EP1034121A1

EP1034121A1 - An arrangement at a container for plants, a method and a device for packing plants

Info

Publication number: EP1034121A1
Application number: EP98923273A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Anders Brus
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-05-15
Filing date: 1998-05-15
Publication date: 2000-09-13
Also published as: WO1998051589A1; SE9701826L; SE512693C2; SE9701826D0

Abstract

A container device for plants (12), an apparatus for packing plants and a method therefor, the container device having a substantially parallelepipedic form comprising a base (4) and four side walls (5-8) connected thereto, and a unit (11) having plate portions and being locatable in the container, the plate portions being connected to each other by fold indications and adjacent plate portions being foldable between a first condition, in which they are located substantially in a plane and a second condition, in which they make an angle with each other, preferably at least a perpendicular angle, the unit (11) being designed to form a substantially parallelepipedic form with the plate portions in the second condition, a base plate (14) of the unit having a length and a width substantially equal to or smaller than the corresponding free internal length and width of the base (4) of the container.

Description

AN ARRANGEME^NT AT A CONTAINER FOR PLANTS, A METHOD AND A DEVICE FOR PACKING PLANTS

The present invention is related to a container device for plants, an apparatus for packing plants, and a method for packing plants.

Tree plants are normally handled either as plants with covered roots or as_ plants with exposed roots. The present invention is primarily related to plants with exposed roots. Packing and transporting plants take place in sacks, normally paper sacks, according to prior art. Plants with exposed roots are advantageous in relation to plants with covered roots in that they have a low weight and a small volume also by mature plants with a well developed root system due to the absence of a moist keeping breed medium, such as peat or soil. Such plants with exposed roots are, however, sensitive to dehydration and sunshine during transportation, but above all during the planting work, when the plants are being moved in the plantation area after having been removed from the sacks.

A container for plants is described in the applicant's Swedish patent 8505276-9 (464079), said container being designed for use both during transportation and during storage of the plants and besides also during the planting itself, when the opened container is carried around in the plantation area by plantation personnel. The container according to the applicant's earlier patent is working very well. It is, however, possible to make some improvements within the frame of the basic principle solution. More closely, the following points have been noted:

1 ) It would be desirable to arrange the container so that it admits an effective packing of plants therein.

2) It would be desirable to further develop the container in order to facilitate taking plants out of the container by the planting work.

3) It would be desirable to secure a desirable moisty environment in the container during a longer period of time, especially during transportation and storage in a rational way.

4) It would be desirable to achieve watering of plants present in the container before the container is opened for plantation and also after such opening.

5) It would be desirable to increase the density between the plants in the container.

6) It would be desirable to achieve an arrangement for easy and effective packing of the plants.

SUMMARY OF THE I NVENTION

The object of the present invention is to devise ways for realising at least one of the improvement possibilities identified by me and enumerated above.

The object of the invention is achieved by the constructive measures defined in the following claims.

The container device defined in claim 1 is characterised in that the plate portions are connected to each other by fold indica- tions, that adjacent plate portions are foldable between a first condition, in which they are located substantially in a plane and a second condition, in which they make an angle with each other, at least a perpendicular angle, that the unit is designed to form a substantially parallelepipedic form with the plate portions arranged in the second condition, one plate portion forming a base plate and the remaining plate portions forming two oppositely arranged side walls and at least partly covering the two remaining sides of the parallelepiped, and that the base plate has a length and width substantially equal to or somewhat smaller than the corresponding free internal length and width of the base of the container. The unit will be arranged tightly in the container against the inner walls thereof due to that the base plate of the unit has a length and a width substantially equal to or somewhat smaller than the corresponding free internal length and width of the base of the container, and the stability of the container is increased when the unit is located in the same due to that the side walls of the unit are separated by fold indications. The plate portions may be folded around a number of plants located on a plate portion, compressing the same, due to the fold indications while forming the parallelepipedic form of the unit and an effective packing and a high degree of density between the plants are obtained by thereafter bringing the unit with the relatively closely packed plants into the container. By the characteristic that adjacent plate portions are located with an at least perpendicular angle in relation to each other, adjacent plate portions are intended to either be located with a substantially perpendicular angle in relation to each other, or located substantially parallel, i.e. a plate portion is being folded substantially 180° in relation to an adjacent plate portion.

According to an embodiment of the invention the unit is formed by a water receiving material in order to enable emitting moisture to the interior of the container and to the plants located there after water receipt, which results in the advantageous solution that the protection unit itself may protect the plants against dehydration by means of moisture supply to the interior of the container and the plants located there. This is, of course, the case before as well as after opening of the container. The improvement possibility mentioned under 3) is thereby satisfied.

Another embodiment of the invention, in which the container has at least one cutting indication or closing in an area intended to contain the root regions of the plants in order to facilitate forming of an opening or passage of water, results in that watering of the plants may be carried out conveniently by setting the opening free and thereafter locating the container in a suitable water course with the opening set free downwards. Water may penetrate into the interior of-the container due to the opening. Such location of the container may be utilised both as a preparation for planting, i.e. in order to make sure that the moist contents of the plants is large when planting is to take place, or in order to enable storage of the plants during a longer period of time in the terrain before planting. This embodiment satisfies the improvement possibility mentioned under 4). It is also noted that the opening set free may serve for discharge of excess water by lifting the container from a water course or by watering the plants via the plant insertion opening.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the container is designed so that a plant outlet opening may be effected in at least one side wall of the container. Said side wall may for this purpose have suitable indications, for example, in the form of stamped cutting information or weakenings serving for facilitating a breakthrough of the side wall of the container. This plant outlet opening may thus be directed substantially perpendicularly to the opening, through which the unit and plants are inserted into the container. The unit present in the container is thereby intended to be designed so that it sets free at least a part of the upper regions of the plants in the area of the plant outlet opening during receipt of the root regions of the plant. The opening comprises suitably less than the container side wall in question, so that a non-opened portion remains, said portion being located outside of the unit received in the container.

