AU785265B2 - Nursery trays - Google Patents

Description

P/00/011 28/5/91 Regulation 3.2(2)

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Application Number: Lodged: Invention Title: NURSERY TRAYS The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us NURSERY TRAYS The present invention relates to improvements in nursery trays of the type intended to grow plants or seedlings in an individual cell array and thereafter eject such seedlings for transplanting into a prepared ground location, preferably by mechanical handling means.

Nursery trays of the aforementioned kind normally include a fixed array of individual cells in rows with one or more rows being indexed past an eject mechanism which may typically include pins, rods or the like pushed through lower drainage apertures of each individual cell. Australian Patent Application No. 41053/97 and International Patent Application No. PCT/AU99/01151 disclose nursery trays of the aforementioned kind. Australian Patent No. 679926 and Patent Application Nos. 53040/98 and 42616/2000 disclose machinery for automatically handling seedlings grown in the aforesaid nursery tray types, for ejecting such seedlings and for mechanically handling same during movement to a prepared ground planting position. As noted above, traditional seedling ejection means uses a pin or similar member of round or square cross-section moved in timed sequence through the drainage opening from the individual cells to push the seedling and its growing medium plug out of the cell. It is desirable for the eject pin or similar member to have as large as possible cross-sectional area at least at the engagement end with the growing medium plug, however, this requirement is necessarily balanced by the need to have some base region to the cell to enable the growing medium to be retained therein. This requirement of course suggests that the drainage opening should be as small as possible while still providing adequate drainage. A second desirable attribute is that the drainage opening should be designed larger than the cross-sectional area of the eject pin or similar member to allow for possible small misalignments when the nursery tray is being indexed past the eject mechanism. It has been found that if the plant eject pins are reduced in size to ensure sufficient cell base area, then the plant eject pins may cause damage to the root mass on ejection because the eject pins surface area is insufficient to cover the plant base root mass area and the eject pins may spear into the growing medium plug. This may damage or 30-Oct-2006 02:36 PM WATERMARK 61398196010 4/7 2 disintegrate the plant root mass on ejection and destroy the plant. In some cases, the plug may not even be dislodged from the cell. It is also generally desirable to ensure accurate alignment and good tracking characteristics when the nursery tray is being indexed through the eject mechanism. It Is also desirable for the nursery tray to be capable of being introduced into the indexing mechanism without the need to consider Its correct orientation.

The objective of the present invention is to provide a novel nurseary tray of the aforementioned kind which will provide a cell base area sufficient to adequately support the growing medium and the root mass of the plug and further to enable the use of a plant eject pin which has sufficient surface engagement area to safely eject the plug without damaging same. A further preferred objective is to provide a novel form of plant eject pin that will enable safe high speed ejection of a plant plug from a nursery tray without causing damage to the plant in the root mass containing plug. Still further preferred objectives Include providing a tray that will track accurately during indexing and plant eject processes and that avoids the need for correct orientation of the tray itself.

Accordingly, the present Invention provides a plant eject member having a terminal engagement surface which in use engages a base of a root 'mass 0% containing plug held within a cell of a nursery tray, said engagement surface having a central surface portion and at least two outer surface portions spaced from said central surface portion each of which in use is adapted to engage a separate perimeter zone of the base of said root mass containing plug.

Preferably the plant eject member may have the features defl:ed in claims 2 to 7 as annexed hereto which are hereby made part of this disclosure.

The present Invention also proposes providing a nursery tray having a plurality of cells in a predetermined array and each said cell being adapted to grow a seedling therein, each said cell further having an open upper face and a drainage opening in a base wall region of the cell, said drainage opening having an irregular shape corresponding in shape to the engagement surface of a plant eject member as defined in the preceding two paragraphs, such that the plant eject member will, in use, pass through said drainage opening.

COMS ID No: SBMI-05196682 Received by IP Australia: Time 15:37 Date 2006-10-30 The nursery trays may conveniently have features as defined in claims 9 to 11 as annexed hereto which are hereby made part of this disclosure.

