Potting apparatus

A potting apparatus has a first conveyor suitable for receiving a pot thereon, a second conveyor has a surface suitable for receiving soil thereon and having an end positioned so as to deliver soil to the pot on the first conveyor, a drill positioned above the first conveyor so as to be movable upwardly and downwardly relative to the pot on the first conveyor so as to form a hole in the pot, and a driving means cooperative with the first conveyor for moving the first conveyor in an indexing manner such that the first conveyor temporarily stops at a location directly below the drill. The drill is slidably supported on a frame so as to be driven by a belt connected to the drill. A servomotor is drivingly connected to the belt so as to move the drill in an upward direction or a downward direction.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to machines and processes which assist in plant potting operations. In particular, the present invention the relates to potting machines whereby the pots are moved along a conveyor so that a drilling operation can be performed on the soil within the pot.

Horticultural growers have a need to periodically place growing plants (e.g., seedlings, shrubs, flowers, and the like) in pots of sufficient size so as to accommodate future growth. Once the potted plants have attained a desired size, they can be sold to retail nurseries, landscape companies or the like for transplanting to a permanent site.

Potting machines which assist the horticultural growers in placing their plants into soil-containing pots are well known. In this regard, most potting machines include a soil infeed conveyor which transfers potting soil from a soil supply to a soil lift conveyer which elevates the soil over and into pots traveling along a closed-loop pot track.

The prior art potting machines require a great deal of mechanical adjustments in order to properly drill the hole in the soil within the pot. As such, in order to change the depth of a drill, the machine must be stopped and the drill must be mechanically adjusted. In certain circumstances, the drill must be adjusted in order to achieve the requisite depth. Furthermore, under circumstances the drilled holes can be off center of the pot. As such, an adjustment of the pot holding mechanism will be necessary in order to properly place the drill in a centered position relative to the soil. Otherwise the positioning of the pot holding mechanism must be adjusted so as to center the pot below the drill.

The mechanisms associated with such prior art potting apparatus involve a large number of linkages and mechanical connections. Over time, these linkages and mechanical connections can become worn. As a result, the potting apparatus will work in a rather jerking manner. Whenever the machine is vibrating or jerking, there is a likelihood of pots being displaced, of soil being dislodged, and of ineffective hole drilling.

In the past, many such potting apparatus have included a circular track whereby the soil is loaded, compacted, and drilled. The centrifugal force caused by such circular tracks often causes the pots to assume an oblong configuration and tends to cause soil to be flung out of the pot. Often, an uneven layer of soil is the result of such centrifugal force affecting the pot conveying system.

Additionally, in the past, various fixtures were necessary to accommodate various sizes of pots. Generally, in such potting processes, the pot can be of a five gallon size or be as large as up to a twenty-five gallon size. These fixtures in prior art potting machines must be changed so as to accommodate the different sizes of such pots. Additionally, the various compacting and drilling operations must also be manipulated so as to accommodate the different sizes of pots.

Further, the prior art potting machines also include a large variety of mechanical linkages. It is known that, over time, such linkages can become worn and damaged. Continual repair of such a potting apparatus is necessary so as to meet the demands for the production ofpotted plants. Also, typically, the drilling operation on such a pot is a relatively ineffective process. The pot must be placed below the drill and then the drill lowered from an elevated location downwardly into the soil so as to drill the hole. The drill must be placed at a relatively high location so as to accommodate large size pots and have a considerable length of travel in which to reach the drilling location.

