SYSTEM FOR SEPARATING BULK-SUPPLIED PLANT-BULBS AND METHOD FOR TRANSPORTING AND SPACING PLANT-BULBS

Abstract

System (1) for separating bulk-supplied plant-bulbs into a single-file stream of spaced plant-bulbs and a method for transporting and spacing objects. The system comprises a bulk-conveyor (2) for conveying a plurality of plant-bulbs as a bulk mass; a single-file vibration-trough (3) downstream of the bulk-conveyor, arranged to receive plant-bulbs from the bulk-conveyor and to further convey received plant-bulbs in single-file; a single-file conveyor (4) downstream of the single-file vibration-trough, arranged to receive plant-bulbs from the vibration-trough; wherein the bulk-conveyor has a discharge edge (21) and the single-file vibration-trough is longitudinally aligned substantially parallel to the discharge edge; wherein the vibration-trough is configured to progress the plant-bulbs at a first speed, wherein the single-file conveyor is configured to progress the plant-bulbs at a second speed, and wherein the second speed is higher than the first speed whereby during use plant-bulbs transferring from the vibration-trough to the single-file conveyor are spaced on the single-file conveyor.

Claims

1. A method for transporting and spacing plant-bulbs, the method comprising the steps of: providing a system comprising a bulk-conveyor; a single-file trough-conveyor, arranged to receive bulbs either directly or indirectly from the bulk-conveyor; a single-file conveyor, arranged to receive plant-bulbs from the single-file trough-conveyor; and supplying a bulk of plant-bulbs to the bulk-conveyor; transporting the plant-bulbs to the single-file trough by way of the bulk-conveyor; transporting the plant-bulbs along the single-file trough conveyor at a first speed by operating the single-file trough conveyor; transporting the bulbs along the single-file conveyor at a second speed, the second speed being higher than the first speed to space the plant-bulbs in a length of the single-file conveyor.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the bulk-conveyor has a discharge edge and at least a portion of the single-file vibration-trough is longitudinally aligned substantially parallel to the discharge edge, and wherein the plant-bulbs are provided by the discharge edge to the single-file vibration-trough substantially laterally to the vibration-trough.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the single-file trough conveyor comprises a single-file vibration-trough, and plant-bulbs are propelled by vibrating the single-file vibration-trough conveyor.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the single-file trough conveyor comprises a single-file conveyor belt trough, and plant-bulbs are propelled by driving conveyor belts of the single-file conveyor belt trough.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the single-file trough conveyor comprises an upstream single-file vibration-trough for propelling the plant-bulbs by vibration and a downstream single-file conveyor belt trough for propelling the plant-bulbs by driving conveyor belts, wherein the upstream single-file vibration-trough supplies plant-bulbs to the downstream single-file conveyor belt trough, and the downstream single-file conveyor belt trough supplies plant-bulbs to the single-file conveyor, the single-file conveyor operating at a higher speed than the single-file conveyor belt trough.

6. The method of any preceding claims further comprising the steps of providing plant-bulbs as a bulk stack, processing said bulk stack to a bulk single-layer of plant-bulbs preferably by vibration upon a vibration plate (5), and passing said bulk single-layer of plant-bulbs to the bulk conveyor (4).

7. The method according to any preceding claim, wherein the method further includes the step of transporting the plant-bulbs in spaced, single-file to a downstream plant-bulb handling station, preferably wherein the downstream handling station comprises a plant-bulb pick and place apparatus.

8. A method of planting plant-bulbs comprising the method of the preceding claim, and further comprising the step of planting plant-bulbs using a pick-and-place apparatus, by picking separated plant-bulbs and placing said plant-bulbs, preferably into a growth environment or growth medium.

9. A method of producing crops of flowers, the method comprising the steps of the preceding claim and the additional steps of exposing placed plant-bulbs to growth stimuli, media and/or nutrition for a time period allowing growth of pre-bloom or blooming flowers, and harvesting said pre-bloom or blooming flowers as a crop.

