EP2109354A1

EP2109354A1 - Method for planting plants and plant parts, and planting device for applying such a method

Info

Publication number: EP2109354A1
Application number: EP08705131A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Dirk Bruygom
Original assignee: Bruygom Constructie- En Apparatenbouw BV
Current assignee: Bruygom Constructie- En Apparatenbouw BV
Priority date: 2007-02-05
Filing date: 2008-02-04
Publication date: 2009-10-21
Also published as: WO2008097083A1; NL2000471C2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for planting plants and plant parts which may or may not have germinated. The present invention also relates to a planting device (20) for planting plants and plant parts which may or may not have germinated, with a holder (21, 22) for the plants and plant parts; a stabilizing member (33) with a passage opening for the holder (21, 22), and drive means (28).

Description

Method for planting plants and plant parts, and planting device for applying such a method

The present invention relates to a method as according to the preamble of claim 1 for S planting plants and plant parts which may or may not have germinated and may or may not be held in a substrate. The present invention also relates to a planting device as according to claim 13 for planting plants and plant parts which may or may not have germinated. Plants and plant parts are here understood to include complete plants; plant parts such as stem or root segments; bulbs, seeds, fruits or tubers which may or may not0 have sprouted; and other seeds from which a plant can develop.

The planting of plants and plant parts is relatively labour-intensive and, because of the vulnerability of the plants and plant parts, is also difficult to mechanize without this resulting in unwanted damage to the plants and plant parts. It is also of great importance S during planting that the mutual distance of the plants and plant parts for planting is precisely controlled. The present invention relates more particularly - though not exclusively - to the planting of so-called "plugs"; these are relatively small substrates with a height usually in the order of magnitude of several centimetres and a diameter or width in the order of magnitude of one centimetre, although plugs or substrates with0 dimensions differing herefrom can also advantageously be planted with the present invention. In addition, the present invention also provides for the planting of plants and plant parts not held in a substrate. The planting can for instance take place outdoors, in a greenhouse bedding prepared for this purpose, in separate bedding parts such as individual pots or divided bedding segments, or in other substrates or growing media. In5 respect of the possible damage to the plants and plant parts, this relates particularly to possible protruding parts (such as leaves and branches). A substrate can consist of (optionally mixed) natural bedding material such as sand, clay, turf, perlite or other material, but can also consist of non-natural bedding material such as gel, mineral fibre material or glass wool. In addition, it is also possible to apply a hybrid form of natural0 and non-natural material as substrate.

The American patent US 3943863 describes a planting device for planting plants, wherein holder parts are connected to the underside of a movable arm. Also connected movably to the arm is a cage construction on which a base is mounted. As the arm moves toward the bedding the base is first placed on the bedding and the plant-holding holder parts are then urged into the bedding. During urging of the holder parts into the bedding the holder parts are moved apart through the intervention of an activator, as a result of which the plant is released. As the arm moves upward, the holder parts and the cage construction move clear of the bedding. A weight will then press down on the bedding close to the planted plant. This planting device comprises many coupled driven components, which makes the planting device complex and susceptible to breakdown. The planting result is also less readily controllable.

The present invention has for its object to provide an improved method and an improved device for planting plants and plant parts, with which plants and plant parts can be planted in mechanized manner in a more efficient and/or more effective manner than according to the prior art.

