the artificial seed manufacturing apparatus may be 
controlled in accordance with the number. Further, at the confirmation of 
the suction, the confirmation can be carried out only when the suction 
solenoid is energized. During operation, the positions of the stepping 
motors are confirmed to eliminate mechanical trouble. 
Next, overall motions of the artificial seed manufacturing apparatus 
described above will be explained with reference FIGS. 2 to 4. The rotary 
plate 18 rotates together with the output shaft of the stepping motor 61, 
and the detection signal from the positioning sensor 39 causes the 
stepping motor 61 to stop, so that the tips 21 are positioned directly 
above the nozzle plunger 8 of the coating material delivery mechanism C 
and the supply rod 29 of the enclosure supply mechanism B. 
Next, the tip air cylinder 19 is activated to lower the tip 21 and the 
supply rod air cylinder 31 of the enclosure supply mechanism B is operated 
to move the supply rod 29 upward, which causes a part of the enclosures 
immersed in the culture liquid in the enclosure container 25 to come close 
to the tip 21 with placed on the supply rod 29. As a result, the culture 
liquid with the enclosures on the supply rod 29 flows out of the supply 
rod 29 through the radially extending liquid discharge grooves 83. 
A negative pressure is applied to the tip 21 approaching the enclosure, and 
then the tip air cylinder 19 is activated to move the tip 21 upward. The 
supply rod air cylinder 31 is activated to lower the supply rod 29 into 
the enclosure container 25. In parallel with this enclosure suction 
operation, the tip 21 that has drawn the enclosure and is positioned 
directly above the coating material delivery mechanism C is lowered by the 
operation of the tip air cylinder 19 so as to come close to the film of 
the coating material formed at the lower end of the nozzle plunger 8 of 
the coating material delivery mechanism C. Air pressure is supplied into 
the tip 21 to supply the enclosure onto the film of the coating material. 
After substantially simultaneous operation of suction and supply of the 
enclosure, the stepping motor 21 is again operated to rotate the rotary 
plate 18 by a required amount of angle, and the similar operation is 
repeated. 
In the coating material delivery mechanism C, the stepping motor 61 of the 
drive unit C2 rotates alternately clockwise and counterclockwise by a 
specified angle given by the control unit 100. The pressure plunger 77 
performs reciprocal motion over the length corresponding to this amount of 
rotation to move forward and backward the coating material in sol state in 
the coating material passage 9, thereby raising and lowering the pressure 
of the coating material in the passage 9. The pressure plunger 77 is 
activated over the length corresponding to this amount of rotation to 
alternately protrude and draw the coating material in the coating material 
passage 9 and to alternately increase and decrease the pressure of the 
coating material in the coating material passage, which in turn causes the 
nozzle plunger to open the valve, with the result that the coating 
material flows out from the nozzle plunger in an amount corresponding to 
the amount of operation of the pressure plunger. After this, the nozzle 
plunger closes the valve and then a film of the coating material forms at 
the lower end of the nozzle plunger. When the pressure of the coating 
material increases, the nozzle plunger 8 opens. When the pressure reduces, 
the coating material is supplied. 
Therefore, the amount of the coating material delivered from the nozzle 
plunger 8 corresponds to the amount of rotation of the stepping motor 61, 
so that it is possible to easily adjust the amount of the coating material 
delivered without manual operation. When the nozzle plunger 8 closes the 
valve, the film of the coating material formed in the lower part of the 
nozzle plunger 8 droops by its own weight, and the enclosure is supplied 
from the tip 21. When the valve opens, the enclosure and air bubbles are 
enclosed by the coating material, and the enclosure with added weight 
falls into the hardener tank. 
In order to increase the coat diameter, the stroke of the pressure plunger 
needs to be increased by specifying a greater amount of rotation for the 
stepping motor 61 from the control unit 100. When the number of enclosures 
is to be changed to two, the enclosure needs to be supplied twice for each 
valve opening. It is convenient since the enclosure container 25 and the 
supply rod 29 can easily be removed at the change of the kind of 
enclosure. 
Detailed operation of the artificial seed manufacturing apparatus described 
above will be explained below with reference to the flow charts in FIGS. 
23 to 33 showing the process controlled by the CPU 101 of the control unit 
100 in accordance with a predetermined control programs, and the state 
transition diagrams in FIGS. 34 to 36. 
In a main routine shown in FIG. 23, the operation starts by switching ON a 
power source thereof, and at the first step S1, initial setting is 
performed. Then, the process advances to step S2 to carry out liquid 
crystal display process; at step S3 transmission process; at step S4 
rotation process (see FIGS. 24 and 25); at step S5 pressure plunger 
process (see FIGS. 26 and 27); at step S6 suction process (see FIGS. 28 to 
30); and at step S7 supply process (see FIGS. 31 to 33). 
Then, the process advances to step S8 to obtain present state, and at step 
S9, input information is obtained. At the following step S10, previous 
state, which are stored in work area of the RAM 103, are replaced with the 
present state, and at step S11, state of the process are renewed based on 
the present state, which are obtained at step S8, and the input 
information which is obtained at step S9 with reference to the state 
transition diagrams in FIGS. 34 to 36. Then, at step S12, if subroutines 
are programmed, they are executed, and at step S13, the tank level of the 
coating material tank is checked through signals from the tank level 
sensors, and the process returns to step S2. 
In the liquid crystal display process at step S2, the liquid crystal 
displayer 111 displays several data. For instance, when the manufacturing 
apparatus is operated manually, the liquid crystal displayer 111 displays 
as such. When the manufacturing apparatus is not operated manually, that 
is, in automatic operation mode, it is checked whether on not operation 
state are effectively set. If the operation state have not yet been set, 
the liquid crystal displayer 111 displays that parameters are ineffective. 
In such a case, that is, when the parameters are ineffective, the 
operation can not be started. When the parameters are effective, the 
liquid crystal displayer 111 displays that the apparatus can be operated 
in automatic operation mode. In this case, the liquid crystal displayer 
111 displays the result and target of manufacturing as well as information 
regarding operation state and abnormality. Operation state displayed on 
the liquid crystal displayer 111 are stoppage, run, suspension, and 
abnormal trip. Information regarding abnormality on the liquid crystal 
displayer 111 relates to abnormality/no alarm, suction retry error, 
clogging of suction tip, abnormality in rotary stepping motor, abnormality 
in pressure plunger stepping motor, no coating material, abnormality in 
tip air cylinder, abnormality in supply rod air cylinder, and middle level 
of coating material. 
