Patent Publication Number: US-2022217896-A1

Title: High throughput cassette filler

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/735,071 filed on Dec. 8, 2017, which is a United States National Phase Application of PCT International Application PCT/US2016/036236 filed on Jun. 7, 2016, which is based on U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/172,576, filed on Jun. 8, 2015. The disclosures of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present teachings relate to an automated system and method for parsing groups of small objects, such as seeds, from a plurality of bulk quantities of different types of small objects and depositing the parsed groups of small objects into cells of a small object cassette. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and cannot constitute prior art. 
     The parsing and sorting of small agricultural, manufactured and/or produced objects such as seeds, pharmaceutical tablets or capsules, small electrical components, ball bearings, small food products, etc., from bulk quantities of such small objects can be cumbersome, painstakingly tedious, and wrought with human error. 
     For example, in plant breeding, selected quantities of various types of seeds, e.g., various hybrid types of seed, must be culled from large numbers of such seed types, deposited in suitable containers, e.g., seed cassettes, and then transferred to a storage facility and/or to the field for planting. Generally, the selected amounts of seeds are manually separated from bulk quantities of the selected types of seeds and then manually packaged for transfer to a storage facility or to the field for planting. Hence, such sorting processes are typically painstakingly performed by hand, which is extremely time consuming and subject to human error. More particularly, with regard to plant breeding, the use of cassette planting technology is rapidly expanding throughout the plant breeding industry. As cassette planting becomes more widespread, the need to rapidly load seed into the cassettes becomes more pressing. 
     SUMMARY 
     In various embodiments, the present disclosure provides a small object cassette processing station for depositing small objects into selected cells of a small object cassette. The station comprises a bulk small object bin structured and operable to retain a bulk quantity of small objects of a selected type. The station additionally comprises a small object counting and parsing subsystem configured to parse a plurality of groups of small objects received from the bulk quantity of the small objects retained in the bulk small object bin. Each group of small objects comprises a number of small objects by a central control system. The station further comprise a small object distribution subsystem configured to receive each parsed group of small objects and deposit each parsed group of small objects into one of a plurality of small object cells of a small object cassette as stipulated by the central control system. 
     In various other embodiment, the present disclosure provides a small object cassette processing station that structured and operable to deposit small objects into selected cells of a small object cassette, wherein the cassette processing station comprises at least one bulk small object bin, wherein each bulk small object bin is structured and operable to retain a bulk quantity of small objects of a selected type. The cassette processing station additionally comprises at least one small object counting and parsing subsystem that is structured and operable to parse a plurality of groups of small objects received from the bulk quantity of the small objects retained in a respective one of the at least one bulk small object bin. Each group of small objects comprises a respective number of small objects as stipulated by a central control system that is communicatively connectable to the cassette processing station. Each of the at least one small object counting and parsing subsystem comprises a decelerator connected to the respective bulk small object bin by a vacuum conduit that is structured and operable to transport a plurality of small objects from the respective bulk small object bin to the decelerator, and an upper small object bin connected to the decelerator and structured and operable to retain small objects received from the decelerator, wherein the decelerator is structured and operable to decelerate a speed of the small objects being transported from the respective bulk small object bin and deposit them into the upper small object bin. The cassette processing station further comprises a small object distribution subsystem that is structured and operable to receive each parsed group of small objects and deposit each parsed group of small objects into a respective one of a plurality of small object cells of the small object cassette as stipulated by the central control system. 
     In yet other embodiments, the present disclosure provides a seed cassette processing station that is structured and operable to deposit seeds into selected cells of a seed cassette, wherein the cassette processing station comprises at least one bulk seed bin, each bulk seed bin structured and operable to retain a bulk quantity of seeds of a selected type. The cassette processing station additionally comprises at least one seed counting and parsing subsystem that is structured and operable to parse a plurality of groups of seeds received from the bulk quantity of the seeds retained in a respective one of the at least one bulk seed bin. Each group of seeds comprises a respective number of seeds as stipulated by a central control system communicatively connectable to the cassette processing station. The cassette processing station further comprises a seed distribution subsystem that is structured and operable to receive each parsed group of seeds and deposit each parsed group of seeds into a respective one of a plurality of seed cells of a seed cassette as stipulated by the central control system. 
     In various embodiments, it is envisioned that the present cassette filling system will be able to fill 500,000 to 1,000,000, e.g., 750,000, cassette cells in a two month timeframe. For example, in various implementations each cassette can have 100 to 160 cells, e.g., 120 cells, wherein each cell can hold approximately 100 to 150, or more small objects, e.g., 125 corn seeds, depending on size of the cells and the small objects. In such implementations, various types of small objects, e.g., various hybrid types of seeds, are loaded into the cassette cells based on pre-established object map files that list the object type, e.g., hybrid type, versus a cassette designator and cell number within the respective designated cassette. In various implementation a two-dimensional (2D) barcode sticker can be attached to each cassette to identity each respective cassette. After the cells of the cassettes are filled by the cassette filling system, the filled cassettes can be shipped to a desired location. For example, in the case of seeds, the filled cassettes can be shipped to a warehouse and/or the field in large shipping crates, whereafter the cassettes can be implemented into various planting systems, machines or vehicles. 
     Further areas of applicability of the present teachings will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present teachings. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present teachings in any way. 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a high throughput system for sorting a plurality of different small object types into a plurality of cells of a plurality of small object cassettes, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2A  is an isometric view of an exemplary small object cassette of the system shown in  FIG. 1 , in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2B  is an isometric view of the small object cassette shown in  FIG. 2A  having a cassette cover disposed thereon, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2C  is a top view of the small object cassette shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of a cassette filling station of the system shown in  FIG. 1 , in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of a small object counting and parsing subsystem of the cassette filling station shown in  FIG. 3 , in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is an isometric view of a small object queuing assembly of the small object counting and parsing subsystem shown in  FIG. 4 , in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is a top isometric view of a small object distribution subsystem of the cassette filling station shown in  FIG. 3 , in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6A  is a top view of a buffer tray of the small object distribution subsystem shown in  FIG. 6 , in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  is a bottom isometric view of the small object distribution subsystem shown in  FIG. 6 , in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 8  is an isometric view of an X-Y transport and small object deposition assembly of the small object distribution subsystem shown in  FIG. 6 , in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 9  is an isometric view of an exemplary queuing stage of the small object queuing assembly shown in  FIG. 4  and the transport and small object deposition assembly shown in  FIG. 8 , in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 10  is a top view of a portion of an automated conveyor track extending through a filling station of the system shown in  FIG. 1 , in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 11  is an isometric view of a portion of the automated conveyor track of the system shown in  FIG. 1 , in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 12  is a top view of a portion of the automated conveyor track of the system shown in  FIG. 1  illustrating a plurality of cassette lifts, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 13  is front view of a load-unload station of the system shown in  FIG. 1 , in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 14  is a block diagram of a central control system of the system shown in  FIG. 1 , in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 15  is a flow chart illustrating a sequence of events during operation of the system shown in  FIG. 1 , in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the present teachings, application, or uses. Throughout this specification, like reference numerals will be used to refer to like elements. Additionally, the embodiments disclosed below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art can utilize their teachings. More particularly, the following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to practice the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. 
     Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” can be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “including,” and “having,” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. Any method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps can be employed. 
     When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to or with,” “connected to or with,” or “coupled to or with” another element, device, object, etc., it can be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to or with the other element, device, object, etc., or intervening elements, devices, objects, etc., can be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engaged to,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another element, device object, etc., there can be no intervening elements, devices, objects, etc., present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. 
     Although the terms first, second, third, etc. can be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, devices, objects, sections, etc., these elements, components, regions, devices, objects, sections, etc., should not be limited by these terms. These terms can only be used to distinguish one element, component, region, device, object, section, etc., from another region, device, object, section etc., and do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. 
     The term code, as used herein, can include software, firmware, and/or microcode, and can refer to one or more programs, routines, functions, classes, and/or objects. The term shared, as used herein, means that some or all code from multiple modules can be executed using a single (shared) processor. In addition, some or all code from multiple modules can be stored by a single (shared) memory. The term group, as used above, means that some or all code from a single module can be executed using a group of processors. In addition, some or all code from a single module can be stored using a group of memories. 
