Abstract An automated system for growing plant material includes an first length of membrane material having a plurality of open growing chambers and a second length of membrane material having a plurality of growing chambers filled with the plant material. A media preparation unit mixes measured amounts of individual stock solutions for dispensing media into the open growing chambers by a fill unit. A fill check scanner unit determines that a sufficient amount of media has been dispensed within each growing chamber. A sterilization unit sterilizes the media filled open growing chambers which then pass to a cooling and storage unit for cooling and storing the media-filled open growing chambers until ready for planting with plant material. The second length of plant-filled growing chambers are housed in a plant culture room where the plant material is permitted to grow. A growth detection scanner determines the extent of growth of the plant material. Upon the plant material reaching a predetermined growth, the plant-filled growing chambers pass to a surface sterilization unit for surface sterilizing the plant-filled growing chambers. A cutting opens the growing chambers and the plant material is removed. The removed plant material is passed through a cutting unit where the plant material is cut into pieces. Each piece of plant material is then planted into a media-filled open growing chamber from the cooling and storing unit. A heat sealer closes the open end of the newly plant-filled growing chambers. The newly plant-filled growing chambers are then transported back to the culture room. A tractor feed apparatus transports the lengths of growing chambers throughout the automated system and a control system synchronizes and controls the operation of each of the units and tractor feed apparatus.
An automated system for culturing plant tissue, comprising: a first length of membrane material forming a plurality of first chambers having an open end; a second length of membrane material having a plurality of second chambers enclosing individual plant tissue; opening means for opening said second chambers; removal means for removing the plant tissue from said second chambers; cutting means for cutting the plant tissue into a plurality of pieces; inserting means for inserting individual pieces of plant tissue into said first chambers; and closing means for closing said open ends of said first chambers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
95 words
An automated system for culturing plant tissue, comprising: a first length of membrane material forming a plurality of first chambers having an open end; a second length of membrane material having a plurality of second chambers enclosing individual plant tissue; opening means for opening said second chambers; removal means for removing the plant tissue from said second chambers; cutting means for cutting the plant tissue into a plurality of pieces; inserting means for inserting individual pieces of plant tissue into said first chambers; and closing means for closing said open ends of said first chambers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
72 words
The automated system of claim 1 wherein said cutting means comprises: means for receiving the plant tissue from the second length of membrane material; means for cutting the plant tissue; means for transporting the plant tissue from the receiving means to said cutting means; and planting means for transporting individual cut pieces of plant tissue from said cutting means to one of said first chambers and planting an individual cut piece therein.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
170 words
The automated system of claim 1 wherein said cutting means and inserting means comprise: an enclosure having a first entry and exit for passing the first length of first chambers therethrough and a second entry and exit for passing the second length of second chambers therethrough; transport means for transporting the first and second lengths of chambers through said enclosure; means disposed on said enclosure for moving air within said enclosure; means on said enclosure for filtering the air prior to passing into said enclosure; means within said enclosure for surface sterilizing the second length of chambers with plant tissue therein; means within said enclosure for opening the second length of chambers; means within said enclosure for removing the plant tissue from the second length of chambers; means within said enclosure for cutting the plant tissue into smaller pieces; means within said enclosure for investing the smaller pieces of plant tissue into the first length of chambers; and means within said enclosure for closing the first length of open chambers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The automated system of claim 1 wherein said closing means includes a pair of roller heat sealers for applying heat to the open end of said first chamber for sealing the first chambers closed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The automated system of claim 1 further comprising tractor feed apparatus for transporting said lengths of chambers throughout the automated system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
The automated system of claim 1 further including: a first coding unit for uniquely coding each open chamber of said first length; a second coding unit for uniquely coding each sealed chamber of said second length exiting said closing unit; and a bar code reading unit for identifying the plant material in said sealed chambers.