The plant outlet opening is suitably effected so that there will be a closing arrangement in connection to the opening , said arrangement comprising one or a plurality of tellable flaps for closing the plant outlet opening.

Watering of plants located in the container may, of course, also take place through the plant outlet opening.

It is preferred that a carrying means for carrying the container and the unit received therein is so adapted to the container that the container is received in said carrying means with the plant outlet opening directed upwards and the plants lying in the container with the root regions of the plants received in the unit. A side wall of the unit is thereby located above the root regions of the plants.

The device for packing plants defined in claim 21 is characterised in that the apparatus comprises means for keeping a foldable unit designed for location in a container, the keeping means being movable between two different functional positions while keeping the unit, namely a first, in which the keeping means supports the unit in an at least partly non-folded condition during receipt of plants, and a second, in which the keeping means is partly arranged in, or in the vicinity of the container for insertion of the unit into the container in a folded condition, substantially corresponding to the inner form of the container. This device enables an easy and effective packing of plants as they are being located on a portion of the foldable unit, while the unit is supported by the support means, and the unit is thereafter folded to said condition substantially corresponding to the inner form of the container and is being brought into the container. This results in filling of plants in the container to a large extent and the improvement-possibilities mentioned above under 5) and 6) are thereby satisfied.

The inventive method is more closely described by the patent claims and the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference to the enclosed drawings a more close description of embodiment examples of the invention follows hereunder:

In the drawings;

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a container according to the invention with a unit located therein, the container being located in a carrying means arranged to be used planting,

Fig. 2 is a partly cut view of the container similar to fig. 1 , the container being located in a closed condition, suitable for transport,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the unit itself according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention, shown in the position it is intended to have when it is located in the container,

Fig . 4 is a view from above of a workpiece intended for forming the unit according to fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a cut perspective view of an apparatus for packing plants according to a first embodiment, Fig. 6 shows the apparatus for packing plants according to the first embodiment in a position, where the unit is received in the frame of the device in a packing position,

Fig. 7 shows the apparatus for packing plants according to the first embodiment when the unit has been filled with plants and is to be embraced by the frame,

Fig. 8 shows the apparatus for packing plants according to the first embodiment, the frame embracing the unit containing the plants and the frame - being rotated from the position shown in fig. 7 towards a second position, disposed substantially 90° in relation to the first position, and the unit being partly received in the container,

Fig. 9 is a view similar to fig. 1 of a somewhat modified embodiment,

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of an apparatus for packing plants according to a second embodiment,

Fig . 1 1 is a side view of the device for packing plants according to the second embodiment, the unit, and a few plants being schematically shown, and a means for supporting the unit being arranged in a first functional position,

Fig 12 is a side view of the apparatus for packing plants according to the second embodiment, the support means being arranged in a third functional position,

Fig . 1 3 is a side view of the apparatus for packing plants according to the second embodiment, the support means being arranged in a second functional position,

Fig.14 shows a view from above of the workpiece intended for forming the unit according to fig. 15, said workpiece being suitable to be used for packing plants by the apparatus according to the second embodiment thereof, and

Fig . 15 is a partly cut perspective view of a container with a unit received therein according to fig. 14, a number of plants being schematically shown in the unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The inventive container 1 for plants is illustrated in fig. 1 being located in carrying means 2, which has a handle 3 in order to facilitate carrying of the container 1 .

The container is intended for being arranged in one out of two conditions, and this will be described in more detail below. The container is suitably directed with the base thereof downwards and an upper opening 45 directed upwards during insertion of plants into the container (see fig . 8). This direction of the container may also be suitable during transportation due to that soil, moisture etc. tend to end up in the bottom region of the container, i.e. in the regions of the roots of the plants. It is, however, still within the scope of the invention to locate the container 1 in other conditions than the just mentioned conditions during loading of plants and transportation.

The container may also be carried in the planting area during planting, so that the opening, through which the plants have been inserted into the container is directed upwards. The plants will thus in this case be taken out from the container from above. It is, however, suitable that the container 1 is directed lying with the base 4 vertically and the opening 45 horizontally, which is indicated in figs. 1 and 2, during the planting process, i.e. when the container is carried by means of the carrying means 2. The plants could in this way be taken out from the container through the opening 45 directed horizontally. It is, however, also possible to have the opening 45 closed by a closing arrangement 9, and instead provide a further upwardly directed plant outlet opening 48, which will be described later.

It is from the discussion above clear that the denominations base, side walls, and upper opening, respectively, do not limit the inventive container to a certain direction in space.

The container 1 has an outer casing comprising a base 4 and four side walls 5-8 connected thereto. The container 1 is besides suitably provided with the above mentioned closing arrangement 9, for example, comprising a number of foldable flaps 10 for closing the upper part of the outer casing.

The outer casing of the container 1 may suitably be formed by a water resistant, preferably water repellent, material. The outer casing of the container 1 is preferably formed by a paper or cardboard material. Corrugated cardboard or solid cardboard are suitable alternatives. Cardboard or cartoon material may, for example, be waxed in order to become moisture resistant- /moisture repellent. The outer casing of the container has suitably a substantially parallelepipedic form and rectilinearity of the parallelepiped is preferred.

A unit 1 1 is located in the container 1 for supporting the same. The unit 1 1 is also formed in order to facilitate the packing of the plants and make it more effective, which will be explained in more detail below.

The container 1 with a unit 1 1 located therein is illustrated in fig. 2 in a cut side view, the unit comprising at least root regions of plants 12.