     The apparatuses and methods described herein can be implemented by computer code executed by one or more processors. The code includes processor-executable instructions that are stored on a non-transitory, tangible, computer readable medium. The computer code can also include stored data. Non-limiting examples of the non-transitory, tangible, computer readable medium are nonvolatile memory, magnetic storage, and optical storage. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , in various embodiments, the present disclosure provides a high throughput small object parsing and cassette filling system  10  that is structured and operable to parse a plurality of different types of small objects, e.g., different hybrids of seed, into a plurality of groups of small objects and deposit each group into cells of one or more small object cassettes  14 . It should be understood that although the present system  10  and related methods described herein are applicable for the high throughput parsing and sorting of generally any small objects, such as small agricultural, manufactured and/or produced objects, for example, seeds, pharmaceutical tablets or capsules, small electrical components, ball bearings, small food products, etc., for simplicity the present system  10  and related methods will be exemplarily described herein with regard to the parsing and sorting of seeds. 
     In various embodiments, the system  10  generally comprises an automated conveyor system  18 , one or more cassette processing stations  26 , and a central control system  30  for directly and indirectly controlling and coordinating all automated and cooperative functions and operations of the system  10 . It is envisioned that the conveyor system  18  can be any system (human, automated, robotic, etc.) suitable for conveying cassettes  14  from one processing station  26  to another, as described below, for clarity and simplicity, the conveyor system  18  will be exemplarily described and illustrated herein as a conveyor track, and referred to as the conveyor track  18 . Also, although the cassette processing stations  26  can be structured and operable to perform many different operations, procedures and analysis on the cassettes  14  and or small objects deposited therein, as described below, for clarity and simplicity, the processing stations  26  will be exemplarily described and illustrated herein as a cassette filling stations, and referred to as the cassette filling stations  26 . 
     In various embodiments, the system  10  additionally includes at least one load-unload station  22  located next to the conveyor track  18 . The automated conveyor track  18  is structured and operable to transport the cassette(s)  14  from a loading location  34  on the conveyor track  18  to an unloading location  38  on the conveyor track  18 . The load-unload station(s)  22  is/are located next to the conveyor track  18  adjacent the loading and unloading locations  34  and  38 . It should be noted that in various embodiments, the loading location  34  and the unloading location  38  can be substantially the same location on the track  18 . Each load-unload station  22  is structured and operable to assist and operator in loading and/or unloading the cassette(s)  14  onto and off of the conveyor track  18 . In various implementations, the cassette filling station(s)  26  is/are disposed over the conveyor track  18  such that the conveyor track  18  extends through each cassette filling station  26  and under a small object distribution subsystem  42  of each respective cassette filling station  26 . 
     The central control system  30  comprises a computer-based system communicatively connected to at least the conveyor track  18  and each of the cassette filling station(s)  26 , whereby the central control system  30  is structured and operable to control and coordinate the various operations of the conveyor track  18  and each cassette filling station  26  via execution of cassette filling code, as described herein. It should be understood that although the central control system  30  is sometimes described herein as directly controlling the various automated, or robotic, operations of the small object parsing and cassette filling system  10 , it is the execution of the cassette filling code, e.g., execution of the software, programs and/or algorithms, by at least one processor of the control system  30  using inputs from a user interface, various electronically stored date table, databases, lookup table, etc., and various other components, sensors, systems and assemblies of the system  10  that actually control the various automated, or robotic, operations of the small object parsing and cassette filling system  10  described herein. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1, 2A, 3, 4 and 5 , in various embodiments, each cassette filling station  26  includes at least one small object counting and parsing subsystem  46  and the small object distribution subsystem  42 . Each cassette filling station  26  additionally includes a vacuum system that is not described in detail herein and is structured and operable to transport the small objects from various places within the respective cassette filling station  26  to other places within the respective cassette filling station  26 , as described herein. Each cassette filling station  26  further includes various valves, relays, actuators, circuits, etc., that are not described herein. Still further, each cassette filling station  26  includes various system support structures, e.g., bars, beams, struts, braces, etc., that are not described herein. Although, the various components of the vacuum system, the various valves, relays, actuators, circuits, etc., and the various system support structures are not described in detail herein, and can or can not be shown in the various figures, such description and depiction are not necessary for a full understanding of the present disclosure by one skilled in the art, and their structure, location and function would be readily surmised and understood by one skilled in the art upon reading the present disclosure. 
     Referring particularly to  FIG. 4 , each small object counting and parsing subsystem  46  is structured and operable to count and parse a plurality of groups of small objects from a bulk quantity of the small objects. It should be understood that each small object counting and parsing subsystem  46  can count and parse a respective different type of small objects, e.g., a different hybrid of seed. Hence, a cassette filling station  26  comprising a plurality of small object counting and parsing subsystems  46  can be structured and operable to count and parse a plurality of groups of different types of small objects from bulk quantities of a plurality of different types of the small objects. 
     Each group of small objects comprises a respective number of the respective type of small objects stipulated by the control system  30 , via execution of cassette filling code. Each small object counting and parsing subsystem  46  comprises a bulk small object bin  50  having a lockable lid  54  pivotally connected thereto. The bulk small object bin  50  is structured and operable to retain a bulk quantity of small objects of a selected type, e.g., a bulk quantity of a selected type of hybrid seed. In various embodiments, the bulk small object bin  50  includes an evacuation port  58  disposed at a bottom of the bin  50  that is structured and operable to controllably close, whereby the small objects are retained within the bin  50 , and open, whereby the small objects can be evacuated from the bin  50 . Each small object counting and parsing subsystem  46  additionally includes an object decelerator  62  and an upper small object bin  66  fluidly connected to the decelerator  62  such that small objects entering the decelerator (as described below) will flow into the upper small object bin  66  via the force of gravity. The decelerator  62  is fluidly connected to the bulk small object bin  50  by a vacuum conduit  70  that is structured and operable to transport a plurality of small objects from the bulk small object bin  50  to the decelerator, via a vacuum force provided by a vacuum subsystem (not shown) of the respective small object counting and parsing subsystem  26 . The decelerator  62  is structured and operable to receive the small objects from the bulk small object bin  50 , decelerate, or reduce, a speed of the small object being transported from the bulk small object bin  50 , and deposit them into the upper small object bin  66 . 
     The decelerator  62  can be any device or assembly suitable for decelerating the speed of the small objects (i.e., slowing the speed at which the small objects are traveling) received from the bulk small object bin  50 . For example, in various embodiments, the decelerator  62  can be conical shaped receptacle having the vacuum conduit  70  fluidly connected to a top, larger circumference, portion of the conical decelerator  62 , and the upper small object bin  66  fluidly connected to an open lower, apex, portion. To decelerate the speed of the small objects, the small objects are transported from the bulk small object bin  50 , via the vacuum conduit  70  and enter through the sidewall of the decelerator  62  at the top, larger circumference, portion. The speed of travel at which the small objects enter the decelerator  62  will cause the small objects to travel around the interior of the sidewall of the conical shaped decelerator  62  in a rotating, or vortex, flow. Subsequently, due to friction and the force of gravity, the small objects will migrate down the sidewall as their speed of travel reduces, and they will eventually drop through the open apex into the upper small object bin  66 , whereafter the small objects are temporarily retained. 
     In various embodiments, the upper small object bin  66  can be funnel shaped such that the small objects received from the decelerator  62  at a top end of the upper small object bin  66  will be funneled down, via the force of gravity, toward a narrower open lower end. Each small object counting and parsing subsystem  46  further includes a small object singulator and counter  74  fluidly connected to the open lower end of the upper small object bin  66 , and a small object queuing assembly  78  fluidly connected to the small object singulator and counter  74 . The small object singulator and counter  74  is structured and operable to extract small objects from the upper small object bin  66  via a singulation device, e.g., a vacuum wheel (not shown), count the small objects, and parse the small objects into the groups of small objects wherein each group of small objects comprises a respective number of small objects stipulated by execution of the cassette filling code by the central control system. In various embodiments, the small object singulator and counter  74  can comprise a singulating vacuum wheel unit, such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,925,762, titled, High Speed Counter, issued Jan. 6, 2015 and assigned to the assignee of the present disclosure, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. The small object queuing assembly  78  is structured and operable to receive the groups of small objects from the small object singulator and counter  74  and deposit each group of small objects into the small object distribution subsystem  42 , as described below. 
