(43) International Publication Date Χ t i t i n 9 September 2011 ( ) WO 2 11/ A l

Transcription

1 (12) INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT) (19) World Intellectual Property Organization International Bureau (10) International Publication Number (43) International Publication Date Χ t i t i n 9 September 2011 ( ) WO 2 11/ A l (51) International Patent Classification: AO, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BH, BR, BW, BY, BZ, A01G 1/06 ( ) CA, CH, CL, CN, CO, CR, CU, CZ, DE, DK, DM, DO, DZ, EC, EE, EG, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, GT, (21) International Application Number: HN, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IS, JP, KE, KG, KM, KN, KP, PCT/IB20 11/ KR, KZ, LA, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LY, MA, MD, (22) International Filing Date: ME, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, MY, MZ, NA, NG, NI, 2 March ( ) NO, NZ, OM, PE, PG, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, RU, SC, SD, SE, SG, SK, SL, SM, ST, SV, SY, TH, TJ, TM, TN, TR, (25) Filing Language: Italian TT, TZ, UA, UG, US, UZ, VC, VN, ZA, ZM, ZW. (26) Publication Language: English (84) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every (30) Priority Data: kind of regional protection available): ARIPO (BW, GH, MO2010A March 2010 ( ) GM, KE, LR, LS, MW, MZ, NA, SD, SL, SZ, TZ, UG, ΓΓ ZM, ZW), Eurasian (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, (71) Applicant (for all designated States except US): TEA TM), European (AL, AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, PROJECT SRL [IT/IT]; Via G. B. Piranesi, 11/13 EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LT, LU, Frazione Gavasseto, Reggio Emilia (IT). LV, MC, MK, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SI, SK, SM, TR), OAPI (BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GQ, (72) Inventor; and GW, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG). (75) Inventor/Applicant (for US only): BONACINI, Marco [ΓΓ/ΙΤ]; Via G.B. Piranesi, 11/13 Frazione Gavasseto, Published: Reggio Emilia (ΓΓ). with international search report (Art. 21(3)) (74) Agent: MAROSCIA, Antonio; Maroscia & Associati before the expiration of the time limit for amending the S.r.L, Contra Porti, 21, Vicenza (IT). claims and to be republished in the event of receipt of (81) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every amendments (Rule 48.2(h)) kind of national protection available): AE, AG, AL, AM, (54) Title: AUTOMATIC GRAFTING APPARATUS FOR VEGETABLES (57) Abstract: An automatic grafting apparatus for vegetables com prising: restraining means (18) to restrain in a grafting position at least one first segment (8) of a stem (2) of a scion and a second seg ment (9) of a stem (2) of a rootstock; joining means for joining faced ends of said first segment (8) and second segment (9) in said grafting position, said joining means comprising: at least one first portion ( 11 A) of a joining element ( 11 ) that joins said faced ends, which is de signed to be interposed between said concurrent ends and said re straining means (18) and, in its interposed position, is restrained in said grafting position by said restraining means (18); at least one sec ond portion ( 11 B) of said joining element ( 11 ), which is provided in addition to said first portion ( 11 A) and can be joined thereto to tighten said faced ends between said first portion ( 11 A) and second portion ( 11 B), and supplying means (14, 15) for supplying said first portion ( 1 1 A) and second portion ( 11 B).

2 AUTOMATIC GRAFTING APPARATUS FOR VEGETABLES Field of the invention The present invention relates to an automatic grafting apparatus for vegetables, particularly vegetables having a stem, a root system and an inflorescence. Background art Automatic or semi-automatic machines are known to be used for grafting vegetables having a stem, which machines unite together plants and shoots, after making a cut on a receiving plant, known as rootstock, and preparing a plant to be grafted thereon, known as scion. A machine of this type is known from Korean patent KR This patent discloses a machine that comprises, in short, a pair of gripper members which are supported by a support frame and are designed to grip two plants to be grafted respectively. The machine also comprises a cutting unit, that can make a partial cut in the stem of the rootstock and transversely cut the stem of the scion to prepare it for insertion into the cut previously made in the stem of the rootstock. The machine also features a station in which, once the scion is placed on the rootstock, a retaining element is placed, e.g. tied thereon, to secure the scion on the rootstock, to promote rooting of the two previously cut stems. The gripper members may have great freedom of movement in space, for making proper cuts and inserting the scion on the rootstock.