The unit 1 1 is in fig. 3 illustrated in a folded condition according to a first preferred embodiment. The unit 1 1 has plate portions 13-21 . The plate portions 16, 17 and 18, and 19, 20 and 21 , respectively, are substantially contacting each other forming a complete side wall in the parallelepiped according to the first preferred embodiment of the unit 1 1 , which results in that the unit 1 1 may emit moisture to a set of plants located therein, substantially around the root system of the complete set of plants.

It is, however, also within the scope of the invention that the plate portions 16 and 18, and 19 and 21 , respectively, have such a design that a distance is provided between them when the unit 1 1 has the substantially parallelepipedical form. The plate portions 17, 20 contacting the base 14 of the unit 1 1 may have a design different from the embodiment in fig. 3. It is, however, for the stability of the container important that the fold indications 22-25 of the unit 1 1 in the folded condition correspond to the edge lines of the container 1 between the base 4 and the four side walls 5-8 connected thereto and the edge lines between adjacent side walls 5-8. It is also possible that the plate portions 16-18 and 19-21 , respectively, overlap each other forming a side wall.

Fig. 4 illustrates a work piece in a plane view, which is designed for forming the unit 1 1 according to fig . 3. The fold indications 22-25 may for example be formed by linear pressure markings, punch markings, partial perforations or similar. The plate portions 13-21 of the work piece are foldable in relation to each other in the fold indications 22-25 between a first condition, in which they are located substantially in a plane and a second condition, in which they make an angle with each other, preferably a substantially perpendicular angle to said plane.

The plate portions 16-21 are provided with cuttings 26 intended for facilitating folding of the unit 1 1 at these cuttings 26. The cuttings 26 are formed as triangles with an apex 27 located in a fold indication 24, 25. Each of the cuttings 26 has suitably a 90° angle. Thus, it is the point angle of the just mentioned triangle that is 90° and the rest of the triangle is isosceles. The cuttings 26 facilitate folding of the unit along two crosswise fold indications 24 and 25. The plate portion 14 is designed to form a base plate of the unit 1 1 and the oppositely located plate portions 13 and 15 are intended to form two oppositely located side walls after folding along the fold indications 24 and 25. The plate portions 16-18 and 19-21 , respectively, are thus designed to form oppositely located sides in the unit 1 1 . The design of the cuttings 26 also results in that no overlapping takes place between the plate portions 16-18 and 19-21 , respectively, when the unit is formed to the design shown in fig. 3. The description above regarding the orientation of the container 1 in space is, of course, also valid for the unit 1 1 .

The unit 1 1 is according to what has been mentioned above formed by a water receiving material in order to enable emitting moisture to the interior of the container 1 and plants located therein after water receipt. The unit 1 1 is preferably formed by a fibrous material, especially paper or cardboard material with moisture absorbing capacity. Corrugated cardboard, for example, may be used.

The container 1 has, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one cut indication or closing 28 in order to make an opening 29 available, through which water may flow into and out from, respectively, the interior of the container 1. Fig. 1 illustrates how two cut indications or closings 28 are arranged. Each of them may be formed by that a wall portion of the container 1 is defined by a material weakening, for example achieved by punching or partial cutting through the wall material, so that the user by pressing or tearing of the closings 28 may set the openings 29 free, so that when the container 1 , still non- opened, is located with the openings 29 downwards in a water course, water may flow into the interior of the container 1 and there water both the plants and the unit 1 1 . A very rational moisturing of the plants within the container may thereby take place without the container having to be opened by the upper, ordinary closing arrangement 9. The closing arrangement 9 may also be opened and the opening 45 directed upwards in order to water plants located in the container and watering of the plants may thereafter take place through this opening 45. If one or a plurality of openings 29 located at the bottom of the container have been set free, excess water may be drained out of the container through said openings.

Fig. 1 illustrates how the container 1 is received in a holding means 2 in a condition suitable for carrying the container 1 in the planting area. The earlier discussed opening 45 for insertion of plants is now closed by the closing arrangement 9. A plant outlet opening 48 has instead been effected in a side wall 6 of the container. This opening 48 gives access to a top region of the plants, which is indicated in fig. 1 . Thus, it is obvious that the unit 1 1 enclosing the root regions of the plants has a smaller height, i.e. extension parallel to the side walls 5-8, than the container 1 . The opening 48 is in this example effected in such a way that a closing arrangement 49 comprising one or a plurality of flaps 50, in the example two flaps, is formed. It is preferred that only a part of the side wall 6 of the container is used for forming the opening 48, i.e. that a side wall portion 51 located closest to the base 4 of the container 1 remains. This portion 51 supports the unit 1 1 from the outside. Fig. 1 also illustrates how the side wall located at the top of the container, for example one of the side walls denoted 13 and 15 in figs. 3 and 4, will be located above the root regions of the plants while screening them off from sun exposure.

Fig. 2 illustrates how indications 46, 47 are arranged in the side wall 6 of the container. These indications 46, 47 are arranged for facilitating effecting the plant outlet opening 48. These indications 46, 47 may according to„ one embodiment of the invention have the character of pressed markings or lines showing how the user should cut the side wall of the container along these lines in order to effect the plant outlet opening. It would alternatively also be possible to form the indications 46, 47 as weakenings of the container material, so that the user should be able to form the opening 48 by effecting interruptions throughout the material along the lines 46, 47.

An inventive apparatus for packing plants according to a first embodiment is illustrated in fig. 5. The apparatus comprises a support means 52 iα the form of a frame 30 and a stand 31 . The frame 30 has two mutually movably arranged parts 32, 33 and members 34 for closing the parts 32, 33 in an active state (see fig. 5) where they jointly are arranged to grip around the plant receiving unit 1 1 .

