A box transfer apparatus for an automated harvesting system is provided, the box transfer apparatus comprising: a frame; a plurality of trays to support a plurality of boxes; and a box gripper moveable within the frame using a gantry coupled to the frame; wherein the box gripper is configured to grasp boxes and move the grasped boxes between the frame and an adjacent frame used to convey the boxes to be used in receiving picked items from the automated harvesting system. A stem gripper for an automated harvesting system is also provided, the stem gripper comprising: a housing comprising at least one motor; a pair of contoured fingers operable by the at least one motor to rotate above a common axis to grasp stems of items picked by the automated harvesting system; and a drive mechanism to move the stem gripper from a discard bin to a box for loading.

A box transfer apparatus for an automated harvesting system is provided, the box transfer apparatus comprising: a frame; a plurality of trays to support a plurality of boxes; and a box gripper moveable within the frame using a gantry coupled to the frame; wherein the box gripper is configured to grasp boxes and move the grasped boxes between the frame and an adjacent frame used to convey the boxes to be used in receiving picked items from the automated harvesting system. A stem gripper for an automated harvesting system is also provided, the stem gripper comprising: a housing comprising at least one motor; a pair of contoured fingers operable by the at least one motor to rotate above a common axis to grasp stems of items picked by the automated harvesting system; and a drive mechanism to move the stem gripper from a discard bin to a box for loading.

The present invention relates to a device for discharging mushrooms from a conveyor, comprising a mushroom conveyor, in particular a conveyor belt and/or an endless conveyor, for conveying the mushrooms in a direction of conveyance; wherein the mushroom conveyor has a surface for carrying the mushrooms; and the mushroom conveyor being guided along a trajectory from a charging location such as a picking location to a discharging location, such as a filling station for mushroom containers, as well as a twister, located at the discharging location, for at least locally twisting a plane in which the surface of the mushroom conveyor lies.

A mushroom packing apparatus (10) comprises a conveyor (12) having a mushroom loading section (30) and an unloading end (42) for unloading the mushrooms into a container (16); a mushroom stem cutter (56): a movable support platform (14) for the container adjacent to the unloading end with weighing means (66) for determining the weight of the loaded mushrooms; the unloading end (42) being movable into a plurality of positions relative to the container; the movable support platform being movable such that a plurality of locations in the container are moved into a position proximate to the unloading end. The apparatus results in increased picking speed. It can load each till or box to the target weight, and fill tills when they are in lugs, so workers do not need to handle individual filled tills.

A method of making a food source or medicinal composition and a mycotecture construction unit includes (a) cultivating a mycelium/substrate composite and edible mushrooms, and (b) manufacturing the mycotecture construction unit. A mycelium inoculum is formed of a preselected fungus and used to inoculate a substrate. Mycelium are grown in the inoculated substrate in a growing column and edible mushrooms are harvested from the mycelium, leaving a mycelium-substrate composite. The manufacture of the mycotecture construction unit includes placing the mycelium-substrate composite into a modular, reconfigurable press having a cavity with a predetermined shape; pressing the mycelium-substrate composite at a predetermined pressure; and heating the mycelium-substrate composite in a heating chamber. The construction unit is packaging, an insulation panel, a building construction material, or a household fitting with excellent compression strength, compressive modulus, flexural strength, flexural modulus, insulative properties, and fire retardant properties.

A method of making a food source or medicinal composition and a mycotecture construction unit includes (a) cultivating a mycelium/substrate composite and edible mushrooms, and (b) manufacturing the mycotecture construction unit. A mycelium inoculum is formed of a preselected fungus and used to inoculate a substrate. Mycelium are grown in the inoculated substrate in a growing column and edible mushrooms are harvested from the mycelium, leaving a mycelium-substrate composite. The manufacture of the mycotecture construction unit includes placing the mycelium-substrate composite into a modular, reconfigurable press having a cavity with a predetermined shape; pressing the mycelium-substrate composite at a predetermined pressure; and heating the mycelium-substrate composite in a heating chamber. The construction unit is packaging, an insulation panel, a building construction material, or a household fitting with excellent compression strength, compressive modulus, flexural strength, flexural modulus, insulative properties, and fire retardant properties.

A method of generating multifunctional mycelium products (thread, foam, films, gels and liquids) derived from biodegraded waste and fungi includes inoculating a carbon-containing substrate with fungi; growing the fungi to form a mature mycelium; separating the mycelium from the carbon-containing substrate; and drying the mature mycelium. The mycelium is either injected into a mold and expanded, fermented to produce a liquid, or blended with water and gelling agents to form a hydrogel. The products sequester carbon and inherently combat pathogens, notably MRSA. Further augmented with synthetic enzyme substrates, the products offer bacterial detection. A standout feature is their capacity to hold and release therapeutic agents, diversifying their use from sustainable textiles to skincare, wound healing, and precise drug delivery.

Process for growing mycelium sheets. First, a substrate mixture is prepared in a mixer. Then the substrate mixture is applied as substrate layers on shelves of a rack in a cultivation room. The cultivation room is then closed and subsequently the substrate is pasteurized by injecting a pasteurizing medium, such as steam, into the closed cultivation room. In a next step, the substrate mixture is cooled and subsequently inoculated. During a growing step mycelium is allowed to grow on the inoculated substrate mixture. In a next harvesting step, the mycelium is separated from the substrate.

Process for growing mycelium sheets. First, a substrate mixture is prepared in a mixer. Then the substrate mixture is applied as substrate layers on shelves of a rack in a cultivation room. The cultivation room is then closed and subsequently the substrate is pasteurized by injecting a pasteurizing medium, such as steam, into the closed cultivation room. In a next step, the substrate mixture is cooled and subsequently inoculated. During a growing step mycelium is allowed to grow on the inoculated substrate mixture. In a next harvesting step, the mycelium is separated from the substrate.

A method for harvesting mushrooms which grow in clusters, by determining a picking schedule that maximises the yield while minimising damage to the mushroom or surrounding mushrooms to thereby increase shelf-life.