     Referring particularly to  FIG. 5 , in various embodiments, the small object queuing assembly  78  includes a feeder funnel  82 , a first queuing stage  86  fluidly connected to the feeder funnel  82  and a second queuing stage  90  fluidly connected to the first queuing stage  86 . The first queuing stage  86  is structured and operable to receive and temporarily retain each group of small objects parsed by the small object singulator and counter  74 . The second queuing stage  90  is fluidly connected to the first queuing stage  86  and is structured and operable to receive and temporarily retain each group of small objects from the first queuing stage  86 . More specifically, the first queuing stage  86  comprises a hollow receptacle having an open top fluidly connected to the feeder funnel  82 , and an open bottom fluidly connected to the second queuing stage  90 , an interior chamber disposed between the open top and the open bottom, and a first sluice gate device  94  that is structure and operable (e.g., electrically, pneumatically, hydraulically, or mechanically), as controlled by the control system  30 , to open and close the open bottom of the first queuing stage  86 , and thereby control the transfer of each group of small objects from the first queuing stage  86  to the second queuing stage  90 . Similarly, the second queuing stage  90  comprises a hollow receptacle having an open top fluidly connected to the first queuing stage  86 , an open bottom fluidly connectable, as controlled by the control system  30 , to the small object distribution subsystem  42  (as described below), an interior chamber disposed between the open top and the open bottom, and a second sluice gate device  98  that is structure and operable (e.g., electrically, pneumatically, hydraulically, or mechanically), as controlled by the control system  30 , to open and close the open bottom of the second queuing stage  90 , and thereby control the transfer of each group of small objects from the second queuing stage  90  to the distribution subsystem  42 . 
     The first and second sluice gate devices  94  and  98  respectively include a first and second sluice gate  102  and  106  that are sized, shaped, and fitted to cover the open bottom of the first and second queuing stages  86  and  90  when in a Closed position, and to uncover (or open) the open bottom of the bottom the first and second queuing stages  86  and  90  when in an Open position. Each of the first and second sluice gate devices  94  and  98  additionally respectively include a first and second actuator  110  and  114  connected to the respective first and second sluice gates  102  and  106 . The first and second actuators  110  and  114  are structured and operable (e.g., electrically, pneumatically, hydraulically, or mechanically), as controlled by the control system  30 , to move the respective first and second sluice gates  102  and  106  between the Open and Closed positions to controllably and timely move each parsed group of small objects from the singulator and counter  74 , to the first queuing stage  86 , to the second queuing stage  90 , to the distribution subsystem  42 , more particularly, to a third queuing stage  134  of the distribution subsystem  42  (described below). 
     In operation, an initial or first group of small objects is parsed by the singulator and counter  74  from the quantity of small objects transported from the bulk small object bin  50  to the upper small object bin  66 . The first group of parsed small objects are then deposited by the singulator and counter  74  into the first queuing stage  86  having the first sluice gate  102  in the Closed position such that the first group of small objects is retained within the first queuing stage  86 . Subsequently, and prior to a subsequent or second group of small objects being parsed and deposited into the first queuing stage  86 , the first sluice gate  102  is moved to the Open position, as controlled by the control system  30 , such that the first group of small objects is transferred from (e.g., falls from) the first queuing stage  86  to the second queuing stage  90  having the second sluice gate  106  in the Closed position such that the transferred first group of small objects is retained within the second queuing stage  90 . The first sluice gate  102  is moved to the Closed position and second group of small objects is parse and deposited in the first queuing stage  86  by the singulator and counter  74 . Prior to, substantially simultaneously with, or subsequent to the second group of small objects being parsed and deposited into the first queuing stage  86 , the third queuing stage  134  is positioned under the second queuing stage  90  (as described below). Thereafter, the second sluice gate  106  is moved to the Open position, as controlled by the control system  30 , such that the first group of small objects is transferred from (e.g., falls from) the second queuing stage  90  into the third queuing stage  134 , having a third sluice gate  162  in the Closed position such that the transferred first group of small objects is retained within the third queuing stage  134 . 
     After the first group of small objects is deposited in the third queuing stage  134 , the second sluice gate  106  is moved to the Closed position, the second group of small objects is transferred from the first queuing stage  86  to the second queuing stage  90 , and a third group of small objects is parsed and deposited into the first queuing stage  86  by the singulator and counter  74 . Prior to, substantially simultaneously with, or subsequent to any of the above described parsing and transferring of the groups of small objects, the third queuing stage  134  is moved over one of a plurality of buffer cells  126  of a buffer tray  122  (described below), as selected and controlled by the control system  30 , and the third sluice gate  162  is moved to the Open position such that the first group of small objects is transferred from (e.g., falls from) the third queuing stage  134  into the selected buffer cell  126 , as described further below. This process is repeated until all the buffer cells  126  in the buffer tray  122  identified/stipulated by the control system  30  have received a respective stipulated group of small objects to be deposited in a respective selected cassette  14  positioned under the buffer tray  122 , as controlled by the control system  30 , as described further below. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1, 2A, 3, 6, 7 and 8 , the small object distribution subsystem  42  of each cassette filling station  26  is structured and operable to receive each parsed group of small objects from each of the respective small object counting and parsing subsystems  46  of the respective cassette filling station  26 , i.e., from the second queuing stages  90  of each small object counting and parsing subsystems  46  of the respective cassette filling station  26 , as generally described above. Additionally, the small object distribution subsystem  42  is structured and operable to deposit each parsed group of small objects generated by each of the small object counting and parsing subsystems  46  of the respective cassette filling station  26  into a respective one of a plurality of small object cells  142  (e.g.,  120  small object cells), as stipulated by the control system  30 , of each cassette  14  after each respective cassette  14  is positioned under the small object distribution subsystem  42 , particularly under the buffer tray  122  of each small object distribution subsystem  42 , via the conveyor track  18 , as controlled by the control system  30 . 
     In various embodiments, each small object distribution subsystem  42  includes a transport and small object deposition assembly  118 , the multi-cell buffer tray  122  comprising a plurality buffer cells  126  (e.g.,  120  buffer cells) and a buffer tray sluice plate  130 . The transport and small object deposition assembly  118  comprises at least one third queuing stage  134  mounted to an X-Y transport  138 . As exemplarily illustrated in  FIGS. 6 &amp; 8 , in various embodiments, the X-Y transport and small object deposition assembly  118  comprises two third queuing stages  134 . Although, the X-Y transport and small object deposition assembly  118  can comprise one, two, three or more third queuing stages  134 , for simplicity and clarity, the distribution subsystem  42  of each cassette filling station  26  will be described herein as including two third queuing stages  134  mounted to an X-Y transport  138  in a side-by-side fashion. In various embodiments, the X-Y transport and small object deposition assembly  118  comprises a queuing stage carriage  146  to which the third queuing stages  134  are mounted. The queuing stage carriage  146  is movably mounted to a X-axis transport  150  that is structured and operable, as controlled by the control system  30 , to bi-directionally move the queuing stage carriage  146 , and more particularly, the third queuing stages  134 , along the longitudinal axis of the X-axis transport  150 , i.e., in the  + X and  − X directions. In such embodiments, the X-axis transport  150  is movably mounted to a Y-axis transport  154  that is structured and operable, as controlled by the control system  30 , to bi-directionally move the X-axis transport  150 , and more particularly, the third queuing stages  134 , along the longitudinal axis of the Y-axis transport  154 , i.e., in the  + Y and  − Y directions. 
     The X-axis and Y-axis transports  150  and  154  can be any assembly, system or mechanism structured and operable to controllably move the third queuing stages  134  bi-directionally along the respective longitudinal axes of the X-axis and Y-axis transports  150  and  154 , i.e., anywhere within and X-Y coordinate system defined by the X-axis and Y-axis transports  150  and  154 . For example, the X-axis and Y-axis transports  150  and  154  can comprise pneumatically, hydraulically or electrically controlled threaded shaft systems, wire or cable pulley systems, piston systems, conveyor belt systems, linear motor systems, or any other suitable positioning system structured and operable to move the third queuing stages  134  along the lengths of the respective X-axis and Y-axis transports  150  and  154 , as controlled by the control system  30 . In various embodiments, the X-axis and Y-axis transports  150  and  154  comprise linear motors structured and operable to produce a controllable linear force exerted respectively on the queuing stage carriage  146  and the X-axis transport to controllably move the third queuing stages  134  anywhere within the X-Y coordinate grid defined by the X-axis and Y-axis transports  150  and  154 . 
     Each third queuing stage  134  comprises a hollow receptacle having an open top, an open bottom, an interior chamber disposed between the open top and the open bottom, and a third sluice gate device  158  that is structure and operable (e.g., electrically, pneumatically, hydraulically, or mechanically), as controlled by the control system  30 , to open and close the open bottom of the respective third queuing stage  134 , and thereby control the transfer of each group of small objects from the third queuing stage  134  to a selected buffer cell  126  of the buffer tray  122 , as described below. Each third sluice gate device  158  includes a third sluice gate  162  that is sized, shaped, and fitted to cover the open bottom of the third queuing stage  134  when in a Closed position, and to uncover (or open) the open bottom of the bottom the third queuing stage  134  when in an Open position. Each third sluice gate device  158  additionally includes a third actuator  166  connected to the respective third sluice gate  162 . The third actuator  166  is structured and operable (e.g., electrically, pneumatically, hydraulically, or mechanically), as controlled by the control system  30 , to move the third sluice gate  162  between the Open and Closed positions to controllably and timely move each parsed group of small objects received from the second queuing stage  90  to the respective buffer cell  126  of the buffer tray  122 . 