3 A further patent application WO discloses a grafting method and device comprising a machine with a double gripper member for gripping both the rootstock and the scion and placing them in aligned relation. During alignment, the machine applies an elastic cylindrical sleeve for holding the cut stems of the scion and rootstock in mutual contact until they have rooted. In order to apply such sleeve, the machine is equipped with mechanical grippers which grip and expand the elastic sleeve beforehand, for fitting the stems of a scion and a rootstock into the ends thereof. A vacuum apparatus is provided to maintain the elastic sleeve in the expanded state once it has been expanded, which apparatus exerts a pulling suction force on the outer walls of the sleeve until the stems of the scion and rootstock have been properly positioned in the sleeve. Once positioning has been completed, the vacuum action is stopped and the elastic sleeve shrinks to its original stable configuration, to clamp together the stems of the scion and rootstock. The above described prior art suffers from certain drawbacks. A first drawback is that prior art automatic grafting machines have a very complex structure and hence have a high cost, especially due to the presence of the members for preparing the elastic sleeves for receiving the stems of the scions and the rootstocks. A further drawback is that, due to inaccurate positioning of the wrapping elements, caused by inaccurate motion of the mechanical grippers, which are subjected to component coupling clearances, a considerable amount of

4 automatic grafts is unsuccessful and the scions and rootstocks are lost, thereby causing an economic damage. Yet another drawback is that prior art automatic grafting machines have a structure that cannot be adapted to special manufacturing requirements and hence they may be either underutilized or insufficient to complete the required amount of grafts. A further drawback is that both the scions and the rootstocks are delicate and fragile and automatic handling thereof causes irremediable damages to a considerable number of them. Disclosure of the invention An object of the invention is to improve the prior art. Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic grafting apparatus for vegetables that can provide automatic grafting machines with a simpler and less expensive structure than in the prior art. A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic grafting apparatus for vegetables that can provide automatic grafting machines with a structure that can be easily and quickly adapted to the needs of any user, i.e. expanded or reduced even after their initial construction. Yet another object of the invention is to provide an automatic grafting apparatus for vegetables that can handle scions and rootstocks in a particularly delicate manner, to minimize any damage and reduce the number of rejects during grafting. In one aspect, the invention relates to an automatic grafting apparatus for

5 vegetables according to the features of claim 1. In another aspect, the invention relates to an automatic grafting method for vegetables according to the features of claim 10. Therefore, the invention affords automatic grafting of vegetables using grafting machines with a very simple and inexpensive structure, that can be adapted to special production requirements. Also, the invention affords particularly delicate handling of scions and rootstocks, even when they are thin, to avoid damages and wastes in the production of grafted vegetables. A further advantage of the invention is that the automatic grafting apparatus for vegetables may be operably coupled, if needed, with additional identical units in the same grafting machine to change the graft production capacity, without requiring the purchase of a special machine for each number of grafts to be made. Brief description of the drawings Further features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the detailed description of a preferred non exclusive embodiment of an automatic grafting apparatus for vegetables of the invention, which is shown as a non limiting example with the help of the annexed drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of an automatic grafting machine for vegetables, having an automatic grafting apparatus for vegetables of the invention; FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional schematic view of the automatic machine as shown in Fig. 1, as taken along a plane // - //; FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a restraining unit for restraining

