Method and device for processing tools for the propagation of plants

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and to a device (10) for processing, in particular cleaning, disinfecting and / or sterilizing, tools used for the propagation of plants (14), wherein the tools are designed for manipulation and / or transportation of plants (14) and said tools are processed at different treatment stations (16, 17, 18), wherein the processing operations performed at the treatment stations (16, 17, 18) exert different, complementary effects on the tools, and wherein at least one tool is automatically supplied to a first treatment station (16) in a sterile or non-sterile environment and optionally subsequently to a second and / or third treatment station (17, 18).

Description

[0001] Method and apparatus for preparing materials for plant propagation

[0002] Description

[0003] The invention relates to a method for processing, in particular cleaning, disinfecting and / or sterilizing, tools for plant propagation according to claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to a device for processing, in particular cleaning, disinfecting and / or sterilizing, tools for plant propagation according to claim 17.

[0004] Known methods for propagating plants involve grasping individual plants or plant parts with a tool and performing various treatment steps. These include grasping and feeding the plant to a transport vehicle or a device for manipulating it. This manipulation can involve cutting, particularly targeted cutting. It is known that plants can be semi- or fully automatically cut into several plant parts, for example by a laser, and that these parts or clones are then cultivated into a plant in a suitable nutrient medium. Such a method is described in detail, for example, in EP 3493 665 A1.

[0005] When handling plants and plant parts, it is of particular importance that the environment and tools are clean. Some plant propagation methods require a high degree of cleanliness, in some cases even sterility. Any contamination, germs, or the like can negatively affect the growth process of the plants being propagated. Accordingly, it is essential to keep tools used for handling plants, as well as other objects that come into contact with the plant, as clean as possible. In particular, grippers or tweezers used to handle plants, which come into direct contact with the plant or even with cut surfaces of plant parts, must meet high cleanliness standards, at least for some methods.

[0006] These requirements cannot be met using currently known methods. For example, coarse contamination of the tweezers by plant medium or plant parts cannot be removed by sterilizing agents. Similarly, it is not possible to disinfect or sterilize tweezers by mechanical wiping. Therefore, adequate preparation of the tools, in particular cleaning, disinfection, or sterilization, is not possible with the known methods.

[0007] Based on this, the invention aims to create a method and a device for the preparation, in particular for cleaning, disinfection and / or sterilization, of tools and other objects for the propagation of plants, by which a high degree of cleaning, disinfection or sterilization can be reliably achieved.

[0008] A method for solving this problem comprises the measures of claim 1. Accordingly, a method for processing, in particular cleaning, disinfecting, and / or sterilizing, tools is provided, wherein these tools are used for plant propagation. Specifically, the tools serve for manipulating and / or transporting the plant. Manipulation may, for example, involve cutting or dividing the plant. These tools, or one or more tools, are cleaned, disinfected, and / or sterilized at various treatment stations. The processing procedures carried out at the various treatment stations, which are in particular cleaning, disinfection, and / or sterilization processes, are fundamentally different in design but complement each other in their effect on the tools.In at least some embodiments, the reprocessing processes can be complementary. According to the invention, at least one tool is automatically fed to a first treatment station. This treatment station is located in a sterile or non-sterile environment. After treatment or reprocessing in the first treatment station, the tool may already meet the requirements for purity, disinfection, and / or sterilization. However, it is also conceivable that the tool may subsequently be fed to a second and / or third treatment station. Further treatments, different from those performed in the first treatment station, are then carried out at these additional stations. The semi-automatic or fully automatic feeding of the tool to a treatment station makes it possible to meet the stringent reprocessing requirements.

[0009] In particular, the invention provides that the preparation process, especially by a robotic arm, involves feeding the material directly to two or three treatment stations in succession. By feeding the material to different treatment stations, various preparation processes can be carried out, achieving different effects. For example, the first treatment station could have means for removing coarse impurities such as plant parts, residues of a nutrient solution, or a nutrient medium. This cleaning process at the first treatment station already achieves a high degree of cleanliness. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the material could be disinfected or sterilized by appropriate means at the second or subsequent treatment stations.As a result, the tool can be brought into a state of maximum cleanliness, disinfection or sterility in a simple and highly reliable manner.