According to a first preferred embodiment of the frame 30, the two parts 32, 33 thereof are pivotably connected to each other. The pivotability may, for example, be achieved by a hinge joint 35 connecting the frame parts 32, 33. The two frame parts 32, 33 may, however, also be brought into engagement with each other by a motion different from pivoting , for example by a translation motion.

Said locking members 34 are, according to a preferred embodi- ment, formed by male means on a second frame part 33 and female means on a first frame part 32. The female means is preferably made of a recess 37, which is open suitably substantially perpendicularly to the pivoting plane of the frame parts 32, 33. By further arranging a bevelled portion 38 on the first frame part 32 from the upper end 39 thereof towards the recess 37 and by the frame 30 being elastic perpendicularly to the pivoting plane, the male means in the form of a projecting portion 36 may be brought into engagement with the recess 37 when the second frame part 33 is pivoted towards the first frame part 32. By the frame being elastic means that at least the frame parts 32 and 33 may be displaced a distance in relation to each other substantially perpendicularly to the pivoting plane of the frame parts 32, 33 and sufficient for that the projecting portion 36 will be able to be brought into engagement with the recess 37. Said locking member may, however, be designed in a plurality of different ways. The female means may for example be formed by an opening and the male means may be formed by a pin insertable therein.

The frame 30 is movable between two different functional positions, namely a first, in which an opening formed by the frame for the plant receiving unit 1 1 is directed substantially horizontally and a second, in which said opening is directed sub- stantially vertically. Members 40 are arranged for connecting the frame 30 with the stand 31 . Said connection members 40 are according to a first preferred embodiment arranged so that the frame 30 is moved between the two functional positions by a pivoting motion. Said connection members 40 are preferably made of male and female elements, said male element being formed on one of the stand 31 and the frame 30, and said female element being formed on the other of the stand 31 and the frame 30.

According to another preferred embodiment of said connection members 40, said male means being formed by a bolt 41 with a circular cross-section, said bolt being arranged on the stand 31 and said female means being formed by a groove 42, which is provided through a portion 43 of the frame 30, said groove being open at a first end thereof for insertion of the bolt 41 and said groove 42 being designed for housing the bolt 31 in the other end thereof.

The female means may, for example, have the character of an opening for receipt of male means in the form of, for example, a screw. The stand 31 may further be provided with an opening throughout the material, in which said screw may be inserted, said screw further being brought into said opening of a portion, for example similar to said portion 43 of the frame 30, and be fixed on a side of the portion opposite the stand 31 by means of a nut.

It is further suitable to arrange said connection members 40 so that the frame 30 is maintained in the first functional position after having been brought into the same for a convenient placing of the unit 1 1 into the same and loading of plants into the unit. This may be effected in a plurality of different ways. The location of the male and female elements 40 may, for example, when they are brought into engagement with each other be arranged so that the frame 30 has a low potential energy in this condition, i.e. the centre of gravity of the frame 30 being located on the same level as, or below the location of said elements. Said connection members 40 and/or the frame 30 and the stand 31 may be arranged in such a way that the friction between the same counteracts an undesired movement of the frame 30 from the first functional position thereof.

The unit 1 1 partly received in the first frame part 32 for loading of plants 12 is illustrated in fig. 6. The first 32 and second 33 frame parts are in this case brought out of engagement with each other. A support surface 44 is arranged in the vicinity of the frame 30 on substantially the same height as a first support member 55 of the first frame part 32 when the frame is arranged in the condition shown in fig. 6. The top regions of the plants are arranged outside the upper edge of the unit 1 1 along at least the side wall of the unit 1 1 , which in the container condition according to fig. 1 is to be located upwards.

Fig . 7 illustrates how the unit 1 1 is folded when the loading of the plants is finished. By bringing the locking members 34 of the frame parts 32, 33 into a locking engagement with each other, the unit 1 1 is compressed to a substantially parallelepipedic form, and the plants are thereby packed in an effective way.

Fig. 8 illustrates how the frame 30 is moved towards the second functional position thereof after that the frame parts 32, 33 have been brought into engagement with each other by the locking members 34, the movement being a pivoting motion in relation to the stand 31 according to a first preferred embodiment, while the frame 30 is gripping around the unit 1 1 with the plants 12 received therein. The unit 1 1 is brought at least partially down into, or to a position just above a container 1 with a substantially parallelepipedic form comprising a base and for thereto connected side walls during the movement of the frame 30, the base plate 14 of the unit 1 1 having a length and width substanti- ally as large as, or somewhat smaller than the corresponding free internal length and width of the base of the container 1 . The frame parts 32, 33 are brought out of engagement with each other when the frame 30 has been brought substantially to the second functional position, and the unit 1 1 with the plants 12 located therein may be inserted into the container 1 .

An inventive apparatus for packing plants is illustrated in fig. 10 in a perspective view according to a second embodiment. The apparatus comprises means 52 for keeping a foldable unit 53 intended for being located in the container 1 (see Fig. 12). The apparatus further comprises an arrangement 54 for moving the keeping means 52.

The keeping means 52 has a first member 55 for supporting a plate portion of the unit from below, said plate portion being intended for forming a side wall in the unit 53 in a folded condition. The support member 55 is in this case formed by a plate part of the keeping means 52. The keeping means 52 has also second members 56, 57 for supporting the unit 53 side- ways. The keeping means 52 has also a third support member 58, which in co-operation with said first and second support members is intended to maintain the unit in said folded condition, substantially corresponding to the inner form of the container during a movement of the keeping means 52 between two different functional positions, a first of the functional positions being illustrated in fig. 10. The third support member 58 has a portion 59 arranged on a distance above the first support member 55 in order to between the same enable fastening of at least two plate portions of the unit.

