GB2142213A

GB2142213A - A seeded web material

Info

Publication number: GB2142213A
Application number: GB08317702A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mitsuru Yoshimi
Original assignee: TOKUGAWAEN CO Ltd
Current assignee: TOKUGAWAEN CO Ltd
Priority date: 1983-06-29
Filing date: 1983-06-29
Publication date: 1985-01-16
Also published as: GB8317702D0; FR2565776A1; AU2854584A; FR2565776B1; GB2142213B; AU561087B2

Abstract

A seeded web material a'' comprises two superimposed similar web layers a' each of which is of cotton and has a nep nap (fibre ball) surface. A seeding machine 4 sows seed from hoppers 29 on the nep nap surface of one web layer and a water retaining agent and peat moss are also applied from hoppers 29', 29'' respectively. Adhesive is applied to the seeded surface from a sprayer 5 before a second web layer a' supplied from a roll supply 6 is superimposed on the seeded web layer. The nep nap surface of the superimposed web layer overlies and is adjacent to the nep nap surface of the seeded web layer and the two web layers are adhesively bonded together to form the seeded web of material which is wound off onto a reel 38. The seeds are held securely and safely in pockets or recesses defined by the adjacent nep nap surfaces. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Method and apparatus for producing a seeded web of material for growing grass or the like and the seeded material The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for producing a seeded web of material for growing grass,thewebbeing suitableforlaying on soil or other prepared surface for providing a lawn or turf. Typical applications of such web material include golf courses, playgrounds, gardens, embankments and the like which are to be grassed over orwhich certain areas require renewal.The invention also includes the improved seeded web material.

It is already known to provide seeded material in which the material comprises a strip or web having two cotton layers between which the seed is sown and carried with the top cotton layer having a surface to which adhesive is applied for securing the two cotton layers together.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for producing an improved seeded web material which positively retains the seed as it is sown to avoid any tendency forthe seed to shift in a unilateral direction whilst being conveyed through the apparatus and thereafter.

Another object ofthis invention isto provide a method and apparatus for producing an improved seeded web material in which the seed is protected against damage during manufacture of the web material andthereafter.

A further object of this invention is to provide such method and apparatus for producing an improved seeded web material which incorporates either a fertilizerand/orwater-retention media to improve eventual germination and growth ofthe seeds.

Other objects and disadvantages ofthis invention will be mentioned later herein.

According to the first aspect of this invention, we provide a method for producing a seeded web material for growing grass or the like, the method comprising providing a web layer having a nep nap surface on one face and applying at least adhesive to the otherface and applying at least adhesive to the otherface and drying the web layer, sowing seed on the nep nap surface of said web layer and applying at least adhesive over the seeded nep nap surface, and providing a second similar web layer having a nep nap surface, superimposing said second web layer on said first mentioned web layer to adhesively bond the two web layers together with the nep nap surfaces adjacent and the seeds entrapped therebetween.

By this method a cheap raw stock such as regenerated cotton can be usedto produce the web layers with the nep nap surface which comprisesfibre balls, and these ballsform pockets or recesses in which the seeds are located and held against relative movement and are protected.

Otherfeatures ofthe invented method are described later herein.

According to another aspect of this invention, we provide apparatus for carrying out the invented method, the apparatus comprising a combing machineforforming a web layer with a nep nap surface on oneface, meansforadvancingtheweb layer past a sprayer for applying either adhesive or an adhesive and fertilizer to the other face ofthe web layer, a dryer through which the web is passed, a seeding machinefor sowing seed on the nep nap surface of the web layer, a sprayer for applying adhesive to the seeded nep napsurfaceand meansfor superimposing a secondsimilarweb layer on the seeded first mentioned web layer with the nep nap surfaces adjacent andtheseeds entrapped therebe- tween.

By this apparatus, the seeded web material can be produced continuously and, as required, various materials can be applied to promote germination and growth of the seeds.

According to another aspect of this invention, we provide a seeded web material for growth grass orthe like, the web comprising first and second similarweb layers adhesively bonded together and having adjacent overlying nep nap surfaces between and in which seeds are entrapped together with a water retaining agent and peat moss.