10. A system for separating bulk-supplied plant-bulbs into a single-file stream of spaced plant-bulbs, the system comprising: a bulk-conveyor for conveying a plurality of plant-bulbs as a bulk mass; a single-file trough-conveyor downstream of the bulk-conveyor, arranged to receive plant-bulbs from the bulk-conveyor and to further convey received plant-bulbs in single-file; a single-file conveyor downstream of the single-file trough-conveyor, arranged to receive plant-bulbs from the trough-conveyor; wherein the bulk-conveyor has a discharge edge and the single-file vibration-trough is longitudinally aligned substantially parallel to the discharge edge; wherein the vibration-trough is configured to progress the plant-bulbs at a first speed, wherein the single-file conveyor is configured to progress the plant-bulbs at a second speed, and wherein the second speed is higher than the first speed whereby during use plant-bulbs transferring from the vibration-trough to the single-file conveyor are spaced on the single-file conveyor.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the single-file trough conveyor comprises a single-file vibration-trough arranged to propel plant-bulbs by vibration.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the single-file trough conveyor comprises a single-file conveyor belt trough arranged to propel plant-bulbs by driving conveyor belts.

13. The system according to claim 10, wherein the vibration-trough vibrates at a frequency of up to 200 Hz, wherein the first speed is from about 0.0005 to 0.3 m/s and/or the second speed is from about 0.002 m/s to 0.05 m/s.

14. The system (1) according to any of claims 10 to 13, wherein the first speed is from about 0.0005 to 0.3 m/s, preferably from about 0.035 to 0.25 m/s, more preferably of from about 0.072 to 0.21 m/s.

15. The system (1) according to any of claims 10 to 14, wherein the second speed is from about 0.002 m/s to 0.05 m/s, preferably from about 0.005 to 0.03 m/s, more preferably of from about 0.008 to 0.023 m/s.

16. The system according to any of claim 10, wherein the vibration-trough is provided with sidewalls extending substantially parallel to the conveyance direction of the plant-bulbs.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the bulk-conveyor has a width, and is arranged to convey a single-layer of plant-bulbs, the width of the bulk-conveyor accommodating a plurality of plant-bulbs substantially horizontally adjacent in a direction perpendicular to the direction of conveyance.

18. The system according to claim 10, wherein an upstream conveyor is provided upstream of the bulk-conveyor, the upstream conveyor being arranged to supply plant-bulbs to the bulk-conveyor in a substantially single-depth layer.

19. The system (1) according to claim 18, wherein the vibration-plate (5) vibrates at a frequency of up to 200 Hz, preferably between about 80 and 110 Hz, preferably of between about 95 and 105 Hz.

20. The system according to claim 10, wherein a hopper is provided upstream of the vibration-plate and is arranged to deposit stacks or piles of plant-bulbs to the system.

21. The system according to claim 10, further comprising a controller, said controller being arranged to control the speed of the conveyors and/or frequencies and/or amplitudes of the vibrations.

22. The system according to claim 21, further comprising at least one sensor arranged to determine whether bulbs are present.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein the sensor is arranged to signal the controller if there are plant-bulbs, or if there are no bulbs, present at an upstream entry point of the vibration-plate to provide bulbs.

24. The system according to claim 10, wherein the single-file conveyor comprises two or more lateral-conveyors, defining a channel for accepting plant-bulbs received from the vibration-trough.

25. The system according to claim 24, wherein an angle between opposing lateral conveyors is from about 30? to 150?.

26. The system according to claim 10, further comprising one or more transition conveyors disposed between the vibration-trough and the single-file conveyor, said transition conveyors being arranged to move the bulbs at a third speed, wherein the third speed is lower than the second speed and equal to or higher than the first speed.

27. The system according to any of claims 10 to 26, further comprising a downstream bulb handling station, preferably wherein the downstream bulb handling station is a flower bulb pick and place apparatus.

28. The system according to any of claims 10 to 27, further comprising a supply device, preferably a hopper or a stack-conveyor, supporting a bulk of plant-bulbs.

29. A plant-bulb growth installation comprising: a bulk supply of plant-bulbs; a system according to claim 10; a plant-bulb grow station comprising growth stimuli, growth media and/or nutrition; and a harvester for harvesting pre-bloom or blooming flowers as a crop.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] Various aspects of the invention will be further explained with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings wherein:

[0034] FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of a system for separating bulk-supplied plant-bulbs into a single-file stream of spaced plant-bulbs;

[0035] FIG. 2 shows a top-view of a system for separating bulk-supplied plant-bulbs into a single-file stream of spaced plant-bulbs, with a blow-out figure of an interface between a bulk-conveyor and a vibration-trough;

[0036] FIG. 3 shows a top-view of a system for separating bulk-supplied plant-bulbs into a single-file stream of spaced plant-bulbs, with a blow-out figure of an interface between a vibration-trough and a single-file conveyor; and

[0037] FIG. 4 shows a schematic top view of an interface between a bulk-conveyor and a vibration-trough.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

[0038] The following is a description of various embodiments of the invention, given by way of example only and with reference to the drawings.