The present invention provides for this purpose a method as according to claim 1 for planting plants and plant parts which may or may not have germinated. The processing steps A-F are here preferably applied successively. By urging the plants into the bedding with the holder by carrying this latter through the recess present for this purpose in a stabilizing member placed on the bedding, the bedding is disturbed only relatively little by the holder; this is because the stabilizing member prevents excessive disturbance of the bedding. The bedding structure thus remains relatively well preserved, which enhances the further development of a planted plant or a planted plant part. The reduced deterioration in the structure of the bedding is also brought about because an opening made in the bedding does not have to be stabilized such that it remains open for insertion of a plant (part). Insertion does after all take place at the moment the opening is still being stabilized by the holder. This effect of a good plant development is enhanced still further because, after release of the plant or plant part from the holder, moving apart of the thus emptied holder during removal from the bedding is bounded by the stabilizing member. Free spaces will on the one hand hereby be created in simple manner between parts of the plant/the plant part or the substrate in which the plant/the plant part and the enclosing bedding are placed, and the disturbance of the bedding is on the other hand limited in that the moving apart of the holder parts, while they are still situated in the bedding, is bounded. The plant/the plant part will hereby establish itself more easily. This free space will fill up during irrigation and be partially preserved, whereby the plant/the plant part can readily take up water, this also being advantageous for the further development of the plant/the plant part. The accuracy of positioning during removal of the holder parts from the bedding is a critical factor in the success of the planting. Opening not far enough means that the plant/the plant part will not be released, and opening too far means the bedding being pressed up and openings which are too large being arranged in the bedding. It is precisely this critical positioning which is now secured by the stabilizing member, so that the chance of errors during positioning is very small. Moving the holder parts too far apart is even made impossible by the present invention. Another important advantage of the method according to the invention is that the stabilizing member is forcibly situated a very short distance from the holder parts when the holder parts are moved out of the bedding; these holder parts are after all limited in their freedom of movement by the stabilizing member during the movement out of the bedding. Because this distance is thus minimized, it is precisely the bedding immediately adjacent the outer side of the holder parts (at the position where the chance of disturbance is greatest) that will already be stabilized.

It is also possible to urge the stabilizing member at least partially into the bedding, for instance after performing processing step D) or after performing processing step E). The density of the bedding can thus be controlled at the position where it surrounds the plant/the plant part. This is possible for instance by urging the stabilizing member with a limited force against the bedding; local differences in the bedding density can thus also be reduced or even eliminated, which results in more uniform growth conditions when multiple plants and plant parts are planted in this manner. The present invention makes it possible to optimize the form of plant/plant part, the form of the planting hole and the form of an optionally present substrate.

A simple manner of releasing the plant/the plant part from the holder is by moving at least two holder parts apart relative to the stabilizing member. The position of a holder constructed from two or more than two segments can be changed in simple manner between a holding position, in which the segments are situated a shorter distance from each other, and a position in which they leave clear a larger space (for instance a larger intermediate space) such that the plant/the plant part is released from the holder without protruding plant parts thereby coming into contact with the holder. By moving at least two holder parts relative to the stabilizing member the plant/the plant part can be released with symmetry of forces from the holder parts and placed in a desired orientation on the bedding. A correct orientation of the plant/the plant part enhances further plant development

For a problem-free contact of the stabilizing member with the bedding it is desirable that the stabilizing member is placed on the bedding during processing step B) in a direction substantially perpendicularly of the bedding surface. It is further also possible to urge the stabilizing member at least partially into the bedding in a direction substantially perpendicularly of the bedding surface. The compaction of the bedding is thus uniformly distributed. This urging into the bedding can take place during processing step C), of urging the holder into the bedding, as well as during processing step E), of removing the emptied holder from the bedding. This has the advantage, particularly during processing step E), that the plant/the plant part can thus be fixed in the bedding.

In order to facilitate supply of the plant/the plant part to the holder, it is advantageous to move the holder parts further apart after completion of processing step E). This is because more space is created between the holder parts, whereby there is more freedom of movement between the holder parts during placing of the plant/the plant part.

Large quantities of plants and plant parts will in practice be planted with this method, whereby it is desirable to use a plurality of holders simultaneously during the planting. This can be realized in practical manner by parallel operation of a plurality of holders with associated stabilizing members, more particularly such that the plants/plant parts that are simultaneously planted are aligned. In order to increase flexibility during planting, it is additionally advantageous here that the pitch between the individual holders can be changed. It is thus practical that the holders can be loaded at a small relative pitch and that, subject to conditions, they can be adjusted to a situation with an emphatically larger pitch for the purpose of planting the plants and plant parts at a distance at which they can grow further.

