Abstract:
Device and method for introducing substrate into containers such as pots or trays. The containers are transported in accordance with an essentially rectilinear path, wherein said containers are suspended between two belts located some distance apart. By varying the distance between the belts the size of the containers can be varied. The substrate introduced can be either potting compost or bark and the like. Furthermore, an opening can be made in the substrate introduced for placing cuttings. In an alternative the cutting or other plant is placed before/during filling, whilst the container and cutting rotate.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a device for filing a container with substrate.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     A device for filing a container with substrate is disclosed in NL 8702850 A. In this publication a device is described for filling a plant pot with substrate and then making a hole in the soil introduced in this way.  
         [0003]     With this device a large amount of soil is introduced into the container with the aid of a filler funnel in a step during transport. Downstream thereof an opening is made with the aid of a punch.  
         [0004]     The conveyor used for this purpose will operate intermittently both for depositing the material into the pot and for making the opening.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The first aim of the present invention is to provide uniform filling of the containers.  
         [0006]     According to a first aspect this aim is realised with an assembly comprising a device for filling containers with substrate, comprising a conveyor for accommodating and moving containers past various stations, said stations comprise a substrate introduction station for filling said containers with a substrate, wherein the outlet of said substrate introduction station is above said conveyor, wherein said conveyor comprises a linear conveyor, as well as containers, wherein said conveyor is embodied to rotate containers during said linear movement.  
         [0007]     According to a particular embodiment of the invention the conveyor comprises two spaced apart belts.  
         [0008]     As a result of the use of belts between which the containers, such as pots or trays, can be accommodated, functioning of the conveyor will not be affected when soil is spilt. The belts are preferably elastic and are able to adapt to the prevailing conditions. According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention the distance between the belts is adjustable. By moving the belts closer together and further apart pots or other containers of different sizes can be processed without too many problems with the device according to the invention. Such an adjustment can be made by hand or by means of a motor and does not require the need for separate parts which can get lost.  
         [0009]     According to an advantageous embodiment the adjustment of the belts is such that the two of these can be moved with respect to the original centre line, so that this centre line is retained as axis. As a result it is not necessary to make changes in the positioning of the various stations.  
         [0010]     Apart from the station described above for introducing substrate, it is possible to install the stations for drilling openings and/or placing plants or cuttings.  
         [0011]     The station for introducing substrate can be embodied to introduce soil or to introduce bark or any other substrate.  
         [0012]     The station for drilling can be constructed in any way known in the state of the art. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment this consists of a crank mechanism to which a reciprocating drill is connected.  
         [0013]     The introduction of cuttings or other plants can be made in the opening drilled in this way.  
         [0014]     According to a further aspect of the invention the device is, provided with a conveyor for cuttings that is installed at the substrate introduction station and is provided with a engaging, moving and positioning member for cuttings embodied to move linearly and synchronously with said linear conveyor and wherein said engaging, moving and positioning member for cuttings and said linear conveyor can move towards one another. That is to say a cutting or other plant is positioned in the container at the same time as or before filling. According to a preferred embodiment such a cutting or other plant is gradually moved into the container from above while engaged, whilst filling with substrate also takes place at the same time. If sufficient material has been deposited into the container, the engagement between the cutting or other plant and the engaging, moving and positioning member for cuttings will be released. In this way pots can be continuously filled with both soil and a plant, a drilling station and subsequent station for positioning cuttings being superfluous. This furthermore has the advantage that no compaction of the substrate takes place during drilling.  
         [0015]     According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention both the container and the cutting are rotated as they move towards one another. By this means it can be ensured that all-round filling of the pot with substrate takes place. As a result uniform distribution of substrate in the pot can be ensured. Furthermore, this has the advantage that covering of (the leaves of) the plant by substrate is prevented, which can be disadvantageous for the further development of the plant.  
         [0016]     According to a further aspect the invention also relates to an assembly comprising a device for filling containers with substrate, comprising a conveyor for accommodating and moving containers past various stations, said stations comprise a substrate introduction station for filling said containers with a substrate, wherein the outlet of said substrate introduction station is above said conveyor, wherein said conveyor comprises a linear conveyor as well as said containers, wherein the length of said outlet in the direction of movement of said conveyor is at least twice the size of said container. With this construction it is possible to provide continuous filling of the containers, that is to say it is not necessary to stop the conveyor at the filling station. As a result positioning errors are avoided and the throughput speed can be appreciably increased. Spilt material can be recycled in a simple manner and still used for filling. This continuous movement is preferably combined with continuous movement for the introduction of the cuttings (with or without plug) or other plant in the container during filling.  
         [0017]     The invention also relates to a method for introducing a cultivation substrate into a container, comprising separating said containers from a stack of containers, transporting the series of containers thus obtained, filling said containers with substrate and making an opening for receiving a plant during transport, wherein said transport comprises a continuous rectilinear movement. As a result of the belts, containers that have an outwardly protruding rim can be supported under the latter by the belts. If the containers become obstructed, slip may be possible and substantial mechanical damage is not produced immediately.  
