Patent Publication Number: US-2021181069-A1

Title: Sampling system

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a sampling system to obtain a sample of granular material like grain or some other crop material and more particularly to a sampling system that can obtain a number of individual samples of substantially similar granular material. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Accurate acquisition, splitting and tracking of grain samples is an industry wide problem in the agriculture sector that can result in the grain that is delivered being different than the sample the grain was purchased is based on. The problem can stem from inaccurate and/or inconsistent grain sampling coupled with inaccurate sample splitting. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In a first aspect, a material sampling system for obtaining a plurality of substantially similar samples of granular material from a load of granular material is provided. The system comprises a sample extractor for obtaining a sample portion of granular material, a sample divider operative to divide the sample portion of granular material into a plurality of smaller samples of granular material in a plurality of sample containers and a sample transfer conduit for transferring the sample of granular material from the sample extractor to the sample divider. 
     In a further aspect, the material sampling system has a sampling processor module operative to control the operation of the sample extractor and the sample divider. The sampling processor module having at least one processing unit and a computer readable memory containing program instructions. 
     In a further aspect, the programming instructions are operative to: receive input indicating a size of load; determine a flowrate of granular material through the sample extractor; determine a sample time interval; while flow is being sensed passing through the sample extractor, wait for the sample time interval to pass and then obtain a sample portion; and continue to take sample portions after each sample time interval has passed while flow of granular material passing through the sample extractor is being sensed until all of the sample portions have been taken. 
     In a further aspect, the program instructions are operative to: receive input indicating unique identifiers on each of the plurality of sample containers; receive input indicating information about the plurality of samples of granular material; obtain sample portions of granular material passing through the sample extractor for the load of granular material and collect information about the sample portions; using the information about the plurality of samples of granular material and information collected when the sample portions are obtained to create and populate a sample record; and associating the sample record with the unique identifiers. 
     In a further aspect, the program instructions are operative to: receive input indicating unique identifiers on each of the plurality of sample containers; receive input indicating information about the plurality of samples of granular material; obtain sample portions of granular material passing through the sample extractor for the load of granular material and collect information about the sample portions; using the information about the plurality of samples of granular material and information collected when the sample portions are obtained to create and populate a sample record; and associating the sample record with the unique identifiers. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a sampling system for obtaining a plurality of substantially identical samples of granular material; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a material conveyor in the form of a conventional grain auger using a sampling system; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of a sample extractor; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic cutaway illustration of the sample extractor; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic illustration of a sample divider; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic illustration of an alternative sample divider; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic illustration of a sampling processor module of the sampling system; 
         FIG. 8  is a flow chart of a method of taking a granular material sample over regular sampling time intervals; 
         FIG. 9  is a flow chart of a method of taking a granular material sample and using a flow rate sensor to determine sampling time intervals; 
         FIG. 10  is a data structure diagram one embodiment of a data structure used to store information about a set of sample; and 
         FIG. 11  is a flowchart of a method for collecting the information that can be stored in each sample record. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a sampling system  100  for obtaining a plurality of substantially identical samples of granular material, such as grain. The sampling system  100  can include a sample extractor  200 , a sample transfer conduit  110 , a sampling processor module  300 , an interface device  150 , and a sample divider  400 . The sample extractor  200  can be positioned anywhere granular material is being charged to collect a sample of the granular material. For example, the sample extractor  200  can be placed under the discharge end of a material conveyor, a grain conveyor, a swing auger, a leg type grain/material elevator, a combine harvester, a grain bagger, under a discharge of a bin, etc. to the granular material can be discharged through the sample extractor  200  where a small portion of this discharging granular material can be removed from the discharging flow of granular material. This small portion of granular material can be directed to the sample transfer conduit  110  to the sample divider  400  which will collect a number of substantially similar samples of the granular material. 
     The sampling processor module  300  can be used to control the operation of the sampling system  100  and the sampling processor module  300  can be accessed through the interface device  150 . 
     In one aspect, the sample divider  400  and the sampling processor module  300  can be grouped together physically in a sample collection module  500  for ease of transport and use. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a the sampling system  100  used in conjunction with a material conveyor  10  to obtain a number of substantially similar samples of granular material being transported by the material conveyor  10 . The material conveyor  10  allows granular material such as grain or other crop material to be unloaded from one place, such as from a grain truck, storage bin, etc. and loaded into another location such as a storage bin, grain truck or trailer for transport, etc. 
     The material conveyor  10  can have an intake end  20  and a discharge end  30  with a conveying section  40  connecting the intake end  20  and the discharge end  30 . Granular material, such as grain or other crop material, can be introduced into the intake end  20  of the material conveyor  10  where this granular material will then travel up the conveying section  40  and be discharged out the discharge end  30  of the material conveyor  10 . The intake end  20  of the material conveyor  10  can include a hopper  22  where granular material can be introduced into the intake end  20  of the material conveyor  10 . Typically, the hopper  22  is constructed such that it is low enough for collecting granular material from a grain truck, hopper trailer, etc. 
     Because the material conveyor  10  shown in  FIG. 1  is an auger, the conveying section  40  will include a conveyor tube  42  and fighting (not shown) provided inside the conveyor tube  42 . The flighting is rotated and as it rotates it lifts granular material from the intake end  20  up the conveying section  40  to the discharge end  30  of the material conveyor. 
     If the material conveyor  10  is a conveyor, the conveying section  40  can include a conveyor tube and a conveyor belt running through the conveyor tube to lift granular material up the material conveyor  10  to the discharge end  30  of the material conveyor  10 . 
     The discharge end  30  of the material conveyor  10  can contain a discharge spout  32  to direct the discharging granular material that is exiting the discharge end  30  of the material conveyor  10  into a specific direction, such as into a grain bin, etc. 