The moving arrangement 54 comprises means 60 for controlling the keeping means 52 during said movement. The control means 60 has for this purpose a base portion 61 on and along which the keeping means 52 is displaceable. The control means 60 has a side portion 62, 63 on each side of the base portion 61 and projecting upwards for limiting the motion of the keeping means 52 to a desired path. The movement arrangement 54 has a stop member 62, the function of which will be explained in detail below in connection to figs. 1 1 -13. The movement arrangement 54 has a hinged construction and the control means 60 is pivotably arranged in relation to a pivot part 65 around a first axis 66. The pivot part 65 is hingedly connected to a stationarily arranged second axis 67 at an end opposite to the first axis 66. The pivot part 65 is designed as a plate and arranged in parallel to the base portion 61 of the movement arrangement 54 when the control means is arranged in the first position illustrated in fig. 10. The movement arrangement 54 has a further member 72 for limiting the motion path of the pivot part 65 downwards by pivoting thereof around the second axis 67. The limiting member is in this case formed by a stationary edge portion of the apparatus.

The packing of the plants by means of the apparatus will now be described in connection to figs. 1 1 -13. A unit design somewhat different in relation to the unit described in connection to figs. 1 - 9 is in this case needed for maintaining the unit 53 in the folded condition. An example of such a unit is illustrated in fig . 14 in a non-folded condition. The dashed lines are, of course, also in this case fold indications.

Fig . 1 1 illustrates schematically the second packing apparatus in a cross-section. The keeping means 52 is in this case arranged in the first functional position thereof, in which it is intended to support the unit 53 in an at least partly non-folded condition during receipt of plants and during folding of the same to the folded condition. The unit 53 is here folded along the fold indications so that a number of the plate portions of the unit 53 jointly form a rectangular portion intended for forming a side wall in the intended parallelepipedic form of the unit, said side wall contacting the first support member 55 of the keeping means during fixing thereof by means of the second 56, 57 and third 58 support members, as well as the stop member 64. Due to that a side wall of the unit 53 rests against the support member 55, while the support member being directed substantially horizontally, plants may be placed against said side wall, while the plants extending substantially horizontally, i.e. being arranged in a lying state. A sufficient mutual density of the plants is achieved by applying the plants from above with a substantially horizontal extension direction. When a desired number of plants has been applied into the unit 53, it is folded to a condition substantially corresponding to the inner form of the container, i.e. to a substantially parallelepipedic form, possibly during pressing of the applied set of plants.

The control means 60 of the movement arrangement is in fig. 1 1 arranged in a first position, in which it supports the keeping means 52 in the first functional position thereof.

The container 1 is in fig . 12 arranged somewhat askewly on a support 68 in the vicinity of the packing apparatus in order to insert the unit 53 therein. The pivot part 65 has in this case been pivoted from the position shown in fig. 1 1 around the second, stationarily arranged axis 67 to a position contacting the limiting member 72. A movement of the keeping means 52 influenced by the gravity is thereby limited by the stop member 64.

The control means 60 has in fig. 13 been brought to a second position by pivoting of the same in relation to the pivot part 65 around the first axis 66. The control means 60 has thereby been brought to a position, in which the stop member 64 stationarily arranged on the pivot part 65 no longer limits the keeping means 52 from being moved influenced by the gravity. The keeping means 52 will thus during movement along the control means 60 reach a second functional position partly in the container, so that the unit 53 is arranged at least partly and preferably in the container 1 .

The stop member 64 has thereby a plurality of functions by the packing. Partly, the stop member 64 obstructs the keeping means 52 from moving in relation to the control means 60 when the control means 60 is arranged in the first position and in intermediate positions between the first and the second position, but however not obstructs the keeping means 52 from moving when the control means 60 is arranged in the second position, and it is partly forming a support for the unit 53 in the longitudinal direction of the control means 60 during packing of plants into the unit, and counteracting that the unit with plants contained therein is brought out of the position against the keeping means 52 influenced by the gravity during movement of the control means 60 towards the second position thereof. First regions 69 and 70 of the stop member 64 counteract said movement of the keeping means 52 in the first position and in positions between the first and the second position. An upper region 71 of the stop member 64 is arranged substantially parallel to the control means 60 when it is arranged in the second position for a gliding movement of the keeping means 52 along the same. When the keeping means 52 has been brought to the second functional position thereof, and the unit 53 is at least partly arranged in the container 1 , the keeping means 52 may be released from the container 1 by a movement thereof sub- stantially opposite to the movement, by which the unit was inserted into the container with. The control means 60, the pivot part 65, and the keeping means 52 are thereafter brought to the initial position shown in fig. 10. The axes 66 and 67 for obtaining the hinged construction of the movement arrangement 54 are in the above described embodiment hingedly arranged.

The movement of the keeping means 52 in relation to the control means 60 takes place by gliding according to the above described embodiment, but it is also within the scope of the inventive claims possible to arrange, for example, rolling members or transportation means at the contact surface between the control means 60 and the keeping means 52 in order to achieve said movement. The movement of the keeping means 60 between the two positions mentioned above may take place completely manually, partly or completely automatically.

The above described first support member 55 of the keeping means 52, the base region 61 of the control means 60, and the pivot part 65 may within the scope of the inventive claims be formed with a design different from a plate, for example with a number of spaced bars, a grate construction or similar. The limiting member may further be arranged with a design different from the one described above. The limiting member may, for example, be formed by a flap, which is movably arranged up- and downwards, and which in a lowered position limits movement of the keeping means 52 and in a raised position sets the keeping means free for movement thereof.

The unit 53 is in fig . 14 illustrated in a non-folded condition, forming a rectangular workpiece. Fold indications are marked with dashed lines. The sections of the workpiece located between the fold indications are designated plate portions, and the plate portion 14 located in the central is intended to form a base plate in the unit when it is arranged in the folded condition, corresponding to a parallelepipedic form, while the other plate portions forming the four side walls.