     As described above, the buffer tray  122  comprises a plurality of buffer cells  126  that are structured to receive and temporarily retain parsed groups of small objects. Each buffer cell  126  has an open top (shown in  FIG. 6 ) and an open bottom (shown in  FIG. 7 ) that can be covered by the buffer tray sluice plate  130  (shown in  FIG. 7  in an Open position). The buffer tray sluice plate  130  is sized, shaped, and fitted to cover the bottom of the buffer tray  122 , and particularly, the open bottoms of all the buffer cells  126 . Particularly, the buffer tray sluice plate  130  is connected to a sluice plate actuator (not shown) that is operable to selectively move the buffer tray sluice plate  130 , as controlled by the control system  30 , between a Closed position and an Open position. When in the Closed position, the buffer tray sluice plate  130  covers the open bottoms of all the buffer cells  130  to thereby retain the groups of small objects that have been deposited therein, as described above. When moved to the Open position, the buffer tray sluice plate  130  uncovers the open bottoms of all the buffer cells  126  such that the groups of small objects retained therein are transferred from (e.g., fall from) the buffer cells  126  into corresponding cassette cells  142  that has been position beneath the buffer tray  122  by the conveyor track  18 , as controlled by the control system  30 . 
     As described above, as each counting and parsing subsystem  46  is parsing a second or third group of small objects one of the third queuing stages  134  is positioned under the second queuing stage  90  of any one of the counting and parsing subsystems  46  of the respective cassette filling station  26 . More particularly, the X-Y transport  138  is operated, as controlled by the control system  30 , to move one of the third queuing stages along the X-axis transport  150 , and move the X-axis transport  150  along the Y-axis transport  154  such that a selected one of the third queuing stages  134  is positioned below the respective selected second queuing stage  90 . Thereafter, the second sluice gate  106  is moved to the Open position, as controlled by the control system  30 , such that the first group of small objects is transferred from (e.g., falls from) the second queuing stage  90  to the third queuing stage  134 , having a third sluice gate  162  in the Closed position such that the transferred first group of small objects is retained within the third queuing stage  134 . Thereafter, the X-Y transport  138  is operated, as controlled by the control system  30 , to move the third queuing stage  134  retaining the first group of small objects along the X-axis transport  150 , and move the X-axis transport  150  along the Y-axis transport  154  such that the third queuing stage  134  retaining the first group of small objects is positioned over a designated or target buffer cell  126  of the buffer tray  122 , as stipulated by the control system  30 . Once positioned over the target buffer cell  126 , the third sluice gate  162  is moved to the Open position such that the first group of small objects is transferred from (e.g., falls from) the third queuing stage  134  into the target buffer cell  126  of the buffer tray  122  having the buffer tray sluice plate  126  in the Closed position. 
     The process of parsing groups of small objects and transferring each parsed group of small objects to a respective target buffer cell  126 , as described above, is continued until all groups of parsed small objects designated by the control system  30  to be deposited into the respective cassette  14  positioned beneath the buffer tray  122  have been deposited into the designated target buffer cells  126 . Thereafter, the buffer tray sluice plate  130  is moved to the Open position and all the groups of small objects are transferred from (e.g., fall from) the buffer tray  122  into the corresponding cells  142  of the waiting cassette  14 , i.e., into cells  142  having the same row and column number as the buffer cell  126  from which the group of small objects is being transferred. For example, with particular reference to  FIGS. 2C and 6A , groups of small objects deposited in a buffer cells  126  of the buffer tray  122  having the row and column coordinates of (3,7), (7,2) and (14,5) will be transferred to the corresponding cassette cells  142  of the cassette  14  having row and column coordinates of (3,7), (7,2) and (14,5) when the buffer tray sluice plate  130  is moved to the Open position. Accordingly, the conveyor track  18 , as controlled by the control system  30 , precisely positions each respective cassette  14  under the buffer tray  122  of each respective filling station  26  such that the parsed groups of small objects from the respective filling station  26  are accurately deposited into the designated/specified cells [0054] of each respective cassette  14  as each cassette travels along the conveyor track  18 . 
     It should be noted that during the operation described above, the distribution subsystem  42  is operating the third queuing stages  134  to sequentially receive (e.g., according to any pattern or sequence stipulated by the cassette filling code) parsed groups from the respective second queuing stages  90  of each of the respective counting and parsing subsystems  46  of the respective filling station  24  and depositing each group of small objects into a respective designated buffer cells of the buffer tray, based on mapping data utilized during execution of the cassette filling code. Additionally, in doing this, the distribution subsystem  42  can operate such that each of the third queuing stages  134  receives a group of small objects from separate second queuing stages  90  of separate counting and parsing subsystems  46 , whereafter the respective groups of small objects are transferred from the respective third queuing stages  134  into respective designated buffer cells  126 , as described above. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 9 , in various embodiments, in order to prevent small objects from jamming, lodging or binding within the respective interior chambers of one or more of the first, second and third queuing stages  86 ,  90  and  134 , one or more of the first, second and third queuing stages  86 ,  90  and  134  can comprise one or more stationary or fixed walls  170  and one or more vibratory walls  174 . For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , in various embodiments, one or more of the first, second and third queuing stages  86 ,  90  and  134  comprises two connected or integrally formed fixed walls  170  and two connected or integrally formed vibratory walls  174  that are adjacent the fixed walls  170  such that the four walls  170 / 174  define the respective interior chambers. In such embodiments, each first, second and third queuing stages  86 ,  90  and  134  additionally comprises a vibratory motor  178  structured and operable to vibrate, move and/or shake the vibratory walls  174  relative to the fixed walls  170 . For example, in various embodiments, the vibratory walls  174  include a tongue  182  that is pivotally connected to the fixed walls  170  via opposing arms  186  extending from the fixed walls  170  such that the vibratory walls  174  can pivot about a pivot pin  190  connecting the tongue  182  to the arms  186 . In such embodiments, substantially simultaneously with moving the respective first, second and third sluice gates  102 ,  106  and  162  to the Open position, as described above, the control system  30  activates the respective vibratory motor  178  whereby the motor  178  vibrates, causing the vibratory walls  174  to vibrate, move and/or shake. The vibrating, moving and/or shaking of the vibratory walls  174  dislodges any small objects that can be jammed, lodged or bound within the respective interior chamber allowing the small object to be transferred from the respective first, second and third queuing stages  86 ,  90  and  134 , as described above. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1, 10 and 11 , as described above, the automated conveyor system  18  (e.g., conveyor track  18 ) is structured and operable to transport the cassette(s)  14  from the loading location  34 , through the one or more filling stations  26  where each cassette  14  receives the groups of small objects as described above, and then to the unloading location  38  on the conveyor track  18 . As described above, in various embodiments, the conveyor system  18  can be any automated conveyor system (e.g., an automated conveyor track system) structured and operable to transport the cassette(s)  14  as described above. For example, in various embodiments wherein the conveyor system  18  comprises the conveyor track  18 , the conveyor track  18  can comprise a pair of opposing side rails  194  having a plurality of passive rollers  198  and a plurality of drive rollers  202  rotationally disposed between the side rails  194 . Each drive roller  202  is driven, i.e., rotated, by a respective one of a plurality of roller motors (not shown) that are controlled by the controls system  30 . Each of the passive rollers  198  are operatively connected to a respective one of the drive rollers  202  such that rotation of each passive roller  198  is controlled by the rotation of the respective drive roller  202 , which is controlled by the control system  30 . More than one passive roller  198  can be operatively connected to each drive roller  202 . 
