Weyerhaeuser Company Limited

Weyerhaeuser Nr Company

Weyerhaeuser

Michael K McKinnis

William C Carlson

Jeffrey E Hartle

Curtis A Bryan

Paul G Gaddis

Edwin Hirahara

Patrick Gaillard

Katherine M Salatas

A vacuum pick-up deviceincludes a device bodyhaving a pick-up tip openingto which vacuum pressure is supplied. The vacuum pick-up devicefurther includes a mechanical release assisting devicethat assists in the release of a grasped object contemporaneously with or slightly subsequent to the cessation of vacuum pressure. A manifoldmay be included to efficiently and effectively supply vacuum pressure to the device bodyfrom a vacuum pressure source.

Vacuum pick-up device with mechanically assisted release

A combination end seal and cotyledon restraint () for an artificial seed () is provided. The combination end seal and cotyledon restraint includes a cap portion () sized to substantially seal one end of an artificial seed and a cotyledon restraint () unitarily formed with the cap portion.

Combination end seal and restraint

An apparatus for directing objects carried serially by a fluid to a desired designation is provided. The apparatus includes an upstream fluid conduit and first and second downstream conduits. The apparatus also includes a sensor associated with the upstream fluid conduit operable to provide information regarding an object at a location in the upstream conduit. A switch is coupled to the upstream fluid conduit and selectively operable to deliver the object from the upstream fluid conduit to either the first or second downstream fluid conduit according to the information by applying a force to at least one of the upstream or downstream fluid conduits.

Upstream engaging fluid switch for serial conveying

The present invention provides apparatus and methods useful, for example, for introducing a desired spacing between or classifying and sorting objects, e.g. plant embryos. Objects carried serially in a fluid stream enter the apparatus via an upstream conduit. A sensor associated with the conduit provides information regarding an object at a particular location in the upstream conduit and produces a signal. A switch coupled to the upstream conduit directs the fluid stream to an appropriate downstream conduit by applying a force to a conduit, e.g., by aligning the upstream conduit with a downstream conduit to create a fluid-tight path. Apparatus according to the present invention are particularly useful for manipulating fragile multicellular biological objects such as plant embryos.

Fluid switch

The present invention provides manufactured seeds comprising totipotent plant tissue and a hydrated gel, preferably surrounded by a protective seed coat. The cotyledons of the germinating totipotent plant tissue can be enclosed in a shoot restraint that is resistant to penetration by the growing cotyledons. The manufactured seeds can be prepared for long-term storage, e.g., by sparging the hydrated gel with a respiration-limiting gas before, during, or after assembly of the manufactured seed. The seed is then preferably stored in an atmosphere containing levels of a respiration-limiting gas sufficient to keep respiration of the totipotent plant tissue at reduced levels.

Respiration-limited manufactured seed

The invention is a method of ordering plant embryos so that a specified end of the embryo is always oriented in a predetermined direction. The embryos are preferably first fairly rapidly desiccated to about 15% moisture content. They are then suspended in a benign liquid flotation medium having a density in the range of about 1.059-1.104 g/cm.sup.3. The density must be adjusted empirically so that a predominant number of viable embryos will float and nonviable embryos will sink. In at least the case of conifer somatic embryos, they will float with the end bearing the latent cotyledons upward. After sufficient separation time in the flotation medium the oriented embryos are swept by a flowing liquid stream into a conduit. They enter cotyledon end first and are then carried to a delivery point without losing that orientation. Here they are separated from the transporting medium. The embryos, still positioned cotyledon end first, may then be picked up by robotic or other means for further processing, such as insertion into an artificial seed.

Growing community of inventors

Chehalis, WA, United States of America

Michael K McKinnis