[0010] According to the invention, it is particularly preferred that different processing processes are carried out on the tools at the two or three treatment stations, namely a cleaning process, a disinfection process, or a sterilization process. The at least one tool can be a clamp, tweezers, a gripper, a knife, a scalpel, scissors, a container, a receptacle, a cup, or a conveying device, preferably a conveyor belt. Furthermore, other tools for manipulating the plant or handling and transport devices for handling or transporting the plant are also conceivable. Ultimately, it is advantageous to subject all objects that come into direct or indirect contact with the plant to the method described herein.

[0011] A preferred embodiment of the invention may provide that, at the preferably first treatment station, the at least one tool is automatically cleaned by wiping, scraping, rinsing, tapping, brushing, spraying, washing, blowing, suctioning, steaming, and pressing off coarse contaminants and / or plant or nutrient medium residues. A high degree of cleanliness can already be achieved through this mechanical cleaning of the tool. An embodiment may provide that, in this first treatment station, a gripping device or tweezers are pulled along a scraper. This scraper may, for example, have a cleaning surface with a correspondingly high coefficient of friction, to which contaminants preferably adhere. Further embodiments are conceivable, which, for example, serve to clean pliers, clamps, or scalpels.

[0012] Another preferred embodiment of the invention provides that, at the preferably second treatment station, the at least one workpiece is automatically immersed in an ultrasonic bath for a sufficient time. The ultrasonic bath is filled with water, a cleaning agent, or an acidic solution. The workpiece is immersed in the ultrasonic bath to a sufficient depth, preferably a few centimeters, depending on the type of workpiece. The ultrasonic bath is filled with a liquid that is excited by ultrasound. The microscopic wave formation and the local pressure differences acting on the surface of the workpiece clean it of smaller impurities particularly efficiently. It is also conceivable that the ultrasonic bath is filled with an acid, for example, citric acid.This acid can cause a slight erosion of the surface of the workpiece, thereby achieving a high degree of cleanliness, germ reduction, and sterility.

[0013] Furthermore, it is conceivable that at the preferably third treatment station, the at least one tool is treated for disinfection or sterilization using physical, thermal, electrical, plasmatic, chemical, and / or radiological methods. For thermal treatment, it is conceivable that the tool is exposed to an open flame or an infrared lamp and heated. It is equally conceivable that the tool is immersed in a cryogenic bath, for example, liquid nitrogen. Another embodiment of the invention provides for the contactless heating of a metallic tool by electromagnetic induction. This heating or extreme cooling can kill germs, leading to disinfection or sterilization of the tool. A glass bead bath represents another possibility for heating, disinfecting, or sterilizing the tool.Here too, germs, fungi, bacteria and the like are killed by thermal energy.

[0014] For the chemical treatment of the workpiece, it is conceivable that the workpiece is immersed in a disinfection or sterilization solution consisting of one or more chemicals from different classes of active ingredients, including alcohols, especially ethanol; aldehydes, especially formaldehyde; quaternary ammonium compounds, especially benzalkonium chloride; halogen-based compounds, especially chlorine; peroxide compounds, especially hydrogen peroxide; phenols, especially triclosan; alkylamines, especially glucoprotamine; dyes, especially crystal violet; heavy metals, especially silver; or other substances such as octenidine, ozone, or chlorhexidine; ethylene oxide; peracetic acid; or glutaraldehyde. This is, of course, only an incomplete list. Furthermore, other substances that have a similar chemical effect on the workpiece are conceivable for this treatment.

[0015] For radiological treatment, it is conceivable that the material is exposed to a sufficient dose of UV radiation, preferably UVC, X-rays, or gamma radiation. This high-intensity radiation very efficiently kills germs, fungi, bacteria, and the like with a comparatively low energy expenditure.

[0016] A particularly preferred embodiment provides that the workpiece is detected by an imaging device or other sensors in conjunction with an artificial intelligence control system and / or weighed using a scale to determine the degree of contamination. It is conceivable that a neural network is used to determine the degree of contamination. By comparing the result with known levels of contamination or with references for various types of contamination, the workpiece can be directed to one, two, or three treatment stations depending on the determined degree of contamination. The sequence in which the workpiece is directed to the individual treatment stations can also be determined based on the determined degree of contamination.If, for example, a high degree of contamination is detected, the material may be subjected to two, three, or more treatment stations. Conversely, if the contamination is only slight, one treatment station may suffice to achieve the required cleanliness, germ-free state, or sterility.