[0039] FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of a system 1 for separating bulk-supplied plant-bulbs into a single-file stream of spaced plant-bulbs. The system is shown to comprise a bulk-conveyor 2, which is arranged to provide a vibration-trough 3 with plant-bulbs over the discharge edge 21 of the bulk-conveyor. Upstream of the bulk-conveyor, a vibration-plate 5 is provided, arranged to provide the bulk-conveyor with a single-layer bulk mass of plant-bulbs over the entry point 22 of the bulk-conveyor 2. The vibration-plate 5 ensures the provision of a single-layer mass of plant-bulbs to the bulk-conveyor 2.

[0040] Upstream of the vibration-plate 5 a stacked conveyor 7 may be provided to provide the system 1 with a stack, pile or heap of plant-bulbs (i.e. a mass of plant bulbs extending more than one plant-bulb dimension in each x y and z dimension). The supply speed of the plant-bulbs from the stacked conveyor 7 onto the vibration-plate 5 is controlled, preferably by intermittent actuation of the stacked conveyor 7 to provide a single-layer of bulbs to the vibration-plate 5.

[0041] Since a number of bulbs may drop onto the vibration-plate 5 simultaneously, some bulbs may be positioned atop one another once provided onto the vibration-plate 5. The vibration-plate 5 is arranged to vibrate such that the deposited plant-bulbs are driven forward and such that potentially stacked plant-bulbs spread over the upper surface of vibration-plate 5 to provide a single-layer bulk mass of plant-bulbs moving downstream. The single-layer bulk of plant-bulbs extends only a single bulb dimension in the vertical direction (z dimension) and extends more than one bulb dimension in the x and y dimensions. Vibration-plate 5 may so provide the bulk-conveyor 2 with a single-layer of plant-bulbs, even though the stacked conveyor 7 may on occasion deposit too many plant-bulbs at once.

[0042] The bulk conveyor 2 is preferably a belt conveyor, preferably a continuous loop conveyor belt.

[0043] At the transition from the stacked conveyor 7 to the vibration-plate 5 a sensor may be provided to determine whether there is open volume on the vibration-plate 5 for the stacked conveyor 7 to shift plant-bulbs on to it. Depositing plant-bulbs onto the vibration-plate 5 too quickly may result in difficulties in achieving a single depth layer of plant-bulbs. The stacked conveyor 7 may be controlled to operate and/or deposit plant-bulbs onto vibration plate 5 only if a volume at the upper surface of the vibration plate 5, adjacent the outlet of the stacked conveyor 7, is empty of plant-bulbs. A suitable sensor may be a laser sensor, although other sensors may be used.

[0044] Once the single-layer bulk mass of plant-bulbs is provided onto the bulk-conveyor 2, it is propelled towards the vibration-trough 3, which receives the plant-bulbs in single-file in a direction substantially perpendicular to the outlet end of bulk-conveyor 2, in the shown embodiment. The vibration-trough 3 propels the plant-bulbs at a first speed in the direction of a single-file conveyor 4. The single-file conveyor 4 progresses the plant bulbs at a second speed, wherein the second speed is higher than the first speed. The single-file conveyor 4 preferably operates at a speed of 0.36 to 0.45 m/s.

[0045] As the plant-bulbs transition from single-file propulsion at a first (lower) speed to a single-file propulsion at a second (higher) speed, the plant-bulbs are controllably spaced from one another according to the ratio of the first and second speeds, that is the spacing relates to the speed of propulsion of a preceding plant-bulb by the single-file conveyor 4 and the time taken to supply the subsequent plant-bulb. This aids in providing the plant-bulbs to the single-file conveyor 4 with controllable and predictable spacing, in turn aiding automated analysis and/or pick up.

[0046] The single-file conveyor 4 is preferably a belt conveyor, preferably a continuous loop conveyor belt.