     Typically, the material conveyor  30  will include a number of wheels  50  so that the material conveyor  10  can be moved from place to place The sample extractor  200  can be positioned below the discharge end  30  of the material conveyor  10  so that granular material discharged out the discharge end  30  of the material conveyor  10  passes through the sample extractor  200  where a small portion of this discharging granular material can be removed from the discharging flow of granular material as a sample portion. This sample portion of granular material can be directed to the sample transfer conduit  110  to the sample divider  400  which will collect a number of substantially similar sample portions of the granular material into a plurality of samples. 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrates the sample extractor  200 . The sample extractor  200  can be provided below the discharge spout  32  on the discharge end  30  of the material conveyor  10  so that granular material being discharged from the material conveyor  10  out of the discharge spout  32  will be discharged into the sample extractor  200  so that all of the granular material discharged out of the material conveyor  10  will pass through the sample extractor  200 . 
     The sample extractor  200  can have an open top  210 , a cylindrical body  220  and an open bottom  230  which together form a passage  240  through the sample extractor  200  that the granular material will pass through. One or more sampling members  250  can be connected to shaft  260  provided in the middle of the passage  240  formed in the cylindrical body  220 . A first end  252  of the sampling member  250  can be connected to the shaft  260  so that the sampling member  250  extends outwards from the shaft  260  towards an inner wall  222  of the cylindrical body  220 . The sampling member  250  can be a length that results in a second end  254  of the sampling member  250  being positioned proximate the inner wall  222  of the cylindrical body  220  with very little space between the second end  254  of the sampling member  250  and the inner wall  222  of the sample extractor  200 . The sampling member  250  can rotate through a cross-section of the passage  240  so that it sweeps through the granular material passing through the passage  240 , rotating through a plane perpendicular to the direction flow of the granular material. 
     The sampling member  250  can have a U-shaped cross section where this U-shaped cross section is open at the second end  254 . The sampling member  250  can be positioned so that the U-shaped cross section forms a channel in the sampling member  250  with the open top of the channel facing the open top  210  of the sample extractor  200  so that some of the granular material entering the open top  210  of the sample extractor  200  and falling through the cylindrical body  220  will fall into the open channel in the sampling member  250  and be contained in the channel. 
     An electric motor  270  can be attached by a belt  272  to the shaft  260 . The motor  270  can rotate the belt  272 , which in turn will rotate the shaft  260 . As the shaft  260  rotates, the sampling member  250  can rotate through the cross-section of the sample extractor  200  and therefore rotate through the flow of granular material passing through the cylindrical body  220  of the sample extractor  200  before it is discharged out the open bottom  230  of the sample extractor  200 . Some of the granular material will collect in the channel formed by the sampling member  250  as the sampling member  250  rotates through the discharging granular material. 
     A first opening  280  and a second opening  281  can be provided in the cylindrical body  220  of the sample extractor  200  so that granular material that has fallen into the channel formed by the sample member  250  can be discharged out of the sample extractor  200  through this first opening  280  and second opening  281  rather than exiting through the open bottom  230  of the sample extractor  200  like the other granular material. The first opening  280  and the second opening  281  can be positioned so that they align with the second end  254  of the sampling member  250  as it rotates past the place in the inner wall  222  the first opening  280  and second opening  281  are provided. In one aspect, the first opening  280  and the second opening  281  can be positioned approximately 180° from one another in the inner wall  222  of the sample extractor  200  so that the first opening  280  and the second opening  281  are diametrically opposed in the inner wall  222  of the sampling extractor  200 . 
     Although, the rotation of the sample member  250  can cause any granular material in the open channel formed by the sample member  250  to move from the first end  252  of the sample member  250  towards the second end  254  of the sample member  250  as a result of centripetal force, in one aspect, the sample member  250  can be sloped downwards so that the granular material will move towards the second end  254  of the sample member  250  by gravity without requiring as much or any centripetal force At the open second end  254  of the sample member  250  the granular material can slide off the sample member  250  towards the inner wall  222  of the sample extractor  250 . With the sample member  250  positioned with the second end  254  of the sample member  250  in front of either the first opening  280  or the second opening  281 , the granular material falling off the second end  254  of the sample member  250  can fall through either the first opening  280  of the second opening  281  (depending on which one the second end  254  of the sample member  250  is positioned in front of) in the inner wall  222  of the sample extractor  200 . 
     In one aspect, a position sensor  298  can be used with the sample member  250 . This position sensor can allow the sample extractor  200  to rotate the sample member  250  through one 180° rotation. This, in addition to a downwards slant of the sample member  250 , can allow the sample extractor  200  to rotate the sample member  250  through 180° to take a sample, ending the rotation of the sample member  250  either at the first opening  280  or the second opening  281  in the sample extractor  200 . For example, the sample member  250  can be rotated so that the second end  254  of the sample member  250  can be positioned adjacent the first opening  281  allowing the granular material that has collected in the sample member  250  to slide down the sample member  250  and out the first opening  280 . The sample member  250  can then be rotated another 180° so that the second end  254  of the sample member  250  can be positioned in front of the second opening  281  and granular material that has fallen into the sample member  250  during its sweep to this position can slide down the sample member  250  and through the second opening  281 . 
     In one aspect, the sample member  250  can be positioned under a deflector  290  when not in use and positioned with the second end  254  of the sample member  250  in front of either the first opening  280  or the second opening  281 . The deflector  290  can cover the sample member  250  so that granular material falling through the sample extractor  200  will contact the deflector  290  and be prevented from filling the sample member  250  when a sample is not being taken by the sample extractor  200 . In this manner, the sample member  250  is not exposed to the flow of granular material when a sample is not being taken, but rather, only when it is in its 180° rotation between the first opening  280  and the second opening  281 . 