In the past, various patents have issued relating to potting apparatus. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,657,839, issued on Apr. 25, 1972 to B. Krause, shows an apparatus for the potting of plants. A hollow drum is mounted for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis and in its opposite axial ends are provided with respective center openings through one of which particulate potting material is introduced in flowable state. A feed introduces through the other of the openings sequentially upwardly open potting containers which are subsequently withdrawn from this other opening. A rotating means rotates the drum about its axis and entraining blades interior of the drum continuously entrain and lift the potting material upwardly of the potting containers so that it cascades over and into them.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,713,465, issued on Jan. 30, 1973 to A. H. van Nobelen, describes a device for filling flower pots with earth. The device has a vessel for receiving an earth supply, a conveyor for moving a number of pots towards and from the location where the filling occurs, and means for raising the earth from the vessel to above the plane of the pot-conveyor. An upright side of the supply vessel is formed by a side of a vertically extending endless conveyor enclosing an acute angle with respect to the bottom plane of the vessel. The bottom of the vessel is the upper side of a belt conveyor and a channel is provided at the point where the conveyors meet.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,726,041, issued on Apr. 10, 1973 to Ota et al., describes an apparatus for filling and packing soil. The apparatus includes means for compressing the soil in the containers by pressing the lower lap of a conveyor belt downwardly thereon.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,782,033, issued on Jan. 1, 1974 to N. E. Hickerson, shows a pot filling and compacting apparatus and method. Spilled soil is collected and returned to a hopper for re-use. A punch is provided for driving a hole in the soil in the pot.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,020,881, issued on May 3, 1977 to G. Nothen, describes the automatic filling of flower pots. The machine has a horizontally-moving conveyor on which empty pots are magazine-deposited, for intermittent movement, so as to pass successively to a station at a funnel-like earth filling device, to a station at a leveling device, and to a station at a hole drilling device. The hole drilling device produces a conical, plant-ball receiving hole. The conveyor accepts pots in rows and columns.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,363,341, issued on Dec. 14, 1982 to C. F. Powell, teaches a plant container filling machine. A pair of synchronized rotating bladed wheels dispense soil from a hopper into flats of pots moving on a conveyor in a coordinated manner beneath the wheels. The hopper is vibrated by impingement of the wheel blades against the lower portion of the hopper. The containers are agitated by movement of a frame against the conveyor underside.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,697,623, issued on Oct. 6, 1987 to Bouldin et al., provides an apparatus for continuously filling and preparing pots for receiving plants. This apparatus has an endless conveyor chain supporting a plurality of pot receiver elements and for continuously carrying pots from a pot loading station through a filling station for filling the pots with potting soil. The conveyor moves to a pot drilling station for drilling holes in the soil and then to a pot ejector station. The pots are loaded, filled, drilled, and ejected while the pots move continuously through the various stations. The pot drilling mechanism includes a rotary turret supporting a plurality of circumferentially-spaced rotating drills which are adapted to reciprocate vertically as they revolve about the rotary axis of the turret so that each drill will be lowered into a pot for drilling a hole in the soil while moving at the same speed and direction as the pot. Rotary pot loading and ejecting mechanisms are incorporated to move in synchronism with the conveyor chain for loading the pots individually upon the apparatus and for individually ejecting the pots after they are filled and drilled.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,008, issued on Jun. 24, 1997 to the present inventor, discloses a potting machine having a pot track for sequentially conveying plant pots along a potting path. A soil lift conveyor having a soil discharge chute lifting soil above the pot track and discharges the soil through the soil discharge chute and into those plant pots on the pot track positioned in the potting path therebelow. A soil infeed conveyor conveys the soil from a source thereof to the soil lift conveyor. The soil flow rate between the infeed and lift conveyors is synchronized by a chain-and-sprocket synchronizer. A soil flow-control motor connected to the chain-and-sprocket synchronizer continuously drives the same so that the soil infeed and lift conveyors respectively feed and lift soil in a continuous synchronous manner to thereby effect control over the flow of soil from the soil source to the discharge chute. The potting machine has coordinated indexing and soil drilling assemblies so as to respectively advance the plant pots along the potting path and drill a recess in the soil deposited into the plant pots by the lift conveyor.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,594,949, issued on Jul. 22, 2003 also to the present inventor, shows a potting machine that has a synchronized continuous motion pot track and soil drilling systems. A soil-filled pot is moved continuously along a linear segment of a pot track. A drill bit is moved continuously in synchronized registry with the soil-filled pot at the same time as the pot moves continuously along the linear segment of the pot track. Simultaneous horizontal and vertical motion components are imparted to a soil-drilling drill bit relative to the linear segment of the pot track by moving the drill bit in an arcuate orbit above the pot track. Since such simultaneous horizontal and vertical motion components cause the drill bit to track linearly in registry with the pot conveyed by the pot track along the linear segment thereof and to be moved vertically into and out of contact with soil contained within the pot to thereby drill the planting recess therein.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a potting apparatus that provides a common drilling depth for the soil in pots passing therethrough.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a potting apparatus which avoids deformed drilled holes due to a lack of centrifugal force on the pots, as is common in the prior art.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a potting apparatus which speeds up the potting process.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a potting apparatus that is adaptable to different sizes of pots.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a potting apparatus which avoids the use of fixtures and other retainers for the pots and also avoids any toppling of the pots while on the conveyor.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a potting apparatus that maximizes the use of soil.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a potting apparatus which avoids the need for accurate spacing of the pots along the conveyor.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a potting apparatus which avoids mechanical linkages so as to improve the reliability of the potting operation.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a potting apparatus that comprises a first conveyor suitable for receiving a pot thereon, a second conveyor having a surface suitable for receiving soil thereon and having an end positioned so as to deliver soil for the pot on the first conveyor, a drill positioned above the first conveyor so as to be movable upwardly and downwardly relative to the pot on the first conveyor so as to form a hole in the soil of the pot, and a driving means cooperative with the first conveyor for moving the first conveyor in an indexing manner such that the first conveyor temporarily stops at a location directly below the drill.