6 vegetables in a grafting position; FIG. 4 is a broken cross-sectional schematic view of a restraining unit, as taken along a plane IV-IV of Fig. 1; FIG. 5 is a broken perspective view of a grafted vegetable with a joining element applied thereto, for joining the concurrent ends to be grafted, according to a first possible version; FIG. 6 is a broken perspective view of a grafted vegetable with a joining element applied thereto, for joining the concurrent ends to be grafted, according to a second possible version. Detailed description of a preferred embodiment Referring to the above figures, numeral 1 is used to designate an automatic grafting machine for vegetables, which is generally referenced 1, particularly for grafting vegetables having a stem 2 with a root system in a clod 3 at one end and an inflorescence 4 at the opposite end. The machine 1 comprises a frame 5 that defines an upper portion 5A and a lower portion 5B which supports a horizontal platform that is capable of stepwise rotation about a central axis of rotation Ύ " in a predetermined and selectable direction of rotation, for instance the one designated by "X", is driven by a motor unit " 1 0" by a motion transfer unit 10A and has restraining units 7 mounted thereon for restraining, as better explained below, two segments of stems 2 of a scion and a rootstock, referenced 8 and 9 respectively, in a grafting position, i.e. in substantially aligned relation and in mutual contact, and a first portion 11A of a joining element, generally referenced 11, for holding the two segments 8 and 9 in joined relation as long as needed for rooting. The frame 5 supports above the horizontal platform 6 first supplying means 12 for supplying the first portion 1 A of the joining element 11 and second supplying means 13 for supplying a second portion 11B of the joining element

7 11, which is supplementary to the first portion 11A ; the second portion 11B can be stably joined thereto, e.g. by bonding, thus clamping together the segments 8 of the scion and 9 of the rootstock. As shown in Figures 2 to 5, both the first portion 1 A and the second portion 11B of the joining element 11 preferably consist of segments of adhesive tape and the first supplying means 12 and the second supplying means 13 comprise respective supplying devices, referenced 14 and 15 respectively, which unwind a respective adhesive tape roll, and are both equipped with a cutting element 16 for cutting to size successive segments of the adhesive tape rolls 14 and 15, which are designed to become the two portions 11A and 11B. Furthermore, the supporting and unwinding device 15 for supplying the second portion 11B is also equipped with a presser element 17 for pressing and adhering each second portion 11B against a corresponding first portion 11A. Referring to Figures 4, 5 and 6, the two portions 1 A and 1 B which are designed to adhere against each other are shown to comprise, in a first version, a segment or second portion 11B of an adhesive tape whose thickness Ή 1" is considerably greater than the thickness Ή 2" of the first portion 11A. This second portion 11B with a thickness Ή 1" may consist, for instance, of a spongy adhesive tape that is elastically deformable, especially when it is pressed, whereas the first portion 1 A has a small, substantially sheet-like thickness Ή 2". When the segments 8 and 9 are clamped between the two adhered parts 11A and 11B, it can be seen that at least the second part 11B is considerably elastically deformed to at least partially encircle both and fit their outer profiles, to hold them in a protected fashion in the desired grafting position until rooting. In the second version of the first portion 1 A and the second portion 11B, as

8 shown in Fig. 6, these portions are shown to have substantially small and sheet like thicknesses, typically equal to each other and to the above mentioned thickness "H2". Referring to Figures 3 and 4, each restraining unit 7 comprises a plate 18 that is attached to the horizontal platform 6 and has a through aperture 19 extending therethrough and connected to a suction duct 20 which is in turn connected to a suction unit, not shown due to its irrelevance to the invention, which is designed to create a negative pressure in the through aperture 19, as it is turned on, towards the bottom area of the horizontal platform 6. A straight groove 2 1 is formed in each plate 18, namely on the top face 18A thereof, i.e. the one that faces away from the face attached to the horizontal platform 6, and defines a bottom 2 1A and two side walls 2 1B, with suction holes (not shown) formed therein and connected to the suction duct 20. The segments 8 of the scion and those 9 of the rootstock are designed to lie and be held in the groove 2 1 when they are arranged to be joined together. As shown in Fig. 1, the machine 1 is designed to include, for instance, three workstations for three operators 22, arranged to afford high throughput; the skilled person will easily appreciate that the number of plates 18 on the horizontal platform 6 may change, and hence the number of workstations and operators 22 may also change. The operating cycle involves the passage of each plate 18 through a series of workstations, from "S1 " to "S6", in which the segments 8 of each scion and those 9 of each rootstock are prepared and joined together, as described below. The machine 1 has a cyclic operation that will be related below to one of the plates 18 that form the restraining units 7, which will be conventionally referred