     Conduits  283 ,  284  can be connected to the first opening  280  and second opening  281 , respectively. To route granular material that has exited the first opening  280  and the second opening  281  to the sample transfer conduit  110 . 
     In one aspect, the power being supplied to the motor  270  in the sampling extractor  200  can be controlled by the sampling processor module  300  allowing the sampling processor module  300  to control the supply of power to the motor  270  and thereby control when the sample member  250  rotates through the discharging granular material in the sample extractor  200  to obtain the sample portion. This allows the operation of the motor  270  to be controlled by the sampling processor module  300  and therefore control when the sample extractor  200  will and will not extract samples of granular material to be directed to the first opening  280  and second opening  281  and into the sample transfer conduit  110 . 
     The sample extractor  200  can also include a number of sensors to obtain information about the granular material flowing through the sample extractor  200 . The sample extractor  200  can include a flow sensor  292  to detect the flow of granular material through the sample extractor  200 . In one aspect, the flow sensor  292  can be a pressure sensor positioned on top of the deflector  290  that can sense the force of discharge granular material hitting the flow sensor  292  as the granular material passes through the sample extractor  200  indicating that there is flow of granular material through the sample extractor  200 . A moisture sensor  294  may also be provided in the sample extractor  200  to determine the moisture content of the granular material passing through the sample extractor  200 . The sample extractor  200  may also include a temperature sensor  296  for measuring the temperature of the granular material passing through the sample extractor  200 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , the opening  280  in the inner wall  222  of the sample extractor  200  can be connected to the sample transfer conduit  110  by the conduits  283 ,  280  so that granular material flowing out of the sample extractor  200  through the openings  280 ,  281  will enter the sample transfer conduit  110 . 
     The sample transfer conduit  110  can run between the sample extractor  200  and the sample divider  400  and convey any granular material sampled by the sample extractor  200  to the sample divider  400 . The sample collection module  500  can be positioned relative to the sample extractor  200  so that the sample transfer conduit  110  has a steep enough angle that granular material will fall down the sample transfer conduit  110  by gravity and enter the sample divider  400 . In one aspect, the sample transfer conduit  110  may be telescoping so that its length can be varied. 
     In one aspect, wiring can be run along the sample extractor  200  so that the wiring can be connected between the sample extractor  200  and the sampling processor module  300 . This can allow the sampling processor module  300  to send power to the motor  270  of the sample extractor  200  and obtain signals from the various sensors in the sample extractor  200 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the sample divider  400  can have a sampling conduit  410  with an inlet  412  and an outlet  414 . The sample transfer conduit  110  can be attached to the sample divider  400  at the inlet end  412  of the sampling conduit  410  or alternatively it can be a portable module that can be set up adjacent to the material conveyor  10  and connected to the other components in the sampling system  100 . 
     A metering device, such as a metering wheel (either active or passive) could be used at the inlet end  412  of the sampling conduit  410  to steady out the flow of granular material through the sampling conduit  410 . 
     A series of openings  420  can be provided along a bottom of the sampling conduit  410 . Each opening  420  can lead to an associated sample collection cavity  430 . As granular material passes through the sampling conduit  410  some of it falls through the openings  420  and into the associated sample cavities  430  where it will collect in the sample cavities  430  and eventually fill the sample cavities  430 . When the sample cavities  430  are full of granular material, the sample cavities  430  can be filled right up to the their associated openings  420  connecting each sample collection cavity  430  with the sample conduit  410  and additional granular material entering the sample conduit  410  will simply flow through the sample conduit  410  to the outlet  414  because no more granular material can enter any of the sampling cavities  430  through the openings  420  because the sampling cavities  430  are already filled with granular material. 
     Each sample collection cavity  430  can be provided with a valve  440  in a bottom of the sample collection cavity  430 . Periodically, each valve  440  can be opened and the sample cavities  430  emptied into corresponding sample containers  450 . Each opening  420  and sample collection cavity  430  can be associated with a specific sample container  450 . 
     In one aspect, the valves  440  can be manually controlled so that an operator must pull a lever, press a button or use an other type of actuator on the sample divider  400  to get the valves  440  to open and the sample cavities  430  to empty into their respective sample containers  450 . However, in one aspect, the valves  440  could be electrically controlled, such as by relays, electric motor or pneumatic cylinder, etc., so that they can be opened in response to an electrical signal. In this manner, the sampling processor module  300  can control the operation and the timing of the valves  400 . The valves  400  could be butterfly valve that rotates in the bottom of the sample collection cavity  430 , rotate the entire sample collection cavity  430  upside down to empty, be a gate valve that slides away to open the bottom of the sample cavity, etc. 
     Typically, each sample container  450  has a much greater volume than its associated sample collection cavity  430  so it will require the sample collection cavity  430  to be filled and emptied into the sample container  450  a number of times before the sample container  450  is filled with granular material. 
     The sample divider  400  could take other forms.  FIG. 6  illustrates an alternative sample divider  1400 . Sample divider  1400  can have a collection chamber  1410 ; a metering wheel  1420 ; a diverter  1430 ; and a plurality of container conduits  1440  directing granular material to a plurality of sample containers  450 . 
     Granular material routed to the sample divider  1400  by the sample transfer conduit  110  can direct the granular material into the collection chamber  1410  where the granular material will collect. Once the collection chamber  1410  is full or contains a desired amount of granular material, the metering wheel  1420  can be started rotating and the granular material in the collection chamber  1410  emptied into the rotating metering wheel  1420 . The metering wheel  1420  can include a plurality or rotating compartments  1422  that smooth out the flow of the granular material. 
