The present invention relates to a system (110) and a method for sorting a plurality (112) of seed grains (114). The system (110) comprises an individualizing device (120), a sampling device (132) for introducing the individualized seed grain (114) into a measuring device (136) for the classification of the individualized seed grain (114), a receiving device (146, 200) for receiving the classified seed grain (114) and also a transporting device (118, 124, 134, 144, 152) for the at least partially pneumatic transport of the seed grain (114).
The invention also relates to the sampling device (132), which comprises an outer tube (160) for receiving the sampling device (132) into the measuring device (136), a sample chamber (138) of the measuring device (136) being provided within a volume (164) of the outer tube (160). The sampling device (132) also comprises an inner tube (162), which is inserted in the outer tube (160) and has a lower opening (166), whereby the individualized seed grain (114) can be introduced into the volume (164) of the outer tube (160). An intermediate space (170) formed between the outer tube (160) and the inner tube (162) is designed in such a way that the individualized seed grain (114) can be discharged by pneumatic means out of the outer tube (160) through the inner tube (162) into a receiving device (146, 200) for the classified seed grain (114).
The system (110) is suitable as an automated high-throughput sorting of seed grains (114) by using the measuring device (136) that is designed for investigations of the seed grains (114) by means of a method of nuclear magnetic resonance (140) and/or an optical measuring method.