Automated Large Plant Bagging System with Robotic Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for planting large plants like trees in grow bags are labor-intensive, time-consuming, and inefficient, leading to high costs, increased risk of worker injuries, and high transplant failure rates due to the manual handling and movement of heavy grow bags, which also stress the plants and often result in missed planting windows.
Innovation Solution
A large grow bag tree bagging and planting system that includes a hopper surge bin, robotic arms for precise tree placement, tapered workstations for efficient potting media discharge, and an auger media transfer system to automate the filling process, reducing manual labor and improving planting efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual handling and movement of heavy grow bags is used, then labor flexibility is maintained, but worker injuries increase and planting efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical handling with an automated mechanical system consisting of a robotic arm, hopper surge bin, and auger media transfer system. The robotic arm positions trees while the auger system automatically fills grow bags with potting media, eliminating the need for workers to manually lift and move heavy bags containing trees and soil.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service operation where the automated equipment performs all planting operations without human physical intervention. The hopper surge bin automatically dispenses potting media through the auger system, and the robotic arm independently positions trees, allowing the system to serve itself rather than requiring continuous human labor.
2Productivity
If automated systems are introduced to reduce labor, then planting efficiency increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system combines multiple functions into a single integrated platform: the robotic arm handles tree positioning, the hopper surge bin stores and dispenses potting media, and the auger media transfer system fills grow bags. This multi-functional design achieves high planting efficiency while consolidating what could have been separate complex systems into one coordinated unit.
3Loss of time
If heavy grow bags are manually moved to planting locations, then equipment cost is reduced, but planting time increases and planting windows are missed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical handling with an automated mechanical system consisting of a robotic arm, hopper surge bin, and auger media transfer system. The robotic arm positions trees while the auger system automatically fills grow bags with potting media, eliminating the need for workers to manually lift and move heavy bags containing trees and soil.
4Reliability
If manual tree placement is used, then equipment simplicity is maintained, but planting depth accuracy decreases and transplant failure rates increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical handling with an automated mechanical system consisting of a robotic arm, hopper surge bin, and auger media transfer system. The robotic arm positions trees while the auger system automatically fills grow bags with potting media, eliminating the need for workers to manually lift and move heavy bags containing trees and soil.
Data Source
AI summary
A large plant bagging and planting system that is comprised of a hopper surge bin, a first and second workstation. The workstations are connected at or near the center between them, and each respective workstation has a set of walls, or a circular wall, that tapers inward from a wider top opening to a smaller bottom opening, and there is at least one gate located below the walls or circular wall. There is also at least one gate located below each respective workstation. There is also at least one control arm configured to manipulate and hold a large plant into position within a grow bag while potting media that has been placed in the hopper surge bin, is released from at least one workstation via the at least one gate, in am amount appropriate to fill the grow bad to desired depth.