[0017] Regardless of whether the degree of contamination is detected or not, the invention also provides that the material is selectively fed to only one treatment station at a time in order to meet predefined conditions regarding cleanliness, germ-free conditions, or sterility. For example, for the propagation of some plants, it is not necessary to achieve a high degree of cleanliness, germ-free conditions, or sterility. Likewise, for other plants, it may be necessary to achieve a maximum degree of cleanliness, germ-free conditions, or sterility. This can be set manually in advance or determined by a control unit.

[0018] The process involves continuously transferring the workpiece along the shortest possible path, primarily by a robotic arm, from one treatment station to the next. It is conceivable that the various treatment stations are positioned directly adjacent to one another, and the workpiece is transferred from one station to the next via a short translation or rotation. This reduces both the design complexity and the speed of workpiece treatment, or at the same time, shortens the required processing time.

[0019] A particular embodiment of the invention may provide that the tool is a conveyor belt. In this case, it is conceivable that the conveyor belt is guided through the at least one treatment station, either with its upper side or its underside. The treatment station is positioned such that the corresponding side of the conveyor belt is continuously cleaned and sterilized during operation. This method ensures that the surface of the conveyor belt always exhibits the required cleanliness, germ-free conditions, and sterility.

[0020] Another possible embodiment of the invention provides that an enclosed space, in particular a cell, in which plant propagation takes place, is also treated by the cleaning, disinfection, or sterilization process, wherein, alternatively, overpressure or steam can be generated in the space, it is equipped with filters, and / or exposed to UVC radiation. This ensures that the atmosphere in which plant propagation takes place also meets the necessary conditions to achieve a high-quality propagation process.

[0021] An apparatus for solving the aforementioned problem has the features of claim 17. Accordingly, the apparatus, particularly for carrying out the method according to claim 1, for processing, in particular for cleaning, disinfecting, and / or sterilizing, tools used for plant propagation, comprises at least one treatment station. In this treatment station, the at least one tool is cleaned, disinfected, and / or sterilized. The tools serve, in particular, for manipulating and / or transporting the plants. Although the processing procedures carried out at the treatment stations differ, they complement each other in their effect on the tool. According to the invention, at least one tool is automatically fed to the first treatment station and subsequently, optionally, to a second and / or third treatment station.

[0022] It is conceivable that this device is part of a more complex plant propagation machine, as described, for example, in EP 3 493665 A1. The processing device described here can be integrated into the complex machine or provided as an attachment. The processing material, in particular for cleaning, disinfection, and / or sterilization, is fed into the described device, especially automatically, and removed again after the processing process is complete. It is conceivable that the processing material is held by the same holding device throughout the entire process, both during the actual plant propagation and during the processing.

[0023] According to the invention, various processing procedures can be carried out on the tools at the two or three treatment stations, namely a cleaning process, a disinfection process, or a sterilization process. Preferably, the at least one tool is a clamp, tweezers, a gripper, a knife, a scalpel, scissors, a container, a receptacle, a cup, or a conveying device, preferably a conveyor belt. These tools are generally made of metal. However, it is also conceivable that these tools are made of plastic or of both metal and plastic. Furthermore, it is conceivable that other tools, not explicitly mentioned here, are also used for the treatment, processing, and transport of plants.

[0024] A particular embodiment of the invention may provide that the preferably first treatment station includes means for automatically removing, scraping, rinsing, tapping, brushing, rinsing, blowing, washing, vacuuming, steaming, or pressing off coarse contaminants, plant residues, or nutrient medium. These means are characterized by their ability to transmit mechanical forces to the workpiece. This can be achieved, for example, by roughened or soft surfaces. It is also conceivable that a hard jet of water or air removes coarse contaminants from the workpiece. In the invention described here, it may be provided that the workpiece is fed to the treatment station by a handling device and introduced there into a means for automatic cleaning.It is conceivable that the tool is guided downwards for a few centimeters and then upwards again, while being guided along a mechanical scraper.

