APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PLANTING OUT PLANTS

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus and a method for the planting out of plants wherein the plants to be planted out are fitted into pieces of substrate (15). Said pieces of substrate (15) are located in compartments (5) formed between blocks (4) fitted onto strips (3). Usually these strips (3) are located adjacent and each second strip is shifted lengthwise over the length of a block (4), being equal to the length of a compartment so that a chess-board-pattern develops in plan view. For the planting out, the strips are separated and subsequently supplied to a pushing element (12) which pushes the pieces of substrate (15) including the plants in a transverse direction out of the strip (3) and into bigger containers (18). To use only a single directional movement the strips (3) are inclined relative to the bigger containers. To compensate for this inclination the pieces of substrate are slightly rotated during the movement.

Description: The present invention relates to a method for the planting out of plants, wherein pieces of substrate located close to each other and each comprising a germinated plant are relocated relatively to each other, wherein compartments located in a strip and having open walls in the longitudinal direction of the strip are used as containers for the pieces of substrate and several strips connected to each other in the transverse direction are mutually separated out in the perpendicular direction and subsequently the pieces of substrate are pushed out of the compartments by a pushing movement transverse to the longitudinal direction of the strip. Such a method is known from US-A-4050188. According to said prior art method, the pieces of substrate are pushed out of the compartments by a pushing movement in the horizontal direction, i.e. parallel to the upper surface of the receiving container. To position the piece of substrate into the substrate or soil contained in said second container, a second movement, perpendicular to the surface of the second container is necessary. This implies that in the case of executing said method by human power, two separate movements have to be executed, which is a time consuming method. If said method is executed by a mechanical apparatus, substantial provisions have to be made in said apparatus for making it execute two seperate movements, which makes the apparatus complicated. The aim of the present invention is to provide a method, which, in the case of executing by a mechanical apparatus, requires an apparatus of a simpler construction and, in any case allows a faster movement of the plants, so that said movement is less time consuming. This aim is reached, in that the pieces of substrate are pushed from the compartments and into growing material in a path inclined relative to the upper surface of the growing material by a pushing element comprising an inclined pushing surface. This implies that only when single movement is necessary, so that said movement can be executed much faster and that the mechanical apparatus necessary for such a movement allows a much simpler construction thereof, as only one single lineair movement has to be executed. The present invention relates also to a strip for containing pieces of substrate comprising a longitudinal basis and dividing elements located thereon, wherein between the dividing elements compartments for pieces of substrate are located. Such a strip is also known from US-A-4050188. In the strip known from this document, the dimension of the dividing elements between the compartments is substantially less than the dimension of each of the dividing elements. Accordingly to separate the pieces of substrate being present in adjacent strips, separate dividing strips have been provided, which have to be taken away when the strips are separating to allow planting out thereof. A second aim of the present invention is to provide a strip, which can be located adjacent another strip without a need for separate separating strips. This aim is reached in a strip, in which the dimension of each of the dividing elements in the longitudinal direction of the strip is equal to the dimension in the longitudinal direction of the strip of each of the compartments. These features allow adjacent strips to be relocated close to each other without the need for seperating strips, as these strips can be arranged such, that from above a chess-board-like pattern develops, so that each compartment is enclosed at all four sides thereof; at its lateral sides it is enclosed by the dividing elements belonging to the same strip, and at its other sides by the dividing elements belonging to two adjacent strips. The present invention relates also to an apparatus for planting out the plants contained in the strip, which comprises compartments having open walls in the longitudinal direction of the strip, the apparatus comprising means for grasping said strip. Subsequently the present invention will be illucidated with the help of the accompanying drawings, wherein are shown: Figure 1: a perspective view partially broken away of an assembly of strips which is formed by strips according to a first embodiment of the invention located adjacent to eachother. Figure 2: a perspective detailed view of an assembly of strips according to figure 1; Figure 3: a perspective view of two strips according to the first embodiment; Figure 4: a perspective view partially broken away of a strip according to a prefered embodiment of the invention; Figure 5: a perspective view of an assembly of strips according to figure 4; Figure 6: a cross-sectional view of an apparatus according to the present invention; and Figure 7: a perspective view of a prefered embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention. The strip assembly 1 depicted in figure 1 comprises a number of strips 2, each comprising a supporting body 3, with a triangular cross-section. On the supporting body 3 cubes 4 are provided such as to keep compartments 5 open between the cubes 4 and wherein the size of the compartments 5 is equal to that of the cubes 4. The strips 2 including the cubes 4 are preferably in one piece manufactured of plastic. The perspective detailed view depicted in figure 2 shows how the strips 2 with their triangular supporting body 6 are located unto a supporting-wall 6. This supporting-wall 6 comprises sawtooth-shaped incisions, in which the supporting body 3 fits, so that the upper surface of the supporting body 3 is vertical. The supporting-walls 6 form a part of a traylike container 