In the transmission process at step S3, data are transmitted from the 
control unit 100 to the personal computer 112 in accordance with a command 
obtained through receive interruption not shown. 
Prior to detailed explanation of each process described above, it will be 
explained how to read the state transition diagrams in FIGS. 34 to 36. 
When a start command is inputted from the personal computer during 
stoppage of the artificial seed manufacturing apparatus, the number of 
products is cleared; the solenoids are all deenergized; and the present 
state is set to rotary/pressure plunger origin reset start state. If 
abnormality is detected during the stoppage, all outputs are cleared to 
allow the state to be in abnormality. In this state, when a start command 
is inputted, the number of products is cleared; the solenoids are all 
deenergized; and the present state is set to rotary/pressure plunger 
origin reset start process. When a restart command is inputted in this 
state, the number of products is calculated again; the solenoids are all 
deenergized; and the present state is set to rotary/pressure plunger 
origin reset start process. 
During the above-mentioned rotary/pressure plunger origin reset, the rotary 
and pressure plunger processes are carried out, which causes the present 
state to be converted to pressure plunger origin reset process through the 
rotary stop state, and to rotary origin reset process through the pressure 
plunger stop state. If completion signal is detected during the 
rotary/pressure plunger origin reset process, the rotary and pressure 
plunger processes are forced to be stopped to stop the artificial seed 
manufacturing apparatus. If abnormality is detected during the 
rotary/pressure plunger origin reset process, all outputs are cleared to 
allow the state to be in abnormality, and process similar to the above is 
carried out. 
If rotary stop command is inputted during the rotary origin reset, the 
destination of the rotary plate 18 is set to be 120 degrees and the 
suction by the tip 21a starts. If interruption signal is inputted during 
the rotary origin reset process, the state moves to stoppage waiting 
rotary operation process to stop the artificial seed manufacturing 
apparatus by the rotary stop input signal. In this state, if a start 
signal is inputted, the number of products is cleared; the solenoids are 
all deenergized; and the state is set to the rotary/pressure plunger 
origin reset start process. When a restart signal is inputted in this 
state, the number of products as target is calculated again; the solenoids 
are all deenergized; and the state is set to the rotary/pressure plunger 
origin reset start process. 
If pressure plunger stop command is inputted during the rotary origin reset 
process, the destination of the rotary plate 18 is set to be 120 degrees 
and the suction by the tip 21a starts. If an interruption signal is 
inputted during the rotary origin reset process, the present state is 
converted to stoppage waiting rotary operation to stop the artificial seed 
manufacturing apparatus by a rotary stop input signal. In this state, if a 
start signal is inputted, the number of products is cleared; the solenoids 
are all deenergized; and the state is set to the rotary/pressure plunger 
origin reset start process. When a restart signal is inputted in this 
state, the number of products as target is calculated again; the solenoids 
are all deenergized; and the state is set to the rotary/pressure plunger 
origin reset start process. 
If a suction finish signal is inputted during suction process, the present 
state moves to rotation start process. When a tip at the completion of the 
suction is the tip 21c, the present state moves to initial positioning 
process. If a rotary stop signal is inputted during the rotary rotation 
process after the start of the rotation start process, the present state 
moves to suction start process. Then, the completion of the suction causes 
the tip to become the tip 21c, which permits the present state to be 
converted to initial positioning process. 
When rotary stop command is inputted during the initial positioning 
process, the present state moves to suction start process and the tip 21c 
starts the suction. As a result, the present state moves to suction/supply 
process, and if a suction finish signal is inputted, the present state 
moves to rotation start process. In case that the number of enclosures to 
be enclosed is zero, the present state becomes completion waiting state. 
If a supply finish signal is inputted in the suction/supply state, the 
present state moves to suction process. Then, if the suction finish signal 
is inputted in the above-mentioned state, the present state moves to 
rotation start process. 
The rotation start process converts the present state to rotary rotation 
state. When rotary stop signal is inputted in this state, the state moves 
to tact (time) waiting process. When a timer finish signal is inputted 
during the tact waiting process, the present state moves to suction start 
and supply start process, which converts the state to be suction/supply 
state, and the aforementioned motion is repeated until the number of 
products as target becomes zero. When the number of enclosures to be 
enclosed becomes zero, the present state moves to completion waiting 
process to stop the artificial seed manufacturing apparatus in accordance 
with the input of pressure plunger stop signal, which causes all motions 
to be stopped. 
Next, the processes at steps S4 to S7 in the above-mentioned flow chart 
will be explained one after another in detail. 
In the rotation process at step S4, as illustrated in FIG. 24, as first at 
step S4a, whether the artificial seed manufacturing apparatus stops or not 
is judged. If the result is YES, that is, if the artificial seed 
manufacturing apparatus stops, the process returns to the main routine in 
FIG. 23, and the process advances to step S5. When the artificial seed 
manufacturing apparatus is started by command from the personal computer 
112 during the artificial seed manufacturing apparatus in not operated, 
and the present state is renewed with reference to the state transition 
diagram at step S11 so that the present state is converted from stop state 
to origin reset start process, the judgment at step S4a becomes NO, and 
the process advances to step S4b where it is judged whether the present 
state is in the origin reset start process or not. As a result, the 
judgment at step S4b becomes YES. 
When the judgment at step S4b is YES, the present process advances to step 
S4b1 to issue the origin reset command designating the velocity and the 
number of steps of the rotary stepping motor and the like, and those data 
are outputted to the stepping motor controller 104. Then, the process 
advances to step S4b2 to set monitoring timer for restricting the 
operation time, and the process advances to step S4b3 to convert the 
present state from the origin reset start state to limit waiting state, 
and the process advances to step S5 in the main routine in FIG. 23. After 
the process advances to steps S4b3 to convert the present state to limit 
waiting state, when the process advances to step S4 of rotation process, 
the judgment at steps S4a and S4b becomes NO to cause the process to 
advance to step S4c, so that the judgment at this step becomes YES. 
When the judgment at step S4c becomes YES, the process advances to step 
S4c1 to check the monitoring timer which is set at step S4b2, and whether 
time-out occurs or not is judged at the following step S4c2. If the 
judgment is NO at step S4c2, that is, if time-out does not occur, the 
process advances to step S4c3 where whether or not the rotary stepping 
motor rotates and stops in accordance with the step number, which is set 
at step S4b1 through a signal from the stepping motor controller 104. If 
the judgment at step S4c3 is NO, the process advances to step S5 in the 
main routine in FIG. 23 to repeat the aforementioned procedure, on the 
other hand, if the judgment at step S4c3 is YES, the process advances to 
step S4c4 to judge whether or not the original position sensor turns ON. 