The potting apparatus includes a hopper positioned at an opposite end of the second conveyor. The hopper is suitable for receiving soil therein. The second conveyor is suitable for moving the soil from the hopper. The second conveyor is positioned in a channel. The second conveyor has a chain with bars extending across a portion of the channel The bars are in generally spaced parallel relation to each other.

The first conveyor is a belt conveyor having a loading station at one end thereof. The belt conveyor has an upper surface suitable for receiving the pot thereon at the loading station.

A sweeping means is positioned upstream of the drill. The sweeping means is for sweeping soil extending above a top of the pot. The sweeping means includes a shaft, at least one arm extending radially outwardly of the shaft adjacent a lower end of the shaft, a brush affixed to the arm and extending downwardly therefrom, and a means for driving a shaft in rotation.

The drill is slidably supported on a frame. A belt is connected to the drill. A servomotor is drivingly connected to the belt so as to move the drill in an upward direction or a downward direction. A packing plate is resiliently positioned in relation to the drill. The packing plate has a diameter equal to or greater than a diameter of pot. The packing plate has an aperture formed therein. The drill is positioned so as to be extendable through the aperture when the drill forms a hole in the soil of the pot. A sensor means is positioned upstream of the drill for sensing when the pot is directly below the drill.

The first conveyor has a discharge end downstream of the drill so as to allow the pot to be removed from the first conveyor. A plurality of shafts are positioned downstream of the discharge end of the first conveyor. The plurality of shafts are arranged in spaced parallel relationship. The plurality of shafts have roller members affixed thereto. The potting apparatus includes a means for rotating the plurality of shafts so as to cause the pot thereon to move therealong. A bin is positioned below the plurality of shafts so as to receive residual soil from the first conveyor as passed through the plurality of shafts. An auger extends into the bin so as to move the residual soil from the bin back to the second conveyor.

The driving means serves to move the first conveyor from another location to the location directly below the drill and operates in a pattern which slowly speeds up from the another location and which slowly speeds down at the location directly below the drill. A maximum speed is achieved by the driving means between the locations. The first conveyor extends in a direction transverse to the second conveyor.

The present invention is also a process for potting that comprises the steps of: (1) placing a pot on a first conveyor adjacent one end thereof; (2) introducing soil into the pot such that the soil fills the pot to a desired height; (3) indexing the first conveyor so as to move the soil-introduced pot to a location directly below a drill; (4) drilling a hole with the drill into the soil of the pot when the pot is at the location; (5) moving the drilled-soil pot on the first conveyor to a discharge station; and (6) removing the pot from the discharge station.

The step of indexing includes increasing the speed of movement of the first conveyor from the stop position such that a maximum speed occurs at another location away from the stop position, and decreasing the speed of the movement of the first conveyor from the another location until the conveyor stops at the location directly below the drill. A packing plate is resiliently moved downwardly toward a top of the pot. The drill is lowered downwardly through an aperture formed in the packing plate. The process also includes the step of sweeping soil that extends above a top of the pot prior to the step of drilling.