7, which comprises side walls 8 so that a strip assembly 1 is provided which can be handled easily. To connect the strips 2 to eachother after they have been taken out of the container 7 each of the strips comprises a connecting cam 9 on one end whereas the end which is not depicted is provided with a connecting groove 10. To limit all four sides of the compartments between the cubes 4 adjacent strips are shifted mutually over the length of a cube so that the compartments are limited by the cubes of adjacent strips. Consequently the strip assembly 1 shows a chess-board-pattern in plan view. The sawtooth-shaped incisions in the supporting walls are located such as to make the strips 2 contiguous. For the germinating of the plants growing material is spread over the strip assembly 1 so that this material enters all compartments 5 after which the remaining growing material is removed. With the help of a suitable machine, which is not a subject of the present invention a seed is applied in every compartment after which the strip assembly is put into a germinating cabinet. When the strip assembly has spent the required length of time in the germinating cabinet and when a sufficient number of seeds have germinated and the plants thus developed have come up sufficiently the strip assembly 1 is removed from the germinating cabinet. According to this method the actual planting out of the plants, or the reduction of the density of the plants per area is stepwise; in the first step the density is reduced in a first direction while in the second step the density is reduced in a second direction, perpendicular to the first direction. In the method and the apparatus according to the present invention the first step takes place by the separation of the strips 2. The strips 2 are taken out of the container and are subsequently placed in a groove which is not depicted and wherein the strips are mutually connected by means of the connecting cams 9 and the connecting grooves 10. The prefered embodiment of the strips according to the present invention depicted in figure 4 each comprise a bottom 30, onto which cubes 31 are located such as to form compartments 32 between the cubes 31 wherein the size of the compartments is equal to that of the cubes 31. A rail 33 is provided under the bottom 30. In this rail holes 34 are fitted in which engaging means can be inserted to make the strip move along. Further in the bottom 30 drainage openings 35 are provided on the location of each compartment 32. The sizes of said drainage openings 35 are such that these openings 35 are wider than the rail 33, so that each opening 35 discharges into the lower side of the bottom 30. On one of each ends 36 each strip comprises a meander-shaped extension 37 and comprises on its other end 36 a simularly shaped thus as well meander-shaped cutaway 38. By means of the cutaway 38 and the extension 37 the strips can be connected to eachother. This takes place by shifting the strips sideways into eachother whereby possible contaminations are pushed out automatically. To enhance this self-cleaning action all edges of respectively the cutaway 38 and the extension 37 are rounded off thus developping the meander-shape. Figure 5 shows how a number of the strips 29 is adjacently located in a container 39. The container 39 comprises at least two cross-beams 40, in which incisions 41 are made wherein the respective rails 33 fit. The incisions 41 have such a mutual distance that the strips 39 are closely contiguous when the are located into the container 39. By shifting every second strip 39 over the length of respectively one cube or one compartment, a chess-board-patern develops so that every compartment is surrounded by four walls. To limit the outer strips 29 the container 39 has been provided on its sides of sidewalls 31. Front and rear walls 42 are fitted as well. During the planting out the strips 29 are taken out of the container 39 one by one and located onto a supply groove and are coupled with the preceding strip so that the strips are supplied to the apparatus for planting out according to the present invention. In figure 6 the planting out in the second direction is illucidated; the strips 2 connected to eachother are supplied in a groove 11. In its sidewalls 2 the groove 11 has opposite openings, through where a pushing element 12 is moveable. This pushing element 12 is connected with a piston rod 13 of a linear pneumatic driving device 14. When the compartment 5 with the piece of substrate 15, in which a plant 16 is located is placed between the two openings provided in the sidewalls 11, the pushing element 12 pushes the piece of substrate 15 from the compartment 5 through one of the openings into a bigger container 17. Because the pushing movement extends only in one direction, the container 17 is located in the extension of the path of the pushing element 12. The piece of substrate 15 has to be driven into the growing material inside the container 17 as far as possible. Nevertheless the position of the plant 16 has to be maintained as much as possible in the direction extending perpendicular to the upper side of the growing material. To reach this aim the container 17 is inclined with regard to the direction of movement of the pushing element. This inclination is limited as much as possible to keep the plant 16 in its original position. The container 17 is located so that the piece of substrate 15 moves just over the edge of the container 17 into the growing material 18. The growing material 18 is so soft that the harder piece of substrate 15 will move into it. When this process has been completed the pushing element 12 moves back until its original position and the strip 2 is moved over the sum of the lengths of a compartment and a cube, the container 17 is moved over the length of one container after which the process is being repeated. The groove 11 is provided with driving organs which engage with the empty compartments 5 to move the strips connected to eachother. The containers 17 are placed in container trays 19, which are located unto a conveyor belt 20. By having the conveyor belt 20 moving over the length of a container the next pot 17 is located in front of the pushing element 12. To bear the weight of the pots and of the container trays a supporting plate 21 is located under the conveyor belt 20. Figure 7 shows a prefered embodiment of the apparatus for the planting out of plants. This apparatus makes use of the prefered embodiment of the strips 29. It would also be possible to make use of the strips depicted in figure 3, for which the apparatus would