In accordance with a separate aspect, the present invention also provides a nursery tray having a plurality of cells in a predetermined array, each said cell being adapted to grow a seedling therein, each said cell further having an open upper face and a drainage opening in a base region of the cell, the nursery tray having at least two opposed perimeter walls independent of said cells and depending downwardly from an upper region of the tray, each said perimeter wall having a plurality of spaced slots opening onto a lower edge of the perimeter walls configured to engage with teeth of a sprocket wheel indexing mechanism, and sprocket wheel teeth engaging means located between two rows of cells arranged parallel to said perimeter walls.

The nursery tray as defined in the preceding paragraph may have the features as set out in claims 13 to 21 as annexed hereto which are hereby made part of this disclosure. One preferred embodiment will hereinafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which FIG 1 is an underneath plan view of one corner region of the nursery tray; FIG 2 is a partial perspective view of an eject pin capable of use with the nursery tray shown in FIG 1; FIG 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG 1; FIG 4 is a side elevation view of the nursery tray of FIG 1; FIG 5 illustrates the shape of a sprocket wheel capable of use in indexing the nursery tray of FIG 1; and FIG 6 illustrates an upper plan view of the nursery tray of FIG 1.

Referring to the drawings, the nursery tray (24) includes a plurality of cells (22) in an array of aligned rows. Each cell has a generally open upper face and inclined side walls extending downwardly from the open upper face to a base wall with a drainage opening formed therein. Conveniently at least two opposed outer peripheral walls (15) are provided extending downwardly from the top of the tray towards the base walls of the cells, the peripheral walls preferably being independent of the cell walls. Preferably a peripheral wall (15) is provided on all four sides of the nursery tray As shown in FIG 4, the peripheral walls (15) extend downwardly only about half the overall height of the tray and each includes a plurality of uniformly spaced notches or recesses (14) opening onto a lower edge of the walls The drainage opening in each cell base wall is irregularly shaped as a cross or X with enlarged portions at the centre and at each lateral ends of the cross or X. The shape of the holes is such as to allow a similar shaped but slightly smaller eject pin to pass through the hole when ejecting a plant growing medium plug from the cells As illustrated, the shaped hole leaves four flat areas at the base of the cell (22) which adequately support the growing...:.

medium plug. A suitable eject pin is partially illustrated in FIG 2 and conveniently is cross-shaped with a flat engagement surface. The engagement surface includes a square area at the centre from which radiates four wide spokes or legs having slightly enlarged semi-square areas at their terminal ends. The eject pin engagement surface area covers at least 50% and preferably at least 60% of the plant root mass area at the base of the cell 22 and supports the centre and four corners or the plug which eliminates any damage to the plug during high speed ejection. As shown in FIG 3, the tray design includes internal indexing notches (8) which are bordered by three sides (10) and The surfaces and (11) are formed on teeth engaging protuberances (8a) adapted to engage with sprocket wheels (18) of the indexing mechanism. The internal notches are preferably between outermost row of cells (12) adjacent the peripheral walls and the next adjacent row of cells (13) inwardly of the cell rows (12) running both crossways and longways. As mentioned above, external notches (14) (FIG 4) are moulded into the four external walls (15) of the tray. Preferably the tray is square ensuring that the tray can be loaded into the transplanter any way up. FIG 3 shows the internal notches formed by the mouldings (8a) which are integral to the tray.

FIG 5 shows a preferred indexing sprocket (18) mounted on a drive shaft Preferably there are at least two such sprockets (18) mounted at spaced locations onto the shaft (19) horizontally across the rear of the tray such that the sprockets (18) align with a row of notches between cell rows. In one preferred embodiment an extra two sprockets (20) (FIG 4) can be mounted onto the shaft (19) which index in the notches (14) on the outside walls (15) (FIG 4) of the tray.

The internal indexing notches act as guides which guide the tray and keep it tracked accurately during the indexing cycle.