     The passive and drive rollers  198  and  202  can be operatively connected using any suitable connecting means, e.g., belts, chains, gears, etc. For example, in various embodiments, each drive roller  202  is operatively connected to a passive roller  198  immediately adjacent the respective drive roller  202 , (i.e., the first adjacent passive roller  198 ) by a belt  206  ( FIG. 10 ). The first adjacent passive roller  198  is operatively connected to a passive roller  198  immediately adjacent the first passive roller  198  (i.e., the second passive roller  198 ) by another belt  206 . The sequence of operative connection of subsequent adjacent passive rollers  198  can continue for any desired number of passive rollers  198 , e.g., 5 to 15 passive rollers  198 . Each group of rollers comprising a drive roller  202  and the respectively operatively connected passive rollers  198  form a track section  210 . Hence, the conveyor track  18  comprises a plurality of sequential track sections  210 , each section  210  comprising one drive roller  202  and a particular number of passive rollers  198  operatively connected to the respective drive roller  202 . In various embodiments, each track section  210  has length approximately equal to a length L of the cassette(s)  14 . Therefore, the sections  210  of the conveyor track  18  can be operated (i.e., the rollers  198 / 202  rotated), as controlled by the control system  30 , to advance each cassette  14  along the conveyor track  18  one track section  210  at a time. Furthermore, each section  210  can be independently operated to independently advance and/or stop each cassette  14  at any point along the conveyor track  18 . Accordingly, the control system  30  can control movement of each cassette  14  independently and precisely position each cassette  14  under the buffer tray  122  of any or all the filling stations  26  disposed over the conveyor track  18 . 
     In various embodiments, the conveyor track  18  further includes a plurality of cassette identification sensors  214 , e.g., identification label readers, disposed along the length of the conveyor track  18 . The sensors  214  are structured and operable to sense the location of each cassette  14  as each cassette is transported along the conveyor track  18 , and to communicate with the control system  30  such that the control system  30  can monitor and track the location of each cassette  14  as each cassette  14  is transported along the conveyor track  18 . The sensors  214  can be any type of sensor suitable for reading an identification label  218  disposed each respective cassette  14 , each identification label  218  providing various individual data and information regarding the respective cassette  14 , the different small objects deposited or to be deposited therein, a geographical destination of each respective cassette  14 , and any other desired data and/or information. The identification labels  218  can be any label suitable for providing the various data and information, e.g., radio frequency identification (RFID) labels, one-dimensional ( 1  D) barcode labels, two-dimensional ( 2 D) barcode labels, or any other suitable identification label. Importantly, as each cassette  14  is precisely positioned under the buffer tray  122  of a designated filling station  26 , as described above, the control system  30  will, via a sensor  214 , read the respective identification label  218  and thereby identify the respective cassette  14 . Then based on: 1) small object type and number data, and cassette cell mapping data for the respective cassette  14  stored in one or more databases and/or electronic storage of the control system  30 ; and 2) the particular types of small objects the respective filling station  26  is set up to parse and dispense, which is entered into and controlled by the control system  30  as described below, the respective filling station  26  will parse and deposit the stipulated groups of small objects into the stipulated cells  142  of the respective cassette  14 , as controlled by the control system  30 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 12 , in various embodiments the conveyor track  18  further includes a cassette lift  222  located at each of the loading and unloading locations  34  and  38  of the conveyor track  18 . Operation of the cassette lift(s)  222  is controlled by an operator (human or robotic) placing cassettes  14  onto the conveyor track  18  at the loading location  34  and removing cassettes  14  from the conveyor track  18  at the unloading location  38 . More particularly, a lift  222  located at the loading location  34 , adjacent a first load-unload station  22 , is structured and operable, as controlled by the operator, to receive cassettes  14  placed on the lift  222  by the operator and then lower the cassettes  14  onto the conveyor track  18 . Conversely, a lift  222  located at the unloading location  38 , adjacent a second load-unload station  22 , is structured and operable, as controlled by the operator, to raise cassettes  14  off of the conveyor track  18  such that the operator can remove the cassettes  14  from the conveyor track  18 . 
     The lift(s)  222  can be controlled by any mechanism or device suitable for operation by the operator to activate (e.g., raise) the respective lift  222  and deactivate (e.g., lower) the respective life  222 , e.g., a button, switch, pedal, lever, crank, etc. For example, in various embodiments, each cassette lift  222  is communicatively connected (wired or wirelessly) to a lift control pressure pad  226  of the respective load-unload station  22 . In such embodiments, the operator can actuate (e.g., step onto) the pressure pad  226  to activate (e.g., raise) the respective lift  222 , and then de-actuate (e.g., step off) of the pressure pad  226  to deactivate (e.g., lower) the respective lift  222 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1, 12 and 13 , in various embodiments, each load-unload station  22  additionally includes a cassette crate lift  230  that is structured and operable to raise and lower a cassette crate  238  that is structured and operable to retain a plurality of cassettes  14 . A cassette crate  238  is generally a large shipping crate suitable for transporting a plurality of the cassettes  14  from one location to another. For example, in various embodiments, each cassette crate  238  is a large wooden cube, e.g., a 4 foot by 4 foot cube, that can be opened on opposing sides and can hold and store up to 56 or more cassettes  14 . Each cassette crate lift  230  is controllable by the operator (human or robotic) via a lift control  242 , e.g., buttons, levers, pedals, etc., to raise and lower a cassette crate  238  such that cassettes  14  to be removed from, or placed into, the respective crate  238  can be raised or lowered to an ergonomic height of the respective operator. In various implementations, each lift  230  comprise a lift plate  234  on which the respective crate  238  is placed. The lift plate  234  is operably connected to a lift drive (not shown), e.g., and electric motor, one or more pneumatic pistons, one or more hydraulic pistons, etc., such the operator can adjust the height of the respective crate  238  to a desired height using the lift control  242 . Additionally, in various embodiments, each load-unload station  22  comprises one or more graphical display monitors  244 , communicatively connected (wired or wirelessly) to the control system  30 . Each display  244  displays a visual graphic of a cassette fill pattern the control system  30  currently assumes a given cassette  14  should have (e.g., the approximate number of small objects in each cell  142 , unfilled cells  142 , etc.), thereby providing a rapid visual confirmation to the operator. For example, an operator can verify, with a quick visual scan of a given cassette  14  being removed from the conveyor track  18 , that a fill pattern of the respective cassette  14  being removed matches the respective fill pattern intended by the control system  30 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 14 , as described above, the automated system  10  is controlled by the central control system  30 , more particularly, by execution of the cassette filling code by a processor of the control system  30 . In various embodiments, the control system  30  includes various computers and electrical modules or panels that can be located in various locations of the system  10 , e.g., included in each filling station  26 , included in the conveyor track  18 , and included in a stand-alone console  246 . More particularly, in various embodiments, the control system  30  is a computer based system that generally includes one or more computers  250  that each includes at least one processor  254  suitable to execute at least a portion of the cassette filling code (CFC) to control all automated functions and operations of the system  10 , as described herein. Each computer  250  additionally includes at least one electronic storage device  258  that comprises a computer readable medium, such as a hard drive or any other electronic data storage device for storing such things as the cassette filling code or at least portions thereof, algorithms and digital information, data, look-up tables, spreadsheets and databases, etc. Furthermore, the control system  30  includes at least one display  262  for displaying such things as information, data and/or graphical representations, and at least one user interface device  266 , such as a keyboard, mouse, stylus, and/or an interactive touch-screen on the display  266 . In various embodiments, each computer  250  can include a removable media reader  270  for reading information and data from and/or writing information and data to removable electronic storage media such as floppy disks, compact disks, DVD disks, zip disks, flash drives or any other computer readable removable and portable electronic storage media. In various embodiments the removable media reader  270  can be an I/O port of the respective computer  250  utilized to read external or peripheral memory devices such as flash drives or external hard drives. 