have to be adapted. This prefered embodiment comprises a guide over which the strip is supplied. This guide is in the drawing depicted only on the place of the pushing element and has been designated by number 42. The guide 42 comprises a groove 43 in which the rail 33 of the strip 29 fits. On the location of the pushing element a conveying mechanism 44 is provided for moving the strip 29 concerned over one pitch, or the sum of the lengths of a cube and a compartment. This conveying mechanism comprises a moveable pin 45 which can engage into the holes 34 fitted in the rail 33 and thus can convey the rail 29 further. A pushing element 45 has been provided, which is a rod 46 driveable by a driving device 47, for instance a solenoid or a hydraulic or pneumatic cilinder. The pushing element 46 comprises an inclined surface 49 which pushes the substrate 15 with the plant 16 therein from the compartment 32 into the growing material 19 in the container 17. To have the piece of substrate 15 inclining during this movement, which is necessary because the strip 29 is located inclined with regard to the containers 17, on both sides of the path which has to travel over by the piece of substrate 15 resilient members 50 are applied which offer such a friction to the piece of substrate 15 that this inclines as a consequence of the inclined surface 49 of the pushing element 46 and takes the right position in the container 17. Figure 8 shows a schematic plan view of two apparatuses according to the present invention working simultaneously. When two apparatusses working simultaneously are used, the danger develops that the plants, planted out by the first apparatus are "decapitated" by the second apparatus. To avoid this the container trays, wherein the containers are located into which the plants are planted out are moved such that initially the container tray for the purpose is moved in one direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the strips and subsequently one row of containers is shifted and is moved back in the direction parallel to the longitudinal direction, and subsequently shifts one row of containers again. Of course this can be extended to the required number of rows of pots.

Claims: Method for the planting out of plants (16), wherein pieces of substrate (15) located close to each other and each comprising a germinated plant (16) are relocated relatively to each other, wherein compartments (5, 32) located in a strip (2, 29) and having open walls in the longitudinal direction of the strip (2, 29) are used as containers for the pieces of substrate (15) and several strips (2, 29) connected to each other in the transverse direction are mutually separated out in the perpendicular direction and subsequently the pieces of substrate (15) are pushed out of the compartments (5, 32) by a pushing movement transverse to the longitudinal direction of the strip (2, 29), characterized in that the pieces of substrate (15) are pushed from the compartments (5, 32) and into growing material (19) in a path inclined relative to the upper surface of the growing material by a pushing element (46) comprising an inclined pushing surface (49). Method according to claim 1, characterized in that in adjacent strips (2, 29), the pieces of substrate (15) are shifted relative to each other. Strip (2, 29) for containing pieces of substrate (15) comprising a longitudinal basis (3) and dividing elements (4, 31) located thereon, wherein between the dividing elements (4, 31) compartments (5, 32) for pieces of substrate (15) are located, characterized in that the longitudinal dimension of each of the dividing elements (4, 31) in the longitudinal direction of the strip (2, 29) is equal to the dimension in the longitudinal direction of the strip of each of the compartments (5, 32). Strip according to claim 3, characterized in that the basis is formed by a bottom (3, 30) to limit the compartment and a rail (33) provided under the bottom (3, 30) in the middle thereof. Strip according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the bottom (3, 30) comprises a drainage opening (35) on the location of each compartment (5, 32). Strip according to claim 5, characterized in that the drainage opening (35) is formed by a round vertical bore, of which the diameter is greater than the width of the rail (33). Strip according to one of the claims 3-6, characterized in that the rail (33) comprises engaging means (34) for a device for conveying the strip. Strip according to claim 7, characterized in that the engaging means (34) are holes. Strip according to one of the claims 3-8, characterized in that the strips have connecting means (37, 38) on their ends. Strip according to claim 9, characterized in that the connecting means are formed by a meander-shaped extension (37), respectively meander-shaped cutout (38) in the end wall. Apparatus for planting out of plants, comprising a strip (2, 29) having compartments (5, 32) with open walls in the longitudinal direction of the strip (2, 29), a container (17), grasping means for grasping the container (17), means for grasping said strip (2, 29) such that the upper surface of the strip (2, 29) is inclined relatively to the upper plane of the container (17) into which a plant has to be conveyed, the apparatus further comprising a reciprocating pushing element with a pushing surface (49) substantially perpendicular to the upper plane of the container (17), the path of said pushing element being inclined relative to the upper plane of the container (17). Apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that the pushing surface (49) of the reciprocating pushing element (46) is substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of the container (17). Apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the path of the pushing element is limited sideways by an element (50) urged towards the path on both sides. Apparatus according to claim 11, 12 or 13, characterized by means for intermittent supply and removal of containers. Appartus according to claim 11, 12, 13 or 14, characterized by at least one detector provided in the supply path of the strips to detect the condition of the plants and means for selectively supplying the plants to the grasping position of the reciprocating pushing element. Apparatus accroding to claim 15, characterized by at least two detectors provided in the supply path for simultaneously detecting the condition of at least two plants.

Inventors: VISSER, ANTHONY
Applicants: VISSER 'S-GRAVENDEEL HOLDING B.V.
Application year: 1987
Main classification: A01C11
IPC codes: A01G9, A01C11