     From the metering wheel  1420 , the granular material can be moved to the diverter  1430  to be divided into the different samples. The diverter  1430  can have conduits  1432  leading to a rotating disk  1436 . The conduits  1432  can route the granular material to an outlet from the metering wheel  1420  to apertures in the rotating disk  1436  that mate with the openings in the plurality of container conduits  1440 . As the rotating disk  1436  rotates, the apertures correspond with the different openings and direct the granular material into each of the plurality of container conduits  1440 . 
     Each container conduit  1440  will then direct granular material that has entered into it, into one specific sample container. 
     In one aspect, a moisture sensor and a temperature sensor can be provided in the collection container  1410  to obtain moisture readings and temperatures readings when the granular material is collected in the collection container  1410  and before it is passed to the metering wheel  1420 . 
     When the sample divider  1400  is finished its operation, a substantially identical portion of the sample portion will be distributed substantially equally in each of the sample containers  450 . 
     Each sample container  450  will contain a substantially identical sample of granular material taken from the granular material moving through the material conveyor  10 . For example, the sample divider  400  shown in  FIG. 4  uses six (6) sample containers  450  so that the sample obtained from the sampling system  100  is six (6) substantially similar samples of granular material each stored in its own sample container  450  so that each sample container  450  should contain a sample of granular material taken and substantially the same portions of the load and having substantially similar qualities. 
     In one aspect, each sample container  450  can have a sealable lid  452  that can be closed and sealed to seal the granular material that has been obtained in the sample container  450 . This can allow the moisture level of the granular material that is passing through the material conveyor to be maintained by the granular material in the sample container  450  because the sealable lid  452  can prevent moisture from escaping and the sample of granular material in the sample container  450  from drying out. Alternatively, the sample container  450  can include a valve that will allow moisture to be released from the sample container  450  to prevent the grain or other granular material in the sample container  450  from spoiling or rotting. 
     In one aspect, an electronic display, such as an e-ink based display, can be incorporated into the sample container  450 . This electronic display can not only display a unique identifier, such as a barcode, associated with the particular sample container  450 , but it can also display any other desired information. Alternatively, a paper label can be affixed to the sample container  450 . 
     In a further aspect, the sample container  450  can include a sensor to detect each time the sealable lid  452  of the sample container  450  has been opened. If the sample container  450  also contains an electronic display, the number of times, and even the time, the sealable lid  452  of the sample container  450  was opened cam be displayed on the electronic display. 
     The sampling processor module  300  can be used to control the operation of the sampling system  100 .  FIG. 7  illustrates the sampling processor module  300  in one implementation. The sampling processor module  300  can be include a processing unit  302 , such a microprocessor that is operatively connected to a computer readable memory  304  and can control the operation of the sampling processor module  300 . Program instructions for controlling the operation of the processing unit  302  can be stored in the memory  304  as well as any additional data needed for the operation of the sampling processor module  300 . 
     An input interface  320  can be provided operatively connected to the processing unit  302  so that the sampling processor module  300  can receive signals from external sensors. In this manner, the sampling processor module  300  can be connected to the flow sensor  292  in the sample extractor  200  to detect the flow of granular material passing through the material conveyor  10  or even a flow rate meter detecting and measuring a flow rate of granular material passing through the material conveyor  10 . Additionally, the input interface  320  can allow the connection of a flow sensor, moisture sensor and a temperature sensor to the sampling processor module  300  so that the sampling processor module  300  can obtain flow readings, moisture readings and temperature readings from these sensors. 
     Alternatively or additionally, the input interface  320  can be operatively connected to the moisture sensor and the temperature sensor in the collection chamber  1410  of the sample divider  1400 . 
     An output interface  322  can be provided operatively connected to the processing unit  302  to send signals to other devices in the sampling system  100 . For example, the valves  440  in the sample divider  400  can be connected to the output interface  322  so that they can be opened and shut based on commands from the sampling processor module  300 . The output interface  322  can also be connected to a relay that controls the flow of electricity to the motor  270  in the sample extractor  200  so that the sampling processor module  330  can selectively supply the motor  270  with electricity thereby controlling the operation of the sample extractor  200  and when samples are obtained from the sample extractor  200  and routed to the sample transfer conduit  110  to be directed to the sample divider  400  or the sample divider  1400 . 
     An interface  150  can be provided operatively connected to the sampling processor module  300  to allow a user to enter inputs into the sampling processor module  300  and control it. In one aspect, the sampling processor module  300  can include a wireless connection  324 , such as a Bluetooth™ connection or an 802.11 connection, that can allows a device such as smart phone or tablet to be connected wirelessly to the sampling processor module  300  and act as the interface device  150 . In one aspect, the interface device  150  could be a smart phone or tablet running an application (app), allowing an operator of the sampling system  100  to use his or her smart phone or tablet to enter inputs into the sampling processor module  300  and control the sampling processor module  300  using his or her smart phone or tablet as the interface device  150 . 
     Alternatively, the interface device  150  could be physically part of the sample collection module  500  to allow a user to see the settings of the sampling processor module  300  and enter inputs and change parameters of the sampling processor module  300 . 
     The sampling system  100  could be used to obtain the plurality of samples in the sample containers  450  all at one time with the sample extractor  200  and the sample divider  400  or sample divider  1400  operating until the entire sample is taken at one time. However, in one aspect, the sampling system  100  can be set to have a desired sampling rate so that the samples obtained in the sampling containers  150  contain granular material from throughout the entire load being moved by the material conveyor  10  at regular intervals rather than simply taking the entire sample in each sampling container  150  at one single time or at random times while the load is moving through the material conveyor  10 .  FIG. 8  illustrates a flowchart of a method for obtaining a granular material sampler using the sampling system  100 . In this method a sampling frequency based on an entire load of granular material being moved by the material conveyor  10  is determined so that the samples obtained in the sampling containers  450  not only are substantially similar to one another but also are taken at regular time intervals throughout the load to try and get an accurate representative sampling of the entire load. In one aspect, the steps of the method can be controlled by the sampling processor module  300 . 
