WORK HANDLING
First Claim
1. An apparatus suitable for use in conjunction with a container in which one or more plants is growing and having associated with it a device for receiving an enquiry signal and automatically responding by transmitting an unique identifier signal the apparatus comprisinga) a transporter by which a container may be supported for moving the container;
- b) a means for transmitting the enquiry signal;
c) a means for recording the identifier signal as a digital output; and
d) a computer system to which the digital output is supplied for storage of the data in prescribed format in a database for manipulation to afford comparison of data related to the container.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus suitable for use in conjunction with a container in which one or more plants is growing and having associated with it a device for receiving an enquiry signal and automatically responding by transmitting an unique identifier signal the apparatus comprising (a) transporter means by which a container may be supported for moving the container, (b) means for transmitting the enquiry signal, (c) means for recording the identifier signal as a digital output, and (d) computer means to which the digital output is supplied for storage of the data in prescribed format in a database for manipulation to afford comparison of data related to the container.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus suitable for use in conjunction with a container in which one or more plants is growing and having associated with it a device for receiving an enquiry signal and automatically responding by transmitting an unique identifier signal the apparatus comprising
a) a transporter by which a container may be supported for moving the container; -
b) a means for transmitting the enquiry signal; c) a means for recording the identifier signal as a digital output; and d) a computer system to which the digital output is supplied for storage of the data in prescribed format in a database for manipulation to afford comparison of data related to the container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for relocating a container in which one or more plants is growing within a group of such containers in accordance with desired criteria comprising supporting the containers with transporter means comprising a plurality of storage transporters each providing support for a row of several containers in a horizontally disposed array, and a transfer conveyor, there being means for operating each storage transporter to move the row of containers supported on that transporter towards a first transfer station at which an endmost container of the row may be transferred to the transfer conveyor means, the method comprising associating with each container a device which, in response to receipt of an enquiry signal automatically transmits an unique identifier signal, emitting enquiry signals from known locations and recording the enquiry and identifier signals as digital output in a database in prescribed format to identify the location of the container.
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20. A method for imaging and recording characteristics of a plant presented at an operating station comprising associating with the plant a device for receiving an enquiry signal and automatically responding thereto by transmitting an unique identifier signal, passing the container automatically to a workstation at which there is located means for transmitting the enquiry signal, causing the identifier signal to actuate means for imaging the plant and transferring the identifier signal and digital image information as digital output to a database for recording in prescribed format for manipulation according to desired characteristics.
Specification