If the result at this step is YES, the process advances to step S4e4 
described below, and if the result is NO, the process advances to step 
S4c5. 
At step S4c5, the stepping motor controller 104 causes the rotary stepping 
motor to rotate clockwise by 30 degrees, and then the process advances to 
step S4c6 to set the monitoring timer for restricting operation time, and 
to step S4c7 to convert the present state from the limit waiting state to 
origin pass waiting state. And then, the process advances to step S5 in 
the main routine in FIG. 23. After the present stated is converted into 
the origin pass waiting state at step S4c7, when the process enters the 
rotation process at step S4, the judgment at steps S4a to S4c become NO to 
cause the process to advance step S4d, and the judgment at this step 
becomes YES. 
When the judgment at step S4d becomes YES, the process advances to step 
S4d1 to check the monitoring timer, which is set at step S4c6, to judge at 
the following step S4d2 whether or not time-out occurs. If the judgment at 
step S4d2 is NO, that is, if time-out does not occur, the process advances 
to step S4d3 to judge whether or not the rotary stepping motor rotates and 
stops in accordance with the step number for 30 degrees, which starts at 
step S4c5, through a signal from the stepping motor controller 104. If the 
judgment at step S4d3 is NO, the process advances to step S5 in the main 
routine in FIG. 23 to repeat the above-mentioned procedure. If the 
judgment at step S4d3 is YES, the process advances to step S4d4 to set 
monitoring timer for restricting the operation time, and the process 
advances to step S4d5 to convert the present state from the origin pass 
waiting state to origin reset waiting state, and then, the process 
advances to step S5 in FIG. 23. When the present state is converted to the 
origin reset waiting state, when the process enters the rotation process 
at steps S4a to S4d, the judgment at steps S4a to S4d become NO, so that 
the process advances to step S4e and the judgment at this step becomes 
YES. 
When the judgment at step S4 becomes YES, the process advances to step S4e1 
to check the monitoring timer, which is set at step S4d4, to judge at the 
following step S4e2 whether or not time-out occurs. If the judgment at 
step S4e2 is NO, that is, if time-out does not occur, the process advances 
to step S4e3 to judge whether or not the rotary stepping motor rotates and 
stops through a signal from the stepping motor controller 104. If the 
judgment at step S4e3 is NO, the process advances to step S5 in the main 
routine in FIG. 23 to repeat the above-mentioned procedure. If the 
judgment at step S4e3 is YES, the process advances to step S4e4 to judge 
whether or not the original position sensor turns ON. If the judgment at 
this step is YES, the process advances to step S4e5. If the judgment is 
NO, the process advances to step S5 in the main routine in FIG. 23. 
At step S4e5, the stepping motor controller 104 causes the rotary stepping 
motor to rotate clockwise by 120 degrees, and the process advances to step 
S4e6 to set the monitoring timer for restricting the operation time, then 
the process advances to step S4e7 to convert the present state from the 
origin reset waiting state to initial position movement waiting state, and 
the process advances to step S5 in the main routine in FIG. 23. At the 
step S4e7, after the present state is converted into the initial position 
movement waiting state, when the process enters the rotation process at 
step S4, the judgment at steps S4a to S4e become NO and the process 
advances to step S4f to allow the judgment at this step to turn YES. 
When the judgment at step S4f becomes YES, the process advances to step 
S4f1 to check the monitoring timer, which is set at step S4e6, and to 
judge whether or not time-out occurs at step S4f2. If the judgment at step 
S4f2 is NO, that is, if time-out does not occur, the process advances to 
step S4e3 to judge whether or not the rotary stepping motor rotates and 
stops in accordance with the step number of 120 degrees, which is started 
at step S4e5, through a signal from the stepping motor controller 104. The 
motor controller is set pulse number for 120 degrees in a counter thereof 
and judges the stoppage of the motor when the number is decreased into 
zero. If the judgment at step S4f3 is NO, the process advances to step S5 
in the main routine in FIG. 23 to repeat the above-mentioned procedure. If 
the judgment at step S4f3 is YES, the process advances to step S4f4 to 
preset the present position by setting a bit of initial position state. 
Then, the process advances to step S4f5 to set the monitoring time for 
confirming the stoppage, and the process advances to step S4f6 to convert 
the present state from the initial position movement waiting state to 
stoppage confirming state, and the process advances to step S5 in the main 
routine in FIG. 23. After the present state is converted to the stoppage 
confirming state at step S4f6, and when the process enters the rotation 
process at step S4, the judgment at steps S4a to S4h in FIGS. 24 and 25 
become NO, and the process advances to step S4i to allow the judgment at 
this step to turn YES. 
When the judgment at step S4i turns YES, the process advances to step S4i 
and checks the stoppage confirmation timer, which is set at step S4f5, to 
judge whether the confirmation time is finished or not. If the judgment at 
step S4i1 is NO, that is, if within the confirmation time, the process 
advances to step S4i2 to judge whether or not the rotary plate 18 stops at 
a predetermined position by monitoring signals from the sensor. If the 
judgment at step S4i2 is NO, the process advances to step S5 in the main 
routine in FIG. 23. If the judgment is YES, the process advances to step 
S4i3 to renew the number of destination by setting the step number for 
rotating the rotary stepping motor to move the rotary plate 18 to the next 
destination to the pulse counter. Further, in step S4i4, after the rotary 
stoppage is selected, the process advances to step S4i5 to convert the 
present state from the stoppage confirmation state to the stop state, and 
the process advances to step S5 in the main routine in FIG. 23. 
If the judgment at step S4i1 is YES, that is, if the stoppage of the rotary 
plate 18 at the predetermined position is not judged at step S4i2 after 
the confirmation time passes, the process advances to step S4i6 to set 
abnormality detection, and the process advances to step S4i7 to convert 
the present state from the stoppage confirmation state to stop state, and 
the process advances to step S5 in the main routine in FIG. 23. If the 
judgment at step S4i is also NO, the process advances to step S5 in the 
main routine in FIG. 23. 
