US-12616081-B2 - High precision greenhouse seed and seedling treatment

US12616081B2US 12616081 B2US12616081 B2US 12616081B2US-12616081-B2

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for treating and transplanting plant propagation materials into a cultivation medium, including: a. providing a plurality of plant-receiving cavities in the cultivation medium; b. providing the plant propagation materials in a reservoir; c. removing from the reservoir container and separating out plant propagation materials, and d. orienting the separated-out plant propagation materials in a position upwardly of the cavity, and e. releasing the plant propagation material from the orientation position into the associated plant-receiving cavity, and f. selectively applying a dressing composition aliquot to a surface of the plant propagation material while it is moving towards the plant-receiving cavity.

Inventors

Jamie RICKARD
Christophe LUPFER
Christoph Grimm

Assignees

SYNGENTA CROP PROTECTION AG

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20200814
Priority Date: 20190821

Claims (14)

1 . An apparatus for automatically treating and transplanting plant propagation materials from a reservoir to a plurality of plant-receiving cavities in a cultivation medium, comprising: a. one or more of plant-receiving cavity-creating means mounted on the apparatus and selectively operable for forming a plurality of laterally spaced-apart plant-receiving cavities; and b. a separating device comprising a device operable for selectively engaging surfaces of the plant propagation materials, and for separating out and placing them substantially vertically above the plant-receiving cavities, wherein each separating device includes a manipulator for engaging and holding the plant propagation material substantially aligned along a horizontal and a vertical axis while the plant propagation material is displaced downwardly for insertion into a plant-receiving cavity; and c. a dressing application device configured to selectively apply an aliquot of a dressing composition to the separated plant propagation materials, wherein the dressing application device is configured to apply the aliquot to the separated plant propagation materials while it is displaced downwardly in free fall for insertion into a plant-receiving cavity, wherein the plant propagation materials are seedlings or seedling plugs suitable as plant propagation materials, wherein the dressing application device comprises: i. a sensor array comprising at least one sensor for measuring the trajectory of the plant propagation materials while free-falling, ii. a controller for calculating the trajectory from the data received from the sensor array; and for coordinating and applying the dressing composition; and iii. an outlet device for dispensing an aliquot of the dressing composition selectively onto the plant propagation materials during free-falling.
2 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one dressing storage assembly comprising at least one dressing reservoir comprising the at least one agricultural compound and at least one additional component for forming the dressing composition for application, or the dressing composition, in fluid connection with the dressing application device; and preferably, a diluent reservoir for a diluent suitable for diluting the at least one agricultural compound and the at least one additional component to form a dressing composition in applicable state.
3 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a mixing control unit configured and operable to adapt the dressing composition by controlling the flow of the dressing composition and/or diluent to obtain a dressing composition to an application state, and/or to a state and composition suitable for one or more environmental conditions, and/or the specific plant propagation material.
4 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the application device is configured as a structurally independent unit and is arranged underneath the separating device in a free-falling path of the separated plant propagation materials.
5 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the application device comprises a triggerable application nozzle.
6 . The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein a plurality of sensors, which detect the transverse position of the plant propagation materials within the sensor shaft, are arranged in the sensor shaft, and wherein the controller is configured to calculate individually the time delay for each plant propagation material taking into account the transverse position of the material.
7 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the application device has two or more application nozzles, by means of which one, two or more dressing compositions can be applied to the separated plant propagation materials.
8 . The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a cartridge assembly comprising one or more cartridges that each are separate from the reservoir, and wherein each cartridge comprises a different or identical dressing premix or application state dressing composition, wherein the application device is configured to apply the dressing from the one or more cartridges to the separated plant propagation materials after they leave the separating device while the plant propagation materials fall toward the underlying agricultural surface, wherein preferably, the one or more cartridges are each connected to a nozzle from a plurality of nozzles, through which the dressing can be applied from the cartridge to the plant propagation materials.
9 . The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the cartridge assembly comprises at least one removable cartridge comprising the at least one agricultural compound and the at least one additional component, and a computer-readable unit having information stored therein, the dispensing assembly comprising: a) a controller unit; b) a dispensing unit in communication with the controller unit and configured for generating a fluid supply flow to the application device; and c) an interface unit in communication with the controller unit, the interface unit being configured to interface the computer-readable unit of the cartridge and to at least retrieve the information stored therein; wherein the dispensing unit is responsive to the information stored on the computer-readable unit and retrieved therefrom.