Fig. 15 illustrates a partly cut perspective view of the container 1 with a unit 53 arranged therein, a number of plants being schematically shown. It is from fig. 15 clear how the unit is folded for forming a •substantially parallelepipedic form. This will be further explained below. The container 1 is not provided with cutting indications or closings in the embodiment illustrated in fig . 15, which is the case for the embodiments of the container illustrated in figs. 1 and 9. The container 1 has, however, a closing arrangement 9 in the embodiment illustrated in fig. 15, for example comprising a number of foldable flaps 10, by means of which the outer casing may be closed at the upper part thereof. Adjacent plate portions are arranged substantially perpendicularly in relation to each other or arranged substanti- ally parallel, i.e. a plate portion is folded 180° in relation to an adjacent plate portion. Adjacent plate portions overlap each other in the latter case when the unit is arranged with a substantially parallelepipedic form. Three of the side walls of the unit 53 illustrated in fig. 15 are arranged in such an overlapping condition. The base plate and the fourth side wall have, however, only one plate portion. In this design of the unit, the fold indications between adjacent plate portions form cutting lines defining partly the base plate from the side walls, and partly the side walls from each other. The unit thereby forms a kind of inner container in the container 1 . The container is suitably arranged resting with the base 4 thereof against a support by watering of plants contained in the container, the closing arrangement 9 is being opened and water supplied from above and downwards into the container 1 . The water will, due to the above described design of the unit, be maintained in the same. When it is desired to discharge the water form the container, one or a plurality of cuts are made in the base of the container and through the base plate of the unit by means of a knife, preferably a carpet knife or some other sharp object. The container 1 is not either provided with any indications in the container side wall for facilitating effecting a plant outlet opening in the embodiment illustrated in fig. 15, which is the case for the embodiment of the container shown in fig. 2. A plant outlet opening is instead effected in a container side wall by such an opening is being cut by means of a knife, preferably a carpet knife.

An inventive method for packing plants is characterised in that plants 12 are located on a portion of a foldable unit 1 1 , 53 which is designed for being received in a container 1 , that the unit is folded to a form corresponding to the form of the inner space of the container 1 , enclosing the plants, and that the unit is brought into the container 1 . An inventive method, which is a preferred alternative of the previous method is characterised in that plants 12 are brought to a high mutual density in the unit when the same is being folded.

An inventive method, which is a further development of the first mentioned method is characterised in that the unit is folded to a substantially parallelepipedic form.

A further inventive method for packing plants is characterised in that a keeping means 52 is arranged in a first position by loading the plants 12 into the foldable unit 1 1 , 53 received in the keeping means 52, that the keeping means 52 is brought into a second position after that the loading is finished and that the unit is brought out of engagement with the keeping means in the second position and is brought into the container 1 .

A further inventive method, which is a further development of the previous method is characterised in that the plants are located substantially horizontally on a plate portion of the unit 1 1 , 53 by loading thereof, said portion being at least partially received by the keeping means, that the unit is folded to a substantially parallelepipedic form enclosing the plants 12 and that the keeping means maintains the unit in the parallelepipedic form.

A further inventive method is characterised in that the plants are directed substantially vertically with the roots thereof downwards when the keeping means 52 is moved to the second position, and that the unit is moved into the container 1 with the plants directed in said position.

An alternative of the container 1 and the unit 1 1 different from the alternative shown in fig. 1 regarding the outer shape thereof is illustrated in fig. 9. Thus, the container and the unit 1 1 have a form, which in cross-sections parallel to the base 4 are substantially quadrangular in fig. 1 . The corresponding cross- sections are in fig. 9 rectangular, i.e. non-quadrangular, and the higher length extension of the container 1 has a vertical direc- tion when it is located substantially horizontally. Such a design of the container makes it somewhat easier to carry close to the body. It is by such a design of the container 1 suitable to design the unit 1 1 so that one of the side walls of the unit formed by the plate portions 16, 18, and 19, 21 , respectively, will be directed upwards in order to screen off the root portions of the plants from above from sun exposure in order to achieve an adequate function during the packing described and illustrated in figs. 6-8. Thus, this results in that the longer sides of the unit 1 1 will be completely covering, which is advantageous while the packing will be easier if the longer side walls are directed substantially horizontally during enclosing the plants according to figs. 6 and 7. Plate portions 16/18 and 19/21 , respectively, are, from what has been said above, capable of together forming an adequate screening off of the underlying plant root regions from sun exposure. Thus, the plate portions 16, 18 and 19, 21 , respectively, should be arranged in contact with the edges against each other or alternatively overlapping each other.

It emphasised that the above described and in the drawings illustrated embodiments only should be regarded as examples. The invention may thus be realised in other ways without leaving the inventive concept. It is especially noted that men skilled in the art after having been presented to the inventive solution of course are capable of carrying out different adaptations of the exemplified embodiments without leaving the scope of the invention.

It is, for example, within the inventive claims that the frame 30 is displaced between the two functional positions thereof by a movement, which is a combination of a rotational movement and a translationary movement or by two different translationary movements. The two frame parts 32, 33 may also be arranged completely separated from each other. It is thereby important that they together may be arranged in a condition gripping around the unit 1 1 and be brought out of this gripping condition.

Regarding the inventive apparatus for packing plants, it is within the scope of the inventive claims that the unit comprising a set of plants may be brought into the container completely or partly without being influenced by the gravity. It is thus possible to bring the unit in a path directed in any direction from substantially horizontally to substantially vertically downwards from the plant receiving position to the location in the container. A path comprising a combination of horizontal and vertical movements is also possible for the unit. It requires at least by a substantially horizontal displacement of the unit a force, which may be supplied either manually or mechanically by means of force members therefor. In the light of what has been said above, it is thus within the frame of the inventive claims to place plants with a substantially horizontal longitudinal direction on a plate portion of the unit, which is to form a side wall in the unit in the folded condition, the folding of the unit to the folded condition taking place thereafter, either while the keeping means being arranged in the first position during the displacement to the second functional position, or in the second position, after which the unit containing the plants is brought into the container while the container is arranged with the opening intended for insertion of the unit in a substantially horizontal position, i.e. with the base thereof substantially vertical. The folding of the unit may further take place manually or mechanically by means of means therefor.