When the present state is in rotation start process, the judgment at step 
S4g becomes YES, so that the process advances to step S4g1, and preset 
motion command which designates rotation step number and the like of the 
rotary stepping motor, which is required for rotating the rotary plate 18 
to the destination, is issued and is outputted to the stepping motor 
controller 104. Then, the process advances to step S4g2 to set the 
monitoring timer for restricting the operation time, and the process 
advances to step S4g3 to convert the present state from the stop state to 
movement finish waiting state, and the process advances to step S5 in the 
main routine in FIG. 23. After the present state is converted from the 
stop state to the movement finish waiting state, when the process enters 
the rotation process at step S4g3, the judgment at steps S4a to S4g turn 
NO, and the process advances to step S4h to cause the judgment at this 
step to turn YES. 
When the judgment at step S4h turns YES, the process advances to step S4hi 
and checks the monitoring timer, which is set at step S4g3, to judge 
whether the monitoring time is finished or not. If the judgment at step 
S4h2 is NO, that is, if within the monitoring time, the process advances 
to step S4h3 to judge whether or not the rotary stepping motor rotates in 
accordance with the step number, which is designated at step S4g1, and 
then stops through signals from the stepping motor controller 104. If the 
judgment at step S4h3 is NO, the process advances to step S5 in the main 
routine in FIG. 23. If the judgment is YES, the process advances to step 
S4h4 to set monitoring timer for restricting the time for confirming the 
stoppage, and the process advances to step S4h5 to convert the present 
state from movement finish waiting state to the stoppage confirmation 
state, and the process advances to step S5 in the main routine in FIG. 23. 
After the present state is converted to the stoppage confirmation state at 
step S4h5, when the process enters the rotation process at step S4, the 
judgment at steps S4a to S4h become NO to allow the process to advance to 
step S4i, and the processes after this step are performed to convert the 
present state to stop state again, and the process advances to step S5 in 
the main routine in FIG. 23. 
In the pressure plunger process at step S5, as illustrate in FIG. 26, at 
first, whether the present state is in stop state or not is judged at step 
S5a, and if the judgment is YES, the process returns to the main routine 
in FIG. 23, and the process advances to step S6. When the artificial seed 
manufacturing apparatus is in stop state; a command from the personal 
computer 112 starts the artificial seed manufacturing apparatus; the 
present state is renewed with reference to the state transition diagrams 
at step S11; and the present state is converted from stop state to origin 
reset start state, the judgment at step S5a becomes NO and the process 
advances to step S5b where it is judged whether or not the present state 
is in the origin reset start state, and the judgment at this step becomes 
YES. 
When the judgment at step S5b is YES, the process advances to step S5b1, 
and draw continuous command designating the velocity, the step number, and 
the like of the pressure plunger stepping motor in a direction that the 
pressure plunger is drawn is issued and is outputted to the stepping motor 
controller 104. Then, the process advances to step S5b2 to set the 
monitoring timer for restricting the operation time, and the process 
advances to step S5b3 to convert the present state from origin reset start 
state to limit waiting state, and the process advances to step S5 in the 
main routine in FIG. 23. After the present state is converted to the limit 
waiting state, when the process enters the pressure plunger process at 
step S5, the judgment at steps S5a and S5b turn NO, and the process 
advances to step S5c to cause the judgment at this step to turn YES. 
When the judgment at step S5c becomes YES, the process advances to step 
S5c1 to check the monitoring timer, which is set at step S5b2, to judge at 
the following step S5c2 whether or not time-out occurs. If the judgment at 
step S5c2 is NO, that is, if time-out does not occur, the process advances 
to step S5c3 to judge whether or not the pressure plunger stepping motor 
rotates and stops in accordance with the step number, which is set at step 
S5b1, through a signal from the stepping motor controller 104. If the 
judgment at step S5c3 is NO, the process advances to step S6 in the main 
routine in FIG. 23 to repeat the above-mentioned procedure. If the 
judgment at step S5c3 is YES, the process advances to step S5c4 to set 
protruding direction origin reset command designating the step number and 
the like of the pressure plunger stepping motor in a direction that the 
pressure plunger returns to the origin is issued and is outputted to the 
stepping motor controller 104, and the process advances to step S5c5 to 
set monitoring timer for restricting the operation time, and the process 
advances to step S5c6 to convert the present state from the limit waiting 
state to origin reset waiting state, and then, the process advances to 
step S6 in the main routine in FIG. 23. After the present state is 
converted into the origin reset waiting state at step S5c6, when the 
process enters the pressure plunger process at steps S5, the judgment at 
steps S5a to S5c become NO, so that the process advances to step S5d and 
the judgment at this step becomes YES. 
When the judgment at step S5d becomes YES, the process advances to step 
S5d1 to check the monitoring timer, which is set at step S5c5, to judge at 
the following step S5d2 whether or not time-out occurs. If the judgment at 
step S5d2 is NO, that is, if time-out does not occur, the process advances 
to step S5d3 to judge whether or not the pressure plunger stepping motor 
rotates and stops in accordance with the predetermined step number, which 
is designated by the protruding direction origin reset command at step 
S5c4, through a signal from the stepping motor controller 104. If the 
judgment at step S5d3 is NO, the process advances to step S6 in the main 
routine in FIG. 23 to repeat the above-mentioned procedure. If the 
judgment at step S5d3 is YES, the process advances to step S5d4 to judge 
whether or not the origin positioning sensor turns ON. If the judgment is 
YES, the process advances to step S5d5 to set the pressure plunger 
stoppage, and the process advances to step S5c6 to convert the present 
state from the origin reset finish state to stop state, and the process 
advances to step S6 in the main routine in FIG. 23. If the judgment at 
step S5d4 is NO, the process advances to step S5d7 to set abnormality 
detection and to output the pressure plunger abnormality, and the process 
advances to step S5d6 to set stoppage. 
When the present state is in the pressure plunger motion start state, the 
judgment at steps S5a to S5d become NO, and the process advances to step 
S5e1 in FIG. 27, and then the judgment at step S5e becomes YES, and the 
process advances to step S5e1. After a timer for restricting the time for 
waiting the start of the motion at step S5e1, the process advances to step 
S5e2 where the present state is converted from the stop state to motion 
start waiting state, and the process advances to step S6 in the main 
routine in FIG. 23. After the present state is converted into the motion 
start waiting state at step S5e2 and the process enters the pressure 
plunger process at step S5, the judgment at steps S5a to S5e become NO, 
and the process advances to step S5f to allow the judgment at this step to 
turn YES. 