Incorporated into the design of the tray are holes (21) (FIG 6) situated at the corners of each cell These holes (21) assist in aerial pruning (and individual plant micro climate control) across the top of the tray as the plants are large and i: closely grouped together. Aerial pruning holes (23) are also situated around the perimeter of the tray. The large shaped drainage holes (to accommodate the ejection pins) at the base of the cells may also be utilised for aerial pruning.

9

Claims (7)

1. A plant eject member having a terminal engagement surface which in use engages a base of a root mass containing plug held within a cell of a nursery tray, said engagement surface having a central surface portion and at least two outer surface portions spaced from said central surface portion each of which in use is adapted to engage a separate perimeter zone of the base of said root mass containing plug.

2. A plant eject member according to claim 1 wherein at least three said outer surface portions are provided.

3. A plant eject member according to claim 1 wherein at least four said outer I" surface portions are provided.

4. A plant eject member according to claim 1 wherein an intermediate surface portion forming part of the engagement surface joins each of said outer surface portions to said central surface portion. A plant eject member according to claim 4 wherein the intermediate surface portions have a width less than either the central surface portion or the outer surface portions.

6. A plant eject member according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the surface area of said engagement surface is at least 50% and preferably at least of the base of said root mass containing plug.

7. A plant eject member according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the outer surface portions are evenly spaced apart.

30-Pct-2006 02:36 PM WATERMARK 61398196010 5/7 7 8. A nursery tray having a plurality of cells in a predetermined array and each said cell being adapted to grow a seedling therein, each said cell further having an open upper face and a drainage opening in a base wall region of the cell, said drainage opening having an irregular shape corresponding in shape to the engagement surface of a plant eject member according to any one of claims 1 to 7, such that the plant eject member will, in use, pass through said drainage opening. 9. A nursery tray according to claim 8 wherein the drainage opening corresponds in shape to the engagement surface of the plant eject member but is slightly larger than said engagement surface. A nursery tray according to claim 8 or claim 9 wherein the drainage opening Is at least 50% of the area of the base wall region of the cell Including said drainage opening. 11. A nursery tray according to claim 8 or claim 9 wherein the drainage opening is at least 60% of the area of the base wall region of the cell including said drainage opening. 12. A nursery tray according to any one of claims 8 to 11, said nursery tray having at least two opposed perimeter walls independent of said cells and depending downwardly from an upper region of the tray, each said perimeter wall having a plurality of spaced slots opening onto a lower edge of the perimeter walls configured to engage with teeth of a sprocket wheel indexing mechanism, and sprocket wheel teeth engaging means located between two rows of cells arranged parallel to said perimeter walls. 13. A nursery tray according to claim 12 wherein said sprocket wheel teeth engaging means are located between two rows of said cells on either side of said tray. COMS ID No: SBMI-05196682 Received by IP Australia: Time 15:37 Date 2006-10-30 8 14. A nursery tray according to claim 13 wherein each of said two rows of said cells are located adjacent a respective one of said perimeter walls. A nursery tray according to claim 14 wherein the nursery tray is rectangular or square in plan view with each side having a said perimeter wall. 16. A nursery tray according to claim 15 wherein the nursery tray is square in plan view. 17. A nursery tray according to any one of claims 12 to 16 wherein the drainage opening for each said cell is located within a base wall of the cell, the drainage opening having an irregular shape including a central portion, at least two outer portions and an intermediate portion joining each said outer portion to the central portion, each said outer portion being located adjacent to or at a perimeter edge of the base wall of the cell. 18. A nursery tray according to claim 17 wherein at least three said outer portions are provided. 19. A nursery tray according to claim 17 wherein at least four said outer portions are provided. A nursery tray according to any one of claims 17 to 19 wherein each said intermediate portion has a width less than either the central portion or the outer portions. 9 21. A nursery tray according to any one of claims 17 to 20 wherein the area of said drainage opening is at least 50% and preferably at least 60% of the base wall of the cell. DATED this 19th day of December, 2001 WILLIAMES HI-TECH INTERNATIONAL PTY. LTD. WATERMARK PATENT TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS 290 BURWOOD ROAD.. HAWTHORN VICTORIA 3122 AUSTRALIA SKP:JC P18843AUP1 *o *o go