     The method can start and at step  502  the operator can enter the size of the load to be moved with the material conveyor  10  into the interface device  150  for the sampling processor module  300 . This load could simply be the volume or other quantity of granular material in a truck or trailer that will be moved by the material conveyor  10  into a bin or other storage device. However, the load entered could also be the volume or quantity of a bin or other storage device to be filled with the granular material, V2 the size of the bin, etc. By entering the volume or quantity of granular material needed to fill up a particular bin as the load size and then using the material conveyor  10  to fill the bin, the sample taken with the sampling system  100  can be representative of the granular material in a bin instead of just the granular material in a specific truck or trailer load used to partially fill the bin. Even if more than one truck or trailer load of granular material must be used to fill the bin with granular material, the sample taken will be from these different truck or trailer loads and represent a sample of the granular material in the entire bin. 
     At step  504  the flow rate of the material conveyor  10  can be determined. The flow rate of the material conveyor  10  can just be a standard selection based on the size of the flighting or conveyor in the material conveyor  10 , diameter of the conveying section  40 , horsepower of the material conveyor  10 , etc. that is used to calculate an approximate flow rate for a granular material conveyor  10 . Alternatively, the flow rate of the material conveyor  10  can be determined by selecting the type and size of the material conveyor  10  (i.e. brand and model number) and then have it correlated to an average flowrate for that particular brand and model of material conveyor  10 . For example, if an application is being run on the interface device  150 , the operator can look up a table of brands of material conveyors  10  and the model numbers. Each brand and model number will be associated with a flow rate and when the operator selects the brand and model of the material conveyor  10  being used, the associate flow rate can be obtained and used for step  504 . 
     In a further aspect, an operator may be able to further adjust the flow rate selected at step  504 . If the operator is able to choose the flow rate based on the specific brand and model of the material conveyor  10  being used, the operator could be allowed to further adjust this predetermined flow rate. This can allow the operator to take into account situations where he or she has observed that the flow rate does not exactly meet the ideal flow rate assigned to his or her particular material conveyor  10 , such as when the fighting in the material conveyor  10  has become worn and less effective, the angle of the material to conveyor  10  is set higher than ideal, etc. In this manner, the operator can select the predefined flow rate and adjust it to match the particular material conveyor  10  being used. 
     At step  506  a sampling time interval can be determined for the moving of the entire load by the material conveyor  10 . The flow rate determined at step  504  can be used along with the size of the load entered at step  502  to determine a length of time it will take to move the entire load of granular material through the material conveyor  10 . This period of time can then be divided by the number of times each sample collection cavity  430  will be emptied into its associated storage container  450  if sample divider  400  is used or how many times the collector chamber  1410  will be emptied into the sample containers  450  if sample divider  1400  is used to determine the sampling time interval. The sampling time interval can represent a period of time between samples being taken by the sampling system  100  as the material conveyor  100  moves the load of granular material in order to result in the final sample containing granular material taken at regular time intervals as the granular material is moved by the material conveyor  10 . 
     For example, if each sample in one of the sample containers  450  will eventually be consist of a sample where the associated sample collection cavity  430  or collection chamber  1410  has been filled up with granular material and emptied into the sample container  450  six (6) times (i.e. the sample in the sample container  450  will be made up of six (6) smaller samples taken by filling and emptying the sample collection cavity  430  six (6) times), the sample interval can be determined at step  506  by dividing the period of time it is estimated it will take the material conveyor  10  to move the entire load by six (6). 
     At step  508  the method can monitor the flow of granular material out of the material conveyor  10  and through the sample extractor  200  to determine when granular material is passing through the sample extractor  200 . This can be done by the sampling processor module  300  obtaining signals from the flow sensor  292  in the sample extractor  200  to determine when granular material is being discharged from the material conveyor  10  and through the sample extractor  200 . While it being determined that granular material is moving through the material conveyor  10  at step  508 , the method can delay taking a sample for the period of time that is the sampling time interval. By only tracking the time being taken only while flow is being sensed in the material conveyor  10 , the method can avoid the sampling time interval taking into account time when the material conveyor  10  is running but none of the granular material is actually passing through it to improve the regularity of the samples being taken. For example, the intake end  20  of the material conveyor  10  might be moved out of a pile of granular material temporarily causing the flow of granular material through the material conveyor  10  to stop. By only counting the sampling time interval when the flow of granular material is being sensed, this can help ensure the sample portions are being taken at more regular intervals through the entire load. 
     Additionally, if the operator has set the load at step  502  to be the quantity or volume of granular material to be loaded into a bin or other storage device in order to get a sample representing the total amount or granular material in the bin, and this load size will require a number of truck or trailer loads to be accomplished, only tracking the time in the sampling time interval when flow is being sensed passing through the sample extractor  200  will allow multiple incoming loads to be accomplished without greatly affecting the sampling. In the downtime between truck and trailer loads, the sampling processor module  300  will simply stop tracking time as part of the sampling time interval and then start again when the next truck or trailer load of granular material starts moving through the material conveyor  10 . 