9 to hereinafter as reference plate: nevertheless, the following description shall apply to all the other plates 18 in the rotating platform. The operating cycle starts in a first station, referenced "S1 " in which the supplying device 14 supplies the reference plate 18, previously aligned below it, with one end of the adhesive tape supported and unwound by the supplying device 14, and designed to form the first sheet-like portion 1 A of the joining element 11. The cutting element 16 cuts the tape end to size, while the suction apparatus is operated and attracts it by creating a negative pressure through the through aperture 19, that keeps it still in this position, in contact with the top face 18A of the reference plate 18. The first portion 11A which practically coincides with the tape segment supplied by the supplying device 14 and which is hence designated below by the same reference 11A, has the adhesive face upwards and is designed, as described below, to receive in contact therewith the opposite corresponding adhesive face of the second portion 11B, i.e. a second tape segment supplied by the second supplying device 15 in a subsequent station of the horizontal platform 6. While the first portion 1 A is being held on the corresponding plate 18 by the suction force, the platform 6 performs one rotation step to a predetermined angular width, thereby moving the reference plate 18 with its first portion 11A to a second station "S2" in which an operator 22 is located. The operator lays, for instance by hand, a segment 9 of a rootstock, that has been prepared beforehand by cutting away the exuberant portion, i.e. the inflorescence 4, on the adhesive face of the first portion 11A, by gently pressing it with the latter and pushing it into the groove 2 1.

10 The suction action still exerted through the aperture 19 holds both the first portion 11A and the segment 9 of the rootstock that adheres to the first portion A in the groove 2 1 in the grafting position, whereas the platform 6 runs a further rotation step that moves the reference plate 18 to the third station "S3". In this third station "S3", another operator 22, or the same operator as before, lays a segment of the scion 9, also prepared beforehand by cutting away the exuberant portion, i.e. in this case the root system 3 of the vegetable to be grafted, on the first portion 11A, by pushing it into the groove 2 1 and taking care to place the two cut ends of the two segments 8 and 9 in mutual contact. In the groove 2 1, the two segments 8 and 9 adhere to the first portion 11A and are forced to be in mutual aligned relation, in a given grafting position, with their cut ends in mutual contact. Now, the platform 6 performs a further rotation step and carries the reference plate 18 to a fourth station "S4", namely below the second supplying device 15, which unwinds a second portion of adhesive tape that, by being cut to size by the cutting element 16 to substantially coincide with the first portion 11A, forms the second portion 11B laid on the first portion 1 A and having the adhesive face facing toward the latter. Therefore, the presser element 17 is operated and gently presses the second portion 11B on the first portion 1 A and adheres them together, thereby simultaneously capturing together the two segments of the scion 8 and the rootstock 9 in the grafting position. Then, the platform 6 performs a further rotation step and the reference plate 18 is carried to a fifth station "S5", in which the suction action through the aperture 19 is automatically stopped. Now, a further operator 22 may pick up the vegetable obtained by grafting, by

11 removing it from the groove 2 1, when it is still captured between the first portion 1 A and the second portion 11B and laying it on a container for packaging or bedding out. Then, the rotating platform 6 performs a further rotation step and the reference plate 18, now empty, moves to a sixth station "S6", containing a suitable cleaning apparatus 30 for automatically cleaning the reference plate 18 from any soil or leaf residue left by the segments 8 and 9 during the grafting cycle. With a further rotation step, the reference plate 18 moves back to the station "S1 " and the operating cycle starts anew. The same operating cycle is run, as mentioned above, for all the other plates 18 on the platform 6. The above described invention has been found to fulfill the intended objects. The invention is susceptible to changes and variants within the inventive concept. Also, all the details may be replaced by other technical equivalent elements. In practice, any material, shape and size may be used as needed, without departure from the scope as defined by the following claims.