     In various embodiments, the control system  30 , e.g., one or more of the computers  250 , can be communicatively connectable to one or more remote system or server network  274 , e.g., a local area network (LAN) or other system operated independently of the system  10 , via a wired or wireless link. For example, the control system  30  can communicate with a remote server network  274  to upload and/or download data, information, algorithms, software programs, and/or receive operational commands. Or, alternatively, the control system  30  can be in real time communication with one or more different systems operating elsewhere, e.g., seed and/or crop treatment and analytic systems such as that described in PCT application number PCT/US2015/045301, titled Apparatus And Methods For In-Field Data Collection And Sampling, filed Aug. 14, 2015, and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In such instances, during execution of the cassette filling code (as described above), the control system  30  can make real time, ‘on-the-fly’ changes, alterations and/or variations to any process, procedure, function, operation, parameter, data, etc., utilized, executed and/or implemented by the system  10  (as described above), based on information, data, coordinates, instructions, etc., received from one or more such different systems. Additionally, in various embodiments, the control system  30  can be structured and operable to access the Internet to upload and/or download data, information, algorithms, software programs, etc., to and from Internet sites and network servers 
     In various embodiments, the cassette filling code is top-level system control software that not only controls the discrete hardware functionality of the system  30 , but also prompts the operators (human or robotic) as to which cassette(s)  14  to load for the most efficient filling of the cassette(s)  14 . In order to maximize throughput of the system  30 , it is important that the operators load cassette(s) onto the conveyor track  18  in the most efficient order. To enable this, the cassette filling code interfaces with an inventory monitoring system that contains information regarding the types and quantities of small objects, e.g., different types and quantities of hybrid seed, stored in a storage area near the system  30  to determine which types of small objects are available. Since all small objects needed to fill every cassette  14  can not be available at the start of a filling season, it is important that the system  30  tracks and monitors which types and quantity of small objects are available. With this information, the control system  30  can determine which small objects should be loaded into each of the filling stations  26  and which cassette(s)  14  should be loaded onto the conveyor track  18 . In various embodiments, the control system  30  communicates with the inventory monitoring system to provide a list of which types and quantities of small objects have been removed from inventory. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 through 15 , in operation,  FIG. 15  provides a flow chart  300  illustrating a sequence of events during operation of the small object parsing and cassette filling system  10 , in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. Initially, based on the known inventory of types and quantities of small objects (e.g., different types and quantities hybrid seed) available for use, the known available cassettes  14  needing to be filled, and the geographic destination of each respective cassette  14  to be filled, the system  30  determines which of the available cassettes  14  will be most efficiently filled by the system  10  and which containers (e.g., bags) of small objects should be retrieved from stock/storage, as indicated at  302 . The control system  30  will provide this information to an operator, e.g., by displaying this information on a display  262  of the control system  30  and/or providing a printed copy of the information. Armed with this information, an operator (human or robotic) will retrieve the indicated containers of small objects from stock and will position one or more cassette crates  238  retaining one or more of the indicated cassettes  14  on the lift plate(s)  234  of one or more of the load-unload stations  22  positioned adjacent one or more loading locations  34  of the conveyor track  18 , as indicated at  304 . 
     Subsequently, an operator places each container of retrieved small objects adjacent particular filling stations  26  as determined and indicated by the control system  30 . Thereafter, an operator reads a container identification label of a respective container using a container identification label reader  278  ( FIG. 3 ) of the respective filling station  26  stipulated by the control system  30  to parse groups of small objects from the respective container, as indicated at  306 . 
     The container identification labels and reader  278  can be any label and associated reader suitable for providing and reading various data and information regarding the small objects contained in the respective container, e.g., radio frequency identification (RFID) labels and reader, one-dimensional (1D) barcode labels and reader, two-dimensional (2D) barcode labels and reader, or any other suitable identification label and reader. Once the container identification label has been read, the control system  30  determines if the respective container and small objects therein are to be counted and parsed by the respective filling station  26 . If so, the control system  30  unlocks a selected one of the bulk small object bin lockable lids  54 , designated by the control system  30 , such that the operator can deposit a quantity of the small objects from the respective container into the unlocked bulk small object bin  50 , as indicated at  308 . This process is repeated until small objects from each of the containers retrieved from stock/storage have been deposited into the designated bulk small object bins  50  of the designated filling stations  26 . 
     Prior to, simultaneously with, or subsequent to the operator filling the bulk small object bins  50 , as described above, an operator at the ‘loading’ load-unload station(s)  22  where the cassette crate(s)  238  has/have been positioned begins loading the cassettes  14  therein onto the conveyor track  18 , as indicated  310 . To load a cassette  14  onto the conveyor track  18  the operator: 1) reads the cassette identification label  218  using a suitable cassette identification label reader  282  of the conveyor track  18  located at the respective loading location  34  of the conveyor track  18  ( FIG. 12 ); 2) removes the respective cassette  14  from the crate  238 ; 3) actuates the cassette lift to raise the cassette lift  222  located at the respective loading location  34  of the conveyor track  18  (e.g., steps on the respective pressure pad  226 ); 4) places the cassette  14  onto the raised lift  222 ; and 5) de-actuates the lift  222  to lower the respective cassette  14  onto the conveyor track  18  (e.g., steps off the pressure pad  226 ), whereafter the cassette  14  is advanced along the conveyor track  18  by the rollers  198  and  202 , as described above. The sequence of reading the cassette identification labels  218 , removing the cassettes  14  from the cassette crate  238 , actuating the lift  222 , and placing the cassette onto the lift  222  is only an exemplary sequence and is not limiting, rather these steps/functions can be performed by the operator in any desired order and remain within the scope of the present disclosure. 
     As the cassettes  14  are loaded onto the conveyor track  18 , they are controllably advanced from one track section  210  to the next such that each cassette  14  is sequentially positioned under the buffer trays  122  of one or more designated filling stations  26 , whereafter the designated filling stations  26  deposit groups of small objects into the designated cassette cells  142 , all as controlled by the control system  30  and described above, as indicated at  312 . Hence, each cassette  14  loaded onto the conveyor track  18  is controllably advanced along the track  18 , one section  210  at a time, and sequentially positioned under one or more of the filling stations  26 , whereafter each respective filling station  26  parses groups of small objects, as designated and controlled by the system controller  30 , and deposits each parsed group of small objects into specific cells  142  of the respective cassettes  14 , as designated and controlled by the system controller  30 , until each cassette  14  has passed through each of the filling stations  26 , receiving groups of small objects only from those filling stations  26  designated by the control system  30 . 
     Once a cassette  14  has been advanced through each of the filling stations  26 , the cassette  14  is advanced to an unloading location  38  of the conveyor track  18 , where the control system  30  positions the cassette  14  over the lift  222  located at the respective unloading location  38  of the conveyor track  18 , whereafter an operator unloads, i.e., removes, the cassette from the conveyor track and places into a designated cassette crate  238 , as indicated at  314 . To unload, i.e., remove, a cassette  14  from the conveyor track  18  the operator: 1) actuated the cassette lift  22  to raise the cassette lift  222  located at the respective unloading location  38  of the conveyor track  18  (e.g., steps on the respective pressure pad  226 ) and thereby raise the cassette  14  off the roller  198  and  202  of the conveyor track  18 ; 2) reads the cassette identification label  218  using a suitable cassette identification label reader  282  located at the respective unloading location  38  of the conveyor track  18  so the control system  30  can track/monitor the location of the respective cassette and what groups of small objects have been deposited therein; 3) removes the respective cassette  14  from the raised lift  222 ; 4) de-actuates the lift  222  to lower the lift  222  (e.g., steps off the pressure pad  226 ); and 5) places the respective cassette  14  into the designated cassette crate  238 . The sequence of actuating the lift  222 , reading the cassette identification labels  218 , removing the cassettes  14  from the lift  222 , and placing the cassette into the designated crate  238  is only an exemplary sequence and is not limiting, rather these steps/functions can be performed by the operator in any desired order and remain within the scope of the present disclosure. 
     After all the selected cassettes  14  designated to receive a particular type of small object, e.g., a particular hybrid of seed, have received the designated groups of the particular type of small objects, that type of small object can be purged from the respective filling station  26  via a purging conduit  286  ( FIG. 4 ). In various embodiments, the purging conduit  286  is connected at an upper end to an evacuation port (not shown) of the upper small object bin  66  and at a lower end to the bulk small object bin  50  of the respective counting and parsing subsystem  46  of the respective filling station  26 . To purge the small objects the control system  30  opens the respective evacuation port, thereby allowing the force of gravity to cause all the small objects within the respective upper small object bin  66  to fall through the purging conduit into the respective bulk small object bin  50 . Additionally, any small objects remaining within the singulator and counter  74 , or the first, second or third queuing stages  86 ,  90  or  134  can be cycled through the respective queuing stages, as described above, and deposited, via the transport and small object deposition assembly  118 , into a purge pan  290  ( FIG. 6 ) of the small object distribution subsystem  42 . Thereafter, subsequent types of small objects can be parsed and deposited into the cassettes  14  that were not removed from the conveyor track  18  or cassettes  14  that are subsequently loaded onto the conveyor track  18 , as described above. 
     As described above, the cassette processing stations  26  can be structured and operable to perform many different operations, procedures and analysis on the cassettes  14  and or small objects deposited therein, other than as a cassette filling stations. For example, it is envisioned that, in addition to or instead of, the cassette processing stations  26  parsing groups of small objects, such as seeds, from a plurality of bulk quantities of different types of small objects and depositing the parsed groups of small objects into cells  142  of a small object cassette  14 , the cassette processing stations  26  can be structured and operable to apply a coating or treatment to any, all or selected groups of small objects and/or cells  142  prior to and/or subsequent to the small objects being deposited in cassettes  14 . For example, the system  10  can be structured and operable to apply microbial and/or chemical treatments in any form, including liquids, gasses, and semi-solids, powders, etc., to any, all or selected groups of small objects and/or cells  126  and/or  142  prior to and/or subsequent to the small objects being deposited in cassettes  14 . Additionally, the treatment can include such things a chemicals to clean the cells  126  and/or  142 , or autoclavable components, or lubricants, etc. 