The foregoing “Summary of the Invention” is intended to describe the preferred embodiment of the present invention and, as such, should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. The scope of the present invention should be defined by the claims herein. This Summary of the Invention should not be limiting of the various forms of the present invention that would be encompassed by the present claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIG. 1, there is shown the potting apparatus10in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The potting apparatus10includes a housing12having a first conveyor14positioned within the housing12, a second conveyor16, a drill18, and a driving means20. The first conveyor14is a belt conveyor suitable for receiving a pot22thereon. The second conveyor16has an area24suitable for receiving soil thereon and therein and for moving the soil along the interior of a channel25located within the housing12. The second conveyor16has an end26positioned so as to deliver soil into the pot on the first conveyor14. The drill18is positioned above the first conveyor14. The drill is movable upwardly and downwardly relative to the pot on the first conveyor14so as to form a hole in the soil in the pot22. The driving means20is a servomotor that is cooperative with the first conveyor14for moving the first conveyor14in an indexing manner such that the first conveyor14temporarily stops at a location directly below the drill18.

As can be seen inFIG. 1, there is a hopper28that is positioned adjacent to an end30of the housing12. The hopper28has an open top32that is suitable for receiving soil therein. The hopper28is disposed over the second end34of the second conveyor16so as to deliver soil to the second conveyor16. The second conveyor16is in the nature of a soil elevator chain conveyor. In other words, there are chains that extend along the channel25with bars extending thereacross. A detailed illustration of such a conveyer is illustrated inFIG. 2. However, within the concept of the present invention, various types of conveyors can be utilized so as to properly deliver the soil from the hopper28upwardly toward the first end26positioned above the first conveyor14.

The second conveyor16is in the nature of an endless belt conveyor that extends around sheaves36,38and39. At least one of the sheaves36,38and39are driven by a motor so as to cause the conveyor16to move along the channel25from the hopper28toward the end26. Additionally, the sheaves36,38and39cause the second conveyor16to be driven in a direction generally in parallel relationship to the bottom41of the housing12. This portion of the second conveyor16adjacent the bottom41of the housing12can also be moving through a suitable channel so as to transport the soil back to a location below the hopper28. When the soil from the hopper28is delivered onto the conveyor16, it will be transported upwardly at an approximately 45° angle so as to be delivered off of the upper end26of the conveyor16. It can then be discharged into a suitable soil delivery channel and delivered into a pot on the first conveyor14.

The first conveyor14is a linear belt conveyor. This belt conveyor has a generally flat upper surface that does not have fixtures or pot-receiving structures thereon. The first conveyor14, as illustrated inFIG. 1, has its end adjacent to a bin40located therebelow. As such, any residual soil that may remain on the first conveyor14can be delivered through a suitable grating and into the bin40. The grating can be in the nature of a series of shafts arranged in parallel relationship. A suitable auger42extends into the interior of the bin40and will be located within another channel43. As such, any residual soil that might fall into the bin40from the first conveyor14can be delivered by the auger42back onto the second conveyor16for delivery back to the hopper28and for reuse within the process of the potting apparatus10of the present invention. A suitable motor can be utilized so as to drive the auger42. Alternatively, the auger42can be slave-driven by the motor which rotates one of the sheaves36,38and39that are associated with the second conveyor16.

Importantly, it can be seen that there is a pot-adjusting mechanism46positioned adjacent to the sides of the first conveyor14. The pot-adjusting mechanism46can be in the nature of a guide in which both sides of the guide can extend inwardly so as to generally match the diameter of the pot22. The adjustment of the pot-adjusting mechanism46can be carried out automatically so as to conform with the size of pot that is delivered along the first conveyor14. It can be seen that the pot-adjusting mechanism46has a rod which extends inwardly so as to contact the periphery of the pot22so as to generally center the pot22in a location directly below the drill18. The pot-adjusting mechanism46assures that the system of the present invention is able to adapt to various sizes of pots that might be passed along the first conveyor14. The pot-adjusting mechanism46of the present invention represents a significant improvement over the prior art machines wherein the numerous pot holders have to be changed out when switching between different sizes of pots. The switching-out of the pot holders of the prior art is a very time-consuming process. Further, when filling larger pots with machines of the prior art, an empty pot holder needed to be placed between adjacent larger pots, thereby reducing the efficiency of the potting machine.

