Abstract: There is discussed a method of picking and placing bulbs, in which bulbs are supplied on a supply surface of a bulbs supply system; the bulbs being identified and picked from the supply surface with a pick-and-place head; wherein picked bulbs are transferred from the pick-and-place head, shoot-first and roots-last to a transfer-receptacle comprising at least one bulb-receptor, wherein the bulb-receptor temporarily clutches said bulb.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a graft element (1) for joining together plant stem sections. The graft element is made of a resilient material and takes the form of a tubular structure having a hollow center that extends in a longitudinal direction so as to form a cylinder (2). The graft element further comprises a side opening (3) along its length and two elongated members. The side opening is connected to the hollow center over the entire length of the graft element. The two elongated members are located at opposite sides of the side opening and oriented substantially parallel thereto. The elongated members are provided with cutouts for receiving a gripping unit. The invention further relates to systems and methods for joining plant stem sections using the graft element. Finally, the invention relates to a system and a method for preparing the graft element.

Abstract: There is discussed a method of picking and placing bulbs, in which bulbs are supplied on a supply surface of a bulbs supply system; the bulbs being identified and picked from the supply surface with a pick-and-place head; wherein picked bulbs are transferred from the pick-and-place head, shoot-first and roots-last to a transfer-receptacle comprising at least one bulb-receptor, wherein the bulb-receptor temporarily clutches said bulb.

Abstract: There is discussed a method of picking and placing bulbs, in which bulbs are supplied on a supply surface of a bulbs supply system; the bulbs being identified and picked from the supply surface with a pick-and-place head; wherein the bulbs are reoriented about a minor axis before being placed.

Abstract: A cutting holding unit for planting cuttings in a cultivation medium comprising a cutting clamp comprising two opposing members for clamping a portion of a cutting at a clamping position; and a holding device comprising two opposing members arranged to hold the cutting at a position closer to a cutting end that is to be put into the cultivation medium than the clamping position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for sorting plant material units (101), such as seedlings. The plant material units are arranged in a supply tray and distributed over a plurality of further trays, each further tray being dedicated to plant material units with a specific classification value assigned to it. In the method, first, the supply tray (105) is provided. An image of the plant material units in the supply tray is obtained, and on the basis of the obtained image, a classification value is assigned to each of the plant material units. Finally, the plant material units are sorted on the basis of the assigned classification value by transferring plant material units with the same assigned classification value by means of a robot directly from the supply tray to the corresponding further tray.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for placing cuttings of plants in a cultivation medium. The apparatus has a cuttings supply system for supplying a plurality of cuttings, a camera system for identifying cuttings among the plurality of cuttings that are suitable for individual pick up using pattern recognition, a pick-up tool for picking up cuttings identified by the camera system, and a planting system for simultaneously planting multiple cuttings in the cultivation medium. The planting system and the pick-up tool are separate entities. Furthermore, the pick-up tool is arranged for suitably placing picked-up cuttings in the planting system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for placing cuttings of plants in a cultivation medium. The apparatus has a cuttings supply system for supplying a plurality of cuttings, a camera system for identifying cuttings among the plurality of cuttings that are suitable for individual pick up using pattern recognition, a pick-up tool for picking up cuttings identified by the camera system, and a planting system for simultaneously planting multiple cuttings in the cultivation medium. The planting system and the pick-up tool are separate entities. Furthermore, the pick-up tool is arranged for suitably placing picked-up cuttings in the planting system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for separating objects. The apparatus comprises a conveyor arrangement (1) and an actuator (30). The conveyor arrangement comprises a conveyor belt (10) disposed as an endless loop over two rollers (21, 22). The conveyor belt has a substantially horizontally arranged surface (5) for receiving a plurality of objects. The actuator comprises a drive axis (31), an actuating structure (32) and a connection structure connecting the drive axis with the actuating structure. The drive axis is connectible to a motor to enable rotational movement of the drive axis. The connection unit is arranged for converting the rotational movement into movement of the actuating structure in a direction substantially perpendicular to the object receiving surface plane. The actuating structure is located underneath the conveyor belt for creating movement of the surface in this direction. The conveyor arrangement and the actuator are independently controllable.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for sorting plant material units (101), such as seedlings. The plant material units are arranged in a supply tray and distributed over a plurality of further trays, each further tray being dedicated to plant material units with a specific classification value assigned to it. In the method, first, the supply tray (105) is provided. An image of the plant material units in the supply tray is obtained, and on the basis of the obtained image, a classification value is assigned to each of the plant material units. Finally, the plant material units are sorted on the basis of the assigned classification value by transferring plant material units with the same assigned classification value by means of a robot directly from the supply tray to the corresponding further tray.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for placing cuttings of plants in a cultivation medium. The apparatus has a cuttings supply system for supplying a plurality of cuttings, a camera system for identifying cuttings among the plurality of cuttings that are suitable for individual pick up using pattern recognition, a pick-up tool for picking up cuttings identified by the camera system, and a planting system for simultaneously planting multiple cuttings in the cultivation medium. The planting system and the pick-up tool are separate entities. Furthermore, the pick-up tool is arranged for suitably placing picked-up cuttings in the planting system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for separating objects. The apparatus comprises a conveyor arrangement (1) and an actuator (30). The conveyor arrangement comprises a conveyor belt (10) disposed as an endless loop over two rollers (21, 22). The conveyor belt has a substantially horizontally arranged surface (5) for receiving a plurality of objects. The actuator comprises a drive axis (31), an actuating structure (32) and a connection structure connecting the drive axis with the actuating structure. The drive axis is connectible to a motor to enable rotational movement of the drive axis. The connection unit is arranged for converting the rotational movement into movement of the actuating structure in a direction substantially perpendicular to the object receiving surface plane. The actuating structure is located underneath the conveyor belt for creating movement of the surface in this direction. The conveyor arrangement and the actuator are independently controllable.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a graft element for joining together plant stem sections. The graft element is made of a resilient material and takes the form of a tubular structure having a hollow center that extends in a longitudinal direction so as to form a cylinder. The graft element further comprises a side opening along its length and two elongated members. The side opening is connected to the hollow center over the entire length of the graft element. The two elongated members are located at opposite sides of the side opening and oriented substantially parallel thereto. The elongated members are provided with cutouts for receiving a gripping unit. The invention further relates to systems and methods for joining plant stem sections using the graft element. Finally, the invention relates to a system and a method for preparing the graft element.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for placing cuttings of plants in a cultivation medium. The apparatus has a cuttings supply system for supplying a plurality of cuttings, a camera system for identifying cuttings among the plurality of cuttings that are suitable for individual pick up using pattern recognition, a pick-up tool for picking up cuttings identified by the camera system, and a planting system for simultaneously planting multiple cuttings in the cultivation medium. The planting system and the pick-up tool are separate entities. Furthermore, the pick-up tool is arranged for suitably placing picked-up cuttings in the planting system.