Apparatus and method for planting plant cuttings
AssigneeIG Specials B.V.
InventorWim VAN DER EL
Life of this patent
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Abstract
There is provided a pick-and-plant head for planting plant cuttings in a cultivation medium. The pick-and-plant head is provided with a grasper comprising opposed grasping surfaces for grasping a portion of a cutting between them and with an abutment that abuts a cutting. The grasper and abutment are moveable relative to one another and are arranged so that during release of a cutting from the grasper the abutment passes between the opposed grasping surfaces and the cutting is abutted by the abutment.
Claims22
A pick-and-plant head for planting plant cuttings in a cultivation medium comprising:
- a. a grasper comprising opposed grasping surfaces for grasping a portion of a cutting between them;
- and
- b. an abutment comprising an abutment surface for abutting a cutting, wherein the grasper and abutment are moveable relative to one another and are arranged so that during release of a cutting from the grasper the abutment passes between the opposed grasping surfaces and the cutting is abutted by the abutment.
Apparatus for planting cuttings of plants, comprising:
- a. a cuttings supply system for supplying a plurality of cuttings, comprising a substantially horizontal supply surface upon which the plurality of cuttings can be scattered;
- b. a camera system configured to identify by pattern recognition at least one cutting amongst the plurality of cuttings, as suitable for individual pick up;
- c. a robotic arm provided with a pick-and-plant head, for picking said one or more identified cuttings from the supply surface and for planting the picked one or more cuttings in a plant cultivation medium;
- wherein the pick-and-plant head comprises a grasper comprising two opposing members for clamping upon a portion of an identified cutting;
- and wherein the grasper is pivotable in a vertical plane.
Method of planting plant cuttings in a cultivation medium comprising:
- a. providing a scattered plurality of cuttings upon a substantially horizontal supply surface of a cuttings supply system;
- b. identifying by way of pattern recognition, at least one cutting amongst the plurality of cuttings as suitable for individual pick up;
- c. picking said identified cutting from the supply surface in a substantially horizontal orientation, with a pick-and-plant head on a robotic arm;
- d. rotating the picked cutting into a substantially vertical orientation with a plantable end of the cutting facing downward, with the pick-and-plant head;
- and
- e. planting the substantially vertical cutting into a cultivation medium, with the pick-and-plant head;
- wherein the pick-and-plant head comprises a grasper comprising two opposed grasper members for grasping upon a portion of the identified cutting.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.