10 . An apparatus for automatically treating and transplanting plant propagation materials from a reservoir to a plurality of plant-receiving cavities in a cultivation medium, comprising: a. one or more of plant-receiving cavity-creating means mounted on the apparatus and selectively operable for forming a plurality of laterally spaced-apart plant-receiving cavities; b. a separating device comprising a device operable for selectively engaging surfaces of the plant propagation materials, and for separating out and placing them substantially vertically above the plant-receiving cavities, wherein each separating device includes a manipulator for engaging and holding the plant propagation material substantially aligned along a horizontal and a vertical axis while the plant propagation material is displaced downwardly for insertion into a plant-receiving cavity; and c. a dressing application device configured to selectively apply an aliquot of a dressing composition to the separated plant propagation materials, wherein the dressing application device is configured to apply the aliquot to the separated plant propagation materials while it is displaced downwardly in free fall for insertion into a plant-receiving cavity, wherein the plant propagation materials are seedlings or seedling plugs suitable as plant propagation materials, the apparatus further comprising at least one sensor array comprising one or more sensors to detect each separated plant propagation material output from the reservoir, the at least one sensor configured and operable for detecting the passage of the material through a sensor shaft, and a controller to trigger the application device to apply the dressing composition on the basis of signal output by the at least one sensor, and optionally, one or more of the following: d. a valve operatively controlled by the controller; e. the sensor shaft being open at both ends, and wherein the application device is arranged in such a way that the separated plant propagation materials fall through the sensor shaft on their path from the separating device to the underlying surface and into the cavity; and f. an application nozzle for the dressing composition configured to apply a defined quantity of dressing composition to the plant propagation material after having fallen through the sensor shaft, once the material is outside the sensor shaft, wherein the application device has a controller which cooperates with the at least one sensor, the controller bringing about the triggering of the application nozzle in accordance with sensor signals generated by the at least one sensor, in order to apply the dressing composition to the plant propagation material.
11 . The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein at least two sensors for detecting the passage of a material through the sensor shaft are arranged one after the other along the sensor shaft, in the falling direction of the plant propagation materials, wherein the controller is configured to calculate, on the basis of the sensor signals of the at least two sensors, a time delay after which it brings about the triggering of the application nozzle.
12 . The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the application nozzle is configured to eject, each time it is triggered, a defined quantity of dressing along a spraying trajectory, wherein the controller is configured to calculate the position of an impact location at which the spraying trajectory and the fall line of the plant propagation material to which dressing is applied intersect, and wherein the controller is configured to calculate the time delay on the basis of the position of the impact location and the rate of fall of the plant propagation material, and preferably, wherein the application nozzle is oriented such that its spraying trajectory intersects the fall lines of the plant propagation material at an acute angle, more preferably of from 30° to 60°.
13 . An apparatus for automatically treating and transplanting plant propagation materials from a reservoir to a plurality of plant-receiving cavities in a cultivation medium, comprising: a. one or more of plant-receiving cavity-creating means mounted on the apparatus and selectively operable for forming a plurality of laterally spaced-apart plant-receiving cavities; and b. a separating device comprising a device operable for selectively engaging surfaces of the plant propagation materials, and for separating out and placing them substantially vertically above the plant-receiving cavities, wherein each separating device includes a manipulator for engaging and holding the plant propagation material substantially aligned along a horizontal and a vertical axis while the plant propagation material is displaced downwardly for insertion into a plant-receiving cavity; and c. a dressing application device configured to selectively apply an aliquot of a dressing composition to the separated plant propagation materials, wherein the dressing application device comprises: a. a sensor array comprising at least one sensor for measuring the trajectory of the plant propagation materials while free-falling, b. a controller for calculating the trajectory from the data received from the sensor array; and for coordinating and applying the dressing composition; and c. an outlet device for dispensing an aliquot of the dressing composition selectively onto the plant propagation materials during free-falling.