The seeded web of this invention provides a new soil-less material with the seeds entrapped therein whilst being safely and securely carried inbetween the web layers with the necessary materials for germination and growth.

Otherfeatures and advantages ofthis invention are described later herein.

This invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure lisa side view of an exemplary embodiment of apparatus for producing the seeded web in accordance with the present invention, the drawing illustrating the first half of the apparatus; Figure2isasideviewsimilarto Figure 1, but illustrating the latter half of the apparatus; and Figure 3 is a plan view of part of the seeded web having a watr retaining media, the web being produced in accordance with the present invention.

With reference to the accompanying drawings, the apparatus generallycomprises:-a combing machine 1 forforming a finished cotton web layer a having a plurality of nep nap (fibre balls or balled fibre) on one surface thereof; a sprayer 2 for applying either an adhesive, or an adhesive and fertilizer to the other surface of the web layer a; a dryer 3for drying the adhesive and any additional fertilizer; a seeding machine4forsowing seed and awater retaining agent and peat moss onto the nep nap surface of the web a; a second sprayer for applying adhesive over the sown seed and other materials; and a machine 6 for superimposing a non-seeded similarweb layer a on the seeded web layer a' to provide a web a" ofthe two web layers a and a' with the seed secured and entrapped therebetween.

The combining machine 1 comprises a hopper7 for discharging raw stock such as regenerated cotton ata controlled rate to feed rollers 8 and 8'. The cotton mass is drawn off by a rollers to a breaker roll 10 and is advanced by a transporter roll 11 to a carding roll 14, and a doffer roll 15. Associated with the breaker roll 10 and the carding and doffer rolls 14,15 respectively are setsofstrippers 12 and pressers 13. The combing machine progressively refines the raw cotton stock and by selecting a relatively large spacing or gap between the carding roll 14 and the doffer roll 15 the finished cotton web a is formed with a plurality offibre balls onthesurfaceto providethedesired nep nap surface.

A reversing roller 16 is provided for overturning and transferring the finished cotton web afrom the combining machine 1 onto a conveyor 17 so thatthe underside of the web is lying uppermost with the nep nap surface underneath. The web a is transported from the conveyor 17 to further aligned belt conveyors 18 and 19. Above the belt conveyor 19 is the sprayer 2 having sets of nozzles 20 and 21 spaced apart in the direction of advancement ofthe web a. The first nozzles 20 apply a liquid fertilizer to the web a and the second nozzles 21 apply an adhesive to the web a.

The web a two which the fertilizer and adhesive has been applied isthen transported through the dryer 3 bythe conveyor 19. On emergence from the dryer 3 the web a passes under a set of nozles 22 of another sprayer 23 which continuously ejects a quick-dry type of synthetic resin on the surface ofthe web ato bond the cotton fibres together and to increase the tensile strength of the web a. Following the sprayer 23 there are feed rollers 24 and 24' and a winding roller 25with associated guide rollers 26, and the finished cotton web layer a' is taken off on the roller 25 and the filled roller 25 is removed for loading into the second part of the apparatus as shown in Figure 2.

The roller 25 carrying the web a' is mounted for withdrawal oftheweb a' onto a belt conveyor 27 with its nep nap surface upwardly. Drive rollers 28 and 28' advance the web to the seeding machine 4which comprises a bank of seed hoppers 29. Following the seed hoppers29thereisahopper29'forcontaininga powder or solid particles of a water retaining agent such as an acrylic acid-based sodium polyacrylate and a hopper 29" for containing a peat moss to be used as a water retaining bed, all ofthe hoppers being arranged above and transversely to the belt conveyor 27.

Provided at the bottom of each of the hoppers 29,29' and 29" is a dispensing controller30 which is regulated bytransmission belt means 31 driven bya motor 32 so that the spread of the seeds, water retaining agent and peat moss on the nep nap surface of web a' can be controlled. Avibrator 33 on the underside ofthe conveyor 27 is provided to vibrate the web a' to ensure that the seed and the other materials are distributed in the gaps or recesses between the fibre balls in the nep nap surface. The sprayer 5 is provided with sets of nozzles 34 and 35 respectively capable of delivering a liquid fertilizer and an adhesive on the seeded nep nap surface ofthe web a'.

