Claims for Patent: 4,978,505

Summary for Patent: 4,978,505

Title:	Automated system for micropropagation and culturing organic material
Abstract:	An automated system for growing plant material includes an first length of membrane material having a plurality of open growing chambers and a second length of membrane material having a plurality of growing chambers filled with the plant material. A media preparation unit mixes stock solutions for dispensing into the growing chambers by a fill unit. A scanner unit determines that a sufficient amount of media has been dispensed within each chamber. A sterilization unit sterilizes the chambers which then pass to a cooling and storage unit until ready for planting with plant material. The second length of plant-filled growing chambers are housed in a plant culture room where the plant material is permitted to grow. A scanner determines the extent of growth of the plant material. Upon the material reaching a predetermined growth, the growing chambers pass to a surface sterilization unit. A cutting unit opens the chambers and the plant material is removed. The material is passed through a cutting unit where the material is cut into pieces. Each piece of material is then planted into a media-filled chamber from the cooling and storing unit. A heat sealer closes the open end of the newly plant-filled growing chambers. The newly plant-filled growing chambers are then transported back to the culture room. A tractor feed apparatus transports the lengths of growing chambers throughout the automated system and a control system controls the operation of each of the units and tractor feed apparatus.
Inventor(s):	Kertz; Malcolm G. (Sealy, TX)
Assignee:	Agristar, Inc. (Conroe, TX)
Application Number:	07/278,681
Patent Claims:	1. An automated system for growing plant material, comprising: a first length of membrane material having a plurality of open growing chambers; a second length of membrane material having a plurality of plant-filled growing chambers filled with plant material; a media preparation unit for mixing measured amounts of individual stock solutions to prepare a selected plant media; a fill unit for dispensing media from said media preparation unit into said open growing chambers; a fill check scanner unit for scanning the media-filled open growing chambers to ensure that each open growing chamber has been filled by said fill unit with a predetermined amount of media; a sterilization unit for sterilizing said first length of media-filled open growing chambers; a cooling and storage unit for cooling and storing said media-filled open growing chambers from said sterilization unit; a plant culture room housing said second length of plant-filled growing chambers for growing the plant material under controlled conditions; a growth detection scanner unit for scanning the plant-filled growing chambers housed in said plant culture room for determining the extent of plant growth within each said plant-filled growing chamber; a surface sterilization unit for surface sterilizing said plant-filled growing chambers; a cutting unit for opening said plant-filled growing chambers of said second length; a removal unit for removing the plant material from said plant-filled growing chambers after said plant-filled growing chambers have been opened by said cutting unit; a plant cutting unit for cutting the plant material into individual pieces after being removed from said plant-filled growing chambers by said removal unit; a planting unit for planting individual pieces of plant material cut by said plant cutting unit into individual media-filled open growing chambers of said first length; a closing unit for closing said media-filled open growing chambers after said chambers have been planted with said pieces of plant material; and tractor feed apparatus for transporting said first and second lengths of growing chambers throughout the automated system. 2. The automated system of claim 1 further including: a first coding unit for uniquely coding each media filled open growing chamber of said first length exiting said fill unit; a second coding unit for uniquely coding each plant-filled growing chamber of said second length exiting said closing unit; and a bar code reading unit disposed in said plant culture room for identifying the plant material in said plant-filled growing chambers. 3. The automated system of claim 1 further including a control system for synchronizing and controlling the operation of each of said units and said tractor feed apparatus. 4. The automated system of claim 1 wherein said control system includes a master control which controls a plurality of local controls, each local control dedicated to controlling a group of said units of said automated system. 5. The automated system of claim 4 wherein a first local control controls the operation of said media preparation unit, said fill unit, and said fill check scanner unit; a second local control controls the operation of said sterilization unit and said cooling and storage unit; a third local control unit controls said plant culture room, and said growth detection scanner unit; and a fourth local control unit controls said surface sterilization unit, said cutting unit, said removal unit, said plant cutting unit, said planting unit and said closing unit. 6. The automated system of claim 5 wherein each local control operates and controls that portion of said tractor feed apparatus transporting growing chambers among said units controlled by said local control. 7. The automated system of claim 1 wherein said media preparation unit comprises: a plurality of containers each containing a different stock solution for media; a plurality of metering pumps in communication with said individual containers for dispensing measured amounts of stock solution from selected containers; a tank for receiving said measured amounts of stock solution; means for mixing said measured amounts within said tank; a media dispenser; a fill pump; fluid conduit means connecting said tank to said fill pump and said fill pump to said media dispenser whereby said fill pump pumps media from said tank for dispensing from said media dispenser. 