When the judgment at step S5f becomes YES, the process advances to step 
S5f1 to check the monitoring timer, which is set at step S5e1, to judge 
whether or not time-out occurs. If the judgment at step S5f1 becomes YES, 
the process advances to step S5f2. At step S5f2, a protruding direction 
preset command for designating step number and the like for the rotation 
of the pressure plunger stepping motor, which is required to protrude a 
predetermined amount of coating material, is issued and is outputted to 
the stepping motor controller 104. Then, the process advances to step S5f3 
to set monitoring timer for restricting the operation time, and the 
process advances to step S5f4 to convert the present state from motion 
start waiting state to protruding finish waiting state, and the process 
advances to step S6 in the main routine in FIG. 23. After the present 
state is converted into the protruding finish waiting state at step S5f4, 
when the process enters the pressure plunger process at step S5, the 
judgment at steps S5a to S5f turn NO, and the process advances to step S5g 
to cause the judgment at this step to become YES. 
When the judgment at step S5g becomes YES, the process advances to step 
S5g1 to check the monitoring timer, which is set at step S5f3, and to 
judge at step S5g2 whether or not time-out occurs. If the judgment 
advances step S5g2 is NO, that is, if the time-out does not occur, the 
process advances to step S5g3 to judge whether or not the pressure plunger 
stepping motor rotates and stops in accordance with the step number which 
is set at step S5c4 through a signal from the stepping motor controller 
104. If the judgment at step S5g3 is NO, the process advances to step S6 
in the main routine in FIG. 23 to repeat the above-mentioned procedure. If 
the judgment at step S5g3 is YES, the process advances to step S5g4 to set 
time for restricting time required to wait the start of draw, and the 
process advances to step S5g4 to convert the present state from the 
protrusion waiting state to draw start waiting state, and the process 
advances to step S6 in the main routine in FIG. 23. After the present 
state is converted into the draw start waiting state at step S5g5, when 
the process enters the pressure plunger process at step S5, the judgment 
at steps S5a to S5g become NO, so that the process advances to step S5h to 
cause the judgment at this step to become YES. 
If the judgment at step S5h becomes YES, the process advances to step S5h1 
to judge whether or not the draw start waiting time, which is set at step 
S5g4, is finished or not. If the judgment at step S5h1 becomes YES, the 
process advances to step S5h2. At step S5h2, draw direction present 
command for designating step number in the direction that the pressure 
plunger is drawn and the like of the pressure plunger stepping motor is 
issued and is outputted to the stepping motor controller 104. Then, the 
process advances to step S5h3 to set the monitoring time for restricting 
the operation time, and the process advances to step S5h4 to convert the 
present state from the draw start waiting state to draw finish waiting 
state, and the process advances to step S6 in the main routine in FIG. 23. 
After the present state is converted into the pressure plunger process at 
step S5h4, when the process enters the pressure plunger process at step 
S5, the judgment at steps S5a to S5h become NO, and the process advances 
to step S5i to cause the judgment at this step to become YES. 
When the judgment at step S5i becomes YES, the process advances to step 
S5h3 to check the monitoring timer, which is set at step S5h3, and to 
judge at step S5i2 whether or not time-out occurs. If the judgment 
advances step S5i2 is NO, that is, if the time-out does not occur, the 
process advances to step S5i3 to judge whether or not the pressure plunger 
stepping motor rotates and stops in accordance with the step number which 
is set at step S5h2 through a signal from the stepping motor controller 
104. If the judgment at step S5i3 is NO, the process advances to step S6 
in the main routine in FIG. 23 to repeat the above-mentioned procedure. If 
the judgment at step S5i3 is YES, the process advances to step S5i4 to set 
time for restricting time required to wait the start of draw, and the 
process advances to step S5i5 to convert the present state from the draw 
finishing waiting state to stop state, and the process advances to step S6 
in the main routine in FIG. 23. If the judgment at step S5i is NO, the 
process immediately advances to step S6 in the main routine in FIG. 23. 
In the suction process at step S6, as shown in FIG. 28, at first, whether 
the present state is in stop state or not is judged at step S6a, and if 
the judgment is YES, the process returns to the main routine in FIG. 23, 
and the process advances to step S7. Then, as illustrated in the state 
transition diagram in FIG. 34, when the present state is in rotary origin 
reset state, in rotary state, or initial positioning state, and the rotary 
stop state is selected or when the present state is in pressure plunger 
origin reset state and pressure plunger stoppage is selected, the present 
state is renewed in accordance with the state transition diagram at step 
S11, and the present state becomes suction start state. In this suction 
start state, the judgment at step S6a becomes NO, and the process advances 
to step S6b to judge whether or not the present state is suction start 
state, and the judgment at this step S6b becomes YES. 
If the judgment at step S6b is YES, the process advances to step S6b1 to 
judge whether or not the suction solenoid is energized. When the judgment 
is NO, that is, if the solenoid is not energized, the process advances to 
step S6b2 to judge whether or not the number of enclosures remained is one 
or more, that is, whether or not the number of target is larger than that 
of products. The step S6b2 is carried out to eliminate enclosure under 
suction process when the process is finished. If the judgment at step S6b2 
is YES, that is, if the number of products do not reach the number of 
target, the process advances to step S6b3 to energize the suction 
solenoid, and the process advances to step S6b4 to set timer for vacuum 
stabilization waiting timer, and the process advances to step S6b5 to 
convert the present state to the vacuum stabilization waiting state, and 
the process advances to step S7 in the main routine in FIG. 23. 
When the judgment at step S6b1 is YES, that is, if the suction solenoid has 
already been energized at the suction start state, the process advances to 
step S6b6 to judge whether or not the tip has sucked an enclosure as 
suction finishing process at restart. If the judgment at step S6b6 is NO, 
the process advances to step S6b2. If the judgment at step S6b6 is YES, 
the process advances to step S6b7. At step S6b7, the suction completion is 
set, and the process advances to step S6b8 to renew tip number, and the 
process advances to step S6b9 to convert the present state from the 
suction start state to stop state, and the process advances to step S7 in 
the main routine in FIG. 23. When the judgment at step S6b2 is NO, that 
is, if the number of products reaches the number of target, the process 
advances to step S6b7 without sucking new enclosure to eliminate enclosure 
during suction process. 