         [0018]     The containers can comprise pots or trays. Trays are understood to be rectangular containers, which may or may not be provided with internal divisions for accommodating different plants. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]     The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to an illustrative embodiment shown in the drawing. In the drawing:  
         [0020]      FIG. 1  shows, diagrammatically, a plan view of the device according to the present invention, where specific parts have been omitted for clarity;  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  shows a cross-section along the line II-II when filling with potting compost;  
         [0022]      FIG. 3  shows a cross-section along the line III-III;  
         [0023]      FIG. 4  shows a cross-section along the line IV-IV in  FIG. 1 , where the possibility for adjustment of the belts is shown;  
         [0024]      FIG. 5  shows a variant of the substrate filling station  9  in side view;  
         [0025]      FIG. 6  shows a variant of the present invention in side view; and  
         [0026]      FIG. 7  shows, diagrammatically, various stages in introducing a plant into a container according to the variant in  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0027]     In  FIG. 1  an embodiment of the device according to the present invention is indicated in its entirety by  1 . This consists of a station  2  for storing and then individualizing pots  30 . These are fed to conveyor  3  according to the invention, which consists of two belts  4 ,  5  located some distance apart. The belts are preferably square or rectangular, wherein the side thereof facing the container is somewhat oblique with respect to the vertical in order to provide as large as possible a contact surface with the edge of the container. The various features will be made to suit the construction of the raised rim of the pot and the part immediately beneath this.  
         [0028]     As can be seen from  FIG. 2  et seq., the pots  30  are provided with a protruding rim  29  that bears on the belts  4  and  5 , respectively. The centre line between the belts  4  and  5  is indicated by axis  16 .  
         [0029]     There are stations  9 - 11  along the conveyor  3 . Station  9  is a filling station. Station  10  is a drilling station, whilst station  11  is a cutting introduction station. Details of the stations are shown in the further figures. The details of station  9  are given in  FIG. 2 . This consists of a feed conveyor  6  that ends in a bunker  8  filled with soil  18 . There is a return conveyor  17  to return spilt soil to bunker  8 . The discharge of feed conveyor  6  is indicated by  12  and emerges above the pots  30 . There can optionally be a vibrating device, which is not shown, beneath the pots  30  to vibrate the substrate introduced. The substrate introduced can, for example, be potting compost.  
         [0030]     A drilling station is indicated by  10 . Details of this can be seen in  FIG. 3 . The drilling station consists of a drill  31  with a crankshaft  32  with arm  33  connected to a drilling rod  34 . When the crankshaft  32  turns the drill  34  executes a reciprocating movement in the direction of the arrow  35 , as a result of which openings are pressed into substrate  18  provided in pots  30 . This opening is indicated by  36 . A cutting  40  can then be placed in such an opening, as is shown diagrammatically in  FIG. 1 . Holes can be drilled rapidly with such a drilling device.  
         [0031]     It can be seen from  FIG. 4  that the belts are routed round and driven at the end of the device  1 . For this purpose there are motors  22  with reduction gearing  23  by means of which belts  4  and  5 , respectively, are driven and routed round in a manner that is not shown in more detail. Motors  22  are mounted via supports  21  and sliders  24  fixed thereto such that they can move on the frame  20  of the device. A movement in the direction of arrow  26  is possible with the sliders. This movement is achieved by means of a system  25  that engages on threading in sliders  24  that is not shown. System  25  can be driven with crank handle  27 . Vibrator rods that engage on the side wall of the container  30  and which are made to vibrate with an eccentric construction are indicated by  61 .  
         [0032]     With this arrangement the construction is such that by operating handle  27  the two sliders  24  move towards one another or away from one another so that axis  16  always remains in the middle between the belts  4 ,  5 . There is a corresponding construction, which may or may not be provided with motors  22 , at the other end of the belts  4 ,  5 , that is to say at station  2 .  
         [0033]     Apart from the facility for lateral adjustment of the belts  4  and  5  that has been described above, it is also possible to provide adjustability in the height direction, which can be constructed in the same way, that is to say such that both belts  4  and  5  are moved upwards or downwards to the same extent.  
         [0034]     An alternative for station  9  is shown in  FIG. 5 . This is used in particular if loose material, such as bark material that has been shredded, has to be placed in containers. The outlet of feed conveyor  12  emerges at an auxiliary conveyor belt  15  that emerges in a shaking trough  13 . Shaking movement of trough  13  is effected by motor  14 .  
         [0035]     By means of the present invention a pot can be filled along a path. With this arrangement several pots are filled at the same time during continuous movement of the conveyor, that is to say non-intermittent movement. As a result a high production rate can be achieved. Any material spilt between the pots can be recycled.  
