Improved process and apparatus for producing the germination of seeds

Abstract

Abstract 468,056. Assisting germination. BOUILLON, C. G. V. Sept. 27, 1935, No. 26788. Void. Convention date, Sept. 28, 1934. [Class 58] Seeds for germination are placed in a hopper 36 and by opening a blast of air from a fan 21 to a chamber at the bottom of the hopper are carried up a conduit 35 to the top of a vertical container down which they fall on to a loose perforated plate 28 supported on catches 29. The container has two opposite walls 1, 2 perforated at the side 1 communicating with a trunk 7 divided by horizontal perforated plates and connected by a conduit 20 to the fan 21 and the side 2 communicating with an outlet trunk 8. Water passes from a tank 13 to a nozzle 10 in the trunk 7. A regulator 16 adapted to close an air passage 15 to the tank and controlled by the pressure of air in the trunk 7 governs to some extent the supply of water. When sufficient seed has entered the container for one day's supply, the water and air supplies are turned on and germination started. A thermostat 61 may be used to control the air supply automatically. The next day the lid of the container is opened, a perforated plate 28 laid on the seed in the container and another day's supply of seed introduced on top of this plate, the germination of the second supply then being started. This procedure is repeated until the germination of the lowest layer is complete ; the catches 29 are withdrawn and the bottom layer allowed to fall into a discharge aperture 30<a>, the catches 29 returning to engage the succeeding plate 28. The plates 28 may be separated by stays to prevent pressure on the seeds. In a modification, the previously soaked seeds are arranged in independent vats placed successively one above the other in a vertical container and the air is arranged to pass upwards through the perforated bars of the vats. The bottom vat is removed, when the seed therein is fully germinated, by screw jacks and a fresh one inserted at the top.

Inventors

No inventors recorded.

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