14 . An apparatus for automatically treating and transplanting plant propagation materials from a reservoir to a plurality of plant-receiving cavities in a cultivation medium, comprising: a. one or more of plant-receiving cavity-creating means mounted on the apparatus and selectively operable for forming a plurality of laterally spaced-apart plant-receiving cavities; and b. a separating device comprising a device operable for selectively engaging surfaces of the plant propagation materials, and for separating out and placing them substantially vertically above the plant-receiving cavities, wherein each separating device includes a manipulator for engaging and holding the plant propagation material substantially aligned along a horizontal and a vertical axis while the plant propagation material is displaced downwardly for insertion into a plant-receiving cavity; c. and a dressing application device configured to selectively apply an aliquot of a dressing composition to the separated plant propagation materials; and d. at least one sensor array comprising one or more sensors to detect each separated plant propagation materials output from the reservoir, the at least one sensor configured and operable for detecting the passage of the material through a sensor shaft, and a controller to trigger the dressing application device to apply the dressing composition on the basis of signal output by the at least one sensor, wherein at least two sensors for detecting the passage of a material through the sensor shaft are arranged one after the other along the sensor shaft, in the falling direction of the plant propagation materials, wherein the controller is configured to calculate, on the basis of the sensor signals of the at least two sensors, a time delay after which it brings about the triggering of the application nozzle.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a 371 National Stage application of International Application No. PCT/EP2020/072889 filed Aug. 14, 2020, which claims the benefit of EP 19192906.6, filed Aug. 21, 2019, the entire contents of these applications are hereby incorporated by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to agricultural implements and machinery, and more particularly to a novel method and apparatus operable for separating out, and treating plant propagation material during planting, such seeds from a seed reservoir into a seedling tray, and seedlings from a seedling tray into the greenhouse growth substrate, in order to encourage continued growth of each individual seedling. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The process of planting row and vegetable crops under greenhouse conditions has gained popularity in recent years and various attempts have been made to streamline the planting and automate the process, although hand-planting is still common in particular for vegetables grown in greenhouses. The use of planting, i.e. growing seedlings in a greenhouse, and then transplanting them to a field or commercial greenhouse, has been found to be an efficient agricultural process for crops such as celery, lettuce, cauliflower, peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, brussel sprouts, beets, asparagus, etc. Most of these crops are initially planted in high densities in nurseries, and then transplanted to grow to a harvestable crop. It should become apparent that an extremely efficient agricultural approach is necessary to accomplish such high-density planting. However, since this concerns dense monocultures, pests and pathogens are strongly affecting the yields of such plants, which may be enhanced through the closed biosphere of greenhouses. In Greenhouse farming, currently available methods for control of seed- or plant material borne pathogens include hot water, hot air and electron treatments, as well as microorganisms and different agents of natural origin acceptable to organic farming have been used, in particular for organic farming, and conventional pesticide seed treatments, with varying success. Overall, the physical treatments, such as hot water, hot air and electron treatment only allow for a moderate to good control of the respective diseases and may affect the ability of the plant materials to proliferate. Accordingly, there is a need for a combined selective planting and treatment method and apparatus that permits the use of active ingredients on such material during the seeding and planting process. Accordingly, there remains a need for an apparatus and a method for treating plant propagation materials such as cuttings or seedlings in time and in a manner that avoids any contact with an apparatus, and during sowing or planting. Yet further, there remains the need to for being able to adjust seed dressing compositions according to a given environment and to minimize operator involvement. One of the problems resides in the fact that it has been found problematical to develop a system which will selectively treat seedlings grown in seedling trays to place them into the ground. The preferred method would be to provide some type of transplanting device which would be operable for removing seedlings from a seedling tray and, without damage to the root system or soil medium, treat the seedling, and place the treated seedling into a crop-receiving cavity. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for (trans)planting plant propagation materials either in a greenhouse or a field, and sequentially displace planting treated plant propagation materials into trays or treated seedlings from those trays into selected crop rows via an automatic mechanical process. It is another object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus which utilizes one or more dressing composition dispensing means mounted on the (trans)planting apparatus selectively operable for directing fluid towards the seedlings prior to entering the ground to form a plurality of laterally spaced-apart crops. Still another object of the present invention is to provide the fluid dispensing means, as described above, with one or more sensor arrays and nozzles, minimizing operator exposure. These and additional objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily appreciated after a consideration of the drawings and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is intended to improve a method and a corresponding device for discharging plant propagation material to the effect that contamination or soiling of the components of the device, in particular also of the separating element thereof, by seed dressing is avoided. Specifically, the application to the individual plant propagation materials is to take place without contamination. Accordingly, the present invention, in a first aspect, r