After the present state is converted into the vacuum stabilization waiting 
state at step S6b5, when the process enters the suction process at step 
S6, the judgment at steps S6a to S6b become NO, and the process advances 
to step S6c and the judgment at this step becomes YES. When the judgment 
at step S6c becomes YES, the process advances to step S6c1 to check timer 
which is set at step S6b4 and to judge whether or not the stabilization 
waiting process is completed. If the judgment at step S6c1 is YES, the 
process advances to step S6c2 to judge whether or not the tip clogs. When 
the tip does not clog and the judgment at step S6c2 is NO, the process 
advances to step S6c3 to energize the tip rod air cylinder. Then, the 
process advances to step S6c4 to energize the supply air cylinder. Then, 
at step S6c5, the monitoring time for restricting the operation time is 
set, and the process advances to step S6c6 to convert the present state 
from the vacuum stabilization waiting state to the motion waiting state, 
and the process advances to step S7 in the main routine in FIG. 23. 
If the judgment at step S6c2 is YES, the process advances to step S6c7 to 
set abnormality detection to output tip clogging error, and at step S6c8, 
the present state, which is converted into vacuum stabilization waiting 
state at step S6b5, is converted into stop state, and the process advances 
to step S7 in the main routine in the FIG. 23. 
After the present state is converted to motion waiting state at step S6c6, 
when the process enters the suction process at step S6, the judgment at 
steps S6a to S6c become NO, and the process advances to step S6d in FIG. 
29, and the judgment at this step becomes YES. When the judgment at step 
S6d becomes YES, the process advances to step S6d1 to judge whether or not 
the time-out of the monitoring timer occurs. If the judgment at step S6d1 
is NO, the process advances to step S6d2 to judge the lower end position 
detecting sensor of the tip air cylinder is energized. If the judgment at 
step S6d2 is YES, the process advances to step S6d3 to judge whether or 
not the upper end position sensor of the supply rod is energized. If the 
judgment step S6d3 is also YES, the process advances to step S6d4 to set 
the motion waiting timer, and the process advances to step S6d5 to convert 
the present state from the motion waiting state to suction process, and 
the process advances to step S7 in the main routine in FIG. 23. 
When the judgment at step S6d1 is YES, the process advances to step S6d6 to 
set abnormality detection and to output air cylinder error, and at step 
S6d7, the present state, which is converted into motion waiting state at 
step S6b5, is converted into stop state, and the process advances to step 
S7 in the main routine in FIG. 23. 
After the present state is converted into the suction state at step S6d5, 
when the process enters the suction process at step S6, the judgment at 
steps S6a to S6d become NO, and the process advances to step S6e to cause 
the judgment at this step to turn YES. When the judgment at step S6e 
becomes YES, the process advances to step S6e1 to judge whether or not the 
motion waiting time, which is set at step S6d4, is finished. If the 
judgment at step S6e1 is YES, the process advances to step S6e2 to 
deenergize the tip air cylinder, and the process advances to step S6e3 to 
deenergize the supply rod air cylinder. Then, the process advances to step 
S6e4 to set the monitoring timer for restricting the operation time, and 
the process advances to step S6e5 to convert the present state from the 
suction state to air cylinder motion waiting state, and the process 
advances to step S7 in the main routine in FIG. 23. 
As described above, after the present state is converted into the air 
cylinder motion waiting state at step S6e5, when the process enters the 
suction process at step S6, the judgment at steps S6a to S6e become NO, 
and the process advances to step S6f in FIG. 30 to cause the judgment at 
this step to turn YES. When the judgment at step S6f becomes YES, the 
process advances to step S6f1 to judge whether on not the monitoring 
timer, which is set at step S6e4, causes time-out. If the judgment at step 
S6f1 is NO, the process advances to step S6f2 to judge whether or not the 
lower position detecting sensor of the tip air cylinder turns OFF, and if 
the judgment at step S6f2 is YES, the process advances to step S6f3 to 
judge whether or not the lower position detecting sensor of the supply rod 
air cylinder turns ON. If the judgment at step S6f3 is also YES, the 
process advances to step S6f4 to set motion waiting timer, and the process 
advances to step S6f5 to convert the present state from air cylinder 
motion waiting process to air cylinder reset process, and the process 
advances to step S7 in the main routine in FIG. 23. 
When the judgment at step S6f1 is YES, the process advances to step S6f6 to 
set abnormality detection and to output the cylinder error, and at step 
S6f7, the present state, which is converted into the air cylinder motion 
waiting state at step S6e5, is converted into stop state, and the process 
advances to step S7 in the main routine in FIG. 23. 
As described above, after the present state is converted into the air 
cylinder return state at step S6f5, when the process enters the suction 
process at step S6, the judgment at steps S6a to S6f become NO, and the 
process advances to step S6g to cause the judgment at this step to turn 
YES. When the judgment at step S6g becomes YES, the process advances to 
step S6g1 to judge whether on not the monitoring timer, which is set at 
step S6f4, causes time-out. If the judgment at step S6f1 is YES, the 
process advances to step S6g2 to judge whether or not the suction 
operation is successfully completed. If the judgment at step S6g2 is YES, 
the process advances to step S6g3 to increase the number of the enclosures 
sucked. Then, the process advances to step S6g4 to renew the number of the 
tip to 1, 2, 3, 6, 5, 4 in this order, and the process advances to step 
S6g5 to set the suction completion. Then, the process advances to step 
S6g6 to convert the present state from the air cylinder return state to 
stop state, and the process advances to step S7 in the main routine in the 
FIG. 23. 
When the judgment at step S6g2 is NO, the process advances to step S6g7 to 
renew the retry counter, and then the process advances to step Sg8 to 
judge whether or not the number of retries is exceeded to cause retry-out. 
If the judgment at step S6g8 is NO, the process advances to step S6g9 to 
convert the present state from the air cylinder return state to suction 
start state, and the process advances to step S7 in the main routine in 
the FIG. 23. 
At the supply process at step S7, as illustrated in FIG. 31, at first, 
whether or no the present state is stop state is judged at step S7a, and 
if the judgment is YES, the process returns to the main routine in the 
FIG. 23 and the process advances to the following step S8. Then, as shown 
in the state transition diagram in FIG. 34, when the rotary stop is set 
under the state that the present state is in initial positioning state, 
the present state is renewed with reference to the state transition 
diagram at step S11, so that the present is converted into supply start 
state. As described above, when the present state is in supply start 
state, the judgment at step S7a becomes NO, and the process advances to 
step S7b where whether or not the present state is turns to supply start 
state, and the judgment at step S7b becomes YES. 