12 CLAIMS 1. An automatic grafting apparatus for vegetables comprising: - Restraining means ( 1 8) to restrain in a grafting position at least a first segment (8) of a stem (2) of a scion and a second segment (9) of a rootstock; - Joining means configured for joining faced ends of said first segment (8) and second segment (9) in said grafting position, characterized in that said joining means comprise: - At least a first portion ( 1 1A) of a joining element ( 1 1) of said faced ends, which is designed for being interposed between said faced ends and said restraining means ( 1 8) and, when positioned, is restrained in said grafting position by said restraining means ( 1 8); - At least a second portion ( 1 1B) of said joining element ( 1 1), which can be joined to the first portion ( 1 1A) latter so that to tighten said faced ends between said first portion ( 1 1A) and second portion ( 1 1B), and - Supplying means (14, 15) of said first portion ( 1 1A) and second portion ( 1 1B). 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said restraining means ( 1 8) are mounted on moving means (6) movable along a movement direction (X), between at least a supplying station (S1 ) of said first portion ( 1 1A) onto said restraining means ( 1 8), an accommodating station (S2, S3) in a substantially aligned resting and reciprocal contact position of said first segment (8) and second segment (9) on said first portion ( 1 1A), and at least an applying station (S4) of said second portion ( 1 1B) on said first portion ( 1 1A). 3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first portion ( 1 1A) and said second portion ( 1B) comprise segments of a tape having respective coupling faceable surfaces, at least one of said coupling surfaces being an adhesive surface.

13 4. An apparatus according to claim anyone of claims 1 or 2, wherein said restraining means comprise : - At least a restraining unit ( 1 8) having a guided resting seat (21 ) of said first segment (8) and second segment (9) arranged in a substantial reciprocal contact and having a bottom (21 A); - Sucking means (20) of said first segment (8) and second segment (9) in a grafting position toward said bottom (21 A); - A sucking arrangement connected to sucking openings obtained at least in said bottom (21 A). 5. An apparatus according to anyone of claims 2 or 4, wherein said seat comprises a straight guiding groove (21 ) obtained in said restraining unit ( 1 8), said groove (21 ) defining a couple of lateral control walls (21 B) which arise from said bottom (21 A), reciprocally spaced and parallel. 6. An apparatus according to anyone of claims 1 or 2, wherein said supplying means comprise: - A frame (5) having a lower base portion (5B) which bears said moving means (6) and an upper portion (5a) which arises from said lower base portion (5B) over said moving means (6); - A first step-by-step supplying device ( 1 4) of said first portion ( 1 1A), supported by said upper portion (5A) over said moving means (6) in a adjustable position by adjusting means; - A second step-by-step supplying device ( 1 5) of said second portion ( 1 B), supported by said upper portion (5A) over said moving means (6) in a adjustable position by adjusting means, arranged downstream said first supplying device ( 14) in respect of said movement direction (X). 7. An apparatus according to claims 2 and 6, wherein said moving means comprise a platform (6) rotatably supported by said lower base portion (5B) and on which said restraining means are mounted, said platform (6) being