As will be described hereinafter, the first conveyor14is driven by a servomotor. The servomotor is suitably programmable by automatic controls in the housing48to control the braking and pattern of movement of the first conveyor14. As such, the first conveyor14can be adapted to the capacity of the apparatus10in terms of the size of pot that is being introduced, the rate at which the soil is being introduced into the pots, and the rate of drilling of the soils in each of the pots. Importantly, the servomotor associated with the first conveyor14has a unique drive in which the conveyor14is suitably indexed so that the various pots22can be stopped at a location of a particular operation. As such, as can be seen inFIG. 1, the pot22is stopped temporarily in a location below the drill18. As a result of this stopping, the proper drilling of the soil within the pot22can occur. Once the drilling operation is complete, the drill18will rise upwardly and the pot22can be driven to a discharge station.

It has been found that a rapid acceleration of the first conveyor14between its various stops could potentially cause a toppling of the pot22. In order to avoid this problem, the servomotor serves to drive the first conveyor14such that the first conveyor14ramps up its speed slowly from the stop position and then decelerates slowly toward another stop position. As such, the first conveyor14is able to rapidly transfer the various pots22between the various stations without the risk of the toppling of the pots.

The drill18has its drilling motor50maintained within a frame52and supported upon a panel54. The motor50can be controlled by controls within the housing48so as to effect the proper rate of drilling and the proper patter of up-and-down movement. The frame52is illustrated as being supported upon an upright pair of rods56. Rods56form a direction of travel for the drill18. When it is desired to drill the soil within the pot22, the servomotor within the housing48will cause the drill18to move downwardly along the pair of rods56so that the drill18enters and drills the soil within the pot22. The servomotor and suitable controls within the housing48can be suitably adjusted so that the bottom end of the drill18is only slightly above the height of the pot22. Within the concept of the present invention, this height can be in the range of one to two inches. As such, a long travel path is avoided for the drill18. When the pot22is in a position below the drill18, the drill will only have to move a small distance in order to carry out the drilling procedure. After drilling is completed, the drill18can move upwardly so that the next pot can be moved to the station directly below the drill18.

Through the concept of the present invention, the stroke of drill can be changed on the fly. If it should appear that the drill is forming a hole that is off-center, then the electronics associated with the present invention can adjust the drill in both the x and y axes in order to center the drill perfectly relative to the soil. In particular, through proper automation, the pot-adjusting mechanism46can be cooperative with the control so that an automatic centering can always occur. The drill18can be a single drill or it can be adapted to gang drilling. The structure of the present invention serves to minimize any wear-and-tear associated with the various components. As such, even after continual and extended use, the apparatus10will work smoothly and will avoid any vibrations or jerking that can occur through the wear-and-tear of the components.

InFIG. 1, it can be seen that there is a packing plate57that is positioned adjacent to the drill18. The packing plate57is resiliently mounted relative to the drill18. As such, when the drill18is lowered toward the top of the pot22, the underside of the packing plate57will contact the upper edges of the pot22. This serves to pack the soil within the pot22, to even the soil with the rim of the pot22, and to center the drill18relative to the pot22. The packing plate57has an aperture formed in the center thereof. As such, when the drill18is lowered toward the pot22, the packing plate57will be maintained in a constant position as the drill18is lowered through the aperture of the packing plate57.

FIG. 1shows that there is a scraper59positioned at the bottom41of the housing12. Scraper59overlies the top surface of the second conveyor16as its travels from the sheave39toward the sheave36. The scraper59assures that a relatively level amount of soil is delivered back toward the hopper28. The scraper59is vertically adjustable.

FIG. 2is plan view of the potting apparatus10of the present invention. InFIG. 2, it can be seen that the conveyor14is a linear belt-type conveyor that extends from a loading end60to a discharge end62. The conveyor belt64is mounted on a series of idlers positioned on a frame66. As such, the frame66, along with the conveyor belt64, establishes the linear path of travel of the conveyor belt64.

The hopper28is illustrated as located at an end of the second conveyor16. As such, hopper28is in a suitable position for delivering the soil onto the second conveyor16. Motor68is drivingly connected to the sheave38so as to cause the driving of the second conveyor16.

InFIG. 2, it can be seen second conveyor16is a variable-speed chain conveyor. An endless chain69will travel along one side of the channel25. Similarly, another endless chain71will travel along another side of the channel25. The bottom73of the channel25will be generally flat and positioned adjacent to the endless chains69and71. A plurality of bars75will extend transversely between the endless chain69and71in generally spaced parallel relationship. As such, the bars75, in cooperation with the bottom73of the channel25will cause the soil to move along the channel25toward the discharge end26of the second conveyor16.