     As long as the flow sensor is determining that granular material is flowing through the material conveyor  10 , the method can wait for the sampling time interval to pass before moving on to step  510  and obtaining a sample of the granular material. At step  510  after the sampling time interval has passed, the method can collect a sample portion of granular material. If the motor  270  of the sample extractor  200  is controlled by the sampling processor module  300 , the sampling processor module  300  can cause the motor  270  to be supplied with power, which in turn will rotate the sampling member  250  in the sample extractor  200  through the discharging granular material passing through the sample extractor  200 . The collected granular material can then be discharged through the first opening  280  and the second opening  281  as the sample member  250  rotates in front of the first opening  280  and the second opening  281 . This extracted granular material will flow down the sample transfer conduit  110  and into the sample divider  400  or sample divider  1400 . In the sample divider  400  it will pass through the sampling conduit  410  where it will begin to fall through the openings  420  in the sample conduit  410  and start collecting in the sample cavities  430 . Eventually, when enough time has passed that the sample cavities  430  are full, the sampling processor module  300  can stop the motor  270 , which will in turn stop the sample extractor  200  from collecting granular material from the discharging granular material and passing it down the sample transfer conduit  110  to the sample divider  400 . The valves  440  can then be opened to empty the filled sampling cavities  430  into their corresponding sampling containers  450 . 
     Alternatively, the valves  440  in the bottom of each sample collection cavity  430  can be opened to empty the sampling cavities  430  into their corresponding sample containers  450  so that granular material flowing through the sampling conduit  410  after it has been removed from the discharging flow of granular material by the sample extractor  200  and routed through the sample transfer conduit  410  to the sample divider  400  can once again start falling through the openings  420  in the bottom of the sampling conduit  410  and into the sampling cavities  430 . 
     If the sample divider  1400  is used, the motor  270  can be run until the collection chamber  1410  has been filled and is ready to be discharged into the sample containers  450  and then the motor  270  stopped so the sample member  250  is positioned under the deflector  290 . 
     With the sample obtained at step  510 , the method can move onto step  512  and determine whether there are more sample portions of the granular material to obtain a complete set of samples in the sample containers  450 . Typically, the number of sample time intervals and therefore the sample portions to be taken to fill each of the sample containers  450  will be the number of sample cavities  430  or the collection chamber  1410  desired to complete the sample in the much larger sample containers  450 . For example, if this number is six (6) than the number of times the sample cavities  430  or collection chamber  1410  will be filled up and then emptied into the sample containers  450  will be six (6). 
     At step  512 , it is determined that there are more sample portions to take, the method can return to step  508  and wait for the sample time interval while flow of granular material is being sensed passing through the sample extractor  200 . After the sample time interval, the method can move on to step  510  and the next sample portion can be obtained and emptied into the sample container  450  before the method moves on to step  512  again and determines if there are more sample portions to take. 
     In this manner, the method will repeat steps  508 ,  510  and  512  until all the sample portions have been taken and the sample containers  450  contain complete samples. 
     In a further aspect, a flow rate sensor rather than just a flow sensor, can be used with the sampling system  100 . Rather than approximating a flow rate of the material conveyor  10  and using it to determine when a sample time interval has passed, like is done in the method shown in  FIG. 8 , by using a flow rate sensor to monitor the actual flow rate of the granular material of the load being moved as it is transported through the material conveyor  10 , a more accurate approximation of the amount of the load that has passed through the material conveyor  10  at any given time can be determined. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a method of sampling from a load of granular material passing through the material conveyor  10  where a flow rate sensor is used to determine how much of the granular material from a load has passed through the material conveyor  10  to determine when a sampling time interval has passed. The method can start and at step  602  the operator can enter the size of the load to be moved with the material conveyor  10  into the interface device  150 . 
     At step  604  a sampling time interval can be determined for the moving of the entire load by the material conveyor  10 . The size of the load entered at  502  can be taken and divided by the number of times the sampling cavities  430  are to be emptied into each of the sampling container  450  to determine the sampling time interval or the collection chamber  1410  is emptied into each sampling container  450 . For example, if 10,000 ft is the size of the load, there might be six (6) different samples taken or 1,667 ft of granular material that has to move through the material conveyor  10  between each sample being taken and emptied into the sample container  450 . 
     At step  606  the material conveyor  10  can be run and the flow rate of the granular material repeatedly measured with the flow rate sensor to calculate the amount of granular material that has flowed through the sample extractor  200 . By determining the flow rate of the granular material in real or near-real time as the material conveyor  10  is in operation, it can be determined how much granular material has flowed through the material conveyor  10 . By measuring the flow rate repeatedly, inconsistent flows of granular material can be taken into account. For example, if the material conveyor  10  starts having an inconsistent flow of granular material for any number of reasons (e.g. the load of granular material is being fed into the material conveyor inconsistently, the motor of the material conveyor  10  slows down, etc), the flow rate sensor can measure this change in the flow rate of the granular material passing through the material conveyor  10  and compensate to make sure the sampling time interval is taken at the proper time. 
     At step  608 , when it has been determined that a sampling time interval has passed through the material conveyor  10  (i.e. the amount or volume of granular material making up the sampling time interval), a sample portion of the granular material can be taken. Again, power can be supplied to the motor  270  of the sample extractor  200  to cause the sample member  250  to rotate in the sample extractor  200  and therefore cause the sample extractor  200  to obtain a sample of the granular material discharged from the discharge end  20  of the material conveyor  10 . 
     Alternatively, the valves  440  in the sample divider  400  can be opened to dump the contents of the sampling cavities  430  into the associated sampling containers  450 . 
     Once the sample of granular material has been obtained at step  608 , the method can move on to step  610  and determine if there are any more sample portions to be taken in order to fill the sample containers  450 . Again, if the sample divider  400  is designed so that each sample collection cavity  430  or the collection chamber  1410  of the sample divider  1400  is ⅙ the size of one of the final desired sample to be collected in each sample container  450 , the number of samples to be taken over the load size is six (6). If at step  610  it is determined that more sample portions are to be taken, the method can return to step  606  and once again measure the amount of granular material flowing through the material conveyor  10  at step  606 , obtain another sample portion at step  608  when the sample time interval has passed, and then check to see if any more sample portions are to be taken at step  610 . In this manner, steps  606 ,  608  and  610  can be repeated until the desired number of sample portions have been taken and emptied into the sample containers  450  and the method will then end. 