When the judgment at step S7b is YES, the process advances to step S7b1 to 
judge whether the tip does not suck an enclosure. If the judgment is NO, 
that is, if an enclosure is sucked, the process advances to step S7b2 to 
convert the present state from the supply start state to pressure plunger 
waiting state, and the process advances to step S8 in the main routine in 
the FIG. 23. If the judgment at step S7b1 is YES, that is, if an enclosure 
is not sucked, the process advances to step S7b3 to decrease the number of 
enclosures sucked, which is increased at step S6g3, and the process 
advances to step S7b4. At step S7b4, the number of the tip to which an 
enclosure is supplied next is renewed, and then the process advances to 
step S7b5 to set supply completion, and at step S7b6, the present state, 
which is in supply start state, is converted into stop state, and the 
process advances to step S8 in the main routine in the FIG. 23. If the 
judgment at step S7b1 is YES, that is, if an enclosure is not sucked, the 
number of enclosures sucked is decreased so as not to make a mistake in 
this number, and then supply completion is set without loss of supply 
motion. 
After the present state is converted into pressure plunger stop waiting 
state at step S7b2, when the process enters the supply process at step S7, 
the judgment at steps S7a and S7b become NO, and the process advances to 
step S7c to allow the judgment at this step to become YES. When the 
judgment at step S7c becomes YES, the process advances to step S7c1 to 
judge whether or not the pressure plunger stop is set, and the judgment at 
step S7c1 is NO, the process advances to step S8 in the main routine in 
the FIG. 23. If the judgment at step S7c1 is YES, the process advances to 
step S7c2 to deenergize the suction solenoid, and the process advances to 
step S7c3 to energize the supply solenoid, which lowers the tip and 
supplies enclosures, and then the process advances to step S7c4 to 
energize the tip air cylinder. 
Then, the process advances to step S7c5 to set the timer for deenergize the 
supply solenoid, and the process advances to step S7c6 to set the 
monitoring timer for restricting the operation time, and the process 
advances to step S6c7 to convert the present state from the pressure 
plunger stop waiting state to cylinder motion waiting state, and the 
process advances to step S8 in the main routine in the FIG. 23. 
As described above, after the present state is converted into the cylinder 
motion waiting state at step S7c7, when the process enters the suction 
process at step S7, the judgment at steps S7a to S7c become NO, and the 
process advances to step S7d in FIG. 32 to cause the judgment at this step 
to turn YES. When the judgment at step S7d becomes YES, the process 
advances to step S6d1 to deenergize the supply solenoid. In this solenoid 
OFF process, whether or not the supply solenoid timer causes time-out is 
judged. If time-out occurs, the supply solenoid is deenergized, and the 
process advances to step S7d2. At step S7d2, whether or not the monitoring 
timer, which is set at step S7c6, causes time-out is judged, and if the 
judgment is NO, the process advances to step S7d3. At step S7d3, whether 
or not the lower position detecting sensor of the tip air cylinder works 
is judged. If the judgment at step S7d3 is NO, the process advances to 
step S8 in the main routine in the FIG. 23. If the judgment at step S7d4 
is YES, the process advances to step S7d4 to set tip air cylinder stop 
timer, and the process advances to step S7d5 to convert the present 
invention from the cylinder motion waiting state to supply waiting state, 
and the process advances to step S8 in the main routine in the FIG. 23. 
When the judgment at step S7d2 is YES, the process advances to step S7d6 to 
set abnormality detection and to output the cylinder error, and at step 
S7d7, the present state, which is converted into the cylinder motion 
waiting state at step S7c7, is converted into stop state, and the process 
advances to step S8 in the main routine in FIG. 23. 
As described above, after the present state is converted into the supply 
state at step S7d5, when the process enters the suction process at step 
S7, the judgment at steps S7a to S7d become NO, and the process advances 
to step S7e to cause the judgment at this step to turn YES. When the 
judgment at step S7e becomes YES, the process advances to step S7e1 to 
deenergize the supply solenoid. Then, the process advances to step S7e2 to 
judge whether or not the tip air cylinder stop timer which is set at step 
S7d4 is finished. If the judgment is NO, the process advances to step S8 
in the main routine in the FIG. 23. If the judgment at step S7e2 is YES, 
the process advances to step S7e3 to deenergize the supply solenoid, and 
the process advances to step S7e4 to deenergize the tip air cylinder. 
Then, the process advances to step S7e5 to set the monitoring timer for 
restricting the operation time, and the process advances to step S7e6 to 
convert the present state from supply waiting state to air cylinder reset 
waiting state, and the process advances to step S8 in the main routine in 
the FIG. 23. 
As described above, after the present state is converted into the air 
cylinder reset waiting state at step S7e6, when the process enters the 
suction process at step S7, the judgment at steps S7a to S7e become NO, 
and the process advances to step S7f to cause the judgment at this step to 
turn YES. When the judgment at step S7f becomes YES, the process advances 
to step S7f1 to judge whether or not the monitoring timer, which is set at 
step S7e5, causes timeout. If the judgment at step S7f2 is NO, the process 
advances to step S7f3 to judge whether or not the lower position detecting 
sensor of the tip air cylinder is deenergized. If the judgment at step 
S7f3 is NO, the process advances to step S8 in the main routine in the 
FIG. 23. If the judgment at step S7f3 is YES, the process advances to step 
S7f4 to set the motion waiting timer, and the process advances to step 
S7f5 to convert the present state from the air cylinder reset waiting 
state to air cylinder reset state, the process advances to step S8 in the 
main routine in the FIG. 23. 
If the judgment at step S7f2 is YES, the process advances to step S7f6 to 
set abnormality detection and to output cylinder error, and at step S7f7, 
the present state, which is converted into air cylinder reset waiting 
state at step S7e6, is converted into stop state, and the process advances 
to step S8 in the main routine in the FIG. 23. 
As described above, after the present state is converted into air cylinder 
reset state at step S7f5, when the process enters the suction process at 
step S7, the judgment at steps S7a to S7f become NO, and the process 
advances to step S7g in FIG. 33, and the judgment at this step becomes 
YES. When the judgment at step S7g becomes YES, the process advances to 
step S7g1 to deenergize the supply solenoid. Then, the process advances to 
step S7g2 to judge whether or not the motion waiting timer which is set at 
step S7f4 is finished. If the judgment is NO, the process advances to step 
S8 in the main routine in the FIG. 23. If the judgment at step S7g2 is 
YES, the process advances to step S7g3 to convert the present state from 
air cylinder reset waiting state to solenoid OFF waiting state, and the 
process advances to step S8 in the main routine in the FIG. 23. 