The present invention also provides a planting device as according to claim 13 for planting plants and plant parts which may or may not have germinated. The advantages of such a device correspond with the advantages already enumerated above in respect of the method according to the invention. The device can be realized in structurally simple manner. Subject to the application, the device can further take a fine form (for instance for the planting of tissue culture parts) or take a robust form (for instance for use in extreme conditions in which heavy soil, moisture, mud or chippings can result in considerable mechanical loads), while vulnerable plants and plant parts are nevertheless always handled in secure manner. Another advantage is that the planting quality of the device is high; in addition to precise positioning of the plants and plant parts, it is also the case that they can be placed in the bedding in advantageous manner. Not only can the density of the surrounding bedding here be controlled, the position of the plant/the plant part in the bedding can also be fixed and the plant/the plant part can be placed such that the access to water and air is optimized. All this results in favourable growth of the planted plants and plant parts.

For the purpose of displacing an assembly of the holder and the stabilizing member relative to the bedding and for relative displacement of the holder and the stabilizing member such that the holder is displaceable from a first side of the stabilizing member at least partially through the passage opening in the stabilizing member, it is desirable that the planting device comprises separate drive means for both functions or combined drive means for both functions. Subject to the circumstances (such as the power required) the drive or drives can be powered pneumatically or hydraulically. For simplified connection of the device it is even possible to opt to provide the device with a pressure unit forming part of the device. It is otherwise also noted here that the drives (or some of the drives) can take an electrical form.

The contact surface of the stabilizing member can be provided with a fully enclosed passage opening. Using such a stabilizing member the bedding can be fully stabilized around a plant/a plant part. Conversely, it is also possible to embody the stabilizing member such that the contact surface of the stabilizing member does not fully enclose the passage opening by giving it for instance a substantially U-shaped form or by leaving it open on two sides (envisage here for instance two opposite, optionally curved strips). The advantage of such constructions is that they can be easily cleaned. In another advantageous embodiment variant the at least two holder parts are movable relative to the stabilizing member. Symmetrical control of forces can be applied in simple manner and has the advantage that the plant/the plant part is placed in a desired orientation on the bedding. It is possible here to envisage for instance pivotable planting fingers between which the plant (part) can be engaged such that sufficient space is left free between the fingers for a possibly protruding plant part. Such pivotable planting fingers or otherwise embodied holder parts can be pivotally connected to a shared planting finger block. The planting fingers can then be carried into a desired position by displacing the planting finger block. The distance (in)to the bedding can for instance thus be regulated by displacing the planting finger block along a vertical guide. The distance to one or more other similar planting finger blocks with planting fingers can be varied by displacement along a horizontal guide. Individual drive means can be provided for operating the holder and the position of the planting finger block, although it is also possible to combine this drive with another drive of the device. It is also the case here that an advantageous drive is electrically, pneumatically or hydraulically powered.

In yet another advantageous embodiment holder parts situated outside the passage opening can be moved further apart than holder parts situated inside the passage opening. By allowing the holder parts to move further apart as soon as they are no longer situated in the passage opening, more space is then created between the holder parts and this facilitates the supplying of the plant/the plant part. It thus becomes possible for instance for the holder parts to engage round the plant/the plant part for the purpose of picking up the plant/the plant part.

In yet another advantageous embodiment the boundary is formed by at least one edge of the passage opening. Particularly if the form of this edge of the passage opening corresponds to the form of the holder parts, the advantage can be gained that the holder parts make contact with the edge when being taken out of the bedding. The holder parts are hereby cleaned (scraped) during removal. Bedding remnants will thus be removed from the holder parts.

In order to increase the capacity thereof, the planting device will generally take a multiple form such that it comprises a plurality of holders and a plurality of stabilizing members. A plurality of plants/plant parts can thus be placed optionally parallel in the bedding simultaneously (optionally in rows, for which purpose the holders are then aligned). For a mutual alignment of the operation of the individual holders it is desirable here that the drive means are adapted to displace individual holders substantially simultaneously relative to the bedding and/or the drive means are adapted to displace the stabilizing members substantially simultaneously relative to the bedding. Instead of applying individual stabilizing members, it is also possible to envisage rigid coupling of at least two stabilizing members. The robustness of the device can thus be further increased.

The present invention will be further elucidated on the basis of the non-limitative exemplary embodiments shown in the following figures. Herein: figure 1 shows a perspective view of a planting device according to the present invention, figure 2 shows a perspective view of an embodiment variant of a planting device according to the present invention, figure 3 is a perspective view of a multiple planting device according to the present embodiment and corresponding with the type shown in figure 1, figures 4A-4F show different views of a plant with substrate during different stages of planting.