8. The automated system of claim 1 wherein said fill unit comprises: at least one nozzle supported by a rack; means for lowering said rack whereby said nozzle is directed toward an open growing chamber; a fill pump in fluid communication with a reservoir of media for pumping media to and through said nozzle; and means for guiding said nozzle into said open growing chamber. 9. The automated system of claim 1 wherein said fill check scanner unit comprises: a light source for transmitting light through said open growing chamber; a polarized panel having one side adjacent said light source, said polarized panel passing light waves in a direction perpendicular to said polarized panel; a photo receptor panel located on the other side of said polarized panel and having a plurality of photosensitive cells, said open growing chambers being adapted for disposal between said panels; and said photosensitive cells sensing any light passing through said open growing chambers and not deflected by the media whereby the level of media in said open growing chamber is determined. 10. The automated system of claim 1 wherein said sterilization unit comprises: a chamber for housing said first length of membrane material, said chamber having an opening for receiving said first length of membrane material; a closure for closing said opening; a tractor feed apparatus disposed within said chamber for loading and unloading said first length of membrane material into and out of said chamber; and means for sterilizing said first length of membrane material while housed within said chamber. 11. The automated system of claim 1 wherein said cooling and storage unit comprises: an enclosure for housing said first length of membrane material; an air mover mounted on said enclosure for moving air through said enclosure; means for filtering the air prior to passing into said enclosure; and cooling coils disposed within said enclosure having a cooling medium circulated therewithin for lowering the temperature within said enclosure. 12. The automated system of claim 1 wherein said plant culture room comprises: an enclosure for housing said second length of membrane material; a tractor feed apparatus disposed within said enclosure and engaging said second length of membrane material for transporting said membrane material throughout said enclosure in a serpentine configuration at a plurality of elevations within said enclosure; means for controlling the temperature within said enclosure; and means for lighting said enclosure. 13. The automated system of claim 1 wherein said surface sterilization unit comprises: an enclosure including a sterilization compartment for spraying the plant filled growing chambers with a sterilization solution, a washing compartment for rinsing the plant filled growing chambers with sterilized water to remove any sterilization solution, and a drying compartment to dry the plant filled growing chambers; and transport means for mechanically transporting the plant filled growing chambers through said compartments. 14. The automated system of claim 1 wherein said cutting unit comprises: a cutting blade; and a tractor feed apparatus for moving the length of plant filled growing chambers against said blade. 15. The automated system of claim 1 wherein said removal unit comprises: a needle connected in fluid communication to a pressurized source of sterile water; and pneumatic means supporting said needle for puncturing the plant filled growing chamber with said needle and injecting a fluid into the plant filled growing chamber for washing the plant tissue out of said plant filled growing chamber. 16. The automated system of claim 1 wherein said plant cutting unit and said planting unit comprise: an enclosure having a first entry and exit for passing the first length of open growing chambers therethrough and a second entry and exit for passing the second length of plant filled growing chambers therethrough; transport means for transporting the first and second lengths of growing chambers through said enclosure; means disposed on said enclosure for moving air within said enclosure; means on said enclosure for filtering the air prior to passing into said enclosure; means within said enclosure for surface sterilizing the second length of plant-filled growing chambers; means within said enclosure for opening the plant filled growing chambers; means within said enclosure for removing the plant material from the plant filled growing chambers; means within said enclosure for cutting the removed plant material into smaller pieces; and means within said enclosure for investing the smaller pieces of plant material into the open growing chambers of the first length of membrane material. 17. The automated system of claim 1 wherein said closing unit comprises: a pair of roller heat sealers for applying heat to the open ends of said open growing chambers for sealing the open growing chambers closed. 18. The automated system of claim 1 wherein said tractor feed unit comprises: a plurality of spaced perforations along each periphery of said first and second lengths of membrane material; a first pair of pulleys mounted on each end of a first shaft; a second pair of pulleys mounted on each end of a second shaft; said shafts being parallel and said first and second pairs of pulleys being adjacent each other; driver means for driving said shafts; a pair of drive belts, each of said pair engaging and extending around one of said first pair of pulleys, said drive belts having a plurality of projections spaced along said drive belts to be received by said perforations in said lengths of membrane material; a pair of receiving belts, each of said pair engaging and extending around one of said second pair of pulleys, said receiving belts having a plurality of recesses spaced along said receiving belts for mating engagement with said projections; said shafts and pairs of pulleys disposed a predetermined distance apart whereby said lengths of membrane material will pass between said shafts and belts with said projections passing through said spaced perforations and into said recesses; and said belts transporting said membrane material as said belts move around said pulleys in response to the rotation of said shafts.

Details for Patent 4,978,505

Applicant	Tradename	Biologic Ingredient	Dosage Form	BLA	Approval Date	Patent No.	Expiredate
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.	ZOSTAVAX	zoster vaccine live	For Injection	125123	05/25/2006		2007-12-18