[0025] Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the second treatment station comprises an ultrasonic bath, which is filled in particular with water, a cleaning agent, or an acidic solution. This ultrasonic bath is dimensioned such that a wider variety of materials can be accommodated by the bath. Since coarser contaminants are generally already removed in the first treatment station, only a small amount of contaminants accumulates in the ultrasonic bath. An additional function of the ultrasonic bath can be that it is heatable. This combined mechanical and thermal treatment enables very efficient cleaning or preparation of the material. This second treatment station, or the ultrasonic bath, also functions independently of the first treatment station, so embodiments are conceivable in which the device only operates the second treatment station.the ultrasonic bath.

[0026] Another preferred embodiment of the invention may provide that the preferably third treatment station includes means for disinfecting or sterilizing the material, wherein these means act on the material physically, thermally, electrically, plasmatically, chemically, and / or radiologically. The thermal, chemical, or radiological action removes bacteria and other microorganisms that would otherwise contaminate other plants. Thus, this third treatment station achieves a high degree of sterility or sterilization of the material. It should be noted that the type of disinfection or sterilization is freely selectable depending on the plant and / or the degree of contamination. This selection can be made either manually by an operator or fully automatically by a control system, particularly an intelligent one.

[0027] The thermal treatment device can be, for example, a nozzle for generating a flame, a tank for a cryogenic liquid, a container with steam, a transmitter for generating electromagnetic induction in the metallic workpiece, or a glass bead bath. The radiological treatment device can be a source for generating UV radiation, preferably UVC, X-rays, or gamma radiation. This third treatment device also functions either in combination with one or both of the other treatment stations or independently. If the workpiece already has a high degree of purity, it may be sufficient to disinfect or sterilize it only in this treatment station. The type of disinfection or sterilization also depends on the plant and the degree of contamination.If a high degree of sterility or sterilization is necessary for the propagation of certain plants, it can be advantageous to apply a higher dose of a specific radiation to the tooling. Preferably, the invention also provides that a control unit, in conjunction with an imaging device and / or a scale and / or another suitable sensor, determines the degree of contamination of the tooling. It is conceivable that a camera captures an image of the tooling and analyzes this image. For this purpose, it is conceivable that a neural network is used to infer the degree of contamination from the image. In particular, coarser contaminants can also be determined by a scale, for example, integrated into the tooling holder.One embodiment of the invention could provide that coarser contaminants are first detected by scales, and then an imaging device is used to determine the degree of contamination. Depending on the determined degree of contamination, cleaning, disinfection, or sterilization can then be carried out in a tool-specific and contamination-specific manner. This allows the tool to be cleaned, disinfected, and sterilized particularly efficiently, thoroughly, and reliably.

[0028] Finally, an embodiment of the invention may provide that the tool is attached to a holder, in particular a robot arm, for continuous transport from one treatment station to a subsequent treatment station along the shortest possible path.

[0029] A preferred embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. These show:

[0030] Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of the process,

[0031] Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of a cleaning process, and

[0032] Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of a sterilization process.

[0033] The method and device according to the invention are used to clean, disinfect, or sterilize equipment, in particular tools or means of transport, used for plant propagation, in order to prevent the plants or clones being impaired in their growth by contamination. The method and device are thus integrated into a complex process, which, however, is not the subject of the invention and will therefore only be outlined here. For a more detailed understanding of the method for plant propagation, reference is made to the prior art.

[0034] Figure 1 provides a highly schematic representation of the essence of the invention, namely the device 10 for the preparation, in particular cleaning, disinfection, and / or sterilization, of tools between two processing steps 11 and 12. As a preferred embodiment, tweezers 13 are shown here as the tool. In processing step 11, which is not part of the invention, the tweezers 13 hold a plant in such a way that it is selectively manipulated or cut by a laser 15. The severed plant part falls downwards. The remaining plant part is fed by the tweezers 13 to a further processing step. For handling and positioning, the tweezers 13 are located on a robot arm 19. After processing step 11 is completed, the tool or the tweezers 13 must be cleaned, disinfected, or sterilized for the next processing step.For this purpose, the tool or tweezers 13 are transferred to or fed into the device 10. Within this device 10, cleaning, disinfection, or sterilization takes place. After this processing is complete, the tool or tweezers 13 are in a clean or sterile state. In this state, the tweezers 13 can be used for a further processing step 12. It should be expressly noted that these processing steps 11 and 12 are only shown as examples. The illustration of the tweezers 13 is also intended here only to demonstrate the method or the device. As an exemplary embodiment of the tool, the invention also includes other gripping devices, cutting devices, and the like for manipulating and transporting the plant. It is also provided that conveyor belts or...Conveyor belts, but also containers for transporting the plant or for collecting plant parts, such as containers or cups, are subjected to the inventive method.