Claims

1 . A container device for plants (12) comprising a container (1 ) with a substantially parallelepipedic form, which comprises a base (4) and four side walls (5-8) connected thereto, and a unit (1 1 , 53) having plate portions and being locatable in the container (1 ), characterised in that the plate portions are connected to each other by fold indications, that adjacent plate portions are foldable between a first condition, in which they are located substantially in a plane and a second condition, in which they make an angle with each other, at least a perpendicular angle, that the unit (1 1 , 53) is designed to form a substantially parallelepipedic form with the plate portions arranged in the second condition, one plate portion forming a base plate (14) and the remaining plate portions forming two oppositely arranged side walls and at least partly covering the two remaining sides of the parallelepiped, and that the base plate (14) has a length and width substantially equal to or somewhat smaller than the corresponding free internal length and width of the base (4) of the container (1 ).

2. A device according to claim 1 , characterised in that the unit (1 1 , 53) is designed to form a substantially parallelepipedic form with the plate portions arranged in the second condition, one plate portion forming a base plate (14) and the remaining plate portions forming four side walls.

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that fold indications form cutting lines defining the base plate (14) from the side walls in the parallelepiped.

4. A device according to claim 3, characterised in that fold indications form cutting lines defining adjacent side walls.

5. A device according to claim 4, characterised in that adjacent plate portions of the plate portions jointly forming a side wall in the parallelepiped are arranged in an overlapping state.

6. A device according to any of the claims 1 -4, characterised in that the plate portions are provided with cuttings (26) designed to facilitate folding of the unit (1 1 ) by these cuttings.

7. A device according to claim 6, characterised in that the cutt- ings are formed as triangles with an apex (27) located in a fold indication.

8. A device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the unit (1 1 , 53) is formed by a water re- ceiving material in order to enable emitting moisture to the interior of the container and to the plants (12) located there after water receipt.

9. A device according to any of the preceding claims, char- acterised in that the container has at least one cutting indication or closing (28) in an area intended to contain the root regions of the plants (12) in order to facilitate forming of an opening (29) for passage of water.

10. A device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the container (1 ) is formed by a water repellent material.

1 1 . A device according to any of the preceding claims, char- acterised in that the container (1 ) has an opening (45) closable by a closing arrangement (9) in an opposite relation to the base (4) for inserting the unit into the container.

12. A device according to any of the preceding claims, char- acterised in that the height of the interior of the container perpendicularly to the base (4) is larger than the extension of the unit in the same direction.

13. A device according to claim 12, characterised in that the ex- tension of the unit in the height direction of the container (1 ), i.e. substantially perpendicularly to the base (4) of the container, is dimensioned for receiving the root system of plants, but at least partly leaving the top portions of the plants free between the unit and the closing arrangement (9) of the container.

14. A device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one (6) of the side walls of the container (1 ) is arranged to have a second opening (48), the plants located in the container and the unit being accessable through said opening at least in the top regions thereof.

15. A device according to claim 14, characterised in that the second opening (48) is closable by a closing arrangement (49), suitably having one or several foldable flaps (50).

16. A device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one side wall (6) of the container has means for facilitating making of a plant outlet opening (48) in the side wall in question.

17. A device according to claim 16, characterised in that said means comprises indications (46, 47) on the side wall (6) for facilitating making of the plant outlet opening (48).

18. A device according to claim 17, characterised in that said indications (46, 47) are pressed on the side wall (6) of the container.

19. A device according to claim 16, characterised in that the indications (46, 47) have the character of weakenings for facilitating a breakthrough of the side wall of the container.

20. A device according to any of the claims 14-19, characterised in that the second opening (48) comprises less than half the side wall (6) of the container, so that a non-opening portion (51 ), remains, the unit (1 1 ) being located at least partly inside the same.

21 . An apparatus for packing plants, characterised in that the apparatus comprises means (52) for keeping a foldable unit (1 1 , 53) designed for location in a container (1 ), the keeping means being movable between two different functional posi- tions while keeping the unit, namely a first, in which the keeping means supports the unit in an at least partly non-folded condition during receipt of plants, and a second, in which the keeping means is partly arranged in, or in the vicinity of the container for insertion of the unit into the container in a fold- ed condition substantially corresponding to the inner form of the container.

22. An apparatus according to claim 21 , characterised in that the keeping means (52) has a first member (55) for support- ing at least one plate portion of the unit from underneath, at least in the first functional position, the plate portion being designed for forming a side wall in the unit in said folded condition.

23. An apparatus according to claim 22, characterised in that the keeping means (52) is arranged to direct the unit in said second functional position so that said side wall is inclined in relation to the direction thereof when the keeping means is arranged in said first functional position, the inclination in said second functional position being directed so that the plants received in the unit are more upstanding .

24. An apparatus according to any of the claims 21-23, characterised in that the container (1 ) is arranged so that the path defined by the unit (1 1 , 53), when the keeping means (52) is moved toward the second functional position, extends through an opening in the container intended for insertion of the unit.

25. An apparatus according to any of the claims 21 -24, char- acterised in that the keeping means (52) is formed by a frame (30), that the apparatus further comprises a stand (31 ) and members (40) for connection thereof, that the frame (30) has two mutually movably arranged parts (32, 33) and members (34) for locking the parts in an active position, the parts together being arranged to grip around the plant receiving unit (1 1 , 53) in said active position, the unit preferably having a rectangular cross-section form, that an opening formed by the frame (30) for the plant receiving unit is directed substantially horizontally in said first functional position and substantially vertically in said second functional position.

