TOOL FOR SETTING OUT PROPAGATION POTS

Abstract: Separating fork for use in the horticultural industry for separating nested stacks of propagation pots. The separating fork has a grip (1), crossbar (2) with forwardpointing teeth (3). So that the separating fork can enter between the rims of the pots in the lowest and the second lowest group of stacked pots, the tooth (3) is equipped with a spacer (5) located on the underside of the tooth, or the tooth and the spacer are integrated parts (3').

Description: Tool for setting out propagation pots The present invention relates to a tool for setting out propagation pots on trays, propagation benches or similar supports where the tool is of 'a type which constitutes a lifting device with a grip and crossbar with forward projecting teeth. The usual method is to set out the propagation pots by hand on the propagation benches in the green-house. The usual method is to take pot by pot from storage and to set them side by side on the propagation bench, on carrying trays or on other suitable supports. Setting out of the pots is time-consuming and needs a lot of work. For this reason it has been necessary to find a method- or a tool which minimizes the amount of work involved in setting out the pots. In this connection a tool is described in the Norwegian Patent No..138 012 which is useful for setting out a group of pots. However, the tool is less useful when it is used for setting out nested stacks of pots and where the pots in this manner are divided in layers above each other. Another Norwegian Patent, No. 137 117, describes an apparatus for dispensing open-topped containers in ordered groups from nested stacks on to a carrying tray. The apparatus is easy to use and has really no drawbacks. However, if the outer dimen¬ sions of the propagation pots are increased beyond a certain size, the described apparatus seems to be less practical. The propagation pots are delivered in groups of nested stacks in cartons from which they are fed directly into the maga¬ zine-, which is described in the Norwegian Patent No. 137 117. If large pots are to be used, it seems more convenient to dispense them directly on to carrying trays on the propa¬ gation benches rather than using the abovementioned apparatus. Due to the time consumption there is little gain in setting the pots out manually. It is better to do this than by some mechanical means. To solve this problem* he task was to develop a tool not dependent on the size of the pots, and where the speed of setting out the pots will not be influenced by their size. The main target was therefore to develop a tool which is practical in use, small in size, cheap, and which fulfils the functional demands. According to the invention the problem can be solved by a similar tool as described in Norwegian Patent No. 138 012 when the tool is equipped with a spacer located under the teeth. However, it was found that the spacer beneath the teeth must have a fixed height to give the desired effect. When the rims on the lowest group of pots rest, on a support, the teeth of the tool must be able to enter the space between the lowest and the second lowest group of pots in such a way that the upper side of the teeth will rest against the under¬ side of the rims on the second lowest group of pots. Further, the width of the spacer must permit the tool to enter between the stacked pots. When these two condi rions are fulfilled, the stacked pots can be lifted from the lowest group of pots by means of the tool. It will be seen that the shape of the spacer is not restric¬ tive as long as the spacer satisfies the demand with respect to c-orrect height and correct width. For example, it should be mentioned that a hemispherical button in the front of and beneath the tooth is suitable for the purpose. The spacer may also be shaped as a longitudinal ridge on the underside of the tooth. There is no restriction with respect to the location of the spacer, whether it is placed on the underside of the tooth in the front, at the middle of, or at the rear of it, or whether it is placed on the underside of the tooth as a longitudinal ridge along the whole length of the tooth or only along parts of it. The tooth may be rectangular, or quadratic, or have a trian¬ gular cross-section. When triangular, the teeth and the spacer will be an integral part. The tooth may also be equipped with a reinforcing ridge on the top of the tooth. If there is a longitudinal ridge on the underside of the tooth, this ridge will be a spacer according to the invention. The invention is as described in the following claims. In the text following the tool will be characterized as a separating fork, its function being to separate groups