A control panel70is located adjacent to the motor68so as to control the operation of the various motors associated with the apparatus of the present invention. The control panel70can be a suitable control panel for programmable logic control of the various servomotors and other motors associated with system of the present invention. The servomotor48for the drill18is illustrated as positioned to a side of the first conveyor14.

A plurality of shafts77are arranged in spaced parallel relationship adjacent to the discharge end62of the first conveyor14. A plurality of roller members are affixed in various locations along the plurality of shafts77. The plurality of shafts77can be slave-driven by a suitable driving means so as to rotate at a desired rate. As such, as the pot travels along the first conveyor14, it will be passed from the discharge end62of the first conveyor14onto the plurality of roller members79associated with the plurality of shafts77. Any residual soil that remains on the surface of the first conveyor14can be discharged through the spaces formed between the plurality of shafts and downwardly into the bin located therebelow.

A suitable auger mechanism42is positioned in the channel43. The auger mechanism42extends from the bin40so as to cause any residual soil that passes through the spaces between the plurality of shafts77to move along the channel43back toward the second conveyor16. As such, such residual soil will be delivered onto the second conveyor16adjacent to the bottom41of the housing12. As such, the second conveyor16can return the residual soil back toward the area below the hopper28.

In use, a worker can place an empty pot upon the first conveyor14at the loading station64. The first conveyor14will move in an indexed manner so as to bring the empty pot to a soil delivery channel so that the soil can be introduced from the second conveyor16into the pot. Ultimately, after drilling, the filled and drilled pot will pass to the discharge station72. At the discharge station72, the worker can remove the filled and drilled pot so as to complete the process of the potting apparatus10.

FIG. 3shows the operations associated with the potting apparatus10of the present invention. There are a total of five pots80,82,84,86and88that are illustrated as positioned on the top surface90of the first conveyor14. A frame92is located above the conveyor14so that the various operations can be carried out.

As can be seen, the second conveyor16has its discharge end26located above the soil delivery channel94. As such, the soil96, as located on the second conveyor16will be discharged into the soil delivery channel94and will pass downwardly so as to be discharged into the open top of the pot82. A sweeping mechanism96is provided downstream of the soil delivery channel94. The sweeping mechanism96can take on a wide variety of configurations. InFIG. 3, the sweeping mechanism96includes a suitable motor that can rotate a shaft97so as to cause the brush99to sweep the accumulation of soil extending above the top of the pot84. As such, the soil that will remain above the top surface of the pot84will be suitable for packing The brush99should be located approximately one to two inches above the top of the pot84.

Unlike the prior art, the sweeping mechanism96replaces previous scraper devices. The rotary action of sweeping the soil, rather than scraping, assures that the pot84will remain upright. If a scraping mechanism would be utilized, then it would be possible, when dense soil is placed into the pot84, the scraper could cause a toppling of the pot84. As such, the sweeping mechanism96gently sweeps the mound of soil so as to avoid any possible toppling of the pot84. The particular illustration of the brush99is illustrated inFIG. 6herein. The sweeping mechanism is height-adjustable so as to conform with various sizes of pots84. The sweeping mechanism is ultimately necessary because no pot holder is used in association with the first conveyor14.

The drill18is located above the pot86. As can be seen, the frame52supporting the motor of the drill18is placed upon rods56and100. Rods56and100define a path of travel of the drill18. Each of the rods56and100serve as bearing surfaces for the movement of the drill18. Ultimately, a belt102is attached to the frame52of the drill18so as to cause this movement of the drill18between an upward and a downward position. A suitable sheave or pulley104serves to maintain the belt102in a desired location. A driven pulley will be driven by the servomotor. The servomotor is connected to an end-line gearbox. A shaft is connected to the gearbox. Ultimately, the shaft is coupled to the pulley so as to drive the belt102in a controlled manner.

