The subject matter of the present invention is a method for treating pourable products made of particles which can be separated, preferably seeds (2), with accelerated electrons. During the method, a transparent product flow is guided, using gravity, in a product guiding channel (1) through the electron field generated by at least one electron accelerator (12) under low pressure or excess pressure. The product flow is guided by means of an accelerated gas flow (5) in such a way that the movement thereof corresponds in magnitude and direction to the accelerated movement, which the falling particles execute in said gas flow due to gravitational acceleration. In addition, a device is disclosed which realizes the acceleration of the gas flow (5) in the required way through the shaping of the product guiding channel (1).

The subject matter of the present invention is a method for treating pourable products made of particles which can be separated, preferably seeds (2), with accelerated electrons. During the method, a transparent product flow is guided, using gravity, in a product guiding channel (1) through the electron field generated by at least one electron accelerator (12) under low pressure or excess pressure. The product flow is guided by means of an accelerated gas flow (5) in such a way that the movement thereof corresponds in magnitude and direction to the accelerated movement, which the falling particles execute in said gas flow due to gravitational acceleration. In addition, a device is disclosed which realizes the acceleration of the gas flow (5) in the required way through the shaping of the product guiding channel (1).

An intelligent seed production apparatus and method based on multistage screening and bud eye identification includes a feeding module, a pre-cutting module, a bud eye identifying and cutting module, and a material mixing module. The feeding module can screen out seed potatoes with the mass and shapes meeting the requirements through a multistage screening mechanism. The pre-cutting module can receive the seed potatoes discharged from the feeding module, and cut each seed potato in half; the bud eye identifying and cutting module can receive the seed potato pieces discharged from the pre-cutting module and determine the weight of the seed potatoes and identify the bud eye distribution on the surfaces of the seed potatoes, and cut the seed potato into multiple required tubers, so that bud eyes are distributed on different tubers uniformly. The material mixing module can receive the cut tubers, and complete the material mixing of the tubers.

An intelligent seed production apparatus and method based on multistage screening and bud eye identification includes a feeding module, a pre-cutting module, a bud eye identifying and cutting module, and a material mixing module. The feeding module can screen out seed potatoes with the mass and shapes meeting the requirements through a multistage screening mechanism. The pre-cutting module can receive the seed potatoes discharged from the feeding module, and cut each seed potato in half; the bud eye identifying and cutting module can receive the seed potato pieces discharged from the pre-cutting module and determine the weight of the seed potatoes and identify the bud eye distribution on the surfaces of the seed potatoes, and cut the seed potato into multiple required tubers, so that bud eyes are distributed on different tubers uniformly. The material mixing module can receive the cut tubers, and complete the material mixing of the tubers.

A method for the control of pathogens and/or the prevention of diseases associated with the presence of said pathogens in and/or on seeds, said method comprising the steps of contacting the seeds with a sanitizing composition comprising at least one agriculturally acceptable sanitizing agent, water; and optionally at least one agriculturally acceptable alcohol; heating/drying the seeds at a temperature ≥160° F. for a period of time that prevents the core of the seeds heated to reach 158° F.; and optionally a complementary drying of the seeds at a temperature <158° F.

A method for the control of pathogens and/or the prevention of diseases associated with the presence of said pathogens in and/or on seeds, said method comprising the steps of contacting the seeds with a sanitizing composition comprising at least one agriculturally acceptable sanitizing agent, water; and optionally at least one agriculturally acceptable alcohol; heating/drying the seeds at a temperature ≥160° F. for a period of time that prevents the core of the seeds heated to reach 158° F.; and optionally a complementary drying of the seeds at a temperature <158° F.

A conveyor having a conveyance structure, mixing components, belt, and gas manifold. The gas manifold disposed within or on an exterior portion of the structure. The gas manifold having one or more manifold outlet ports to dry, condition, or treat a metered stream of seed within the conveyor. The manifold may be operably connected to a recirculating air system providing the vacuum source and pressurized air source of atmospheric or conditioned air. A filter and vacuum port may extract debris or humidity from the metered stream of seed within the conveyor. A plurality of mixing baffles may be longitudinally spaced apart through the conveyor in a laterally alternating manner to mix the metered stream of seed. The conveyor may be used to transfer, mix, dry, condition and treat the metered stream of seed between multiple stages of treatment.

A conveyor having a conveyance structure, mixing components, belt, and gas manifold. The gas manifold disposed within or on an exterior portion of the structure. The gas manifold having one or more manifold outlet ports to dry, condition, or treat a metered stream of seed within the conveyor. The manifold may be operably connected to a recirculating air system providing the vacuum source and pressurized air source of atmospheric or conditioned air. A filter and vacuum port may extract debris or humidity from the metered stream of seed within the conveyor. A plurality of mixing baffles may be longitudinally spaced apart through the conveyor in a laterally alternating manner to mix the metered stream of seed. The conveyor may be used to transfer, mix, dry, condition and treat the metered stream of seed between multiple stages of treatment.

Methods and apparatuses to activate, modify, and sanitize the surfaces of granular, powdered, or seed material placed in a continuous flow of a low-temperature, reduced-pressure gas plasma. Said plasma may be created with radio-frequency power, using capacitive-inductive, or a combination of both types of discharge. The plasma is generated at pressures in the 0.01 to 10 Torr range. RF frequency ranges from 0.2 to 220 MHz, and correspond to a plasma density between about n.sub.e×10.sup.8−n.sub.e×10.sup.12 or 0.001 to 0.4 W/cm.sup.3. Inserts and electrodes may be temperature controlled to control process conditions. RF discharge may be pulsed or modulated by different frequency in order to stimulate energy exchange between gas plasma and process material. The apparatuses may be grounded, biased and mechanically activated (e.g., vibration, rotation, etc.).

Methods and apparatuses to activate, modify, and sanitize the surfaces of granular, powdered, or seed material placed in a continuous flow of a low-temperature, reduced-pressure gas plasma. Said plasma may be created with radio-frequency power, using capacitive-inductive, or a combination of both types of discharge. The plasma is generated at pressures in the 0.01 to 10 Torr range. RF frequency ranges from 0.2 to 220 MHz, and correspond to a plasma density between about n.sub.e×10.sup.8−n.sub.e×10.sup.12 or 0.001 to 0.4 W/cm.sup.3. Inserts and electrodes may be temperature controlled to control process conditions. RF discharge may be pulsed or modulated by different frequency in order to stimulate energy exchange between gas plasma and process material. The apparatuses may be grounded, biased and mechanically activated (e.g., vibration, rotation, etc.).