     In one aspect, the moisture sensor  294  can be used to obtain moisture readings of the granular material as it passes through the sample extractor  200  or the sample divider  400  and the temperature sensor  296  can be used to measure the temperature of the granular material. The moisture and temperature readings could also be taken of the granular material in the collection chamber  1410  in the sample divider  1400 . These moisture and temperature readings can either be displayed in real time on the interface device  150  or they can be taken at the sample time intervals to record the moisture content and temperature of the granular material passing through the sample extractor  200  or sample splitter  400  when the samples arc taken. Alternatively, moisture readings and temperature readings can be taken by the moisture sensor  294  at different time during the moving of the granular material by the material conveyor  10  to determine an approximate average moisture content for the entire load of granular material. 
     In one aspect, by periodically taking moisture readings using the moisture sensor  294  and temperature readings using the temperature sensor  296 , the moisture content and temperature of the granular material can be tracked and correlated with the location of the granular material in a bin it has been loaded into. 
     In one aspect, the sample system  100  can also be used to approximate the amount of granular material in a bin. If the material conveyor  10  is being used to fill a bin, the sample module processor  300  can use either an approximate flow rate, similar to the flow rate that is used in the method shown in  FIG. 8  or a flow rate measured by a sensor in real time, similar to the flow rate determined for the method shown in  FIG. 9 . By multiplying the flow rate by the amount of time the sample module processor  300  is obtaining a signal that granular material is discharging out the material conveyor  10  and through the sample extractor  200 , the amount of granular material that has been loaded into the bin by the material conveyor  10  can be approximated. This can allow an operator to approximate how much granular material has been loaded into a specific bin. 
     As the sample system  100  collects granular material, it can also obtain and store information specific to a sample obtained in the sample containers  450  so that each substantially identical sample stored in one of the storage containers  450  in the set of storage containers  450  can be linked with the stored information. This information can both be gathered by the sample module processor  300  during the collecting of the samples by the sample system  100  and/or entered by an operator, such as through the interface device  150 , and this information then stored in a database. This information can then be associated with the samples obtained in the set of sample containers  450  so that a person with one of the sample containers  450  can access this information and look at the information that has been associated with the sample that has been collected in any one of the sample containers  450 . 
     By storing this information in a remote database accessible over the interne or some other network, the crop producer, grain analysis lab, grain buyer, etc. can all be given access to information or even different degrees of access to this stored information about a granular sample. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates one implementation of a data structure that can be used to store information about the samples obtained using the sample system  100 . The data structure  700  can contain a plurality of sample records  710  where each sample record corresponds to a set of samples obtained in a set of sample containers  450  by the sampling system  300  of a single load of granular material, such as grain or other crop material. 
     Each sample record  700  can contain: a unique identifier field  712 ; a location field  714 ; an origination field  716 ; a destination field  718 ; a time stamp field  720 ; sample rate field  722 ; a material type field  724 ; a moisture content field  726 ; a temperature field  727  and a load size field  728 . 
     The unique identifier field  712  can contain an array of unique identifiers where each unique identifier in the array is associated with one of the individual sample containers  450  in a set of sample containers  450  making up a sample of one particular load of granular material. Each unique identifier can be a number, word or alphanumeric string shown on one of the sample containers  450  or it could be a bar code such as a linear bar code or 2D (matrix) barcode provided on the sample container  450  and read by a scanner or with a smart phone running the proper software. In a further aspect, the unique identifier could be stored in a RFID tag affixed to each sample container  450 . The unique identifiers in the unique identifier field  712  can be used to locate the sample record  710  associated with a particular sample in the sample container  450  and thereby allow a person to access to the other information about the sample that is stored in the sample record  710 . 
     Each sample record  710  can also optionally contain a location field  714 . The location field  714  can be used to store information regarding the location of where the granular material in the sample was obtained. These could simply be a name of the farm or description of the field entered by the operator or farmer that moved the load with the material conveyor  10  and collected the sample with the sampling system  100 . Alternatively, it could be a set of GPS coordinates taken of where the sample was taken. such as by the remote interface device  150 , if it is a smart phone or other device capable of takin GPS coordinates of a location. 
     An origination field  716  can also be provided that allows at description of where the load originated, i.e was the load removed from a truck, grain bin, etc. and a destination filed  718  containing information about where the load was moved to, i.e. grain bin  4 , truck, etc. In one aspect, this could be done by the user opening a drop down menu and selecting the appropriate option. This information can also be obtained in one aspect by providing a bar code on the bin, truck, etc. that can be scanned by the remote interface device  150  to identify where the load originated from or was loaded to. 
     The time stamp field  720  can be used to store a time stamp of when the load was transferred using the sampling system  100 . This time stamp field  720  could simply contain a time when the material conveyor  10  started or stopped moving the load of granular material or it could contain both the start time and stop time. In a further aspect, the different times each sample was taken after a sampling time interval could be stored in the time stamp field  720  in an array so that it can be determined with the information not only when the material conveyor  10  started moving the load granular material and when the material conveyor  10  stopped, but also at what times granular material was sampled from the load and added to the sampling container  450 . 
     The sample rate field  722  can be provided to store information about the sampling rate of the load. This could be the sampling time intervals determined when granular material from the load was extracted and added to the sampling containers  450 . 