14 rotationally actuated by motor means ( 1 0, 10A). 8. An apparatus according to anyone of claims 1, 5, 6, wherein said movement direction comprises a circular direction (X). 9. An apparatus according to anyone of claims from 1 to 8, wherein at least said second portion ( 1 1B) of said joining means ( 1 1) comprises a contact portion with said first segment (8) and second segment (9) which is elastically deformable under pressure and which has a thickness (H2) noticeably greater than the thickness (H1 ) of said first portion ( 1 1A). 10. An automatic grafting method for vegetables, comprising: - to put and restrain inside a seat (21 ) of a restraining unit ( 18) a first segment (8) and a second segment (9) of stems (2) of a first vegetable and of a second vegetable which respectively form a scion and a rootstock in a grafting position wherein are substantially longitudinally aligned each other so that respective faced ends of said first and second segments (8, 9) are substantially joined in a reciprocal contact; - to apply joining means ( 1 1) on said faced ends, Characterized in that said to apply comprises: - to arrange a first portion ( 1 1A) of said joining means ( 1 1) between said seat (21 ) and said first segment (8) and second segment (9); - to apply on said first portion ( 1 1A) a second portion ( B) so that to tighten said faced ends between them. 11. A method according to claim 10, wherein said to maintain comprises to restrain said first segment (8) and second segment (9) inside said seat (21 ) by restraining means ( 1 9, 20) associated to said restraining unit ( 1 8). 12. A method according to anyone of claims 10 or 11, wherein said to restrain comprises to suck by a sucking arrangement connected to said seat

15 (21 ). 13. A method according to claim 12, wherein said first portion ( 1 1A) and said second portion ( 1B) of said joining means ( 1 1) comprise respective segments of a tape having respective contact faces at least one of which is an adhesive face. 14. A grafting machine, characterized in that it comprises a grafting automatic apparatus according to anyone of claims 1-9 and in that it works according to a grafting method for vegetables according to anyone of claims

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20 A. CLASSIFICATION O F SUBJECT MATTER INV. ADD. A01G1/06 According to International Patent Classification (IPC) or to both national classification and IPC B. FIELDS SEARCHED Minimum documentation searched (classification system followed by classification symbols) A01G Documentation searched other than minimum documentation to the extent that such documents are included in the fields searched Electronic data base consulted during the international search (name of data base and, where practical, search terms used) EPO-Internal C. DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED TO B E RELEVANT Category* Citation of document, with indication, where appropriate, of the relevant passages Relevant to claim No. WO 2007/ Al ( ISO GROEP MACHB B V 1, 10, 14 [NL] ; BAKKER JAN [NL] ; STRUYCK WIM [NL] ) 2 1 December 2007 ( ) ci ted i n the appl i cati on abstract; f i gures 1-2 J P A ( ISU YASUSHI ) 1, 10, January 1996 ( ) f i gures 1-9 J P A ( ISEKI AGRICULT MACH) 1, 10, May 1998 ( ) abstract; f i gures 1-12 J P A (YANMAR AGRICULT EQUI P) 1, 10, July 2004 ( ) abstract; f i gures /- Further documents are listed in the continuation of Box C. See patent family annex. * Special categories of cited documents : "T" later document published after the international filing date or priority date and not in conflict with the application but "A" document defining the general state of the art which is not cited to understand the principle o r theory underlying the considered to be of particular relevance invention "E" earlier document but published on or after the international "X" document of particular relevance; the claimed invention filing date cannot be considered novel or cannot be considered to "L" documentwhich may throw doubts on priority claim(s) or involve an inventive step when the document is taken alone which is cited to establish the publication date of another "Y" document of particular relevance; the claimed invention citation or other special reason (as specified) cannot be considered to involve an inventive step when the "O" document referring to an oral disclosure, use, exhibition or document is combined with one or more other such docu other means ments, such combination being obvious to a person skilled in the art. "P" document published prior to the international filing date but later than the priority date claimed "&" document member of the same patent family Date of the actual completion of the international search Date of mailing of the international search report 17 June /06/2011 Name and mailing address of the ISA/ Authorized officer European Patent Office, P.B Patentlaan 2 NL HV Rijswijk Tel. (+31-70) , Fax: (+31-70) Dagnel i e s, Joel l e

21 C(Continuation). DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED TO BE RELEVANT Category* Citation of document, with indication, where appropriate, of the relevant passages Relevant to claim No. A J P A (KYODO KUMIAI DOUA) 1,10,14 5 March 1996 ( ) abstract; figures 1-13

22 Patent document Publication Patent family Publication cited in search report date member(s) date WO A l EP A l N L C P A J P B P A NONE P A NONE P A NONE