CARRYING TRAY FOR PROPAGATION POTS

Abstract: Carrying tray (24) for propagation pots designed for use in the horticultural industry. The tray (24) is placed on top of a tray magazine in a dispensing apparatus with an overlying container magazine with a drawer between for the pots. The tray (24) is provided with grooves around the tray cavities (6) to prevent the outwardly projecting flanges of the pots rising above the tray (24). In order to facilitate removal of the pots the tray (24) has recesses (7) between the tray cavities (6). The recesses (7) can be in the form of channels which are either continuous between the tray cavities (6) or which are discontinued at intervals. The cross section of the channels may be rectangular, triangular or rounded off or be geometrically formed in a manner suitable for the purpose. The design of the pots which are dispensed on to the tray (24) must be such that they fit into the tray cavities (6).

Description: Carrying tray for propagation pots This invention relates to carrying trays used in propagation pot dispensing apparatus in the horticultural industry. The dispensing apparatus is provided with a magazine containing pots above, a separating drawer and below a magazine containing carrying trays. The dispensing apparatus is described in detail in Norwegian Patent No. 137117 and the Norwegian Patent Application No. 784087, but the present invention does not concern any part of the dispensing apparatus itself. The invention only concerns the trays used in the apparatus. After the pots have been dispensed to the trays, these and the pots are transferred to a propagation table in the greenhouse, where the trays are placed side by side on the table. A table can accomodate some 5,000 pots In the main the table is based on the following principle: It slopes slightly in thecrosswise direction and has raised edges all around it. The top of the table is covered first with a layer of; plastic foil and then with a layer of cloth. The purpose of the plastic foil is to prevent moisture from the cloth running off the table. The cloth may be of felt or a woven material. The cloth is wetted by means of a sprinkler positioned along the length of the uppermost part of the sloping table. When sprinkled the water runs down along the cloth which gradually absorbs it. The trays with their pots are placed side by side on the table until it is completely covered. Both trays and pots are provided with holes which permit direct contact between the pots and the wet cloth. It is most important that direct contact between pots and table is established to ensure a continous supply of moisture to the pots. If this contact is broken, which will occur if the pots are not properly placed in the tray cavities, or soil falls from the pots into the cavities between the walls of the pot and the tray, the capillary effect between the wet cloth and the soil in the pot will cease and the soil will dry out. This will hinder plant culture during the growth period and result in a production loss. The old trays are designed in such a way that the upper part of the pots rise above the tray. This is done so that the pots can be easily taken hold of by the fingers or a suitable device. However, it has been found that what is favourable when it comes to separating the pots from the tray is not so favourable when it comes to the continual moistening of the soil in the pots. It has been found that some of the soil which is spread over the trays and into the pots drops between the pots and remains there. Some soil even drops into the tray cavities and prevents the pots from absorbing moisture. This will be explained: a) Soil between pots If rectangular pots are used they will rest against each other and therefore the open space between the tray cavities-will not be particularly large. As mentioned above, some of the soil which is spread over the trays and their pots will drop between the pots. Normal horticultural costs do not include the recovery of such soil. If round pots are used soil dropped between them is a definite problem because the open spaces between the tray cavities are larger. For example, in the case of rectan gular pots the open space between the tray cavities accounts for about 20% of the total tray area. In the case of round pots it accounts for about 40%. This soil cannot be used again since trays and pots are despatched together. Neither can the customer make use of the soil for fear of danger of infection from plant diseases. Thus, this soil must be regarded as a production loss. Therefore, for reasons of the horticultural in dustry's economy such waste soil must be kept at a minimum. b) Soil in tray cavities When soil is spread over the trays some will come to rest beneath the pots, thus displacing them in the tray cavi ties. The soil falls down between the tray and pot in the cavity so that no contact is made between the pot and the underlying wet cloth. Further, some soil is bound to fall into the cavity every time a pot is lifted for inspection. This also results in the pot containing too little moisture when it is re placed in the tray cavity. At best growth stagnates and at worst the plant dies. In any case this results in a loss to market gardening. The purpose of the invention is the design of a carrying tray whereby pots are not so easily displaced in the cavities, and where woil does not so easily fall into such cavities. The solution of the object of the invention are the carrying trays according to claims 1 to 3. Surprisingly it has now been found according to this invention that if the pots are lowered into the tray so that the upper part lies flush with the tray, and the tray is also provided with recesses between the cavities, it will be easier to take hold of the pots by means of the fingers or a suitable device, at the same time making it easier to recover the soil between the pots. To permit better understanding of the invention attention is drawn to Fig. 1 which is a side view in section of a tray with pots standing on top of a propagating table covered with plastic foil and cloth. Fig. 2 which is a face view of a tray with cavity openings and recesses and Figs. 3 and 4 which are views, partly in section, of trays and pots seen from two sides. In the following like numbers will designate like parts. The tray is designated as 24, which corresponds with the designation in the aforementioned Norwegian patent documents. Fig. 1 shows a table base (1), Over this is stretched a layer of plastic foil (2) and a layer of cloth (3), of felt or woven material, for the collection of moisture. The foil (2) is to prevent the moisture in the cloth from being absorbed by the underlying surface, and also to prevent it disappearing by some other means. The carrying tray (24) and pots (4) are placed on top of the cloth (3). Both pots and trays are provided with openings at the bottom (4' and 4") so that the soil in the pot is allowed to come into direct contact with the wet cloth. The pots are placed in the tray cavity (6). Fig. 2 shows the carrying tray from above, where the cavities (6) and recesses (7) can be seen. The grooved part of the tray around the cavity opening (8) is not shown. This is shown on Figs. 3 and 4. Figs. 3 and 4 show the tray (24) with the pots (4) placed in the cavities (6). The cavities are indicated by means of an arrow. The grooved part of the tray along the cavity opening is designated (10). Here the pot flange (11) can also be seen lying sunk in relation to the tray but flush with this. The grooves (10) around the tray cavities are designed to prevent the outwardly projecting flanges of the pots rising above the tray. The recesses (7) between the tray cavities are designed to facilitate removal of the pots. These recesses (7) can be designed in the form of chanells which are either continous between the tray cavities or which are discontinued at invervalls. The cross section of these channells may be rectangular, triangular or rounded off or be geometrically formed in a manner suitable for the purpose.

Claims: Claims 1. Carrying tray used in propagation pot dispensing apparatur in the horticultural industry, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the carrying tray is equipped with a grooved part (10) in the upper part of the tray cavity (6) suitable for the pot flange (11) and also-equipped with recesses (7) in the tray between the tray cavities. 2. Carrying tray according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the recessed part (7) between the tray cavities (6) may be formed as longitudinal and/or transverse recesses (7) and where the recessed part (7) also either may be interrupted in distance and/or be continous from one side of the carrying tray to the other between the tray cavities. 3. Carrying tray according to claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the recessed part (7) of the tray may have a cross section formed quadratic, rectangular, triangular, semi-circular or have one for the purpose suitable geometric appearance.

Inventors: GUNDERSEN, MARIUS
Applicants: VEFI A/S
Application year: 1981
Main classification: A01G9
IPC codes: A01G9