Abstract: An apparatus and method for separating individual plants from plant and non-plant matter. In one embodiment, an air curtain is directed to a falling mixture of plant and non-plant matter. The air directs some of the plant and non-plant material into a waste or recycling bin and permits further processing of individual plants.
Type:
Application
Filed:
June 26, 2023
Publication date:
January 11, 2024
Applicant:
Agricultural Robotics LLC
Inventors:
Eric J. Levesque, Darrell Mintz, Garrett Wallis, James A. Moshier
Abstract: An apparatus and method for trimming plants is described. Workers place individual plants separating individual plants from plant and non-plant matter. In one embodiment, an air curtain is directed to a falling mixture of plant and non-plant matter. The air directs some of the plant and non-plant material into a waste or recycling bin and permits further processing of individual plants. In another embodiment, individual plants are placed in a trim belt and then passed through a trimming station that trims the individual plants.
Type:
Application
Filed:
June 26, 2023
Publication date:
January 11, 2024
Applicant:
Agricultural Robotics LLC
Inventors:
Eric J. Levesque, Darrell Mintz, Garrett Wallis, James A. Moshier, Glenn Sakuma, Hebe M. Bradley, Richard Bessette
Abstract: An apparatus and method is presented for separating healthy plants from agricultural material, such as harvested plants. The apparatus includes a conveyor to present the agricultural material to a mesh, which may be, for example bristles. A rotating drum with a plurality of protruding tines moves through the mesh and pulls individual plants from the agricultural material. A machine vision system may then sort the healthy, individual plants. The method includes presenting the agricultural material to the mesh, and then pulling individual plants through the mesh.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 21, 2014
Date of Patent:
June 7, 2016
Assignee:
Agricultural Robotics LLC
Inventors:
Claude Edward Brown, Darrell Mintz, Glenn Sakuma, Bob Tipton, Tom Loftus, Joseph Oran Shannon