     The material type field  724  can be used to store information about the type of granular material that is being sampled, i.e. wheat, canola, etc. 
     The moisture content field  726  can contain information about the moisture content of the samples based on readings of the moisture content taken by the moisture sensor  294 . 
     The temperature field  727  can include information indicating the temperature of the samples based on the temperature readings taken by the temperature sensor  296 . 
     The load size field  728  can contain information approximating the size of the load of granular material that was loaded by the material conveyor  10  where the samples were obtained. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates a flowchart of a method for collecting the information that can be stored in each sample record  710 . The method can start and at step  802  the operator of the sampling system  100  can enter the unique identifiers on each of the sampling containers  450  that will be used to store the sample. These unique identifiers can be entered either by the operator entering them into the interface device  150  or the sampling processor module  300 . This can be done by the operator typing in each number, word or alphanumeric string into the interface device  150  for each of the sampling containers  450 . Alternatively, if the interface device  150  is a smart phone or tablet, the remote interface device  150  can be used to take a photograph of a bar code on each of the sampling containers  450  and the remote interface device  150  can translate the bar code into a number, word or alphanumeric string. If the unique identifier is on a RFID tag, the unique identifier can be read when each storage container  450  is inserted in to the sample divider  400  or sample divider  1400 . These unique identifiers can be used to later populate the unique identifier field  712  in the new sample record  710 . 
     In one aspect, each unique identifier on the storage containers  450  must have been pre-entered into the system. In this manner, rather than saving any unique identifier provided on a sampling container  450 , the system will only save unique identifiers that have already been pre-entered into the system. This will prevent operators from using other sample containers  450  and ensure only sample containers  450  issued by the controller of the system can be used in the sampling system  100 . 
     After step  802  and the unique identifiers have been entered, the method can then move onto step  804  and the operator can enter the rest of the information into the sampling processor module  300 . This information could include various information that will eventually be added to the new sample record  710  including the location of the granular material being sampled to be used in the location field  714  of the sample record  710 , where the granular material originated from for the origination field  716 , where the granular material was moved to for the destination filed  718 , the type of material for the material type field  724 , etc. 
     At step  806  the method can wait for the load to be moved by the material conveyor  10  while collecting any information necessary to populate the sample record  720 . This could be the sample intervals for the sample rate field  722 , the times the samples were taken for the material type field  724 , etc. 
     After the load of granular material has been moved by the material conveyor  10  the sampling processor module  300  or the interface device  150  can collect any final information about the load that has been moved and move onto step  810 . At step  810  the information gathered by the sampling processor module  300  and the interface device  150  during the method can be gathered and used to create the new sample record  710  associated with the specific sample. This sample record  710  can either be stored in the sampling processor module  300  or in one embodiment could be uploaded to a remote server to be stored in a database on the remote server. This would allow the sample records  700  to be stored in a remote server (or the “cloud”) and make the information accessible by anyone with a device capable of accessing the remote server (or the “cloud”). 
     In one aspect, sampling processor module  300  could wirelessly connect to a smart phone or other device capable of transmitting data and wirelessly transmit the sample record  710  to smart phone or other device for uploading to the remote server. In this manner, only the operator&#39;s smart phone would need to be able to connect to the interne or other remote server which would allow the method to work anywhere the smart phone could obtain a signal, rather than requiring the sampling processor module  300  to have the capability of transmitting the information to the remote server for storage of the sample record  710 . 
     If the interface device  150  is a device wireless connected to the sampling processor module  300  such as an operator&#39;s smart phone or tablet, the method can be performed without the interface device  150  being connected to the sampling processor module  300  at all times. The operator could wirelessly connect the interface device  150  to the sampling processor module  300  to start the method and enter the information needed initially. For example, steps  802  and  804  of the method can be performed when the interface device  150  is connected to the sampling processor module  300 . The sampling processor module  300  can then control the obtaining of the samples while the material conveyor  10  is moving the granular material and collect any needed information regardless of whether or not the interface device  150  is wirelessly connected to the sampling processor module  300 . Step  806  could then be performed by the sampling processor module  300  regardless of whether or not the interface device  150  is still connected. For example, step  806  could be performed regardless of whether the interface device  150  is connected to the sampling processor module  300 . Then, when the interface device  150  is eventually reconnected with the sampling processor module  300 , step  810  can be performed and the new sample record  710  created and uploaded to the remote server by the interface device  150 . This can allow the operator to leave the sampling system  100  running without having to ensure his or her smart phone remains connected to it all times. 
     Alternatively, the sampling processor module  300  could have a wireless connection  324  allowing the sampling processor module  300  to connect directly to the interne or a wireless Ian available where the sampling system  100  is being used. 
     With step  810  finished and the new sample record  710  created (and uploaded to a remote server if desired), the method can end. At this point, especially if the sample record  710  is uploaded to a remote server, a person with access to any one of the sample container  450  in the set of sample containers  450  containing substantially identical samples of granular material, can use the unique identifier on the sample container  450  to access the information stored in the sample record  710  about the sample. 
     With the sample record  710  stored on a remote server it can be accessed by a number of different parties in a number of different ways. For example, an operator can open an application his or her smart phone, tablet or other mobile device and select view sample information. In some cases the operator would need to be authorized to access the information. The operator would then obtain the unique identifier from a sample container  450  and this unique identifier can then be used to access the information relating to that specific sample container  450 . Alternatively, users can be provided with accounts on a webpage accessible using a web browser. The user would then access the user account on the internet and select view sample information. After entering the unique identifier of a specific sample container  450 , the information related to the samples taken and obtained in the sample container  450  can be displayed. 
     The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous changes and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all such suitable changes or modifications in structure or operation which may be resorted to are intended to fall within the scope of the claimed invention claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.