[0035] The device 10 sketched in Fig. 1 can have one processing station 16, a second processing station 17, and / or a third processing station 18. Furthermore, it is conceivable that additional processing stations are provided for cleaning, disinfecting, and sterilizing the workpiece. It is equally conceivable that only one of the three processing stations 16, 17, 18 mentioned above is used, or two.

[0036] After processing step 11, the tweezers 13 are usually contaminated. This contamination can consist of plant debris, soil residue, or residue from a nutrient medium. Furthermore, microorganisms such as germs or bacteria may have accumulated on the surface of the tweezers 13. To remove these contaminants, the tweezers 13 are either fed directly from the robot arm 19 to the device 10 or transferred to a second robot arm 20. The robot arm 20 shown in Fig. 1 is attached to a rail 21, which allows the robot arm 20, along with the tweezers 13, to be moved in the direction of arrow 25 to the various processing stations 16, 17, 18. Alternatively, instead of the rail 21, the robot arm 20 could be mounted on a wheel, allowing it to be moved from one processing station to the next by rotating the wheel.

[0037] It is conceivable that the tweezers 13 are first fed to the first processing station 16 for the removal of coarse contaminants. In the illustrated embodiment, this processing station 16 is a wiper 22. This wiper has two jaws. The robot arm 20 guides the tweezers 13 along these jaws of the wiper 22 for cleaning. It is conceivable that the tweezers 13 are first guided downwards for a few centimeters and then upwards again for a few centimeters along the wiper 22. The jaws can be designed such that they touch both the inner and outer surfaces of the tweezers 13. The contaminants thus removed fall downwards into a receiving device (not shown). The first processing station 16 can therefore remove the coarsest contaminants from the workpiece or the tweezers 13.Depending on the type of tool, the cleaning method can be designed differently. For example, a water nozzle, an air nozzle, or a scraper might be used. For certain propagation processes or plant species, this type of cleaning is sufficient to achieve the required level of cleanliness. For further cleaning of the tool or tweezers 13, the robot arm 20 can be moved via rail 21 to the second processing station.

[0038] The process is carried out as follows (Fig. 2). This second processing station 17 can be an ultrasonic bath 23. This ultrasonic bath 23 is filled with a liquid suitable for further cleaning of the workpiece or tweezers 13. Applying microwaves to this liquid creates local pressure differences that effectively clean the surface of the tweezers 13. This cleaning process also removes minor contaminants from the surface of the tweezers 13. For this purpose, the robot arm 20 guides the tweezers 13 sufficiently deep into the ultrasonic bath 23. It is conceivable that a light barrier is arranged on the ultrasonic bath 23, which initiates and stops the operation of the ultrasonic bath 23. After completion of the cleaning process within the ultrasonic bath 23, the tweezers 13 already exhibit a high degree of cleanliness.For certain processes and plants, this may be sufficient, eliminating the need for a further processing station. Depending on the detected level of contamination, the intensity of the ultrasonic bath 23 and the bath duration can be adjusted.

[0039] For further disinfection or sterilization of the tool or tweezers 13, it is fed to a third processing station 18 via the rail 21 and the robot arm 23. In the embodiment of this processing station 18 shown in Fig. 3, an open flame 24 is used. This flame 24 is oriented such that it is directed at the surface of the tweezers 13. The flame 24 shown here is positioned centrally for illustrative purposes only. It is also possible for several flames to be directed laterally at the tweezers 13 in order to effectively expose all sides to the thermal energy. In this embodiment, disinfection or sterilization is thus carried out using thermal energy. This ensures that all microorganisms, such as germs or bacteria, on the surface of the tweezers 13 are killed by the heat within a few seconds.As an alternative to the flame 24, electromagnetic induction, a glass bead bath, or even extreme cold, such as from liquid nitrogen, can be used. In this embodiment, the processing station would be...

