Patent ID: 7367458

Claim:
Apparatus for determining and recording characteristics of seed in a batch of plant product comprising; a separator chamber having an inlet through which a batch of plant product is supplied to the separator chamber; means for reading an identifier on the batch of plant product supplied to the inlet and providing the identifier as a digital output; means for causing a flow of gas in the separator chamber to flow across a substantially vertical line of passage of plant product supplied to the separator chamber such that particles are borne to a lesser or greater degree from the line of passage and wherein the flow of gas separates the plant product into a first fraction consisting essentially of seed having desired characteristics and a second fraction consisting essentially of seed not having the desired characteristics; first counting means for counting the seed in the first fraction and providing the result as a digital output; second counting means for counting seed in the batch or for counting seed in the second fraction and providing the result as a digital output; means for weighing the first fraction and providing the result as digital output; and means for integrating the digital outputs and for transferring them to a computer programmed to store data in prescribed format in a database from which it may be manipulated to afford comparison of characteristics of batches of plant product.