26. An apparatus according to claim 25, characterised in that the two parts of the frame (1 1 ) are pivotably connected to each other.

27. An apparatus according to claim 26, characterised in that the pivotability is achieved by a hinge joint (35).

28. An apparatus according to any of the claims 25-27, char- acterised in that said locking members (34) are formed by male and female means, that said male means is formed on one of the frame parts, and said female means is formed in the other of the frame parts.

29. An apparatus according to claim 28, characterised in that said male means is formed by a projection (36) and said female means is formed by a recess (37), which is open substantially perpendicularly to the pivoting plane of the two frame parts (32, 33), and that moving of the frame parts into and out of engagement with each other is enabled by the frame (30) being elastic at least perpendicularly to said pivoting plane.

30. An apparatus according to any of the claims 25-29, char- acterised in that said connection members (40) are arranged so that the frame (30) is being moved between the two functional positions by a pivoting movement.

31. An apparatus according to claim 30, characterised in that said connection members (40) has male and female ele- ments, and that said male element is formed on one of the stand (31 ) and the frame (30), and said female element is formed in the other of the stand (31 ) and the frame (30).

32. An apparatus according to claim 31 , characterised in that said male means is formed by a bolt (41 ) with a substantially circular cross-section form and said female means is formed by a groove (42), which is open at one of the ends thereof for insertion of the bolt (41 ) and said groove (42) being designed for housing the bolt (41 ) in the other end of thereof.

33. An apparatus according to any of the claims 25-32, characterised in that a support surface (44) is arranged in the vicinity of the frame (30) on substantially the same height as the frame part (32) designed for receiving the plant receiving unit (1 1 ) when the frame (30) is arranged for packing plants

(12) into the unit.

34. An apparatus according to any of the claims 21 -24, characterised in that the apparatus comprises an arrangement (54) for moving the keeping means (52) between said functional positions, and that the moving arrangement comprises means (60) for controlling the keeping means during said movement.

35. An apparatus according to claim 34, characterised in that the control means (60) is adjustable in at least two positions, namely a first position, in which it supports the keeping means (52) in the first functional position thereof and a second position, in which the control means being inclined in relation to the first position and being directed so that the keeping means after movement along the same will reach the second functional position thereof.

36. An apparatus according to any of the claims 34 or 35, characterised in that the moving arrangement (54) has a hinged construction, and that the control means (60) is pivotable around a first axis (66) of the moving arrangement.

37. An apparatus according to claim 36, characterised in that the moving arrangement (54) has one pivot part (65) being hingedly connected to the control means by a first end thereof via the first axis (66) and hingedly connected at the other end thereof with a stationarily arranged second axis (67).

38. An apparatus according to any of the claims 35-37, char- acterised in that a stop member (64), which is stationarily arranged in relation to the control means (60), restricts the keeping means (52) from movement in relation to the control means when the control means is arranged in the first position and in positions in between the first and the second po- sition, but however not restricting the keeping means from movement when the control means is arranged in the second position.

39. An apparatus according to claim 38, characterised in that the movement of the keeping means (52) between a third functional position located between the first and the second functional positions, and the second functional position takes place due to gravity, while moving along the control means, the keeping means being arranged in the third functional position when the control means (60) reaches the second posi- tion.

40. An apparatus according to any of the claims 34-39, characterised in that the keeping means (52) besides from said first support member (55) also has a second member (56, 57) for supporting the unit sideways.

41 . An apparatus according to claim 40, characterised in that the keeping means (52) has a third support member (58) designed for maintaining the unit in said folded condition substantially corresponding to the inner form of the container during the movement of the keeping means from the first to the second functional position by interaction with said first and second support members.

42. A method for packing plants, characterised in that plants (12) are located on a plate portion of a foldable unit (1 1 , 53), said unit being designed for being received in a container (1 ), that the unit is folded to a form corresponding to the form of the inner space of the container (1 ) and enclosing the plants, and that the unit is brought into the container (1 ).

43. A method according to claim 42, characterised in that the plants (12) are brought to a high mutual density in the unit (1 1 ,53), when the same is being folded.

44. A method according to claim 42 or 43, characterised in that the unit (1 1 , 53) is folded to a substantially parallelepipedic form.

45. A method according to any of the claims 42-44, characterised in that a keeping means (52) is arranged in a first position by loading the plants (12) into a foldable unit (1 1 , 53) received in the keeping means, that the keeping means (52) is brought into a second position after that the loading is finished and that the unit is brought out of engagement with the keeping means in the second position and is brought into the container (1 ).

46. A method according to claim 45, characterised in that the plants (12) are located substantially horizontally on a plate portion of the unit (1 1 ,53) by loading thereof, said portion being at least partially received by the keeping means, that the unit is folded to a substantially parallelepipedic form enclosing the plants (12) and that the keeping means maintains the unit in the parallelepipedic form.

47. A method according to claim 45 or 46, characterised in that the plants (12) are directed substantially vertically with the roots thereof downwards when the keeping means (52) is moved to the second position, and that the unit is moved into the container (1 ) with the plants directed in said position.

48. A method according any of the claims 45-47, characterised in that the keeping means (52) is formed by a frame (30), that the unit (1 1 ) is located so that a plate portion thereof is at least partially received by a first part (32) of the frame, that plants are loaded on said portion, that the unit is folded to a substantially parallelepipedic form enclosing the plants, that a second part (33) of the frame (30) is connected to the first part (32) so that the frame grips around the unit, that the frame is brought into said second position, and that the frames (32, 33) are brought out of engagement with each other, releasing the unit.