[0040] 18 represents a tank containing liquid nitrogen. As a further embodiment, the third processing station 18 may contain a chemical by which the tweezers 11 are sterilized.

[0041] After the tool or tweezers 13 has left the third processing station 18, the tweezers 13 are transferred back to the robot arm 19 or directly fed to the next processing step 12.

[0042] The individual steps for cleaning, disinfecting, and sterilizing the workpiece can be performed semi- or fully automatically. A control unit is provided for this purpose, which, together with imaging devices such as cameras or 3D cameras, determines the position of the processing stations 16, 17, and 18 and feeds the workpiece accordingly. The robot arms 19 and 20, as well as the rail 21, are controlled accordingly. The camera system can also be used to determine the degree of contamination of the workpiece or the tweezers 13. For example, a high degree of contamination, a low degree of contamination, or, using special high-resolution imaging methods, heavy contamination by microorganisms can be detected. It is also conceivable that the workpiece or the tweezers 13 could be irradiated with ultraviolet light, which could make at least some bacteria visible, for example, through fluorescence.Pattern recognition is then used to determine the degree of contamination. Depending on this degree of contamination, the material is fed to the various processing stations 16, 17, and 18. The duration and intensity of cleaning, disinfection, or sterilization are determined accordingly. The type of plants to be propagated is also taken into account in these considerations.

[0043] For particularly sensitive plants, it is conceivable that the entire process or device 10 is sterile or located in a sterile environment. This is not necessary for less sensitive plants.

[0044] ***** Reference symbol list

[0045] 10 Device

[0046] 11. Processing step

[0047] 12 Processing step

[0048] 13 Tweezers

[0049] 14 plants

[0050] 15 lasers

[0051] 16 processing stations

[0052] 17 processing stations

[0053] 18 processing stations

[0054] 19 robot arm

[0055] 20 robot arms

[0056] 21 rail

[0057] 22 wipers

[0058] 23 Ultrasonic bath

[0059] 24 flame

[0060] 25 direction

Claims

Patent claims 1. Method for the preparation, in particular cleaning, disinfection and / or sterilization, of equipment used for the propagation of plants (14), wherein the equipment is designed for the manipulation and / or transport of the plants (14) and this equipment is prepared at various treatment stations (16, 17, 18), wherein the preparation processes carried out at the treatment stations (16, 17, 18) have different, complementary effects on the equipment and wherein at least one piece of equipment is automatically fed to a first treatment station (16) in a sterile or non-sterile environment and subsequently, if necessary, to a second and / or third treatment station (17, 18).

2. Method for preparing materials according to claim 1, characterized in that the materials are fed, in particular by a robot arm, directly successively to two or three treatment stations (16, 17, 18).

3. Method for preparing materials according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that different preparation processes are carried out on the materials at the two or three treatment stations (16, 17, 18), namely a cleaning process, a disinfection process or a sterilization process.

4. Method for preparing tools according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one tool is a clamp, tweezers (13), a gripper, a knife, a scalpel, scissors, a container, a receptacle, a cup or a conveying device, preferably a conveyor belt.

5. Method for processing materials according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at the preferably first treatment station (16) the at least one material is automatically cleaned by wiping, scraping, rinsing, tapping, brushing, spraying, washing, Cleaning is carried out by blowing, suction, steaming, and pressing, especially of coarse impurities, plant remains or nutrient medium.

6. Method for preparing materials according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at the preferably second treatment station (17) the at least one material is automatically supplied to an ultrasonic bath (23) for a sufficient time, wherein the ultrasonic bath (23) is filled with water, a cleaning substance or an acidic solution.

7. Method for processing materials according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at the preferably third treatment station (18) the at least one material is treated for disinfection or sterilization physically, thermally, electrically, plasmatically, chemically and / or radiologically.

8. Method for preparing materials according to claim 7, characterized in that the material is exposed to a flame (24) or red light for thermal treatment, immersed in a cryogenic bath or heated by electromagnetic induction or a glass bead bath.

9. Method for the preparation of materials according to claim 7, characterized in that the material is immersed for chemical treatment in a sterilization solution consisting of one or more chemicals of the different classes of active substances, including alcohol, in particular ethanol, aldehydes, in particular formaldehyde, quaternary ammonium compounds, in particular benzalkonium chloride, halogen-based substances, in particular chlorine, peroxide compounds, in particular hydrogen peroxide, phenols, in particular triclosan, alkylamines, in particular glucoprotamine, dyes, in particular crystal violet, heavy metals, in particular silver, or others such as octenidine, ozone or chlorhexidine, ethylene oxide, peracetic acid or glutaraldehyde.