When the electronic eye or limit switch110senses that the pot86is in a position below the drill18, the conveyor14will position the pot below the drill and will stop temporarily so that the drilling operation can be completed. The servomotor108will lower the drill18and a packing plate59such that the packing plate59will contact the soil that extends above the top edge of the pot86and compacts the soil therein. Once the packing plate59contacts the top edge of the pot86, the drill18is continuously moved downwardly so as to complete the drilling operation to a desired depth. After the drilling operation is completed, the drill18will move upwardly, along with the resiliently-mounted packing plate59. It can be seen that the drill18will extend through the aperture located at the center of the packing plate59. The resilient mounting of the packing plate56assures a continual operation as the drill18is moved upwardly and downwardly.

After the drilling operation is completed, the pot86will move onward. The filled and drilled pot88is illustrated as located at the discharge station62. As such, the filled and drilled pot88will move onto the roller members and shafts72adjacent to the discharge station62. Any residual soil on the surface of the conveyor14will pass through the spaces between the shaft72for discharge to the bin therebelow.

FIG. 4is a detailed view of the drilling mechanism. As can be seen, the drill18is connected to the drill motor50. The frame52receives the rod100therein. Rod100(along with rod56) defines a path of vertical travel of the drill18. The belt102in the form of an endless belt, is connected to the frame52or the motor50so as to cause the upward and downward movement of the drill18with respect to the rod100. As used herein, the term “belt” can refer to a wide variety of similar configurations, including chains, ropes and similar structures.

The servomotor108is connected by a shaft109to the driven pulley111so as to cause the controlled movement of the belt102. For a large pot, the length of travel of the drill18relative to the rod100will be rather great. For smaller pots, the drill18will be placed in a lower position along the rod100so that it can be very close to the soil within the pot. When the limit switch or electronic eye110senses that the pot is directly below the drill18, the servomotor is activated so as to move the drill18along with the packing plate59downwardly. The packing plate59is illustrated as resiliently interconnected to the rod100or the motor50such that the packing plate59will move toward the motor50will the drill is being lowered and the packing plate59has compacted the top edge of the pot. As such, the present invention is able to achieve drilling in a controlled and effective manner.

As stated previously, the movement of the conveyor14is important in order to allow the various pots to be placed on the surface of the conveyor without the need for fixtures or other retaining devices. If the conveyor14is abruptly started and accelerated, or abruptly stopped, there is a possibility of the pot toppling on the conveyor. As such, it is necessary to control the rate at which the conveyor accelerates and decelerates during the movement between the various stations along the conveyor.FIG. 5shows that the speed of the conveyor belt slowly increases from the initial start position, reaches a maximum speed between the start and stop positions, and then slowly decelerates toward the stop position. It has been found that this pattern of movement is very effective in properly maintaining the pot on the surface of the first conveyor belt16. As such, the present invention avoids any possible toppling of the pots. Additionally, this approach eliminates the need for the use of pot holders on the conveyor belt.

FIG. 6is a plan view showing the brush mechanism96of the present invention. The brush mechanism96includes a shaft97that can be driven by a suitable motor and/or slave-driven. A plurality of arms113,115,117and119extend radially outwardly from the shaft97at a lower end thereof. A plurality of brushes121,123,125and127extend downwardly from the respective arms113,115,117and119. As such, the rotation of the shaft97will cause a gentle and even sweeping of the soil which extends above the top of the pot. This mechanism avoids the use of any scraping mechanism, such as used in the prior art.

FIG. 7is a plan view showing the packing plate59. The packing plate59has a generally planar circular surface131having a diameter equal to or greater than the diameter of the pot. As such, when the packing plate59is suitably lowered, it will have a surface that will certainly contact the upper edges of the pot. Ears133and135extend radially outwardly of the periphery of the planar surface131. Ears133and135allow for the resilient mounting of the packing plate59. A central aperture137is formed centrally of the planar surface131. Aperture137has a diameter suitable for allowing the drill18to pass therethrough.

FIG. 8is an isolated view of a brushing mechanism146which may be used in flat fill operations with the present invention. In flat fill operations, the brushing mechanism may be attached inline with the various other mechanisms of the potting apparatus10, downstream of the soil delivery channel94(as shown inFIG. 3). Alternatively, the brushing mechanism may be a permanent fixture on the potting apparatus10. The brushing mechanism has an arm146and a housing142. A rotary brush144if affixed within the housing142. During flat fill operations, the brushing mechanism146serves to remove excess soil placed atop the flat.