Figure 1 shows a planting device 1 with two planting fingers 2,3 which are pivotable around respective pivot shafts 4, 5. Planting fingers 2,3 are connected via pivot shafts 4, 5 to a planting finger block 6 which is also provided with a drive 7 for causing pivoting of planting fingers 2,3. Planting finger block 6 is connected via a second drive 8 to a stabilizing member 9 into which an opening 10 is recessed which is sufficiently large that planting fingers 2, 3 can be moved through the opening in a position in which they engage on a plant with substrate to be planted (not shown in this figure). The assembly of planting finger block 6 and stabilizing member 9 can in turn also be displaced integrally along a linear guide 11. For a further description of the operation of the planting device references made to the description of inter alia figures 4A-4F.

Figure 2 shows an alternative embodiment of a planting device 20 with two casing part- shaped holder parts 21, 22 which are pivotable around holder part shafts 23, 24 as according to arrows Pl,, P2. In the shown situation a substrate 26 with plant 27 is situated in the holder 25 formed by holder parts 21, 22. Plant 27 with substrate 26 (= plug) can be released from holder 25 by pivoting holder parts 21, 22 apart. A drive 28 connected to a planting finger block 29 can drive a gear assembly 30 for this purpose. In order to first urge the holder into the bedding prior to release of plant 27 with plug 26 from holder 25, the planting finger block 29 is displaceable as according to arrow P3 along a vertical guide 31 by activating a drive 32. Figure 2 moreover shows a stabilizing plate 33 in which a U-shaped recess 34 is left clear for the passage of holder 25. Before holder 25 is urged into the bedding by means of drive 32, stabilizing plate 33 will first be placed on the bedding. This bottom plate 33 is vertically displaceable as according to arrows P4 simultaneously with holder 25 and the associated mechanism by a third drive 34 which engages via a toothed wheel 35 on a gear rack 36 rigidly connected to the assembly of holder 25 and stabilizing plate 33.

Figure 3 shows a schematic view of a multiple planting device 40 in which a large number of separate planting devices 1 as shown in figure 1 are assembled. A row of planting devices 1 is assembled on a frame 41 such that the mutual distance of planting devices 1 is adjustable. Planting devices 1 are slidable for this purpose along a horizontal guide 42. The adjustment of the pitch between the planting devices can be set manually, although mechanical adjustment of the pitch is also possible.

Figures 4A-4F show schematically different stages of the planting. Figure 4 A shows a plug 50 with a plant part 51 protruding outside plug 50 before planting begins, hi figure 4B the plug 50 is engaged by two planting fingers 52, 53 and a stabilizing plate 54 is already placed on the bedding 55. In a subsequent stage as shown in figure 4C, the planting fingers 52, 53 are pressed into the bedding 55 through an opening 56 arranged for this purpose in stabilizing plate 54 and subsequently moved apart as according to arrows P6, P7 such that plug 50 is released from planting fingers 52, 53. It can also be seen that stabilizing plate 54 is pressed some distance into the bedding 55. Pressing of stabilizing plate 54 into the bedding is not required, and can be omitted or take place later in the planting cycle as desired.

Figure 4D shows the situation in which planting fingers 52, 53 are retracted from the bedding such that plug 50 with protruding plant part 51 remains behind in the bedding 55. It is noted here that it is important that the planting fingers do not damage the protruding plant part S 1. Some free space 57 still remains to the sides of plug 50 which results in water gaining easy access to plug 50.

The final result once stabilizing plate 54 has also been moved away from the bedding 55 is shown in figures 4E and 4F. As shown in the top view of figure 4F, plug 50 is separated from the bedding 55 on two sides by free spaces 57, while two other sides connect to the bedding 55.

