Patent ID: 7555865

Claim:
A method of manufacturing an artificial seed blank, comprising: (a) providing a material handling system having means for automatically assembling and transporting an artificial seed blank between a plurality of assembly stations arranged in a sequential configuration, wherein the means for automatically assembling and transporting an artificial seed blank between the plurality of assembly stations includes a plurality of receptacles; (b) placing a seed shell on one of the plurality of receptacles containing an end seal formation material at a first assembly station; (c) forming an end seal at one end of the seed shell by permitting a predetermined amount of the end seal formation material to change state; thereafter (d) depositing media into the seed shell; (e) positioning the seed shell at a second assembly station; (f) removing the seed shell from the receptacle at the second assembly station; and (g) placing a restraint on the one of the plurality of receptacles before placing a seed shell on the same one of the plurality of receptacles, wherein the end seal formation material is deposited within one of the plurality of receptacles by dipping the one of the plurality of receptacles in a container of end seal formation material after placing a restraint on the one of the plurality of receptacles.