     Still further, it is envisioned that in various embodiments, in addition to or instead of, the cassette processing stations  26  parsing groups of small objects, such as seeds, from a plurality of bulk quantities of different types of small objects and depositing the parsed groups of small objects into cells  142  of a small object cassette  14 , the cassette processing stations  26  can be structured and operable to perform various analytic procedures on the small objects to analyze and/or assay and/or determine such things as oil content of the small objects deposited in one or more cell  142 , the volume of the small objects deposited in one or more cell  142 , the weight of the small objects deposited in one or more cell  142 , the size and/or shape of small objects deposited in one or more cell  142 . Such embodiments of the system  10  can include analytic and measurement devices such as lasers, optical imaging devices, X-ray imaging devices, magnetic imaging devices, microwave imaging devices, IR imaging devices, meters, scales, etc. that are capable of collecting image data and other data regarding any desired metric if the respective small objects. 
     Still further yet, it is envisioned that, in various embodiments, the system  10  can include: 1) one or more cassette processing station  26  that is structured and operable to parse groups of small objects, from a plurality of bulk quantities of different types of small objects and depositing the parsed groups of small objects into cells  142  of a small object cassette  14  (as described above); 2) one or more cassette processing station  26  that is structure and operable to apply a coating or treatment to any, all or selected groups of small objects and/or cells  142  prior to and/or subsequent to the small objects being deposited in cassettes  14  (as described above); and/or 3) one or more cassette processing stations  26  structured and operable to perform various analytic procedures on the small objects (as described above). 
     Still yet further, it is envisioned that, in various embodiments, any method of preparing and/or processing and/or sorting the small objects that are loaded into a cassette  14  can be used in conjunction with the methods described herein. For example, in various embodiments, seeds can be separated from other plant parts using any method and/or device, e.g. harvesting, shelling, threshing, ginning, etc., before and/or during and/or after being loaded into a cassette  14 . Furthermore, in various instances, before and/or during and/or after a seed is loaded into a cassette  14 , the seed(s) can be subjected to any number of tests, trials, or analyses known to be useful for evaluating plant performance, including any phenotyping or genotyping assay known in the art. These include, but are not limited to, any imaging, optical, chemical, or physical technique useful for distinguishing or characterizing the seed(s) (small objects) in question. For example, a user can collect data about the contents of a cassette  14  based on visible light, NMR, X-ray, MRI, microwave, or any other type or combination of electromagnetic signal. In various embodiments, it can be advantageous to test and/or sort and/or select plants based on assays that can be conducted without germinating a seed or otherwise cultivating a plant sporophyte. Common examples of seed phenotypes include size, shape, surface area, volume, mass, and/or quantity of chemicals in at least one tissue of the seed, e.g. anthocyanins, proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, etc., in the embryo, endosperm or other seed tissues. In various embodiments, the presence of at least one reporter molecule that binds to at least one specified nucleic acid or amino acid sequence that the user wishes to use to differentiate the seeds in a population is used in conjunction with the methods disclosed herein. In various embodiments, wherein the small objects are seeds, the seeds can be differentiated based on the presence or absence of particular isotopes, e.g., C12 vs. C14. In some embodiments, this detection is accomplished by the use of rapid mass spectrometry. In various embodiments, seeds can be analyzed and/or distinguished and/or sorted based on data collected using computerized (or computed) tomography, including methods such as those described in U.S. Provisional Application 62/055,861, filed Sep. 26, 2014, and PCT Application PCT/US2015/052133, filed Sep. 25, 2015, titled High Throughput Methods Of Analyzing Seed Cotton Using X-Ray Imaging. Additionally, in various embodiments, seeds can be analyzed, distinguished, and/or sorted based on oil content and/or water content, and/or their weight, such as described in U.S. Provisional Application 61/791,411, filed Mar. 15, 2013, U.S. application Ser. No. 14/206,238, filed Mar. 12, 2014, and PCT Application PCT/US/2014/025174, filed Mar. 13, 2014, titled High-Throughput Sorting Of Small Objects Via Oil And/Or Moisture Content Using Low-Field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance; and/or U.S. Provisional Application 62/051,000, filed Sep. 16, 2014, and PCT Application PCT/US2015/049344, filed Sep. 10, 2016, titled Improved Methods Of Plant Breeding Using High-Throughput Seed Sorting. 
     In various embodiments, tissues of the seed can also be genotyped using any method useful to the breeder. Common examples include harvesting a sample of the embryo and/or endosperm in a way that does not kill or otherwise prevent the embryo from surviving the ordeal, i.e., seed chipping. Automated examples of these methods can be found in the following list of US Applications and issued U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,502,113; 7,611,842; 7,849,632; 7,703,238; 8,312,672; 8,959,833; 7,830,516; 7,832,143; 8,245,439; 8,443,545; 8,997,398; 8,539,713; 7,941,969; 7,591,101; 8,434,259; PCT/US2013/0244321; U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,998,669; 8,028,469; 9,027,278; 7,877,926; 8,561,346; 9,003,696; 7,767,883; 8,071,845; and 8,436,225. Any other method of harvesting samples of tissues of the seed for analysis can be used for the purposes of genotyping, as well as conducting genotyping assays directly on the tissues of the seed that do not require a sample of tissue to be removed. In various embodiments, the embryo and/or endosperm remain connected to other tissues of the seed. In various embodiments, the embryo and/or endosperm is separated from other tissues of the seed (e.g. embryo rescue, embryo excision, etc.). 
     In any way that a tissue of the seed might be accessed, there are a wide range of methods that can be employed to genotype them. Commonly used methods include using at least one molecular marker (e.g. a single-nucleotide polymorphism, or SNP, marker) and/or at least one sequencing-based method (e.g. genotype by sequencing, or GBS) to detect the presence of certain nucleotide sequences in the embryo or endosperm of a seed. It is anticipated that other useful method of detecting, quantifying, or comparing a nucleotide sequence in a plant embryo or endosperm could be employed in conjunction with methods described herein, depending on the circumstances (e.g. species of plant, number of plants to genotype, size of breeding program, etc.). Any genotyping method that a user employs to aid in the process of selecting seeds (or embryos, or endosperms) for advancement to a next step in a breeding process could be useful with these methods. 
     In the same way that users of the methods disclosed herein are not limited to certain genotyping or phenotyping methods or technologies when assaying the tissues on and/or within a seed, any method or technology that aids in the determination of a genotype or phenotype of a plant or plant cells at any stage of the life cycle could be used in conjunction with the methods described herein. For example, a plant researcher can desire to actually germinate a seed from a cross and/or cultivate the plant from an embryo to some later development stage in order to complete a test useful for making selections on the plant. 
     It is anticipated that those of ordinary skill will appreciate that the methods disclosed herein are not limited to the type of data about a plant that are collected, or how they are collected, or how they are analyzed and that any method of scoring and/or comparing a plant or plant cell type with another could be used to make a selection. Some of the common examples of criteria used by plant researchers to evaluate germinated plants include yield (e.g. measured by the amount of harvested plant chemicals and/or tissues), disease and/or stress tolerance, robustness, germination rate (e.g. following seed chipping), cost to produce a product (e.g. “cost of goods”), propensity to produce haploid offspring (induction), the propensity of cells of haploid offspring to have their chromosome number doubled (i.e. chromosome doubling), presence or absence of certain nucleotide sequences (e.g. molecular genotyping/phenotyping), amount of seed set, amount of pollen production, and any other trait or characteristic a researcher desires to increase, decrease, or maintain the frequency of in a population of plants. 
     Furthermore, the identity of the small objects can be electronically assigned and/or maintained and/or determined in conjunction with these methods using any technique or device the user desires to employ, including computer-based methods, e.g., using bar codes and/or radio-frequency identification to track the small objects before and/or during and/or after being loaded into a cassette. 
     Furthermore, although the small object counting and parsing subsystems  46  have been described to count the small objects to be deposited in the various object queueing stations  86 / 90 / 134 , it is envisioned that, in various embodiments, the small object counting and parsing subsystems  46  can be structured and operable to quantify and dispense the small objects into the object queueing stations  86 / 90 / 134  based on any other desired metric such as weight, oil content, size, shape, volume, etc. 
