Multi-Plant Holder for Simultaneous Tissue Culture Cutting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current plant tissue culture (PTC) propagation methods are costly due to high labor expenses, inefficient, and prone to contamination, especially during the deflasking stage, where plants are transferred from sterile containers to greenhouse conditions, and existing automation technologies have not significantly reduced these issues.
Innovation Solution
A plant propagation system featuring a holder for multiple plants that allows simultaneous cutting operations, a tray system with aligned openings for efficient growth and cutting, and a nutrient delivery system for controlled nutrient supply, enabling increased propagation rates and reduced labor costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional manual plant propagation methods are used, then labor costs are high and productivity is low, but the process is simple and contamination risks are manageable
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the propagation process into distinct functional modules: a holder for securing plants, a cutting mechanism for simultaneous cutting operations, and a nutrient delivery system. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while working together to increase overall productivity without requiring complete redesign of the entire propagation system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple functions into an integrated system where the holder simultaneously secures multiple plants in aligned positions, the cutting mechanism can process multiple plants at once, and the nutrient delivery system serves all plants simultaneously. This merging of functions directly increases propagation rate while managing system complexity through functional integration.
2Productivity
If plants are processed one at a time, then handling is simple and contamination is minimized, but propagation efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The holder is designed to pre-position multiple plants in aligned positions before the cutting operation begins. This preliminary arrangement allows the cutting mechanism to process multiple plants simultaneously in a controlled manner, increasing efficiency while the holder's structure itself helps maintain sterility and prevent contamination during the process.
Solution Approach 2:
The holder acts as an intermediary device between the cutting mechanism and the plants, providing a controlled interface that allows simultaneous processing while maintaining separation and reducing contamination risk. The holder's structure mediates the interaction between multiple plants and the cutting tool, enabling efficient processing without compromising sterility.
3Ease of manufacture
If automated cutting mechanisms are introduced, then labor costs are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is designed to be largely self-contained with the holder automatically securing plants in the correct positions and the cutting mechanism automatically processing them without requiring complex external control systems. This self-service approach reduces labor costs while keeping the automation system relatively simple by using the plants themselves and their holder positions as the control reference.
4Area of stationary object
If multiple plants are held in close proximity, then space utilization is improved, but contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The holder provides individual compartments or positions for each plant, creating localized sterile zones that prevent cross-contamination between adjacent plants. This local quality approach allows close spacing for improved space utilization while maintaining individual plant separation that reduces contamination risk through the holder's structured design.
Data Source
AI summary
A plant propagation system is provided that includes a holder for holding at least two plants in relative spaced apart relation to enable a predetermined operation (such as, for example, a cutting operation) to be performed on each of the plants within the holder during a single pass.