The machine 6 is loaded with a full roll ofthe unseeded web a' and the roll is unwound and applied to the seeded web a' by rollers 37 and 37' with the nep nap surfaces ofthetwo overlying webs a' being broughttogether and adhesively secured or bonded together bythe adhesive applied to the seeded web layer.

Awinding roller38 is provided forwinding the seeded bonded web and this is driven as well as the conveyor 27 by a motor 39 through transmission belt 41 with the same motor 39 driving the machine 6 by another belt 40 and a roller 36. In known manner, a guide roller 42 is provided forthe winding roller 38.

With reference to Figure 3, the seeded web material a'comprises two superimposed web layers a' with the nep nap surfaces lying adjacentforming pockets in which the seeds are trapped against displacement and damage. The web material a" includes adjacent the seeds a peat moss and a water retaining agent and at least one web layer is impregnated with fertilizer. Thus the seeded web material provides a soill-less bed for germination and growth of the seed when the seeded web material is put into use.

As apparent from the foregoing description, the apparatus and method in accordance with present invention permits the production of a seeded soil-less web material complete with a germination bed in such manner that a cheap raw stock such as a regenerated (reclaimed waste) cotton can be used.

While a preferred embodiment has been described with reference to a method wherein a web layer is formed into a roll which is then re-loaded to a second part of the apparatus, it is to be understood that modifications may be made so that the first part of the apparatus is continuously in line with the second part with suitable means for overturning the lowerweb provided by the first partfortransportation to a seeding station without interruption.

Other modifications encompassed by this invention include the use of basic material fibres other or mixed with cotton providedthatthe desired nep nap surface can be formed in the breaking, carding and doffing process.

Furthermore, as will be envisaged, the quantity and type of materials applied to the web by way of fertilizers, water retaining agents and peat moss can be varied to suit the particular seeds. Additionally, the selection of seeds for cultivation of special grassed or for other horticultural plants can be used in the seeded web as desired.

Claims

1. A method for producing a seeded web material for growing grass or the like, the method comprising providing a web layer having a nep nap surface on one face and applying at least adhesive to the other face and drying the web layer, sowing seed on the nep nap surface of said web layer and applying at least adhesive overthe seeded nep nap surface, and providing a second similar web layer having a nep nap surface, superimposing said second web layeron said first mentioned web layer to adhesively bond the two web layers together with the nep nap surfaces adjacent and the seeds entrapped therebetween.

2. A method according to claim 1 and wherein a fertilizer is applied to said first mentioned web layer prior to drying the web layer.

3. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein a water retaining agent and peat moss are applied to the nep nap surface on which the seed is sown.

4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein each web layer comprises a web of combed regenerated cotton.

5. Amethodforproducing a seeded web material substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

6. Apparatus for carrying outthe method accord- ing to claim 1,the apparatus comprising a combing machineforforming a web layer with a nep nap surface on one face, means for advancing the web layer pasta sprayerforapplying either an adhesive or an adhesive and fertilizertothe other face ofthe web layer, a dryer through which the web is passed, a seeding machineforsowing seed on the nep nap surfaceoftheweb layer, a sprayer for applying adhesive to theseeded nep nap surface and means for superimposing a second similar web layer on the seeded first mentioned web layer with the nep nap surfaces adjacent and the seeds entrapped therebetween.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein associ atedwiththeseeding machineismeansforapplyinga water retaining agent and peat moss to the seeded web layer.

8. Apparatus according to claim 6 and substantialliy as hereinbefore described with referencetothe accompanying drawings.

9. A seeded web material for growing grass orthe like, the web comprising first and second similar web layers adhesively bonded together and having adjacent overlying nep nap surfaces between and in which seeds are entrapped togetherwith a water retaining agent and peat moss.

9. A seeded web material for growing grass or the like, the web comprising first and second similarweb layers adhesively bonded together and having adjacent overlying nep nap surfaces between and in which seeds are entrapped together with a water retaining agent and peat moss.

as, between abutting ends of the blocks, which are being tightly pressed together in an end-to-l 0. A seeded web material substantially as hereindescribed with reference to Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.

Newclaims or amendmentsto claims filed on 1618183.