Claims

1. Method for planting plants and plant parts which may or may not have germinated, comprising the processing steps of:

S A) supplying a plant or plant part for planting to holder parts of a holder,

B) placing a stabilizing member on the bedding such that a bedding segment accessible for the planting is at least partially enclosed by the stabilizing member,

C) urging the holder with the plant or the plant part at least partially into the accessible bedding segment, 0 D) releasing the plant or the plant part from the holder parts by moving the holder parts apart after at least partially urging the holder with the plant or the plant part into the bedding,

E) removing the emptied holder from the bedding, and

F) removing the stabilizing member from the bedding, S characterized in that during step E) the stabilizing member bounds moving-apart of the holder parts.

2. Method as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the stabilizing member is urged at least partially into the bedding. 0

3. Method as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the stabilizing member is urged at least partially into the bedding after performing of processing step D).

4. Method as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the stabilizing member is5 urged at least partially into the bedding after performing of processing step E).

5. Method as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the plant or the plant part is released from the holder by moving at least two holder parts relative to the stabilizing member. 0

6. Method as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the stabilizing member is placed on the bedding during processing step B) in a direction substantially perpendicularly of the bedding surface.

7. Method as claimed in any of the claims 2-6, characterized in that the stabilizing member is urged at least partially into the bedding in a direction substantially perpendicularly of the bedding surface.

8. Method as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the holder is urged into the bedding in a direction substantially perpendicularly of the bedding surface during processing step C).

9. Method as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the holder is removed from the bedding in a direction substantially perpendicularly of the bedding surface during processing step E).

10. Method as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the holder parts are moved further apart after completion of processing step E).

11. Method as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that a plurality of holders with associated stabilizing members are operated in parallel for simultaneous planting of a plurality of plants or plant parts.

12. Method as claimed in claim 11 , characterized in that the plants or plant parts which are planted simultaneously are aligned.

13. Planting device for planting plants and plant parts which may or may not have germinated, comprising: a holder provided with at least two holder parts for containing plants and plant parts, wherein the holder parts are movable between a position engaging a plant and a position releasing the plant; a stabilizing member with a contact surface provided with a passage opening for at least partial passage of the holder; - drive means for displacing the holder relative to the bedding; and drive means for displacing the stabilizing member relative to the bedding, characterized in that during removal of the holder from the bedding the passage opening forms a boundary when the holder parts are moved apart to a position releasing a plant

14. Planting device as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that the planting device comprises drive means for the purpose of displacing an assembly of the holder and the stabilizing member relative to the bedding.

15. Planting device as claimed in claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the planting device comprises drive means for relative displacement of the holder and the stabilizing member such that the holder is displaceable from a first side of the stabilizing member at least partially through the passage opening in the stabilizing member.

16. Planting device as claimed in any of the claims 13-15, characterized in that the contact surface of the stabilizing member is provided with a fully enclosed passage opening.

17. Planting device as claimed in any of the claims 13-15, characterized in that the contact surface of the stabilizing member comprises a passage opening which is not fully enclosed.

18. Planting device as claimed in any of the claims 13-17, characterized in that at least two holder parts are movable relative to the stabilizing member.

19. Planting device as claimed in claim 18, characterized in that the holder parts are formed by pivotable planting fingers which are pivotable relative to a shared planting finger block.

20. Planting device as claimed in any of the claims 13-19, characterized in that the device is provided with drive means for operating the holder.

21. Planting device as claimed in any of the claims 13-20, characterized in that the drives are powered pneumatically.

22. Planting device as claimed in any of the claims 13-21, characterized in that holder parts situated outside the passage opening can be moved further apart than holder parts situated inside the passage opening.

S 23. Planting device as claimed in any of the claims 13-22, characterized in that the boundary is formed by at least one edge of the passage opening.

24. Planting device as claimed in any of the claims 13-23, characterized in that the planting device takes a multiple form and comprises a plurality of holders and a 0 plurality of stabilizing members.

25. Multiple planting device as claimed in claim 24, characterized in that drive means are adapted to displace individual holders substantially simultaneously relative to the bedding. 5

26. Multiple planting device as claimed in claim 24 or 25, characterized in that drive means are adapted to displace the stabilizing members substantially simultaneously relative to the bedding. 0

27. Multiple planting device as claimed in any of the claims 24-26, characterized in that at least two stabilizing members are rigidly coupled.

28. Multiple planting device as claimed in any of the claims 23-26, characterized in that the holders are aligned. 5