US4481893A — Method and apparatus for automatically handling r…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 143 words

In a system of elevated mass growing of plant seedlings for subsequent replanting, the mass growing being in reusable units of the type having a plurality of pot cells joined together in side-by-side relationship in an array forming a tray-like structure, a method to ensure that all the pots in each tray are occupied by acceptable seedlings, the method comprising: providing means to controllably advance the trays past a sensing station and sensing the array of pots in each tray by sensor means to identify pot-locations in the array which do not have an acceptable seedling; providing means for holding the identified locations in mechanical, electrical or electronic memory; and selectively evacuating the identified pot-locations by mechanically actuated means in preparation for receiving acceptable replacement seedlings; and providing means replacing seedlings at the evacuated locations; and forcing the seedlings to a transplant stage.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 143 words

In a system of elevated mass growing of plant seedlings for subsequent replanting, the mass growing being in reusable units of the type having a plurality of pot cells joined together in side-by-side relationship in an array forming a tray-like structure, a method to ensure that all the pots in each tray are occupied by acceptable seedlings, the method comprising: providing means to controllably advance the trays past a sensing station and sensing the array of pots in each tray by sensor means to identify pot-locations in the array which do not have an acceptable seedling; providing means for holding the identified locations in mechanical, electrical or electronic memory; and selectively evacuating the identified pot-locations by mechanically actuated means in preparation for receiving acceptable replacement seedlings; and providing means replacing seedlings at the evacuated locations; and forcing the seedlings to a transplant stage.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 134 words

Apparatus for use in mass growing of seedlings in a greenhouse for automatically handling reusable seedling units comprising pots arranged in matrix form in a tray, to examine if each pot has an acceptable seedling and for automatically preparing certain examined pots to receive a replacement seedling, the apparatus comprising: first sensor means to scan the pots automatically to identify and note pot locations which need a replacement seedling; control circuit means responsive to the first means to automatically initiate evacuation of identified pots; means responsive to said control circuit means to evacuate said identified pots; seedling inserting means responsive to the control circuit means to automatically insert a replacement seedling in each of the evacuated pots, whereby with all the scanned pots having acceptable seedlings, the utilization of the greenhouse space is improved.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 134 words

Apparatus for use in mass growing of seedlings in a greenhouse for automatically handling reusable seedling units comprising pots arranged in matrix form in a tray, to examine if each pot has an acceptable seedling and for automatically preparing certain examined pots to receive a replacement seedling, the apparatus comprising: first sensor means to scan the pots automatically to identify and note pot locations which need a replacement seedling; control circuit means responsive to the first means to automatically initiate evacuation of identified pots; means responsive to said control circuit means to evacuate said identified pots; seedling inserting means responsive to the control circuit means to automatically insert a replacement seedling in each of the evacuated pots, whereby with all the scanned pots having acceptable seedlings, the utilization of the greenhouse space is improved.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 12 words

Apparatus as claim 2 wherein said scanning means comprises optical scanning means.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 13 words

Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said scanning means comprises capacitance scanning means.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 13 words

Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said scanning means comprises ultrasonic scanning means.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 13 words

Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said scanning means comprises infrared scanning means.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 21 words

Apparatus as in claim 2 including means to selectively cause evacuation of a pot in response to said control circuit means.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 22 words

Apparatus as in claim 2 including a mechanical plunger responsive to said control means to selectively cause evacuation of a predetermined pot.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 26 words

Apparatus as in claim 8 including at least one conveyor on which the pots are situated at the time of scanning and insertion of replacement seedling.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 111 words

Apparatus for use in mass growing of seedings in a greenhouse for automatically handling reusable seedling units of the type having a plurality of pots joined together in side-by-side relationship in an array to form a tray-like structure, to ensure that all the pots in a tray are occupied by acceptable seedlings, the apparatus comprising: first capacitive sensor means to scan the array of pots automatically to identify and note pot locations which need a replacement seedling; control circuit means responsive to the sensor means to cause evacuation of identified pots; and seedling inserting means responsive to the control means to insert replacement seedlings one in each of the evacuated pots.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 111 words

Apparatus for use in mass growing of seedings in a greenhouse for automatically handling reusable seedling units of the type having a plurality of pots joined together in side-by-side relationship in an array to form a tray-like structure, to ensure that all the pots in a tray are occupied by acceptable seedlings, the apparatus comprising: first capacitive sensor means to scan the array of pots automatically to identify and note pot locations which need a replacement seedling; control circuit means responsive to the sensor means to cause evacuation of identified pots; and seedling inserting means responsive to the control means to insert replacement seedlings one in each of the evacuated pots.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 35 words

Apparatus as in claim 10 adapted for use with seedling units having a plurality of bottomless pots, the apparatus further comprising at least one conveyor means on which seedling units to be scanned are disposed.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 14 words

Apparatus as in claim 11 wherein said means to scan comprises optical scanning means.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 14 words

Apparatus as in claim 11 wherein said means to scan comprises capacitance scanning means.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 14 words

Apparatus as in claim 11 wherein said means to scan comprises ultrasonic scanning means.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 14 words

Apparatus as in claim 11 wherein said means to scan comprises infrared scanning means.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 13 words

Apparatus as in claim 11 which includes pneumatic means to evacuate identified pots.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 41 words

Apparatus as in claim 11 which includes a mechanical plunger means which, responsive to the control circuit means, moves downwardly into an identified pot to eject a lump of growth medium from the identified pot downwardly to evacuate the identified pot.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 51 words

Apparatus as in claim 17 including a second conveyor means responsive to said control circuit means and located above the first conveyor means, said second conveyor having thereon one or more donor seedling units from which replacement seedlings can be transferred to evacuated pots of seedling units on the first conveyor.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 56 words

Apparatus as in claim 18 including a transfer means which is responsive to said control circuit means, said transfer means including a socket capable of vertically downward movement for facilitating transfer of a replacement seedling from the area of the second conveyor into a selected evacuated pot of a seedling unit located on the first conveyor.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 39 words

Apparatus as in claim 19 further including means to admit compressed air into the region of the socket in such manner as to facilitate release of a lump of growth medium of said replacement seedling from its corresponding pot.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1987-11-13	1988-05-14	1988-11-13	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1991-11-13	1992-05-14	1992-11-13	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1995-11-13	1996-05-14	1996-11-13	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus for automatically handling reusable seedling units

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