of propagation pots, when the pots are in nested stacks side by side. For better understanding of the invention reference is made to the following figures: Figure 1 shows the separating fork seen from above. Figure 2 shows the same fork seen in profile, where in front of and beneath the tooth there is a spacer with the shape of a hemispherical button. Figure 3 shows the same fork as in Figure 1 , but now showing beneath the tooth a longitudinal spacer along the whole length of the tooth shaped like a protruding ridge. Figure 4a shows the same fork as in Figure 1 , but where the tooth has a quadratic cross-section and where at the front of the tooth there is a spacer in the form of a longitudinal ridge. Figure 4b shows the same tooth as in Figure 4a, but seen from the front. Figure 5a shows a fork seen in profile where the tooth and spacer form an integrated part. Figure 5b shows the same tooth as in Figure 5a seen from the front. Figure 6a shows an example where the spacer in the form"of a button is located at the front, in the middle and at the rear of the tooth. Figure 6b shows an example where the longitudinal spacer is located at the front and at the rear of the tooth. Figure 7 shows the use of the separating fork by means of a cross-sectional view of a carrying tray, two nested stacks of pots and three of the teeth where the cross-sectional view is seen from the front and where the pots are cut along the centre. On Figure 1 the separating fork is seen from above. The grip (1) is fixed to the crossbar (2) in a known .way. The teeth (3) are also fixed to the crossbar (2), but are located opposite to the grip (1). It is also possible to have the grip on the same side of the crossbar as the teeth are, as shown in Norwegian Patent No. 138 012. On the top of the tooth (3)' there can be a longitudinal ridge (4) so that each tooth seen from the front, looks like an inverted T. If the tooth is equipped with a ridge (4) at the top of it, the ridge will reinforce the tooth. Figure 2 shows the same separating fork seen in profile. The grip (1) is fixed to the crossbar (2). The teeth (3) are also fixed to the crossbar (2). The protruding ridge (4) located at the top of the tooth extends from the front of the tooth to the rear, where the tooth is fixed to the crossbar. As the spacer (5) a button is used fixed beneath and at the front of the tooth. The button is shown with a neck (6) and a hemispherical head (7). The button may also be otherwise designed, for example the head (7) may be shaped convex or even, or the head (7) is eliminated and the remaining neck (6) forms a stud. Figure 3 shows the same separating fork seen in profile as in Figure 2, but this-time the spacer (5) is shaped like a longitudinal ridge on the underside of the tooth. It is in this particular case not necessary to have a reinforcing ridge (4) on the top of the tooth, as the spacer (5) serves as such. The tooth (3) will look like a T seen from the front. Figures 4a and 4b show a separating fork where the tooth (3) is quadratic. In front and on the underside of the tooth there is a spacer (5) shaped like a longitudinal, protruding ridge. There is also an inclining plane (8) in front of the tooth. This plane serves to push all the stacked pots out of the lowest pot, when the tooth is inserted between the rims of the lowest and the second lowest pot. There is a flat section (10) in front of the tooth. Figures 5a and 5b show a separating fork where the -tooth and the spacer form an integrated part (3 1 )- n front of the tooth (3 1 ) there is also an inclining plane (8) and a flat section (10). The inclining plane (8) serves the same purpose as mentioned in Figures 4a and 4b. If the tooth and the spacer constitute an integrated part, the width (6) of the lower part of the tooth (3 1 ) must allow the tooth to enter between the rims of the two adjacent pots in the lowest group of pots. Additionally, the tooth (3 1 ) should have a height (h) which enables all pots above the lowest pot to be ejected from the lowest pot when the tooth enters between the rims of the lowest and the second lowest pot. The dimensions (b) and (h) are shown in Figure 5b. The integrated tooth (3') is shown in triangular form, but it may also be otherwise designed, e.g. when the cross section is triangular in form, where at least one side of the triangular is archaic or collapsed. Figure 6a shows an example where the head of the spacer (5) in the form of a hemispherical button is located in front of, in the middle of, and on the rear of the tooth (3). To re¬ inforce the tooth (3) against deflection there is a longi¬ tudinal ridge (4) on the top of the tooth. Figure 6b shows another example of a longitudinal spacer (5) shaped like a ridge on the underside of the tooth (3). To reinforce the tooth (3) against deflection there is a longi¬ tudinal ridge (4) on the top of the tooth. Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view of a carrying tray (12) for pots with three groups of pots (9) placed above each other and the teeth (3) located between the lowest and the next lowest group of the stacked pots. The spacer (5) of the tooth which rests on the pot-carrying tray (12), and at such a height that the flat part (10) of the tooth can pass between the rims (11) of the lowest and the second lowest group of the pots. The inclining plane (8) shows that the rim (11) has just entered the plane (8), but has not been moved upwards from this. The upper horizontal plane (13) is therefore shown on the rear of the rim in the second lowest pot and located in such a way that it is seen in the line of sight between the rims of the second and third lowest pots. Further the width of the spacer (5) is such that it can enter the gap between the rims (11) of two adjacent pots. The separating fork is operated in the following way: The pots are in nested stacks side by side in cartons or in similar packings. The separating fork is pushed between the pot stacks and under the rim (11) of the lowest group of pots. hen now lifting out the separating fork by means of the grip (1 ) , the rim (11) of the lowest group of pots will rest on the horizontal surface (13) of the tooth (3), whereby all the pots are lifted out of the carton. Empty carrying trays with cavities suitable to accommodate the actual pots are already placed on the propagation benches. The separating fork is now moved over one of the trays, and the pots on it are lowered into the cavities. The separating fork is then pulled out sidewise until it is clear of the pots in the pot stacks, the pots then sliding a little into the cavities. The separating fork is then pushed between the pot stacks in the same way as it was pulled out. This time the fork will enter -the pot stacks, in such a way that the forward even part (10) of the tooth (3) enters between the rims of the lowest and the second lowest group of pots. By means of the grip (1) all pots, except the lowest group of pots, can be lifted out of the carrying tray. The pot stacks are then moved to the next carrying tray and the operation is repeated. Practical experiments have shown that the operating time may be considerably reduced when using the mentioned separating fork in preference to setting out the pots manually one by one. Practical experiments have also shown that one skilled person works faster when using the separating fork instead of the apparatus described in Norwegian Patent No. 137 117, when the pots are above a certain size. QVREA O PI

Claims: Claims 1. Tool for setting out propagation pots with rims (11) on carrying trays, propagation benches or similar supports, where the tool constitutes a lifting device with grip (1) and a crossbar (2) with forward pointing teeth (3), c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n t h a t underneath each tooth (3) there is at least one downward-pointing spacer (5) and/or that the tooth and the spacer is an integrated part (3')- 2. Tool according to Claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n t h a t the width of the spacer (5) is not greater than the open space between the rims (11) of two adjacently stacked propagation pots. 3. Tool according to Claim λ- c h a r a c t e r i z e i n t h a t the width of that part of (3') which functionally is the same as a spacer (equivalent 5) permits it to enter between the rims (11) of two adjacently stacked propagation pots. 4. Tool according to Claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n t h a t the height of the spacer (5) which is greater than the distance from a support and to the top of the rim (11) on the lowest stacked propagation pot. JURE 5. Tool according to Claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n t h a t the spacer (5) has the form of a longitudinal ridge. 6. Tool according to Claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n t h a t the spacer (5) has the form of a downward-pointing button with a neck (6) and a head (7) or the form of a stud. 7. Tool according to Claim 1, _ c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n t h a t the integrated part (3') of the tooth and spacer is prismatic. 8. Tool according to Claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n t h a t the foremost part of the tooth (3) has an inclining plane (8) . " OM

Inventors: GUNDERSEN MARIUS, GUNDERSEN, MARIUS
Applicants: VEFI AS, VEFI A/S
Application year: 1982
Main classification: A01G9
IPC codes: A01G9, B65G59