As described above, after the present state is converted into solenoid OFF 
state at step S7g3, when the process enters the suction process at step 
S7, the judgment at steps S7a to S7g become NO, and the process advances 
to step S7h to deenergize the supply solenoid. Then, the process advances 
to step S7h2 to judge whether or not the supply solenoid is deenergized. 
If the judgment is NO, the process advances to step S8 in the main routine 
in the FIG. 23. If the judgment at step S7h2 is YES, the process advances 
to step S7h3 to increase the number of products, and the process advances 
to step S7h4 to increase the number of enclosures, and the process 
advances to step S7h5. 
At step S7h5, whether or not the number of enclosures to be enclosed by one 
coating material reaches the setting. If the judgment is YES, the process 
advances to step S7h6 to clear the number of enclosures, and the process 
advances to step S7h7 to increase the number of coating material, and the 
process advances to step S7h8. At step S7h8, the motion of the pressure 
plunger starts, and the process advances to step S7h9 to renew the tip 
number, and the process advances to step S7h10. At the step S7h10, the 
supply completion is set, and the process advances to step S7h11 to 
convert the present state from solenoid OFF waiting state to stop state, 
and the process advances to step S8 in the main routine in the FIG. 23. In 
case that the judgment at steps S7a to S7h are NO, the process advances to 
step S8 in the main routine in the FIG. 23. 
As described above, the process, which is explained with reference to the 
flow charts, starts operation after the position of the rotary plate 
(initial position), the upper position of the tip air cylinder, and the 
lower position of the supply rod are confirmed. 
At first, the supply rod dips up an enclosure from custom liquid. The 
enclosure is put into a concave portion at the tip of the rod. In 
synchronization with the movement of the rod, the tip air cylinder with 
the tip 21 falls. The tip 21 is depressurized negative pressure source to 
suck an enclosure. The distance between the supply rod and the tip 21 is 
approximately 2 mm at the smallest, so that the tip 21 does not contact 
with the enclosure, however, the tip 21 sufficiently sucks the enclosure. 
In case that error occurs or the enclosure is not dipped up, the tip air 
cylinder and the supply rod return to original position, and this motion 
is repeated until the completion of the suction is confirmed. 
When the completion of the suction is confirmed by a pressure switch 
attached to the tip air cylinder, the tip air cylinder rises; the supply 
rod falls; and the rotary plate rotates by 60 degrees by the stepping 
motor, and the same motions are repeated when the next tip 21 comes to the 
upside of the rod. The order of the rotation is already described above. 
When initial motion is completed, whether or not an enclosure is sucked by 
the tip 21 is confirmed, and when an enclosure is sucked, the tip air 
cylinder, which comes to the upside of the nozzle plunger 8, falls. If an 
enclosure is not sucked, the rotary plate rotates until the tip 21 with an 
enclosure sucked, comes to the upside of the nozzle plunger 8. When the 
tip air cylinder falls to pass through the inside of the nozzle plunger 8, 
and the tip portion thereof moves in close to the coating material film, 
the tip 21 is pressurized and an enclosure is supplied. After the supply, 
the tip air cylinder rises, the pressure plunger stepping motor rotates, 
and the pressure plunger moves to extrude the coating material. 
Immediately after the pressure plunger is pushed to the valve main body, 
the check valve is closed, so that the coating material is discharged from 
the nozzle plunger 8. When the pressure plunger is drawn, the nozzle 
plunger 8 is closed and the check valve is opened to supply the coating 
material. This motion continues to manufacture an artificial seed. A 
beaker, or similar, which contains hardener, may be placed below the 
nozzle plunger 8 for further processing. The artificial seed manufacturing 
apparatus according to the present invention may be installed in a clean 
room or a clean bench, and control unit with sequencers may set operating 
state from outside, which permits continuous operation under aseptic 
state. 
It is possible to move the pressure plunger after two enclosures are 
supplied through the setting of the control unit, so that the number of 
enclosures to be sucked may freely be changed. Further, the pressure 
plunger moves by the stepping motor, which can change the number of 
rotations through a driver set outside of the artificial seed 
manufacturing apparatus. As a result, the distance of the protrusion of 
the coating material and the diameter of the coating material becomes 
changeable. Moreover, after the enclosure is supplied to the tip, the 
pressure plunger moves, which provides product with enclosure without fail 
and no selection is needed after that. 
As clearly understood from the explanation with reference to the flow 
charts in FIGS. 31 to 33, the CPU 101 functions as the stepping motor 
control means 101A to supply driving pulses for reciprocating the pressure 
plunger by the distance based on the setting data stored in the RAM 103A 
to the stepping motor. The RAM 103A works as distance storing means to 
erasably store setting data which are inputted through setting operation. 
Besides, the CPU 101 functions as the rotation control means 101B to move 
and stop the tip at the enclosure suction position and the enclosure 
supply position through driving source as well as the suction control 
means 101c to suck the enclosure which is supplied by the enclosure 
supplying mechanism to the tip at the enclosure sucking position. Further, 
the CPU 101 functions as supply control means 101D to supply the enclosure 
sucked by the tip which is supplied on the film of coating material 
through the hollow portion of the hollow nozzle plunger at the enclosure 
supply position. 
The CPU 101, as the supply control means 101D, supplies enclosures on the 
film of coating material sucked by the tip through the hollow portion of 
the hollow nozzle plunger by the number based on setting data which is 
stored in the number of enclosure storing means 103B. The number of 
enclosures storing means 103B erasably stores the setting data, which is 
inputted through setting operation, for designating the number of 
enclosures to be supplied on the film of coating material. The CPU 101, as 
the stepping motor control means 101A, supplies a driving pulse for 
reciprocating the pressure plunger to the stepping motor, after the supply 
means 101D supplies the enclosures on the film of coating material. 
Before causing the tip to supply enclosures at the enclosure supplying 
position, the CPU 101 as the supply means 101D, checks whether or not the 
tip sucks an enclosure. If the tip does not suck an enclosure, the CPU 
101, does not allow the tip to conduct supplying operation and permits the 
next tip to conduct the supplying operation.