10. Method for preparing materials according to claim 7, characterized in that the material is exposed to a sufficient dose of UV, preferably UVC, X-rays or gamma radiation for radiological treatment.

11. Method for processing materials according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the material is recorded and / or weighed by means of an imaging measure or further sensor technology in conjunction with control by an artificial intelligence in order to determine a degree of contamination.

12. Method for processing materials according to claim 11, characterized in that the material is supplied to one, two or three treatment stations depending on the determined degree of contamination.

13. Method for processing materials according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the sequence in which the material is fed to the treatment stations (16, 17, 18) is determined depending on the degree of contamination determined.

14. Method for processing materials according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the material is continuously transferred from a treatment station (16, 17, 18) to a subsequent treatment station (16, 17, 18) via the shortest possible path, in particular by means of a robot arm.

15. Method for processing materials according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in the case that the material is designed as a conveyor belt, at least one upper surface of the conveyor belt is guided through the at least one treatment station (16, 17, 18).

16. Method for processing materials according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an enclosed space, in particular a cell in which the propagation of the plants (14) is carried out, is also processed by the cleaning process, the disinfection process or the sterilization process, wherein an overpressure or steam can alternatively be generated in the space, it is provided with filters and / or exposed to UVC radiation.

17. Device (10), in particular for carrying out the method according to claim 1, for the preparation, in particular for the cleaning, disinfection and / or sterilization of equipment used for the propagation of plants (14), wherein the equipment is designed for manipulating and / or transporting the plants (14), with at least one, preferably two or three treatment stations (16, 17, 18) in which the equipment is prepared, wherein the preparation processes carried out at the treatment stations (16, 17, 18) have different, complementary effects on the equipment and wherein at least one piece of equipment can be automatically fed to a first treatment station (16) and subsequently optionally to a second and / or third treatment station (17, 18).

18. Device (10) for the preparation of work equipment according to claim 17, characterized in that different preparation processes can be carried out on the work equipment at the two or three treatment stations (16, 17, 18), namely a cleaning process, a disinfection process or a sterilization process.

19. Device (10) for preparing materials according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that the at least one material is a clamp, tweezers (13), a gripper, a knife, a scalpel, scissors, a container, a receptacle, a cup or a conveying means, preferably a conveyor belt.

20. Device (10) for the preparation of materials according to one of claims 17 to 19, characterized in that the, preferably first, treatment station (16) has means for automatically wiping, scraping, rinsing, tapping, brushing, spraying, washing, blowing, suctioning, steaming, pressing, in particular of coarse impurities, plant residues or nutrient medium, of the at least one tool.

21. Device (10) for the preparation of materials according to one of claims 17 to 20, characterized in that the, preferably second, treatment station (17) has an ultrasonic bath (23), wherein the ultrasonic bath (23) is in particular filled with water, a cleaning substance or an acidic solution.

22. Device (10) for the preparation of tools according to one of claims 17 to 21, characterized in that the, preferably third, treatment station (18) has means for disinfecting or sterilizing the tool, wherein these means act on the tool physically, thermally, electrically, plasmatically, chemically and / or radiologically.

23. Device (10) for the preparation of materials according to claim 22, characterized in that the means for thermal treatment is a nozzle for generating a flame (24), a tank for a cryogenic liquid, a container with steam, a transmitter for generating electromagnetic induction in the material, or a glass bead bath.

24. Device (10) for processing materials according to claim 22, characterized in that the means for radiological treatment is a source for generating UV, preferably UVC radiation, X-rays or gamma radiation.

25. Device (10) for the preparation of materials according to one of claims 17 to 24, characterized by a control unit, an imaging device and / or a scale and / or another suitable sensor by which a degree of contamination can be determined.

26. Device (10) for processing materials according to one of claims 17 to 25, characterized in that the material is attached to a holder, in particular a robot arm (19, 20), for continuous transport along the shortest path from one treatment station (16, 17, 18) to a subsequent treatment station (16, 17, 18). *****

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