Patent ID: 6915607
Filing Date: 2005-07-12
Classification: A01C,A01G,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A mechanized plant transplant apparatus comprising: a. a matrix of propagule transplant containers, wherein at least a majority of said propagule transplant containers is each adapted to contain propagule growth medium and at least one propagule, is established by at least one propagule growth medium retention element and has a substantially horizontal upper container opening area which is larger than a plant punch element head area; b. a yieldable exit element established integral to said at least one propagule growth medium retention element; c. an areally continuous, substantially planar, arrayed, propagule growth support lattice element interconnecting said matrix of propagule transplant containers; d. an integral edge definition element which defines a large number of said propagule transplant containers that are operationally compatible with a numerically significant number of alternative adolescent plant tray configurations; and e. a tray movement guide responsive to said integral edge definition element, wherein said large number of said propagule transplant containers is greater than the number of adolescent plant containers of each of said alternative adolescent plant tray configurations, wherein each of said at least a majority of said propagule transplant containers is volumetrically smaller than each of the adolescent plant containers of each of said alternative adolescent plant tray configurations, wherein each of the adolescent plant containers of each of said alternative adolescent plant tray configurations is capable of receiving at least one propagule plug from one of said propagule transplant containers, wherein the number of propagule transplant containers is both:—an integer multiple of a first number of containers of at least a first adolescent plant tray configuration, and—a non-integer multiple of a second number of containers of at least a second adolescent plant tray configuration, wherein said large number of said propagule transplant containers that are operationally compatible with a numerically significant number of alternative adolescent plant tray configurations is greater than 300, wherein said large number of said propagule transplant containers is a number that is evenly divisible by all but two of the first eight integer multiples of six, and wherein said plant transplant apparatus is usable to fill at least thirty-five alternative adolescent plant tray configurations with propagules so that resultant plug placement positions relative to walls of the adolescent plant containers of said at least thirty-five alternative adolescent plant tray configurations are acceptable.