[0047] The vibration-trough 3 is elongate and is provided with sidewalls running in the length of the trough. The vibration-trough 3 preferably has a V-shaped transverse cross-section, having an internal width approximate to that of a plant-bulb dimension. Such a transverse cross-section may act to cradle supplied plant-bulbs and encourage single-file arrangement thereof, in particular through vibration of the trough. Other transverse cross-sections may also be used, for example U-shaped. Multi-channel vibratory troughs, having parallel single-file channels may also be envisaged.

[0048] The system 1 may be provided on a support structure 8. In other embodiments, the system 1 may be bolted directly to a wall or positioned on the floor. Parts of the system 1 may be provided within an encasement 33. This is particularly beneficial for parts of the system 1 that are prone to damaging or that are likely to damage workers. In the shown embodiment, actuators for the conveyors downstream of the vibration-trough 3 are provided within the encasement 33.

[0049] FIG. 2 shows a top-view of a system 1 for separating bulk-supplied plant-bulbs into a single-file stream of spaced plant-bulbs, with a expanded figure of an interface between a bulk-conveyor 2 and a vibration-trough 3. The expanded figure shows that the discharge edge 21 of the bulk-conveyor 2 is substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vibration-trough 3. This arrangement may substantially supply consecutive single file rows of plant-bulbs from the discharge edge 21 into the vibration trough 3, the vibration trough 3 propelling plant-bulbs downstream, making space for a subsequent row of plant-bulbs from the single-layer bulk on bulk-conveyor 2. The bulk of plant-bulbs may thus be efficiently transitioned from a single-layer bulk to a single-file stream of plant-bulbs.

[0050] The vibration-trough 3 is also shown to comprise two sidewalls 31, 32 extending substantially parallel to the conveyance direction of the plant-bulbs. In the shown embodiment, the sidewalls 31, 32 of the vibration-trough 3 form a V-shape cross-section perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the plant-bulbs. As mentioned, the provision of such sidewalls 31, 32 further aids the stability of the plant-bulbs and aids in the formation of a single-file plurality of plant-bulbs.

[0051] FIG. 3 shows a top-view of a system 1 for separating bulk-supplied plant-bulbs into a single-file stream of spaced plant-bulbs, with an expanded figure of an interface between a vibration-trough 3 and a single-file conveyor 4. The shown embodiment comprises a single-file conveyor belt trough or transition conveyor 6 between the vibration trough 3 and the single-file conveyor 4. Two lateral transition conveyors 61, 62, which form the transition conveyor 6. The transition conveyor 6 aids in stabilizing the plant-bulbs as they leave the vibration-trough 3. The transition conveyor 6 progresses the plant-bulbs at a third speed, wherein the third speed is lower than the second speed and equal to or higher than the first speed. The transition conveyor 6 may already accelerate the plant-bulbs slightly upon leaving the vibration-trough 3.

[0052] The lateral transition conveyors 61, 62 preferably operate at a speed between about 0.025 and 0.25 m/sec, preferably between about 0.035 and 0.20 m/sec, more preferably 0.058 and 0.17 m/sec.

[0053] The lateral transition conveyors 61, 62 are preferably belt conveyors, preferably continuous loop conveyor belts.

[0054] The shown embodiment further comprises a single-file conveyor 4 comprising two lateral single-file conveyors 41, 42 extending along an initial entry point of the single-file conveyor 4. The lateral single-file conveyors 41, 42, just as the lateral transition conveyors 61, 62, are positioned in an angled fashion to one another so that they form a substantially V-shaped cross-sectional shape. This ensures that the plant-bulbs are stabilised upon transportation and do not roll sideways. As previously mentioned U-shaped cross-sections may also be employed.

[0055] The lateral single-file conveyors 41, 42 preferably operate at a speed between substantially equal to speed of the single-file conveyor 4.

[0056] FIG. 4 shows a schematic top view of an interface between a bulk-conveyor 2 and a vibration-trough 3. As shown, the direction of movement of the bulbs on the bulk-conveyor 2, indicated with arrow 20, is not perpendicular to the direction of movement of the plant-bulbs in the vibration trough 3, indicated with arrow 30. However, the discharge edge 21 of the bulk-conveyor 2 is still substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vibration-trough 3, ensuring a steady supply of bulbs to the vibration-trough 3 without having to direct the plant-bulbs, thereby increasing the chance of damaging the plant-bulbs. The parallel position of the discharge edge 21 of the bulk-conveyor 2 ensures the provision of a single-file supply of plant-bulbs to the vibration trough 3.