         [0036]     By means of the present invention it is possible to accommodate the containers between the belts in contact with one another, without gaps in the longitudinal direction. As a result, little material will be lost when introducing substrate. After all, recycling of material results in a deterioration of the quality of the substrate.  
         [0037]     A variant of the invention is shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . As far as possible, corresponding parts have been provided with the same reference numerals.  
         [0038]     In this case as well there is a filling station  9 , but it is no longer necessary to use a drilling station  10  and downstream cutting insertion station  12 . These are now integrated in the filling station  9 . The various features are shown diagrammatically in  FIG. 7 , while structural details can be seen from  FIG. 6 .  
         [0039]     In the manner described above the pot is driven with two belts  4  and  5 . In contrast to the variant described above, the pot is no longer suspended by the rim on the belt but is restrained at a lower level by belts  4  and  5 . The speed of movement of the belts  4  and  5  differs, as a result of which the pot executes a rotary movement. This can be achieved in that the belts  4  and  5  move in the same direction but at different speed, in that one of the belts  4  or  5  is stationary, or in that the belts  4  and  5  move in different directions at different speeds.  
         [0040]     As a result of the rotary movement, good filling of soil material in the pots can be obtained. The outflow opening of filler funnel  44  used in this embodiment is indicated by  60  and extends to close to the rim of the pot  30 .  
         [0041]     As can be seen from the figures, the cutting insertion station, which is directly above the filling station, is indicated by  41 . This cutting insertion station consists of an engaging, moving and positioning member  42  for cuttings. This member  42  is mounted on a plate  65 , which is stationary. Belts  45  and  46  or other transport members are fitted above this plate, which belts move in the same way as the belts  4  and  5 , that is to say by this means a rotary conveying movement is applied in the same way to disc  47  that is joined to shaft  48  of the engaging, moving and positioning member  42  for cuttings and thus protrudes through a slot  66  in plate  65 . Slot  66  extends over an appreciable length, for example a length that is equal to the length of five pots. At the end of shaft  48  a clamp  49  is fitted that consists of clamping parts  50  and  51  which can be moved towards one another in the direction of arrows  52  and can be moved apart again. The various features are constructed such that a plant  53  with roots  54  can be picked up between them. In addition, what can be achieved as a result of clamping is that the leaves of the plant  53  are compressed. The various actions, of course, take place without damage and it will be understood that the plant can be engaged in many other ways known in the state of the art. Shaft  48  is provided with a pivot  55  about which clamp  49  is able to move in the direction of arrow  56 .  
         [0042]     The variant in  FIGS. 6 and 7  functions as follows:  
         [0043]     An empty pot is placed in front of the outlet  60  in that this is linearly transported with some rotation by the belts  4  and  5 . Soil is fed continuously via outlet  60 . At the same time, as can be seen from  FIG. 7   a,  the cutting insertion station  41  and more particularly the engaging, moving and positioning member for cuttings thereof, is provided with a plant  30 . A rotary movement and linear movement are also applied to this in the manner described above, which movements are completely synchronous with the movement of container  30 .  
         [0044]     It can be seen from  FIG. 7   b  that after a first fill of the pot  30  with substrate plant  53  and more particularly the roots  54  thereof are lowered onto this bottom layer. Further soil is then added while both the container  30  and the plant turn synchronously during steps  7   b - d.  This is always effected from the side, so that no soil can get onto the leaves of the plant. In step e the plant has been placed in such a stable manner that support with an engaging, moving and positioning member for cuttings is no longer needed and this is tilted out of the way in the direction of arrow  56  according to  FIG. 7   e  and is no longer effective.  
         [0045]     With this variant if a larger pot, that is to say a pot of larger diameter, has to be filled only one of the belts, and preferably belt  4 , is moved, as a result of which the position with respect to the outlet  60  remains unchanged.  
         [0046]     Using this variant it is possible to place bulky plants in an attractive manner in a pot continuously while simultaneously filling with soil. As a result the length of the device can be shortened and appreciable saving in manpower can be achieved. The speed of rotation of the container and plant, respectively, can be restricted. In the case of a single outlet  60 , it is in principle necessary only that the container executes a complete revolution. The vibratory means described above can also be present in order to compact the soil to some extent and position it correctly. It is also possible to use outlets opposite one another.  
         [0047]     A particularly compact device can be obtained using this variant according to  FIGS. 6 and 7 .  
         [0048]     After reading the above variants will be immediately apparent to those skilled in the art. The various stations can be constructed in the most diverse ways, whilst further stations can be added. The engaging, moving and positioning member  42  for cuttings can be constructed differently. Both the type and the location of grasping can differ. This applies, inter alia, if plant plugs are used, where the plug can be grasped. It is also possible to grasp a root ball or the stem of the plant. These and further modifications fall within the scope of the appended claims.