     Even further, although the vibrator walls  174  have been described above with regard to use in the object queueing stages  86 / 90 / 134 , it is envisioned that, in various embodiments, the vibrator walls  174  and the likes thereof can be implemented anywhere within any one or more of the cassette processing stations where the small objects can get bridged, lodged, jammed, stuck or bound between the bulk small object bins  50  and the cassette cells  142 . Additionally, it should be noted that in arriving at the embodiments of the vibrator walls  174  described above, various tests and iterations were attempted and performed. For example, it was attempted to implement a vibratory motor to vibrate the sluice gates  94 ,  98  and  102 . However, this did not adequately transfer vibration through the entire column height of the object queueing stages  86 / 90 / 134  to prevent bridging, and when bridging did occur, the vibration was insufficient to break up the bridge. Another attempt involved striking the object queueing stages  86 / 90 / 134  with a mass to unsettle bridge formation in the seed volume. But, tests revealed that the mass required to prevent and/or break up bridging so great that it added an unacceptable amount of weight to the object queueing stages  86 / 90 / 134 . A further attempt included increasing the cross sectional area of the object queueing stages  86 / 90 / 134 , which was accomplished by splitting the respective queueing station into two parts along the diagonal of the square cross section. One half was rigidly mounted to the system, while the other half was moved via a pneumatic actuator. Test revealed that this solution can work, however, there is a concern that further modifications are needed to achieve a desired rate of efficacy. 
     The final solution of implementing the vibrator walls  174 , as described above, to solve a bridging problem employed a vibratory motor, and the concept of splitting the respective queueing stage  86 / 90 / 134  into two parts, and instead connecting the vibratory motor to the sluice gates  94 ,  98  and  102 , the vibratory motor was connected to one half (e.g., one of two longitudinal walls) of the respective queueing stage  86 / 90 / 134 . The vibratory motor is mounted to insure the motor&#39;s rotation axis is 90° to the pivot axis (e.g., the pivot pin  190 ), so that each rotation of the motor induces a corresponding shift in location of the pivoting queue half. In essence, each rotation of the motor changes the cross sectional area of the queue. Additionally, the pivot axis is located away from the queue interior cross section to exaggerate the rocking movement and insure the entire column height has a change in cross section (if the pivot point is too close, there would be very little movement nearest the pivot). The vibratory motor was specified empirically to provide the most desirable movement impulse into the mechanism. Smaller motors did not provide sufficient vibration, and larger motors vibrated the entire queue, not just the walls  174  of the queuing stage, which will likely lead to loose parts, unnecessary wear and tear, and/or premature fatigue failure. Finally, the vibratory motor, versus pneumatic actuator, provided two main benefits: 1) the vibratory motor provides many more (e.g., hundreds more) movement cycles per seed transfer than the pneumatic actuator, thus greatly increasing the probability that a small object bridge will be cleared on a movement cycle, and 2) the vibratory motor is small and weighs less than a pneumatic actuator. 
     The following are definitions of words and/or phrases that are used herein. As used herein, a microbe will be understood to be a microorganism, i.e. a microscopic living organism, which can be single celled or multicellular. Microorganisms are very diverse and include all the bacteria, archea, protozoa, fungi, and algae, especially cells of plant pathogens and/or plant symbiots. Certain animals are also considered microbes, e.g. rotifers. In various embodiments, a microbe can be any of several different microscopic stages of a plant or animal. Microbes also include viruses, viroids, and prions, especially those which are pathogens or symbiots to crop plants. As used herein the term plant refers to a whole plant, any part thereof, or a cell or tissue culture derived from a plant, comprising any of: whole plants, plant components or organs (e.g., leaves, stems, roots, etc.,), plant tissues, seeds, plant cells, and/or progeny of the same. A plant cell is a biological cell of a plant, taken from a plant or derived through culture from a cell taken from a plant. As used herein the term fungus refers to a whole fungus, any part thereof, or a cell or tissue culture derived from a fungus, comprising any of: whole fungus, fungus components or organs, fungal tissues, spores, fungal cells, including cells of hyphae and/or cells of mycelium, and/or progeny of the same. A fungus cell is a biological cell of a fungus, taken from a fungus or derived through culture from a cell taken from a fungus. 
     Further, as used herein the phrase population of plants or plant population means a set comprising any number, including one, of individuals, objects, or data from which samples are taken for evaluation, e.g. estimating QTL effects and/or disease tolerance. Most commonly, the terms relate to a breeding population of plants from which members are selected and crossed to produce progeny in a breeding program. A population of plants can include the progeny of a single breeding cross or a plurality of breeding crosses, and can be either actual plants or plant derived material, or in silico representations of the plants. The population members need not be identical to the population members selected for use in subsequent cycles of analyses or those ultimately selected to obtain final progeny plants. Often, a plant population is derived from a single biparental cross, but can also derive from two or more crosses between the same or different parents. Although a population of plants can comprise any number of individuals, those of skill in the art will recognize that plant breeders commonly use population sizes ranging from one or two hundred individuals to several thousand, and that the highest performing 5-20% of a population is what is commonly selected to be used in subsequent crosses in order to improve the performance of subsequent generations of the population 
     Additionally, as used herein the term tolerance or improved tolerance in a plant to disease conditions will be understood to mean an indication that the plant is less affected by disease conditions with respect to yield, survivability and/or other relevant agronomic measures, compared to a less tolerant, more “susceptible” plant. Tolerance is a relative term, indicating that a “tolerant” plant survives and/or produces better yields in disease conditions compared to a different (less tolerant) plant (e.g., a different corn line strain) grown in similar disease conditions. As used in the art, disease “tolerance” is sometimes used interchangeably with disease “resistance.” One of skilled in the art will appreciate that plant tolerance to disease conditions varies widely, and can represent a spectrum of more-tolerant or less-tolerant phenotypes. However, by simple observation, one of skill in the art can generally determine the relative tolerance or susceptibility of different plants, plant lines or plant families under disease conditions, and furthermore, will also recognize the phenotypic gradations of “tolerant.” 
     Still further, as used herein, crop or plant performance is a metric of how well a crop plant grows under a set of environmental conditions and cultivation practices. Crop/plant performance can be measured by any metric a user associates with a crop&#39;s productivity (e.g. yield), appearance and/or robustness (e.g. color, morphology, height, biomass, maturation rate), product quality (e.g. fiber lint percent, fiber quality, seed protein content, seed carbohydrate content, etc.), cost of goods sold (e.g. the cost of creating a seed, plant, or plant product in a commercial, research, or industrial setting) and/or a plant&#39;s tolerance to disease (e.g. a response associated with deliberate or spontaneous infection by a pathogen) and/or environmental stress (e.g. drought, flooding, low nitrogen or other soil nutrients, wind, hail, temperature, day length, etc.). Crop/plant performance can also be measured by determining a crop&#39;s commercial value and/or by determining the likelihood that a particular inbred, hybrid, or variety will become a commercial product, and/or by determining the likelihood that the offspring of an inbred, hybrid, or variety will become a commercial product. Crop/plant performance can be a quantity (e.g. the volume or weight of seed or other plant product measured in liters or grams) or some other metric assigned to some aspect of a plant that can be represented on a scale (e.g. assigning a 1-10 value to a plant based on its disease tolerance). 
     The methods disclosed herein can be employed on any fruit, vegetable, grass, tree, or ornamental crop, including, but not limited to, maize ( Zea mays ), soybean ( Glycine max ), cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum ), peanut ( Arachis hypogaea ), barley ( Hordeum vulgare ); oats ( Avena sativa ); orchard grass ( Dactylis glomerata ); rice ( Oryza sativa, including indica and japonica varieties); sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor ); sugar cane ( Saccharum  sp); tall fescue ( Festuca arundinacea ); turfgrass species (e.g. species:  Agrostis stolonifera, Poa pratensis, Stenotaphrum secundatum ); wheat ( Triticum aestivum ), and alfalfa ( Medicago sativa ), members of the genus  Brassica,  including broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, canola, and rapeseed, carrot, Chinese cabbage, cucumber, dry bean, eggplant, fennel, garden beans, gourd, leek, lettuce, melon, okra, onion, pea, pepper, pumpkin, radish, spinach, squash, sweet corn, tomato, watermelon, honeymelon, cantelope and other melons, banana, castorbean, coconut, coffee, cucumber, Poplar, Southern pine, Radiata pine, Douglas Fir, Eucalyptus, apple, and other tree species, orange, grapefruit, lemon, lime and other citrus, clover, linseed, olive, palm, Capsicum, Piper, and Pimenta peppers, sugarbeet, sunflower, sweetgum, tea, tobacco, and other fruit, vegetable, tuber, and root crops. 
     The description herein is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of that which is described are intended to be within the scope of the teachings. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the teachings.